FRANCE'S LOST PROVINCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 6

FRANCE'S LOST PROVINCES

"THOSE WHO SEVER-" FOBGET'." The Alsnjtion writer and artist, Horr Jakob Waltz, better known to the French and Genu an public as "Hansi," was sentenced on July, 8 by tho Supreme Court of the Empire at. Leipzig; to one year's 'imprisonment for inciting to violence and iEsulting German policemen and teachers in Alsace-Lorraine. He was originally charged both-at Leipzig and before a provincial Court last May with "preparing au act of high.treason" in other words, as was.explained, of encouraging by 1113 writings and illustrations those who wished to separate Alsace-Lorraine from ibhe German Empire. ' la the course of the hearing this chargei was withdrawn, so that.the/case becomes one of those with which Alsace-Lorraine has long been -familiar. ' . - Herr Waltz is a contributor to the satirical periodical, "Durchs Elsass,". and has written' a French 'children's history ■if Alsace-Lorraine and. a Christmas book for Alsatian, children; . called * "Mon Village." This last, book was tho subject of both, trials.. It is dedicated "to those who never forget," and contains passages and illustrations ridiculing-German policemen, soldiers, schoolmasters, and tourists, lamenting the annexation, anil looking forward to a time when the lost provinces shall be restored \to France. In "Mon Village" 'the Alsatian children, play at being French soldiers. They are taught by their German teachers to sing patriotic German songs and to read the book "Kaiser Wilhelm," but , .when three cheers are called for the Emperor they open their mouths, but make no isomid. Only the policeman's son behaves well, and repeats after his teacher that Berlin is the greatest town in tho world. Tho news of the sentence was received in Paris with bewildbred stupefaction. It iseems incredible to the French mind that an artist should bo sentenced to such a long .term of imprisonment for what, in French eyes at any rate, is nothing but amusing caricatures ;of -gendarmes and schoolmasters. . The drawing principally incriminated represented a number, of Alsatian children singing to the storks on the chimneytops:— , . ' : Cigogno, Cigogno, t'as d'la chance! Tons ks ans itu passes en France. Cigognc, Cigogue, rapports nous Dans ton bee nn p'tit piou-piou. Tho following may be offered as a free translation: — Dear Stork, the friend of happy chance, Every year you go to France; When you return pray give us joy, By bringing back a soldier boy. The Strassbiirg Government on July 4 issued a warning against tho exhibition of French flags in Alsace-Lorraine. It was observed that it had becoiuo common practice, especially on the part of people returning irom excursions in France, to disolay tho French colours, and the fiublic wero reminded that such demonstrations would be treatod as penal offences, and be punished- by imprisonment and fines.