Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1917 — PROCLAMATION OF THE GERMAN MILITARY COMMANDANT OF LILLE. [ARTICLE]

PROCLAMATION OF THE GERMAN MILITARY COMMANDANT OF LILLE.

The attitude of England makes the provisioning of the population more and more difficult. To reduce the misery, the German authorities have recently asked for volimt-eers to go-and work in -the country. This offer has not had the success that was expected. In consequence of this, the inhabitants will be deported by order and removed into the country. Persons deported will be sent to the interior of the occupied territory in France, far behind the front, where they will be employed Jdl agricultural labor, and not in any military work whatever. By this measure they will be given the opportunity of providing better for their subsistence. In case of necessity provisions can be obtained through the German depots. Every person deported will be allowed to take with him 30 kilogrammes of luggage (household utensils, clothes, etc), which they will be well advised to make ready at once. I order, therefore, that no one may, until further order, change" his place of • residence. No one may absent himself from his legally declared residence from 9.0 p. m. to G.O a. m (German time), unless he is in possession of a permit in due form. Inasmuch as this is an irrevocable measure, it is in the interest of the population itself to remain calm and obedient. THE COMMANDANT. Lille, April. 191 C. (This proclamation was followed up by the deportation of 25,000 French civilians from the towns of Roubaix, Turcoing and Lille. There were girls as young as sixteen among the victims, and men as old as fifty-five. Families were ruthlessly broken up.) —~'