" A WILDERNESS OF DESOLATION "

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 94, 15 January 1919, Page 5

" A WILDERNESS OF DESOLATION "

"Not since the Germans began to despoil the invaded district of Prance has public opinion been so strongly moved as it is to-day by authenticated facts of the destruction caused by tho enemy in towns and villages in the Department of the Aiano wrested from him by the French troops," 6ays the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." "The devastation is so terrible in its magnitude, so ruthless in its execution, that the press and public opinion are clamouring for action on the 'park of the Allied Governments.' ; - "It is argued that this -wanton havoo has been systematically organised by tto German High Command, acting' in the name of the Gorman people, and that the nation should be informed, that it is not acts of war that have been committed, but crimes, and that its- responsibility is therefore involved. This stop is urged for the sate of the towns and villages in the north and in Bolgium, when the time arrives for the enemy tobe hunted from them.. "Indescribable is tho senseless yandelism perpetrated in the Aisne. Many, of tho small towns and villages -which havefigured in tho French and British communiques are.merely names. Tho only traces of them are those, left by tho Ger-. man torch and mine. '.' .:. \'.' "Village cantons and oommunes nna been wiped out of-exist'once, not by shelling, be it known,. lmt„by sheer destruction—bv burning-andj. mine explosions. Evidently the enemy • came to the con-clusion-that he. was not-likely to re. occupy them, and decided to lay them waste." ■ -