LOOT FROM ALSACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 190, 1 May 1918, Page 5

LOOT FROM ALSACE

Cicrmany's latest Hpiilinlioti of AlsaceLorraine is l-he subject of an article received by iiha Exchange- -Agency from Mr. Henry Wood, the United Press-cor-respondent. It. consists, he says, _of tho carrying away of all the antiquities and objects of art in which tho two provinces for centuries past Imvo been unusually rich. Tho exodus of all these objects, many of priceless historic and artistic worth, across the borders of tlio two provinces and over into tlie big German citie.s, would appear to constitute Germauy's final effort to squeeze out of Alsaco and Lorraino tho last thing of value winio fiho still has it within her power. Owing to tho fact that the German authorities am now forcing tho liquidation'and sale of all homes and other properties owned by French ■ citizens, and often ot Alsatians guilty only of French sympathies, thousands of those old pieces ot furniture- are-.being thrown on to iho market in a manner tlhat enables tho German antiquarians to buy them at nominal figures. In other instances tho antiquariane search out families that; have been impoverished by the war and induce them to part for a little ready money irith objects of tho greatest . artistic value. This exploitation' of ihe two provinces by German antiquity dealers appears to havo reached such a proportion that M-en the German »Press, notably the "Kleino Press, - " TraiiWorl, 'have printed articles pointing out tlic iniquitous practice. •