World War I: 100 Years Ago – Jan. 20-26

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 26: A mass meeting of 2,600 Indianapolis citizens was held last evening at the Murat Theater to protest the deportation of thousands of Belgian men by the German government into Germany to perform involuntary labor. A little group of Belgians was the center of attention at the meeting because they represented the country whose cause has been endorsed by President Wilson. Indianapolis Anglican Bishop Joseph Francis said the meeting represented the brotherhood of nations and the protest was against the great wrong which had been committed against civilization and against Almighty God. Mme. Leon Dupriez, of Louvain, Belgium, told of German soldiers quartered in her house and of many noncombatants shot by the Germans on the charge of “sniping.” Booth Tarkington, vice president of the committee which called the meeting, was seated on stage.