TRVANNY IN ALSACE.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 December 1918, Page 5

TRVANNY IN ALSACE.

The official stenographic report of a debate in thef German Reichstag contains the following passages of a speech delivered by the Socialist, Herr Wendcl, who said : “During the last few days we have heard many reports of violence and tryanny and administrative injustice, perpetrated in Prussia and other parts of Germany but all these things are mere trifles compared with the cruelty perpetuated day by day in Alsace-Lor-raine. The tortures inflicted on the Alsatians have nothing to do with the war; they are quite unnecessary and cannot be justified by any reason whatever.” Herr Wendel proceeded to give many examples of the facts of cruelty perpetrated in Alsace-Lor-raine, and concluded“ The result of all these abuses is that Germany has entirely lost the confidence of the inhabitants of Alsace-Lorraine. I believe that if a vote had been taken before the war the majority of the inhabitants would have decided to remain subjects of Germany. But ias things are to-day I am convinced that four-fifths of the inhabitants of Al-sace-Lorraine 'would vote If or (union with France, if only to demonstrate their bitter discontent with the present system of military tryanny.”