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Show HUN THREATS TO 1 DESTHDY MINES America Enters Protest Against Germany's Wanton Acts. WASHINGTON, Nov. 7. Secretary Lansing made public today a message to the German government, through the Swiss minister, protesting against the reported re-ported intention of the German authorities authori-ties in Belgium to destroy coal mines upon evacuation. If the acts contemplated are carried out, the message says, it will confirm "the belief that the solemn assurances assur-ances of tho German government are not given In good faith." Tho note addressed to the Swiss minister min-ister follows: "I have the honor to request that you Will bring tho following to the attention of the German government: 1 "In Its note of October 20 tho German government announced that 'The German troops are under the strictest instructions instruc-tions to spare private property and to exorcise care for tho population to the best of their ability.' ''Information has now reached the government gov-ernment of the I!nited Stales to , the effect that the German authorities In Belgium have given notice to the coal mining companies that all men and animals ani-mals should be brought out of the pits; l ha f. all raw materials in the possession of the companies should be delivered to Die Germans, and that tho mines will bo destroyed at once. "Acts so wanton and malicious, involving involv-ing as they do the destruction of a vital necessity to tho civilian population of Helium and tho consequent sufTering and loss of human life which will follow, cannot fall to Impress the government nnd tho people of the United States as wilfully cruel and inhuman. If these acts, In flagrant violation of the declaration declara-tion of October 20, are perpetrated, It will confirm the belief that the solemn assurances of the German government are not given in good faith. In the circumstances, circum-stances, the government of the fTnited States, to which the declaration of October Octo-ber 20 was made, enters an emphatic protest against the measures contemplated contem-plated by the German authorities, for whose conduct the government of Germany Ger-many Is wholly responsible." |