The energy of these protests is wonderful if one considers the conditions in which they have been made.  The town councillors of Tournai were asked to draw up a list of unemployed.  They refused; as the Germans insisted, they passed the following resolution:  “The municipal council decide to persevere in their negative attitude....  The city of Tournai is prepared to submit without resistance to all the exigencies authorized by the laws and customs of the war.  Its sincerity cannot be doubted, as it has shown perfect composure and has avoided any act of hostility during a period of over two years ...  But, at the same time, the municipal council could not furnish weapons against their own children, fully conscious that natural law and international law, which is derived from it, forbids them to do so.” (October 20th, 1916).  We possess also the German answer, signed by Major-General Hopfer.  It is a necessary supplement to von Bissing’s unctuous literature.  Major-General Hopfer calls the resolution “an act of arrogance without precedent.”  According to him, “the state of affairs, clearly and simply, is this:  the military authority commands, the municipality has to obey.  If it fails to do so it will have to support the heavy consequences.”  A fine of 200,000 marks is exacted from the town for its refusal, besides 20,000 marks for every day of delay until the lists are completed.

The case of Tournai, like that of Antoing and a good many small towns, is typical.  The officers commanding in these districts either disregard the “mot d’ordre” given in Brussels or do not think it worth their while to keep up the sinister comedy played in the large towns.  Here “Kultur” throws off her mask and the brute appears.  We know at least where we stand.  The conflict is cleared of all false pretence and paltry excuses.  The councillors of Tournai appeal to some law, divine or human, which forbids a brother to betray his brother.  It is not without relief that we hear the genuine voice of Major Hopfer declaring that there is no other law than his good pleasure.  That settles everything and puts the case of Belgium in a nut-shell.  Men like him and the commander of the Antoing district—­another Major, by the way—­are invaluable.  But they will never become Generals unless they mend their manners.

From the perusal of the Belgian protests and of all particulars received, two things appear clearly:  First, in spite of all the official declarations, whether the raiders are able or not to get hold of the lists, there is no real discrimination between employed or unemployed.  And, secondly, in many districts, unemployment has been deliberately created by the authorities in order to justify the deportations.