A War Contribution, amounting to 480,000,000 francs, to be paid in
monthly installments over the course of a year, is imposed on the
population of Belgium.
The payment of these sums devolves upon the Nine Provinces, which are
held collectively responsible for the discharge of it.
The two first installments are to be paid up, at latest, on January 15,
1915, and the following installments on the 10th, at latest, of each
following month, to the Field Army Treasury of the Imperial
Governor-Generalship at Brussels.
In case the Provinces have to resort to the issue of bonds in order to
obtain the funds necessary, the form and terms of these bonds will be
settled by the Imperial Commissary-General for the Banks in Belgium.
BARON VON BISSING,
_Governor-General in Belgium._
_Brussels, December 10, 1914._
[Illustration]
_A FACT_
_This brutalism by Major Tille of the German Army on a small boy of
Maastricht was vouched for by an eye-witness._
[Illustration]
_TO YOUR HEALTH, CIVILIZATION!_