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WAR- CHRONICLE

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military actions, and confirm the information received at military<br />

headquarters of France's intentions. May the}- reveal to the Belgians<br />

the real cause of the disaster, which has now overtaken their mihappy<br />

country. (Nordd. AUg. Zeitung, October 12, 1914.)<br />

The German Government protests against French<br />

Cruelties.<br />

The Imperial German Government has sent the following record<br />

concerning<br />

The Infringement of the Geneva Convention by French<br />

Troops and Volunteers<br />

to the French Government and the Gov ernments of Neutral Countries,<br />

wherein it vehemently protests against the violation of international<br />

rights.<br />

Record.<br />

In the present war French troops and volunteers ha\ e violated<br />

in a most flagrant manner all the arrangements for the care and<br />

comfort of the sick and wounded, which were in accordance with<br />

the regulations of the Geneva Convention of Juh 6 t]l , 1906, and<br />

ratified by both Germany and France. Of the large number of<br />

incidents recorded only legal testimony or official reports are quoted<br />

as thoroughly trustworthy.<br />

Among the very first articles emphasized at the Geneva Convention,<br />

is one of the most important principles of warfare—namely—<br />

the same treatment of the sick and wounded of both friend and<br />

foe. (Article 1, § 1.) The French soldiers and volunteers lune<br />

most shamefully ignored these principles, and not only roughry<br />

treated our wounded soldiers, but also robbed and even brutally<br />

mutilated and murdered many who lune fallen into their hands.<br />

In Articles 6 and 14 the Geneva Convention provides for the<br />

special protection of ambulant medical service. In defiance of these,<br />

French troops have attacked German automobiles containing wounded<br />

-and shot at ambulance wagons, disregarding the clearly distinguishable<br />

red cross flag; they have also assaulted German hospitals, robbing them<br />

of their staff and outfits.<br />

French troops have furthermore transgressed against international<br />

rights and Article 9 of the Geneva Convention, which<br />

stipulates that the medical service of the belligerent parties is to<br />

be protected and even considered neutral. The leader of an ambulance<br />

corps was arrested and dragged off by a French leader:<br />

a physician tending a wounded soldier, shot down by French troops;<br />

surgeons and escort of an ambulance shot at, and ambulance men<br />

while transporting wounded, attacked, w ounded innd killed, or<br />

taken prisoner by French volunteers and soldiers; even an army<br />

K 3<br />

17

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