3. A decree drawn up July 19, 1916, but not published till Sept. 12, 1916, declares 75 per cent. of this material subject to seizure by the Militärisches Textil-Beschaffungsamt. 4. Later decrees of seizure cover materials overlooked in these. STRIPPING BELGIUM OF METALS Every scrap of metal in the conquered countries that could possibly be seized has been confiscated. The ordinance below is given as an example of the thoroughness of the system of requisitions. The prices to be paid were entirely too low, and the sixth section shows that the owners were not expected to part with their property willingly. The ordinance was issued at Brussels Dec. 13, 1916: SECTION I. The following designated objects are hereby seized and must be delivered. SECTION II. Movable and fixed household articles made of copper, tin, nickel, brass, bronze or tombac, whatever their state: 1. Kitchen utensils, metal ware, and household utensils, except cutlery. 2. Wash basins, bathtubs, warm-water heaters and reservoirs. 3. Individual or firm name plates in and on the houses, doorknobs, knockers, and metal decorations on doors and carriages not necessary for locking. 4. Curtain rods and holders and stair carpet fixtures. 5. Scales. 6. All other household articles or adornments made of tin. The articles included under the numerals 1-6 are subject to seizure and delivery even when not contained in households in the narrow sense, but in other inhabited or uninhabited buildings and rooms, (_e. g._, offices of authorities, office rooms in factories and entries.) SECTION III. Exempt from seizure and delivery: 1. Articles on and in churches and other buildings and rooms dedicated to religious services. 2. Articles in hospitals and clinics, as well as in the private offices of physicians, apothecaries, and healers, so far as these articles are essential to the care of the sick or the practice of medicine and cannot be replaced. 3. Articles in public buildings. 4. Articles which are part of commercial or industrial stores either designated for sale or useful in the business. For these articles a special decree is enacted.[3] [Footnote 3: Such articles in trade and industry were declared seized Dec. 30, 1916. The form of that edict is practically the same as this, penalties being somewhat higher. The listing of these articles had occurred in July, 1916. Other items were added later and all were now declared seized.] SECTION IV. Procedure of seizure is as follows: All alteration of the articles subject to seizure is forbidden. All judicial disposition or change of ownership is interdicted, except in so far as the following paragraphs permit.