DUTCH HOARD FOOD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 42, 20 April 1942, Page 8

DUTCH HOARD FOOD

NAZI REPRESSION

MANY EXECUTION'S

Driven to ever-harsher measures in their attempt to stamp out sabotage in the Netherlands, especially that directed against farm production, the German authorities have Inaugurated a scries of dccrecs, declared reminiscent of sixteenth century Spanish rule, which makes not only industrial sabotage, but the hiding of foodstuffs and the unlicensed slaughtering of livestock punishable by executions. Reports and letters from the conquered kingdom reaching Netherlands Government-in-Exile sources here picture an increasingly repressive situation, but stress that the sweeping decrees cif Reich Commissioner Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquar* have failed to break the tough Dutch resistance. Industrial sabotage continues and "black markets" were said to be on the increase, while the illegal sale of ration cards has become more widespread as shortages in food and clothing have grown increasingly among the Hollanders. Study of the new decrees enacted, reveals a steady multiplication of the Nazis of offences "endangering public order," and shows the capital penalty or long-term imprisonment to be applicable not only to saboteurs themselves, but also toi persons convicted of inciting others to action. The same penalties apply not only to adults, but to youths over 16. No Appeals Allowed Underscoring the gravity of the situation from the Reich point of view has been the establishment of a special division of the German High Court designed especially to deal with cases of sabotage and empowered to act of niilitaiy and other courts in Holland. This decree concludes with the warning "appeals against its sentence will in no case be allowed." Anti-sabotage regulations list as punishable by the capital penalty "hostile acts against the Germans, the preparations and distribution of anti-German publications or other anti-German objects, punishable offences designed to disturb economic development, the destruction or damage of important works and installation or industrial, agricultural and traffic establishment." "The same is applicable," the decree continues, "to the hiding of stocks, the non-delivery of goods for common use, the delivery of which is obligatory, unwarranted destruction of such stocks or rendering them unserviceable, and infringement of price regulations. The death penalty order applies further to the hoarding of stocks, illegal slaughtering of stocks, illegal slaughtering of livestock, 'black market' activities, r|id illegal trading in, c,r forging of, ration coupons." The broad range of the prohibitions and the wide opportunity for summary dealing without redress has caused Netherlands circles to compare the decrees with the rule established in the 16th century by the Duke of Alva, who, as Spanish Governor-General of the Netherlands. sought to wipe out unrest with sword and executioner's axe. Such has been the Netherlandcrs' agricultural sabotage in the face of Natzi needs for food that the Reich Commissioner has found it necessary tot post hundreds of "controllers"' along roads entering Amsterdam.