[Sidenote: Villages made responsible.] "The villages where acts of hostility shall be committed by the inhabitants against our troops _will be burned_. "For all destruction of roads, railways, bridges, etc., _the villages in the neighborhood_ of the destruction _will be held responsible_. "The punishments announced above will be carried out severely and without mercy. _The whole community will be held responsible._ Hostages will be taken in large numbers. The heaviest war taxes will be levied." At the end of the _Appeal to Truth_ Cardinal Mercier says: "But we can not say all here, nor quote all. [Sidenote: Cardinal Mercier has proofs.] "If, however, our readers wish for the proof of the accusations * * * we shall be glad to furnish them. There is not in our letter, nor in the four annexes [to the _Appeal to Truth_], one allegation of which we have not the proofs in our records." A striking illustration of the German methods is contained in the archives of the State Department, because the Prince of Monaco appealed to President Wilson against the injustice of a fine imposed upon a small and impoverished village. The following documents from the State Department archives tell the story. They need no comments. "PARIS, _Oct. 27, 1914_. "SECRETARY OF STATE, "_Washington_. "Prince of Monaco called this morning and asked that the following case be submitted to the President: [Sidenote: The case of Sissonne.] "Prince states that General von Bülow for weeks has been inhabiting Prince's ancestral château near Rheims, historical monument, containing works of art and family heirlooms; that von Bülow has imposed fine of five hundred thousand francs on village of Sissonne some miles distant from château, because broken glass found on road near village. Sissonne being unable alone to pay has raised with a number of other neighboring villages one hundred twenty-five thousand francs but von Bülow has sent two messengers from Sissonne to Prince that unless latter pays fine for Sissonne the château and adjoining village, as well as Sissonne, will be destroyed on November first. Prince has answered refusing to pay sum now but willing to give his word to German Emperor that amount would be paid after removal of danger of fresh war incidents. Prince now fearful lest returning messengers, as well as male employees on his estate, be shot because of refusal to pay. "I have arranged meeting this afternoon between Spanish Ambassador and Prince, to whom I have suggested that matter be presented to German Government through Spanish Ambassador at Berlin inasmuch as Prince's threatened property is in France. "HERRICK." "ARMY HEADQUARTERS, "_Warmériville, Sept. 19th, 1914_. "TO the MAYOR OF THE COMMUNE OF SISSONNE, "_Sissonne_. [Sidenote: Von Bülow's levy on Sissonne.]