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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b840b4e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #54296 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54296) diff --git a/old/54296-8.txt b/old/54296-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e77dcc5..0000000 --- a/old/54296-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14057 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The German Army in Belgium, the White Book -of May 1915, by E. N. Bennett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915 - -Author: E. N. Bennett - -Release Date: March 7, 2017 [EBook #54296] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - - THE GERMAN ARMY - IN BELGIUM - - THE WHITE BOOK OF MAY 1915 - - TRANSLATED BY - E.N. BENNETT - - _Late Capt. 4th Batt. Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, - formerly Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford_ - - WITH A - FOREWORD ON MILITARY REPRISALS - IN BELGIUM AND IRELAND - - [Illustration] - - NEW YORK - B.W. HUEBSCH, INC. - MCMXXI - - - - -FOREWORD - - -The Allied case against Germany with respect to the conduct of the -Kaiser's troops in Belgium rests mainly on four publications. (1) -"The Report of the Belgian Commission of Inquiry." (2) The Belgian -"_Rapports sur la Violation du Droit des Gens en Belgique_." (3) The -Belgian "Reply to the German White Book." (4) The "Bryce Report." It -was the last of these which mainly influenced British and American -opinion. This famous compilation owed much to the reputation of the -eminent scholar who presided over the Enquiry, and to the names -of Messrs. Fisher, Harold Cox and others who were members of the -Commission. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that our experience -during the storm and stress of the war does not indicate that our -literary and intellectual leaders have as a class shown either greater -fidelity to principle or less susceptibility to the evil influences of -war-fever, than the ordinary man in the street; and now that the more -salient symptoms of this fever are abating and prejudice is slowly -being replaced by reasoned judgment, the Bryce report can no longer -retain unchallenged its claim to present a critical and convincing -record of unquestioned facts. The numerous statements which it embodies -were mainly derived from Belgian refugees who had reached our shores. -Very many of these men and women were naturally in a state of nervous -excitement and full of bitter indignation against the invaders of their -soil. Such mental conditions are never conducive to the presentation -of accurate and veridical evidence. Further it is obvious that -some of these refugees were not eye-witnesses of the outrages they -describe, for they had fled from their homes and merely record their -own inferences as to events which had occurred during their absence. -Another serious weakness in the Report arises from the fact that -the various barristers and others who were sent round to interview -these refugees were with very few exceptions quite unable to converse -fluently in French and wholly ignorant of Flemish. Finally, none of -the evidence was taken on oath. Here then we have an ill-digested mass -of unsworn statements--some merely at second-hand--made by excited and -angry Belgians, and transmitted by interpreters, themselves unsworn, -which is presented to the world as final and conclusive proof of -Germany's guilt, while at the same time the publication in this country -of a plain translation of Germany's official defence against these -charges was forbidden by the Censor. The testimony of the Bryce Report -served its purpose and aroused a volume of indignant and scandalised -opinion which provided one of the sharpest weapons employed against our -chief enemy; but it must be admitted that the methods by which it was -compiled were so lax and uncritical that the results sink far below the -level ordinarily demanded by the serious historian. - -The definite and fundamental contention of both the Bryce and the -Belgian Reports is that, with the possible exception of a very few -and very doubtful cases, no civilian attacks were made on the German -troops. This point is strongly and repeatedly emphasised. - -"The German Government" says the Bryce Report, page 31, "have sought -to justify their severities on the ground of military necessity and -have excused them as retaliation for cases in which civilians fired -on German troops. There may have been such cases in which such firing -occurred, but no proof has ever been given, or to our knowledge -attempted to be given of such cases, nor of the stories of shocking -outrages perpetrated by Belgian men and women on German soldiers." - -The Belgian Reply to the White Book (p. 7) is still more emphatic. -"As a matter of fact the so-called Belgian _francs-tireurs_ were -non-existent.... The theory of an armed resistance on the part of the -Belgian civil population to the German troops is utterly opposed to -the facts." The following statement of Monseigneur Haylen is quoted: -"We declare in concert with the whole Belgian people that the story -of Belgian _francs-tireurs_ is a myth, an invention and a calumny. We -do not hesitate most solemnly to defy the German Government to prove -the existence of a single group of _francs-tireurs_.... We have no -knowledge even of an isolated case of civilians having fired on the -troops.... In no single case was the supposed culprit named." - -Such is the position definitely taken up by the official Reports -and adopted by an overwhelming majority of people in Great Britain -and America, to go no further. Nevertheless I have always found it -difficult to accord unquestioning acceptance to the popular belief. -From an _a priori_ point of view it is difficult to believe that -German troops, probably the most sternly disciplined and best educated -soldiers in the world, should have deliberately gone out of their way -to shoot innocent civilians in Belgium and destroy their property -for no apparent reason at all. To embroil themselves wilfully with -the civilian inhabitants at a time when every minute was precious in -their scheme of a rapid advance against the Anglo-French forces was -obviously the last thing the invaders would desire. The supposition -that the Germans indulged in appalling and indiscriminate acts of -terrorism against quite innocent people in order to secure the safety -of their lines of communication is ridiculous on the face of it. In -short, the current view of "Belgian atrocities," admirably as it served -its purpose as valuable propaganda, contains within itself so many -difficulties that no fair-minded historian of the future could accept -it as it stands. - -We have seen the evidence adduced to prove Germany's misdeeds in -Belgium. Why have we been prevented from seeing Germany's defence -against these charges? In any civilised society, even the vilest -criminal is allowed to defend himself. What is the use of "defying -Germany" to prove a single case of _franc-tireur_ action and at the -same time depriving the public of all access to the German White Book -with its long list of specific outrages supported by sworn evidence? - -Here then is presented for the first time in Great Britain Germany's -official reply to the charges formulated against her troops during -their passage through Belgium. The reader can judge of the evidence -for himself. To refuse it a hearing on the _a priori_ assumption that, -as Mr. Bonar Law declared in the House of Commons, it was "full of -lies," or that nothing that a German states could be true, is scarcely -worthy of a sane and judicial mind. Nor do I hesitate to say in this -respect that any Englishman who knew his Europe in pre-war days would -have regarded the sworn testimony of a German as at least quite as -trustworthy as the unsworn evidence of a Belgian. - -But apart from the Bryce and Belgian Reports on the one hand and the -German White Book on the other there exists a mass of evidence hitherto -almost unknown in Great Britain or America--I refer to the evidence -of the Belgian Press in the early days of the invasion. Here are some -extracts from well-known newspapers:-- - - The _Het Handelsblad_ of Antwerp, August 6th, 1914:--"A furious - struggle without mercy, which roused in a portion of the civilian - population of the Low Countries, disturbed in its peaceful work of - the fields, a veritable and violent desire to defend the natal soil - against the Prussian traitors.... It is incontestable that from the - air-holes of the cellars, loopholes in the roofs made by removing - tiles, from houses, farms and cabins a terrible fire was directed on - the Uhlan and Silesian assailants." - - _Nieuwe Gazet_, August 8th:--De Burgerij Schiet Mee Op Den Indringer. - ("The citizens also fire on the invaders.") "At Bernot the outposts - had to fight against the civilians who fired like madmen at the - invaders from houses, roofs and windows. Some women even took part - in the struggle. A young girl, eighteen years of age, armed with a - revolver, fired at an officer.... The peasants and inhabitants kept up - a regular fusillade against the Germans." - - _Het Handelsblad_, No. 190:--"The peasants seized their sporting guns - and killed the officer who was commanding the detachment and several - men." - - _Nouveau Précurseur_, Antwerp, says _à propos_ of the massacre of - Berneau:--"The priest of the village gives the signal to fire with a - sporting gun from the belfry of the village. He was surrounded, forced - to descend and shot." This is given as the account of an eye-witness. - - _Matin_, Antwerp, No. 225:--"At Dormael the three brothers Sevenans - who had fired on the Germans were shot; their bodies were pierced by - lance-wounds and their house was burnt down." - - _Nouveau Précurseur_, No. 223:--"It is no laughing matter. All the - people, soldiers, Gardes Civiques or armed villagers take their - task seriously.... It is no longer a question of soldiers or of the - regular Gardes Civiques. These are villagers and retired members - of the Garde. The majority are armed with sporting guns, several - have revolvers and a few have sabres in addition." This is followed - by the following advice from an officer of the Belgian Staff to a - civilian correspondent:--"Take care not to fall into the hands of the - Uhlans.... Never abandon your revolver; if you see them, fire at them - but do not stop for a moment, it would mean death." - - _Burgerwelzijn_, Bruges, No. 95, gives the following account of the - fighting at Herstael:--"Some 2,000 Germans had penetrated as far as - the National Arms Factory and were received by a hail of bullets. All - the houses, even the smallest, had been transformed into veritable - fortresses. In addition to this, barricades had been erected in the - streets, behind which soldiers and civilians were posted ready to - fire. Women and children brought up the supplies of ammunition. The - resistance lasted until all the men and women were _hors de combat_. - The Germans then penetrated into the village, no longer fighting under - command, but firing independently. They sheltered themselves behind - a few remaining bushes, for the inhabitants had burned and destroyed - everything which could serve as cover. Their trumpets rallied them, - at least those who survived, and they retired on Vivegnies. It was - with real joy that the inhabitants had seen the enemy disappear, when - the sound of a trumpet was suddenly heard. The Uhlans had remounted - and were advancing on the village at a trot while the infantry at the - same time wheeling to the right attacked the village from the flank. - The population allowed the assailants to approach. The attack of the - Uhlans was terrible, no less terrible the resistance of the villagers. - Men, women and children opened such a frightful fire on the enemy that - the first ranks tumbled one on the other. The Germans nevertheless - entered the village streets, cavalry in front, infantry behind, while - the exasperated populace did not cease to overwhelm the enemy with its - fire. The women poured boiling oil and water on the German soldiers - who rolled on the ground howling with the pain. It will be some time - before the people in Germany learn what the assailants of the village - of Herstael went through; one can, in fact, count on five fingers - those who escaped alive from the carnage." - - _La Presse_, Antwerp, No. 213:--"Fighting in the streets of Liège": - "Liège is resisting marvellously. The inhabitants uniting with the - Garde Civique are fighting in the streets." - - _La Métropole_, Antwerp, August 8th:--"Some of the inhabitants of - Liège broke open the window of a gunsmith's shop, seized guns, - revolvers and cartridges and pursued the Uhlans to the outskirts of - the town." - - _Nouveau Précurseur_, No. 225, _apropos_ of the battle of - Haelen:--"Lieutenant Van Doren, 4th Chasseurs-à-cheval, charged with - the defence of the town of Diest, had not a single soldier at his - disposal. He appealed to the volunteer firemen of Diest. These as one - man demanded to march to the firing line.... Three of the firemen were - slightly wounded; their names are Emil Kneuts, Louis Van Attenhoven - and Leandre Segars." - - With regard to the incidents at Visé:-- - - _De Stem van Haspengouw_, August 6th:--"The Germans entered Visé where - they met with a vigorous resistance not only on the part of a small - detachment of soldiers who were there but also on the part of the - civilians. The Germans completely destroyed the town." - - The _Nieuwe Gazet_, August 7th:--"Some women and civilians have fired - on the Germans who have shown themselves pitiless in sparing nothing." - - Another correspondent of the same paper describes what he saw at Visé: - "Young and old ran to take up arms, and if they were unable to stop - the murderous advance of the German cavalry, the inhabitants at least - resisted till the last moment. People fired from the houses upon the - Germans, who, in conformity with the laws of war, in these cases, - accorded no mercy. They penetrated into the houses from which the - shots had been fired and shot a certain number of inhabitants found - with arms in their hands." - - _Nieuwe Gazet_, August 8th:--"After the German artillery had set some - houses on fire, the infantry marched to the attack. This was not - only directed against the soldiers, but also against the civilian - population who took part in the combat. People shoot from the houses, - small boys and women bombard the assailants with stones, and even some - old men from behind the doors fire on the advancing soldiers." - - The paper goes on to tell us that a German Officer assembled the - inhabitants round him and was urging them to remain calm. "Scarcely - had the officer closed his mouth, when a shot suddenly fired at him - caused him to fall dead to the ground." - - _Gazette de Liège_, August 5th--"The inhabitants of the country side - display a fine enthusiasm; all the peasants are in ambush, armed with - their sporting guns ready to fire on the invader." - -In the face of such evidence, much of it furnished by correspondents -who were eye-witnesses of what occurred, the main contention of the -Belgian and Bryce Reports falls to the ground. The Belgian criticism -of these statements as "taken from second-rate papers," "proving -nothing," "unimportant," is obviously futile. That the German troops -were confronted with a wide-spread and determined opposition on the -part of armed civilians in flagrant violation of the Laws of War must -be accepted as a fact established by evidence varied, cumulative and -irresistible. On the other hand it is clear that no final verdict can -be passed on the vexed question of the Belgian atrocities in general, -until the unsworn evidence accumulated against the Kaiser's troops -has been met to a much fuller extent. The White Book does not cover -more than the incidents which occurred at Dinant, Aerschot, Andenne, -Louvain, and the neighbourhood of Visé. While therefore it disproves, -in conjunction with the Belgian evidence cited above, the propaganda -plea that the story of civilian attacks was a myth, it does not of -course deal with more than a portion of the ground covered by the -British and Belgian Reports. Before any complete decision can be -reached we should require official replies from the German Government -to a variety of alleged outrages in dozens of villages like Gomery, -Latour, Ethe, the horrible charge of the shooting of the Valckenaers -family at Thildonck, and so on. There were certain cases, one of them -known to the writer, in which mistakes and misunderstandings led to -the execution of innocent civilians. Full allowance, too, must be -made for the existence in all conscript armies of brutal and criminal -types--not confined to the rank and file--and for the demoralising -effects to which all the armies of the war were exposed whenever an -abundant supply of wines and spirits was easily accessible by purchase -or looting. - -Nevertheless the fact that the main position taken up by the Allied -Reports is obviously untenable, coupled with the significant refusal -to allow the official German defence access to our shores, and the -deliberate and disgraceful circulation of pseudo-atrocity stories -during the war, would seem to suggest that as regards some at least -of the alleged incidents lying outside the White Book suspense of -judgment, pending further researches, may be the wisest attitude. -Some day a useful and interesting monograph may be written on the -whole question of atrocities in war. Careful investigation would, I -am convinced, yield psychological results of permanent value, and -establish the fact that the mental attitude which originates or accepts -atrocity stories is frequently based on an amazing inter-mixture of -credulity, mal-observation, megalomaniac impulses and deception, -conscious or unconscious. - -Meanwhile it is evident that the immense outlay of money and energy -expended on the propaganda publications of the Entente fully -accomplished their object and contributed most effectively towards -winning what President Wilson has described as "a commercial and -industrial war." Nevertheless the impartial historian of the future -will, I think, present the story of the German invasion of Belgium in a -somewhat different light from that in which this chapter of history has -been portrayed in the official propaganda of the Allied Powers. - - * * * * * - -The final conclusions arrived at will perhaps be shaped on these -lines:-- - -(1) That the Allied propagandists adopted methods of investigation -which were often superficial and inadequate and accepted, together with -certain evidence which was valid, much that was unsound and worthless. - -(2) That the official defence put forward by the enemy was to a very -large extent ignored or suppressed. - -(3) That according to the recognised usages of war the German troops -were fully justified in taking reprisals on the persons or property of -those Belgian civilians who actually attacked them. - -(4) That in some cases this right was exercised with unreasonable -severity, and without adequate discrimination. - -(5) That in certain instances, _e.g._, the shooting of the hostages at -Les Rivages, the invaders acted in a manner condemned by the general -consensus of civilised opinion. - - * * * * * - -The civilised world was invited to condemn the German reprisals of -1914 in Belgium. What verdict will it record with reference to British -reprisals in Ireland six years later? - -The analogies inevitably suggested between the two cases are not as -clear as they might at first sight appear to be. - -(1) The civilians who fired on the invaders in Belgium were irregular -combatants wholly distinct from the recognised Belgian Army. They were -in fact _francs-tireurs_ and nothing else. The men who are fighting -against the troops of the Crown in Ireland constitute the only hostile -force we have to meet. They are certainly not _francs-tireurs_: the -question is, are they rebels or, as they have consistently claimed -to be, combatants in civil war? If the former, they are technically -outlaws and cannot claim belligerent rights. But the Prime Minister -has himself definitely stated that "civil war" is being waged in -Ireland and this statement appears to be in strict accord with -international law, which makes a clear distinction between "rebellion" -and "civil war."[1] Rebellion is action undertaken by sporadic groups -of individuals with little organisation and hopelessly inferior in -numbers to the forces of the existing Government. The Irish Republican -troops on the other hand are organised in Divisions, Brigades and -Battalions, are controlled by responsible leaders, and greatly -outnumber the military and armed police forces opposed to them. Their -claim therefore to be combatants engaged in civil war and, as such, -to be treated in accordance with the rights and usages of war, seems -well grounded. Had this claim been admitted from the commencement, the -hideous death-reprisals indulged in on both sides would probably never -have occurred. Such acts as the ambushing of troops in lorries or on -foot are of course perfectly legitimate methods of offence in ordinary -warfare. - -[Footnote 1: _Vide_ Sir T. Barclay, "Laws of War" (_Encyc. Brit._). - -Even rebels, when fighting for a political object, are, according to -high authorities like Bluntschli and Fiore, entitled to belligerent -rights, and must not be treated as a "crowd of criminals" (eine Masse -von Verbrechern). - -_Cf._ Bluntschli (Das moderne Völkerrecht VIII. 512).--Wird sie dagegen -nur strafrechtlich verfolgt, so wird dadurch der tatsächliche Kampf -verwildert und es ist Gefahr dass die beiden streitenden Parteien -in die Barbarei versinken und einander mit grausamen Represalien zu -überbieten suchen. What a prophetic picture of Ireland in 1921!] - -(2) As far as can be gathered from the White Book, the _francs-tireurs_ -who fired on Belgian troops were, even when caught _flagrante delicto_, -usually accorded a drum-head court-martial or summary trial. But many -instances have occurred in Ireland when unarmed men have been shot dead -in or near their homes and sometimes in their beds, without even the -semblance of a trial. - -(3) Military reprisals in Belgium were, at any rate, regular in one -respect: they were carried out under orders. According to the "Manual -of Military Law," compiled for the use of our own Army, no reprisals -are legitimate unless ordered by an officer. It is obvious that in very -many cases Irish reprisals have been executed by the rank and file on -their own responsibility, in total disregard of military discipline, -but with complete immunity from punishment. Certain of these reprisals, -_e.g._, the shooting down of men, women and children at Croke Park, far -exceed in atrocity anything proved against the Germans in Belgium. - -(4) Although houses were frequently destroyed by the Germans the -pretext in every case was that from these houses civilians had fired -upon the troops. No parallel, as far as I can see, exists for the -amazing Order issued in Cork to the effect that houses with their -furniture are to be burnt because the occupants "must have known -of ambushes" in the neighbourhood and "ought to have informed the -authorities." Nor again is any parallel found in the White Book to the -reckless destruction in Cork of public and private buildings, including -the Free Library, as a reprisal for an ambush outside the city, or for -the burning of creameries, factories, farms and haystacks in a general -campaign of vengeance. It seems clear that fresh precedents are here -established which are certainly not covered by the rules of civilised -warfare, and run counter to the ordinary laws of reason and humanity. - -(5) The use of hostages has been adopted in Ireland, as in Belgium, for -there is little discrimination in principle between shooting hostages -and exposing them to death on military lorries from the fire of their -compatriots. - -Although the question of hostages is not covered by the Regulations of -either Geneva or the Hague, the claim to inflict injury or death on -innocent persons in order to bring pressure to bear on an enemy force -is now generally condemned as a barbarous and obsolete usage of war, -and as such is expressly discountenanced by our "Manual of Military -Law" (page 306). - - - - -PREFACE - - -Immediately after the outbreak of the present war, the Belgian civil -population began a wild contest against the German troops, which -constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, and resulted in -the most serious consequences for Belgium and its people. - -This struggle of a populace governed by the rudest passions raged -during the entire forward march of the German Army through Belgium. -When the Belgian Army had retired before the German troops, after -obstinate combats, the Belgian civil population in the unoccupied -parts of the country endeavoured to hinder the German advance by -every possible means; moreover, even in the places which had been -in possession of German troops for a long time, the inhabitants had -no hesitation in trying to damage and weaken the German forces by -cowardly and treacherous attacks. The full extent of this armed popular -resistance can be gauged from the accompanying sketch-map (App. 1), -wherein the German lines of advance and the Belgian places in which the -civilian fighting took place are marked. That along these routes and at -these places the Belgian civil population of every grade, age, and sex -took part with the greatest bitterness and fury in the fights against -the German troops can be proved from existing and weighty material, -supported by official documents containing the results secured by -examinations on oath and official reports. A selection from this -material is given in the various Appendices, which, however, only deal -with the most important events, and can be supplemented at any time by -further extracts. According to the accompanying material the Belgian -civil population fought against the German troops in many places in the -provinces of Liège (Apps. 2-10), Luxembourg (Apps. 11-30), Namur (Apps. -12, 17, 31-42), Hainault (Apps. 3, 7, 10, 40, 43-46, 49), Brabant -(Apps. 47-49), East and West Flanders (Apps. 49, 50). The fights were -of a particularly dreadful character in Aerschot, Andenne, Dinant, and -Louvain, and about these places special reports were delivered by -the Military Court of Examinations, instituted by the Ministry of War -for the purpose of inquiring into the violations of the laws of war -(Apps. A, B, C, D). According to these reports, men in all stations of -life--workmen, factory owners, doctors, teachers, even priests, not to -speak of women and children--were arrested with weapons in their hands -(Apps. 18, 20, 25, 27, 43, 47; A5; C18, 26, 29, 31, 41, 45, 48); in -districts from which the Belgian regular troops had long since retired -the Germans were fired on from houses and gardens, roofs and cellars, -fields and woods. In the fighting, methods were employed to which -regular troops would certainly not have resorted, and large quantities -of sporting-guns and ammunition, out-of-date revolvers and pistols -were also found (Apps. 6, 11, 13, 26, 36, 37, 44, 48, 49; A2; C52, 81; -D1, 2, 6, 20, 37); in consequence, there were numerous cases of wounds -caused by small-shot, and also by scalding with hot tar and boiling -water (Apps. 3, 10; B2; C5, 11, 28, 57; D25, 29). In view of all these -facts, there can be no doubt that the uprising in Belgium was not -undertaken by isolated civilians, but by large masses of the population. - -The methods of fighting employed by the civilian population were -absolutely incompatible with the universally recognised rules of -international law, as laid down in Articles 1 and 2 of the Hague -Convention (Laws and Customs of War on Land), which had also been -accepted by Belgium. These rules differentiate between organised and -unorganised civilian warfare. In an organised People's War (Article -1) the militia and volunteer corps, in order to be recognised as -belligerents, must observe the four following regulations: They must -have responsible leaders at their head; they must wear a distinctive -badge, also visible at a distance; they must carry their weapons -openly; and must conform with the laws and usages of war. The -unorganised People's War (Article 2) need not fulfil the first two of -the above conditions, but must strictly adhere to the two latter ones: -it may only be carried on in territory not yet occupied by the enemy, -and only then if no time has been left to arrange for an organised -People's War. - -The two special conditions laid down for organised civilian warfare -were certainly not carried out by the Belgian francs-tireurs, because -all the German military reports are unanimous in stating that the -civilians found fighting had no responsible leaders, and wore no -military badges (Apps. 6, 49; C4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31; D). The -Belgian francs-tireurs can therefore not be looked upon as organised -militia or volunteer corps according to the meaning of the laws of war. -The fact that apparently Belgian soldiers and members of the Garde -Civique also took part in their enterprises does not alter the case, -because, as these persons too did not wear military badges, but mingled -with the population in civilian dress (Apps. 6; A3; C25; D1, 30, 45, -46), they forfeited the rights of belligerents. - -The whole of the Belgian People's War can therefore only be regarded -as an unorganised armed opposition of the civilian population. Being -as such only permissible in unoccupied territory, it was without -doubt absolutely against international law, when carried out in -places already in the possession of German troops, as, for instance, -in Aerschot, Andenne, and Louvain. But also in those places not yet -occupied by German troops unorganised civilian war was not permissible, -as the Belgian Government had had ample time to organise civilian -war in accordance with international law. The Belgian Government -had reckoned with the fact for many years, that in the event of an -outbreak of war between Germany and France they would be drawn into -the conflict; the preparations for their mobilisation were, as can -be proved, commenced at least a week before the entry of the German -troops. The Government were therefore in the position to provide those -members of the civilian population they proposed to make use of for -fighting purposes with military badges, and give them responsible -leaders. If the Belgian Government made known to the German Government -through the mediation of a neutral Power that they had taken the -necessary measures, this only proves that they were in a position to -comply with the conditions as laid down; in any case, however, such -steps were not taken in those parts of the country traversed by the -German troops. - -The requirements of international law for an unorganised People's War -were, according to this, quite disregarded in Belgium, and, moreover, -it was carried on in a manner which alone would have sufficed to have -put those who participated in it outside the laws of war. For the -Belgian francs-tireurs regularly carried their weapons in a concealed -fashion, and failed to observe the laws and usages of war throughout. - -On unimpeachable evidence it has been proved that, in a large number -of cases, the German troops were received by the inhabitants on their -arrival in an apparently friendly manner, and then, when darkness set -in, or some other opportunity presented itself, were surprised by an -armed attack; such cases occurred especially in Blegny, Esneux, Grand -Rosière, Bièvre, Gouvy, Villers devant Orval, Sainte-Marie, Les Bulles, -Yschippe, Acoz, Aerschot, Andenne, and Louvain (Apps. 3, 8, 11-13, 18, -22, 28, 31, 43; A, B, D). All these surprise attacks obviously offend -against the precept of international law that weapons are to be carried -openly. - -The chief burden of blame which rests on the Belgian people is, -however, their unheard-of violation of the usages of war. In several -places, for instance Liège, Herve, Brussels, Aerschot, Dinant, and -Louvain, German soldiers were treacherously murdered (Apps. 18, 55, -61, 65, 66; A1; C56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78), which is absolutely against -the prohibition which forbids the "treacherous killing or wounding -of individuals belonging to the enemy people or army" (Article 23, -Section 1 (b) of the Hague Convention: The Laws and Customs of War on -Land). Further, the Belgian population did not respect the sign of -the Red Cross, and thereby offended against Article 9 of the Geneva -Convention of July 6th, 1906; in particular, they did not hesitate to -fire upon the German troops under the protection of this sign, and also -to attack hospitals in which there were wounded, as well as members of -the Ambulance Corps, while they were carrying out their duties (Apps. -3, 4, 12, 19, 23, 28, 29, 32, 41, 49; C9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70; D9, 21, -25-29, 38, 47). Finally, it is absolutely certain that German wounded -were plundered and killed by the Belgian population, and indeed in many -cases horribly mutilated; and that even women and young girls took -part in these shameful actions. In this way the eyes of German wounded -were torn out, ears, noses, fingers, and sexual organs cut off, or -their bodies slit open (Apps. 54-66; C73, 78; D35, 37); in other cases, -German soldiers were poisoned, hung on trees, deluged with burning -fluid or otherwise burnt, so that they died a particularly agonising -death (Apps. 50, 55, 63; C56, 59, 61, 67, 74-78). This bestial -behaviour on the part of the population is not only absolutely contrary -to the express obligation laid down in Article 1, Section 1 of the -Geneva Convention regarding the "respect and care of" the wounded and -sick of the enemy army, but also to the first principles of the laws of -war and humanity. - -Under these circumstances, the Belgian civil population who took part -in the fights could of course make no claim to the treatment due to -belligerents. On the contrary, it was absolutely necessary for the -preservation of the German Army to have recourse to the sharpest -measures against these francs-tireurs. Individuals who fought against -the German troops had therefore to be cut down; prisoners could not -be treated as prisoners of war, according to the laws of war, but as -murderers. All the same, the forms of judicial procedure were complied -with, in so far as they were compatible with the necessities of war; -the prisoners were, when the circumstances permitted, only shot after -a hearing in accordance with the regulations, or after sentence by a -military court (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48). Old men, women, -and children were spared to the widest extent, even when gravely -suspected (Apps. 49; C5, 6, 25, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79); and indeed -the German soldiers, although their patience was put to an extremely -hard test, looked after such people, whenever possible, sometimes in -the most self-sacrificing manner, taking the helpless under their -protection when in danger, sharing their bread with them, bringing the -sick and weak to places where they could be cared for (Apps. C45, 47, -51-53, 55, 58, 80-86). - -That the Belgian Government are largely to blame for the illegal -attitude of their population towards the German Army is indisputable. -For apart from the fact that a Government has, under all circumstances, -to bear the responsibility for actions of this kind, which are the -expression of the popular will, the serious accusation must be made -against them that they did not put an end to this guerilla war, -although they could have done so (Apps. 33, 51-53; D42, 43, 48). -It would certainly have been easy for them to give the necessary -instructions to their officials, such as the Burgomasters, members of -the Garde Civique, and the soldiers, in order to check the passionate -excitement of the people, which had been artificially aroused. -Therefore the full responsibility for the terrible blood-guiltiness -which rests upon Belgium must be attached to the Belgian Government. - -The Belgian Government have made the attempt to free themselves from -this responsibility by attributing blame for the occurrences to the -destructive rage of the German troops, who are said to have committed -deeds of violence without any reason. They have appointed a Commission -for the investigation of the alleged German outrages, and have made -the findings of this Commission the subject of diplomatic complaint. -This attempt to pervert the facts has failed utterly. The German Army -is accustomed to make war only against hostile armies, and not against -peaceful inhabitants. The incontestable fact that from the commencement -a defensive struggle was forced on the German troops in the interests -of self-protection by the population of the country cannot be argued -away by the investigations of any Commission. - -The narratives of fugitives gathered together by the Belgian -Commission, which are characterised as being the result of scrupulously -impartial investigations, bear the stamp of untrustworthiness, if not -of malicious misrepresentation. In view of the existing conditions -the Commission was not in a position to test the correctness of the -reports brought before it, or to grasp the connection of events. Their -accusations against the German Army are therefore nothing but low -calumnies, which cannot stand before the documentary evidence possessed -by us. - -The struggle of the German troops with the civil population of Aerschot -did not arise because German officers attacked the honour of the -Burgomaster's family, as is suggested on the Belgian side, but on -account of a well-thought-out attack on the Commanding Officer of the -place by the civil population, who treacherously murdered him (App. -A). At Dinant it was not innocent, peaceful inhabitants who fell -victims to the German arms, but murderers, who treacherously attacked -German soldiers, and in this way involved the troops in a struggle -which destroyed the city (App. C). In Louvain the fight with the civil -population did not arise because fleeing German troops were involved -by mistake in hand-to-hand contests with their comrades who were -entering the town, but because a deluded population, unable to grasp -the course of events, thought they could destroy the returning German -soldiers without danger (App. D). Moreover in Louvain, as in other -towns, the burning torch was only applied by German troops when bitter -necessity demanded it. The plan of the destruction of Louvain (App. -50) shows clearly how the troops confined themselves to destroying -only those parts of the city in which the inhabitants opposed them in -a treacherous and murderous manner. It was indeed German troops who -took care, whenever possible, to save the artistic treasures, not only -of Louvain, but of other towns; a special German Commission has shown -to what a large extent German troops protected the art treasures of -Belgium. - -The Imperial German Government believe that by the publication of -the material contained in this work they have proved in a convincing -manner that the action of the German troops against the Belgian civil -population was provoked by the illegal guerilla war, and was required -by the necessities of war. On the other hand, they level a solemn and -emphatic protest against a population which has, by the most despicable -means, waged a dishonourable war against the German soldiers and still -more against a Government which, in complete perversion of its duties, -gave rein to the senseless passions of the population, and now does -not scruple to endeavour to free itself from its own heavy guilt by -mendacious libels upon the German Army. - -BERLIN, _May 10th, 1915_. - - - - -THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM - -APPENDICES 2-66--DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER - - - App. 2. - - Statement of Lieutenant of Reserve Max von Amelunxen, Jäger Battalion - No. 4 (at the time attached to the Headquarters Staff, 2nd Army). - -I took part in the sudden outbreak of hostilities at Liège as Reserve -officer of my battalion. When during the advance upon Liège a stoppage -occurred on the line of march, I rode out through the village of -Battice to discover the cause. At the very first houses, I was fired -upon, and saw clearly two civilians shooting from a window in the roof, -whose fire I returned. One of them I must have killed with my Mauser -carbine, for he fell to the ground at once. I believe I hit the other -also. At the same time from different sides--in my estimate there were -at least from 15 to 20 guns--fire was opened on myself and the cavalry -men, who had in the meantime arrived on the scene. I received a light -gunshot wound in the lower part of my body, while many pellets passed -through my valise. The persons who fired were certainly civilians. -The houses, from which they had been fired at, were set alight by the -troops who had arrived. I myself had meanwhile ridden on farther. The -incident must have occurred on the 4th or 5th of August. - -During later motor-car journeys on military duties I was fired at by -civilians on countless occasions. In France up to the present nothing -of the kind has ever happened to me. - - Signed: v. AMELUNXEN. - - - App. 3. - - STATEMENT of Colonel von Gottberg, Infantry Regiment Freiherr von - Sparr (3rd Westphalian), No. 16, 14th Division. - - GUIGNICOURT, _September 29th, 1914_. - -On the 5th August 1914, just before dark, violent gun-fire was directed -against our heavy baggage from many windows by the inhabitants of the -village of Blegny. Lieutenant Hahn deposes that troops were fired -upon at night by the inhabitants from the very same houses in Blegny -in which they had been entertained during the day. Musketeer Gocheln -of the 6th Company was killed in this way; Musketeer Hochgrafe of the -7th Company was wounded by a shot in his shoulder. Both companies were -witnesses to this. These incidents were repeated during the night, -and in this way Musketeers Maiworm and Epping of the 5th Company were -wounded. - -Lieutenant Edler von Daniels testifies that in a Belgian village near -Blegny his patrol was fired upon from ambush. This took place in a -street where the 9th Company had bivouacked for a day and a night. - -At Troisfontaines the 11th Company was fired upon from the houses -by civilians. Musketeers Meister and Schwaffertz were wounded. In -this same place men belonging to this company were in the daytime -entertained with cigars and food, and particularly by an elderly man; -this same man fired by night and wounded a man of the company. - -Staff-Surgeon Dr. Falk, who, with the ambulance party of the 1st -Battalion, wanted to push forward to the wounded on August 5th, 1914, -was fired upon by civilians, so that he was forced to take shelter. -Non-commissioned Officer Voss of the 4th Company was killed by three -shots from civilians. He could not be fetched, as the street had -been brought under fire by the inhabitants. Lieutenant Hahn was an -eye-witness of what took place. - -In Anderlues shots were fired from a house by a French soldier and -a civilian. An Acting-Sergeant-Major and non-commissioned officer -were seriously wounded, a musketeer of the 11th Company was killed. -A witness of this occurrence is Captain Eckhardt. The soldier and -civilian were shot. - - Signed: VON GOTTBERG. - - - App. 4. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. Rehm, - Infantry Regiment No. 165. - - CHERISY, _November 23rd, 1914_. - - Court of the 7th Infantry Division. - President of the Court, Dr. WELT. - Secretary, LORENZ. - -There appeared as witness Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. Rehm, 3rd -Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 165, who, after the importance of the -oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement: - -On the 6th of August 1914 I reached at Retinne a military ambulance -station, where the staff was very busily occupied. The character of the -station was clearly made known by its Red Cross flags, and in view of -the whole nature of its activities no doubt could exist as to its real -character. In the immediate vicinity no fighting had taken place; on -the contrary, our troops had already advanced to Bellaire. Nevertheless -our ambulance station was persistently fired upon; continually, for -the whole day long, single shots fell amongst us, coming from the -houses close at hand, and mostly, as a matter of fact, from the roofs. -The shots which fell upon the hospital could only have proceeded from -civilians, as there were no longer any enemy troops in the place. As I -could not for the time being secure any troops for the protection of -the ambulance station, I armed the lightly wounded and allowed them to -return the fire--for the moment, however, with little success, as we -could not see our well-concealed adversaries. When in the evening some -detachments of troops arrived at Retinne and were also fired at, the -houses were systematically searched. From some houses dozens of men -were dragged out. It was noticeable that in the houses were only one or -two women and no children at all, so that I formed the impression that -the firing had been arranged beforehand. The men fetched out of the -houses were without exception civilians of various ages. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Staff-Surgeon Dr. REHM. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: Dr. WELT. Signed: LORENZ. - - - App. 5. - - STATEMENT of Lieutenant Zielsche, Machine-gun Company, Infantry - Regiment No. 42. - - WALDRIEDER, _August 17th, 1914_. - -1. At Visé the inhabitants carried out a surprise attack upon the 18th -Pioneers on the night of the 15th-16th August. - -2. Between Visé and Warsage my platoon was continuously fired at from -the immediate surroundings from about 10 o'clock in the evening till 3 -in the morning. A column of army bakers retired from Visé and was also -fired at. We could see nothing of the inhabitants. When in the morning -I passed through Warsage in order to secure provisions, it was empty, -with the exception of one or two houses. - - Signed: ZIELSCHE, Lieutenant. - - - App. 6. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve - Rasch (Reserve Regiment No. 74). - - HANOVER, _November 20th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, LINDENBERG. - Secretary, LÜHE. - -There appeared as witness Dentist Rasch, Non-commissioned Officer of -Reserve, now in Reserve battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 74, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Gustav. I am 29 years old; Lutheran. - -As to Case: When the mobile Infantry Regiment No. 74 was marching -on Liège in August 1914, I received the order to remain behind with -a detachment of the 9th Company for the protection of the baggage -collected in the market-place at Poulseur. There were also available -a few infantry soldiers and hussars as escort. Amongst the officers -personally known to me was an Artillery Lieutenant of Reserve, -Hildebrandt, who came from Hanover. When the regiment itself had -already advanced from Poulseur in the direction of Liège, and night -had fallen, the baggage and the escort beside it in the market-place -were suddenly fired upon from all the surrounding houses. This hostile -firing had clearly been planned and concerted beforehand, for -immediately before the fire began the lights in the surrounding houses -were simultaneously extinguished, and at the same moment came firing -from all sides. We did not know what was happening to us. Moreover, we -were not only fired at from the houses, but assailed with cartridges of -dynamite or some similar explosive, which possibly were derived from -one of the mines in the neighbourhood of Poulseur. - -The firing continued, with certain intervals, the whole night through. -We on our side of course opened fire and tried as far as possible to -find shelter behind the baggage waggons. Nevertheless we had dead and -wounded; among these was a Lieutenant of Reserve of a hussar regiment, -whom we placed in an inn belonging to a German. I myself took part with -my men in storming a number of houses. During this process persons who -actually opposed us in the houses with weapons in their hands were shot -down. Where we found arms and munitions in the houses, we brought the -occupants into the market-place. I can affirm with absolute certainty -that all those who resisted us or were brought to the market-place wore -no uniforms; on the contrary, they were, without exception, civilians. -Next morning when we had proceeded with the baggage to the outskirts -of the town there arose from the town an extremely violent series of -crackling sounds which served to indicate the existence of thousands of -cartridges. Some of the men said that the countless cartridges which -had been found in the Burgomaster's house were exploding. - -Further, when the baggage of Regiment No. 74 withdrew on the following -day through Poulseur from the direction of Liège, we were again fired -upon. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: RASCH. - -The witness was sworn. - -Verified. - - Signed: LINDENBERG. Signed: LÜHE. - - - App. 7. - - STATEMENT of Captain Haupt, Commander of the Heavy Commissariat Column - No. 2, X. Army Corps. - -At midday on August 14th, at Louveigné, an artillery munitions column -marching behind the commissariat column was fired on by civilians. The -number of the column I cannot now remember. - -On August 28th, at Gerpinnes, Driver Pook, who was looking for food in -an abandoned house, was fired at from a neighbouring house, and wounded -slightly in the hand. The search among the neighbouring houses for the -assailant was unsuccessful. - - Signed: HAUPT, Captain and Column Commander. - - - App. 8. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Sergeant-Major Mävers, Non-commissioned - Officer Kielholz, Corporal Fruth, Lieutenant Schliep, - Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, and Corporal Niebeln, all of Infantry - Regiment No. 73. - - PONTGIVART, _November 12th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, FUHSE. - Secretary, HENSEN. - -There appeared as witnesses the under-mentioned persons, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to them, made the following -statement: - -1. Sergeant-Major Mävers, 4th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73. - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Mävers. I am 27 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 7th, 1914, somewhere between -6 and 7 o'clock, our company had to secure the eastern exits of -Louveigné. We took up a position before a farm at the exit of the -village. Suddenly--it was still quite light--a shot was fired near -us; the bullet whistled close past my ear. The shot was evidently the -sign for a general firing upon the company and on the baggage which -remained behind us in the village, for there now commenced a violent -fire from the houses, especially from the roofs and upper storeys. The -company speedily took up a position on the slope of a garden near the -farm where we were posted. While this was going on, I looked round -and noticed that several shots were fired from the first storey of a -corner house; one saw the smoke rise up after the shot was fired. I am -quite certain that I saw that those who fired wore civilian clothes. -The company replied to the firing for about 1/4 hour, and directed -their fire against a house near the above-mentioned farm. In our -neighbourhood the fire slackened, while in the village shooting still -continued. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MÄVERS. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Non-commissioned Officer Kielholz, 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 73. - -As to Person: My name is Paul. I am 23 years old; Protestant; bank -employé at Husum. - -As to Case: On the 7th August 1914 I was one of a field outpost, which -was placed about 300 metres west of Louveigné on the road. Suddenly -as it began to grow dusk we were fired on from the village, and shots -were directed against us from trees and from a rather high-lying -cornfield. We skirmished out and lay down in a field of roots, and some -of us replied to the fire. We then noticed that a number of people in -civilian clothing who had been lying in the cornfield were running -away. We were under fire for about half an hour, and at least 100 shots -were fired at us. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KIELHOLZ. - -The witness was sworn. - -3. Corporal of Reserve Fruth, 9th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73. - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich. I am 26 years old; Protestant; -hairdresser. - -As to Case: On August 5th, 1914, I found myself near the campaign -baggage of the company. In the afternoon we reached Esneux, where we -halted in the village street. The inhabitants were very friendly to us, -and the people came out of the houses and gave us food and cigarettes -without taking payment. - -Towards evening we left this place and marched in the direction of -Liège. We then noticed that the people looked at us from the windows -and laughed ironically. About a kilometre in rear of Esneux we had to -halt. Suddenly fire was opened upon us from some ground near us on our -left, whereupon we received the order to turn back. Up to the present -only single shots had been fired at us, but as soon as we regained the -village a hot fire was opened from the houses. Shots came from almost -every house; it was impossible to select any in particular. From the -sound of the shots one could recognise that the guns were of different -patterns. Several of us were wounded, one horse was shot dead, another -was wounded. We searched the houses and found guns of various kinds. I -did not see any of military pattern. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRUTH. - -The witness was sworn. - -4. Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73. - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Horn. I am 28 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On the 6th August this year I was in charge of the -baggage of the 2nd Battalion of my regiment. When I arrived in the -neighbourhood of Poulseur I sent forward three men of the cyclist -company of the 10th Jäger Battalion, who had joined us as stragglers, -as a cyclist patrol, towards the village ahead, in order to see if -the battalion was already there. However, one man of the patrol soon -returned with the news that he had lost both the others; they had -apparently fallen, as the patrol had been fired at from houses in -Poulseur. When I reached Poulseur with the baggage, I and my men also -came under fire. I placed the two foremost waggons across the road for -defence, and led my men forward. We also made preparations in a house -for our own defence. Then things became quiet. After a short interval -the firing broke out again, so that we were compelled also on our -side to fire into the houses. The sound of the assailants' shots was -altogether different from that from our rifles. There were no enemy -troops in the place; it could therefore be only civilians who had -fired. Several cavalry patrols also declared that they had been fired -at by civilians. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HORN. - -The witness was sworn. - -5. As witness, Corporal Niebeln, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73. - -As to Person: My name is Ernst. I am 25 years old; Lutheran; by calling -a merchant in Hanover. - -As to Case: On the day of the fight near Liège our regiment, as we were -leaving Esneux, was under fire from the houses. Further, when outside -the town we were fired upon from the hill-sides on the right and left, -and also from trees. - -Our troops at once forced a way into the houses from which shots had -come, and some civilians were brought out. A number of weapons were -also discovered. I myself saw the civilians. There were no Belgian -troops in the houses. - -Two days after the battle of Liège, when we were leaving the village of -Louveigné in the evening, a hot fire was opened on us from the houses. -One man was wounded, and I saw the pellets in his back. We replied to -the fire and drove the people from the houses. Only civilians emerged, -and these were shot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: NIEBELN. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: FUHSE. Signed: HENSEN. - - - App. 9. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Non-commissioned Officer Gruber, - Bombardier Schökel, and Captain Neumann, all of the 1st Infantry - Munitions Column, X. Army Corps. - - ALSFELD LE VILLE, _November 25th, 1914_. - - Present: - Officer of the Court, Lieutenant MAACK. - Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer SCHÜTTE. - -With reference to what took place at the surprise attack at Louveigné, -the under-mentioned witnesses, after the importance and sanctity of the -oath had been pointed out to them, made the following statements: - -1. Non-commissioned Officer Gruber. - -As to Person: My name is Fritz Gruber. I am 35 years old; Protestant; -non-commissioned officer, 1st Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps; -implement-smith in a machine factory in Hanover. - -As to Case: On the second day of our march through Belgium we passed -through Louveigné. The place was already burnt down. We halted here, -and orders were given to water the horses. As we were waiting for the -command to make ready, a shot was suddenly fired at us from a house -in the street on our right, and after this a number of other shots -followed from other points. I was standing by the last waggon in -front of the supplementary convoy, so pretty nearly at the end of the -column. We forced our way in the direction of the shots into the garden -belonging to the house, and here caught two civilians, one of whom -had his hand in his pocket full of cartridges. He was hidden in some -bushes, and tried to escape on our approach; the other was standing -close beside him. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRITZ GRUBER. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Captain Neumann. - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Neumann. I am 45 years of age; -Lutheran; Captain and Leader of the 1st Infantry Munitions Column, X. -Army Corps; Police-Court Councillor at Syke, near Bremen. - -As to Case: On August 14th, 1914, my column was marching with others -through Louveigné. A halt was made here for watering the horses. I was -near the head of the column when I heard shots behind me. Subsequently -I was informed that the rear of the column had been fired at from the -flanks. Soon after, before I could make any definite arrangements, two -civilian men were brought forward by soldiers belonging to my column, -with the information that these were caught in trying to escape after -they had fired on the column. - -After a brief trial these persons were shot because they had been -caught in the act. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: NEUMANN. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: MAACK, Lieutenant. - Signed: SCHÜTTE, Non-commissioned Officer. - - - App. 10. - - STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Helmke of the Telephone Detachment, X. - Army Corps. - -On the night of the 11th-12th August at Hockai, in the quarter in which -I lay with my platoon together with a platoon of infantry, two infantry -soldiers were wounded in the head by small shot which had been fired -from outside through the open door down the passage. As I myself, too, -stepped out of the house a shot was fired at me in the dark, apparently -from a revolver. As there were no enemy troops in the vicinity, it is -only the action of civilian inhabitants which comes into question here. - -When on the evening of the 22nd August, during an advance, I entered -with my detachment the apparently deserted village of Aiseau, near -Tamines, in the middle of the village, at a bend of the street, -a vigorous fire was opened on the detachment from the houses on -every side. This had the appearance of a surprise attack, thoroughly -prepared beforehand; and this was afterwards confirmed by the fact -that on searching the houses we discovered a considerable collection -of ammunition on the window-sills, amongst it a large number of French -cartridges. - -As cartridges of military pattern were found in the houses of four of -the inhabitants, we may accept it as certain that the inhabitants had -taken part in the firing. The four inhabitants were arrested and led -away by a platoon of pioneers who had carried out the search of the -village. - - Signed: HELMKE, 1st Lieutenant. - - - App. 11. - - REPORT of Colonel von Wentzky, commanding 11th Cavalry Brigade, 5th - Cavalry Division. - -On the 10th August, Dragoon Regiment No. 8 arrived at Grande Rossière -(2-1/2 kil. N.W. of Nives) and there bivouacked for the first time on -Belgian soil, _i.e._ four squadrons of the regiment bivouacked in two -detachments quite close to the village. The staff of the 11th Cavalry -Brigade took up its quarters in a house. Here we found two elderly -women and a young man who received us in a markedly cordial manner and -exerted themselves most willingly in looking after us. We noticed that -during the course of the evening young men came into the house for a -short time and soon afterwards disappeared, and in the same way the -young man belonging to the house disappeared. - -Towards 11 o'clock in the evening I betook myself, accompanied by -an orderly officer, to the bivouac of the 4th and 5th squadrons of -Dragoon Regiment No. 8, which lay some 300 metres from my own quarters. -When, after about 10 minutes, I wanted to return from this spot, I -heard shots in various places; one could distinguish the reports of -the sentries' rifles from those of other weapons. At this moment the -Adjutant of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 came to me and reported that he -had just been fired upon at the door of his house from a house lying -opposite and ostensibly abandoned. I at once made the 4th squadron -take up their rifles, and ordered Lieutenant Baron von Richthofen to -surround the house from which the shots had come, and make prisoners of -the persons found inside. Some minutes later the firing was renewed. -Lieutenant Baron von Richthofen received a shot in the body, and died -next day from the wound. Two civilians were fetched out of the house -with pistols in their hands which had just been discharged; we also -found in their possession both discharged and loaded cartridges. Later -in the course of the night the bivouacs of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 were -repeatedly fired at. According to the report of Lieutenant Nikisch -there were found in the houses a considerable number of pistols, guns, -and ammunition; also loose powder and quickfires, more especially in -the house occupied by the 11th Cavalry Brigade. - - Signed: VON WENTZKY, Colonel and Brigade Commander. - - - App. 12. - - REPORT of Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander von Giese - (Leib-Kürassier Regiment No. 1). - -At Petite-Rosière, the first quarters occupied by the regiment in -Belgium, the inhabitants received the troops, and especially the -officers, with the utmost cordiality and goodwill, so that not the -slightest difficulty was experienced in securing food and forage. At -Grande-Rosière, distant about 1-1/2 kil., lay Dragoon Regiment No. -8, and also the staff of the 11th Cavalry Brigade. At this place the -inhabitants waited until the officers assembled in the evening for the -issue of orders, and then opened fire upon them as they left the house. -Very soon after this shooting, shots were fired by the inhabitants of -Petite-Rosière at the bivouacs of the squadrons and at the pickets. -This firing only ceased completely when every inhabitant had been -brought out of the houses and had one and all been locked up. The -inhabitants of the village were not irritated in any way whatever, but -were treated throughout with kindness. - -On August 23rd at Bièvre the 3rd squadron acting as reconnoitring -squadron found facilities for watering the horses placed at its -disposal in a very obliging manner. Then after a short time the -inhabitants fired at the squadron from the houses. In this place at the -same time one of the inhabitants shot a trooper of the 8th Kürassiers -dead, and severely wounded an infantry soldier. - -At the fight of Les Rivages the regiment had to leave behind some of -its wounded on a very thickly wooded hillside. When the surgeons and -the ambulance men of the regiment approached the wood over open ground, -shots were fired at them by the inhabitants in spite of the waving -of two large Red Cross flags. On the nearer approach of our men the -assailants withdrew; nevertheless, the ambulance men while still in the -wood were again fired at, even when engaged in succouring the wounded. - - Signed: V. GIESE, Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander. - - - App. 13. - - REPORT of the Brigade Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade (32nd Division), in - quarters at Condé. - - _October 8th, 1914._ - -On the 5th August of this year the 64th Infantry Brigade entered Gouvy. -The population at first gave us the appearance of being well disposed -to the Germans, and was extremely cordial. Pails of water, _e.g._, -were provided for the troops as they marched through, without any -previous request for this service. The stationmaster was especially -prominent in welcoming the troops; the parish priest, in apparently -friendly fashion, took pains to make the officers comfortable. Despite -all this, the behaviour of the inhabitants seemed to the brigade to be -suspicious, and for this reason the place was searched for weapons. -The search of the station buildings also took place in the presence of -the stationmaster. To the question whether goods of any kind, weapons, -explosives, etc., were to be found in the place, the stationmaster -returned a most decided negative. His assertion, nevertheless, turned -out to be false. For in a small room, lying hidden away, which, -according to the stationmaster's statement, served for the storing -of his furniture, we discovered, underneath a good deal of rubbish, -boxes which contained about 300 Browning pistols. In addition to this -there was concealed in the room a hundred-weight of dynamite. As the -stationmaster could give no credible explanation as to the use which -was to be made of these weapons and explosives, he was arrested. - -Further, on the night of 8th-9th August 1914, the orderly officer of -the 64th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant of Reserve Schmidt, was ordered -to ride to Vielsalm and there give the alarm to the Guard-Jäger -Battalion and the 11th Jägers. On the way there he was fired at by -civilians in the neighbourhood of Bovigny. At this time no enemy troops -were to be found in that locality. - -At Leffe it was established unquestionably by the Brigade Staff that, -after the capture of this place, the civil population fired on the -troops of the 64th Infantry Brigade from cellar windows and barricaded -houses, to some extent even using small shot. In consequence, we lost a -number of men, including officers. - - Signed: MORGENSTERN-DÖRING. - - - App. 14. - - STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander Marggraf, - Field-Bakery Column No. 1, III. Army Corps. - - MONTAIGU, _October 3rd, 1914_. - -On the morning of August 20th the Field-Bakery Column No. 1, III. Army -Corps, had begun work near Marche, almost as far up as the village of -Hollogne-Aye. The occupants of the houses in the vicinity displayed -throughout the day no hostile intentions. Nevertheless, when towards -evening a munitions column wished to drive up into position, quite -close to the bakery, shots were fired at them from the neighbouring -woods and gardens, which contained some single houses. On searching -these houses no arms were found on the inhabitants, but some of them -were still in possession of cartridges loaded with large shot. These -persons were taken away. - - Signed: MARGGRAF, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander. - - - App. 15. - - STATEMENT and MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Captain Burkhardt, - Commanding Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2. - - FERME FLEURICOURT, _October 3rd, 1914_. - -The Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2 reports that the column on the 20th -and 23rd August, before and after its entrance into Marche, was fired -at by the inhabitants. - - Signed: BURKHARDT, Captain and Column Commander. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - FERME FLEURICOURT, _October 7th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Captain Burkhardt, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Heinrich Burkhardt. I am 44 years old; -evangelical; farmer; now Captain of Landwehr; Commander of the Heavy -Commissariat Column No. 2. - -As to Case: On August 29th, 1914, outside Hollogne, fire was opened -upon us from the wood from all sides. It was about 6 o'clock in the -evening. We were on the march to Marche. There were no enemy troops in -the neighbourhood. Our assailants were therefore civilians. We also -took prisoner about twenty civilians who were caught red-handed in -the wood, and these were conveyed to Marche by an artillery munitions -column. - -On August 23rd, 1914, we marched right through Marche. Shots were fired -at us and at the munitions column from various houses. However, we made -no halt here at all, as we were bound for Laroche. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BURKHARDT. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - App. 16. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Army Baker Börner, 2nd Field-Bakery - Column, XII. Army Corps. - - MONTAIGU, _October 7th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - -There appeared as witness the baker Börner, who made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Max Gotthard Börner. I am 30 years old; -Protestant; by trade formerly baker; later, assistant pointsman; at -present, baker in the Field-Bakery No. 2, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: While we were quartered in Marche, or close to it, I went -with field-baker Werner into the town, where, as we felt thirsty, we -asked a woman who stood at the gate of a yard for _l'eau_. She gave -us to understand that she would like to give us some coffee, and led -us into the house by the back door. We both drank coffee, thanked the -woman, and went out again by the same way. As I closed the back door -one or more shots were fired from inside. One of the fingers of my left -hand was covered with blood. We tried to enter the house, again, but -the door had been fastened on the inside. I fired a shot through the -door, but I do not know whether I hit anybody. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BÖRNER. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - App. 17. - - REPORT of Captain and Detachment Commander, 4th Infantry Munitions - Column, and MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Acting-Sergeant-Major Kern, - 3rd Infantry Munitions Column. - - SIFFONE, _October 2nd, 1914_. - -_Report._ - -On the 22nd of August 1914, at midday, I arrived at the northern -entrance of Marche with the 4th Infantry Munitions Column, which I -commanded, and received orders to pass through the village to the -southern exit. I rode with some mounted men through the place, the -principal buildings of which had already been arranged and taken -over as hospitals. There was also here some of our infantry. Several -inhabitants, amongst them a priest, were standing in the street, -apparently inoffensive. - -As I returned through the village, somebody levelled a gun at me from -the window on the first storey of a house in the neighbouring street. -My assailant was, however, prevented from carrying out his purpose, -thanks to the watchfulness of an infantry sentry, who anticipated the -treacherous villager and frustrated his purpose by a shot from his own -rifle. Hereupon a lively fusillade developed from all the houses, in -which the village priest took part. - - Signed: MICHAHELLES, Captain and Detachment Commander. - - SIFFONE, _October 5th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - -There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Kern, who made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Theodor Kern. I am 37 years old; Catholic; -formerly mason; later frontier guard; at present Acting-Sergeant-Major -of Landwehr in the 3rd Infantry Munitions Column. - -As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, about 2.30 p.m., I rode back through -Marche, after I had previously ridden into the place to arrange for -quarters. In front of me rode Captain Michahelles. As we passed a -cross-road the Captain began to trot. At the same moment I saw at a -first-storey window of a house in this cross-street a civilian, who was -aiming with a gun at the soldiers, and in my judgment more especially -at the Captain. Almost at the same instant came the crack of an -infantryman's rifle, who fired up at the civilian. - -On August 23rd, 1914, we were at Sorrinnes. During the day one noticed -no signs of hostility among the inhabitants, but at 9 o'clock, when it -had become dark, we were fired at from various houses. From one house -Lieutenant Knauer received a shot in the abdomen, from which after some -days he died. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: THEODOR KERN. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - App. 18. - - REPORT of the Infantry Regiment von Winterfeldt (2nd Upper Silesian) - No. 23 (24th Infantry Brigade). - - _October 4th, 1914._ - -Captain Wagner states: On 22nd August, at Léglise, two civilians from -Antier were handed over to the company, which was acting as escort to -the heavy baggage. These had been caught with guns in their hands by -two gendarmes. At this period the company was fired at by civilians on -several occasions. - -At Tintigny was discovered the body of a reservist of Infantry Regiment -No. 38, who had been slain by the inhabitants with a mason's pickaxe. -At Laheycourt a man of the 1st Battalion shot dead a civilian who had -fired at the soldiers from a garden. - -Captain von Debschitz states: At Nothomb, our first quarters in -Belgium, after the General in command had issued a proclamation, the -inhabitants immediately handed in a very large quantity of military -rifles and ammunition, which not long before had undoubtedly been -distributed by the authorities for the purpose of a "franc-tireur" -campaign. These were, as far as I knew, Menier rifles, recently oiled, -with cartridges in cotton packing, labelled exactly as if they had just -been received from a depot. - -Lieutenant of Reserve Schmidt, Leader of the heavy baggage of the -regiment, states: On the night of August 23rd-24th, while we were on -our way from Habay to Neuve-Ansart, the heavy baggage was several times -fired upon at Houdemont and Rulles. At Houdemont, inhabitants fired -from windows and from behind walls; upon this, some houses were set on -fire. In rear of Houdemont the heavy baggage passed through a defile. -Here we noticed small lamp signals, and then suddenly a heavy fire -was opened on the baggage from front, rear, and both flanks. Several -bullets struck the woodwork of the waggons and the oat-sacks, one of -which is still in our possession. One man was missing; two horses were -wounded and had to be killed. In the same way at Rulles and in the rear -of this village, the baggage was fired at from the front and on the -right flank. - -On August 24th the heavy baggage on the road from Ansart-Tintigny was -again fired at from houses by francs-tireurs. In this way two convoy -soldiers were shot dead. On the evening of the 25th August the baggage -passed through the village of Villers devant Orval. Our men were there -received in friendly fashion by the inhabitants, who distributed fruit -and eatables among the soldiers. When darkness fell, and the baggage -came to a long halt outside the village, shots were suddenly fired at -them from the rear. - - Signed: COUNT KELLER. - - - App. 19. - - STATEMENT of Captain and Battery Commander Walter, 3rd Battalion of - Foot Artillery Regiment von Dieskau (Silesian) No. 6. - - CONDÉ LES AUTRY, _September 25th, 1914_. - -_August 22nd, 1914._--During the advance through Ansart the troops, -among them the 3rd Battalion of Foot Artillery Regiment No. 6, were -fired at by the inhabitants from the houses. The village was by order -set on fire. The same thing occurred at Tintigny; the village was -already in flames, but in spite of this the population fired from the -burning houses upon the troops passing through. - -_August 23rd, 1914._--Near St. Vincent the observation post of the 8th -Battery was fired upon by the inhabitants from the woods at the back. -These persons had withdrawn to the woods, because their village was -burnt down. - -_August 24th, 1914._--During our march through Jamoigne the battalion -and the Light Munitions Column too were fired upon from the houses. -Fire was also opened from the schoolhouse, which flew the Red Cross -flag. The village was partially set on fire. - -On August 25th, 1914, the 6th Battery, which was following the -battalion in the evening alone, was fired on from the rear at Villers -devant Orval, close to the French frontier, although the population -had in the daytime behaved themselves in quite a friendly manner. The -houses from which the shots had come were, by our leader's orders, set -on fire. - - Signed: WALTER. - - - App. 20. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Ernst - Wolff, Infantry Regiment No. 51. - - LA MARC-AUX-BOERST, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Ernst Wolff, -who made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Ernst. I am 28 years old, of the Jewish faith. - -As to Case: I am leader of the campaign baggage of the 2nd Battalion, -Infantry Regiment No. 51. At noon on August 22nd, 1914, the campaign -baggage under my command advanced through the Belgian village of -Tintigny, through which our regiment had already ridden. From the -market-place as far as the western exit we were assailed with a hot -fire from the windows of a large number of houses. As we could hear -from the whistling, our assailants were firing bullets. I noticed -people at various windows with the usual Belgian caps on their heads, -standing behind smoking rifle-barrels. As I had no effective troops -at my disposal I endeavoured to pass through the village rapidly, but -I allowed the drivers to dismount quickly for greater protection. -From the western exit I brought the cartridge waggons forward to the -firing line, while the field-kitchens, in order to keep them under -shelter, were compelled once more to pass through the village. In this -way they were again exposed to the fire of civilians, and here too a -field-kitchen was rendered useless by a bullet through the boiler. - -At midday on August 23rd I rode through the village of St. Vincent as -dispatch-rider. As I rode past a house which flew a Red Cross flag, I -came under a vigorous fire from this house and others lying near it, -and here again I was quite convinced the assailants were civilians. My -horse received a bullet through its ear as well as a glancing shot. I -myself was uninjured. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ERNST WOLFF. - Signed: LASSMANN, 1st Lieutenant and Court Officer. - - - App. 21. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Captain of Reserve Adolf Pachur, Field - Artillery Regiment No. 6. - - BINARVILLE, _September 25th, 1914_. - -Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6. - -Before the under-mentioned Court officer appeared as witness Captain of -Reserve Adolf Pachur, Catholic, 40 years of age, unmarried. After being -informed of the object of his examination and warned to speak the truth -in his deposition, he made the following statement: - -On August 22nd the Light Munitions Column, 1st detachment, Field -Artillery Regiment No. 6, was fired upon by Francs-tireurs on its march -through Tintigny. As the village had a long time since been cleared of -the enemy by our infantry, and our firing line already lay some 2 to 3 -kilometres beyond the village, the firing in question could have come -only from francs-tireurs. - -The same position occurred on the 23rd of August at St. Vincent. When -the Light Munitions Column were ordered to halt in the village they -were several times, with brief intervals, under hot fire from houses, -gardens, bushes, and trees. It was noticed that the first shots were -principally on every occasion from one and the same house, and were -followed by a general fusillade. One civilian escaping from a house was -shot dead by the officers and men of the column. A sergeant-major of -infantry who, with a detachment, had been given the duty of clearing -the village of francs-tireurs subsequently established the fact that -this man was armed with a revolver. - -According to the reports I received, the men of the column were -questioned about their leader, _i.e._ myself, by the proprietor of a -café. This person treated our soldiers with extreme friendliness, but -secured no information. Shortly afterwards I saw how we were being -fired at from this very house which was pointed out to me. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PACHUR. - -The proceedings were as above stated. - - Signed: BARON VON STEINAEKER, Lieutenant and Court Officer. - - - App. 22. - - STATEMENT and MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Lieutenant of Reserve - Felsmann of the Light Munitions Column, 1st detachment, Field - Artillery Regiment No. 6. - - LANÇON, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -At Tintigny, on the evening of August 22nd, I received the order to -proceed to the Artillery Munitions Column to replenish ammunition. -On the way at Sainte Marie I had the horses of the ammunition waggon -watered. In doing this I received help apparently of the most willing -character from the occupants of the house from which the water was -drawn. When the harness had been put on the horses again, the occupants -of this very same house fired at the ammunition waggon and wounded one -or more of the horses. - -The Light Munitions Column of the 1st detachment, Field Artillery -Regiment No. 6, on their advance through Tintigny on August 22nd and -through St. Vincent on August 23rd, were heavily fired upon by the -inhabitants of this place from the houses, and partly also from bushes -and trees. At St. Vincent we shot dead a civilian who had fired at us -with a revolver. - - Signed: FELSMANN, Lieutenant of Reserve. - - BINARVILLE, _September 25th, 1914_. - -Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6. - -_Proceedings._ - -Before the under-mentioned officer of the Court appeared Lieutenant of -Reserve Johannes Felsmann, Protestant, 31 years of age, married. After -being informed of the object of his examination and warned to speak the -truth in his deposition, he made the following statement: - -I repeat the contents of the preceding statement of September 23rd, -1914, and regard it as correct in all its details. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FELSMANN. - -The proceedings were as above stated. - - Signed: COUNT VON STEINAEKER, Lieutenant and Court Officer. - - - App. 23. - - REPORT of the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 157 (78th Infantry - Brigade). - -1. On August 22nd, at Tintigny, the heavy baggage was fired upon by -civilians from a house on which the Red Cross flag was flying. The -house was surrounded, and a civilian who was jumping from one of the -windows was shot dead. Witnesses of this incident are Lieutenant -Groeger and Non-commissioned Officer Wollny of the 7th Company of the -regiment. - -2. On the evening of August 22nd, in the village of Rossignol, a -corporal of the 5th Company was fired at from behind by a civilian with -a shot-gun, and wounded. - -3. At nightfall on August 23rd, Non-commissioned Officer Wilde of the -7th Company was dispatched with a detachment to Les Bulles to fetch -straw for the bivouacs. On entering the village these men were fired -at by the inhabitants. Orders were thereupon given to set fire to the -place, and these were partially carried out. - -4. Musketeer Adolf of the 7th Company discovered at Tintigny a -musketeer of Regiment No. 38 tied to a fence with his skull split -open. After considerable search our men discovered in the vicinity a -bloodstained axe. - - Signed: GUHR, Major and Battalion Commander. - - - App. 24. - - REPORT of 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 157. - -Captain Rumland, Leader of the 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 157, -declares: - -When on August 22nd, 1914, I was attached to the heavy baggage, and -this was compelled to halt a little way from Tintigny, I noticed a cart -on which lay the body of the reservist Franke, 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 38. The helmet was driven in, and in Franke's skull was -a square hole, caused by the pickaxe which was lying near him. This -axe was smeared with blood, and the point fitted exactly into the hole -in the skull. Franke had been slain in this way. Some soldiers present -in Tintigny had found Franke's dead body tied to a fence, and made a -report of this. - -We officers held a court-martial for the examination of some twenty -persons who had buried the executed Belgian civilians by the -roadside, in order to investigate more thoroughly the circumstances -of Franke's death. The court was presided over by the president of -the Court-Martial of the 12th Division. For this purpose we brought -these people with us into a field; on the way one of the prisoners -sprang over a bridge into a stream with a stony bed, and was killed -instantly. Our investigation was fruitless. We could not determine who -was the guilty man. In my belief Franke was slain by the man who leapt -over the bridge. The people who buried the executed Belgians made use -of a pickaxe which exactly resembled the one which was lying near the -slaughtered soldier, Franke. - - Signed: ENGELIEN, Captain and Battalion Leader. - - - App. 25. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Lieutenant von Lindeiner (otherwise von - Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6. - - Proceedings at BINARVILLE, _September 25th, 1914_. - -Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6. - -There appeared as witness Lieutenant von Lindeiner (otherwise von -Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, who, after he had been -informed of the object of the examination, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My Christian names are Hans Erdmann. I am 31 years old; -Protestant. - -As to Case: About August 20th of this year I was quartered with -the Staff of my regiment at Thibesart, and was summoned to act as -interpreter in the examination of a woodman called Bienveler, on whom -concealed cartridges were discovered, although he had denied his -possession of any. The soldiers who had fetched him brought some of the -cartridges with them, and I ascertained that a portion of them had been -opened and then again closed, a common practice amongst foresters. -From one of the cartridges which I opened the small shot had been drawn -and pieces of lead, cut up small, loaded in their place. This loading -had evidently taken place quite recently, because the rough edges of -the bits of lead still looked bright and silvery. As I was informed, -several of our patrols were on this and the preceding day fired at from -the wood at Thibesart, amongst them that of Captain von Richthosen, -Mounted Jäger Regiment No. 11, despite the fact that no enemy soldiers -were in the neighbourhood. - -In the fight at Rossignole Tintigny on the 22nd August I rode with -Colonel von Zglinicki into the village of Tintigny. Near us marched a -portion of Grenadier Regiment No. 11, and field-kitchens were standing -on the road. From one of the first houses on the left of our line of -march a woman, standing in the doorway, called out to me some words -like these, "Est-ce que nous sommes sûrs, ici, Monsieur?" As I was -just going to answer her, from this very same direction two shots -passed just in front of and behind my body. At the same instant I saw -on the first storey of this same house two men in civilian clothes who -opened on the German troops a vigorous fire and had apparently fired -the shots at me. My horse made a spring forward where, on the right, a -side street joined the main one. From all the windows of this street I -myself, like all the rest of our German soldiers who were blocked at -this spot, came under a vigorous fire. None of the enemy troops were -to be seen, but, on the other hand, civilians, firing from a number of -windows. I am also convinced that I noticed a machine-gun served by -civilians at the first-floor window of a house some twenty paces from -myself. I observed with my own eyes that a considerable number of our -soldiers were wounded by this fire. We were obviously dealing here -with a concerted co-operation of the inhabitants, for it was after the -two first shots that a simultaneous fusillade broke out throughout the -village. - -I was then sent back, and on the way came again under fire from the -houses of the next village which lay beside the road, running from -north to south. This village, Ansart or Marinsart, lay to the north. I -got some men of the Light Munitions Column (Field Artillery Regiment -No. 42) to break down the fastened doors, and discovered in the house -from which the shots had come six or eight civilians, none of whom were -soldiers or women. - -About an hour afterwards I received orders to lead the 2nd detachment, -Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, on the north side of the road leading -to east and west, past the same village to a position to the west of -the village. I asked for and received an infantry escort of the Rode -Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 10. In carrying out our orders we were -here exposed to a continuous fire, despite the fact that no French or -Belgian soldiers were to be found in the village. In detail I made the -following accurate observations: - -In several places beds were lying in the gardens, and from behind these -beds, which were evidently placed there as a protection, fire was -opened upon us. - -At another place three persons in women's clothes advanced towards us -and then disappeared behind a bush. I had time to call out, "Don't -shoot; they are women." At the same instant we were fired at from this -bush also. - -At the end of the village two or three cows came into a garden towards -us, and at once two shots were fired at us from the direction of -the cows. We then saw that, sheltering behind a cow, a man had also -approached and fired at us. This man was shot dead by one of our -infantrymen. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: LINDEINER (otherwise VON WILDAU). - Signed: VON BUTTLAR, 1st Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant. - Signed: VON ZGLINICKI, President of the Court. - - - App. 26. - - REPORT of 10th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 10. - - BINARVILLE, _September 24th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Fusilier Helmyss, and made the following -statement: - -After the fight of August 22nd, 1914, I passed with some comrades -through St. Vincent. We were fired upon by civilians, and thereupon -forced our way into a house. We here found on tables and window-sills a -great deal of sporting ammunition, consisting of discharged cartridge -cases and loaded cartridges. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GOTTFRIED HELMYSS. - Signed: TRAUE, Lieutenant and Company Leader. - -There appeared as witness the reservist Stellmacher, who made the -following statement: - -At Thibesart I was sent into the village to fetch a pail of water. I -there entered a house and found several large pails full of leaden -bullets. I thereupon made a closer search with some of my comrades. We -found in this spot a large quantity of sporting ammunition, and behind -a wardrobe several sporting-guns hidden away. On the floor lay strewn -about discharged cartridge cases. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: AUGUST STELLMACHER. - Signed: TRAUE, Lieutenant and Company Leader. - - - App. 27. - - STATEMENT of Captain von Rode, Grenadier Regiment No. 10. - - BINARVILLE, _September 25th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Captain von Rode, 1st Battalion, Grenadier -Regiment No. 10, who made the following statement: - -On August 22nd, in the fight at Tintigny, the 1st Company of Grenadier -Regiment No. 10 was acting as escort for artillery near Ansart. When -the artillery was pushed forward a hot fire was opened on the infantry -men by the civilians of the place. - -Lieutenant von Lindeiner, Foot Artillery Regiment No. 6, requested the -company to proceed with the battery through the village as they could -not pass through it without the protection of an infantry escort. The -company was likewise met by shots the moment it entered the place. The -firing was especially violent from the mill, which was occupied by some -thirty men, with women and children. A number of persons, before the -company arrived on the scene, ran off through the bushes, carrying guns -with them. Guns that were discovered were of quite recent manufacture -from Liège. While the company was clearing the mill it was suddenly -fired at from the cellar windows and roof windows of the big white -house which lay obliquely opposite. A portion of the shots struck the -artillery equipment. Two small detachments, which at once stormed the -house, shot down three civilians armed with guns, who were trying to -escape from the back through the garden. Their guns were new, and came -from Liège. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON RODE. - -The proceedings were as above described. - - Signed: KRUPPE, Lieutenant and Adjutant, - 1st Battalion, - Grenadier Regiment No. 10. - - - App. 28. - - REPORT of 3rd Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62 (78th Infantry - Brigade). - -1. Major Schwerb of the 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 62, states: - -On August 23rd, after I had placed the wounded Lieutenant Rocholl on -a waggon in order to convey him to a Medical Corps Company, at least -twenty shots were fired at him and myself. The house from which the -shots issued was thereupon to a large extent destroyed by the fire of a -battery which happened to be passing through the village. On the same -evening the battalion, which was marching through Frenois in the dark, -was fired upon, again obviously by inhabitants, from roof windows and -trees. - -2. Captain Rothe of the 9th Company of the regiment states: - -On August 23rd civilians opened fire on the water-carriers of the 9th -Company from the village of Rossignol, which was already occupied -by German troops. The leader of the water-carriers was Sergeant -Flashar. In consequence, the civilians were taken prisoners by the -men of Infantry Regiment No. 157. On August 23rd Cyclist Heinrich was -similarly fired at by civilians in the village of Les Bulles, after a -considerable force of German troops had already marched through the -place. - -3. Lieutenant Stuth of the 11th Company states: - -On August 23rd, when the 3rd Battalion had withdrawn from Les Bulles, -I led the 12th Company to Frenois. We halted in the village street to -wait for the other companies, which I fetched up by orders of Major -Schwerk, as Adjutant-Lieutenant Rocholl had been severely wounded. In -the meantime, the company was suddenly and unexpectedly assailed by -shots fired from the windows by inhabitants. - -Further, as I was riding along through the village, one of the -inhabitants called me to him, but I rode on at a gallop, and was fired -at from behind. - - Signed: V. POSER. - - - App. 29. - - REPORT of Field Artillery Regiment No. 21 (12th Field Artillery - Brigade). - - NAUROY, _October 15th, 1914_. - -Captain Blumenthal, Commander of the Light Munitions Column (2nd -Division), reports: - -On August 24th, during the advance, the column halted at Jamoigne for a -considerable time, to water the horses. A number of the inhabitants who -still remained in the village were standing in front of the doors and -behaved in a friendly manner. Water, coffee, and tobacco were offered -to some of the officers and men. While the watering of the horses was -going on, two shots came from a house in front of which a short time -previously an elderly man and a woman had been sitting. The shots were -apparently fired at the two officers who were standing close to the -house, Lieutenants Kloass and Luozny. These two shots gave the signal -for a general fusillade from the skylights and windows of the houses. -While the pioneers, who had been attached on the march for escort, -forced their way into the houses, the column was pushed forward in -order to make room in the village, which had been at once set on fire, -for the other column marching behind it. One man of the column and two -horses were wounded. - - Signed: WARNEKE. - - - App. 30. - - REPORT of Medical Corps Company No. 1, VI. Army Corps (11th Infantry - Division). - - BIVOUAC AT LANÇON, _September 24th, 1914_. - -On August 24th, during the advance of the Army Corps through Jamoigne, -the Medical Corps Company received the order to take charge of the -German and French wounded, who had been conveyed into a hospital and -a convent. On entering the hospital the senior Surgeon and Commander -were received by a Belgian civilian doctor. He declared that he had -only been able to afford the wounded poor attention, because he lacked -medical _personnel_, bandages, and provisions. Questions addressed -to the Germans in hospital revealed the fact that the wounded had not -been attended to by the local doctor for three days. When our senior -Surgeon remarked that in practice splints ought to have been used for -the wound of one of the patients, the doctor replied that he possessed -no material of this kind. The non-commissioned officer accompanying the -senior Surgeon opened a wardrobe and found splints inside. - -The German wounded, among them the adjutant of the 1st mounted -detachment Field Artillery Regiment No. 11, declared they had had -little to eat. The Sisters in the convent alleged that they possessed -only a meagre quantity of provisions; at the same time they informed us -that women and children had been collected into the cellar after their -flight from the village. These statements of theirs did not arouse any -feelings whatever of distrust. After the whole of the wounded, and, at -the request of the Sisters, also a few poor old folk in the village had -been fed from our field-kitchen, and medical treatment of the wounded -was still taking place, shots were fired at the stretcher-bearers -halted in the convent garden from the tower of the convent, a thicket -in the convent garden, and the roof windows of the hospital some 500 -metres away. - -Meanwhile a detachment of stretcher-bearers proceeded to the convent -with the special order to search it thoroughly from the cellar to the -attics and tower. The firing here at once ceased. In the search of the -convent there were found in the cellar not only children and women, -but also men, and, beside these, a particularly large quantity of -eggs--three kegs holding 750 each. - -Another detachment advanced towards the thicket in the convent gardens -lying close by the convent. Here two elderly men were discovered -standing up to their waists in a stream which flowed through the -thicket. Both these men had guns which they threw into the water the -instant they were caught by the detachment; the pair of them were shot -outside the convent precincts. - -For protection against the firing from the hospital on the other side -of the principal street of the village, the Medical Corps Company -went into a narrow court belonging to the convent. While this was in -progress, shots were fired also from the roof windows of the houses -lying opposite the convent garden and near the hospital. This fire was -diverted from the Medical Corps Company by the passage through the -village of a munitions column. - -The Medical Corps Company quitted Jamoigne and bivouacked outside the -village, taking with it the German wounded and the lightly wounded -French who might still be able to bear arms. The two priests and the -doctor of the village, as well as all the male inhabitants found in -the cellar of the convent, were carried off to the bivouac for greater -security. - -With the exception of the convent and the hospital, the houses from -which shots had been fired were burned to the ground. During the -conflagration a great many explosions occurred. It may be assumed that -in the course of the fire quantities of ammunition exploded, which had -been stored in the houses. - - Signed: BRETTNER, Captain and Column Commander. - - - App. 31. - - REPORT of Captain Larrass, commanding 9th Foot Artillery Munitions - Column, and of 1st Lieutenant Reichel, commanding 5th Artillery - Munitions Column; also the MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of - Lieutenant-Colonel Hübner and Sergeant-Major Peschke. - - EASTERN CAMP, SIFFONE, _October 2nd, 1914_. - -9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column. - -_Report._ - -On August 23rd, 1914, the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column was -bivouacked at Sorrinnes in Belgium at 7.30 p.m. As it was becoming dark -the inhabitants of the village, whose behaviour had been extremely -quiet the whole afternoon, treacherously and maliciously opened fire -on the bivouac. In accordance with my orders, during the afternoon a -young man was seized in a house in which an old man of seventy, alleged -to be at the point of death, was lying on a bed. This was done because -suspicious noises were audible in the house. In the evening the column -was fired at, and more particularly from this house. In the course of -this attack of the inhabitants upon the column, not only small shot was -fired, but also bullets, which exploded on impact. - - Signed: LARRASS, Captain and Commander - of the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column. - - SIFFONE, _November 1st, 1914_. - -5th Artillery Munitions Column, XII. Army Corps. - -On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, the 5th Artillery Munitions -Column occupied a bivouac at the western exit from Sorrinnes. -Throughout the day no villagers showed themselves; on the contrary, -the village appeared to be completely abandoned. At nightfall, about 9 -p.m., the entire column, bivouacked near Sorrinnes, was from all sides -suddenly fired upon by the inhabitants from the houses or from the roof -windows and from hedges. - - Signed: REICHEL, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander. - - BERRIEUX, _October 5th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary of the Court, LIPS. - -Lieutenant-Colonel Hübner as witness made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Max Friedrich Hübner. I am 60 years of age; -Protestant; Lieutenant-Colonel (Active List) and Commander of the 1st -Munitions Column Division, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, in command of the munitions column -detachment of the 1st Foot Artillery Regiment No. 9, I arrived with my -staff at our quarters at Yschippe in Belgium. We numbered about 18 men -and 14 horses. Beside ourselves, Munitions Column No. 5 was bivouacked -to the south of the village, while Column No. 6 at the other end had -been actually brought inside the village. The staff was quartered -apart from the other troops in the neighbourhood of the church in two -adjacent buildings. The occupants of these houses, both men and women, -met me in a very friendly spirit. - -At nine o'clock I lay down to sleep in my room on the first floor. At -11.30 I was awakened by a noise in the house, and my non-commissioned -officer informed me that shots had been fired. As I myself had heard -nothing, I did not believe the story, and returned to bed. Scarcely -had I extinguished the light when a gun was fired, and the shot struck -against the window-panes. I then alarmed all the men, and ordered the -unharnessed waggon to be pushed crossways over the street, and the -Mayor and six inhabitants to be brought to me as hostages, and tied -together one pace apart from each other. I informed these persons that -they would be placed in a line across the street if a single other shot -was fired. The wives of the hostages took care that this statement of -mine was made known throughout the place. After this, no more shooting -occurred, and next day I left the village without further molestation. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HÜBNER. - -The witness was then sworn. - - SIFFONE, _October 5th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary of the Court, LIPS. - -There appeared as witness Sergeant-Major Peschke, who made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Friedrich August Peschke. I am 33 years -old; Protestant; a merchant of table-glass; at present Sergeant-Major -of the 6th (Foot) Artillery Munitions Column. - -As to Case: From the 22nd-23rd August 1914 we lay at Yschippe; our -waggons had been driven to the western exit of the place. I had -myself at first found quarters in the village, and found my hosts -there apparently friendly. But after I had learnt that already on -the preceding day shooting had taken place, I determined to pass the -night in bivouac. There we came under fire about 11.45 p.m. from the -direction of Corbion, at a distance of some 500-600 metres to the west -of us. I at once ordered the watch to seek shelter and reply vigorously -to the fire, which then in a short time ceased. After about a quarter -of an hour the firing recommenced, and, indeed, more actively than -before. When I myself with four men advanced towards our assailants -they fled in the direction of Corbion. When we reached the hedge from -behind which firing had taken place our assailants were already from -100-200 metres away. I recognised unmistakably that these persons were -civilians, and not soldiers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PESCHKE. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - App. 32. - - REPORT of Senior Staff-Surgeon Kaiser, Surgeon-in-Chief, Field - Hospital No. 2, XII. Army Corps. - - AMIFONTAINE, _October 3rd, 1914_. - -Field Hospital No. 2 of the XII. Army Corps, posted at Sorinnes was, -on the evening of the following day, between 7 and 8 o'clock, fired -upon by armed inhabitants from the park of the castle. The shots came -from the thicket immediately behind the castle courtyard. The fire was -aimed at the _personnel_ of the hospital, who were engaged in cooking -in a large house next to the park. As I myself, with hospital inspector -Voigt, entered the park in order to see after the cooking, we were -fired at. - - Signed: Dr. KAISER, Senior Staff-Surgeon and Surgeon-in-Chief. - - - App. 33. - - REPORT of Senior Staff-Surgeon Esche, Field Hospital 7, No. 73, N. - Army Corps. - -On August 24th, towards 6 p.m., a column on the march was at Biesme -fired upon by inhabitants from the houses of the village. A detachment -of some 50 men of Infantry Regiment No. 164, which was guarding 216 -prisoners in the castle garden in which the Field Hospital No. 7 -was posted, moved out in order to restore quiet, while for the time -being lightly wounded men undertook the guarding of the prisoners. -Sergeant Kortebein and two drivers of Field Hospital No. 7, Schmidt and -Dietrich, saw shots fired from two of the houses. - -According to the statement of the lady occupying the castle of -Gougnies, in which the medical officers and officials of the field -hospital were quartered, the _Conseiller provinciel_ at Gougnies, -Adelin Piret, had distributed to the inhabitants the weapons stored up -at the Mairie. Shots were fired from the village at a column marching -through it. - - Signed: ESCHE, Senior Staff-Surgeon and Surgeon-in-Chief. - - - App. 34. - - REPORT of 1st Lieutenant Balterman, commanding Military Pack Column - No. 6, X. Army Corps, 1st Train Division of the X. Army Corps. - -On August 23rd, 1914, at Le Roux, Military Park Column No. 6 of the -X. Army Corps was fired at several times from a house. The assailants -escaped. On August 24th the column was fired upon at Biesme from the -flanks and the rear. Moreover, a side street was closed against us -by some twelve armed civilians. These armed civilians were shot and -several houses burnt down. - -On August 24th the column was exposed to a very hot fire at Lanesse and -Somzée. A number of civilians were shot and several houses burnt down. - - Signed: BATTERMANN, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander. - - - App. 35. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Lieutenant Henry Müller attached to the - Telephone Section of the XII. Army Corps. - - GUIGNICOURT, _October 9th, 1914_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - -There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Müller, and was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Johannes Henry Müller. I am a student of -physics; 28 years of age; Protestant; Lieutenant of Reserve attached to -the Telephone Section of the XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: The following statement, dated October 7th, was read over -to the witness: - -On August 22nd there was an interruption in the telephone connection -to Conneaux. Corporal Lorenze and another cyclist were dispatched on -bicycles to remove the cause of this interruption. The two cyclists -were fired upon at close quarters in front of a wood. The search of the -farm, carried out by Lieutenant Müller (Telephone Section XII.), with -a platoon of infantry, proved to be without result. According to the -unanimous reports of soldiers, who were met on the way, a number of -civilians came out of the wood immediately after the shots had been -fired. A further search was set on foot, and the telephone cable was -found to be cut right through at the place where the shots had been -fired. - -The witness thereupon made the following statement: - -I am the Lieutenant Müller mentioned above. I was quartered in the -castle of Conneaux; the little wood lay about 400 metres away from the -castle. After the shots had been fired, the cyclists at once returned -to me. Within a few minutes of their arrival the pursuit could already -be set on foot, because the platoon of infantry mentioned in my report -was ready at hand for employment as an escort. Only for this reason is -it possible to furnish a definite statement as to the time and place -when the civilians were met in the road lying behind. - -The men who fired had only one covered line of retreat, _i.e._ a road -not under our observation, which I afterwards used in my pursuit. -All the soldiers whom I met on this road gave a nearly unanimous -description of some eight or ten civilians whom they had seen quickly -running away. The approach of nightfall prevented their capture. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANNES HENRY MÜLLER, Lieutenant of Reserve. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - App. 36. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Sergeant Ebers, 3rd Guard Field - Artillery Regiment. - - BERLIN, _November 12th, 1914_. - -Proceedings held at the barracks of the 3rd Guard Field Artillery -Regiment. - -There appeared after citation Sergeant of Landwehr II, Georg Ebers, -office assistant in the chief office of the Great Berlin Tramways, -at this time attached to the 4th Reserve Battery, 3rd Guard Field -Artillery Regiment. The witness, being duly sworn on oath, made the -following statement: - -On August 23rd, 1914, when non-commissioned officer attached to the -5th Battery, 1st Guard Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, I was wounded -in the neighbourhood of Namur. On the next day, August 24th, I was -brought to the 2nd Field Hospital, XI. Army Corps, which occupied -the convent at Champion, near Namur. On the evening of this day, when -everything was already quiet, there commenced at 10 o'clock a general -fusillade. The window-panes were shot through, and we noticed the flash -of the guns from the houses lying opposite. I myself in some ten cases -saw civilians firing upon us from windows and skylights in three houses -lying opposite to the wings of the convent. When the firing began, the -soldiers of the medical corps and the lightly wounded, of whom I was -one, assembled round the doctor in the corridor. We next looked for -the convent Sisters, who had disappeared, and found them hidden in the -cellar. We brought them into our midst and betook ourselves to the main -entrance with the intention, of making a sally. Meanwhile a Belgian and -a French doctor, both of whom were prisoner-inmates of the hospital, -advanced to the door and there addressed the population in the hope of -quieting them. The firing thereupon diminished; but as we entered the -street in order to search the village with the aid of men belonging to -the munitions column encamped in the vicinity, the firing began afresh -and continued till about 11 o'clock in the evening. At night, about -10, houses from which shots had come were set on fire. At daybreak -we ascertained that the outside walls of the convent showed numerous -marks of shot. Further, we found in a house occupied by a priest, lying -opposite the chief entrance of the convent, about 40 cases of dynamite -and some 30 cases of cartridges. I was present, and saw with my own -eyes how our artillerymen ascertained the number and contents of the -cases. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GEORG EBERS. - -Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: GURADZE, Lieutenant of Landwehr Artillery II. - and Officer of the Court. - - - App. 37. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, Corporal - Spans, and the Grenadiers Wenzel, Kachel, Pfeiffer, Wittstadt, and - Wilhelmy, all of Infantry Regiment No. 93. - - Proceedings in BERLIN, _September 18th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witnesses Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, 9th -Company, Corporal Spans, 12th Company, the Grenadiers Wenzel, 5th, -Kachel, 9th, Pfeiffer and Wittstadt, 12th, and Wilhelmy, 5th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 93, and made the following statements in the -official deposition: - -On August 24th, 1914, we were wounded inmates, together with Belgian -and French wounded, of the Convent of Champion, which was arranged as -a hospital. After the withdrawal of our troops, there remained on the -evening of August 24th only a Light Munitions Column in the direct -neighbourhood of the convent. No sentries were posted. - -Towards 10 o'clock in the evening a hot fire was suddenly opened on -the main entrance and windows of the convent. I, Acting-Sergeant-Major -Schulze, was awaked by the shots, and proceeded to the main door, and -there heard the whistle of bullets as they passed. I then returned -to fetch my weapons. When I again reached the exit, the Light -Munitions Column had already commenced operations. Previous to this, -as Grenadiers Wilhelmy and Wenzel had heard, the Belgian doctor, who -was also an inmate of the convent, had gone into the courtyard and -addressed to the shooters concealed from view a demand that they should -cease fire. As the doctor, however, re-entered the convent, the firing -continued. - -The Light Munitions Column now cleared the courtyard and its -surroundings, captured several francs-tireurs, who were proved to have -formed the firing-party, carried out a search of the neighbouring -houses, made absolutely certain that the shots had come from these, and -then, as punishment, set the houses on fire. - -We may also observe that on August 25th a search of all the houses in -the village was undertaken, in the course of which several cases of -dynamite and ammunition were discovered in the house of the priest. -The dynamite was rendered harmless by the artillerymen of the Light -Munitions Column. The priest was left for two days under guard by the -Light Munitions Column, and then once more set at liberty. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHULZE, SPANS, WENZEL, KACHEL, - PFEIFFER, WITTSTADT, WILHELMY. - -The proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: HILSMANN, Lieutenant and Adjutant, - Reserve Battalion, - Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 93. - -Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, together with Corporal Spans and the -soldiers Kachel and Wittstadt, came before the Court after citation, -and were to-day sworn to the preceding declaration. - - BERLIN, _November 11th, 1914_. - -Officer of the Court: - - Signed: HILSMANN, Lieutenant and Adjutant. - -Secretary of the Court: - - Signed: JUMPERTS, Non-commissioned Officer of Landwehr. - - - App. 38. - - STATEMENT of Major Heltzer, 18th Reserve Hussar Regiment and Leader of - the Heavy Baggage, 32nd Infantry Division. - -On the early afternoon of August 25th, 1914, the Heavy Baggage of the -staff, 32nd Infantry Division, after a considerable halt at the S.W. -exit of the village of Anthée, was in the act of getting ready to move -off. Very suddenly a vigorous fire was opened upon it on several sides -from houses and from a thicket in the vicinity. - -All the men of the divisional baggage were equipped with rifles and -sent ahead through the houses, in order to protect the waggons as they -moved off. Later on, a detachment of infantry arrived on the scene, -which occupied the village and relieved our men. - -Of this infantry detachment half a platoon was assigned to act as -escort of the Heavy Baggage. - -2. When shortly afterwards the head of the baggage column reached -the neighbouring village of Rosée, here, too, it was assailed by a -vigorous fire from houses and gardens and from a neighbouring copse. I -ordered a search to be made of a farm standing on the road from which -an extremely hot fire had previously come. Inside were found a man, a -woman, and two half-grown boys. The man and the woman were shot while -attempting to escape. - -No Belgian or French troops of any kind were present either in Anthée -or Rosée. - -The attacks on our troops were always made from ambush, and gave one -the appearance of a general and concerted co-operation; they were -usually preceded by a shot, fired as a signal. - - Signed: HELTZER. - - - App. 39. - - STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Stiemcke, commanding Military Train Column - 7, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Section 1, X. Army Corps. - -On August 26th, 1914, when the column, in conjunction with the 2nd -Echelon, approached the village of Silenrieux, it was immediately fired -upon by members of the civilian population from the church tower. It -was therefore necessary for our riflemen to advance against the place. -When these accordingly replied to the fire, shooting took place from a -number of houses in the village. - - Signed: STIEMCKE, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander. - - - App. 40. - - STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Schumann, commanding Military Train Column - No. 4, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Division No. 1, X. Army Corps. - -On the night of 21st-22nd August, 1914, the Military Train Columns Nos. -1 and 4 bivouacked in front of Fleurus. A soldier standing at his post -was dangerously wounded in his ear by a shot fired by a civilian, who -had crept up under cover of a straw stack. The civilian escaped in the -darkness. - -On August 26th, 1914, the column proceeded on its march to Verguies -through the village of Silenrieux. The inhabitants met our troops on -the march in a kindly and well-disposed manner. At the exit of the -village towards Verguies the column was forced to halt for some time. -At this point the officers of the column, which was halting in front of -the church, noticed that the church roof was partially uncovered on the -side next to the street. The village itself did not show any signs of -damage in the case of the houses lying on the other main street. When -the advance of the column was resumed, the last section, as it passed -the church and the houses lying near it, was suddenly fired upon. To -meet this surprise attack the riflemen of the column were deployed and -opened fire upon the church and the houses from which the shots had -come. - -As at least 30 to 40 shots were fired from the church tower, it is -impossible that this could have happened without the knowledge of the -priest. The surprise attack gave one the impression of having been -thoroughly prepared in advance. - - Signed: SCHUMANN, Ist Lieutenant and Commander. - - - App. 41. - - STATEMENT of Lieutenant Deule, Telephone Section, X. Army Corps. - -On August 22nd I, with my platoon of the Telephone Section, X. Army -Corps, was marching from Tongrinne to the Château of Quiltremont _via_ -Tamines. Towards 5 p.m. I found myself with my platoon on the street -of Vignées at Tamines at the spot where, on the right side of our line -of march, a long stretch of the street is skirted by a manufactory. -At this point my platoon, which was marching alone, was suddenly -assailed by a hot, but badly aimed, fire from the church and from a -large building lying off the road to the left, and easily recognised -by its Red Cross flags. I at once ordered my platoon to take up a -position under cover, and then dispatched flanking patrols on the right -and left against the buildings indicated above. In the vicinity of my -men we ascertained for certain that a considerable number of armed -civilians had retired in hasty flight into a wood behind the buildings, -so that it was impossible for us to open an effective fire on those -persons. My official duties prevented me from undertaking the pursuit; -nevertheless, I had a brief account of these incidents written with -chalk on the big gates of a factory in this place to serve as a warning -to any detachments of German troops who might follow us. - - Signed: DEULE, Lieutenant. - - - App. 42. - - STATEMENT of Acting-Sergeant-Major and Officer-Substitute Mackemehl, - 4th Battery, Field Artillery Regiment No. 4. - -On the afternoon of August 26th we halted with the "heavy baggage" (we -had also with us the baggage of Infantry Regiments Nos. 177 and 178 and -of Field Artillery Regiment No. 28) at Convin, north of Nocroi. The -infantry baggage behind us was fired upon from a house on the right -of our line of march. On searching the house, we found that the only -inmates were three civilians, who were in possession of weapons and -cartridges. - - Signed: MACKEMEHL. - - - App. 43. - - STATEMENT of Lieutenant Huck, commanding Horse Depot No. 2, X. Army - Corps (2nd Train Detachment No. 10, X. Army Corps). - -On August 24th, 1914, at 8.30 p.m. I entered Acoz with my Horse Depot -No. 2. I then with the unmounted men and non-commissioned officers -endeavoured to secure stabling for the horses. I came across only a -very few people; these were extremely friendly, and offered me milk -without payment and water for washing. The only exception was the -village priest. The large size of his house and courtyard rendered -them in my opinion very suitable as quarters for men and horses. He -received me very curtly, showed me the Red Cross brassard on his -arm--this had no official stamp--and declared that he had no room for -me. His behaviour and manner displeased me, and at once rendered me -suspicious. Most of the houses appeared to be abandoned, and were shut -up: so I saw it was necessary to break down the doors and find suitable -accommodation. When I had brought most of my horses under shelter, and -only a few were still standing in the street, a heavy fire was suddenly -opened upon us from the windows and houses. I saw the flashes of the -rifles coming from the upper windows of almost every house in the -street in which I myself was standing. My sergeant-major and I heard -quite clearly the whistling of bullets round our heads. I ordered my -troops to reply to the fire, which on the side of the assailants died -out after about three-quarters of an hour. I directed the especial -attention of some of my men to the priest's house. They accordingly -forced their way in and found the priest and, further, two other men -hidden in the loft. According to the soldiers' statements, these -persons had also weapons in their possession. They were handcuffed -and handed over to the munitions column, whose men had joined in the -fighting and advanced against the house. I was told that the priest -and the two other men were shot next day. On more careful search -cartridges, both discharged and loaded, were found on their persons. - - Signed: HUCK, Lieutenant and Commander, Horse Depot 2, - X. Army Corps. - - - App. 44. - - STATEMENT of Captain Lüdke, commanding 2nd Train Detachment, X. Army - Corps. - -On August 24th, 1914, the 2nd Echelon of Trains had assigned to it -for quarters the villages of Acoz and Joncret. The staff of the 2nd -Train Section, X. Army Corps, and Horse Depot No. 2, occupied quarters -in Acoz. On our arrival at Acoz at 8.30 p.m. there was scarcely a -villager to be seen in the street. The doors and windows of the houses -were shut. After the horses had been brought into a barn opposite the -church, the three staff officers took up their quarters in the empty -and open house of the doctor, which was also opposite the church, but -on the other side of the square. The men of the Horse Depot were still -engaged in bringing their horses into the side street. When we officers -had been in the house about half an hour, a hot fire was, as if by word -of command, opened upon the doctor's house in which we were quartered -and on the Horse Depot. The shots came from all the windows of the -houses which lay opposite, and from those of the side street, in which -a part of the Horse Depot had already taken up their quarters, though -some were yet in the street. At this moment an artillery munitions -column marched through Acoz past the square near the church. These -troops were in the same way assailed by the fire of the inhabitants. In -conjunction with the men of the Horse Depot and this munitions column -we advanced against the houses from which shots were still being fired. -At last the firing ceased. All the front doors were shut, and had to -be burst open; all the back doors which led into gardens or the open -fields stood open. When the houses were searched there were found in -the priest's house the priest himself and two men, whom he had hidden -in the loft, with cartridges in their possession. The priest and these -two men were taken off by the munitions column, which continued its -march. The houses from which shots had come were set on fire. The staff -of the 2nd Train Section and Horse Depot No. 2 occupied quarters in -Serpinnes. Next day I dispatched Non-commissioned Officer Trapp and -Corporal Bölhof from the staff of the 2nd Train Section to Joncret with -orders. At Acoz, which they passed on the way, they were informed by -several non-commissioned officers and men of the artillery munitions -column and by an artillery non-commissioned officer, that in the town -hall, which lies near the doctor's house, several cases of dynamite had -been discovered and some hundreds of guns and cartridges in packets. -Each packet bore a label with the name of the townsman to whom they -were assigned. The artillery munitions column took possession of these -objects. - - Signed: LÜDKE, Major and Commander, 2nd Train Section, - X. Army Corps. - - - App. 45. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of 1st Lieutenant Müller, Lieutenant - Schröder, and Gunner Huismann, all of the 5th Artillery Munitions - Column, X. Army Corps. - - Present: - Lieutenant MAACK, Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer, SCHÜTTE, Secretary. - - AVAUX, _November 20th, 1914_. - -With respect to the incidents which occurred during the surprise attack -at Acoz, the under-mentioned witnesses, after the importance and -sanctity of the oath had been pointed out, were examined as follows: - -1. 1st Lieutenant Müller. - -As to Person: My name is Richard Müller. I am 36 years of age; -Protestant; brewery director in Hanover; 1st Lieutenant and Leader of -the 5th Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army Corps. - -As to Case: Towards 10 p.m. on August 24th, 1914, I was marching with -my column through the village of Acoz. I allowed my men to dismount -here, because in front of me the 3rd Foot Artillery Munitions Column, -X. Army Corps, were watering their horses. At the moment when I gave -my men the order to mount again, the column was assailed by a vigorous -fire from the houses of the village. In my opinion some 30 to 40 shots -were fired at once. They were firing from shot-guns, for I could hear -from the sound of these shots that they were using small shot. As a -number of horses fell headlong, and various men were also wounded, -I endeavoured for the moment to get the column again on the march. -Meanwhile, with a detachment of about twenty men, who had come to help -from the neighbourhood of the wireless station, I had the village -searched. - -During the search of the village three persons were seized who had been -found in the priest's house, two of them indeed hidden in the loft. In -examining these persons I found on one of them called Boucher, or some -name like this, four discharged cartridges. According to the reports -of the soldiers, the priest, who was found amongst the captured men, -strenuously denied that any people were with him in the house; he had -also by gestures offered the search-party money and drink to keep them -back from searching his house. He had also for the moment refused them -entrance into his house by pointing to a red cross which he carried on -his arm. None of these three persons denied their participation in the -attack. Some hours later there was found on the priest an invoice for -the receipt of an English revolver. These men were subsequently shot. - -It is altogether out of the question that the surprise attack could -have been brought about by uniformed troops. The Belgian-French army -had already retired a long way, and the village of Acoz had already -been for several days in German occupation. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MÜLLER. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Lieutenant Schröder. - -As to Person: My name is Georg Schröder. I am 34 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of Reserve, 5th Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army Corps; -farmer in Nordermon, Administrative District of Elsfleth. - -As to Case: On August 24th I followed with the supplementary platoon -of the 5th Artillery Munitions Column about an hour's distance on the -road to Serpinnes. The moment I arrived before the village of Acoz my -platoon was fired upon from the houses and from the high ground. At -Acoz, which meanwhile had been set on fire, I got into contact with -the column. I learnt that they had been fired at, and that the village -had been set on fire after the perpetrators of the attack were found -to be civilians. Three persons were arrested--the parish priest and -two others called Bastin and Boucher. Since the leader of the column, -1st Lieutenant Müller, had been wounded through a fall, I did not know -whether he had examined these persons, and so examined them myself -for our better security. The three prisoners gave only unintelligible -replies to my questions. I accordingly examined the soldiers who had -taken part in the affair. I ascertained that Bastin and Boucher had -been found hidden in the loft, where weapons and discharged cartridges -had also been discovered. As regards the priest, it was reported to me -that he had offered wine and money to the soldiers as they were forcing -their way in, to deter them from searching his house. On the following -morning there was found on the priest a receipt with reference to -a revolver and 50 cartridges which had been assigned to a _garde -champêtre_, or, through his agency, to someone else. I had ordered a -soldier to search all three men, and personally discovered the paper in -question in the purse which was taken from the priest. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GEORG SCHRÖDER. - -The witness was sworn. - -Concluded. - - Signed: MAACK, Lieutenant. - Signed: SCHÜTTE, Non-commissioned Officer. - - - App. 46. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Captain von Guaita, Uhlan Westphal, and - Sergeant Hammermeister, all of Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2. - - BAZANCOURT, _November 22nd, 1914_. - -Court of the 2nd Guard Reserve Division. - - Present: - President of the Court, Dr. BERNHOLD. - Secretary, GUNTOWSKY. - -There appeared before the Court the under-mentioned witnesses, who, -after the importance and sanctity of the oath had been pointed out to -them, made the following statement: - -1. Captain von Guaita, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2. - -As to Person: My name is Leon. I am 36 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, I rode in company with Lieutenant -Feierabend, Dragoon Regiment No. 1, at the head of a troop of cavalry -consisting of some twenty-five Uhlans. Our orders were to reconnoitre -the bridge at Monceau sur Sambre. In the middle of the town of Monceau -sur Sambre, while we were both halted in the Rue Neuve, we were -suddenly assailed by a hot fire. Shots were fired at us from all the -windows of the houses and from cellar gratings. As our men were falling -around me I rode forward and reached a side street. One man had been -killed, four wounded, and six horses were dead; Lieutenant Feierabend -received a shot through the leg. I was unwounded, but my map, which I -held in my left hand, was pierced by two pellets. This is a convincing -proof of the fact that a sporting-gun was used to fire at me. I am -convinced that fire was opened upon us at a prearranged signal. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON GUAITA. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Sergeant Hammermeister, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2. - -As to Person: My name is Hermann. I am 23 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On August 22nd of this year I was one of the patrol led -by 1st Lieutenant von Guaita. Our orders were to reconnoitre the -bridge over the Sambre. When we were in the middle of a street in -Monceau sur Sambre we were fired at on our front. My impression was -that two volleys were fired from the quarter in front of us. This was -clearly the signal for the fire now directed upon us from the houses. -Shots came from doors, windows, and cellar openings. I saw a civilian -standing in a doorway and firing at us with a revolver. I saw no -soldiers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HAMMERMEISTER. - -The witness was sworn. - -3. Uhlan Westphal, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2. - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Westphal. I am 26 years old; -Protestant. - -As to Case: When the Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2 passed through -Monceau sur Sambre I was acting as cyclist in front of it. In the main -street I immediately came under fire from a house at the moment when I -wanted to ride back in order to report to the regiment that the patrol -under 1st Lieutenant von Guaita had been assailed by a hot fire. With -some men of the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 15 I forced a way into -the house from which the shots had come, and there saw on the stairs a -civilian with a gun in his hand. We at once shot this man. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILH. WESTPHAL. - -The witness was sworn. - -The above is a true account of the proceedings. - - Signed: Dr. BERNHOLD. - Signed: GUNTOWSKY. - - - App. 47. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Captain Caspari, Infantry Regiment No. - 75. - - Present: - President of the Court, Lieutenant STÜRENBERG-JUNG. - Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major BANNEHR. - -There appeared as witness Captain Caspari, who was examined as follows: - -When the head of the 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 75, to which I -belonged, approached Hougaerde, it was met by a person from the small -town in priest's clothing. He greeted me and declared that there were -no more Belgian troops in the place, and that the feelings of the -inhabitants were quite friendly towards us; further, that we had no -reason to fear any surprise attack from them. My request that he should -act as our guide through Hougaerde was obviously distasteful to this -person; nevertheless, he undertook to lead us. - -During our march into the village the street was quite empty, the -window-shutters and doors closed, and the window-apertures of a new -house on the right were covered with sacking. Just before we reached a -bend in the street, some 100 to 200 metres behind the railway crossing, -the priest sprang into a doorway. A man at the head of the company, -Musketeer Ernst Block, just managed to seize him by his coat-tails and -dragged him back. At the bend we saw ourselves confronted by a street -barricade at a distance of some 30 to 40 metres, and were at once met -by simultaneous volleys of fire from the houses on all sides, and -even from the rear. The priest was one of the first who was mortally -wounded by shots from the houses. As I subsequently ascertained, the -village had been systematically arranged for defence. Houses and walls -were furnished with concealed and barely visible loopholes, prepared -beforehand by the population for a surprise attack by fire at a fixed -spot. That civilians took part in this fighting I can personally -guarantee, for I saw such persons escaping through the gardens with -weapons in their hands. Moreover, several men were wounded by small -shot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: CASPARI. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: STÜRENBERG-JUNG. - Signed: BANNEHR, Lieutenant and President of the Court, Secretary. - - - App. 48. - - REPORT of Captain Strauss, Grenadier Regiment No. 12 (3rd Infantry - Division). - - CONDÉ, _September 25th, 1914_. - -On August 18th, after the retirement of the enemy, I rode through the -village of Capellen with my company and heard shots being fired at my -riflemen from a house behind me--from the house itself and from the -garden. While the garden was being searched, the firing was renewed, -and was replied to by my men. A woman, whose dead body was subsequently -found in the garden, was a victim of this firing. The firing from the -house continued, though from what part I could not determine. We found -two men and some nine women and children, all unarmed. There were no -soldiers in the house. I had the house set on fire, and, during the -conflagration, cartridges exploded four or five times in the burning -house. - -After the decision of the regiment had been secured next morning the -inhabitants in question were set at liberty, because they had not -been found with weapons in their hands, nor had any such persons been -discovered in searching the house. - -The firing from the house and garden undoubtedly occurred. - - Signed: STRAUSS, Captain and Company Leader. - - - App. 49. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Musketeer Peter Behle, Infantry Regiment - No. 16, Non-commissioned Officer Otto Biernirth, Reserve Infantry - Regiment No. 213, War Volunteer Willi Kandt, Reserve Infantry Regiment - No. 201, War Volunteer Fritz Blum, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 233, - and War Volunteer Franz Breidbach, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 235. - - LENNEP, _November 17th, 1914_. - -Königliches Amtsgericht. - - Present: - Amtsgerichtsrat LANDSBERG, Judge. - Referendar WELTMAN, Secretary. - -At the Red Cross hospital at Lennep the under-mentioned witnesses were -met, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -them, were examined as follows: - -1. Peter Behle, 20 years of age, Catholic, foreman builder from Lennep, -musketeer of the 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 16, after taking -the oath, made the following statement: - -In the middle of August, in a Belgian village called, I think, -Tirlemont, a controlled fire was opened upon us in the dark by the -civil population. No Belgian troops had been there for a long time. -Shots were fired from, amongst other places, a fruit garden. My -comrade, Franz Gockel from Wiesdorf, was fatally shot through the back -of his head. The order was then given to collect the weapons in the -houses, to secure the men, and bring the women and children into the -church. In doing this we discovered unfinished revolvers, the wooden -handles of which were still lacking. The houses, from which shots had -come, were set on fire. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PETER BEHLE. - -2. Otto Biernirth, 34 years of age, Protestant, certificated business -instructor of Bremenhaven, non-commissioned officer, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 213, after taking the oath, made the following statement: - -On October 20th we were in front of the village of Staden (Flanders). -The whole night through we were fighting exclusively with -francs-tireurs, who fired from the houses. In the morning we had to -capture the town. However, some 400 to 500 metres from the town, a -flanking fire came from a single house on the left, whereby our -comrade Fröse was struck by a ricochet bullet. From this house, which -was seized, four francs-tireurs emerged. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OTTO BIERNIRTH. - -3. Willi Kandt, 31 years of age, Evangelical, merchant from Berlin, war -volunteer, 2nd Company Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 201, after taking -the oath, made the following statement: - -On the march to Lessen we came under fire from two farms lying -opposite. A reconnoitring company ascertained that the shots came -from a barn. This was set on fire, and one could hear the continuous -explosion of the cartridges stored up in the barn. - -On Tuesday, October 20th, 1914, we caught a civilian, who was shot -because he had cartridges in his pocket. - -Towards the evening of this day the first four companies of Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 201 were to go forward on outpost duty, followed -by the remaining companies. When the last companies had passed through -the town of Lessen and the baggage had already arrived on the scene, -it was fired upon on all sides from the houses and the church tower. -Four of our men were wounded. When our artillery received the order to -bombard the church tower, the church was set on fire, and in this way, -probably, a non-commissioned officer and eight men who had been sent to -search the tower were burnt to death. The enemy troops had already left -the place; the only persons still there were civilians. - -On the following day we were fired at from a farm, but could find -nobody in the house. After the house had been burnt down, we found -inside the body of a franc-tireur. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILLI KANDT. - -Continued in the Königliches Amtsgericht at Lennep on November 20th, -1914. - -4. Fritz Blum, 17 years of age, Evangelical, a compositor from -Meiningen, war volunteer, 4th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. -233, after taking the oath, made the following declaration: - -On October 18th we occupied quarters at Westroosebeek (between Thielt -and Roulers). We there ascertained that both the millers had set the -wings of their windmills in a particular direction, and so furnished a -signal which betrayed our entry. Both the millers were seized, but in -the course of a subsequent fight we lost sight of them. - -On October 19th we took Roulers by storm. When we marched in we came -under a hot fire from the houses. In searching the houses I found on -the roof of a house a civilian who had fired with a shot-gun. He was -just trying to escape through the skylight. So, as he paid no attention -to my call, I shot him. He wore wooden shoes, and was otherwise dressed -altogether as a townsman, and differed in no respects from a civilian. -On the stairs we found bullets; they were partly of French origin, -partly "dum-dum" leaden bullets, apparently made at home. The gun that -was found was an old sporting-gun. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRITZ BLUHM. - -5. Franz Breidbach, 19 years of age, Catholic, Abiturient from -Luttinghausen, war volunteer, 6th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 235, after taking the oath, made the following statement: - -On October 19th we marched through Roulers, which had previously been -captured by Infantry Regiment No. 233. Our company formed the head of -the column; the entire town was badly injured by artillery fire, and -there was only one street which was fairly intact. From the houses of -this street shots were fired at us, coming more especially from the -cellar windows. My comrade, Kremst of Coblenz, fell in front of me, and -two other comrades were slightly wounded. When we searched the houses -we found six to eight francs-tireurs and a number of revolvers. A large -quantity of ammunition was indubitably stored in the houses, for when -the houses were set on fire a continuous series of explosions occurred. - -On October 22nd I arrived at a field hospital in Roulers. There I -heard four or five shots strike the hospital; a wounded Jäger, who -was lying on a stretcher in front of the hospital, was shot dead by -francs-tireurs. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRANZ BREIDBACH. - Signed: LANDSBERG. Signed: VELTMAN. - - - App. 50. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Ersatzreservist Gottfried Hilberath, - Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 236. - -Proceedings at Werne in the hospital, October 31st, 1914. - -Königliches Amtsgericht, Langendreer. - - Present: - Magistrate HIDDING, as Judge. - District Court Assistant, HARRIES, Secretary. - -On the suggestion of the authorities of the hospital at Werne, the -above-mentioned Court Commission visited the hospital in order to -examine a sick soldier. - -There was brought before them Gottfried Hilberath, of 60 Moselstrasse, -Cologne, who, after being warned against the giving of a false oath, -was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Gottfried Hilberath; hotel waiter; born -at Neuenahr, August 12th, 1893; Catholic; Ersatzreservist, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 236, 3rd Battalion, 12th Company. - -As to Case: Our regiment marched off on September 13th, 1914. We were -conveyed by rail from our manoeuvre ground. In the middle of October -1914 our detachment lay in the neighbourhood of the Belgian village of -Deynze, near which we had to throw up trenches. During the night we -occupied quarters in the town. At dawn we again entered the trenches. -On the evening of October 25th we brought the wounded into the field -hospital established in a village. At Deynze, with ten to fifteen -comrades, we entered a house which was lighted, and found a number -of our men already there, sitting in the room and drinking coffee. -The housewife made coffee for the party of soldiers, as well as for -ourselves, who came in afterwards. The husband was busily occupied -with his grocery shop. All the soldiers spent the night in the house. -That same evening about eight of our men filled their field flasks -with coffee made by the woman. In the evening some bought themselves -sugar in the shop for 10 centimes. I did this myself, and put it into -my field flask, like the others. The sugar was ready for use in little -packets. It struck me that a sticky mass adhered to the paper, which -looked like gum-arabic. The sugar was made up in twisted pieces of -paper, which were not stuck together and were apparently filled by the -shopkeeper. - -On the following day, some ten minutes after partaking of the coffee -in the trenches, I became unconscious, and must have remained in -this condition about five hours. Two cyclists brought me through the -village of Deynze to the field hospital at West-Roosebeck. Here I heard -that the other comrades too had been poisoned, and also that some of -them were already dead. What happened to the grocer and his wife in -consequence of this, I do not know. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GOTTFRIED HILBERATH. - -The examined witness, after once more being warned against the giving -of false evidence, thereupon took the oath. - -Proceedings concluded. - - Signed: HIDDING. Signed: HARRIES. - - - App. 51. - -Court of the Belgian Government-General. - - BRUSSELS, _December 14th, 1915_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SÄGER. - Military Court Assistant, DUNVE, as Secretary. - Interpreter FULLES of the Military Court of the Province of Brabant, - once for all put on oath. - -There appeared as witness the merchant, Heinrich Bloch, of 35 Rue du -Marché, Brussels, who made the following statements: - -As to Person: My name is as given above. I am 68 years old, of the -Jewish faith; a citizen of Baden. - -As to Case: Up to 6 a.m. on August 20th, 1914, I was in Brussels. -In the Brussels newspaper there was published a demand that weapons -should be given up. On August 19th, 1914, I sent my man-servant to the -Commissariat, Rue Croisate, with a revolver which he was to hand in. -After a brief interval he returned and used these exact words, "One -must not believe everything one reads in the newspapers" ("Il ne faut -pas croire tout qu'on lit dans les journeaux"). - -The proclamations were officially issued by the Burgomeister. That -the Commissaire took us to be Belgians, I have no reason to believe. -The Commissaire who had refrained from taking the revolver from my -man-servant fell in Belgium, when and where I cannot say. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: H. BLOCH. - -There appeared further as witness, the man-servant Jules Brontine, -38 years of age, Catholic, a Belgian citizen, who made the following -statement: - -I can only state what Herr Bloch has already made known. He sent -me on August 19th to the police station, in order to surrender his -revolver. The Commissaire of Police, to whom I handed the weapon, sent -me off with the words, "One must not believe everything one reads in -the newspapers." Thereupon, I returned home again with the revolver. -I said that the weapon belonged to Herr Bloch, who, as a German, was -personally known to the Commissaire of Police. I assumed that the -demand in the newspapers only referred to guns and swords. - -Read over in French, approved, signed. - - Signed: J. BRONTINE. - -The witnesses Brontine and Bloch were sworn according to regulations. - -Proceedings concluded. - - Signed: SÄGER. Signed: DUNVE. - - - App. 52. - - REPORT of Lieutenant von Manstein, commanding 1st Squadron, Dragoon - Regiment No. 4. - - _August 27th, 1914._ - -On August 9th the patrol, while evading two French squadrons in the -direction of Behême, was fired upon by inhabitants of this village. - -A communication dated August 8th was seized, in which the Chief of -the Gardes Forestiers writes to the Burgomeister that Gendarmes -and Verderers were instructed to organise the inhabitants for -armed resistance. An inhabitant of Chiny informed me on August -10th, in answer to my questions--he took me for a Frenchman or an -Englishman--that on the previous day the Garde Civile had been in the -village and carefully instructed the inhabitants in the handling of -weapons and the defence of the village. - -On August 24th the inhabitants of Peissant had placed strong -barricades across all the entrances to the village, shut the doors and -window-shutters of every house, and furnished them with loopholes. -They refused to open me a passage through, because they knew I wanted -to avoid a company of English infantry, which was quite close to the -village, and had with me only a single dispatch rider. During the -night they then divulged to the English artillery the names of the -farms occupied by the 1st Squadron, Uhlan Regiment No. 1, and the 1st -Squadron, Dragoon Regiment No. 4, and also the houses in which our -valuable goods had been stored, so that the next morning the English -artillery brought these farms and houses under shell-fire. - - Signed: VON MANSTEIN, Lieutenant, Uhlan Regiment No. 10, - commanding 1st Squadron, - Dragoon Regiment No. 4. - - - App. 53. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Lieutenant of Reserve Bohme, Infantry - Regiment No. 165. - -Court of the 7th Infantry Division, Cherisy. - - Present: - President of the Court, Dr. WELT. - Secretary, LORENZ, as Recorder of the Court. - - _November 25th, 1914._ - -There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Bohme, Infantry -Regiment No. 165, who, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, was examined as follows: - -When I was quartered at Retinne, an officer of the Rhine Regiment -came to me, and showed to myself and other officers a Bond, which, -according to his account, had been found in the Burgomeister's office, -in a neighbouring village. The Bond was typewritten, and contained the -demand issued by the Belgian Government to the populace, that they -should carry on armed resistance for payment. A fixed sum of money was -mentioned in the Bond. The Bond was stamped with an official seal. The -Bond was seen at the time by my comrades Pusch and Kurt Wagner, as -well as by Lieutenant of Research Bloch, Infantry Regiment No. 27, and -Lieutenant Brohm, Jäger Battalion No. 4. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BOHME. - -Proceedings concluded. - - Signed: Dr. WELT. Signed: LORENZ. - - - App. 54. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Reservist Richard Weise, Fusilier - Regiment No. 36. - - BLANKENBURG (HARZ), _November 13th, 1914_. - -Herzogliches Amtsgericht. - - Present: - Oberamtsrichter Dr. SCHILLING, Judge. - Gerichtsobersecretär HORNIG, Secretary. - -There appeared as witness the reservist Richard Weise, 6th Company, -Fusilier Regiment No. 36, born March 29th, 1890, at Hohenmölsen, -District of Weissenfels, at present in the hospital of this place. - -There were read over to him the following statements made by 1st -Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914: - -"In the early days of August, it may have been the middle of the month, -I was on officer-patrol duty near the Belgian frontier, with orders to -occupy a bridge. A brief engagement took place, and after an hour and a -half the patrol retired. I, with some fusiliers, received some special -orders, and for that reason left the patrol. - -"During our retirement over a meadow we noticed in a street-trench, -near a group of houses, several civilians who remained there. When we -approached nearer, we saw lying in the trench a German soldier whose -eyes had both been cut out. Thereupon we attacked the civilians, who -ran off into the adjacent houses, and from these opened fire upon us. -What became of the cruelly treated soldier I cannot say." - -The witness thereupon declared: This statement is correct. I adopt it -also as my own statement to-day, and make the following addition to it. -I did not see the three or four civilians (who, in fear of us, ran away -from the wounded German soldier into the adjacent houses) put out the -eyes of the soldier. That these men, however, were guilty is clear from -the fact that our wounded German comrade implored us, "Take me with -you; they have just put out my eyes." - -The attention of the witness was then called to the importance of the -oath, and he accordingly gave his sworn testimony. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: RICHARD WEISE. - Signed: Dr. SCHILLING. Signed: R. HORNIG. - - - App. 55. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of the Reservists, Gustav Voigt, Fritz - Marks, and Heinrich Hartmann, Infantry Regiment No. 165. - -Proceedings at Quedlinburg, in the Reserve Hospital. - - Present: - President of the Court, KEIL. - Secretary, FAHLBERG. - - SCHILLING, _November 11th, 1914_. - -In the Reserve Hospital at Schilling, to which the above-mentioned -Court officials had proceeded, the following examinations took place -after the witnesses had been individually warned as to the importance -of the oath: - -1. Reservist Gustav Voigt. - -As to Person: My name is Gustav Voigt. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -Reservist of the 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165. - -As to Case: On the morning of August 6th found myself with seven -comrades separated from my detachment. In order to get cover we had -to creep through the gardens of a village lying just beyond Herve in -Belgium. We suddenly saw five Belgian soldiers, who held up their -arms and offered to surrender. They called to us, and when we reached -them we noticed that they had with them two German soldiers of the -10th Hussars in handcuffs. One of them brought to our notice that a -third hussar was hanging dead in the tree. We observed that the ears -and nose of the corpse had been cut off. The two hussars told us -also that the five Belgians, who were there, had hung and mutilated -their comrade. The Belgians were just on the point of slaughtering or -mutilating these two also, had we not arrived on the scene. We disarmed -the Belgians, took them prisoners, and handed them over to a party of -five Uhlans, who were already taking several Belgian prisoners away -with them. We, too, then joined the Uhlans in order to regain our -company, and, while passing through the village, were fired at from -the cellars and windows. The name of the village I do not know, but -it lies between Herve and a large coalpit shaft in the direction of -Liège. I myself was wounded in the street-fighting at Liège. On the day -before this occurrence our company had an outpost fight to the right -of Herve, in the course of which an Einjähriger of the 5th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 165, was wounded and left behind. When we passed -this spot again on the following morning we found the body of the -Einjähriger lying under a garden fence; both his eyes had been gouged -out. We were all convinced that this had been done by villagers. - -On about August 7th, as we were advancing towards Liège, we saw a -German infantry-man; I believe he belonged to Infantry Regiment No. 27. -He showed no marks of any shot wound, but was dead, and all his private -parts had been cut away. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GUSTAV VOIGT. - -2. Reservist Fritz Marks. - -As to Person: My name is Fritz Marks. I am 23 years old; Protestant; -by calling a factory worker; Reservist of the 2nd Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 165. - -As to Case: On August 5th our battalion marched through a village near -Herve in Belgium. A man of the 5th Company came to meet us with the -words, "What brutality! Now they have gouged out the eyes of one of our -Einjähriger." He pointed to the place where the Einjähriger lay. We all -had to go to the place, and saw the Einjähriger lying dead by a garden -fence, with his eyes put out. We were convinced that this was the work -of the villagers. Next day, when we again passed through the village, -we were fired at from cellar gratings and windows, so that orders were -received to disarm the villagers and make them prisoners. We forced our -way into the houses and carried out the order. As, in spite of this, -the firing did not cease, six guilty Belgian peasants were shot by -order of an officer. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRITZ MARKS. - -3. Reservist Heinrich Hartmann. - -As to Person: My name is Heinrich Hartmann. I am 24 years old; -Protestant; Reservist in the 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165. - -As to Case: I saw lying on the ground the Einjähriger of the 5th -Company, with his eyes gouged out. Our company leader, Hauptmann -Burkholz, ordered us to search the houses in the place. Inside the -house, by the garden fence of which the Einjähriger was found, we -came across a big strong man of middle age, who was lying on his bed -and pretending to be asleep. We brought him before the officer, who -cross-examined him. The man was then shot by a musketeer of the 4th -Company. - -On the advance towards Liège we came across a German infantry-man who -had been thrust into a swampy pool with his head and half his body -under water; the man was dead. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HEINRICH HARTMANN. - -The witnesses were thereupon sworn. - -Proceedings end. - - Signed: KEIL. Signed: FAHLBERG. - - - App. 56. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Musketeer Paul Blankenburg, Infantry - Regiment No. 165. - - BLANKENBURG (HARTZ), _November 14th, 1914_. - -Herzogliches Amtsgericht. - - Present: - Oberamtsgerichter Dr. SCHILLING, Judge. - Gerichtsobersecretär HORNIG, Secretary. - -There appears as witness Musketeer Paul Blankenburg, 7th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 165, at the present time in the Reserve Hospital -of this place. The witness, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Blankenburg. I was born in Magdeburg, -September 4th, 1893; Protestant. - -As to Case: The following statement, which he had made on October 31st -of this year before 1st Lieutenant Reyner in this place, was read over -to the witness: - -"We were on the march in close column, and in the course of it passed -through a Belgian village, lying west of Herve. In the village German -wounded were lying, and indeed I recognised some Jäger troops from -Jäger Battalion No. 4. The column in marching through suddenly came -under fire from the houses, and the order was therefore given to remove -all the civilians from the houses, and to get them together into one -place. While this was going on I noticed that some girls of eight or -ten years of age, armed with sharp instruments, were busying themselves -with the German wounded. I subsequently ascertained that, from the most -severely wounded, the lobes and the upper parts of their ears had been -cut off. On continuing our march, an ambulance soldier, belonging, as -far as I remember, to the 27th Regiment, was shot dead from a house by -Belgian civilians while he was occupied in a school-yard in rendering -assistance to a wounded man." - -The witness therefore declared: "The statement just read over to me -corresponds to the truth. I again emphasise the fact that I myself -saw girls of some eight or ten years of age busying themselves with -severely wounded men in the Belgian village. The girls had steel -instruments in their hands--but they were not knives or scissors--and -with these instruments, which were sharp on one side, they busied -themselves among the wounded. We took the instruments from them. The -wounded had fresh wounds on their ears, from which the lobes and upper -portions had evidently been just cut off. One of the wounded told me in -reply to a question that he had been mutilated by the girls in the way -here described." - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL BLANKENBURG. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: Dr. SCHILLING. Signed: HORNIG. - - - App. 57. - - STATEMENT and MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Dragoon Funke, 2nd - Hanoverian Dragoon Regiment No. 16. - - CAISNES, _November 7th, 1914_. - -Dragoon Funke states: At Herve men of the Magdeburg Field Artillery -Regiment, which was marching through the place, drew my attention -to the fact that a dead hussar was lying near a straw stack. I went -towards the body and saw that the ears and nose of the hussar had been -cut off, and also that the whole of his face had been mangled. - - Signed: HEINICHEN, Lieutenant. - - CAISNES, _November 7th, 1914_. - - Present: - Deputy-President of the Court, Dr. STAHL (Gerichtsassessor). - Secretary, FREDERSDORF. - -There appeared as witness Corporal Funke. The witness Funke made the -same statement as that previously made by Lieutenant Heinichen. After -this had been read over he declared, "This is so correct that I have -nothing to add to it." - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FUNKE. - -The witness Funke was thereupon sworn. Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: STAHL. Signed: FREDERSDORF. - - - App. 58. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Reservist Ernst Baldeweg, Infantry - Regiment No. 35. - - MAGDEBURG, _November 1st, 1914_. - -Gericht der immobilen Etappen-Kommandantur No. 1. - - Present: - Military Assistant-Judge Dr. PAULS, Judge. - GLADROW, Secretary. - -At the request of the Deputy-General in Command of the IV. Army Corps, -the Reservist Ernst Baldeweg, dairy assistant in Berlin, 37 Rathenower -Street, 11th Company, Infantry Regiment 35, 28 years of age, Reformed -Church of Germany, after the sanctity of the oath had been pointed out -to him, was examined as follows: - -About the 8th of August 1914, in a village close to Verriers, I saw -with my own eyes that in one stable one horse, and in another stable -four horses, had had their tongues cut off. In the first case I noticed -that the tongue had not been completely severed, but hung from the -mouth on the jaws by a small fragment of flesh. I am of opinion that -Belgian civilians had mutilated the animals in order to prevent their -being taken on farther by the Germans. - -Either on Sunday, August 9th, 1914, or on Monday, August 10th, 1914, I -saw at a village quite close to Herve in Belgium a German hussar bound -to a tree by his hands and feet. Two large, long nails had been driven -through his eyes and his head, so that he was fixed to the tree by the -two nails. The hussar had ceased to live. In the same village there -was lying by a wooden fence in front of a farm an infantry-man of the -52nd Infantry Regiment. His eyes had been put out, his ears, nose, and -fingers cut off, and his stomach slashed about so that the intestines -were visible. The breast of the dead soldier had also been so badly -stabbed that it was completely mangled. For both these cases of gross -cruelty the Belgian civilians alone can be held responsible. - -I again assert that I have reported only what I personally observed, -and have refrained from any exaggeration. - -Read over, approved, and signed. - - Signed: ERNST BALDEWEG. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: Dr. PAULS. Signed: GLASDROW. - - - App. 59. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Musketeer Lagershausen, Ersatz Regiment - No. 230. - - HANOVER, _November 21st, 1914_. - - President of the Court, LINDENBURG. - Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve KOEPF. - -There appears as witness Musketeer Lagershausen, 1st Ersatz Company, -Reserve Regiment No. 230, who, after the importance of the oath has -been pointed out to him, made the following declaration: - -As to Person: My name is Hugo Lagershausen. I am 19 years of age; -Protestant. - -As to Case: I was attached to the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -73, which had pushed forward from Spa towards Liège. We, _i.e._ a -corporal of Regiment No. 74, several musketeers of Regiments Nos. 82 -and 83, and I myself, forthwith got the order to act as a reconnoitring -patrol on the right. This was on the night of August 5th-6th. As the -darkness had set in, and we had to proceed very quietly, I suddenly -found myself separated from all the rest of the patrol. Towards midday -on August 6th I reached a dressing-station which had been arranged in -some farm buildings near the village of Chênée. I found in the house -some fifteen severely wounded German soldiers, four or five of whom -had been shockingly mutilated. Both eyes had been put out, and some of -the victims had several finger joints cut off. Their wounds were still -comparatively fresh, though the blood was already somewhat coagulated. -These soldiers were still alive and groaning. It was impossible for -me to give them any help. There was no doctor in the place, as I had -already ascertained by questioning other wounded men lying in the -house. At the same time I came across in the house six or seven -Belgian civilians; four of these were women, who gave the wounded -water. The men remained quite inactive. I saw no weapons in their -possession; further, whether their hands were bloodstained I cannot -say, because they kept them concealed in their pockets. As regards the -point whether it was these persons who had perpetrated these cruelties -on the wounded soldiers, I can make no definite pronouncement. I could -take no action against these persons, because I was absolutely alone. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Musketeer LAGERSHAUSEN. - -The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations. - - Signed: LINDENBERG. Signed: KOEPF. - - - App. 60. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of the soldier Koch, Infantry Regiment No. - 25. - - STADEN, _November 27th, 1914_. - -Divisional Headquarters. - - Present: - President of the Court, JÄGER. - Secretary, BREHMER. - -There appeared as witness the soldier Koch, 4th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 25. After he had been made aware of the object of the -inquiry, and the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he -was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My Christian name is Mathias. I am 32 years of age; -Catholic; smelter by trade; living in Eschweiter-Röhe. - -As to Case: Up to August 16th of this year I belonged to the 1st -Company of the Ersatz Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 25. We were -assigned as escort to guard the motor ambulances. The motor ambulances -had been provided by the Voluntary Aid Society, and ran between Liège -and Aix-la-Chapelle. One day in the period from 10th-16th August I -was ordered to accompany one of these motors. We drove towards the -battlefield in the vicinity of the town of Visé. In front of us the -men of the Voluntary Aid Society deployed, and we followed slowly -after them. From some rising ground I could easily survey the land -lying in front of me. At a distance of about 500 metres I saw near a -wounded German soldier two women sitting in a crouching position. I at -first assumed that the women were praying beside the soldier. Hard by, -three or four men were standing. One of these suddenly fired at me. I -replied to the shot, whereupon the men and both the women ran away. I -then went up to the wounded soldier, who was bleeding from a wound in -the chest. His trousers were open in front and partly drawn back. On -nearer inspection I ascertained that the sexual organ of the soldier -had been completely severed and placed in his mouth. The soldier showed -no longer any signs of life, but his body was still warm. The sight -appeared to me so terrible that tears came into my eyes. I removed what -had been put in the mouth, and buried it in the ground. I left the -soldier lying there, as he was unquestionably dead. - -On the same day I also found the body of a German, whose ring finger -had been cut off. When I told this to the men of the Voluntary Aid -Society, they gave me to understand that this was no news to them, as -they had often seen the same thing before. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MATHIAS KOCH. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings end. - - Signed: JÄGER. Signed: BREHMER. - - - App. 61. - - REPORT of Medical Corps Company 2, VI. Army Corps. - - BEINE, _October 15th, 1914_. - -On August 23rd I went to the French field hospital through Rossignol, -where the company had established its chief dressing-station. On the -way a musketeer reported to me that a dead German was lying in a house. -I at once inspected the corpse and ascertained that, in addition to a -wound, which was not mortal, the head of the soldier had been burnt. A -few metres away stood a half-filled bottle of petroleum, and another -half-filled with benzin. One could clearly see from this that the -inhabitants had dragged the wounded soldier into the house, saturated -his head with petroleum and benzin, and then set it alight. - -On the night of 24th-25th of August I drove in an automobile from -Rossignol to Florenville, where a number of inhabitants were standing -by a house engaged in a lively conversation. When, about 100 metres -farther on from this point, I stopped my automobile in order to -ascertain the direction from a signpost, I was suddenly exposed to -a vigorous fire from these people behind me, so that it was only by -driving off very quickly that I was able to save my life. - - Signed: STERNBERG, Captain and Commander of Medical Corps Company 2, - VI. Army Corps. - - - App. 62. - - STATEMENT of Senior Staff-Surgeon Dr. Kiefmann, Medical Corps, VIII. - Army Corps. - -Proceedings at Field Hospital No. 3, VIII. Army Corps. - - ST. MOREL, _October 15th, 1914_. - -There appears as witness Dr. Beyer, who states that Lieutenant Erich -Koch, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 160, who had received a severe -wound in the perinæum, with laceration of the rectum, informed him -after receiving his wound he had been stripped naked by the civilians, -robbed, and thrown into a cesspool. - -Lieutenant Koch was in fact naked, and only wrapped in a blanket when -brought into the hospital. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. BEYER, Staff-Surgeon. - -There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major (Medical Service) Joseph -Steffen, who states in reference to the case in hand: - -I can only confirm the statement of Staff-Surgeon Beyer. Lieutenant -Koch gave me the same information, and added the fact that the women -also had taken part in this outrage. Koch was wounded near Porcheresse. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: STEFFEN, Acting-Sergeant-Major, Medical Service. - -Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: Dr. KIEFMANN, Senior Surgeon and Chief Staff-Surgeon. - - - App. 63. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Landwehr soldier Alwin Chaton, Reserve - Infantry Regiment No. 78. - - BRAUNSCHWEID, _October 31st, 1914_. - (The Hospital "Konzerthaus.") - -Gericht der stellvertretenden XL. Brigade. - - Present: - President of the Court, Dr. BEHME. - Secretary, DE BOER. - -There appeared to-day as witness the Landwehr soldier Alwin Chaton, -5th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 78, who made the following -statement: - -My name is Alwin Chaton. I am 32 years old; Protestant; book-keeper at -Emmerstadt, near Helmstadt. - -During the street-fighting in Charleroi, in the course of the fight -we passed the main street and reached a side-street leading from the -main street. When I had come to the street corner and fired down the -side-street, I saw some 50 to 60 paces in front of me a German dragoon -lying in the street. Three civilians were near him, one of whom was -bending over the soldier, who was still kicking with his legs. I fired -among them and hit the last of the three civilians; the others ran -away. On coming nearer I saw that the civilian I had shot had a long -bloodstained knife in his hand. The right eye of the German dragoon had -been cut out, and the left one as well, though this was still hanging -from the side of his head. From the nature of the wounds there could be -no doubt that the eyes had been cut out, not in the fighting, but by -sheer malice. A great deal of smoke came from the body of the dragoon. -He had no doubt been soaked in inflammable liquid and set alight. - -Later on I saw other bodies burning, though there was no sort of fire -in the vicinity; these also must have been set alight. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ALWIN CHATON. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: BEHME. Signed: DE BOER. - - - App. 64. - - MILITARY COURT EXAMINATION of Acting-Sergeant-Major Weinreich, - Infantry Regiment No. 20. - -Court of the 6th Infantry Division. - - Present: - Deputy-President of the Court, SCHMETZER. - Secretary, HÄNSE. - - URSEL, _November 10th, 1914_. - -There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Weinreich, Machine-gun -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 20, who, after the importance of the -oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Adolf Weinreich. I am 32 years of age; -Protestant. - -As to Case: One day in the middle of August this year, I proceeded with -the Company Transport, behind the company, which was taking part in -the fight. At the entrance of Neer-Linter I saw a German hussar lying -in the house covered with a sack. I dismounted from my horse, lifted -the sack, and noticed that the hussar was dead. His face was covered -all over with blood, the eye cavities were bored out, the eyeballs -themselves had been completely cut away and had disappeared. The coat -was torn open, the breast exposed, and showed marks of some twenty -stabs. I covered the corpse again with the sack. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ADOLF WEINREICH. - -The witness was hereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHMETZER. Signed: HÄNSE. - - - App. 65. - -Herzogliches Amtsgericht. - - Present: - Oberamtsrichter Dr. SCHILLING, Judge. - HORNIG, Secretary. - - BLANKENBURG (HARTZ), _November 14th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Fusilier Paul Rohr, 8th Company, Fusilier -Regiment No. 36, at present in the Reserve Hospital at this place; he -was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Rohr; born on August 28th, 1892, at -Galbitz, near Cönnern; Protestant. - -As to Case: The following deposition, which he had made before -Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914, was read over to witness: - -"Whilst taking some straw for camp purposes from a barn near Brussels -we found two otherwise unwounded German Uhlans hidden under the straw. -Both had their eyes poked out. The case, as I know, has already been -reported to my battalion commander, Kirchner." - -He thereupon declared: I affirm this deposition to-day, and add the -following detail: The occurrence took place in a village near Brussels -at about the end of August this year. The two German Uhlans I found -lying dead under the straw in the barn were absolutely unwounded, with -the exception of their torn-out eyes, and there exists no doubt in my -mind that the wounds inflicted, when their eyes were destroyed, were -the sole cause of their death. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL ROHR. - -After the witness had been admonished as to the importance of the oath, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: Dr. SCHILLING. Signed: HORNIG. - - - App. 66. - - MILITARY EXAMINATION of Captain Troeger, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. - 204. - -Ministry of War. - -Military place of examination concerning violations of the Laws of War. - - Present: - Kriegsgerichtzrat, Dr. LINDE, Judge. - PFITZNER, Secretary. - - BERLIN, _November 24th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Captain Troeger, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 204, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Hans Troeger; 45 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On the march from Ghent to Thourout, two volunteers of -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 203, who had collapsed from exhaustion, -were mutilated by Belgian villagers, their ears and noses were cut off, -their stomachs slit open, and one of them had his skull fractured by -the heel of a boot. This fact was made known to us amongst others by -the commanding officer of the company, Captain zur Nieden, to whose -company the two volunteers belonged. - -The following is another case, which took place at Cessen-Kappel: - -Non-commissioned Officer Schnitzer, 5th Company, Reserve Regiment -No. 204, reported to me on October 26th or 27th that he had found -a mutilated Prussian dragoon at Cessen-Kappel whose ears and nose -had been cut off, and his stomach slit open by villagers. The said -non-commissioned officer thereupon searched the farms in question with -a detachment of his men, and found a few armed inhabitants, who were -shot at once. - -On our march through Belgium from Ghent onwards we were constantly -fired on by the inhabitants from houses and church towers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: TROEGER. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings concluded. - - Signed: Dr. LINDE. Signed: PFITZNER. - - - - -APPENDIX A.--AERSCHOT - - - App. A. - -War Office. - - Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War. - -BELGIAN CIVILIAN UPRISING IN AERSCHOT ON AUGUST 19TH AND 20TH, 1914. - -_Comprehensive Report._ - -The officially summoned Belgian Commission of Inquiry, together -with the foreign Press, have included the case of Aerschot in their -innumerable calumnies against the German method of waging war in -Belgium. Neither could find enough to say in their descriptions of the -"barbarous" attitude adopted by the German troops and their officers -towards the "harmless" inhabitants, nor against the utter lack of -ground for the Court of Punishment held in the "peaceful" town. The -true facts of the matter, which have been established by a number of -carefully sworn testimonies given by unprejudiced witnesses, reveal -quite a different picture. - -On August 19, 1914, German troops of the 8th Infantry Brigade were -housed in Aerschot. The town quietly watched the Brigade Staff -enter on the same day. Colonel Stenger, in command of the brigade, -sent his adjutant, Captain Schwarz, in advance, in order to procure -billets for the members of the staff. Captain Schwarz was received -in a friendly manner by the Mayor and his wife. The Mayor suggested -that his own house, situated in the market-place, would provide the -best accommodation. The Colonel and his orderly officer, Lieutenant -Beyersdorff (App. 1), went there in the afternoon between four and -five. The relations between the officer staying in those quarters and -his host were from the very first amiable and polite (App. 1). - -Colonel Jenrich, officer commanding Infantry Regiment No. 140, attached -to the Brigade, was made Governor of the town, and summoned the Mayor -in order to ask him whether any dispersed Belgian soldiers were hidden -in the place, or disguised as civilians in the houses. The Mayor -replied to both questions in the negative. Colonel Jenrich warned -him expressly against attacks by the civil population, for which the -Mayor, on penalty of death, would be held responsible. Further, he -desired him to see that the inhabitants delivered up all weapons. This -demand Colonel Jenrich had to repeat twice, as it turned out that great -quantities of weapons were kept back by the population (App. 2). - -At 8 o'clock in the evening a particularly loud report was heard in -the town, which proved to be the signal for a general firing on the -German troops gathered together in the streets and the market-place. -The fire--evidently at the given signal--opened from the roof windows -of a corner house near the market-place, situated opposite that of the -Mayor (App. 3). Three volleys were fired from this house, then the -shooting ceased for a short time, after which brisk and rapid firing -began again from many of the houses. The shots came chiefly from the -roof window. All the doors and windows of the house from which the -first shot had been fired were firmly locked, and had to be broken open -by the soldiers. The house was set on fire. Several civilians, who -attempted to flee, were seized, many with weapons in their hands (App. -5). Eighty-eight men amongst them were shot as francs-tireurs (App. 3). - -Colonel Stenger had remained alone in his room in the Mayor's house. -By a notice on the door the house was easily recognisable as being the -quarters of the Brigade Staff. Colonel Stenger, trusting to the assumed -friendliness of the inhabitants, had spent the afternoon on the balcony -adjoining his room, where he was clearly visible to all. Towards the -evening he retired to his brightly lit room, leaving the balcony doors -wide open (App. 1). When Captain Schwarz and Lieutenant Beyersdorff -went to call on him in the evening about 8 o'clock, in order to receive -instructions with reference to the uprising, they found Colonel -Stenger lying mortally wounded in the middle of the lighted room, with -the balcony doors still wide open. The doctor, who was immediately -summoned, could only testify to the death that had already overtaken -him (App. 1). The shots fired at the Colonel occurred then at the same -time as those of the first lively volleys fired from the house opposite -his room. It was the case of a systematic attack upon the German -troops, who, robbed of their leader, were to fall into disorder and -confusion. Hence the cessation of the firing after the first volleys, -when the criminals saw they had succeeded in murdering the Colonel, and -its immediate hostile renewal against the apparently leaderless troops. -The sequence of events is so obvious that it is only confirmed by the -previous pretence of friendliness on the part of the inhabitants, and -not weakened by this fact, as the Belgian representation of events -would have it. - -An immediate search of the Mayor's house showed that the family were -not only cognizant of the hostilities, but also participated in them. -Shots were fired into the street from the locked cellar, the key of -which the family declared to have been lost, and it had to be forcibly -opened; a stand had even been moved to the cellar window, in order to -make their position easier for the marksmen (App. 1), and a musketeer -was positively certain that he had noticed a shot fired from the house -(App. 1). The Mayor's son alone could be held responsible for the -actual deed; hidden away by his family, he was fetched out of a dark -room (App. 1). But since the whole family were guilty of the Colonel's -murder after having received him with such "hospitality," according to -Belgian reports, both father and son were shot on the following day, -August 20 (App. 2). - -At the town Governor's instigation, Captain Karge, officer commanding -the Military Mounted Police, was lodged in the house of the Mayor's -brother, and thus he too shared the same fate (Apps. 2, 3). - -According to the nature of the firing, no doubt remains of its being -a case of a systematic and murderous attack on the German garrison. -This was also admitted to Captain Karge by a civilian prisoner of the -educated classes (App. 3). The participation of the Mayor's whole -family proves that the Belgian authorities supported such treacherous -deeds against the German troops--deeds that were, unhappily, only too -frequent. In Aerschot this mischievous official authority led to the -ruthless murder of the commanding officer. - -BERLIN, _January 17th, 1915_. - -Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law. - - Signed: Major BAUER. - Signed: Dr. WAGNER, Member of the Supreme Court of Judicature. - - - A. App. 1. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLAUSS, Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major ROSS, Clerk of the Court. - - ROUBAIX, _November 6th, 1914_. - -At the inquiry concerning the events in Aerschot, on the night of -August 19-20, 1914, there appeared as witnesses: - -1. The Adjutant of the 8th Infantry Brigade, Captain Schwarz. - -2. The Orderly Officer of the 8th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant of -Reserve Beyersdorff. After they had been acquainted with the nature of -the inquiry, and their attention had been called to the importance of -the oath, they were separately examined, as follows: - -1. Captain Schwarz. - -As to Person: My name is Carl Schwarz. I am 34 years of age, of the -Protestant faith. - -As to Case: On the 19th of August I was sent in advance of Colonel -Stenger, who later was shot, and was commanding the 8th Infantry -Brigade, to Aerschot, to find quarters for the staff. The Mayor -of Aerschot suggested to me that his own house, situated in the -market-place, would provide the best accommodation. I entered this -house, and was received in the most friendly manner by the Mayor's -wife. Between four and five in the afternoon, Colonel Stenger and the -Orderly Officer, Lieutenant of Reserve Beyersdorff, arrived. - -Shortly before eight in the evening, soon after I had had a short -interview with the Colonel in his room, there suddenly arose a brisk -rifle-fire in the town; it was directed on the troops, who were partly -passing through and partly halting in the market-place. The first -shots, which, according to the sound, seemed to come from a northerly -direction, I thought came from the enemy's fire, who had been reported -as advancing from the north. But I was soon convinced by the shots -directed on our house that they were intended for us. The shots did not -emanate from our troops. After a short pause, the firing was renewed -with equal violence. In the meantime, the Mayor was brought to me by -the men of the 140th Infantry Regiment. I had to protect him from the -fury of the men. I now went through the streets with the Mayor, and -through him tried to bring the citizens to reason. After the firing had -died down, I handed the Mayor over to the commandant of the town, Major -Jenrich. - -As I now returned to the Mayor's house to receive orders from Colonel -Stenger, I found him lying seriously wounded on the floor of his room. -Owing to the many shots fired at our adjoining rooms, and to the fact -that the townsfolk obviously knew that the commander was billeted in -the Mayor's house (indicated on the door), and further, that Colonel -Stenger could be seen through the wide-open doors of the balcony, I was -under the impression that the fire was specially directed against the -Colonel. - -After Colonel Jenrich had given the command that the troops should -leave Aerschot, I personally, accompanied by a few men of the 140th -Infantry Regiment, made a thorough search of the Mayor's house, from -which shots were supposed to have been fired. On this occasion, by my -orders, the locked cellar doors, of which the keys were alleged to -have been lost, were broken in with axes. In the cellar, in front of -the window which opened on to the street, I found a conspicuous stand -from which shots must have been fired. The window-panes were completely -shattered. Whilst we were searching the living-rooms, the Mayor's son -came towards us from a darkened room. I, personally, handed him over to -the sentry in the market-place. Those calumnies about our doings in the -Mayor's house, published in a foreign newspaper, are untrue. - -The negotiations concerning the housing and catering were conducted on -both sides in a friendly fashion, mostly with the Mayor's wife, as the -Mayor was occupied at the town hall. It was natural that, after the -shooting of Colonel Stenger, the friendly tone which had reigned should -have been changed to a strictly official one, and I did not omit to -show my horror at the sad event. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHWARZ. - -Hereupon the witness took the oath. - -2. Reserve Lieutenant Beyersdorff of the 12th Dragoon Regiment. - -As to Person: I am called Bruno Beyersdorff. I am 31 years of age, and -a Protestant. - -As to Case: At the hearing of the witness it turned out that his -evidence agreed with the evidence of Captain Schwarz. Therefore Captain -Schwrarz's deposition was read to him, whereupon he declared this -evidence to be correct, and confirmed it and added a few more details. - -With the exception of a few short intervals, I was at the time in -question in the same room with Captain Schwarz. The negotiations -concerning the housing and catering, which we both had with the Mayor -and his wife, were conducted in an entirely friendly fashion. - -I am, for similar reasons, of the same opinion as Captain Schwarz, that -the fire which was directed on our quarters was especially intended -for Colonel Stenger. In referring to this, I want to add that Colonel -Stenger, especially noticeable by his decorations, sat for some time -on his balcony, and could be clearly seen from the whole market-place. -I also, with Captain Schwarz, left the room after the first sounds -of firing, and proceeded to the market-place to restore order there -amongst the troops, who had become disorganised through the firing. -When the shooting began soon after, for the second time, I went alone -to Colonel Stenger's room, to ask him for orders. As no one opened the -door after repeated knocking, I entered, and found him stretched on -the floor in the middle of the room, with his face on his bended arm, -in his death-agony. As I could observe wounds, and there was copious -bleeding, I immediately fetched a doctor, who certified that the -Colonel had since died. I cannot give the name of the doctor. I was not -present at the searching of the rooms, which took place later. There -is no question of our having behaved in a rough manner in the Mayor's -house, as is supposed to have been stated in a foreign newspaper. After -the Colonel's body had been found, we did adopt a strictly official -tone towards the Mayor's wife. On leaving the house, Captain Schwarz -said to the Mayor's wife, "Your husband had been frequently warned, -and you will have to bear the consequences." I also wish to add to -this, that, after the firing had ceased, Captain Karge, as far as I -know, gave command for at least three houses to be set on fire, from -which shots were supposed to have been fired. I myself ascertained that -during the burning of the house belonging to the Mayor's neighbour, -exploding munition was distinctly heard. It was noticeable from the -separate detonations. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BEYERSDORFF. - -The witness thereupon took the oath. - - Signed: KLAUSS, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: ROSS, Acting-Sergeant-Major, as Clerk to the Military Court. - - - A. App. 2. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLAUSS, as Officer to the Military Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major ROSS, as Secretary to the Court. - - OSTEL, _November 3rd, 1914_. - -At the inquiry concerning the events of the night of August 19 and 20, -1914, in Aerschot, there appeared as witness the officer commanding the -140th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Jenrich. After he had been acquainted -with the subject of the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to -the importance of the oath, he was examined as follows: - -My name is Andreas Jenrich. I am 56 years of age; Protestant. On -August 19th I came personally with the staff of my regiment to -Aerschot, after the 3rd Division had had a fight with Belgian troops -in that neighbourhood. I was commander of the place, and had to make -preparations for internal administration, as well as for safety. The -Staff of the 8th Infantry Brigade were already in Aerschot, and were -billeted in the Mayor's house. I at once sent for this gentleman and -asked him whether there were any disbanded Belgian soldiers hidden -away, or if there were otherwise any Belgian soldiers in civilian -clothing in the houses. He denied this. I pointed out the consequence -to him, for which he and the town would be held responsible, if -anything was undertaken by the populace against the German troops; and -especially I left him in no doubt as to the death penalty awaiting -him should an attack by the civilians against the German soldiers -take place. I felt justified in this threat, as on the day before, in -Schaaffen, near Siest, civilians fired at our soldiers, killing several -of them. As far as I know, at midday on August 19, 1914, the General -commanding the II. Army Corps, Von Linsingen, had likewise warned the -Mayor and the population. - -I also ordered the civilians to give up all their weapons in front of -the town hall in the market-place. After an hour I ascertained that -only a small quantity of arms had been given up. I then renewed my -commands to the Mayor that he should see to the handing over of all -weapons. To my especial astonishment, 36 rifles were then brought -forth, which had evidently been intended for the purpose of public -shows and for the Garde Civique. Portions of ammunition for these -rifles were found packed away in a case. After repeated and serious -warning to the Mayor, a larger quantity of weapons was given up. -Towards 8 o'clock the troops had just marched in, and still found -themselves in the streets. All at once, at 8 o'clock exactly, firing -suddenly began from all the houses, and this was naturally returned -by our men. I should especially like to point out that before the -commencement of the general firing, a particularly loud report was -heard, which must have been the alarm signal. I succeeded, with several -other officers, amongst whom I may mention Brigade Adjutant Captain -Schwarz, in stopping the fire of our soldiers in the market-place. Soon -after I heard from Captain Schwarz that the officer commanding the -brigade had been found shot dead in his room in the Mayor's house. At -about 8.30 in the evening I commanded the evacuation of the town, and -we bivouacked outside the place on the way to Wispelaer. - -In the meantime the houses had been searched by the troops, and a -considerable number of inhabitants taken prisoners, who were proved to -have taken part in the attacks on the soldiers. Of the male population -taken prisoners the Mayor, with his son as well as his brother, and -every third man, were shot the next morning. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JENRICH. - -Hereupon the witness was sworn. - - Signed: KLAUSS, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer to the Military Court. - Signed: ROSS, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Secretary to the Military Court. - - - A. App. 3. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, HOTTENDORFF. - Secretary to the Military Court, WESTPHAL. - - TOURCOING, _November 15th, 1914_. - -At the investigation concerning the events in Aerschot on the night of -August 19th to 20th, 1914, there appeared as witness Captain Karge of -the cavalry, officer commanding the troops of the Field Cavalry Police -of the II. Army Corps, who, after his attention had been drawn to the -importance and sanctity of the oath, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My Christian name is Hans. I am 42 years of age; -Protestant. - -As to Case: The witness was handed the supplement to this Record and -declared: - -I have given my evidence in writing in the supplement. Witness then -further added to the Record, after this supplement had been read -through: - -I acknowledge the supplement just read as my own. Several German -officers told me that, according to report, the Belgian Government, and -especially the King of the Belgians, had intimated that it was the duty -of every male Belgian to do the German Army as much harm as possible. - -An Order of this kind was also supposed to have been found on a -captured Belgian soldier. I also heard that Belgian soldiers had been -discharged in their native towns, so that they could there fight in -plain clothes against the Germans. It is true that a number of Belgian -soldiers, who were partly clothed as civilians, were made prisoners. An -officer, who was present at the attack in Aerschot, told me that on the -belfry tower of a certain place in the neighbourhood of Aerschot he had -himself read that Belgians who caught German officers were not allowed -to keep them prisoners on parole, but were to shoot them. I cannot -exactly repeat this officer's words, but they contained the meaning I -have just given. - -A college teacher from Aerschot, whom I have already mentioned in the -supplement, assured me, as I now positively remember, that the Garde -Civique had orders to do the German Army as much harm as possible. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KARGE. - -The witness thereupon took the oath. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: HOTTENDORFF. Signed: WESTPHAL. - - - Supplement to A. App. 3. - -On August 19th, 1914, towards 8 o'clock in the evening, I stood at an -open window in the quarters which had been offered me by the Mayor of -Aerschot, whose brother's house it was, situated in a street which led -to the market-place. It may have been a few minutes to eight when I -heard a shot. A column was just marching down the street towards the -market-place. I leant out of the window, under the impression that -perhaps one of the soldiers had carelessly fired a shot from his rifle; -immediately there was a fusillade. I had just looked in the direction -from which the single shot had been fired, and I could ascertain that -from the ledge of the roof of a red corner-house, situated opposite -my billet, towards the right, the smoke and dust were ascending. -My certainty that the first shot had been fired from this spot was -strengthened, and I now distinctly saw a second volley being fired from -the same place, appearing in thin clouds of smoke. The shots may have -been fired from about eight or ten rifles, and from the regularity of -the volley I had the impression that we had to do with a well-organised -and perhaps military operation. Shortly after the second volley a third -was heard, and added to that a brisk and rapid firing took place, which -did not proceed only from the house mentioned, but also from the other -houses in this street. - -Apparently this firing did not only come from the windows, but also -from the openings in the roof and prepared loopholes in the attics of -the houses; it is because of this that one can explain the small harm -done to the men and animals. The street was narrow, and the rifles had -to be placed in an unnaturally slanting position, if they were to be -aimed at the halting columns in the middle of the street. The drivers -and soldiers of the supply column had in the meantime left their -waggons and horses and sought shelter from the fire in the doorways of -the houses. Some of the waggons had collided with each other, and the -restless horses, having lost their drivers, had broken loose. - -As shots also came my way, I sought shelter against the partition wall -between the windows. After a short time, I thought I heard the firing -returned by our soldiers in the market-place. Soon after, signals and -calls were heard to "cease fire." The firing did then cease for a time, -but was apparently renewed on both sides, though not so violently as -before. - -I had taken the opportunity to leave my billet during the cessation of -the firing, and go to the market-place, to inform a Colonel there of -the proceedings I had witnessed. At the same time, I asked permission -to set fire to the house from which the signal shot--as I took it to -be--had been fired, and from which the volley had also come. In my -opinion, the ringleaders were assembled there. The Colonel refused my -request. I hereupon returned to my street, but was there detained a -moment by a rifleman, who, standing in a doorway, called out, "Just now -I plainly saw a shot fired from the house opposite." He then pointed -out the house, which I recognised as that of the Mayor. - -I now took a few soldiers who were standing near by (of the 140th -Infantry Regiment), and proceeded with them to the house from which -the first shots had been fired, and in the attic of which I guessed -the instigators and leaders still to be. In the meantime the regiment -arrived, and--giving my commands to the officer and his men--I ordered -the doors and windows on the ground floor, which were firmly locked, -to be battered in. The house had a front door and a shop door. I then -also forced my way into the house, and with the help of a fairly large -quantity of turpentine, which was found in a tin can holding about 20 -litres, and which I had partly poured on the first floor, I succeeded, -after a short time, in setting the house on fire. Further, I gave -orders to the men who had so far taken no part in this affair to occupy -the entrances to the houses and arrest all men seeking to escape. - -As I left the burning house several civilians, amongst them a young -priest, were arrested in the neighbouring houses. I had them taken -to the market-place, where in the meantime my troop of Field Cavalry -Police had assembled. I then ordered the columns to march out of the -town, and took over the command of all the prisoners, but released the -women, boys, and girls. - -I received from a staff officer (divisional commander of Artillery -Regiment No. 17) the order to shoot all the captured men. Then I gave -orders to a part of my police force to conduct the columns out of the -town, whilst the others were told to escort the prisoners and take them -away. At the exit of the town a house was burning, and by its light I -saw the guilty men, 88 in number, shot, but not before I had taken away -three cripples from among them. - -Later on I met a second batch of prisoners. I picked out the most -intelligent looking, and told him all the prisoners would be shot, -but that I would save his life if he told me the truth concerning the -organisation of the attack. For I looked upon the whole affair as such. -This man, who spoke German and was a teacher at a college in Aerschot, -confessed to its having been a great mistake of the people of Aerschot -to have sheltered some fugitive Belgian soldiers, and to have hidden -them and clothed them in civilian garments. These had joined the Garde -Civique, and they had then organised an attack. - -If I consider all the circumstances of the strange and remarkable -behaviour of the Mayor, his brother, and other citizens with whom I -came into contact, then I have no doubt that a great part of the civil -population were all agreed in carrying out their hostile intentions. - - Signed: KARGE, Captain of Cavalry. - - - A. App. 4. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, JÜNGST. - Secretary to the Court, APPEL. - - GNESEN, _November 29th, 1914_. - -At the investigation concerning the events of the night between August -19th and 20th, 1914, at Aerschot, Captain Schleusener of the 49th -Infantry Regiment, at present in Gnesen, appeared as witness, and -after his attention had been called to the importance of the oath, was -examined as follows: - -My name is Georg Schleusener, Captain and Company Commander, 6th -Pomeranian Infantry Regiment No. 49, machine-gun section. I am 35 years -of age, Protestant, and I live in Gnesen. - -Late in the afternoon of August 19th, 1914, I arrived with my -machine-gun section, on a special mission, in this little town of -Aerschot, by the northern exit. About 350 yards from the market-place -I heard a few isolated shots, which I took to be exploding ammunition. -But I soon found I was mistaken, as I encountered some returning -cavalry patrols and their waggons, belonging to the 3rd Infantry -Division, trying to beat a hasty retreat. After having succeeded in -stopping our own firing, I myself saw shots fired from the houses, -whereupon I ordered our machine-guns to be directed on the house fronts -to the left. I was told that shots had been fired from a house on the -right. As I commanded the guns to be turned round in order to open -fire, a medical officer told me that there were wounded in the house. -At my instigation a search was made, and five men were found in the -house. I did not allow this house to be fired on. - -Captain Folz, at present attached to the General Staff in Berlin, is -supposed to be able to give more direct information concerning the -death of Colonel Stenger. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHLEUSENER. - -The witness was hereupon legally sworn. - - Signed: JÜNGST, President of the Military Court. - Signed: APPEL, Secretary of the Military Court. - - - A. App. 5. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, BERNHARDS. - Clerk of the Military Court, HOFMANN. - - DARMSTADT, _January 12th, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness at the inquiry concerning the detailed -circumstances of the attack of the civil population in Aerschot, -Captain Folz. After he had been acquainted with the subject-matter of -the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to the importance of the -oath, he made the following statement: - -My name is Hermann Folz. I am 32 years of age; Protestant; Captain, -49th Infantry Regiment, at present with the Reserve Flying Corps, -Section 3. On a day in August, the date of which I have forgotten, -I arrived in Aerschot, as my regiment's billeting officer, with the -Staff of the 8th Infantry Brigade. It was between three and four in -the afternoon when we rode into the place. Of German troops, the 3rd -Infantry Division had already passed through in batches, and already -the narrow and angular little town was full of commissariat, artillery, -and ammunition columns. We had been about three hours in the little -town, when suddenly violent firing began. The firing seemed to come -from the north-west exit of the village. - -Immediately afterwards the Medical Corps, I believe it to have been the -2nd (including a certain Dr. Wild) as well as a section of the supplies -of the 3rd Division, came towards us, under incessant fire, and -informed us they had been fired upon. A Belgian battalion was supposed -to be advancing. With difficulty we managed to make headway with our -machine-gun company, and by taking a seat on the last waggon, with -the company leader, Captain Schleusener, I proceeded in the direction -of the alleged advance of the Belgian force. About three kilometres -before the town, near a windmill, we discovered that there was no enemy -at hand. I thereupon returned on foot to Aerschot. We had already, -during our march out of the town, heard continuous firing. Entering -Aerschot by a bridge, I noticed that our troops were being fired upon -from the houses. Shots came sometimes from the upper floors, sometimes -from the cellars, and one could distinctly tell by the sound that both -rifles and machine-guns were being used. The situation developed in -such a manner that our own men had to seek cover with their backs to -the houses, and as soon as a marksman was observed in the opposite -house he was fired at. I saw several of our men wounded by these shots, -and the bullets also whistled round my head. Near the town hall, which -was to have been converted into an artillery depot, stood a captain of -the 140th Infantry Regiment, who continuously ordered the bugles to -sound the "Cease fire." Evidently the officer first wished to stop the -firing of our men in order to be able to settle upon a plan of action. -Brigade Adjutant Schwarz, since fallen, met me in the market-place -and informed me that the officer commanding the 8th Brigade, Colonel -Stenger, had been shot. I immediately hurried to the Mayor's billets, -which were situated in the Mayor's house in the market-place, and there -found Colonel Stenger dead on his bed. The orderly officer present, -Lieutenant Beyersdorff, Dragoon Regiment No. 12, told me he had found -the Colonel in the room, about three metres from the window, lying dead -on his face. On the spot one distinctly saw two pools of blood, and -I also noticed that the wall opposite the window was marked by many -bullet-holes, and the window-panes were shot through. I saw a wound on -the corpse stretching from the right eye to the right ear, and also a -shot through the right breast, but of the latter one saw only the broad -hole caused by the bullet. The regimental doctor of the 140th Infantry -Regiment, who on the following day opened the corpse in my presence, -found in the passage of the breast wound a shapeless lead bullet, -which had broken up on coming in contact with a hard substance. The -bullet had torn a main artery and caused immediate death. According to -the evidence of the doctor, the facial wound was not caused by a shot -from an infantry rifle. Owing to the vertical passage of the wound, -and the nature of the shot, there can be no doubt that the Colonel was -not fired at from the street, but by an inhabitant of the opposite -house. To judge by the calibre of the breast bullet, the weapon used -must have been a muzzle-loader. The bullet taken from the body I gave -into the keeping of the paymaster of the 2nd Battalion, 49th Infantry -Regiment. The paymaster's name is Wirowski. The revolt was then -systematically suppressed, and the houses searched for francs-tireurs. -In this way about forty civilians, amongst whom were several--at least -two--priests, were found with weapons in their hands. According to -my observations and to the events described, there is no doubt that -a systematic plan of attack on the German troops had been adopted by -the Belgian civilians. The regimental adjutant, Lieutenant v. Oppen, -was also witness to the events, and will be able to make a statement -regarding them. The Captain of the II. Corps of Military Police, named -Karge, was also present. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FOLZ. - -Legally sworn. - - Signed: BERNHARDS. - Signed: HOFMANN. - -Supplement to the Record of November 15th, 1914. - - - - -APPENDIX B.--ANDENNE - - - App. B. - -War Office. - - Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War. - -BELGIAN CIVILIAN UPRISING IN ANDENNE ON AUGUST 20TH, 1914. - -_Summary Report._ - -Andenne is a small industrial Belgian town of about 8000 inhabitants, -situated on the southern bank of the Meuse, half-way between the -fortresses of Huy and Namur, in the province of Namur. During their -advance, the German troops had constantly come into contact with -Andenne. About the 20th August 1914 two infantry regiments and a Jäger -Battalion marched from Coutisse towards Andenne, towards the north, in -order to be able to cross the pontoon bridge there over the Meuse. They -were commanded by Major-General Freiherr von Langermann and Erlencamp; -Major von Polentz was at the head of one of the infantry battalions. - -The inhabitants of Andenne received the passing troops in an apparently -friendly manner; they gave them water, and the soldiers believed that -in the quiet of the evening they would be able to pass peaceably -through Andenne and reach the Meuse, flowing northwards. But scarcely -had the head of the marching column arrived at the bridge over the -Meuse, when the peaceful picture presented by the town suddenly -changed, and the inhabitants showed their true character, a thing which -unfortunately occurred only too often in Belgium. This time their -deeds were truly devilish. Bells pealed from the church tower; as they -ceased, the citizens, recently so helpful, suddenly disappeared from -the streets, and bolted their doors and let down the shutters. A mad -fire from all sides was poured upon the unsuspecting troops. In the -town they shot from the cellars and from specially prepared openings -in the roofs, and bombs and hand-grenades were hurled down on the -defenceless men who happened to be nearest. Machine-guns sent their -murderous bullets through the soldiers' ranks. At the same time, hidden -francs-tireurs began firing from the heights opposite the end of the -bridge over the Meuse. Besides which men and women in wild fury poured -boiling water from the half-open windows upon the German troops. Of -Major v. Polentz's men alone over one hundred were scalded. Against -this inhumanity the troops had to defend themselves energetically. They -pressed into the houses and shot down the cowardly aggressors in their -hiding-places. The houses which had served them for cover were set on -fire. About two hundred inhabitants lost their lives in these fights. - -These are the details of the street-fighting in Andenne, which are -supplemented by the official report attached, made by Major-General von -Langermann and Erlencamp; and also by the evidence on oath of Major von -Polentz, as well as of Rifleman Roleff--all eye-witnesses--who gave -evidence without prejudice; and by the report of Lieutenant Goetze. - -BERLIN, _the 29th of September 1915_. - - Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War. - - Signed: Major BAUER. - Signed: Dr. WAGNER, Member of the Supreme Court of Judicature. - - - B. App. 1. - - BERLIN, _January 21st, 1915_. - -_Official Report._ - -On the afternoon of August 20, 1914, I received the command to march -from Coutisse to Andenne with the brigade (1st and 2nd Guard Reserve -Regiment and Guard Reserve Jäger Battalion); from there we were to -cross the pontoon bridge over the Meuse. In the industrial town of -Andenne we had to call a halt of about ten minutes, during which -the inhabitants standing before their houses in the narrow streets -willingly gave us water and behaved in a remarkably friendly manner. -Just as I had crossed the bridge at the head of 1st Guard Reserve -Regiment, we heard suddenly and simultaneously a furious rifle-fire -coming from the heights opposite the bridge and from the houses. Not -only men fired at us, but also--as I was informed--isolated women. -Our men pressed into the houses from which the firing proceeded, and -shot down the armed inhabitants. By my order the houses, from which -firing had proceeded, were set alight. These measures were helpful; the -rifle-fire gradually decreased and finally ceased altogether, but was -renewed later against the troops that followed my brigade. Marvellous -to relate, our losses were insignificant; the francs-tireurs had aimed -badly. I saw no single French or Belgian soldier in the town or in -the surrounding neighbourhood. The fire directed on us came solely -from the civil population. Later it was reported to us that a document -had been found--on the next day, I believe--with the Commandant of -the town, showing the attack of the civil population to have been -minutely planned, with a fixed hour for its commencement. Shortly -before the prearranged time all the inhabitants, who had met us with -such friendliness in the streets, locked themselves in, and at the -given minute the fire was opened upon us. No cruelties of any sort were -practised by the troops under my command, and all inhabitants found -without weapons in the streets were especially spared; if they seemed -to us to be of a suspicious character they were arrested. - - Signed: Freiherr VON LANGERMANN. - - - B. App. 2. - - BERLIN, _November 21st, 1914_. - -War Office. - -Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law. - - Present at the Court: - Dr. WAGNER, as Judge. - Secretary to the Court, PFITZNER. - -There appeared as witness Major von Polentz, of the above-named place, -who declared: - -As to Person: My name is Fredrich von Polentz. I am 42 years of age; -Protestant; Major in the 3rd Foot Guards Regiment. - -As to Case: In the latter half of August, as I marched through Belgium -in command of the battalion of the 2nd Reserve Guard Regiment, I -frequently saw the Belgian civil population take an active part in -hostilities against our troops; in particular, they fired upon us. I -draw attention to the fact that this happened in Birdontige, near -Stavelot, as well as in Evelette, south of Andenne. The most serious -case, however, occurred in Andenne (between Liège and Namur). - -After we had marched in here, the bells from the church-tower suddenly -began to ring out a signal at about 6.30 in the evening. Thereupon iron -shutters were let down in all the houses; the inhabitants, who until -then had been standing in the streets, vanished; and from different -sides firing began on my troops, especially from the cellars and from -openings in the roofs which the inhabitants had made by removing the -tiles. Also, from many houses boiling water was poured over our men. -In consequence, some bitter street-fighting ensued between the civil -population and my troops, who had given no cause for this treacherous -attack. That these measures were well prepared, and carried out by the -whole population of the town of Andenne and its suburbs, is proved by -the fact that 100--one hundred--of my men were hurt by scalding alone. - -Also the marching column of troops following me was attacked by the -civil population of Andenne, as well as those sections of the marching -column preceding me, who were fired upon. - -In Lenze, north of Namur, I was met by the priest of the place, who -at first assured me in a friendly manner, on his word of honour, that -no hostilities of any sort need be expected from the people in his -parish. In spite of this, shots from six or eight houses were heard -fifteen minutes later. These shots could only have come from the civil -population, as the regular enemy troops had long since been pressed -back. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON POLENTZ. - -The witnesses were thereupon sworn as above. - - Signed: WAGNER. Signed: PFITZNER. - - - B. App. 3. - - BERLIN, _December 5th, 1915_. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, STACK. - Secretary to the Military Court, Non-commissioned Officer WESSELMANN. - -There appeared as witness Rifleman Hugo Roleff, of the 11th Company -of the 2nd Reserve Guards Regiment, and after his attention had been -called to the importance of the oath, he made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Hugo Roleff. I am 28 years of age; Protestant -Reformed Church; by profession a ribbon-weaver, living in Elberfeld, -Osterbaum 9. - -As to Case: I joined the 2nd Company of the 2nd Reserve Guards Regiment -as private, and went with the regiment to the front. - -On August 20, 1914, the first half of the 2nd Company was to serve -as cover to the Artillery Munition Column. We arrived at Andenne in -the evening. As everything was quiet we rode into the town. All went -smoothly through a few streets, but as we were going to turn into the -main street, bells were suddenly heard. At the same time we received -a murderous rifle-fire out of all the windows and from all sides. -Hand-bombs and hand-grenades were used against us, and machine-guns -were also employed. I noticed this as I lay wounded in the street, and -also that regular shots came from the cellar windows, and that the -characteristic noise of machine-guns could be heard. - -Our horses broke loose, our waggon was struck by a hand-grenade, the -horses were thrown to the ground, the waggon was overturned, and, the -following waggons driving into it, a wild confusion ensued. As the -waggon was overthrown, I fell out and crushed the calves of my legs. -We immediately returned the fire, for it had been recommended to us, -and we were prepared in consequence. Before the munition column could -be set in order again and proceed, we had to endure half an hour of -continuous firing, until the defence guard came to our help. - -On account of my wound I was just taken to the market-place, and then -lay for two days in the house of a doctor, who was, however, absent. -After that I was cared for in the schoolhouse, which had been turned -into a hospital. Some German families, who had lived in this place for -a considerable time, looked after us here. These told us that the whole -attack had been planned, and that the clergy had issued directions from -the pulpits. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HUGO ROLEFF. - Signed: STACK. - Signed: RUDOLF WESSELMANN. - - - B. App. 4. - - NAMUR, _January 8th, 1915_. - - REPORT of the Inquiry into the alleged atrocities in Andenne. - -At the command of the Imperial Military Government of Namur I went, -on the 5th inst., to Andenne, in order to obtain information from the -Mayor Emile de Jaer regarding the atrocities of war that were said to -have occurred in Andenne. He only knew that on August 20, at 7 o'clock -in the evening, a murderous fire was opened on our troops, who wanted -to cross the bridge leading to Seilles. At my request he handed me over -a list of those who had been shot; it contained 234 names. On examining -this list it turned out that only 196 persons had been shot without any -doubt whatsoever; 28 were missing. I instructed the Mayor to procure a -number of trustworthy witnesses, who in his opinion were in a position -to give information concerning the events. - -Thereupon appeared: - -1. Hermann Frerand, Place du Perron, merchant. He could give no -evidence, as he had been a prisoner from August 21 to 23. - -2. Alexander Wery, Rue Brun, merchant. He declared that he had kept in -hiding during the days of agitation. He therefore knows nothing, but -only heard reports. - -3. Léon Lambert, Place des Tilleuls, merchant. He knows nothing of the -events, as he had been in hiding in his cellar. - -4. Florent Sebrun, factory director, Rue Wouters. On the evening of -August 20, at 7 o'clock, he was in the garden of his brother-in-law, -Dr. Melin, Grande Rue. A large aeroplane appeared at a great height, -and the German troops immediately fired at it. Suddenly fire opened -from all sides of the town. - -5. Madame Ermine Blanchart, Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, will state -personal grievances, but knows nothing of the events. - -6. Ernest Thys, Rue Brun, merchant, hid himself for five days in his -cellar. - -7. Dr. Isidor Loroy, Rue de l'Industrie, only knows that the Mayor, -Camus, who was a doctor in private life, was shot in the Rue du Pont on -August 20, after having spent the night as a hostage, together with the -priest, in the town hall. He was released towards the morning. Loroy -only knows of the events by report. - -8. Pane Tillmann, Rue Bran, chemist, had been wounded since August 21, -and can give no evidence. - -9. Louis Cartiaux, Place du Chapitre, priest, was arrested on August -19, at 9 o'clock in the evening, and taken to the town hall. Here he -met the Mayor, Camus, who had already been taken as hostage. Cartiaux -was, however, released during the night. About the alleged events -he could only state that a detachment of troops had already made -an inquiry in September, and that three suspected persons had been -arrested, who were, however, not inhabitants of Andenne. He did not -know what had happened to these three people. He refers the matter -of the boy who was supposed to have been shot because he carried a -cartridge on his person, to George Belin, schoolmaster, Rue Bertrand. -The latter had told him that a boy was going to be shot because he wore -some lead as a charm that had been given him by his brother. - -10. Achilles Rambeaux, Rue Bertrand, assistant to a notary, has nothing -to report, as he had kept in hiding in his cellar. - -11. G. Belin, the schoolmaster referred to in No. 9, was heard at Namur -on the morning of January 6. He was asked if he was prepared to swear -to his alleged statement concerning the shooting of a boy. He denied -ever having made such a statement in the most vigorous terms. Pressure -being brought to bear, he admits further that in Andenne the opinion is -held that a Belgian soldier of the 8th Line Infantry Regiment stayed -behind, put on civilian clothes, and actually fired on the German -troops. This soldier was universally known to the townsfolk by the -nickname of "Le Petit Roux," and was Flemish. Another Flemish soldier, -also in mufti, had been in his company. Both had deserted from their -detachments. - -Furthermore all the above-named persons declared unanimously that -another doctor (not Mayor Camus), aged 64 years, had not been shot. -Those rumours were also false which gave out that seven members of one -family had been killed by German bullets; this matter concerned two -families and, moreover, two brothers of the name of Savin. - -That a number of people had been brought out from the cellars, -threatened with death, and placed in front of the machine-guns, in case -of firing from the nearest barricades, could be proved from no side. -It was universally admitted, however, that rumours went round the town, -including those that gave out that inhabitants had been killed with -blows from an axe. - -In Andenne itself 25 houses were destroyed, 12 in the suburb Peau -d'Eau, together therefore 37, while Andenne contained 1900 houses. Not -a single factory was destroyed or burnt. Naturally, as is unavoidable -in street-fighting, many houses were damaged by gun-shots, but not so -severely as to cause the owners any considerable losses. It is true -that a large number of window-panes were shattered when the cannon -fired from the market-place. - -According to the statement of the schoolmaster Belin, the population -of Andenne is rather a simple-minded one, which accounts for the -incredible rumours abroad in the town. - - Signed: GOETZE, Lieutenant. - - - - -APPENDIX C.--DINANT - - - App. C. - -War Office. - - Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War. - -BELGIAN CIVILIAN WARFARE IN DINANT FROM AUGUST 21ST TO AUGUST 24TH, -1914. - -_Summary Report._ - -Immediately after crossing the Belgian frontier the XII. Army Corps had -difficulties with the civilian population of Belgium, which reached -their climax in and around Dinant. For the advance of the Army Corps -Dinant had especial importance, since here it was that the crossing -of the Meuse was to take place. The town with its suburbs, Leffe and -Les Rivages on the right bank of the Meuse, and Neffe, St. Médard, and -Bouvignes on the left bank, lies along the river in a deep section of -the valley. Both banks rise up in terraces, steep and frequently rocky, -to a height of some 70 metres, the right bank somewhat higher than -the left. On the right bank about the centre of the town stands the -fortress, about 100 metres in height. Close by, to the north, the high -road from Sorinnes enters the town. Two further approaches from the -east are found in the deep-cut flanking valleys which come to an end in -Leffe and Les Rivages. - -On August 15th, 1914, the operations of the German cavalry, in which -among others Jäger Battalion No. 12 took part, led to the temporary -occupation of the right bank of the Meuse. Owing to superior enemy -forces, it was again evacuated on the same day; numerous dead and some -wounded were left behind. - -On August 17th the enemy forces on the left bank of the Meuse withdrew. -From this time onward Dinant, Leffe, and Les Rivages were free from the -presence of any regular enemy troops. - -On August 21st the XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps engaged in -operations before Dinant. The 2nd Battalion of Rifle (Fusilier) -Regiment No. 108, together with a company of pioneers, undertook on -the evening of this day a strong reconnaissance towards Dinant. As -the first houses on the road coming from Sorinnes were reached, the -sound of a signal shot was suddenly heard. The next moment there -came a rattle of musketry from all sides. Shots were fired from all -the houses, and the slopes were lighted up with the flashes. The -houses were firmly barricaded, so that rifle-butts, hatchets, and -hand-grenades had to be used to force an entrance. Trip-wires were -drawn across the road. Numerous wounds were inflicted on our men by the -discharge of small shot. They were even pelted with stones (Apps. 2-5). - -The battalion penetrated as far as the bridge, ascertained that this -was occupied by enemy troops, and then returned, being continually -fired upon from the houses. Under the necessity of haste it was -impossible to clear the place thoroughly of francs-tireurs. To some -extent attempts were made to master them by setting on fire the houses -from which the firing took place. - -It was evident that this assault by the inhabitants on the -reconnoitring detachment took place according to plan, that people -known in Dinant were aware of the intended operation, and that for this -purpose well-prepared measures had been adopted. Among other things -indicating this preparation was the fact that numerous houses and walls -had been provided with loopholes. - -In view of these experiences we naturally assumed that in any further -operations the civilian population would also take part in the -fighting. Nevertheless, all anticipations in this direction were far -exceeded through the extent and obstinacy of the people's participation -in the fight. - -On August the 23rd the left bank of the Meuse was to be taken by the -XII. Corps. After preliminary artillery fire the infantry advanced in -the direction of Dinant--the 32nd Infantry Division to the north, the -23rd Infantry Division to the south. On the left wing the (Guards) -Grenadier Regiment No. 100 forced its way into the town, on the right -of them Infantry Regiment No. 180, and in close conjunction Rifle -Regiment No. 108, whilst in the Leffe valley Infantry Regiment No. 178 -reached Leffe. - -The fighting on August 23rd, accompanied by comparatively slight loss, -resulted in the dislodgement of the enemy forces from the heights of -the left bank of the Meuse. On the other hand, the losses which the -hostile civil population of Dinant and its outskirts had inflicted on -the XII. Corps on August 23rd, and the effort which was necessary to -break down the completely organised resistance of the civil population -on August 23rd and the following days were very considerable. Once -more, as on August 21st, people in Dinant and the neighbourhood had -apparently secured information that a movement of the corps was -imminent, and they were accordingly prepared. The 1st Battalion of -the Guards Regiment, approaching from Herbuchenne, were assailed by -a vigorous fire from the houses and alleys. Bit by bit, every house -had to be fought for singly with the use of hand-grenades in order -to dislodge from their hiding-places the inhabitants who had stowed -themselves away from cellar to attic and who were making use of every -possible kind of weapon. Those who were caught with weapons in their -hands were immediately shot, while suspected persons were led off as -hostages to the town gaol. - -Despite these measures the Grenadier Guards were still further fired on -by the population, and thereby suffered considerable losses, especially -in officers. Here, among others, fell Lieutenant Treusch von Buttlar, -and Captain Legler was severely wounded. - -In the meantime, a great part of the place had been consumed by fire, -caused partly by the use of hand-grenades, partly by the French and -German artillery fire. All this, however, was not sufficient to -convince the population of the uselessness and danger of participating -in the fighting. - -Until the evening, even on the march to the crossing-place at Les -Rivages, the regiment was fired on from the houses (Apps. 1, 5, 7, 10, -11). - -The Regiments No. 108 and No. 182 had similar experiences when they, -to the north of the Guards Regiment, reached Dinant. From the moment -they reached the most easterly houses they came under fire. The farm -of Malais was stormed by the 1st Battalion of the Rifles (Fusilier) -Regiment No. 108, and the whole of the francs-tireurs who made a stand -there were destroyed. Fighting hotly for every house, our men pressed -forward in the direction of the market, all the time expecting to be -fired at by invisible foes from cellars, caves, and hill-sides. It was -here that, among others, Major Lommatzsch of Infantry Regiment No. 182 -was fatally wounded by the bullets of two civilians from the windows -of a house. They even fired down from the cathedral (Apps. 12, 14, -18). Already in the course of the forenoon the Commanding Officer of -the 46th Brigade recognised that it was impossible, without artillery -bombardment, to gain the mastery over the fanatical population. - -The troops were, however, too much involved in house-to-house fighting -to be immediately withdrawn. It was only after 3 o'clock in the -afternoon that it was possible to withdraw the troops to the heights -north of Dinant, so that the artillery, in particular, sections of -Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 and a battery of heavy artillery, could -now bring Dinant, from Leffe, more effectually under their fire (Apps. -12, 19, 21). - -In the early morning Infantry Regiment No. 178 had set out from Thynes -on their march towards Leffe, making use of the Leffe valley road. -Already before reaching Leffe the advance company was fired on from -detached holdings as well as from the steep hill slopes (partially -wooded), which stretched along on the right and the left of the road. -This harassing fire was directed with particular activity from the -paper-mill situated on the left of the road and the adjacent houses. -For this reason, the slopes were searched for francs-tireurs, later -on with the co-operation of the 11th Jägers, and the barricaded -houses forcibly opened and cleared of inhabitants. All those caught -with weapons in their hands were shot. More and more vigorously the -advancing regiment was attacked by the inhabitants concealed in the -houses. There was firing from all the houses, although in many of them -no one was found. The marksmen crept into their hiding-places in order -to leave them later on and renew their firing on the German troops. -This made it necessary to set on fire a number of houses in order to -drive out the marksmen from their places of concealment. A number of -inhabitants were marched off as hostages to the monastery (Apps. 22-32). - -The 9th Company of the 178th Regiment occupied the garden of a villa -along the Meuse and a factory which fronted the enemy on the left bank -of the Meuse (Apps. 25, 30, 79). - -Here again they were fired on; the villa and the factory were therefore -cleared of their occupants. The proprietor and a large number of the -workpeople were fetched out of the cellar of the factory and shot, -whilst the women and children found there were lodged in the monastery. - -Practically for the whole of the day the 178th Regiment carried on -a hot fight with the population of Leffe, and suffered severe losses -(Apps. 25, 26). - -Infantry Regiment No. 103, which reached Leffe towards evening, was -also fired on by francs-tireurs from the slopes of the Leffe ravine -as well as from the houses, and defended itself in the same way by -disarming and shooting the men found with arms, and by burning down -single houses which could not otherwise be cleared (Apps. 33, 36). - -In the evening it became quiet in Leffe. The assumption, however, -that nothing more was to be feared from the inhabitants proved to be -erroneous. After nightfall the left-wing outpost of the 2nd Battalion -of Infantry Regiment No. 178, posted as a guard against attack along -the Meuse, was assailed by a large body of the inhabitants to the south -of the barracks of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment. A detachment -of reinforcements cleared this locality and the adjoining district, -being continually fired upon from the houses by francs-tireurs. A large -number of persons caught with weapons in their hands were shot (Apps. -22, 24, 29). - -In the night, towards 12 o'clock, the Detachment of Zeschau came from -Houx by the northern entrance to Leffe. Scarcely had they reached the -first houses when the foremost company received a brisk rifle fire. The -houses, the doors of which were barred and the windows barricaded with -furniture and beds, were stormed and set on fire as a security against -francs-tireurs, who were not otherwise to be caught. The men found in -them who were carrying arms were shot (App. 38). - -From the factory above mentioned also the detachment, especially the -Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment No. 177, was briskly and -continuously fired on. The shooting of the francs-tireurs only died out -when the factory was set on fire (Apps. 38, 64, 65). - -Whilst these events were taking place in the north of Dinant, in the -south, also at Les Rivages and Anseremme, sanguinary fighting with the -civil population had taken place. Late in the afternoon, Grenadier -Regiment No. 101 with the 3rd Field Pioneer Company reached Les -Rivages by the road which ends there, in order to cross the Meuse. The -pioneers, with pontoon waggons for bridge-building, had already entered -the section of Dinant occupied by the Guards Regiment. - -On account of the fire which they received from the houses, and -of which they could not get the mastery, despite all attempts in -conjunction with the infantry to clear the houses, they had been -obliged to withdraw to the heights. - -The village of Les Rivages at first appeared as if deserted. On the -opposite bank the houses in Neffe, struck by our artillery fire, burst -into flames (Apps. 20, 39, 44). - -The crossing began at once. First the 2nd, then the 11th Company of -Grenadier Regiment No. 101, gained the left bank and advanced to the -attack in extended order against the enemy infantry on the western -heights of the river-bank. The 11th Company received about five -consecutive discharges of small shot from a house in the narrow alley -through which they had passed in Neffe. The barred house was broken -open, and the francs-tireurs, a man and two women, were shot. - -Directly after this the company, led by the company commander, reached -the railway embankment. At this spot a waterway led through the -embankment; before the culvert lay a civilian with a sort of carbine, -shot dead; in the dark culvert people were seen. From the top of the -embankment the officer advancing with another company shouted down -that he had been shot at from the culvert. The company commander -called out loudly, "Sortez, on ne vous fera rien" ("Come out; nothing -will be done to you"). No answer came from the culvert, neither did -the people leave it who were concealed there. Thereupon a number of -volleys were fired into the culvert. The Grenadiers continued their -advance over the railway embankment and up the heights. The detachment -left behind for clearing and guarding the culvert brought out about -thirty-five to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women, and -children, and with them about eight to ten rifles, not sporting-guns, -but apparently military rifles. A portion of the civilians had been -killed or wounded by the fire of the Grenadiers (App. 40). In the -meantime everything had still remained quiet in Les Rivages. The first -person who showed himself was a lame man. He described himself as the -Mayor, and protested that the inhabitants of Les Rivages were peaceable -in contrast to those of Neffe. He was therefore sent over to Neffe for -the purpose of warning the population in that place to keep the peace, -as in that case nothing would happen to them. The commanding officer of -Grenadier Regiment No. 101 forcibly collected a large number of persons -from the nearest houses in order to hold them as hostages against the -hostile action of the populace. It was made clear to them that their -lives were guarantee for the safety of the troops. The causes for -this measure were the notorious hostility of the population of Dinant, -and the report just made by an officer that, close by, to the south of -Les Rivages, towards Anseremme, shots had been fired from the houses. -The men were placed against a garden wall to the left of the place of -crossing, the women and children who came with them out of the houses, -somewhat farther down the river. - -The bridge-building and crossing were in progress. When the bridge had -been built out about 40 metres alike from the houses of Les Rivages -and from the rocky slopes close to the south of the "Rocher Bayard," -francs-tireurs began to direct a hot fire upon the Grenadiers, who were -waiting in close order for crossing, and on the working pioneers. The -greatest consternation and confusion ensued. In consequence of this the -male hostages assembled by the garden wall were shot. - -The shooting of the hostages, evidently visible to the unseen -francs-tireurs, resulted in the cessation of the firing and a -continuation of the bridge-building (Apps. 46, 48). - -Partly during the night of August 24th and partly on the next day the -troops of the Corps were able to cross the Meuse at Les Rivages and -Neffe. On August 25th the rear portions of the Corps also crossed the -Meuse. - -In no way, however, had the severe measures taken on August 23rd -put any final stop to the excesses of the francs-tireurs. On the -two following days also, columns passing through and single persons -were shot at from the slopes and from the houses, although no longer -to the same extent as on August 23rd. This necessarily led again to -retaliatory measures, to the shooting of individual inhabitants caught -in the act, and to the artillery bombardment of buildings which were -occupied by francs-tireurs. The former measures were taken on August -24th in Neffe and St. Médard, and the latter on August 24th and 25th -in all parts of the town (Apps. 49, 50). If one reviews the whole of -the resistance offered to the German troops by the population of Dinant -and its suburbs, the first thing that strikes one is its systematic -organisation (Apps. 12, 25, 30). - -Already before the 23rd of August it was known to the inhabitants -of the neighbourhood of Dinant that in this place there existed an -organisation for treacherous attack on the German troops (Apps. 12, 51). - -It was known that the surprise attacks upon the German troops by the -local inhabitants, which took place at Sorinnes and other places lying -to the east of the Meuse, were partly to be traced to emissaries from -Dinant. - -This organised effort was distinguished by its careful preparation and -by the extent of its activities. - -The houses were placed in a state of defence by the barricading of -the doors and windows, by the construction of loopholes, and by the -accumulation of a large supply of firearms and ammunition in the -houses. The existence of large stocks of ammunition was proved in one -way by the repeated explosions in the burning houses. In the night -operations of August 21st trip-wires were drawn across the street -(Apps. 3, 9, 10, 11, 18, 26, 28, 29, 31, 38, 49, 50, 52, 53, 70, 81). - -From the fact that the firearms were not only in part sporting-guns -and revolvers, but were partly machine-guns and Belgian military -rifles (Apps. 2, 25), one may conclude that the movement had the -support of the Belgian Government. The whole of Dinant with its -suburbs on the right and left bank of the Meuse was prepared in the -same way. Everywhere, in Leffe, in Les Rivages, in Neffe, one found -the barricading of the houses, the loopholes, and the presence of -weapons. At the same time it is expressly pointed out in the reports of -the fighting that the belligerent Belgian civilians did not wear any -kind of military badge (Apps. 4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31). The whole -population was imbued with the same purpose--to hold up the German -advance. If, by taking part in the dangers into which it knowingly -ventured, some portion of it perished, it has only itself to blame. - -This resistance offered to our troops was extremely obstinate. It -was carried on with every kind of weapon, with military rifles and -sporting-guns, with bullets and shot, with revolvers, with knives, with -stones (Apps. 5, 10, 11, 25-28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 54, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67, -81). All grades, even the clergy (App. 18), took part in it, men and -women, old men and children (Apps. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, 28, 29, 35, -41, 44, 54, 56, 59, 63). From the cellars of burning houses firing was -still kept up. At the very moment when he was being shot by martial -law, a franc-tireur discharged a revolver, which he had kept concealed, -at the firing-party (App. 5). With treachery and cunning (Apps. 28, -32, 43, 44, 50, 68), themselves invisible from the outside, they -fired from loopholes in the rear of passing detachments and on single -officers. They disappeared before the advancing Germans (Apps. 12, 37, -64) through back ways into the caves and subterranean passages, to -continue their work of assassination in some other place. - -Some male francs-tireurs had put on women's clothing (Apps. 64, -65). The Geneva badge was misused by individuals and in the case of -buildings in order, under its protection, to cause injury to the -Germans (Apps. 9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70). - -Even the wounded who were being transported to the rear, as well as -hospital orderlies, were shot at from the houses (Apps. 71, 72). - -The fanaticism of the population found its most revolting expression -in the cruel murder of sleeping men, in the mutilation of the fallen, -and in the burning of wounded prisoners who were bound up with wire for -this purpose (Apps. 56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78). - -In judging of the attitude taken by the troops of the XII. Corps in -the face of the action of the civil population, which was hostile to -the last degree and employed the most reprehensible methods, we must -remember that the tactical aim of the XII. Corps was the rapid passage -over the Meuse and the clearing of the enemy from the left bank. The -speedy suppression of the resistance of the inhabitants, which was -directly opposed to this aim, was a military necessity to be secured -by all possible means. From this point of view, the bombardment of the -town, which was taking an active part in the fighting, and the burning -of the houses occupied by the francs-tireurs, as well as the shooting -of inhabitants caught with weapons in their hands, were all justified. - -In the same way, the shooting of the hostages in various localities -was also justified. The troops fighting in the town found themselves -in the direst extremity, inasmuch as they were under the artillery, -machine-gun, and rifle fire of the regular troops posted on the left -bank of the Meuse, and were at the same time being fired at in the -rear and on the flanks by the inhabitants. The hostages were taken as -security in order to put a stop to the conduct of the francs-tireurs. -Despite this, and since the population continued, as before, to inflict -losses on the struggling troops, the shooting of the hostages was -carried out; otherwise, the holding of the hostages would have only -implied an empty threat. Their execution was all the more justified, -since, with the general participation of the populace in the fighting, -it was hardly a case of innocent victims. - -In view of the military objective mentioned above and the serious -straits in which the troops found themselves, treacherously attacked -as they were from the rear, such action on our part could not be -avoided. - -The lives of women and children were, on principle, spared, so long as -they were not caught in the act, or it was not a case of self-defence -against their attacks (Apps. 5, 6, 25, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79). The -fact that, despite this, women and children were killed and wounded is -intelligible from the prevailing circumstances. - -They were struck partly by shots coming from the enemy on the left bank -of the Meuse and partly by stray shots during the house and street -fighting (App. 10). In the shooting of the hostages at Les Rivages a -few women and children were also hit. This happened in the case of some -who, contrary to the arrangements made, had left their station which -was apart from the male hostages, and had crowded together with the -latter (Apps. 45, 46). That the troops of the XII. Corps did not show -themselves harsh or cruel is proved by numerous cases in which they -exhibited, under the existing circumstances, a solicitude, deserving -special recognition, for women, old men, and children (Apps. 52, 53, -55, 58, 80-86). A number of women confined to their beds on account of -child-birth were carried from houses in the danger zone to a sheltered -place and laid on mattresses near our wounded (App. 5). Wounded -inhabitants--the wounds mostly originated from the enemy's fire--were -bandaged and given over to conscientious medical treatment (Apps. 7, -10, 29, 44, 47, 50-52, 68, 86, 87). Little children found alone were -handed over to female care (Apps. 47, 51). The large number of women -and children from burning Dinant who were in Les Rivages on the night -of August 24th were sheltered in a house and provided with food and -drink (Apps. 45, 51). In the morning they all received coffee from the -field-kitchen of the Guards Regiment. - -The account given by the surviving inhabitants of Dinant about the -fighting for their town, and the statements thereto appended by the -Belgian Commission of Inquiry, as well as those of the hostile Press, -are marked by their complete silence as regards the part taken by the -populace in the fighting against our troops, and, with intentional -exaggeration, solely record what our troops have done to suppress this -participation in the fighting. In face of what positively occurred, it -is a malicious distortion of the actual facts to maintain that, because -orders had been issued to give up all weapons, the inhabitants did not -fire. - -Without doubt it is deeply regrettable that, in consequence of the -events of August 23rd and 24th, the flourishing town of Dinant with its -suburbs was burnt and laid in ruins and a great number of human lives -were destroyed. The responsibility for this lies not on the German -Army, but only on the population. The inhabitants collectively engaged -in conflict with the German troops contrary to international law and in -a fanatical and treacherous manner, and forced our troops to take those -counter-measures required for the purposes of war. - -Had the population held aloof from armed resistance and open -participation in the fighting, scarcely any injury would have been -incurred by them, as regards life or property, despite the hazardous -position in which they were placed by reason of military operations. - -BERLIN, _April 11th, 1915_. - -Military Department of Investigation into the Violation of the Laws of -War. - - Signed: Major BAUER. - Signed: Councillor of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Dr. WAGNER. - - - C. App. 1. - - EXTRACT from the military diary of the General Officer commanding the - XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps. - - _August 22nd, 1914._ - -On August 22nd the Imperial Headquarters remained at the Château of -Taviet. The day was occupied in carrying on reconnaissances in the -manner directed. Towards 3 o'clock in the forenoon the report came -through a General Staff-Officer sent in advance that the 2nd Battalion -of Rifle Regiment No. 108 had succeeded by a night attack in throwing -the enemy back across the Meuse at Dinant. Here the inhabitants had -once more taken part in the fighting, in some cases with shot-guns. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -The General's Staff reached the western outlet of Sorinnes at 4 a.m. -The 23rd Infantry Division, present at the same point, immediately -reported its readiness for opening fire; the 32nd Infantry Division, -communication with which was at first lacking, did not report until -5.40 a.m. At 5.55 a.m. the Commander-in-Chief gave the order to fire, -which, at first, could not be complied with on account of the thick -weather. - -In virtue of the command to open fire, the General in command gave the -order: "The divisions to occupy the bank on this side of the Meuse -with strong lines of riflemen, to enable the slopes on the opposite -side to be taken under an effective infantry fire." As the weather, -towards 6 a.m., permitted regular artillery fire to be delivered, it -was observed that the enemy only replied weakly. For this reason the -General in command gave the order at 6.30 a.m. that his reserve troops -were to follow their divisions, as he expected a more rapid advance of -the divisions towards the Meuse. For the same reason the General Staff -proceeded at 8 a.m. to Gemechenne. - -The next reports received up to 8.30 a.m., as well as a reconnaissance -undertaken by Captain Bahrdt and 1st Lieutenant Count Schall in the -district of Dinant, seemed to contradict this assumption. At 8.50 a.m. -a report arrived from Colonel Francke, Infantry Regiment No. 180, which -seemed to confirm the original opinion of the General in command. -A communication by the Oberquartiermeister with reference to the -observation of an army airman coincided also with this opinion. At the -same time the Commanding General had directed that the order for the -crossing of the Meuse should be made out. - -In the meantime, the troops had also advanced into new positions in the -direction of the Meuse. It seemed to be more and more certain that the -enemy had to all intents and purposes withdrawn, and only continued -to offer any serious resistance at the presumed crossing-places, -especially at Houx. - -Although 1st Lieutenant Berckmüller and 1st Lieutenant Count Schall -reported at 10.15 a.m. that on a renewed reconnaissance near Dinant -they had met with brisk shrapnel-fire, the Army Corps order to cross -the Meuse was given at 10.20 a.m.; for this purpose a half of the -bridge-building corps was placed at the disposal of each of the two -divisions. For the more rapid suppression of the resistance at Houx, -the reserve division of the General in command was given back to the -32nd Infantry Division at 10 a.m. - -After the issue of this order, 1st Lieutenant Hasse of General Staff -No. 3 arrived and reported that the II. Army had crossed the Sambre -to the west of Namur on August 22nd, so that a serious resistance on -the part of the enemy on the Meuse was not to be expected. It was -intended to give the XII. Army Corps the direction on Anthée; the XIX. -Army Corps, on the other hand, was to be taken over the Meuse to the -south of Givet. The possibility of getting into touch on the western -bank of the Meuse with the General Command (left wing, II. Army) was -immediately communicated to the 32nd Infantry Division. - -The opinion, seemingly confirmed by an air report received in the -meantime that the Corps would get across the Meuse without serious -difficulties, was destined to prove incorrect. The 32nd Infantry -Division met with serious opposition at Houx and Leffe, and a similar -experience befell the 46th Infantry Brigade in burning Dinant. It was -only at the crossing-place of the 45th Infantry Brigade at Les Rivages -that everything, at first, appeared to go smoothly, so that the 23rd -Infantry Division reported at 12.40 a.m. through Major v. Zeschau that -they were able to commence the crossing. - -It was to be inferred from the reports in general that the crossing, -even if beset with difficulties, could still be effected in the -afternoon. A Corps command was therefore issued at 5.10 p.m., which -assigned Sommière as the objective of the 32nd Infantry Division, and -Onhaye that of the 23rd Infantry Division. - -The General Staff, in view of the shortly expected crossing, proceeded -from Gemechenne to the bend in the road 1.5 kilometres to the east of -Dinant. At 2 p.m. the XIX. Army Corps reported that the 24th Infantry -Division was crossing at Lenne with a brigade. - -The troops of the Corps had, however, at the crossing-places some very -severe fighting with the enemy posted on the west bank of the Meuse. -This fighting, through the participation of the inhabitants, assumed an -especiallv severe character. At the moment when the (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100 had lowered the first pontoons into the water, a -violent fire was delivered from the adjacent houses. The troops found -themselves in the unpleasant position of being fired at by the infantry -and artillery of the enemy on the western bank and by the inhabitants -in their rear. The most unsatisfactory result of this fight was that a -part of the pontoons had been rendered unserviceable by the bombardment. - -Subsequently the crossing of the 23rd Infantry Division proved -exceedingly difficult. The material to hand was no longer sufficient -for the building of a military bridge. The General in command, who -towards 7 p.m. had personally ascertained the position of the 32nd -Infantry Division in Leffe, proceeded to the crossing-place of the 23rd -Infantry Division, which he reached towards 8 p.m. The position of the -Corps at this time was more or less as follows: - -In Leffe the 32nd Infantry Division was still fighting for the -crossing. At Dinant the 46th Infantry Brigade had been obliged to -withdraw to the heights on the eastern bank because it was impossible -to remain in the burning town. At Les Rivages a part of the bridge -was ready, but the material was not sufficient for its completion, -consequently a system of ferrying had to be contrived. - -The commander of the 23rd Infantry Division accordingly arranged that a -mixed force under Colonel Meister (Grenadier Regiment No. 101, Hussar -Regiment No. 20, 1st Section, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12) should -first be put across. The (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 was to -follow next, while the remainder of the Army Corps was directed to the -bridge of the 32nd Infantry Division at Leffe. - -According to an Army Order sent at 7.15 p.m. to the east of Dinant, the -pursuit was to be taken up with the available troops on the western -bank of Meuse; XII. Army Corps; direction, Philippeville. - -For correct transcript. - - Signed: VON LOEBEN, Captain on the General Staff. - - - C. App. 2. - - EXTRACT from the Report of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 on the - fighting in Dinant during the night of the 21st-22nd August 1914. - -When the rear of the 2nd Battalion had reached the first houses in -Dinant, a signal shot suddenly rang out. The next moment there was a -rattle of musketry on all sides. There was firing from all the houses; -from all the slopes, which are honeycombed by cellars and vaults, there -came flashes. All the houses were firmly barricaded. An attempt was -made to penetrate into the houses. If rifle-butts and hatchets were -not adequate, there were pioneers at hand to throw in hand-grenades. -Machine-guns had been fixed up in a corner house. - - - C. App. 3. - - EXTRACT from the Report of the 1st Field Company of Pioneer Battalion - No. 12 on the reconnaissance in force of August 21st, 1914, carried - out with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108. - -As soon as the first houses in Dinant were reached, the street-lighting -was destroyed; the columns marched closely along by the two rows of -houses and arrived as far as the first cross-street. Here the head of -the infantry column suddenly received from the corner house on the -right a very violent fire, which was immediately returned. Instantly -there was firing from all the houses. A violent street-fight then -ensued. The pioneers forced the fastened doors open with hatchets and -axes, threw hand-grenades into the lower rooms, and set others on fire -with the torches which had been in the meantime ignited. - -Lieutenant Brink turned into the first side-street on the left. This, -however, had been obstructed by trip-wires; from the houses came -firing, and stones were thrown. - -All at once the company was fired at from the rear, and was obliged to -return to the corner of the street. Non-commissioned Officer Grosse, -who had been struck by several stones and lay unconscious by the -trip-wires, was also brought back. - -The 1st Company had fifteen slightly wounded and one severely wounded. - - - C. App. 4. - - DRESDEN, _November 6th, 1914_. - -Chief Military Court, Dresden. - -On citation Paul Kurt Büchner, Reservist, 1st Field Company, Pioneer -Battalion No. 12, in Pirna, appeared as witness and made a statement: - -On the night of August 21st, 1914, my company was sent on a -reconnaissance towards Dinant in Belgium. The 2nd Battalion, Rifle -Regiment No. 108, marched with us. When we had arrived in the town we -were briskly shot at from the houses, and, indeed, chiefly with small -shot. We stormed a number of houses, and saw that the marksmen were -civilians without any military uniform or badge. We then withdrew. - -On August 23rd, 1914, the 23rd Division advanced to the attack on -Dinant. Here, also, we were vigorously fired on from the houses, and -certainly only by civilians, of whom a number were killed. It was here -that I received a shot in the thigh. - -I then got into the hospital which had been established in the Château -of Sorinnes. In the night the Château of Sorinnes was attacked and -fired at by the inhabitants of the place. The inhabitants were, -however, beaten off before they could force their way into the château. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KURT BÜCHNER. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: Dr. ILLING, Chief Counsellor of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 5. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 20th, 1915_. - -In the examination concerning the events in Dinant the under-mentioned -witness appeared and stated: - -As to Person: My name is Herbert Max Reinhard Brink. I am 22 years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant in the 1st Field Company, Pioneer Battalion No. -12, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: I was leader of the platoon of the 1st Field Pioneer -Company which took part in the reconnaissance in force on the night of -the 21st-22nd August 1914. In Dinant, on that occasion, we were briskly -fired at from the houses. I did not see the marksmen; certainly they -were not soldiers. I conclude this from the numerous injuries from -small shot which our wounded had. During the street-fighting a little -old cylinder-revolver, from which one shot had been discharged, fell on -my head. No officer and, still more, no soldier would have been likely -to use such an antiquated weapon. - -On August 23rd, 1914, I marched into Dinant with a part of the 1st -Field Pioneer Company, and joined up with the detachment of Count -Kielmannsegg. We were fired at very vigorously from the houses, among -others also from those on the bank of the Meuse, but not at all from -the opposite bank. The marksmen were civilians without any military -badge. I myself saw several civilians with weapons in their hands. A -woman also fired down at us from the stairs as we were forcing our way -into a house. She was immediately shot down from below. - -I was witness how four men and a woman were shot by grenadiers because -they came out, armed, from the houses from which we had been fired -at. I was further witness how a larger number of guilty inhabitants -were shot by order of Count Kielmannsegg; the women and children were -first separated from the men. I saw, at the moment when the volley was -delivered, one of the men draw a revolver from his pocket and fire at -the soldiers. I was astonished, too, that the weapon had not been taken -away from him. In any case, he had only just been brought up at the -last moment before the execution. - -As far as I have seen, our soldiers did not in any way behave cruelly -towards the inhabitants. On the contrary, from the houses out of which -the inhabitants had been driven, our men brought out on mattresses four -women, who were unable to walk on account of recent confinement, and -laid them in the street in a place sheltered from the firing, close to -our own wounded. - -In the evening towards 7 o'clock I marched with my detachment from -Dinant to Les Rivages. On the way, at the last houses in Dinant we -again received a brisk fire from the houses. We had no time to stop -and clear these houses, as we had strict orders to evacuate Dinant -immediately on account of the impending bombardment of the place. As we -entered Les Rivages the bridge-building was in progress. - -We remained at this place a further two days. After the completion of -the bridge, we noticed repeatedly on August 24th that our columns, -which had crossed the bridge and were marching downstream on the west -bank of the Meuse, were fired at from Dinant. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BRINK, Lieutenant. - -The witness was hereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 6. - - EXTRACT from the Report of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -During the descent towards Dinant all three companies of the 1st -Battalion received losses through the fire of civilians--portions of -the populace, amongst whom were women and children--and presumably also -from Belgian soldiers in civilian clothing, who obstinately defended -themselves with every possible kind of weapon. In the streets the -companies encountered a murderous fire. In parts every single house had -to be fought for with the use of hand-grenades. The civilians wore no -military badge or uniform; if they were caught with weapons in their -hands, they were shot. The remainder of the population were led away -to the town gaol. The Grenadier Guards pressed farther on, all the -time being fired at by the treacherous inhabitants. A great number of -buildings were provided with flags bearing the Geneva cross, yet from -these the troops were fired on with special violence. - -Grenadier H., thrice wounded, nevertheless continued to take part in -the fighting, while he called his comrade's attention to the houses -from which the inhabitants were firing. - -Late in the afternoon, since the whole place was not yet in our hands, -the artillery bombarded the town, which now, for the most part, became -enveloped in flames. - -Towards 8 o'clock in the evening the house-fighting in the midst of the -burning streets broke out once more for a short time. - -The civilians detained in the prison were brought out. Old men, women, -and children were released; the men were led by up to Marche as -prisoners. - -On the morning of August 24th, after the pontoons had been repaired, -the regiment began to cross in pursuit of the retreating enemy. While -this was going on, shots from different houses struck the marching -column. - - - C. App. 7. - - WILLMSBARACKEN, _January 6th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -By order of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, Lieutenant-Colonel -Count Kielmannsegg appeared for examination and, being warned to speak -the whole truth, made the following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Bernhardt Hermann Carl Kedel, Count -Kielmannsegg, born in Celle (Hanover) on July 6th, 1866; -evangelical-Lutheran; Lieutenant-Colonel in the (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100 and Commander of the 1st Battalion. - -As to Case: The town of Dinant was attacked and occupied at about 8 -o'clock in the forenoon on August 23rd, 1914, by the 3rd Company, -1st Battalion, 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment. No enemy troops were -discovered on the right bank of the Meuse. Notwithstanding this, our -troops were fired on from the houses of the town by persons in civilian -clothing without any military badge or uniform, whereby Captain Legler, -the first of the Guards Company to enter the town, was severely -wounded. Sections of the town were assigned to the companies for the -purpose of searching and clearing, with the injunction to take all -inhabitants, so long as they offered no resistance, to the town gaol; -all those who offered resistance to be dealt with by force of arms. The -occupant of the house, from which Captain Legler was wounded, was shot -by my order. - -Infringements of the orders given by me have not been reported from -anywhere. The search took place by patrols under leaders who were -detailed for this purpose by the companies. Several hundred inhabitants -were brought into the town gaol, and there put under guard. Before -leaving the town, in which the three companies had been engaged, from -about 8 o'clock in the morning until about 8 o'clock in the evening, in -constant street and house fighting, with their own losses as indicated, -about a hundred guilty inhabitants of the male sex were shot by my -direction and in accordance with an order given by higher authority. -Our own wounded, as well as the inhabitants who were wounded, chiefly -by the fire of the enemy on the left bank of the Meuse, were bandaged -and taken care of by Chief-Doctor Merx of the 2nd Battalion of the -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment in a house prepared for this purpose. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KIELMANNSEGG. - -Witness was hereupon sworn. - - Signed: VON HAUGK, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: BEYMANN, Acting-Sergeant-Major, Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 8. - -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve BANDEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer HAUNSTEIN, as Military Clerk of the Court. - - GUIGNICOURT, _January 9th, 1915_. - -By order there appeared as witness Captain von Montbé, who, being -warned to speak the whole truth, made the following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Charles Sylvester Alban von Montbé. I am 31 -years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: It has not come to my knowledge that any cruelties have -been committed by our soldiers on the inhabitants of Dinant; neither -have the inhabitants of Dinant been ill-treated or mutilated or been -badly treated at all; on the other hand, various inhabitants of the -place who have treacherously fired from the houses, so far as one could -get hold of them, were shot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: V. MONTBÉ. - -Witness was hereupon sworn. - - Signed: BANDEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: HAUNSTEIN, Non-commissioned Officer - and Military Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 9. - - GUIGNICOURT, _January 8th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -Lieutenant Prietzel of the Reserve appeared as witness and, being -warned to speak the truth, in lieu of oath declared as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Ernst Rudolf Prietzel. I am 29 years of age; -Evangelical-Lutheran; Dr. Jur. of Bautzen. - -As to Case: When the 5th Company of the 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment -marched into Dinant it was fired on from the houses situated in the -narrow lane leading from Herbuchenne. I was myself able to observe -shots from about three windows. Grenadier Oberlander was killed; -probably two or three Grenadiers were wounded. The shots undoubtedly -did not come from the opposite bank of the Meuse, which, at that time, -was only weakly occupied by the enemy troops. On the contrary, the -shots were discharged by the civilian population. In the narrow lane, -and previously towards Herbuchenne, there lay numerous dead and wounded -of the 8th Company, which had, in the same way, been fired at by the -civilian population from the houses. - -One could plainly see in the burning houses of Dinant, mostly wrecked -by our artillery, that cartridges were exploding in the flames. These -houses were unsuitable for military purposes, especially for defence. -The cartridges must therefore have originated from the civilian -population. - -On the other side of the Meuse was a building provided with a Red Cross -flag. The walls enclosing this building had loopholes. The building was -therefore, despite the Red Cross flag, adapted for defence. The 5th -Company, in passing through the narrow lane mentioned above, replied to -the fire of the civilian population. - -It is not true that soldiers of the Guards Regiment or of any other -regiment have taken any action which was not absolutely required by the -military situation or in consequence of the behaviour of the civilian -population. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Lieutenant of Reserve PRIETZEL. - -Witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: VON LOEBEN, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: BAIER, Non-commissioned Officer - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 10. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 16th, 1915_. - -In the matter for investigation with reference to the events in -Dinant, Acting-Sergeant-Major Bartusch appeared as witness. After he -had been made acquainted with the object of the investigation, and -the importance of the oath to be taken had been pointed out, he was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Wilhelm Bartusch. I am 33 years of age; -Protestant; Acting-Sergeant-Major, Battalion Drummer, 1st Battalion, -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - -As to Case: On August 23rd I served on the staff of the 1st Battalion -in Dinant. We slid down the steep slopes into Dinant rather than ran. -An inhabitant, the Luxemburger mentioned below, told me they did not -believe we should get down; on the contrary, they reckoned that we -would be shot on the way. From the very beginning we were assailed -by fire from the houses, small shot was also used; the firing came -from all the openings in the houses, from the windows and doors, -and also from holes cut out between the roof and wall. Below in the -town we sought a temporary shelter in a warehouse nearly opposite -the gaol. From here an attempt was made to clear the neighbourhood -of sharpshooters. All those of the inhabitants who were found in the -houses were taken to the prison. The persons who had been caught with -weapons in their hands were separated and placed against the garden -wall near the open place. They were there shot by a detachment of -Grenadiers by order of Lieutenant-Colonel Count Kielmannsegg. How many -there were, I cannot exactly say; there may have been 50 or 100. They -stood in three or four rows, and were to my knowledge only men. That -women and children were shot with them, I did not see. One man tried -to keep a child on his arm, but this was prevented by a woman who took -the child from him. One must try to imagine the confusion prevailing, -and that all this was taking place while we were still being fired on. -I think it is possible that some of the women and children, whom we had -forced away from the men, had fled behind the wall of the garden, and -that there they perished either by our bullets which pierced the wall -or by the bullets of the enemy on the other bank of the Meuse. Everyone -who stayed out of doors did so at the continual risk of his life. At -the very commencement, when we reached Dinant, a girl of about thirteen -years of age received a shot in the stomach from the other bank of the -Meuse. She was bandaged by two German stretcher-bearers. - -One man was caught in the street by two Grenadiers, who declared he -had wounded Captain Legler. We tied his hands with a cord and took him -with us. He was, however, rescued by civilians in the street-fighting. -I recognised him again among the men lined up for execution by the -marks left by the cord on his hands. In a house which had already been -searched, and which I and a Grenadier were again searching through, I -found behind a secret door two men of about twenty years of age; each -had a revolver in his hand from which shots had already been discharged. - -Among the persons who had been taken to the prison was a well-dressed -man of about seventy years of age. A bulging of his waistcoat attracted -my attention; when I went to touch it he said, "Purse." I tore his -waistcoat open and produced from it a small revolver from which a shot -had already been discharged. As far as I know, this old man was not -among those who were shot. To judge by the continuous firing, all the -inhabitants of Dinant must have taken part in the shooting. When we -were attending to the thirteen-year-old girl who had been shot, her -father, a Luxemburger living in Dinant, who spoke broken German, said -that in Dinant parents had given revolvers to their children of ten to -twelve years so that they might shoot at the "Allemands." - -In the prison we found about eight pistols and the same number of -swords, as well as a cigar-box full of cardboard packets which were -filled with small shot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BARTUSCH. - -Witness was hereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 11. - - WILLMSBARACKEN, _February 3rd, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -By order of the regiment there appeared as witness Grenadier of the -Reserve Straczinsky, 4th Company (Guards), Grenadier Regiment No. -100, who, being warned to speak the whole truth, made the following -deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Felix Johannes Straczinsky; born on the 15th -June 1890 at Bautzen (Saxony); Evangelical-Lutheran. - -As to Case: I was wounded on August 23rd, 1914, in Dinant by a -discharge of small shot fired from a cellar window. The shot went -into my right ankle. The grains of shot were removed at Julich, near -Aachen, where I was under treatment. I saw the shot myself. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANNES STRACZINSKY. - -The witness was hereupon sworn. - -Also signed. - - Signed: VON HAUGK, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: BEYMANN, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk to the Court. - - - C. App. 12. - - EXTRACT from the Reports of the Staff of the 46th Infantry Brigade and - of Regiments Nos. 108 and 182 on the fighting at Dinant, August 23rd, - 1914. - -Staff of the 46th Infantry Brigade. - -Towards 9 o'clock in the forenoon Regiments Nos. 108 and 182 reached -the eastern slopes of the Meuse. - -There now ensued a hot fight for the town of Dinant, which was defended -by francs-tireurs, and which resulted in serious loss, especially of -officers. As the Brigade Commander was of opinion that Dinant could not -be taken without previously bombarding it with artillery, he gave the -order at 10 a.m. to again evacuate Dinant if possible. At the time this -was no longer practicable, since the regiments were already too much -involved in the house-to-house fighting and were pressing forward in -the direction of the market-place. - -Whilst every individual house was being hotly fought for, the troops -were being heavily fired on from the opposite bank of the Meuse by -artillery and machine-guns. - -The commanders of the two regiments met in the market-place. Since no -decisive result was possible without artillery against the enemy who -were concealed in houses, cellars, and caves, and who were even firing -from the cathedral, they resolved to gradually evacuate the town. - -This was begun at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. - -Rifle-Fusilier Regiment No. 108. - -The 3rd Battalion in its advance on Dinant had at once been fired -at from the eastern houses. Nothing was to be seen of the enemy, -although continuous firing came from the northern border of the -Dinant-Gemechenne road valley. The farm of Malais was stormed by the -1st Battalion. The whole of the francs-tireurs who had resisted there -were killed. According to its instructions, the battalion reached Leffe -and Dinant under fire from the inhabitants. In the house of Dinant -there were no longer any of the enemy forces either in uniform or -provided with any military badges, but it was the fanatical population, -even women, who fired on the troops. In the market-place there -developed a brisk house-to-house fight. There was firing even from -the tower of the cathedral. Almost all the houses were systematically -defended. Both regimental commanders (of the 108th and 182nd Regiments) -came to the conclusion that the Meuse could not be reached without -the support of our artillery, and therefore ordered the return of the -regiments at 3.30 in the afternoon. At 5 o'clock the bombardment of -Dinant by our artillery began. On the following morning the brigade -crossed the Meuse on the pontoon bridge at Leffe which was built by -the 32nd Infantry Division, since it was impossible to march through -burning Dinant. - -Infantry Regiment No. 182. - -During the advance of the regiment along the edge of a valley it -received a continuous shrapnel fire from the western bank of the Meuse -and infantry fire from the buildings and copses on the edge of the -valley, causing losses. Captain Klotz, the leader of the machine-gun -company, fell through a shot from above, apparently from one of the -fortress-like watch-towers which stand there. Two battalions penetrated -into Dinant and on towards the bridge, and received a detached fire -from the houses and from the cliffs of the east bank, in numerous rocky -caves of which francs-tireurs were hidden. At 5.30 in the evening the -regiment stood again on the heights above Dinant while our artillery -from the north furiously bombarded the town on both sides of the river. - -In the evening and during the night enemy sharpshooters still continued -to fire from the woods and buildings on the edge of the valley, which -they had reached by passages in the rocks unknown to us, and into which -they again disappeared. - - - C. App. 13. - - WOOD SOUTH-WEST OF LA VILLE AUX BOIS, _February 5th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared as witness Corporal Schmieder of the 10th Company. - -Warned to speak the whole truth, he made the following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Hermann Walter Schmieder. I am 20 years of -age; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith; gardener by calling; now -corporal in the 10th Company. - -As to Case: On the Sorinnes-Dinant road the following occurrence took -place in the part of the town of Dinant which lies on both sides of the -road. I witnessed how two male civilians discharged pistol-shots at -Major Lommatsch, Battalion Commander, 16th Infantry Regiment No. 182, -from the first storey of a house standing directly on the road. Major -Lommatsch immediately collapsed. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHMIEDER. - -The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations. - - Signed: LASSOW, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHUBERT, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 14. - - WOOD SOUTH-WEST OF LA VILLE AUX BOIS, _February 5th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared: - -1. Corporal Horn. - -2. Corporal Matthes. - -Warned to speak the whole truth, they made the following deposition: - -1. Horn. - -As to Person: My name is Max Bruno Horn. I am 22 years old; of the -Evangelical-Lutheran faith; machinery smith by trade; now corporal, -12th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of the 23rd August a platoon of -artillerymen was standing in the vicinity of the water-tower at the -fort of Dinant. All at once the artillerymen sent for the infantry to -help them. The group in which I was moved up. The artillerymen were -firing with their pistols at about eight civilians who were armed -with rifles. When the civilians saw us coming they ran down the slope -towards Dinant. I did not see German soldiers in Dinant commit any -cruelties on the inhabitants. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HORN. - -The witness was duly sworn. - -2. Matthes. - -As to Person: My name is Johannes Walter Matthes. I am 28 years old; of -the Evangelical-Lutheran faith; butcher by trade; now rifleman, 12th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108. - -As to Case: I concur to the fullest extent in the statement of Corporal -Horn, and have nothing further to add. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MATTHES. - -Witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: LOSSOW, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHUBERT, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 15. - - WOOD SOUTH-WEST OF LA VILLE AUX BOIS, _February 5th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared as witness Rifleman Körner. Warned to speak the whole truth, -he made the following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Artur Hugo Körner. I am 21 years old; of the -Evangelical-Lutheran faith; glass-cutter by trade; now rifleman, 11th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108. - -As to Case: I belonged to a patrol of twelve men led by Lieutenant -Gauser and Berger with orders to arrest civilians in Dinant who -might take up arms against the Germans. From a building in course of -erection we observed that civilians were firing on us from a house. We -surrounded the house, forced an entrance, and arrested about six male -civilians. All had firearms, but no military badge or uniform. Two of -them were young people about eighteen years old, another an older man -with white hair. I know nothing of cruelties having been perpetrated by -German soldiers on the inhabitants. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KÖRNER. - -The witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: LOSSOW, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHUBERT, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 16. - - Present: - 1st Lieutenant GRAU, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LIMBÄCKER, as Clerk of the Court. - - "THE FRONT," _February 28th, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness Major-General Francke, who, after reference -to the significance of the oath, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Franz Samuel Ludwig Francke. I am 51 years -old; Protestant; Major-General and Regimental Commander, Infantry -Regiment No. 182. - -As to Case: I confirm that in Dinant a civilian who wore a white band -with the Geneva Cross was brought to me by a corporal and two men of -the 12th Company. The party assured me that they had seen an arm with -a Geneva brassard project from between the shutters of a window on the -first floor of a house distant about thirty paces from where I was, and -that it had discharged a pistol into the street which was thronged with -soldiers. Several dead and wounded soldiers were lying in the street -who could only have been hit from the houses or straight through from -the houses on the riverside. The soldiers stated that they had broken -into the house and had fetched out the occupants, among whom was this -man. - -The civilian explained to me, without being asked, at first in hardly -intelligible German, and then in French when I addressed him in French, -that he was a doctor, and that he had protected the women who were in -the houses, and had not fired on the soldiers. I thereupon ordered him -to immediately bandage one of the wounded lying there. On his assertion -that he had no bandages, I told him to fetch some bandages from the -pharmacy which was situated directly behind me. I had already wondered -that he had not taken this simple step if he was really a doctor. As -I was very much occupied I could not watch him further myself, but -ordered a corporal and one man to accompany and keep watch on the -supposed doctor. Some time after, the corporal came to me and reported -that, as they entered the ground floor of the pharmacy, the doctor had -suddenly run into the rear part of the house and not into the room used -for the pharmacy on the street front, whereupon they had brought him -out and shot him. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRANZ FRANCKE. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: GRAU, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: LIMBÄCKER, Acting-Sergeant-Major, - as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 17. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, NAUMANN. - Secretary of the Military Court, SCHWARZBACH. - - LA MALMAISON, _December 1914_. - -In the investigation concerning the violation of international law -committed against the German troops, there appeared as witness Corporal -Saring, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was -examined as follows: - -My name is Johann Georg Saring. I am 22 years of age; Protestant; -locksmith by trade; corporal, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182. - -On the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd August, 1914, I saw in Dinant the -arm of a man thrust itself out from the first storey of the pharmacy. -The hand held a pistol. The pistol was fired at us soldiers. The arm -was wearing, as I plainly saw, the Red Cross band. I burst the door -in with a pickaxe; there came out children, women, and an elderly -man, and, last of all, the man with the Red Cross band. This man was -taken to Colonel Francke, whilst the other civilians were detained in -the corner of a house. We then rushed towards the church in which the -inhabitants had been brought together. As I know for certain, we were -fired on from the tower of the church. This could only have been done -by the inhabitants; enemy troops were not to be seen the whole of the -day. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANN GEORG SARING. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: NAUMANN. - Signed: SCHWARZBACH. - - - C. App. 18. - - Present: - President of the Court, NAUMANN. - Secretary to the Court, SCHWARZBACH. - - LA MALMAISON, _December 9th, 1914_. - -In the investigation of the violation of the international law -committed against the German troops, there appeared as witness Corporal -of the Reserve Einax, 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182, who, -after reference to the significance of the oath, was examined as -follows: - -My name is Karl Hermann Einax. I am 28 years old; Protestant; cooper -by trade; corporal since November 21st, 1914. On Sunday, August 23rd, -1914, during the second hour of the afternoon, as we advanced into -Dinant, we were fired on. It turned out that the fire came from the -other bank of the Meuse. We forced our way into the houses and searched -them. I saw how an elderly man with grey bristly hair stepped out of -a house, into which our comrades had forced an entrance, and fired at -us. Major Lommatsch, who was severely wounded, died in the afternoon in -consequence of the wound. - -On interrogation: - -I then plainly saw that eight gun-barrels projected from the attic -windows of a house in the main street and were directed at us. From the -tower of the church and from cellars we were also fired on. All this -was done by the inhabitants only. - -I remember distinctly that eight men were brought out of a house from -which there had been firing, amongst them the pastor with a Red Cross -band on his arm. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KARL HERMANN EINAX. - -Witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: NAUMANN. - Signed: SCHWARZBACH. - - - C. App. 19. - - EXTRACT from Reports of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12. - - August 23rd, 1914. - -Regimental Staff. - -As our infantry was hindered in the advance into Dinant by franc-tireur -fighting, the town was bombarded and set on fire by the regiment. - -1st Detachment. - -Since we had not gained possession of that part of Dinant situated west -of the Meuse, and, according to reports coming from the front, our -troops had been fired on from the houses by civilians, General Lucius -gave the order to bombard this part of the town. Two companies of the -1st Battery were posted on the western border of Herbuchenne, and set -on fire some large houses with about thirty shrapnel shells. - -As our infantry had again evacuated Dinant in the afternoon, our -detachment received orders to bombard and burn the town. After a short -time the order came to cease fire. - -At 6 o'clock in the evening the opposite heights of the Meuse were in -the possession of our infantry. - -2nd Detachment. - -The commander of the detachment asked for companies from Captain -Pechwell, 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182, and proceeded with -these to the position ordered; as all the houses and the quarries on -the way had to be searched for francs-tireurs, the position was only -reached at 8.30 p.m. At 11 o'clock two farms situated on the right -flank suddenly burst into flames; at 11.30 lamp-signals were observed -from the quarries north-east of the position. - - - C. App. 20. - - EXTRACT from Report of Field Artillery Regiment No. 48. - -As our infantry in Dinant, from the houses of which there was heavy -firing, were also still being fired on by the fort, the 3rd Battery -received the order to bombard the fort from a more advanced position. -In Leffe also, our infantry made no headway; the 5th Battery therefore -received the order at 4 o'clock in the afternoon to bombard and set on -fire the farm Roud Chêne and the neighbourhood of Leffe. Dinant was -evacuated by our infantry from 3 o'clock in the afternoon onwards, and -from 5 o'clock onwards was bombarded by our Foot Artillery. - - - C. App. 21. - - EXTRACT from Report of Foot Artillery Regiment No. 19, 1st Battalion. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -At midday, by order of Major-General Schramm, the Eichler Battery was -moved forward on the road north of Dinant to an advanced position -south-west of Leffe, later on to the Convent Place of Dinant, and from -there bombarded Dinant itself. - - _August 24th, 1914._ - -The reconnaissance showed that the roads in the Meuse Valley of -Dinant-Leffe were impassable on account of the débris of fallen houses, -conflagrations, and the shots fired from the houses by the inhabitants. - - - C. App. 22. - - EXTRACT from Report of the Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade. - -The Infantry Regiment No. 178 had not only opposed to it a strong force -of the enemy, but was also being heavily fired on by francs-tireurs -from the houses of the village of Leffe. A company of the 2nd Battalion -as well as a detachment of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 178, were, as the Brigade Staff itself saw, fired on in the same -way from all the houses as they were entering the village of Leffe. -This could only have come from the inhabitants; some of them were -seized with weapons in their hands and shot. Toward 1.45 in the -afternoon a detachment of heavy artillery opened fire on the houses of -Bouvignes which were occupied by the enemy, with obvious results. As -shots were being fired from the woods and cliffs north and south of -Leffe on our troops passing through the village street, the Kurhessian -Jäger Battalion No. 11 received the order to clear the woods. Here also -civilians, without any military badge or uniform, were seized with -weapons in their hands and shot. - -64th Infantry Brigade. - - LEFFE, _August 23rd, 1914, 11.50 a.m._ - -To Field Artillery Regiment No. 64. - -The 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, is suffering especially -through infantry fire from the houses with the pointed towers and from -the ruins to the right of them in Bouvignes. The 64th Brigade asks you -to kindly bring these houses under fire. - - 64TH INFANTRY BRIGADE. - - - C. App. 23. - - EXTRACT from Report of Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -When the leading company (9th Company) of Infantry Regiment No. 178 -had almost reached the Meuse in its march through Leffe it received a -brisk fire from the front and on the right and left flanks, chiefly -from the houses. The 9th Company thereupon received orders to clear the -village. The battalion had a severe struggle and suffered considerable -losses, as it was under a violent infantry and machine-gun fire from -the opposite bank of the Meuse, and, above all, because the battalion -was being fired on by the inhabitants from practically all the houses. -Various civilians who had fired at our troops were shot. At 8.30 about -twenty inhabitants were still firing at us to the south of the barracks -of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment. They were fetched out and shot. - - - C. App. 24. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary to the Military Court, LIPS. - - Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178 at VARISCOURT, - _March 3rd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Lieutenant Koch, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Bruno Koch. I am 47 years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant-Colonel, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: I led the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, on -August 23, 1914. First of all, in the morning, I had to deal with -the franc-tireur firing in the Leffe valley at "La Papeterie." As -the battalion was continually being fired on there from the houses, -I gave the order, on higher authority, to clear the houses. I was -then detailed to take over the leadership in the fighting at Leffe. -There I saw very many dead civilians lying all along the road and -also especially in an open space in Leffe itself. At nightfall after -the occupation of the place I had to secure the section towards the -Meuse--it was reported to me that my left-wing post was being attacked -by francs-tireurs. I snatched together a number of men, led them -personally to the scene of the fighting, and instituted measures for -clearing the place. By my orders reinforcements arrived, and I gave -over to 1st Lieutenant Wilke the further work of clearing the place. -During this work we were continuously and heavily fired on by civilians -without any military badge or uniform. Consequently, in this affair -also, very many men who were caught with weapons in their hands were -shot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KOCH. - -Witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 25. - - Short REPORT to the Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment - No. 178, on the fighting at Leffe. - - _February 14th, 1915, 5 p.m._ - -In the advance on Leffe the battalion came across a mill or factory. -The advance guard, in which was the Regimental Staff as well as the -Staff of the 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, were received by -a heavy fire from the factory. In the same way the battalion was fired -on from the surrounding heights. The foremost (9th) company stormed the -factory; here were found, despite a close search, only about twenty -men in civilian clothes without any military badge or uniform, and -some women, but no Belgian or French soldiers. The patrols sent out -on the heights also reported that they had seen only single fugitive -civilians, but no soldiers. The civilians captured in the factory -were shot by order of the Regimental Commander because they had been -firing. The battalion thereupon continued its advance towards the Meuse -unmolested. When the head of the battalion reached the Meuse fire was -opened on it from the opposite bank. The battalion deployed in the -town. The locked-up houses had to be opened by force by the companies -in order to bring the enemy under fire from the gardens in the rear on -the Meuse bank. For this moment the population seems to have waited, -for they suddenly opened fire on us from all sides with rifles and -pistols. The companies were now obliged to contend against two fronts, -on the one side against the enemy on the opposite bank of the Meuse, on -the other against the population. One of the first victims was Captain -Franz of the 11th Company of the regiment, who was shot through the -leg from a cellar window. The civilian was fetched out of the cellar -by Captain Lücke of the 9th Company of the regiment, single-handed, -and, as he was caught with a weapon in his hand, was immediately shot. -In the course of further operations six men of the battalion were -killed and a larger number were wounded in the interior of the town, -in places, in fact, where the fire of the troops on the other side of -the Meuse could not have reached them. The losses were to be ascribed -solely to the attack of the inhabitants. From the circumstance that -Belgian military rifles were found with the greater number of the -prisoners and Belgian infantry cartridges in their pockets, it may be -concluded that Belgian soldiers, after discarding their uniforms, had -also taken part in the attack. Hunting-rifles, obsolete and modern -pistols were found in the possession of the others. Whether women or -children participated in the fighting is beyond my knowledge; at any -rate, none were intentionally shot. I had given the order to hand over -all women and children to the abbot of the monastery in Leffe; this was -also done. How many civilians were shot in the street-fighting, I am -unable to state. - -The correctness of the foregoing statements can be testified to by -numerous persons belonging to the battalion who have taken part in the -fighting. - - Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178, _March 3rd, 1915_. - - Present: - President of the Military Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary to the Military Court, LIPS. - -In the inquiry concerning occurrences in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major Fränzel, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Artur Fränzel. I am 45 years -of age; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Infantry Regiment -No. 178. - -As to Case: On the reading over of the report of the 14th February 1915 -on the fighting at Leffe: - -This report originated from me. I still hold to-day to its contents. -I still emphasise expressly that only men were shot, no women and -children. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRÄNZEL. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 26. - -6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - _February 14th, 1915._ - -_Report._ - -On the night of the 22nd August 1914, after its assembly at -Thynes-les-Dinant, the 32nd Infantry Division marched by the so-called -Leffe lower road to the northern suburb of Dinant. - -On the 23rd August, towards 5 o'clock in the forenoon, a halt was made -about 1500 metres east of the spot where this way enters the Meuse -Valley road; the cartridge waggons were emptied and the colours were -unfurled for the first time in the campaign. There the first command to -attack was given. The 64th Infantry Brigade deployed on the heights to -the north of the lower road. - -The 2nd Battalion of the Infantry Regiment held itself at the disposal -of the Brigade Commander on this road close to the first houses in -Leffe. Shortly after the front battalions had fallen in, I received the -order from the Battalion Commander, Major Koch, to report myself to the -Brigade Commander for a reconnaissance patrol. There I received the -instruction to reconnoitre a pathway which leads by La Papeterie to the -heights north of the lower road; a group of about ten houses on the -left of the road, clustering round a large paper factory, is called La -Papeterie. - -In carrying out this order I rode first by the lower road to La -Papeterie in order then to turn off towards the heights. On my -approaching the factory some shots were fired, evidently pistol-shots; -I then rode farther, because I thought the firing was not meant for -me; but as it became more brisk and I saw that the shots struck the -steep-rising wall of the rocks, as high as houses, on the right of the -road, and that I could not carry out the reconnaissance in this very -broken, rocky district on horseback, I turned back. Only the sharpest -pace saved me from the shots which, thick as hail, struck the face of -the cliff beside me. I reported this affair to my Battalion Commander -and took the foremost section of the leading company in order to -execute my errand on foot without delay, not without having first asked -to have the factory cleared. On my second advance I was again fired at, -so that I found myself obliged to turn off before the steep cliff in -order to get forward under cover of gardens and hedges. I succeeded in -this without any losses, although on this occasion I was still briskly -fired at. - -When I had returned from this patrol I learned that the company had -penetrated into the factory and had cleared the place. I heard and saw -shots still being fired from this direction. I thereupon received the -order to clear the houses without regard to anything, but to spare old -men, women, and children. Having reached the houses of the factory -workpeople, I was heavily fired on from all sides. Of the marksmen -there was no trace to be discovered, despite the keenest search. -The houses were consequently surrounded, and separate individuals -forced their way into the buildings. It turned out that these were -strongly barricaded. The doors were barred, the entrances to cellars -and basements were blocked up with boxes, mattresses, and all kinds -of domestic utensils; windows and skylights were covered with boards. -I, personally, penetrated into two or three houses, and am witness -to the fact that it required an extraordinary amount of strength and -skill to gain an entry to the forty-five buildings. In one house I -found a number of discharged Browning-pistol cartridge cases. This -house I had set on fire, as nobody was found in it. In this district -of Leffe we had to deal in the main, according to my opinion, with -Browning marksmen, who did not seem to be properly acquainted with -the weapon. The discharged ammunition found proves this in the first -place; also, on the other hand, the quick succession of shots, then -a long pause, because the marksmen were not properly acquainted with -the loading mechanism of the pistol. Some non-commissioned officers -reported to me that they had fought in the house with armed civilians, -had overpowered, killed, or shot them. - -After the houses had been cleared and searched I assembled my company -and moved back by the road to the original position of the battalion. - -In the meantime the Marburg Jägers had marched up, and had again -searched the factory and the adjacent buildings. I saw how a number of -men in civilian clothing, about twenty, were shot by this unit in the -yard of the factory. - -Meanwhile my company lay on the lower road and was further fired on -from the steep slopes of the valley, which were covered with wood and -thickets, through which the road passed. On the right flank I sent out -in advance Lieutenant Schreyer of the Reserve in order to search the -thickets, whilst the Marburg Jägers advanced on the left. With glasses -I was able to plainly see several civilians on the left slope who were -firing at us. I believe I can remember that they were equipped with -pistols. - -Suddenly I heard firing on the right above me from the detachment of -Schreyer, and saw at the same time how one man collapsed on the left -slope and rolled a few paces, another crawled back apparently wounded, -and a third took to flight into the adjacent wood. The Marburg Jägers, -who soon after came to this spot, and with whom I spoke later, had -ascertained with certainty that in this case we were dealing with -civilians. - -Soon after this, Lieutenant Schreyer came back and reported to me that -he had observed on the opposite slope some suspicious rascals on whom -he had fired. Shortly after we were fired at from a detached house on -the right slope. This was somewhere about 10 o'clock in the morning. - -I once more sent out a strong patrol on the right bank to clear out -this house. The patrol soon returned and brought a big, strong man -about forty years old, in labourer's clothes, and a lad of about -sixteen years, as well as a number of wailing women and children. -The men had been armed, according to the statement of the leader of -the patrol, with sporting-rifles which the patrol themselves in the -house had rendered unserviceable. I can no longer remember the name of -the patrol leader. The men were taken to the factory, the women and -children bundled off to the monastery in Leffe. - -Towards midday the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment No. 178 was -moved forward towards Leffe direct to the Meuse. In the village street -itself there lay a great number of dead men in civilian clothing. -On questioning different soldiers I learnt that the troops marching -through before us had been fired on from almost every house; hence the -great number of civilians shot. Dead women and children I did not see. - -I had my company halted at the monastery at Leffe, and went forward -myself to the Meuse. Parts of the 3rd and 1st Battalions of the 178th -Regiment were still there, fighting the enemy on the opposite bank. I -also saw there bodies of troops, in particular, of Regiments Nos. 102 -and 103, of Rifle Regiment No. 108, of the Marburg Jägers, and of the -artillery. - -In the compact rows of houses at Leffe, the reports of firing were -continuous, and one could not always tell from whence they came. -Without doubt they were pistol-shots discharged from cellars and -attics. I can also remember that a large number of brown sporting-shot -cartridge cases lay in front of a house in the principal street of -Leffe. - -In the course of the afternoon I received the order to occupy -the bank of the Meuse with my company, and was allotted for this -purpose the school and the houses near it. Behind the school was a -gasometer, and close to the gasometer coals had been piled up and -set on fire--manifestly by the civilian population. I therefore sent -Acting-Sergeant-Major Bauer, officer's deputy, with his men, in order -either to extinguish the fire or otherwise to prevent in some way the -threatened explosion. He reported to me, however, that the pioneers -who had already arrived before us, correctly judging the danger of the -gasometer, had emptied it. - -After the enemy had evacuated the opposite bank in the late afternoon, -and the crossing of single detachments of troops had already begun, I -withdrew my company from the school and from the bank of the Meuse and -assembled them in the street enclosed by two rows of houses. Towards 5 -o'clock in the afternoon we were again fired on from these houses, and, -consequently, I got the order from the Battalion Commander to search -all the houses and to have all armed persons shot without compunction. -On this occasion, the soldiers Hautschick and Altermann found in a -house on the floor a soldier of the 9th Company of the 178th Regiment -who had been shot. He lay with his face over a kneading-trough, and had -obviously been shot from behind. In the adjoining room the soldiers -found two sporting-rifles which plainly bore the traces of having been -discharged quite recently. - -In a vineyard just above this house two men were caught with rifles by -two other soldiers, whose names can no longer be ascertained, and shot. - -At about the same time Acting-Sergeant-Major Paatsch (who fell at -Saunois), together with Private Kaspar, broke into a house close by -the castle. Kaspar depicts the occurrence in the following way. On -entering the house a man on the ground floor threatened him with a -long-barrelled pistol. He struck this man down with a spade which he -had at hand. He then mounted with Paatsch to the first floor. Six -men were there with sporting-rifles, whom they shot or felled with -rifle-butts. - -On the floor there stood a chair close to an attic window beside which -lay a number of cartridges, a proof that the people had fired from this -window. - -When they wanted to leave the house, five men armed with rifles again -opposed them. They were only able to overcome these because their -comrades came to their aid from outside. In executing the order -given by the Battalion Commander to search all the houses, I met -the Brigade Commander, who again enjoined me to proceed without any -compunction, and to fire the houses in case the people could not be -got hold of. On this occasion I reported that one company seemed too -weak for such a task, especially as the searching of the houses, with -darkness approaching, would take a lot of time. A second company was -consequently given to me. During the searching of the houses we were -continually being fired on by invisible marksmen. The orders given -to me by my Battalion and Brigade Commanders I have carried out. Men -caught in the act were shot; where the marksmen could not be seized, -the houses were set on fire; women and children were taken to the -convent. - -This order which, by reason of the high risk run by our troops, had -proved to be absolutely necessary, I regarded as executed after about -fifty men had been shot and the main street of Leffe had been rendered -impassable as a result of the burning houses. - -Despite this, my company was again alarmed towards 11 o'clock at night -because a dismounted squadron of hussars on the quay had been fired -on from a single house. Once more I moved with my company through -burning Leffe in order to find the culprits. On the way I met Division -Commander Edler von der Planitz, who once again impressed upon me the -duty of proceeding against the fanatical francs-tireurs without any -compunction whatever, and by the most energetic methods. I had the -house, pointed out to me by the hussars, surrounded and searched, but -found nobody there. After I had set fire to the house, I returned with -my company to the place where the regiment was assembled. - - Signed: WILKE, Captain and Company Leader, - 6th Company, Infantry Regiment - No. 178. - - Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178, - _March 3rd, 1915_. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - -At the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant, the witness named below -appeared and stated: - -As to Person: My name is Manfred Horst Wilke. I am 30 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Leader, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: On the reading of his report: - -This report is in full conformity with the truth. In addition to those -statements which, as may be recognised from the report, are based -on the statements of others, I mention that I pointed out to the -individuals whom I questioned to tell me the whole truth, so that their -statements could also be maintained on oath. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILKE. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 27. - -Sender: 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - Date: _February 15th, 1915_. - Time: _11 a.m._ - -To the 2nd Battalion. - -On August 23rd, 1914, towards 9.45 a.m., the 7th Company--placed at the -disposal of the 3rd Battalion, which was fighting in Leffe--marched -into this place. While I rode on to report the arrival of my company to -the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 178th Regiment, the company halted -on the lower road leading to the Meuse, under cover from the opposite -heights of the Meuse, which were occupied by the enemy. - -During this brief halt the company was assailed by a murderous -rifle-fire which came from a house with closed windows and bolted door. -One man (Private Uhlemann) was badly wounded in the right instep, -another (Private Neumann) was slightly wounded by three shots in the -arm and hand; all the wounds came from small shot; the firing could -only have been done by civilians. - -The company then occupied the heights south of Leffe on the east bank -of the Meuse. From here could be plainly seen how, from the windows -of various houses, and stealing about round the houses and in the -gardens and yards, civilians quickly popped up and fired on the German -soldiers. The company had lain on the heights by the Meuse about 4 -hours, and had made these observations chiefly during the first 1-1/2 -hours (10.30 to 12 midday). The last facts I can bear witness to myself. - - Signed: JOHN, Captain and Chief Company. - -1st Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - _February 19th, 1915._ - -_Deposition._ - -Captain John, questioned, made the following statements, additional to -his preceding report: - -Before the 7th Company was placed at the disposal of the 3rd Battalion -in Leffe on the morning of August 23rd, the company received the -order from the Battalion Commander, Major Koch, to send out, from the -halting-place of the battalion, about 500 metres east of Leffe, a -detachment to La Papeterie, in order to clear this group of houses of -armed civilians who had fired on marching troops and mounted officers -(Captain Wilke), and to shoot the guilty civilians. For this purpose -the detachment of Lieutenant of Reserve Wendt (who fell later) was -detailed to me. When the detachment rejoined the company later on the -heights south of Leffe, Lieutenant of Reserve Wendt reported to me -that, in accordance with the order received, he had had some men shot -whom he had caught in the act; they were armed with Browning pistols. - -I was wounded myself on August 23rd towards 2.30 by a French rifle -bullet which came from the west bank of the Meuse. - -I did not observe any shooting or ill-treatment of women and children. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANNES JOHN. - Signed: KAISER, Lieutenant and Legal Officer. - -_Deposition._ - - Present: - Lieutenant THOMAS, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, as Clerk of the Court. - -There appeared as witness Captain John, who, being advised of his -previous statement, deposed: - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Johannes John. I am 36 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Chief, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 178. - -As to Case: I maintain my statements. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANNES JOHN. - Signed: THOMAS. Signed: LANGE. - - - C. App. 28. - -7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - _February 15th, 1915._ - -_Report._ - -1. On the events in Dinant I am able, as leader at that time of the -first platoon of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, to make -from personal observation the following statements: - -The 5th Company, in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion, had halted in -the morning hours of August 23rd in a valley before Leffe. During this -halt I heard shots from sporting-rifles and revolvers (pistols) on -the wooded heights which stretch on both sides towards Leffe, without -being able to discern any of our assailants. No one in the company was -hit. This firing, intermingled with infantry fire, was audible during -the whole course of the day. Towards 8 o'clock the company marched -into Leffe, where, in consequence of the incessant firing, a frightful -tumult prevailed. Only a few civilians were to be seen in the streets. -These all showed signs of their peaceable intention by holding up their -hands. Almost all the windows of the houses were closed with blinds, -shutters, etc.; and the majority of these, as well as the doors, walls, -and roofs, were marked with apertures like loopholes. - -Shortly after our entry Major Frenzel brought to the Company Chief -the order of the Brigade Commander to shoot all the men found with -arms. He pointed out a long row of houses which were to be searched -for men, and added in explanation that the inhabitants had shot at our -firing-line from the rear. Captain Gause gave me the order to take -over the searching of the houses with my detachment. I did this with -one party. We found the houses all shut up. Since our summons to open -was regularly ignored, we were everywhere obliged to gain entry by -force. Three men were shot; their wives and children I had taken to the -convent, which had previously been pointed out to me as intended for -that purpose. I also noticed during the course of the day that women -and children were taken there by our men quietly, some by persuasion. -In searching the houses it was seen that the apertures, everywhere -visible from the outside, were doubtless intended for firearms. -According to my observations, no women or children were fired upon -anywhere by us. That some incidentally came to grief in the mêlée was -not to be avoided. I saw one woman who had received a glancing bullet -in the foot. According to the statement of the men, she had been -wounded in a house which had been fired into because it would not open -voluntarily. - -2. Further observations have been made by men of the 5th Company -and by the 7th Company, at that time led by myself, which seem to -be absolutely authentic. The men in question, previous to their -interrogation, had all been warned of the probability of having to -swear to their statement. - -Thus, eight men of the 5th Company were witnesses to the fact that -six civilians, among them one of very youthful age, had fired on -the company. These were all shot. Reservist Kluge, with some other -comrades, in searching a house, found on the floor a German soldier -who had been shot, and close by him a civilian busy with his rifle and -ammunition, whom they shot. The observations of the non-commissioned -officers and men of the 7th Company are of a similar character to those -made by me. Here Privates Uhlmann and Neumann were wounded by small -shot fired from the houses. Acting-Sergeant-Major Schaefer and several -men noticed that civilians (men) had fired on German soldiers. German -cartridges were also found here on the civilians. - - Signed: KIPPING, Lieutenant and Company Leader. - -_Deposition._ - - Present: - Lieutenant THOMAS, Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, Clerk of the Court. - -There appeared as witness Lieutenant Kipping, who, after the reading of -his report of February 15th, 1915, stated: - -As to Person: My name is Martin Friedrich Franz Kipping. I am 29 years -old; Protestant; Lieutenant of Reserve. - -As to Case: I maintain my statements. - -Witness was thereupon sworn. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MARTIN KIPPING. - Signed: THOMAS. Signed: LANGE. - - - C. App. 29. - -8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - - _February 14th, 1915._ - -_Report._ - -With reference to the fighting round Dinant on August 21st and 23rd, -Non-commissioned Officer Macher, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -178, states: - -Towards 7 a.m. on the 23rd August 1914 the order came for the attack on -Leffe, a suburb of Dinant. The 6th and 7th Companies, Infantry Regiment -No. 178, occupied a height in front of the place. The 3rd Battalion of -the regiment had already advanced; the 5th and 8th Companies followed -in the valley in the second line. - -When we came near the place we heard in front a muffled sound of firing. - -The 3rd Detachment of the 8th Company of the regiment was sent in -advance to take cartridges to the 3rd Battalion. The battalion, lying -on the height, was engaged with the enemy's infantry on the opposite -bank of the Meuse. To get there we were obliged to pass through -Dinant. At the entry to the town there already lay dead civilians, and -some soldiers warned us against passing through the place in close -order as there was firing from the houses. After this, we went through -the street on the right and left along by the houses, rifle in hand, -ready to fire. The houses were shut up, the cellar windows barricaded -and provided with loopholes. On the march back to the Company I saw -that the 5th Company of the regiment and the Marburg Jägers were -searching the houses; there were also lying in the street some dead -civilians and a wounded German. Some men and a number of women were -handed over to the platoon by a strange officer to be taken to the -mill. Several civilians had already been assembled there; some dead -also lay there. - -After we had again reached the company we heard, coming from a farm on -the right, firing which was apparently meant for us. Riflemen of the -Guards fetched the people out of the farm; they were only civilians, -about six men and a number of women and children. - -When the company had been advanced to the open space near the convent, -firing came from a house standing opposite. From this quarter also men -were brought out. In the searching of the house, under the leadership -of Sergeant Schuster of the 8th Company, a cellar which was occupied by -civilians was not opened. Sergeant Schuster therefore fired through the -door, and thereby wounded in the chest a woman who was in the cellar. -As Private Jentsch also deposes, after the opening of the cellar, he -immediately provided for the transport of the wounded woman to the -hospital in the convent by men of the Medical Corps. According to the -statement of Private Jentsch, the woman died and lay for two days on a -bier in the convent. - -Finally the company arranged the frontage of the houses along the Meuse -for defence, and other companies undertook to clear the inhabitants -out of the houses. The women and children were principally taken to -the convent. Towards 10 p.m., when the baggage entered the place, -the firing from the houses began again. We were given the alarm. The -buildings behind us on the slopes afforded a special difficulty on -account of the numerous exits. We here came in contact with a company -of Infantry Regiment No. 177. The leader of the company ordered the -houses to be set alight because there was still firing from other -windows. He himself smashed a lamp and fired the first house. We then -marched off and returned to the company. The nocturnal firing, in my -opinion, was done by civilians, for our troops had already occupied the -opposite bank. In one house a dead soldier was lying on the floor, as -was reported to me by men of the company. - -In one street the company was fired on from the rear; many of the men -said at once that the assailant was a woman; this, however, could -not be established with certainty. Among the men seized I saw one of -youthful age; all the rest were older; grey-haired men were also among -them. - - Signed: LUCIUS, 1st Lieutenant and Company Leader. - -_Deposition._ - - Present: - Lieutenant THOMAS, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, as Clerk of the Court. - -There appeared as witness Non-commissioned Officer Macher, who, having -been advised of the statement read, deposed as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Otto Macher. I am 23 years old; -Protestant; non-commissioned officer, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: I maintain my statement. - - Signed: MACHER, Non-commissioned Officer. - Signed: THOMAS. Signed: LANGE. - - - C. App. 30. - -Having been apprised of the significance of the oath, and advised as -to the object of the examination, Major Fränzel made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Artur Fränzel. I am 45 years -old; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Infantry Regiment No. -178. - -As to Case: On August 23rd the 2nd Battalion, as 1st, received the -order to place itself in possession of Leffe. The whole of the -Regimental Staff rode with the leading company. At the beginning of -the valley, which stretches away to Leffe, there stood a factory; the -battalion was fired at from here and from the heights behind. The -factory was at once stormed; only a few civilians were found in it, -but no French or Belgian soldiers; any escape of the people who had -fired from the factory was impossible as we had surrounded the place. -The guilty civilians, provided they were men, were shot by order of -the Commander of the regiment, Colonel von Reyter, while some women -arrested in the factory were handed over later to the abbot of the -monastery. - -On a further advance the battalion, in order to get into the gardens -on this side of the Meuse which were under the fire of the enemy's -infantry, was obliged to open forcibly several locked-up houses. The -inhabitants seemed to have only been waiting for this, as we were -now fired on from the houses all round, especially from the cellars, -apparently with revolvers and pistols, for we found these later in -clearing the houses, some still loaded. One of the first who was -wounded by a shot from a cellar was Captain Franz, who stood quite -close to me. In all, my battalion had at that time in the place -itself--not by the Meuse--six killed; the number of wounded I am not -able to state. The battalion was forced by the treacherous attack to -proceed against the population; all the houses, from which there had -been firing, were cleared by our troops. How many of the inhabitants -were shot on this day, I am unable to state definitely; at any rate, -all the women and children were led off to the monastery in Leffe and -given over to the abbot. I have further to remark that again late in -the afternoon, as our artillery was entering Leffe, the artillery-men -were fired on by inhabitants of the market-place, although several -francs-tireurs who had been shot were lying there. The battalion was -unable to finish the clearing of the place alone, and was obliged to -ask for support from the regiment, which was granted in the shape of -the 6th and 7th Companies. In searching the houses, not one enemy -soldier was found. Consequently, the shots could only have been -discharged at us by civilians. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRÄNZEL. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: STARKE, Magistrate. - - - C. App. 31. - -Court of the (Deputy) 64th Infantry Brigade. - - Present: - Military Magistrate Dr. UHLIG. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve GÖRNER, as Military Clerk of - the Court. - -There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Stiebing, 3rd Reserve -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, who, having been made acquainted -with the object of the inquiry, and advised as to the significance of -the oath, declared: - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Franz Paul Stiebing. I am 34 years -old; Protestant; Acting-Sergeant-Major, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, Infantry Regiment No. 177 and my -regiment took part in the fighting on the heights on the right bank -of the Meuse. The 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, remained -in reserve behind the left wing, just at the entry into Leffe. The -battalion had halted for a rest, and arms were piled. The men lay -and sat in the ditches of the road; otherwise the order of march was -kept, the 8th Company leading just at the entrance into Leffe. The 6th -Company, to which I belonged, followed. It was about 9 o'clock in the -morning when the battalion was suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy fire. -The shots came from the thickets which covered the hills quite close to -Leffe. The district is such that Leffe stretches along the road in a -side-valley of the Meuse and at right angles to the latter. No uniforms -were to be seen on the heights; the firing came first from one thicket -and then from another. In the meantime a Captain of the battalion had -advanced into the village to reconnoitre, and came galloping back -shouting that he had been fired on in the place by francs-tireurs. -Thereupon two detachments of the leading company sallied out from the -village to the left and right, in order to capture the sharpshooters -on the hills. They succeeded after a considerable time in capturing a -number of civilians (peasants), part of them in their shirt-sleeves. -These had fired on us with sporting-rifles and were caught with the -weapons in their hands. The range, from which they shot at us, amounted -to about 100 metres. They fired down from the heights into the hollow -in which we lay. - -In the meantime the last detachment of the foremost company had pushed -forward into the village itself. The men proceeded in quite detached -formation. They were at once received by francs-tireurs firing from the -various visible houses on both sides of the street. The detachment was -obliged first to clear each individual house of francs-tireurs before -they could again advance a little. The street door had to be smashed -in and each separate room had to be captured from the francs-tireurs. -About 10 a.m. two platoons of our company, one of them the 2nd Platoon -under Lieutenant Schreyer, to which I belonged, came to the help of -our comrades. We were obliged to fight for each individual house, to -kill the male population in them who, as far as I saw, carried rifles -and fired, and to shut up the women and children in order in this way -to advance gradually. Only some quite old men were found without arms. -They were not killed, but locked up with the women. In the afternoon, -towards 3 o'clock, the house-fighting still fluctuated, and we had not -yet penetrated as far as the village square when I received the order -to go back with about half a platoon and occupy the heights of the -Meuse from which francs-tireurs were still firing. In executing this -order, I passed a wood-sawing factory before which lay about thirty -francs-tireurs who had been shot. This house had been stormed by men -of my 1st Platoon. They told me in the evening that each separate room -in the house had been occupied by civilians engaged in firing. The -francs-tireurs had been shot according to the usages of war. - -Up on the heights I did not succeed in catching a franc-tireur. Up -there they were by this time very much scattered. Right under the -heights lay the village. I could look straight down from above into -the village street. The street-fighting was still in progress, but -became less since the village in the meantime had begun to burn. On the -opposite heights I saw German Jägers--I believe Marburgers--subduing -armed civilians. These francs-tireurs had previously also fired on my -platoon. When I returned, towards 7 o'clock in the evening, from the -heights, the whole place, as far as the village square which lies on -the Meuse, was in the hands of the Germans. About the whole village, -also on the village square, there lay corpses of francs-tireurs. I -took part in the storming of eight or ten houses. They all afforded -the same picture: shots from the windows, street doors barred so that -they had to be forced open, all male persons, without any military -badge or uniform, armed with sporting-guns. As soon as we got into the -room they dropped their weapons and held up their hands. During the -street-fighting and on the heights where the civilians were firing I -did not see any uniform. The civilians did not give me the impression -of being soldiers in civilian clothes. They were mostly older people, -40 years old and upwards, or young fellows of 17 to 18 years; persons -of 20 to 30 years I practically did not see at all. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: STIEBING, Acting-Sergeant-Major. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: Dr. UHLIG. Signed: GÖRNER. - - - C. App. 32. - - Present: - Lieutenant FRANCKE, Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, Military Clerk of the Court. - -Acting-Sergeant-Major (Deputy Officer) Bauer states: - -My name is Kurt Bauer. I am 24 years old; Protestant; now -Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve, attached to 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 178; in civil life Cand. Arch. - -As my company leader had been fired at from a factory in Leffe my -platoon received the order to clear the factory and the houses standing -in the rear. I advanced with my detachment and plainly saw that we -were heavily fired on from roof windows and skylights in the roofs of -the factory and the houses, as well as from bushes on the heights, by -civilians armed with pistols. We stormed the houses and set them on -fire. I was also witness to the fact that we were even fired on from -the monastery, although the Geneva flag was hoisted above it. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KURT BAUER. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: FRANCKE. Signed: LANGE. - - - C. App. 33. - - EXTRACT from the Report of Operations, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -At 4.30 in the afternoon the regiment received the order from the -32nd Infantry Brigade to move off to Leffe. The regiment halted in -the ravine east of Leffe behind the pontoon column of the division. -As the firing from the slopes of the ravine down into the valley was -continuous, the 9th Company received the order to clear the southern -slopes. One man of the regiment was severely wounded by a shot fired -from a house by an inhabitant; the house was set on fire; the men, who -were inside with weapons in their hands were shot; in other ways, too, -the place was cleared of francs-tireurs. - - - C. App. 34. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Military Clerk of the Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness, there appeared Major Langheld, who, after being -advised as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Anton Emil Langheld. I am 43 years old; -Protestant; Major, Infantry Regiment No. 143. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd I marched with my battalion -at the head of the regiment from Lisogue to Leffe. The march from the -beginning of the Leffe Valley was somewhat interrupted. During the -advance the report came from the rear that a man of the 1st Company -had been shot at from a house. By command of Captain Wuttig the house -was set on fire by soldiers of the 1st Company, and the men who were -seized in it, with weapons in their hands, were shot. During the whole -of the afternoon one heard continual firing among the houses in Leffe -and on the heights encircling the right and left of the Leffe Valley. -A company of the Jäger Battalion, No. 11, was engaged in clearing the -slopes on which there were armed inhabitants. The 9th Company of my -regiment received a similar commission on the southern slope. I myself -marched on with the 10th and 11th Companies to the bank of the Meuse in -order to cross over there. Here I saw several times that guilty male -inhabitants were shot. - -On the night of the 24th, from time to time, fugitives turned up at -our outposts--principally women and children--amongst them a number -of nuns led by a priest. I sheltered them in a farm near which the -11th Company was in bivouac. Our men gave some of their provisions to -the people, although they had only a little themselves. I pacified -the fugitives myself, and as I was obliged that same night to march -farther, I handed over to the priest a note to say that these people -had incurred no blame. I was unable to take further trouble about them. -However, I asked the Catholic Divisional Chaplain Kaiser, whom I met -next morning, to see that the people got away safely. - -Read over, approved. - -Witness was sworn according to regulations. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: RICHTER, Sergeant, as Clerk to the Military Court. - - - C. App. 35. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness, there appeared Lieutenant Richter, who, being -advised as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Martin Richter. I am 31 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of 1st Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: On the advance of the 1st Battalion of 4th Infantry -Regiment No. 103 on the 23rd August 1914 to the crossing-place over the -Meuse at Leffe, there came a single shot from a farm. A soldier of the -1st Company of the regiment was wounded. - -By order of Captain Wuttig the farm was searched. About fourteen male -civilians were arrested who had with them weapons and ammunition for -sporting-rifles, pistols, etc. - -A thirteen to fifteen year-old lad was released on account of his age; -the other thirteen persons were shot. - -Read over, approved. - -Witness was sworn as usual. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: RICHTER, Sergeant, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 36. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -On summons there appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Martin, who, -being instructed as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Kurt Martin. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of Reserve, 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: I have seen how a German soldier was wounded by small shot, -and know that he died of the effect of the injury in the castle before -Leffe. The doctor who treated him was Dr. Schneider, now in Infantry -Regiment No. 102. - -The inhabitants of Leffe arrested in a house near the factory were well -treated. After their provisions were exhausted, they were provided -for from the field kitchen of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -103. They were later on released by a general order. At one time I was -detailed as guard of the hospital which was located in the Château de -Chession, near Leffe. The proprietress, a Madame Chiehe, and her people -we also provided with food; she expressed her warm appreciation of the -kind treatment. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: RICHTER, Sergeant, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 37. - - REPORT of the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. on the fighting - round Dinant on August 21st and 23rd, 1914. - - _February 14th, 1915._ - -Private Jentsch states in general the same as the witness, -Non-commissioned Officer Macher,[2] except that he actually only saw -a great pool of blood on a floor; the dead German soldier, of whom he -had heard, had already been concealed. He does not now know to which -company he belonged. On the same day, according to his statement, a -further batch of four civilians were shot because they had attacked a -sentry of Infantry Regiment No. 182. These people were fetched out of -an underground passage. The order was given by Lieutenant Tränker. - -[Footnote 2: See App. 29.] - -In the military school about 400 men in civilian clothes were guarded. -These were well looked after, and were also later on allowed to receive -their relations. On the fourth day we were relieved by Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 106. - - Signed: LUCIUS, 1st Lieutenant and Company Leader. - -_Deposition._ - - Present: - Lieutenant THOMAS, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LANGE, as Clerk of the Military Court. - -There appeared as witness Private Jentsch, who, after the reading over -of the preceding report, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Albin Richard Jentsch. I am 22 years old; -Protestant; private, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: I maintain the correctness of my statements. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JENTSCH. - Signed: THOMAS. Signed: LANGE. - - - C. App. 38. - - Present: - Military Magistrate, HUNERSDORF. - Military Court Secretary, MÜLLER, Clerk of the Military Court. - - CORBENY, _December 12th, 1914_. - -In the investigation concerning the violations of International Law -committed against German troops, there appeared as witness Captain -Nitze, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Otto Hermann Oswald Nitze. I am 34 years old; -Protestant; Company Leader, Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -177. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, as we were marching into Leffe, I -found myself several hundred metres in front of the company, and was -all at once fired at from the surrounding houses. - -I first rode back to the company and confirmed the order already given -to bring the houses under fire. I then rode to the Detachment Leader, -Lieutenant-Colonel von Zeschau, reported the attack, and received the -order to have the houses searched and, in case any male persons were -found in them with arms, to set the houses on fire. - -In the search there were discovered by Lieutenant-Colonel Reichel in my -presence two persons of forty years of age who had hidden themselves in -a room and were armed with a Belgian pistol and a rifle of an ancient -pattern. - -As I heard, a third man had also been found in the house. The first -two men were immediately shot. While Lieutenant-Colonel Reichel went -on farther to search other houses I saw how at least eight rifles were -discharging on the search-parties a brisk fire from the first floors of -at least two houses. The marksmen stood behind windows barricaded with -mattresses. I saw the flash of the shots and heard the bullets whistle; -as far as I could judge from the reports, they were using partly -bullets, partly small shot. Only the horse of Assistant Doctor Sippel -was wounded. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: NITZE. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: HUNERSDORF. Signed: MÜLLER. - - - C. App. 39. - - EXTRACT from the Report of the 3rd Field Pioneer Company. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -The patrols were heavily fired on from the houses and from the other -bank. - -The company advanced with the pontoon waggons on the steep, narrow -road into Dinant behind Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and Infantry -Regiment No. 182. - -There was firing from the houses, although one could see little of the -enemy. The company took part in searching the houses for civilians; -some were arrested with arms in their hands and subsequently shot. The -infantry had considerable losses here. - -The order came to evacuate the town as it was to be first bombarded by -our artillery. - -The company, with Grenadier Regiment No. 101, reached the Meuse at Les -Rivages. The village appeared to be quite peaceful; nevertheless, a -number of inhabitants were arrested by the Grenadiers for security. The -rifle-fire of the enemy on the left bank was only very weak. The houses -over there burst into flames, one after another, as a result of our -artillery fire. The crossing began at once with a half-column corps, -Pontoon train, Train Battalion No. 12, which had been assigned to the -company; the building of the bridge was at once begun, and at first -proceeded rapidly. - -Suddenly we received heavy rifle-fire from the houses on the right -bank. The firing was briskly answered by the Grenadiers who were -waiting in dense masses to cross. The houses were set on fire. On the -afternoon of August 24th the bridge was finished. In the meantime, it -frequently happened that firing came from the heights, and even from -the cellar of a burnt-out house. In such cases, civilians caught with -arms in their hands were shot. - - - C. App. 40. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - INVINCOURT, _March 1st, 1915_. - -In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there -appeared as witness Major von Zeschau, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Arnd Maximilian Ernst von Zeschau. I am -41 years old; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Grenadier -Regiment No. 101. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, towards 6 o'clock in the afternoon, -I, with my 11th Company, reached the Meuse at Les Rivages, and was at -once taken across. I had the order to gain the heights on the other -bank, to the right of the 2nd Company, which had already been put -across. Opposite Les Rivages were connected rows of houses. We first -went downstream as far as the church, and then turned off to the right. -I passed with a detachment through a very narrow lane; the shop windows -and house doors were closed. Suddenly four to five shots came from -behind me. My men at once broke open the house from which the shots -were fired. The house was empty; at the back was a small yard with a -washhouse. In the yard lay a discharged sporting-gun. - -Going farther, we came to a railway embankment through which ran a -culvert. Before it lay a dead civilian with a weapon like a carbine. On -the other side of the embankment was Lieutenant von Oer, who shouted -to me that he had been fired at from the culvert. In the culvert I -noticed some people; a few paces in front of the culvert crouched some -of my men with rifles at the ready, and, on my question, reported that -there had been firing from the culvert. I shouted into the culvert, -"Sortez, on ne vous fera rien." As the people did not come out, I -caused about five to six men to fire some shots, ten to twelve in -all, into the culvert. As there arose a great outcry in the culvert, -I left a non-commissioned officer behind to clear it. This officer -reported to me next morning that he had fetched out about thirty-five -to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women, and children, and with -them a number of weapons--he told me there were about eight to ten -carbine-shaped weapons. The captured civilians were handed over at the -bridge-head. About 200 metres behind the railway embankment I came into -fighting contact with the French infantry. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON ZESCHAU. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 41. - - Present: - President of the Court, OERTEL. - Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major SOMMERBURG. - - PROVISEUX, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness for examination Non-commissioned Officer -Faber, who, after reference to the significance and sanctity of the -oath, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Kurt Friedrich Faber, non-commissioned -officer, 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101. I am 22 years old; -Protestant. - -As to Case: According to my war-diary, I crossed the Meuse at Dinant -on Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, at 6.5 p.m. in company with Major von -Zeschau and about three detachments of Grenadiers. We were bound for -the ridge of hills lying opposite, as these were said to be occupied by -the enemy. On my way thither I noticed in a side-street that a woman -discharged shots at us from a revolver from a half-opened door. I -thereupon fired at the woman, who quickly banged the door to. I do not -know whether I hit her. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KURT FRIEDRICH FABER. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: OERTEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SOMMERBURG, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 42. - - Present: - President of the Court, Lieutenant of Landwehr OERTEL. - Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major SOMMERBURG. - - PROVISEUX, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness for examination Grenadier Schlosser, who, -after reference to the significance and sanctity of the oath, was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Franz Otto Schlosser, Grenadier, 10th Company, -Grenadier Regiment No. 101; 22 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, I crossed the -Meuse at Dinant in a boat with Captain Graisewsky, Lieutenant von der -Decken, and men of the 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101. When -we were about the middle of the river, there began a heavy fire on us -from various directions. On the other bank we occupied, by order of -the Captain, a trench, and there received a heavy fire from the houses -which were on the right and left of us. I saw with my own eyes that -several women stood at the window of a house and discharged shots at -us. We then received the order from the Captain to fetch the occupants -from the houses, and brought about twenty persons out, I believe, only -women and children. These were brought down as prisoners to the Meuse. -We then set fire to the houses. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRANZ OTTO SCHLOSSER. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: OERTEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SOMMERBURG, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 43. - - EXTRACT from the Report of Grenadier Regiment No. 101, 22nd to the - 30th August 1914. - - _August 23rd, 1914._ - -The Mayor of Les Rivages appears and protests that none of the -inhabitants are in possession of weapons, and that no attack would take -place on the troops. - -After the Divisional Bridge (Pontoon) Train had arrived, the Pioneers -begin the construction of a bridge over the Meuse, but a heavy enemy -fire, partly from infantry, partly from the inhabitants on the opposite -bank, perforates the pontoons and makes any further construction -impossible. - -At first the 11th Company is put across the Meuse and proceeds on a -broad front through Leffe, where they are fired on from the houses -and from the railway embankment. Several civilians, who fired on the -company from places of concealment, are shot; the houses are set on -fire. - -Following the 2nd Company the remaining companies of the 1st Battalion -have also reached Les Rivages. Whilst the battalion is standing by the -Meuse to cross over, it is attacked from the houses by the inhabitants -of the place. From all the windows, from the hedges of the gardens, -from the slopes of the hills, bullets and shot from the rifles of the -inhabitants rattle down on the companies. - -The battalion at once received the order to take up the fight against -the fanatical inhabitants of the place. With fixed bayonets, the -Grenadiers rush through the narrow streets; with pickaxes and axes the -closed doors and windows are burst open. In groups the Grenadiers force -their way into the houses in order to seize the occupants who are still -firing on us. Not only men and youths take part in the fighting, but -also old men, women, and children. - -The francs-tireurs have well chosen their hiding-places. Already -twilight is falling, but still the fire of the enemy does not abate. - -Our object is to reach the other bank of the Meuse, but, on the other -hand, the troops and columns which follow us must be able to pass -through the place without being attacked anew. Thus there only remains -one remedy, to set the place on fire, and soon it is a sea of flames. - - - C. App. 44. - - REPORT on the Street-fighting in Les Rivages (Dinant) on August 23rd, - 1914. - -The companies of the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Regiment No. 101 had -reached Les Rivages in the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, but had -to be retired for about 600 to 800 metres on the road from Pont de -Pierre on account of our own artillery having opened a heavy fire -on this locality. The Mayor of the place, who was fetched up by me, -protested that there were no weapons at hand, and that the inhabitants -entertained no plot against our troops. He was commissioned to have -ready, within a fixed time, bread and butter for the companies at the -outlet of the place, where later the bridge was thrown over the Meuse. -The companies did not get there to enjoy these, since, in the meantime, -the 2nd Company had crossed over and the remaining companies were -involved in the street-fighting. - -When the companies, after the cessation of our artillery fire, had -again been led out to Les Rivages and had been divided into commandos -to receive the victuals asked for, the inhabitants began a murderous -fire on the companies from all the houses and gardens and also from -the hill-slopes. Inside and outside the houses, men of all ages were -firing, also innumerable women and even girls of ten years of age. Here -a woman was severely wounded in the breast by the inhabitants, and was -bandaged by us. - -The battalion received the order to take up the fight against the -inhabitants of the place, who were firing as if demented; for this -purpose the 3rd and 4th Companies pushed forward to the street-and -house-fighting, whilst portions of the 1st Company remained on the -river-bank. A part of the inhabitants who were acting in a particularly -mean fashion and were firing madly with all kinds of firearms, without -let or hindrance, upon our troops, were shot down to the number of -about twenty; amongst these were some women who, with special cunning, -fired again and again into the companies from the rear. This shooting -was done to defend ourselves and to scare the inhabitants from any -further atrocities. About 100 to 150 men and women, also children, -were seized and taken over the Meuse to the opposite bank by the first -rope-ferries, partly to prevent further outrages, partly to remove -them, as far as they appeared innocent, from the terrible fighting. - -The fighting of the 3rd and 4th Companies in the streets lasted until -far into the darkness, until finally the burning of the whole place put -a stop to the general activity of the population. - -The order to take up the street-fighting by direction of the regiment -came through me and was detailed by me to the 3rd and 4th Companies. I, -for my part, can only protest that the inhabitants of the place--men -of every age women and girls--fired madly on us at a given signal, -and that the remedy taken only constituted an act of self-defence. -The situation in which the troops found themselves, especially at the -spot where the bridge was later thrown across, deserves, in every true -sense, the name of a witches' cauldron, for a worse situation, brought -about by a raging force of men and women, cannot be imagined. Despite -all the dreadful impressions of such fighting, I have since always -admired the calmness our men maintained in the presence of such brutes, -far removed from any thought of cruelty, even though they themselves -were exposed to the worst. - - Signed: SCHLICK, Major and Commander, 1st Battalion, - Grenadier Regiment No. 101. - - - C. App. 45. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major von Zeschau, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Adolf Heinrich von Zeschau. I am 46 years -old; Protestant; Major and Adjutant, General Command, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: On the 23rd of August 1914 I arrived at the Meuse in Les -Rivages at 6 p.m. All the houses were closed; none of the inhabitants -were to be seen. The Grenadiers stood in column of route on the by-road -which enters Les Rivages, the head of the column at the valley road. I -inquired whether the houses had been searched. Thereupon a patrol was -dispatched to search the houses, and an acting-sergeant-major reported -to me that the houses were empty. I stayed there about a quarter of an -hour and watched the effect of our artillery on the houses on the left -bank of the Meuse. At this time there came along by the valley road -from Dinant a number of inhabitants--men, women, and children--who were -held up by the Grenadiers. - -As the bridge was half finished and some pontoons with Grenadiers -were at the opposite bank, my task was finished and I returned to the -Commanding General. When I again returned to the bridge-head at Les -Rivages there lay there a heap of corpses. I learned that shortly after -my departure there had been firing from the seemingly empty houses. In -the night several hundred inhabitants who had come from Dinant arrived -at the crossing-place. These were well treated; many women and children -were also provided with provisions by the soldiers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON ZESCHAU. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 46. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 19th, 1915_. - -In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there -appeared as witness Captain Reserve Ermisch, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Traugott Hubert Ludwig Ermisch. I am 37 -years old; Protestant; engineer (with diploma), director of mines, now -Captain of Reserve, 1st Field Pioneer Company. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I was with the 3rd Company of the -Pioneer Battalion No. 12, and present when the pontoons of the Corps -Bridging Train, at first brought down to Dinant, were obliged to turn -back. We then made a detour into the valley road which leads to Les -Rivages; from there I was sent out to reconnoitre the place for the -bridge. In Les Rivages all was peaceful. Neither French nor German -soldiers were to be seen. When I had been there about one hour, my -company arrived with the bridging waggons and other German soldiers. -These rounded up the civilian population standing near as hostages. -In the meantime, I commenced with the construction of the bridge. -Somewhere about 4 or 5 o'clock we suddenly received a tolerably heavy -fire, which was directed straight towards us at the bridge-head. We -were forced to conceal ourselves under the cover of the bridge. I -noticed plainly that the firing came from the slopes to the right and -left of the flanking valley, and particularly from a red house not far -from the Bayard Rock, which stands near the north of Les Rivages. In -consequence, the hostages were shot by direction of a senior Grenadier -officer. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ERMISCH. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 47. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness, 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Freiherr von Rochow, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Heinrich Bernhard Wichart Freiherr von Rochow. -I am 30 years old; Protestant; 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Uhlan Regiment -No. 17, now Commander of the Cavalry Staff Escort of the General -Command, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I reached Les Rivages at nightfall, -and saw at the crossing-place a great heap of corpses. In the course of -the evening, when the crossing was in progress and things had become -quieter, we saw that some wounded were among them. These were brought -away. I myself saw a girl of about eight years with an injured face, -and an older woman with a shot in the upper part of the thigh taken to -the women prisoners and handed over to the doctor. I remained until -the bridge was finished the next day. Up till then shots were being -fired again and again, obviously by the inhabitants. The houses were -searched by field-police. The people who were in them were examined, -and in the course of this I also acted as interpreter. Two men, from -whose house there had been firing, and in whose pockets ammunition was -found, were shot. A woman was not shot, although a loaded revolver was -found on her, because her guilt was not fully established. - -The guilt of every single person was dispassionately considered by the -officers present. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Freiherr VON ROCHOW. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 48. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major Steinhoff, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Fritz Eugen Steinhoff. I am 48 years old; -Protestant; Major and Commander of Pioneers, XII. Army Corps. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, -I came to the crossing-place at Les Rivages, where there was no one -except an officer's patrol of the Pioneers. I went as far as the bank, -and then on about 100 metres towards Anseremme. Various soldiers -pointed out to me that there was firing from the bridge, and from the -houses near the bridge. Wounded soldiers lay in the street. I was also -fired at, and other soldiers warned me against proceeding farther. - -I went back to the crossing-place, and there met Colonel Meister, -to whom I reported my observations. He had the district cleared by -a detachment, which brought in a large number of men and women. Of -these, the men were placed by a wall at the crossing-place, the women -and children somewhat farther downstream. The crossing and building of -the bridge was now in progress. When the bridge had been pushed out -about 40 metres, a heavy rifle-fire was delivered from the houses of -Les Rivages and from the rocks above on the waiting Grenadiers and the -Pioneers at work. I myself heard the whistle, on a rough estimate, of -100 bullets. A great confusion ensued. Everybody sought cover, and work -was interrupted. Even the Grenadiers, who stood there in a mass, were -in great agitation. I went again through a garden-plot to the Meuse in -order to look after the Pioneers. At this moment the fire of the enemy -flared up, and simultaneously I heard a couple of rapid volleys in the -immediate vicinity. - -I thereupon went back and saw at the spot, where previously the -captured men had stood, a heap of corpses. From that moment onwards -the francs-tireurs' firing ceased completely, and the bridging work -proceeded undisturbed. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: STEINHOFF. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 49. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 18th, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness the Divisional Chaplain, Dr. Kaiser, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Dr. Paul Kaiser. I am 52 years old; Roman -Catholic Divisional Chaplain of the 32nd Infantry Division. - -As to Case: I lay in Leffe from the evening of the 23rd until the -morning of the 25th August. On the afternoon of the 24th August, a -Captain of my acquaintance invited me to eat a plate of soup with him. -This took place in a courtyard where, besides ourselves, were the -Captain's servant, who was cooking the soup there, and two or three -units who were pottering about round a freight-automobile. All at once -some shots were heard and missiles flew quite close over us. Everyone -was naturally excited. In the direction from which the shots presumably -came, stood a fairly new brick-built house, distant about 100 metres. -Between the first floor and the attic was a white ledge in which one -could see several holes, and from which arose smoke, evidently from a -shot which had just been discharged. As I learned, the house was then -searched. Shortly afterwards, a whole procession of civilians, men and -women, were led off by us; these persons, as I was told, had all been -arrested in the house. They were then handed over to the Cadet School, -which was used as a prison. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. KAISER. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 51. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 18th, 1915_. - -In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant, there -appeared as witness Staff-Surgeon Dr. Petrenz who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as follows: - -My name is Max Georg Hand Petrenz. I am 36 years old; Roman Catholic; -by profession Dr. med., Staff-Surgeon with the Commander of the Train, -XIIth Army Corps. - -Questioned on the subject of his examination, he stated the following: - -On August 21st and 22nd, 1914, I was in Taviet; on August 23rd the -mounted echelon of the General Command started off and reached the -Meuse at Les Rivages towards 10 o'clock in the evening. As I learned, -the village of Sorinnes had been cleared on August 22nd of all the men -and suspicious characters by our troops. When I came to Sorinnes early -on the 23rd August I saw a burning house surrounded by our troops. I -learned that passing hussars had been fired on from the house, that -the house had been searched for the marksmen without result, and that -in order to smoke them out of their hiding-places the house had been -set on fire. I related this when I had ridden back again to Taviet, -to my billet-landlady, a woman of the middle class. She gave it as -her opinion that they were certainly, some of them, once more from -Dinant. She related further, that suspicious characters had been sent -out from Dinant to the surrounding districts; if these did anything to -the German troops, the blame was put upon the inhabitants. I gathered -from her words that the resistance to the German troops was directly -organised in Dinant. - -Our mounted escort set out from Taviet at three in the afternoon, made -a halt for some time to the south of the Sorinnes-Dinant road, and -carried out the descent to the Meuse in the ravine which leads to Les -Rivages. We reached this point when it was already dark. In the night -there came here a large number of women and children who really wanted -to go still farther south. As this was attended with great danger, -because everything on the way was burning, we detained them there -and sheltered them in a large empty house, just opposite the pontoon -bridge, where they were safe from the danger of fire. Besides myself, a -number of Grenadier officers of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 -also looked after the sheltering of the women and children. The next -morning, at my request, all the women and children were provided with -warm coffee by Captain von Criegern. - -On the bank of the Meuse, between the river and a garden wall, there -lay close to the left of the pontoon bridge a heap of civilians who -had been shot; how many I do not know--I estimate the number at from -thirty to forty. I do not know who had shot them. I have heard that the -Grenadier Regiment No. 101 had carried out an execution there. Among -those who had been shot were also some women; by far the majority were -young lads. Under the pile I discovered a girl of about five years old, -alive and quite uninjured. I took her out and brought her to the house -where the women were. She accepted some chocolate, was quite pleased -and evidently quite unconscious of the gravity of the situation. I -thereupon examined the pile of corpses to see if any more children were -among them. I only found further a girl of about ten years with a wound -in the leg. I had her bandaged and lodged her with the women also. The -next morning she was almost without pain. It turned out that the mother -of the girl was among the women who had come from Dinant. The mother -and daughter were very grateful to me. - -The pile of corpses was so situated that it could not be seen from -the house in which the women and children were lodged. When I was -getting ready at 9 o'clock the next morning for marching off, Pioneers -were about to dig a common grave for the bodies behind the garden -wall, before which they lay. It was in an orchard. I convinced myself -personally and by daylight that only the dead lay there. Any mistake of -burying alive is precluded. - -Further, I will cite the following: - -In the course of the night I was requested by a Grenadier officer to -take a wounded civilian from a house in danger of fire into a safe -place. The man had a bullet wound in the upper thigh; he belonged to -the better class. He told the Grenadier officers that he had been -shot by Belgian francs-tireurs because he would not grant them a -hiding-place in his house. He had been bandaged by our people, and was -now carried into the house to the women. - -The next morning, after crossing the Meuse, we rode along the left -bank in order to gain the road to Onhaye. The bank lying opposite, as -well as the houses of Dinant, seemed deserted. Only in the doorway of -some hotel stood a civilian who aimed a rifle at us and fired, without -making a hit. When we replied with revolver shots he disappeared. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. PETRENZ. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 52. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Private Steglich, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Willy Steglich. I am 22 years old; Protestant; -by calling bricklayer in Mügeln, now private in the Machine-Gun -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: With Acting-Sergeant-Major and some other men--there were -also present some Marburg Jäger--I fetched the occupants out of a -house in Dinant which had been wrecked by the impact of a shell, and -set them at liberty. There were men, women, and children. They were -then brought to a house where, at the instigation of an officer of the -Marburg Jäger, they were protected and looked after by two Red Cross -nurses. - -In various houses in Dinant we found a quantity of small-shot -ammunition lying piled up by the windows; everywhere the lowest pane -was broken, evidently to allow a rifle to be pushed through the opening. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 53. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Acting-Sergeant-Major Bartsch, who, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Erich Bartsch. I am 25 years old; Protestant; -Acting-Sergeant-Major in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -103. - -As to Case: As patrol leader I found in a series of houses in Dinant -sporting ammunition lying all ready, from which it may with certainty -be assumed that it had been used by the francs-tireurs before their -expulsion, as ammunition for firing on the German troops. - -From the streets I saw inhabitants in the cellars of burning houses, -chiefly women and children, who were no longer able to save themselves -from their perilous position. Through the men of my patrol, in company -with the Marburg Jäger, their rescue was made possible, and the persons -saved were lodged in houses which were guarded by German troops. At -times the work of rescue could only be carried out with great danger to -life on the part of the patrol. - -I myself was witness to the fact that Sisters of Mercy, in company with -German soldiers, fetched along provisions for the inhabitants who had -been given protection. - -I was also present when Colonel Hoch sent all non-interested persons to -their homes, with the strict injunction not to let themselves be seen -in the streets. - -For the other inhabitants whose houses had been completely burned down, -lodging was procured in the houses of the railway signalmen. - -Close to Dinant a bullet was found by a hussar in the leaden centre of -which a spear-shaped steel blade had been inserted. This missile was -passed round in my platoon. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 54. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Reservist Hentschel, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Alfred Hentschel. I am 25 years old; -Protestant; by trade a butcher in Dresden, now Reservist, 9th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: In a house in Dinant which stood at the right of the -bridge I found a severely wounded civilian, an old man with white -hair, who still had his sporting rifle with him. I also came across -civilians farther on in Belgium who had fired on the German troops with -sporting rifles. In a village beyond Dinant, which cannot be very far -from Dinant, I had my right hand injured by shot-wounds. The shot are -probably still in the fingers. - -On this side of the Meuse, where a convent stood, we distributed bread -and what else we still had (cold meat, etc.) to the population, women -and children, also men. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon duly sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 55. - -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, Officer of the Court I. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, _January 20th, 1915_. - -There appeared Assistant Surgeon of Reserve, Dr. Sorge, 1st Battalion, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, who, being warned to speak the -truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Kurt Hermann Georg Sorge. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; 1st Assistant Surgeon of the Ear Department of the town -Infirmary of Friedrichstadt, Dresden. - -As to Case: During the fighting of the 1st Battalion, Rifle -Regiment No. 108, near and in Dinant, I was always in the immediate -neighbourhood of the troops engaged. I have repeatedly bandaged -riflemen whose injuries were to be ascribed to non-military rifles -(shot-wounds). - -Women, children, and old men were always spared. The burial of the -inhabitants who had been shot, as far as my sphere of work extended, -never took place on the same day. I have, moreover, repeatedly seen -that bread and drink were handed to various inhabitants by the riflemen. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. K. SORGE, Assistant Surgeon of Reserve, 1st Battalion, - Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: GLASER, Lieutenant of Reserve, Adjutant, 1st Battalion, - Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, as Officer of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 56. - - WOOD SOUTH-WEST OF LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, _February 5th, 1915_. - -By order of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prinz Georg" there appeared as -witness Non-commissioned Officer Lauterbach, who, being warned to speak -the whole truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Rudolf Lauterbach. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; by trade mechanician, now non-commissioned officer, 10th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108. - -As to Case: When, on our advance with the company, from the fort we -had reached the Sorinnes-Dinant road in Dinant, I distinctly saw how -a woman, standing at full height at a window, fired on the German -soldiers with a rifle. The woman was immediately shot by a German -soldier, and fell with the upper part of her body on the window-sill. - -Volleys of rifle-fire were discharged from a remarkably large house on -the west bank of the Meuse which was flying the Red Cross flag. - -South of the Dinant-Sorinnes road by the Meuse, at a place which I am -no longer able to fix, I saw lying there the charred body of a German -Jäger whose feet were bound together with wire. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL RUDOLF LAUTERBACH. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: LOSSOW, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHUBERT, Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 57. - -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, 2nd Battalion. - - WILLMSBARACKEN, _January 31st, 1915_. - -Deposition concerning the wounding by the discharge of (small) shot in -Dinant. - -There appeared as witness Grenadier Bischoff, who, being warned to -speak the truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Bischoff. I was born on January 18th, -1893, at Dürschau, near Zittau; Protestant; by trade butcher. - -As to Case: When the 7th Company was marching through Dinant at about -7 o'clock p.m. on August 23rd we were fired on from two houses. I was -struck in the left arm and the left leg. An examination of the wounds -in the leg showed that they resulted from a discharge of small shot. - -In the Carolahaus in Dresden a small round bullet was removed in an -operation by Dr. Kretzschmar from the left foot; besides this a pellet -was located in the left upper thigh, and is still there. On December -10th I returned again to the 7th Company. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KARL BISCHOFF. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: V. LOEBEN, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: BAIER, Non-commissioned Officer and Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 58. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Landwehr OERTEL, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major SOMMERBURG, as Clerk of the Court. - - PROVISEUX, _March 2nd, 1915_. - -There appeared for examination as witness Deputy-Officer Ebert, who, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Eduard Kurt Ebert, Deputy-Officer, -Acting-Sergeant-Major, 11th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101; 33 -years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I came back early, towards 9 o'clock, -from a patrol which I had undertaken on the previous evening from -before Château Reux to Dinant in company with Lieutenant Schurig and -some men of the 9th and 12th Companies of my regiment, which lay -in readiness about half an hour's distance from Dinant. On the way -back from Dinant to the regiment we found at the end of the town a -non-commissioned officer and six men of Rifle Regiment No. 108 lying -dead in the road. Some of the dead showed wounds on the face and -chest, which Lieutenant Schurig, as well as myself, recognised without -doubt as having been caused by small shot. - -On the evening of the same day, probably about 5 p.m., I stood with -the 12th Company of Grenadier Regiment No. 101 in the street on the -bank of the Meuse below the place where the bridge was being built. All -at once a heavy fire was opened on us from all sides, especially from -above. A man of the 12th Company, who stood beside me, received a shot -in the stock of the rifle. I removed the missile myself from the wood; -it was a small round bullet. The firing then died down, and I was put -across the Meuse. After I had crossed over, I received the order from -Lieutenant and Adjutant Stark to guard the civilian prisoners who had -been rounded up there, and later the military prisoners also. I then -saw how men of my guard handed water to the captive women and children -and gave them chocolate. I myself bandaged a wounded French sergeant. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: EDUARD KURT EBERT. - -The witness Ebert was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: OERTEL, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SOMMERBURG, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 59. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS PRÈS PONTAVERT, _March 6th, 1915_. - -At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the -General Government in Belgium there appeared by order, as witness, -Medical-Corps Non-commissioned Officer Rost, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been warned to -speak the truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Richard Rost, Medical-Corps -Non-commissioned Officer, 6th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. -108; 25 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: When I was attending the wounded in Dinant on the night -of August 21st and 22nd, I noticed that behind the men, some in their -shirt-sleeves, who were firing from the windows, the heads of women -were also visible. - -The next day I saw in the courtyard of the Château of Sorinnes, among -the dead lying there on biers, Corporal Kirchhof of my company. He had -an injury to the skull which could only have originated from a blunt -instrument. The brain-pan was quite smashed in. - -On August 23rd I found on a detached estate near Dinant, close by the -road which leads from Sorinnes to Dinant, a German soldier almost -completely carbonised, lying under a burnt heap of straw. He appeared -to be a Jäger, judging from portions of his equipment which lay near. I -was told by comrades that a second Jäger had been found in a field in -the vicinity of Dinant, with his face burnt. The estate, where I found -the Jäger, had been organised as a dressing-station for wounds. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL RICHARD ROST. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 60. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS PRÈS PONTAVERT, _March 6th, 1915_. - -At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium, there appeared by order, as witness, Rifleman -Lange, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Emil Bruno Lange, Rifleman of Reserve, 7th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 25 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: In the night-fighting at Dinant on August 21st I saw an -elderly woman firing at us from a house which was brightly lighted up -by a lamp burning in the street. After some time she fell backwards; -apparently she had been hit by us. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: EMIL BRUNO LANGE. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 61. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS PRÈS PONTAVERT, _March 6th, 1915_. - -By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium, there appeared by order, as witness, Rifleman -Vorwieger, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out -to him, and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Vorwieder, Rifleman, 6th Company, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 20 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: In the street-fighting in Dinant on August 21st I saw in a -house, which I was just about to enter, a woman about thirty years of -age standing with a revolver in her hand, ready to fire. - -On August 23rd I found in an open field, about 600 metres from Dinant, -a dead Saxon Jäger--I recognised him as such by his uniform--with face -completely carbonised. He lay on his back, his arms widely extended. - -Read over, approved, signed. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 62. - -There appeared as witness Reservist Hund, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Artur Otto Hund; I was born on February -15th, 1889, at Dresden; Protestant; at the time Reservist in the 12th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: I saw how the twelve-year-old son of the Lawyer Adam shot -at me and two comrades with a revolver. The two comrades were wounded. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HUND. - Signed: RYSSEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHULTZ, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - QUARTERS OF INFANTRY REGIMENT NO. 178, _March 3rd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Reservist Hund, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Artur Otto Hund; I was born on February -15th, 1889, at Dresden; Protestant; at the time Reservist in the 12th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178; coachman by calling. - -As to Case: I was sent with two comrades into the house to see if it -was vacant, so that it could be turned into a hospital. We were shot -at in the garden behind. When we went in the direction of the shots -we found under a bush a twelve-year-old boy with a revolver in his -hand. One of my comrades was fatally wounded by the shots, the other -slightly. The lad was shot on the spot by one of the comrades who had -also come up. We knew by photographs in the house that he was the son -of the occupier of the house. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HUND. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 63. - -There appeared Private Trenkler, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -178, who stated: - -As to Person: My name is Max Julius Trenkler; I was born on December -31st, 1891, at Markersdorf; Protestant; at the time on the active -list, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: I have seen civilians firing with (small) shot, and, in a -like manner, children have fired on our soldiers in the rear of the -convent. - - Signed: MAX TRENKLER. - Signed: RYSSEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHULTZ, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court. - - Present: - President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ. - Secretary, LIPS. - - QUARTERS OF INFANTRY REGIMENT NO. 178, - _March 3rd, 1915_. - -In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared Private -Max Julius Trenkler as witness, who, after the reading over of the -preceding statement, declared: Details as to myself are correctly -given; I am an excavation worker. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, we lay in reserve -on the northern slope of the Leffe valley opposite the convent in the -wood. There we saw how a boy on the opposite slope behind the convent -fired at us from a fir copse, and with small shot too. The shot fell -in our vicinity. We called to comrades who were on the road to go and -search for the lad behind the convent. They then brought him along. I -do not know what they did with him. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: TRENKLER. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS. - - - C. App. 64. - - REPORT on the encounter of the Machine-Gun Company with Francs-Tireurs - at Leffe-Dinant on August 23rd, 1914. - -Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102. - -The Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment No. 102 had started off -from Houx in the rear of the regiment towards the evening of August -23rd, 1914, and had marched along the Meuse to Leffe. When the company -had entered Leffe about midnight, and the last of their vehicles were -passing a bridge, two white figures were all at once seen under it. -The men of the company bringing up the rear noticed these people; -two shots followed close upon one another, and immediately after two -figures enveloped in white clothes were seen to jump into the Meuse. -The marksmen of the Machine-Gun Company fired at the two persons, who, -shortly after, were washed up dead to the bank. A closer examination -showed that they were two men wearing female dress, who had wrapped -themselves up in white cloths. Under the bridge stood two chairs, -and from here the column in marching by had been fired on. It was -supposed that the two francs-tireurs wanted to blow up the bridge, and, -surprised by our people, flew to arms; as their retreat was cut off, -they wanted to make their way through the water. - -Shortly after, Infantry Regiment No. 177, which was marching behind us, -was fired at from the factory which stands close to the bridge. As was -ascertained, a passage led from the bridge into the factory, which was, -at any rate, made use of by other francs-tireurs in order to withdraw -in safety into the factory, from the windows of which they then opened -a brisk fire. - - Signed: NOACK, Lieutenant and Company Leader. - - - C. App. 65. - - Present: - 1st Lieutenant WINKLER, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer SCHWERTNER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - Near ST. MARIE, _March 7th, 1915_. - -In the matter for inquiry concerning the firing on a Machine-Gun -Company by francs-tireurs at Leffe-Dinant there appeared as witnesses -Privates Büchner and Ulbricht of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 102, who, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to them, were examined individually as follows: - -1. Private Büchner. - -As to Person: My name is Heinrich Max Emil Büchner, 22 years old; -private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 102, marched from Houx along the Meuse by Leffe to the -military bridge at Dinant. The company arrived in Leffe towards -midnight of the 23rd and 24th August 1914. On the left of the line of -march was a large factory. From this a brook or canal led into the -Meuse. Our route passed over this brook or canal by a bridge. I marched -with Ulbricht behind a provision waggon which brought up the rear. -When the centre of the company was on the bridge, two shots came from -the direction of the bridge towards us. I at once ran with Ulbricht -to the bank of the Meuse to see if anybody there had fired. The two -shots appeared to have been alarm shots, for immediately after several -rifle-shots were fired from the factory. While we were running to the -bank of the Meuse, two white figures came out from under the bridge in -order to swim to the other bank of the Meuse. I immediately shot with -Ulbricht at the two white figures. We reached one whilst still close -to the bank, whilst the other was already in the middle of the Meuse. -Both figures were hit, for the one who was already in the middle of the -river suddenly drifted with the stream, while the other was floated up -to our bank. Together with Ulbricht, I let myself down the steep bank -with the aid of comrades who had come up, by means of a bearing-girth. -We drew the white body from the water, threw back the white cloth, -and saw by the face that it was a man. This man was wearing women's -green stockings and a pair of black low shoes such as women wear. He -had received a shot in the back of the head and was dead. We then -went under the bridge; not far from the water stood two chairs. From -the bridge, the canal went through a tunnel towards the factory. In -this tunnel-canal, which was about 50 metres long, there was very -little water; one could easily go upright in it. With Ulbricht, I -had penetrated about two to three metres into the tunnel, but as our -company was marching on and were being called by our comrades, we -turned back. Behind us came men of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 177; they went into the factory in order to search it -whilst I and Ulbricht went to our company. The firing only came from -the factory when the two white figures had discharged the two shots, -the firing, which lasted about five minutes, evidently came from the -windows of the factory and originated from several persons. During -this time our company halted, then it moved nearer to the military -bridge. As the firing from the factory opened again shortly after, -the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 177, replied with the -machine-guns. We now saw the flashes of the francs-tireurs' fire at the -windows of the factory. The firing from the factory only ceased when -the place had been set on fire. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BÜCHNER. - -2. Private Ulbricht. - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Richard Ulbricht, 22 years old; -Protestant; private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -102. - -As to Case: The statements of Private Büchner, which were read over to -me, I fully endorse. - -I have nothing further to add. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ULBRICHT. - -The witnesses were thereupon sworn. - - Signed: WINKLER, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHWERTNER, Non-commissioned Officer and Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 66. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve GLASER, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Referendar RICHTER, - as Clerk of the Court. - - SINZBARACKEN, _February 25th, 1915_. - -Rifleman Kähler, 1st Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, stated: - -As to Person: My name is Emil Robert Kähler, 22 years old; Protestant; -electrician at Kiel, on active service since October 14th, 1913, in the -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I saw in a street at Dinant a -civilian, about twenty-seven years old, who wore a band on the left arm -with the Geneva badge, and who fired a revolver from a house door at a -Pioneer, but without hitting him. I thereupon shot the civilian. The -Pioneer took the revolver away from him. - -Kähler took the oath as a witness. - - Signed: KÄHLER. - Signed: GLASER, Officer of the Court. - Signed: RICHTER, as Clerk of the Court. - - - C. App. 67. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve and Battalion Adjutant DACHSEL, - as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS LES PONTARVET, _February 2nd, 1915_. - -There appeared by order as witness, Assistant-Surgeon Dr.med. -Köckeritz, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out -to him and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Albin Werner Köckeritz. I am Assistant-Surgeon -of Reserve, Dr.med.; 28 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: During the night-fighting of August 21st to 22nd, I was in -Dinant. I did not see any cruelties committed by our troops against -the inhabitants, who fired with shot-guns and buck-shot from their -windows. In the further fighting round Dinant also, at the close of -which we moved into Dinant, I saw no misusage whatever of the civilian -population. - -That the bodies of inhabitants, who had been shot for taking part in -fighting, were mutilated, is untrue. I saw, however, in a side-valley -a German cavalryman, who had apparently been shot down, lying charred -upon a grating and fastened with wire. This was in the vicinity of the -Field Dressing Station put up by the 22nd and 3rd Battalion, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and the 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 -and stationed west of Dinant. - -The firing, which came from the hospital denoted by a Red Cross flag, -lighted up for a long way the opposite bank of the Meuse. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. KÖCKERITZ. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 68. - -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, Officer of Court III. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve BANDEL, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major RANKE, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - GUIGNICOURT, _January 9th, 1915_. - -By order there appeared as witness: - -Non-commissioned Officer Martin, 10th Company (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100, who, after having been warned to speak the truth, -made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Otto Kurt Martin, 22 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: Concerning the article "The incredible atrocities of the -German soldiers," Martin made the following statement: - -Inhabitants of the town of Dinant were only shot after it had been -conclusively established that they had treacherously fired at us from -the houses. Moreover, there was firing from houses which displayed the -Red Cross. I did not see any mutilated inhabitants. I likewise do not -know of any cruelties or crimes by our troops. I did not see that our -troops were treated by a Belgian doctor. On the contrary, I noticed -that wounded inhabitants were treated by German doctors and bandaged by -our military non-commissioned officers. I know nothing of the remainder -of the incidents mentioned in the article. I have nothing further to -add. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KURT MARTIN. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: BANDEL, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: RANKE, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 69. - - REPORT to (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - -In the fight at Dinant, heavy rifle fire was directed upon our -troops from several houses on the west bank of the Meuse, especially -from a large red Infirmary. These houses were all distinguished as -hospitals by the hanging out of flags with the Red Cross, and were, -in consequence, at first spared by our troops. Later, however, after -the occupation of these houses by hostile, armed inhabitants had been -definitely ascertained, and it was recognised that the Red Cross only -served as a blind, the houses were brought under fire and destroyed. -Witnesses to this are all the officers of the 1st Battalion (Guards) -Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - - Signed: ZEIDLER, Captain and Battalion Leader, - (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - - - C. App. 70. - - Present: - Military Magistrate, NAUMANN. - Secretary of the Military Court, SCHWARZBACH. - - LA MALMAISON, _December 10th, 1914_. - -In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law committed -against German troops, there appeared as witness Non-commissioned -Officer Esche, 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -My name is Bruno Arno Esche, 24 years old; Protestant; factory worker. - -On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, in the afternoon, I saw plainly with -field glasses from the right bank of the Meuse that the windows of a -large red house on the left bank of the Meuse were blocked up with -boards, mattresses or coverlets. Loopholes were cut out in the house at -the height of a man. The house was flying the Red Cross flag. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: BRUNO ARNO ESCHE. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: NAUMANN. Signed: SCHWARZBACH. - - - C. App. 71. - - ST. ERME, _December 17th, 1914_. - -Staff-Surgeon Dr. Lange, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, made, as witness, the following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Richard Gotthold Lange, 33 years old; -Protestant; Staff-Surgeon and Battalion Surgeon of the 3rd Battalion -Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: Directly after the entry of the battalion into Leffe it was -surprised by shots which not only came from the two ranges of hills -but also from the houses and cellars. The houses from which the shots -came were thereupon searched for sharpshooters and the guilty civilians -found there were shot. The houses from which there was no firing were -searched in the same way, and their occupants were guarded in the -street. It was reported to me that a sergeant-major of the 9th Company -of my regiment had been severely wounded, whereupon I rode through the -streets and was continuously fired at from the houses, especially from -the cellars. I found two German wounded inside the houses, further, -one dead in a cellar and another dead on a ground floor. As the number -of the wounded accumulated, I saw myself obliged to arrange as a -dressing-station the villa of Councillor Adam, where I was busy up till -11 o'clock at night. The number of the wounded German soldiers, on the -handing over of the hospital to the 2nd Medical Company, amounted to -about eighty men. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. LANGE. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: STARKE, Officer of the Court. - - - C. App. 72. - - Present: - Military Magistrate, NAUMANN. - Secretary of Military Court, SCHWARZBACH. - - LA MALMAISON, _December 8th, 1914_. - -In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law -committed against German troops, there appeared as witness Medical -Non-commissioned Officer Ostmann of the 5th Company, Grenadier Regiment -No. 101, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Otto Eduard Ostmann, 26 years old; Protestant; -shop assistant by trade. - -As to Case: On the evening of August 23rd, 1914, when it was getting -dark, my company entered Les Rivages. It halted in the street at the -beginning of the place. As there was no medical non-commissioned -officer farther on, I went as far as the crossing-place over the Meuse -and stood close by in the middle of the street. There was no one in the -street in my immediate neighbourhood. - -While I was facing the houses where some civilians were standing, -a shot fell from a house to the right of me; I immediately felt a -stinging pain under my right eye and felt blood running down my cheek. - -My Battalion-Surgeon, Dr. Haupt, after examining the wound, said that a -small shot had grazed me. The shot could only have been meant for me, -since I was the only person standing in an open space of 2 metres in -circumference. - -I had duly put on the Geneva Cross band, which was visible. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OTTO EDUARD OSTMANN. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: NAUMANN. Signed: SCHWARZBACH. - - - C. App. 73. - - Present: - Military Magistrate, NAUMANN. - Secretary of the Military Court, SCHWARZBACH. - - LA MALMAISON, _December 5th, 1914_. - -In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law committed -against German troops, there appeared as witness Transport Soldier of -Reserve Müller, 2nd Field Pioneer Company, Pioneer Battalion No. 12, -who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made -the following statement: - -My name is Emil Erwin Müller, 26 years old; Protestant; fruit grower. - -On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, in company with Non-commissioned -Officer Fehrmann, I saw a number of bodies of civilians and that of -a woman lying in front of a house in a cross-street in Dinant. We -entered the house. In the room on the right there lay an officer--a -lieutenant of Infantry Regiment No. 182--a sofa-cushion under his head; -his head and a part of his chest were covered with a white cloth. All -three civilians wore the uniform of Infantry Regiment No. 182. In the -adjoining room there lay stretched out dead a non-commissioned officer -and five privates of the same regiment. - -I lifted up the cloth covering the lieutenant and saw that he had -received a shot in the head. I did not see any further injuries to the -officer. - -One of the privates who lay beside the lieutenant had his trousers -unbuttoned in front so that one could see his body. This soldier had -a shot in the lower part of the body. Extending from the larynx to at -least 10 cm. to the left was a cut which was bloody and the edges were -probably 1 cm. apart. The blood had flowed down towards the side. I am -convinced that it could only have been a wound from a cut. - -In the other room the trousers of one of the soldiers were unbuttoned -so that one could see the body. This man had a cut or stab wound in the -lower body about 3 cm. wide. The clothing of the remaining soldiers -showed no disarrangement, they all bore shot-wounds. - -The scene conveyed the impression that the officer, the -non-commissioned officer and the men had been attacked in their sleep -by the inhabitants in that quarter. I infer this from the fact that the -officer had a sofa-cushion and the others either a cloth or a knapsack -under their heads. The rifles stood in a corner. - -In the house with Fehrmann and myself was also Pioneer of Reserve -Kretzschmann. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: EMIL ERWIN MÜLLER. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: NAUMANN. Signed: SCHWARZBACH. - - - C. App. 74. - -By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prinz Georg" No. 108 there -appeared Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. Holey, who, having been warned to -speak the whole truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Franz Alfred Holey. I was born on September -21st, 1878; Protestant; practising physician in civil life, during the -war, Staff-surgeon and battalion-surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, as we were proceeding to Dinant, my -attention was drawn by Major von der Pforte, a short distance from -Dinant, to the body of a German soldier, who had been fastened -with wire by the hands and feet to pegs which had been driven into -the ground. The body was almost completely carbonised, and to all -appearances some highly inflammable liquid had been poured over it. -According to the state of the existing lines of demarcation, the man -must have been burnt alive. By the remains of the uniform, particularly -the buttons, he was plainly to be recognised as a German soldier. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. HOLEY, Staff-Surgeon of Reserve. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - -Further remark: The body lay in the neighbourhood of an estate near the -marble quarries. - - Signed: LOSSOW, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: SCHUBERT, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 75. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, NEAR PONTARVET, _March 6th, 1915_. - -By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium there appeared by order as witness Corporal of -Reserve Wahl, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed -out to him, and he had been warned to speak the whole truth, made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Hermann Kurt Wahl, 22 years old; Protestant; -Corporal of Reserve, 5th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; -shop assistant at Deuben, near Dresden. - -As to Case: On the march to Dinant on August 23rd, I saw lying in -a ditch by the road to the east of the Sorinnes-Dinant road a dead -Jäger. His hands and feet were bound together with wire. The body was -otherwise completely charred. I was only able to recognise that he was -a Jäger by the articles of equipment lying near. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HERMANN KURT WAHL. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 76. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, _March 7th, 1914_. - -By order there appeared as witness Rifleman Willkommen, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been -warned to speak the truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Robert Willkommen, rifleman, 7th Company, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 22 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, I found a completely -charred body quite close to an estate near Dinant, where we had set up -a dressing-station. On closer inspection it proved to be a Saxon Jäger -whose hands and feet had been tied up. He lay in the ditch close to the -road. We covered him with straw. That he was a Saxon Jäger I recognised -with certainty from his buttons and other articles of equipment. - -On this day, before we marched through Dinant and crossed the Meuse, -my company made a halt at an estate near Dinant. The inhabitants of -the estate--several men, women, and children--fetched us water. I -and several of my comrades gave in return some cigars to the men and -sweetstuff to the children. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL ROBERT WILLKOMMEN. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 77. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve DACHSEL, as Officer of the Court. - Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve STEIGER, as Clerk of the Court. - - LA VILLE-AUX-BOIS, _March 7th, 1915_. - -There appeared by order as witness Corporal Oehmigen, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been -warned to speak the truth, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Otto Albert Oehmigen; corporal, 6th Company, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 23 years old; Protestant. - -As to Case: Before we marched through Dinant on August 23rd I saw in a -cabbage field near Dinant the body of a Saxon Jäger with a charred face -lying on his back. He lay in the middle of the field, not by the road. -I did not notice whether his feet and arms were tied. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OTTO ALBERT OEHMIGEN. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: DACHSEL. Signed: STEIGER. - - - C. App. 78. - - PROUVAIS, _February 24th, 1915_. - -By order of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 there appeared as witness -this day Captain von Lippe of the Light Munitions Columns, 2nd -Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, in order to be examined -on oath regarding the occurrences in Dinant. Captain von Lippe stated: - -As to Person: My name is Fritz von Lippe. I am 40 years old; -Protestant; estate-tenant by calling, attached to the Light Munitions -Column of the 2nd Division, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, behind the firing position of the 2nd -Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, I saw the bodies of a -rifleman and a Jäger. One had his eyes gouged out, and the other lay -half burnt under a heap of straw with hands and feet tied together. - -Captain von Lippe testified his statements on oath, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRITZ VON LIPPE. - Signed: HAASE, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - - - C. App. 79. - - ST. ERME, _December 17th, 1914_. - -Acting-Sergeant-Major Göpfert, after the importance of the oath had -been pointed out to him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Oswald Emil Göpfert. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; battalion drummer, 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178. - -As to Case: When my battalion was entering Leffe, numerous shots came -from almost all the houses. We supposed at first that the shots came -from soldiers; however, it could only have been civilians, since no -soldiers were found in the houses. I saw with my own eyes that a -civilian fired at and wounded Captain Franz. Only the men who were -implicated in the firing from the houses were shot, while the old men, -women, and children were taken to the convent. I was myself present -when an old man, who had been fetched out of a house, was separated -from the guilty civilians and taken to the convent. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GÖPFERT. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: STARKE, Officer of the Court. - - - C. App. 80. - - GUIGNICOURT, _January 8th, 1915_. - -_Deposition._ - -There appeared, as witness, Lieutenant of Reserve Löser of the 5th -Company, (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, having been warned -to speak the truth, made the following statement: - -My name is Walter Löser. I am 28 years old; Protestant; -Forest-referendary on the State Forest Preserves, Elster II. at Adorf -in Saxony. - -As to Case: On entering Dinant the 5th Company, (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100, was ordered to fire only at civilians who were -themselves shooting at our troops. The order was everywhere complied -with. No atrocities were committed by our troops. I even know of cases -where our troops treated with the greatest consideration the innocent -inhabitants of Dinant, who evidently were suffering under the critical -condition of the time. I remember to have seen how the men of our -regiment carried infirm old people and children through the rows of -burning houses with the intention of rescuing them. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: LÖSER, Lieutenant of the Reserve. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: VON LOEBEN, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: BAIER, Non-commissioned Officer - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 81. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Military Clerk of the Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve -Teubner, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Teubner. I am 26 years old; Catholic; -by trade a locksmith at Schirgiswalde, now non-commissioned officer of -Reserve, Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: In the night, after we had crossed the Meuse, two platoons -of the Machine-Gun Company lay by the railway; an infantry guard -lay opposite. In the house where the guard lay were already some -civilians. In the early morning a Belgian woman came to us and gave -us to understand by motions of the hands--we could not understand -French--that somewhere a house was on fire, and that we were to help. -We saw that something must be particularly amiss there, and some of -the men followed the woman with tools (hatchets, etc.). I was not able -to go at once myself. When, later, I was on my way to the burning -house I met the men with the rescued civilians who had stayed in the -cellars and had been buried by the débris. They were men, women, and -children--among them a priest. The people were taken to the guard, and -there examined; later they were again released. - -In the last house of a village behind Dinant we found a large quantity -of ammunition (shot and spear-like missiles), which were evidently -placed there for use. In the gable-roof were openings similar to -loopholes. - -On the march farther I saw a civilian who had been shot lying by -the corner of a house; he had a gun still in his hand--it was a -double-barrelled sporting-gun. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 82. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Corporal Richter, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Max Gustav Richter. I am 23 years old; -Protestant; by trade a chairmaker at Bärenstein, now corporal, 6th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: The 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103, after the -fighting at Dinant; was detained to guard the bridge. Lieutenant Lemke -was Local Commandant of the district allotted to us. We lay there four -to five days. During these days Lieutenant Lemke had those civilians -who were innocent taken to a house and looked after. The people -received bread, meat, potatoes, and milk. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 83. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Lieutenant Lemke, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Martin Lemke, 27 years old; Protestant; -merchant at Zürich, now Lieutenant of Reserve, 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: One night between the 23rd and the 26th August 1914, a -large column of 3700 captured Belgian soldiers came through Dinant. -I had been left behind with a platoon of the 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 103, as bridge-guard, and was, during the days named, -Local Commandant of Dinant-Bouvignes. This long column of prisoners -I lodged in double columns of route on the railway track in the -neighbourhood of the station at Dinant. At intervals 100 paces I had -lighted large wood-fires. Towards 3 o'clock a heavy fusillade broke -out. Two Belgians jumped down from the railway embankment into the -road and were shot by my sentries. A wounded Belgian was at once taken -to the "Red Cross" near by, where a small-shot wound in the posterior -was able to be ascertained with certainty. The firing with small shot -came down from the wooded height on this side of the railway track -amongst the resting column, and the result was, that a panic broke -out among the prisoners, of which the two Belgians were the victims. -The Belgian officers present, as well as the Mayor of Bouvignes, to -whom I explained the affair, expressed their indignation about the -francs-tireurs. - -The inhabitants were well treated by the soldiers under my command. On -August 24th a number of women, children, and men were fetched out of -the cellar of a burning house on the road to Bouvignes by our soldiers -at the risk of their lives. During those days I provided with victuals -a total of over fifty inhabitants, mostly women, also children and -various men belonging on the average to the better classes. Among them -were also patients from the wrecked hospitals. An old lady who could -not walk was carried by our soldiers to the "Red Cross." We provided -the people with woollen coverings for the night, and gave up some -mattresses from our district, which had been quite forsaken. For the -invalids and a little child we provided milk. For the "Red Cross" in -Bouvignes, where some twenty wounded French soldiers were lying, among -them one Major and one 1st Lieutenant, we also provided victuals, -especially flour for baking bread. The people could not adequately -express their gratitude. The Lord of the Manor at Bouvignes, the Mayor -of Bouvignes, a Mons. van Willmart of the same place, have taken a -note of my home address in order, after the war, to inquire after my -welfare. The people had all acquired a high opinion of Germany. Mons. -van Willmart even wants to visit me after the war. A health-resort -patient at Dinant, a legal official from Brussels, who was staying -there with his two sisters, has written a card to my mother to testify -his gratitude. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 84. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Captain Schröder, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Severin Schröder. I am 34 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Chief, 6th Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 103. - -As to Case: My company was bridge-guard on the left Meuse bank from -the 23rd to the 24th August. In some houses were from 150 to 200 -civilian prisoners, among them also many women and some children. I had -the provisions brought together from the partially destroyed houses -in order to provide for my company. On the petition of some women -for victuals I gave them bread, rice, and sausage, and some for the -remainder of the civilians. - -I had explained to the inhabitants that nothing would happen to them -as long as they remained in the houses under the protection of the -company. A number were let go at their request, as they did not appear -to be under suspicion. Men who seemed open to suspicion were detained; -some women remained voluntarily. When I was relieved, Lieutenant Lemke, -who remained behind with his platoon, took over the prisoners. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 85. - - Present: - Lieutenant of Reserve KLEBERGER, as Officer of the Court. - Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - ORAINVILLE, _March 17th, 1915_. - -Summoned as witness there appeared Captain von Lüder, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement: - -As to Person: My name is Georg von Lüder. I am 41 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, Infantry -Regiment No. 103. - -As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, as Company Chief, I led the -Machine-Gun Company. This was transported late in the evening on -pontoons across the Meuse. The company remained until midday of August -24th, on the other bank of the Meuse, to await the arrival of the -vehicles which were to reach the left bank of the Meuse by the bridge -erected by the Pioneers. When the vehicles arrived in the afternoon of -August 24th the company marched off. - -During the time the company remained on the left bank of the Meuse, -inhabitants who had been arrested by the soldiers were continually -being brought to a house which was situated next to the halting-place -of the company. I saw the bringing of these inhabitants to the house, -and can confirm that they were decently treated in every respect by the -soldiers escorting them. - -In the forenoon of August 24th my Regimental Commander, Major Hoch, -came to the company and spoke to the inhabitants interned in the -house. At their request he let many of them go free. - -My impression was that the arrested inhabitants were very kindly -treated. They were allotted a room for the night, and on the morning of -August 24th were well and plentifully provided for. - -Read over, approved. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: KLEBERGER, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court. - Signed: Sergeant RICHTER, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 86. - - Present: - Lieutenant OESER, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major LIPPMANN, as Clerk of the Military Court. - - PROUVAIS, _March 26th, 1915_. - -There appeared for examination Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant -Florey, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Florey; 22-1/2 years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant, Grenadier Regiment No. -101. - -As to Case: With Lieutenant von Zenker of the 1st Company, I bandaged -a man (inhabitant) in Les Rivages who had a gaping wound in the head. -Later on I gave the men of my platoon the order to carry a woman of -about eighty years from an already burning house and bring her into -safety. My Grenadiers at once complied with this order and handed -over this old lady for further care to other inhabitants. In Neffe I -endeavoured to fetch a doctor for the wounded inhabitants. - -At that time I was platoon leader in the 4th Company. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FLOREY, Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant. - -The witness was thereupon sworn. - - Signed: OESER, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: LIPPMANN, Acting-Sergeant-Major - and Clerk of the Military Court. - - - C. App. 87. - - THE TRENCHES, _January 12th, 1915_. - -By Regimental Order, Chief Surgeon of the Reserve, Dr. Marx, Assistant -Surgeon of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Grenadier Regiment (Guards) No. -100, appears, and, being warned to speak the whole truth, makes the -following deposition: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Theodor Hans Marx. I was born on April -3rd, 1878, in Döbeln (Saxony); Evangelical-Lutheran; Senior Surgeon of -the Reserve, 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100. - -As to Case: I also extended my medical activity during the whole of -the day to the wounded inhabitants of Dinant. In one case I treated a -young girl with a shot wound in the head, and allowed her a separate -room in the house where I had set up my place for dressing-station, so -that her parents could be with her. As towards the evening that part -of the town in which my hospital lay came under heavy artillery fire, -I had the girl carried to a safer part of the town. This was in the -street where the town gaol of Dinant is situated. The wounded girl, -in consequence of her severe injury, lay at the point of death. In -a column of inhabitants which was being sent across the Meuse was a -clergyman, whom I recognised as such by his clothes. I begged him to -take charge of her, and was witness how he gave her absolution. I was -present the whole day (August 23rd, 1914) in Dinant, and did not notice -any excesses on the part of the German soldiers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr.med. HANS MARX. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: V. HAUGK, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court. - Signed: HARTMANN, Non-commissioned Officer - and Military Clerk of the Court. - - - - -APPENDIX D.--LOUVAIN - - - App. D. - -War Office. - -Military Inquiry Office regarding the Breaches of Rules and Usages of -War. - - -THE UPRISING OF THE BELGIAN POPULACE IN LOUVAIN, 25TH TO THE 28TH -AUGUST 1914. - -_Summary Report._ - -1. The uprising of the town of Louvain against the German troops of -occupation and the judgment inflicted on this town have found a lasting -echo in the whole world. - -In the first place, because Louvain is a town famous on account of its -time-honoured University, its rich architectural monuments and art -treasures, the fate of which would interest wide circles; principally, -however, because of the action of the opponents of the German people, -especially of the Belgian Government, who have circulated and spread -abroad in the world by means of the Press, by their foreign diplomatic -representatives, and by agents sent everywhere, reports of the events -of August 1914, which were designed to prejudice public opinion against -the Germans. - -The Commission appointed by the Belgian Government for inquiry into -the violation of the code of International Law and of the laws and -usages of war, has tried by every means to throw the blame for the -disturbances in Louvain on the German troops. In several reports it has -brought forward the accusation that the German troops, in violation of -International Law and without any reason, have attacked and ill-treated -the--so it is alleged--unsuspecting and peaceful inhabitants of -Louvain, have wounded and killed a great number, have plundered, -desolated, and burned, and, in fact, completely destroyed the town. - -These accusations are false; moreover, it has been confirmed that -the German troops have acted in a manner free from reproach and have -committed no deeds in violation of International Law. On the contrary, -heavy blame attaches to the civil population of Louvain and the -neighbourhood for having, by reason of their disregard of the rules of -international law, and through their thoughtless and criminal action, -inflicted injury on the German Army, and also, as the result, on the -town of Louvain. - -2. According to inquiries which were instituted, the events in Louvain -occurred as follows: - -On August 19th, 1914, the first German troops marched into Louvain and -occupied quarters in the town. Intercourse between the inhabitants and -the troops, whose number and composition were continually changing, -appeared at first to be exceptionally good. No single case of excess -occurred. The German troops behaved themselves in exemplary fashion, -which even the Belgians recognised; further, the population of the town -made such friendly advances that the German soldiers in Louvain felt so -secure that many of them went about without arms (Apps. 2, 3, 7-9, 11, -18, 31, 36, 38, 40, 45, 48). - -This peaceful picture suddenly changed on August 25th, 1914. On that -day Belgian troops from Antwerp made a thrust in the direction of -Louvain. The German troops in and about Louvain advanced to meet them; -further troops were sent from Liège via Louvain to the front. The -fighting took place on the road to Malines, near Bucken and Herent, in -the vicinity of Louvain. The fight ended in the heavy defeat of the -Belgians, who were thrown back in the evening towards Antwerp. - -The inhabitants of Louvain, who had remained in secret communication -with Antwerp even after the occupation of their town, and who had -information of the impending attack by their countrymen, had apparently -not reckoned on this result of the fight. They held the erroneous -opinion that the projected breaking through of the Belgian Army must, -with the help of English troops, be successful, and saw in the advance -initiated by the Belgian troops a promise of success and also an -encouragement to themselves to take part in the fighting (Apps. 1, 3, -45, 48). - -Already before the fight had been decided, a German company of the -Landsturm, which had been stationed at the north-western exit of -Louvain, marched back towards 7 o'clock in the evening to a place -situated at the east end of the town, near the station, in order -to establish themselves there. During their march through the town -everything was apparently still quiet. In the streets there were -isolated ammunition and baggage columns, and several small detachments -of German soldiers. There were no very large bodies of troops in -Louvain at this time (Apps. 3, 7, 8, 38). - -Among the inhabitants of the town who observed the march through of -the Landsturm company were astonishingly large numbers of young men, -apparently belonging to the wealthier classes, who stood about in the -streets and retired slowly into the houses (Apps. 7, 10, 34, 46); women -and children were not to be seen. - -The return march through the town of the Landsturm company and other -small bodies of troops most likely strengthened the inhabitants of -Louvain in the belief that the Germans were beaten and retreating, and -encouraged them to execute an apparently long-thought-out and prepared -plan to annihilate the Germans during their retreat through the town. A -little later, after the above company had arrived at the station square -and settled themselves to rest, about 8 p.m. German time, rockets shot -up in the town. Quite a number of soldiers saw first a green and then a -red rocket appear against the dark evening sky (Apps. 7, 8, 12-17, 22, -38, 45, 46). - -At the same time, in consequence of this signal, the inhabitants of -Louvain began to open a furious fire from different parts of the town -upon the German troops who were in the town-hall square, the station -square, and the intermediate town quarters. - -They shot with rifles, revolvers, and pistols out of cellars and out -of the windows of the buildings, and especially out of windows in the -roofs (Apps. 1-8, 7-13, 18-22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 45-49); -the firing sounded in several places as if machine-guns were in use -(Apps. 2, 29, 38, 40, 42, 46, 49). The German soldiers were completely -surprised at this attack. Many of them were wounded and some were -killed before they could offer any resistance. Among the columns and -the baggage sections, which had drawn up in the streets, confusion -reigned, because the horses, who had shied from fright and were hit by -the bullets and small-shot, broke loose and were galloping through the -streets (Apps. 8, 18, 19, 37, 47). - -An especially violent fire was poured upon the market-place and the -first échelon of the General Command stationed there. Several officers -and men were wounded or killed. The Staff of the General Command alone -lost 5 officers, 2 officials, 23 men, and 95 horses (App. 1). - -The fire was most violent in the Rue de la Gare and at the station. -The Landsturm company, standing there between the baggage carts, was -obliged to retire into the station in order to find better cover. A -vigorous fire was also directed upon the troops drawn up at the Place -du Peuple (Apps. 6, 20, 46). - -The horror of this treacherous attack was increased by the darkness -which had already fallen on the town, the street-lighting having been -destroyed. The surprised troops tried to assemble, sought to defend -themselves, and returned the fire. When this ceased for a moment they -entered the houses out of which shots had been fired, by the order of -their superior officers, and searched for the culprits. Several of -these had been killed in the fight (Apps. 1, 3, 29, 37); others were -found in possession of arms and were shot according to the usages -of war, after having previously been found guilty of unjustifiable -participation in the fight (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, -48). Many were able to escape through the back exits of the houses to -participate once more in the continual recommencing street-fights. - -While these fights were raging, the General in command of the XI. -Reserve Army Corps, von Boehn, returned from the battlefield to the -town. - -This was about 11.30 p.m. On his way to the town hall he was several -times shot at. So as to put an end to the street-fighting, he ordered a -brigade of the Landwehr to enter the town, and had the Mayor and other -distinguished citizens arrested as hostages. At his order they were -led through the town and told to order the insurgents in a loud voice -to cease their hostilities. Although accompanied by threats of severe -punishment, these orders had no effect. The population continued to -attack the troops. In their fury they even shot at the doctors, the -hospital orderlies, and at the sick and wounded who were under the -protection of the Red Cross (Apps. 9, 21, 25-28, 47). They paid so -little attention to the Geneva Convention that they also fired out of -houses from which flew the Red Cross flag (Apps. 29, 38); they even -directed their fire against a military hospital (Apps. 25, 27, 28). On -more than one occasion the use of explosives and bombs is vouched for -(Apps. 36, 37, 46); it is proved also that hot tar was poured upon the -German troops (Apps. 25, 29). - -In some cases the population was even carried away to commit barbarous -atrocities on German soldiers who had become defenceless. Private Hoos -found in the cellar of a house the corpse of a German soldier whose -abdomen had been cut open with a sharp knife so that the intestines -were protruding (App. 35); one of the German soldiers had a revolting -mutilation inflicted upon him by one of the inhuman inhabitants, in -consequence of which he died (App. 37). - -In the face of these brutal attacks, the German soldiers had to protect -themselves by energetic retaliatory measures. As had been threatened, -the inhabitants who had participated in the attack were shot, and -the houses out of which they fired were burned. It was impossible to -prevent the fire from spreading to other houses, and thus some rows -of them were destroyed. It was in this way also that the Cathedral -caught fire (App. 4). A further spreading of the conflagration was -prevented by our troops who, led by their officers, undertook the work -of extinguishing the fire in a self-sacrificing manner (App. 46). -Thanks to their efforts, only a comparatively small part of the town, -_i.e._ the quarter between the station and the town hall, suffered. The -magnificent town hall was saved through the efforts of our troops. The -burning houses lit up the dark night and enabled our soldiers to meet -the attack more effectively. Thus it diminished gradually; only here -and there a few shots were fired during the night. The next morning, -however, the attacks were renewed with great violence. The disturbances -still continued on this and the following days, though the hostages -were, on August the 26th and 27th, again led through the streets in -order to exhort the inhabitants to keep the peace (Apps. 1, 37, 38, 40, -44, 45, 47). - -That the insurrection did not break out accidentally, but was prepared -long beforehand, can be proved, apart from the above-mentioned -rocket-signals which announced the beginning of the surprise attack, by -the following facts: - -1. The circumstance that arms had been found in large quantities, -though these, according to the declaration of the Mayor, had been -already handed over on August 19th (Apps. 1, 20). - -2. The observation that a great number of young men entered Louvain -and dispersed in the town (App. 34). It was easy for them to take up -quarters in the hotels and the lodging-houses left by the students. - -3. Numerous stores of cartridges and explosives, which had been hidden -there by the population, exploded in the burning houses (Apps. 1, 2, 6, -37). - -In accordance with these facts, the attack evidently was carefully -planned, and lasted for several days with the utmost stubbornness. The -length of time during which the revolt against the German military -force continued excludes any idea of spontaneous and excited actions on -the part of isolated persons. The direction of the treacherous revolt -must have been in the hands of highly placed persons. Everything points -to the fact that the authorities had a hand in the organisation. The -official headquarters of the Chief of the so-called Garde Civique were -in Louvain; he was still in the town immediately before the rising, -and the movement commenced there with the dispatch into Louvain of -undisciplined young men not wearing any distinctive badge or uniform, -who, together with soldiers transformed into civilians, concealed -themselves in the houses in order, while invisible themselves, to fire -at a suitable moment upon the apparently departing German troops. - -The Belgian Government itself has never dared to speak about the -regular troops having participated in these actions. We are here -dealing with the perfidious deeds of francs-tireurs who were most -readily received and offered hiding-places by the population of -Louvain. The crimes of the Garde Civique will be unveiled to the whole -civilised world in the classical case of Louvain (Apps. 1, 30, 45, 48). - -Unfortunately a number of priests also allowed themselves to be carried -away into misusing their influence upon the civilian population, and -encouraging them to shelter the insurgents; it is certain that some of -them even took direct part in the fighting (Apps. 1, 19, 34, 37, 38, -41, 42, 45, 48). Those who appreciate the authentic facts discovered -by the German Government regarding the case of Louvain, facts which -are not based upon hasty examinations of people labouring under strong -excitement and possessing little education, by equally agitated -examiners, but which are founded upon inquiries entered upon in a calm -and quiet spirit, will be able to judge for themselves what value can -be attached to other similar accusations on the part of the Belgians -against the German troops. - -In the case of Louvain the Official Belgian Commission of Inquiry has -tried to account for the doubtless very embarrassing fact, so difficult -to be explained away, of the shots fired in the streets by maintaining -that the German troops had fired on their own soldiers. But it -conceals the point that the firing lasted several days and was renewed -continuously. This simple fact does away with the thread-bare attempt -to explain the beginning of the street-fights. - -While the Belgian Commission of Inquiry so lightly brushes aside the -above-mentioned principal question of the violation of International -Law, it seeks to calumniate the German Army by accusations in isolated -cases. We have not been able to establish the truth of any of these -cases; the impartial person must not overlook in this matter on what -kind of evidence these cases are founded, nor how these accusations -recede into the background, compared with the principal question of -the origin of the street-fights. They are based on the depositions of -the same persons who are responsible for the statement that Louvain -was completely destroyed, and that of the whole town nothing but the -town hall and the station remained intact, as is asserted in the third -Report of the Commission and thus announced throughout the whole world. - -The adjoining sketch shows how matters really stand with regard to the -conflagration; in reality not one-sixth part of the town, but only the -quarter in the proximity of the station, was destroyed by the fire -(App. 50). - -One of the few positive calumnies can be brought home, because -it foolishly tries to cast a slur on the entire German Army -Administration; according to the fifth Report of the Commission, -a "large part of the booty (derived from the alleged looting) was -forwarded in military waggons and later on sent to Germany." - -This allegation is a pure invention, for what has to be forwarded in -waggons and railway trucks is decided by the Army Administration, and -the latter has never made any arrangements of the kind. - -The slight importance the Commission even attaches to the tales dished -up to them and unfortunately passed on without criticism is also shown -in the fifth Report, which mentions the execution of Bishop Coenraets -and Father Schmidt. The Commission even speaks about the "alleged" -execution, and adds without further ado the fairy-tale that the -compulsory spectators of this pretended scene were forced to show their -appreciation by clapping. It is impossible to admit more forcibly that -the hurriedly collected material was brought out in order to create -a sensation whereby truth and justice would have to suffer. One must -know, moreover, that--as can hardly have been concealed from the -Belgian Commission--Mons. Coenraets, who is safe and sound, is living -to-day with Professor Toels in Jirlen, Holland. - -BERLIN, _April 10th, 1915_. - -Military Inquiry Office, regarding the Violations of the Rules and -Usages of War. - - Signed: BAUER, Major. - Signed: Dr. WAGNER, Councillor of the Supreme Court of Justice. - - - D. App. 1. - -Court of Justice of the Government-General of Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Justice of Martial Law. - Secretary, REISENER. - - NOYON, _September 27th, 1914_. - -The General commanding IX. Reserve Army Corps, General of Infantry v. -Boehn, declared: - -As to Person: My name is Max von Boehn, aged 66: Protestant. - -It was made known to the witness that the Governor-General -Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz had ordered an inquiry by the -Court in order to establish whether a punishable offence in connection -with the burning of Louvain could be charged to the account of German -military persons, and, if so, to which persons; he states as follows: - -As to Case: When the first échelon of the General Command entered -Louvain on August 25th, the orders received were first briefly talked -over, and the report to the Army Headquarters, dealing with the time -of arrival of the troops of the 9th Reserve Corps, was prepared. The -detraining had not yet been terminated when the report was received -from the 18th Reserve Division that the enemy was advancing to -the attack against Bueken, along the road Malines-Louvain. I went -immediately by motor to the battlefield with the Chief and a part of -the Staff. Here the action was principally sustained by the 18th -Reserve Division. Our losses were only small. While the different -portions of the 18th Reserve Division were advancing, the hussars and -one part of the infantry were furiously fired upon by the inhabitants -in Herent, as well as from the windows of the houses south of Bueken. -They lost heavily. People caught firing were shot and their houses set -on fire. - -When I was on the point of returning to Louvain at midnight with the -officers of my Staff, I was warned by the 17th Landwehr Brigade, which -was resting to the north of the town, not to enter it, as infantry fire -had been heard there. But, as it was necessary for the whole Staff to -be in Louvain, I drove in my motor into the town, where we were very -soon fired upon. I ordered the above-mentioned Landwehr Brigade to -enter Louvain, and went with portions of it to the town hall, where -the Mayor and other hostages were arrested. Under the protection of a -detachment of infantry they were instructed to announce that if the -firing out of houses continued, the hostages would be shot and the -place set on fire by the artillery. It now also came to my knowledge -that the first échelon of the Staff, after having entered the town, -and being drawn up in the market-place, was suddenly assailed by a -murderous fire from the surrounding houses. - -The officers and men present, of course, returned the fire; -nevertheless, apart from other officers, Captains of Cavalry v. -Harnier and v. Esmarch, Captain v. Raven, 1st Lieutenant v. Oertzen, -Lieutenant Risler, as well as several men, were wounded or killed. -Nearly all the saddle-horses were killed or wounded, or had stampeded -and could not be recaptured. The total loss of the Staff in dead, -wounded, and missing amounts to 5 officers, 2 officials, 23 men, and -95 horses fully harnessed. Different houses in the proximity of the -market-place had thereupon been set on fire. Shots had also been fired -out of the hotel into which the hand-baggage of the Staff had already -been taken. I therefore decided to move with the General Command to the -station, and to remain there. The station had to be held, as transport -trains were arriving at intervals of an hour. First of all, fresh -horses were put into the waggons, and the Staff was rearranged. Owing -to the foresight of the Commander of the Ammunition Column, Colonel -Stubenrauch, assisted by the 1st Adjutant, Captain v. Kretschmann, -the Staff was successfully reformed during the night in spite of the -greatest difficulties, and held in readiness at the station. A portion -of the Landwehr Brigade also remained here and one company of Infantry -Regiment No. 163, in order to guard the further unloading of trains -during the night. The heavy baggage of Reserve Regiment of Hussars No. -6 was fired on when moving out of the cavalry barracks, and was forced -to return. When, in the evening, the regiment of hussars had returned -to the barracks, shots were fired into the buildings from all the -surrounding houses. Peace was only restored when all the houses had -been set on fire and the inhabitants shot, in so far as they were found -with arms in their possession. Numerous explosions of stored cartridges -and explosives proved that the attack had been carefully planned and -prepared. The next morning the regiment of hussars was able to leave -the barracks without any losses, but a patrol of the 1st Squadron -in Rotselaer was fired on suddenly by about 50 civilians, and, as a -result, 2 hussars were wounded and 1 horse killed. - -Whenever bodies of troops showed themselves in the town they were fired -at. Towards midnight an especially lively fire was suddenly directed -from the roofs of the houses opposite the station upon the troops and -the General Command encamped there. The proclamation of the Mayor -had consequently been fruitless. Therefore there was nothing else to -be done but to have the civilians found firing from the windows, of -whom several were discovered to be soldiers in disguise, shot, and -the houses set on fire. In spite of those measures, the troops of the -Reserve Corps, who had been fired at from all sides when coming into -the station, were obliged to fight when marching through the town on -the forenoon of the following day, and sustained some losses. On the -morning of August 25th I went with the officers of the Staff to the -field of battle. We were also fired at when driving out. The second -échelon of the Staff remained behind, as well as Staff Officer Captain -Albrecht, to whom I gave orders to collect the arms in the town. For -the execution of this order, the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Reserve -Regiment No. 75 and a company of Infantry Reserve Regiment No. 163 -were placed at his disposal. A threat was made that, in the event -of a continuation of the attacks by the citizens, the town would be -bombarded. On Wednesday forenoon the fighting recommenced with renewed -violence. A systematic disarming of the town became impossible, also -the collection of a fine of twenty million francs levied on the town. -According to the statement of Captain Albrecht, he was obliged to -assemble the whole garrison at the station, in order to hold it under -any circumstances for the coming reinforcements. He was especially -menaced from the houses situated to the east, and from a factory which -had been prepared for defence, and had therefore to be levelled to the -ground. But even from the remaining outer walls, which had escaped -destruction, the fire was reopened. The occupants who had fled into -the cellars procured ladders, from which they renewed the firing. -Several armed persons, remarkable because of their robust and still -comparatively young appearance, were discovered in the trees of the -Boulevard and arrested. Many of them were ascertained to be soldiers -in disguise by their identification discs and parts of their uniform -they were wearing underneath the civilian clothes. Numerous and violent -explosions resounded from the burning houses, due to explosives and -cartridges stored there. On the following day also the troops were -continually fired upon. Captain Albrecht had the people once more -exhorted by two priests to keep the peace, but this attempt also was in -vain. As the revolt again extended a detachment of artillery was sent -into the town on August 27th, and several houses were destroyed. This -detachment of artillery was put at the disposal of Lieutenant-Colonel -Schweder, Commander of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss. On August 28th, -2nd Infantry Reserve Battalion, Regiment No. 75, was replaced by -Landwehr Regiment No. 53, and the detachment of artillery was replaced -by a Landsturm battery. On the same day a detachment of pioneers made -a breach in the convent, situated at the exit leading to Herent, from -which building the military road was fired upon with special intensity. - -In spite of these measures, the firing upon columns and troops -continued without interruption until August 28th. - -After the preceding evidence, His Excellency v. Boehn also gave the -following legal opinion about the burning down of Louvain before Dr. -Ivers, Councillor of the War-Field Court of Justice, leading the -inquiry: - -The progress and the fury of these fights already prove that we are -here dealing with a planned organisation. It is proved beyond doubt by -the following facts: - -1. In a church in Louvain 300 rifles were found, and in Herent numerous -rifles, pistols, and a great quantity of ammunition were discovered by -the 18th Division. - -2. A large number of the civilians, who took part in the rising and -were shot, were ascertained to be soldiers. - -3. In the haversacks of fallen soldiers civilian clothes, especially -garments of priests, were found. The priests themselves led and incited -the population. In Bueken, for instance, the signal to fire was given -by the priest leaving the church. In spite of his assurance that no -armed men were in the church, five were caught. They fired from the -roof of the church. All these people were shot. - -Acting-Sergeant-Major Predöhl, Reserve Regiment of Hussars No. 6, -reported that he was fired at by twelve priests while on patrol duty. -After they had been arrested with the help of the field-battery column -of the III. Reserve Corps, which was close by, they were taken to -the III. Reserve Corps to be tried, but they were liberated by the -court-martial, as it could not be proved who had fired. These people -had identification discs and wore military boots and under-garments. - -4. During the fights a uniform was often found close to the empty -haversack, but no corpse; the owner had no doubt disappeared in -civilian dress. - -5. Amongst those persons caught red-handed and shot immediately were -quite a number in very disarranged workmen's clothes. By their delicate -hands, their exceptionally fine and superior underclothes, one could -recognise with certainty that the garb of a workman was not their -usual one. Inhabitants of the place declared they did not know these -people and had never seen them there before. The Garde Civique formed -the nucleus of these bands of francs-tireurs, at the head of which was -evidently the Commandant of Louvain, whose baggage was taken as booty -to the Hôtel Métropole. It is obvious how easy it is for bodies like -the Garde Civique, who usually wear civilian clothing, to continue to -wear it or put it on again, as best suits their purpose. Louvain was -obviously the centre of this organisation, which was most effectively -made use of here because the Commandant was on the spot. - -The sortie from Antwerp on August 25th was evidently the signal for the -commencement of activities. - -Consequently the whole population had to be removed from the district; -to as large an extent as possible they were taken as prisoners to -Germany. For as Antwerp is not completely shut off, they could always -rise again, and would do it with the courage of despair. Their removal -to Antwerp would therefore be no real remedy. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON BOEHN. - -The witness was then sworn. Apart from that, he had taken the oath on -his opinion given in to-day's report of the proceedings. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: REISENER. - - - D. App. 2. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, REISENER. - - NOYON, _September 27th, 1914_. - -Major von Klewitz, officer of the General Staff, IX. Reserve Corps, -declares as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm von Klewitz, born at Magdeburg on -February 3rd, 1872; Protestant. - -The witness was told that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal General -Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the purpose -of ascertaining whether military persons, and, if so, which, are guilty -of the destruction of Louvain by fire; he then made the following -statement: - -As to Case: When the General Staff arrived at Louvain station, Captain -Albrecht, who has since fallen and who had preceded the General Staff, -reported that he had prepared quarters in the town, at the Hôtel -Métropole, where the Commander-in-Chief had also stayed, and that the -town was perfectly quiet. We then proceeded to the Hôtel Métropole in -the town, and from there to our offices. This was about 6 o'clock p.m. - -We had just spread out our maps and were informing ourselves with -regard to the situation when Acting-Sergeant-Major Fischer returned by -motor from the III. Reserve Corps and reported that the III. Reserve -Corps before Antwerp was attacked and asking for immediate support -from the IX. Reserve Corps. At that time about half of our corps was -detrained and the other half still on the rails. The Chief of the -General Staff and I immediately went to see the General in command. -Meanwhile the greater part of the officers of the General Staff with -the horses had arrived and were still busy with the unloading. It must -also be mentioned that on driving up to the battlefield the Commanding -General ordered the alarm to be sounded, and the troops already -quartered in Louvain were ordered to the battle-ground. - -At 9 o'clock p.m. the General, the Chief of the General Staff, and I -returned to Louvain by motor-car. The battle took place at Bueken, -7 km. north of Louvain. On returning to Louvain we already found in -the villages situated between Bueken and Louvain regular troops (of -the Landwehr) who declared that our men were being fired at in the -surrounding villages. We saw ourselves how all the traffic was stopped -in a village because firing from the houses had taken place. All -troops warned the Commanding General from going into the town because -street-fights were taking place there. But the Commanding General -declared that he would not leave his Staff in the town if fighting -were going on, and he wished to return to the Staff. We were therefore -obliged to get out when we got into Louvain. The Commanding General, -with the chauffeurs and we few officers, went through the dark town to -the market-place at about 10 o'clock p.m. During this march through -the town a flank fire was opened on us every time we turned a street -corner. Suddenly, the Staff veterinary surgeon of the corps arrived and -reported that the Staff of the General Commandant had been attacked, -and that the horses were either shot or had stampeded. The men were -firing on the houses. The baggage therefore was safe, only the horses -were gone. We went first of all to the town hall, and there found a -number of hostages who had been taken in the meantime. My brother, -Lieutenant v. Klewitz, now told the hostages in the presence of the -Commanding General that they would be shot if the firing in the town -did not cease at once. The hostages then begged to be allowed to use -their influence in the streets. Lieutenant v. Klewitz then passed -through the town with the hostages, and the inhabitants were exhorted -to be quiet. We then went to our Hôtel Métropole. When we arrived there -we found in front of the house a civilian, shot. It appeared that this -man had sat in the Hôtel Métropole, and when the hotel was searched -he had been found in a room, armed, and had wounded two soldiers, -whereupon the soldiers shot him in a hand-to-hand fight and threw -him out of the window. Besides one civilian person, of whom we know -nothing, there was no longer anyone in the hotel. - -The Commanding General then went, under escort of a company of -infantry, through the streets to the station, and stayed there in order -to conduct the whole affair. The motors of the General Staff had also -taken up a position there. Temporary quiet reigned at the station. -At about 11 o'clock p.m. some isolated shots were fired from the -surrounding houses upon the troops stationed at the railway station, -which was followed by continually increasing firing, so that the -Commanding General ordered the house to be taken. The house was taken -and, as armed resistance was encountered, it was set alight. The house -was hardly alight when I saw personally the following incident: - -I was standing with my back to the station and looking at another -house. I saw how the corner window on the top was lit up, a dark -figure appeared at the window, and a shot was fired into the street. -At the same moment when this shot was fired I saw how the tiles in -the roof of the Hôtel Maria Theresa were raised, and a terrible fire -was opened from the roof of this hotel upon the troops in the station -square. We all immediately sought cover. Personally I had the definite -impression that we were being fired on with machine-guns from the Hôtel -Maria Theresa; the bullets were rattling down on us. On the following -morning one was able to ascertain that we had been fired upon with -machine-guns, because at the station one could distinctly see the rows -of fire. The fire from the machine-guns lasted about four to five -minutes, and was immediately replied to by our troops, who finally took -the house and set it alight. In the meanwhile, a number of wounded were -brought in. Definite instructions had been given to burn at once all -those houses from which firing had taken place. Many Belgian civilians -were taken with arms in their hands; they were to be shot by order of -the General in Command. At about 2 o'clock the firing ceased. Stores of -ammunition continually exploded during the burning down of the houses. -The General in Command sat in a railway carriage from 2 till 4 o'clock -at night. At 4 a.m. the army corps marched to the battle. We did not -pass through the main streets, but drove along an avenue. Here I saw -distinctly the following incident: - -As I sat in the motor several shots were fired out of a cellar on the -left at a distance of 20 metres. We fired on this cellar-opening, -whereupon the firing ceased. The Commanding General left the motor -with loaded revolver and went to the open place just in front of the -bridge. We then went to the battlefield. Behind us, infantry advanced. -The officer marching at the head was shot by a civilian who sat on a -tree at exactly the same place where we had left the car. - -As the regular line of halting-places was continually fired at, orders -were given to clear the town by force. Two guns with 150 rounds were -sent. The two guns fired shrapnel from the station into the streets. -Thus at least that quarter near the station was made safe, and in this -way it was possible to take the columns, that had been bivouacking for -days before Louvain, through the town. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: V. KLEWITZ. - -The witness was then sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: REISENER. - - - D. App. 3. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -Major v. Manteuffel, commanding 15th Mobile Commando, declared as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Walter v. Manteuffel, born at Gnesen on -January 23rd, 1864; Protestant. - -The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement: - -As to Case: On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, at noon, we arrived at -Louvain. The town gave me an impression of quietude and peace. One -company of Landwehr Regiment No. 66 occupied the town hall. There were -no other troops present. As soon as troops arrived, the company was -to commence the victualling. This was the case on Tuesday at noon. -The following troops had arrived in the meanwhile: two companies and a -battalion of the 27th Landwehr Brigade, which were accommodated in the -town hall and in the building opposite. Sections of troops of the IX. -Reserve Corps also marched through the town. In the afternoon, at about -5 o'clock, the 1st Company of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss, under 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt, arrived at the station. - -At about 7.30 p.m. I had gone to the Hôtel Métropole, Rue Vital -Decoster, to dine. I had just finished the soup when a gendarme (we -had six of them with us) brought me word that I was to go to the town -hall. On the way he told me that inhabitants had fired upon soldiers -in the town. A few minutes later at the town hall I heard suddenly -lively firing in the town-hall square. I saw the company in the -lower room standing at the windows and replying to the firing of the -inhabitants. In front of the town hall, on the entrance staircase, I -also saw soldiers firing who replied to the firing of the inhabitants -in the direction of the houses. When asked, they all declared that -inhabitants had first fired on them from such-and-such windows. The -whistling of the bullets was similar to that of Brownings, and totally -different from the sound of our projectiles. In the meanwhile, the -firing had been stopped by the company leaders. In the upper room lay -another company. It was quiet for a time. The town-hall square was now -filled with artillery--one battery--and with columns, motor-cars, and -benzine-tanks. A tremendous rifle-fire now commenced again from the -surrounding houses of the townsfolk. I saw how one company sought cover -in the entrance to St. Peter's Church. - -In the meantime, we had deposited the wounded in the town hall; I -believe there were three, wounded chiefly in the legs. - -After the firing had again ceased I ordered the surrounding houses to -be searched. This was effected in such a manner that all inhabitants -found with arms or ammunition were immediately shot. The houses were -set on fire. I saw myself one Belgian civilian on whom was found a roll -of cartridges. At about this time the General in Command, IX. Reserve -Corps, His Excellency v. Boehn, arrived at the town hall at about 10.30 -p.m. He was very indignant about this firing by the Belgians. When he -rode to the hotel with the Staff a murderous fire was opened upon him -and his Staff from windows and roofs, without any provocation, and -three of his adjutants were seriously wounded, a troop of about ninety -horses was stampeded, wounded, or killed. His Excellency v. Boehn -asked to be conducted to the town hall to see the hostages. In his own -presence and that of his officers, the hostages were told in French -that if the town continued to be fired on, the town would have to pay a -contribution of twenty million francs, the hostages would be shot, and -the town destroyed. - -I offered to make these measures at once known to the inhabitants by -going through the town with two hostages and a group of soldiers, and -the hostages repeated the words of General v. Boehn. On the following -morning the General had this procession with the hostages repeated. -Several houses from which firing had taken place were already burning. -No firing by the inhabitants was heard at the town hall, but on the -boulevards the firing is said to have been continued. I wish to add -that at the town hall a horse was killed by a shot in the head. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: V. MANTEUFFEL. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - - EXPERT OPINION of the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage Commando, Major - v. Manteuffel. - -In addition to my statement as a witness I would like to express expert -opinion as Commandant and soldier to the effect that the whole firing -was instigated by the inhabitants. At the same time, the approach of -two Belgian battalions from the direction of Bueken was reported. -The German detachments on duty were given the alarm to oppose this. -When these troops had nearly got away, the Belgian inhabitants opened -a lively fire upon them from windows and garret dormers. Our German -soldiers went through the streets quietly and unsuspectingly, when they -were suddenly fired on. The German soldiers in no way commenced or -provoked the firing. - - Signed: V. MANTEUFFEL, Major and Commandant. - - - D. App. 4. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -Lieutenant of the Landwehr Ibach, Adjutant, Mobile Foraging Commando -No. 15, declared as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Ernst Ibach, born on May 16th, 1882, at -Braunschweig; Protestant; Municipal Councillor at Halberstadt. - -The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement: - -As to Case: On August 25th, 1914, I was as adjutant of the Forage -Commando at Louvain in the town hall there. Between 7 and 8 p.m. it -was reported to me several times at short intervals that Belgians had -fired upon our German troops on the outskirts of the town. I asked the -Commandant, Major v. Manteuffel, to come to the town hall. Shortly -after his arrival, at about 8 p.m., violent firing took place directly -outside the town hall. On going from the office of the Commando into -the hall, our soldiers told me that the inhabitants had fired from the -opposite windows and roofs. The German soldiers replied to the fire. -Among the soldiers at the town hall I saw several with shot-wounds; one -was injured in the upper part of the thigh, and was bandaged at the -office of the Commando. In the course of the night, German soldiers -brought in a corpse wrapped in a red cover; the bearers related that he -was an ensign of the 90th Regiment, who had been shot in the head by -the Belgians. - -During the night I noticed that a house diagonally opposite and one -behind the town hall were burning. I went to see Judge Schmit, who was -at the town hall as a hostage, and upon my request he asked the police -to collect the firemen who, in company with German soldiers, commenced -operations for extinguishing the fire. The other houses burned near the -town hall and the Peter Church were, as far as I could see, set on fire -by sparks from neighbouring conflagrations. The roof of the church -burned first. The endeavours of an hussar officer to extinguish the -fire by means of a Minimax apparatus from the roof of the church were -ineffective. - -A soldier coming to the town hall gave me a broken shot-gun which -had been found in the possession of an inhabitant shot by summary -court-martial. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ERNST IBACH. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 5. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -Judge of Military Law Grebin declared as follows: - -As to Person: My name is John Grebin, born at Halle a.S. on May 30th, -1867; Protestant; President of the Court of Justice at Aschersleben. - -The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the -purpose of ascertaining whether any German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement: - -As to Case: I am President of the Military Court of Justice, Mobile -Supply Commando No. 15, and since Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, I have -been at Louvain. On Tuesday, August 25th, at about 7 o'clock p.m., I -was having supper with Major Manteuffel, Captain v. Westhofen, and -1st Lieutenant Winkler, at the Hôtel "Métropole de Suède," Rue Vital -Decoster. Suddenly a gendarme came and reported to Major v. Manteuffel -that the alarm had been raised. Major v. Manteuffel immediately set -out, whilst we others remained a few minutes longer, and then followed -the Major. We then left the hotel and went to the Rue de la Station -on our way to the town hall. On the way there I stopped twice for a -short time, addressing a German company marching through the Rue de -la Station from the direction of the market-place to the station, and -immediately afterwards speaking to an officer who sat in a motor-car. -When I entered the market-place I heard suddenly violent firing to the -right of me, in a street leading to the market-place at the corner of -the Rue de la Station. To judge from the sound, the firing did not come -from German military rifles. As I advanced a few more steps towards the -town hall, violent firing could be heard in the market-place, which, -to judge from the direction of sound, came from the houses. As I could -not proceed and could not remain without cover in the market-place, I -sought cover between the baggage-carts standing on the left of me in -the market-square. While I stood there, a bullet fell a few steps away -from me upon the pavement, and I could clearly see the sparks flying -up. When after a time the firing ceased, I went to the town hall, where -I remained until the morning. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOHANNES GREBIN. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 6. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -First Lieutenant Telemann of the Reserve, Supply Commando, declared as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Paul Telemann, born at Nordhausen on October -20th, 1877; Protestant; Royal President at the Ministry of Public Works -in Berlin. - -The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement: - -As to Case: Since noon on August 25th the infantry barracks, Rue -de Tirlemont, with about 300 men suffering from foot trouble and -a few slightly wounded doing guard duty at Louvain, were under my -supervision. - -On the evening of August 25th I and two 1st Staff-Surgeons were -having supper in the Café Royal--since burned down--in the market. -Suddenly--as far as I remember, soon after 8 p.m.--I heard lively -firing in the market, which steadily increased. The hostess, a German, -immediately switched off the electric light, and we and the other -guests of the establishment, chiefly officers and non-commissioned -officers of our army, went into a back room so as not to be hit from -the street. As the greater number of us were without arms, we decided -for the present to wait there. - -When after a time the firing ceased, we hurried into the street, and -there met German soldiers going along the houses for the purpose of -taking action against those from which inhabitants had fired. As far -as I remember, only isolated shots fell at that time. We went over to -the town hall, where I met a group of people from my barrack who had -gone to the town hall to look for me. I at once went with them to the -infantry barracks. During this time also only isolated shots were fired -behind us. - -The guard and a large number of soldiers stationed there stood in front -of the infantry barracks with their rifles ready, and they showed me -several houses in the Rue de Tirlemont from which inhabitants had fired -on them. I forbade them, under threat of heavy punishment, to set -these houses on fire as they had intended, as I wished to protect the -"Military Hospital" opposite the barracks and the barracks themselves -with the wounded. A short time afterwards we heard continuous firing -from the direction of the adjoining Place du Peuple, and in this -direction we also saw several houses burning. Motor-cars arrived -now, bringing German wounded to the "Military Hospital." As far as I -remember, there were in all about thirty to thirty-five, amongst whom -were also some severely wounded, as, for instance, Captain v. Esmarch, -who had shot wounds in the head and had dislocated both arms in his -fall from horseback. - -Owing to the fairly strong wind the entire blocks of houses behind the -field hospital began to catch fire, apparently from the houses set -alight in the Place du Peuple; I had thus to direct my whole attention -to the safety of the wounded. Fortunately the wind abated somewhat -later on and drove the flames to the other side, so that after bringing -up fire-hose, it was possible to save the field hospital. - -During the night the crack of isolated gun-shots and the explosion of -ammunition in the burning houses continued intermittently. - -In the early hours of the morning a division of pioneers marched -through the Rue de Tirlemont, who asserted that they had just been -fired on from the houses of this street, and they also wanted to set -the houses on fire. I forbade this for the reasons already mentioned. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: PAUL TELEMANN. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 7. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings. - -During the judicial proceedings of the Court of the Government-General -at Brussels for the purpose of ascertaining whether any German military -persons, and, if so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment for -the burning down of Louvain, there appeared as witness: - -Lieutenant-Colonel (Active List) Schweder, commanding 2nd Mobile -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, who made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Max Karl Schweder, born in Posen on April -24th, 1856; Protestant. - -As to Case: On Monday, August 24th, 1914, the Landsturm Battalion -Neuss, coming from Neuss, arrived in Tirlemont, and was immediately -detrained. I went with my Staff by motor to Louvain, where I arrived -about 6.30 p.m. It was my intention to prepare everything for the -drawing up and quartering of the Company v. Sandt. The company also -arrived at Louvain at 8.10 p.m.; it was quartered near the station, -with closed ranks in an alarm quarter. I, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt, -1st Surgeon Dr. Berghausen, and Adjutant-Lieutenant Lamberts took up -our quarters at an hotel opposite. The night of August 24th to August -25th was quiet. On August 25th, at 6 a.m., began the marching of the -troops of the IX. Reserve Army Corps through Louvain towards Malines, -coming from Liège. On the 25th there were only about 100 men in Louvain -of the v. Sandt Company, because about 100 men were told off for -guard and sentries. As far as I know, no other troops were present -in Louvain on Tuesday, August 25th, except this company. During the -day, until 5 o'clock p.m., the town was perfectly quiet. At 5 o'clock -Staff-Major-General, 17th Reserve Division, v. Rosenberg appeared and -ordered the company to be ready at the north-west exit of Louvain. I -and 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt immediately led the company there and drew -it up, covered by the crest of a small hill. The company lay there from -5.45 till 7 o'clock at this point without taking part in the fight, -which, as far as I remember, had already begun at 11 a.m. on both sides -of the main road Mechlin-Louvain, and the main points of attack were -Herent and Bueken. - -Shortly after 7 o'clock I ordered 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt to march -back with his company and to draw it up ready at the station at -Louvain, because I felt that the company was more necessary there -than outside the town. I myself went on foot through the town, which -was almost devoid of troops, to the station. I saw some isolated -persons and several of the inhabitants in small groups standing in -front of the houses and walking about in the streets. The houses were -everywhere dark. Of the German forces I saw in the evening only a few -baggage-carts accompanied by small detachments. - -About 500 paces from the station, in the Rue Leopold, I saw suddenly -the flash of a rocket across the station road. At the same moment -firing took place from all surrounding houses, from windows, attics, -cellar gratings, upon me and upon the German soldiers near--about -fifteen men, who were in the street either singly or were following -their baggage, which was ahead of them. I emphasise particularly the -point that before the rocket went up the streets were perfectly quiet, -and that the soldiers went quite quietly and harmlessly on their way. -I assert distinctly that neither a German officer nor a German soldier -had once fired upon the inhabitants of Louvain before this attack -began. I collected about ten soldiers, with whom I went to the station, -part of them going on one side of the road and part of them on the -other. On the way, a distance of about 500 metres, I with my men, about -ten of them, were fired at from the houses of this street, so that we -were continually under a hail of bullets. During this march I ordered -my soldiers to reply to the fire directed upon them. - -When I arrived at the station, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt's company was -already fighting the inhabitants of the surrounding houses, who fired -from the roofs, windows, and cellar windows. I immediately placed -myself in the firing-line and took part in the fight with a rifle; 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt did the same. About ten minutes later there was a -pause in the firing, which I made use of for sending strong patrols -into the nearest houses, from which firing had taken place, to bring -out the inhabitants. I took the company straight back to the station. -One non-commissioned officer and five men of the company were wounded, -several by small-shot. - -In the course of the evening His Excellency v. Boehn appeared with a -few officers, and I and 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt had to give a general -report. - -I finally add that, with short intervals, the inhabitants fired during -the whole night from their houses, and also from the group of houses to -the east of the station. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: MAX SCHWEDER. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 8. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings. - -First Lieutenant of Reserve v. Sandt, 2nd Westphalian Hussar Regiment -No. 11 and leader of the company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss, declares the following: - -As to Person: My name is Otto v. Sandt, born at Bonn, May 11th, 1869; -Catholic. - -The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the -purpose of ascertaining whether any German military persons; and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement: - -As to Case: I arrived at Louvain from Neuss with the 1st Company, 2nd -Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, on August 24th, 1914. My -company was quartered in closed ranks in an alarm quarter near the -station. The night passed quietly; on the morning of August 25th I -commenced at once to fall in 150 sentries as a railway guard. There -were no other troops in Louvain on this day except a section of railway -engineers, about 60 strong. During the day, great trains of troops of -the IX. Reserve Army Corps, coming from Liège, went through Louvain -towards Malines. At about 5 o'clock Colonel Schweder ordered me to -march with my company to the north-west exit of Louvain; at about 6 -o'clock my company lay upon a small hill in a covered position. A good -deal of fighting was taking place about 1500 metres away from us. I -did not take part in it with my company. On the command of Colonel -Schweder we marched back to the station square at Louvain. On the way -to the town-hall square many German troops with the baggage passed us. -Inhabitants stood singly and in groups before the various houses. On -the way to the station square all was quiet; one could not anticipate -that the inhabitants were planning an attack. At about ten minutes -before 8 o'clock I was with my company in the station square near the -baggage that was ready to march. I stood with my company about five -minutes, when my company was suddenly and quite unexpectedly fired -at from all the surrounding houses, from the windows and attics. At -the same time, I heard lively firing in the station road and all the -adjacent streets; firing also took place from the window of my hotel -(Hôtel de l'Industrie), directly from my room. - -We stood near the baggage; then we knelt down and fired upon the houses -opposite. After a short time the baggage horses and those of the -officers, some of which had been wounded by shots, ran away. I then -sought cover with my company inside the doors of a few houses. Five men -of my company were wounded in this attack. That so few were wounded can -be explained by the fact that the inhabitants fired too high. On the -command of Colonel Schweder I then led my company back, close to the -station. - -An hour later an adjutant came who called my name--v. Sandt. He said -that he was an adjutant of His Excellency v. Boehn. The adjutant -asked me, "Can you swear that Belgians fired on your company from the -opposite and adjacent houses?" I replied, "Yes; I can swear that." -The adjutant then led me to General v. Boehn, who stood near. His -Excellency desired an accurate report. I gave my report exactly as I -have given it here before the Judge of Military Law, Dr. Ivers. After -having given my report, His Excellency said to me, "Can you swear to -the accuracy of what you have just reported to me, especially to the -fact that the inhabitants first fired from the houses?" I replied to -this, "Yes; I can swear to this." - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OTTO V. SANDT. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings, 4 o'clock p.m. - -First Lieutenant v. Sandt added the following: - -About half an hour after His Excellency v. Boehn had spoken with me -about the firing of the Belgians from their houses upon my company, and -after His Excellency had had these houses at the station set on fire, -and while they were blazing, with the exception of the house "Maria -Theresa" (an hotel which was not set on fire because near it were the -military benzine stores), two or three more volleys were fired from the -windows, and particularly from the roof of this hotel directly upon the -officers and men standing in front of the station. Besides my company, -about 150 soldiers of the 35th Reserve Regiment, just detrained, stood -in front of the station. It was only now that--after having removed the -barrels of benzine--we fired on the house and set it alight. - -After this statement too had been read to the witness he declared it -also on the oath which he had taken at the first examination on the -morning of the same day. - - Signed: OTTO V. SANDT. - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - -Court of the Government-General of Belgium. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -There appears on citation Captain v. Sandt as witness, and after the -object of the examination has been made known to him, he is examined as -follows: - -As to Person: As already stated. - -As to Case: I can only confirm as perfectly true my statement of -September 17th, 1914, which has been shown to me again. Like my -commander, Schweder, I had taken up my quarters in the Hôtel de -l'Industrie at Louvain. I did not see myself the light signals shown -at the station, but soldiers of my company assured me repeatedly -in the most trustworthy manner that light signals had gone up near -the station, and the firing from the surrounding houses commenced -immediately afterwards. The shots from these houses were undoubtedly -fired by civilians. There were not yet any German soldiers in the -houses at that time. Our soldiers only fired after a lively fire had -been opened on them from the houses. Our troops marched into Louvain -in close order when they arrived from the fight at Bueken, and they -were not pursued by Belgian troops as far as Louvain. The Belgian -troops had been pressed back beyond Herent to Bueken. There was no -reason at all for our troops to fire prior to the firing from the -houses. I emphatically declare on my oath that it is altogether out of -the question that our troops should have previously fired upon each -other by mistake in Louvain. I was told that identification discs were -frequently found on shot civilians, so that one may assume that Belgian -soldiers in civilian clothes took part in the firing. I did not myself -see any mutilated German soldiers in Louvain, but soldiers of the -Marine Battalion--I think of the 7th--under the command of Colonel v. -Berund, told me credibly that a German soldier had been found in the -Hôtel de Suède with the head beaten in. According to their statement -another German soldier was found dead in the Rue Maria Thérèse, his -legs and arms having been chopped off. This house was consequently set -on fire. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OTTO V. SANDT. - -The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement, referring to the -oath already previously made. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 9. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 23rd, 1914_. - -First Surgeon, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, Dr. -Berghausen made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Georg Berghausen, born at Cologne o.Rh. on -February 1st, 1881; Old Catholic. - -As to Case: I am Battalion Surgeon in the Landsturm Infantry Battalion -Neuss, and arrived at the station of Louvain with the 1st Company of -this regiment on August 24th, 1914, at noon. I lived with the Staff -in the Hôtel "De la Ville," and in order to prepossess the proprietor -and the employés I immediately paid out of my own pocket 50 francs -for the purchase of provisions. The evening of the 24th and the night -passed quietly. At noon on the 25th I was on duty at Herent and Bueken. -At about 4 p.m. I was again in Louvain. At about 5 o'clock I heard -that there was a battle proceeding at Bueken. The 1st Company of the -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, under 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt as -company leader, marched to the north-west exit of Louvain. I had gone -there previously by motor, and went as far as the fighting-line before -Bueken, where I was repeatedly fired at whilst sitting in my car, -though I was wearing the white armlet with the red cross. I returned to -Louvain in my car at 11.30 p.m. I got out near the town hall and sent -my car with the chauffeur to the station. I myself went on foot along -the Rue de la Station in order to go to the station where I was living. -On the way, between the town hall and the station, I was fired at from -the windows of the houses about ten or twelve times. Close to where -the Monument stands, I saw a German soldier lying dead on the ground; -he had been shot in the head (mouth). His comrades, with whom he had -passed the Monument, told me on inquiry as to who had shot the soldier, -that the shot had been fired from the corner house of David Fischbach. -With the help of my servant I broke open the street door, and there -first encountered the occupant, old David Fischbach. I questioned him -regarding the murdered soldier, because, as the other soldiers declared -with certainty, the shot that had killed the soldier on the Monument -place had been fired from his house. Old David Fischbach declared that -he knew nothing about it. His son, young Fischbach, then came down the -stairs of the first floor, and from the porter's lodge came an old -servant. I immediately took father, son, and servant into the street. -At this moment a tumult arose in the street because the soldiers, -standing near the Monument, and I myself, were being terribly fired on -from a few houses farther away on the same side. During this time I -lost Fischbach, his son, and the servant in the darkness. - -Lively firing proceeded from a house obliquely opposite the present -commando, Rue de la Station, No. 120. Just in front of this house, No. -120, two officers of high rank and several soldiers passed, hurrying in -the direction of the station on account of the violent firing. I can -state with certainty that the officers and soldiers, who went along -the Rue de la Station during the time that I passed from the town hall -to the railway, did not fire. Accordingly, it is certain that while -the German soldiers did not fire, the inhabitants fired on us German -officers and soldiers from their windows in the Rue de la Station on -the night of August 25th to 26th, at between 11 and 12 o'clock, and, -particularly that when we passed the house No. 120, Rue de la Station, -I saw myself that a murderous fire was directed upon us officers and -soldiers from the second floor of this house. That we, or some of us, -were not killed, I can only explain by the fact that the officers and -soldiers ran along on the same side of the street from which the firing -took place, and that, moreover, it was dark. - -A few minutes later I met, near the Monument, the commissariat -Commandant, Major v. Manteuffel, with the Belgian president of the -Red Cross, the prior of the Dominican Monastery, and the old priest -of the town. We four or five all saw the shot soldier and, a few -steps farther, the old Fischbach lying shot in front of the Monument. -I assumed that the comrades of the shot soldier, who had seen the -firing from the house of Fischbach upon their comrade, had immediately -carried out this punishment on the owner of the house. I then joined -the Commandant with his group of eight soldiers and the three hostages. -The Commandant went with his soldiers and the three hostages through -the main streets of the town, and the Father Prior announced in a -loud voice in Flemish and French that no Belgians should fire upon -German soldiers, otherwise the hostages would have to be shot and the -town would have to pay a fine of twenty millions, and furthermore the -houses, from which German soldiers had been fired at, would be burnt. - -From this statement of mine, which I can conscientiously swear to, it -can be clearly seen that on the night of August 25th to 26th, and also -on the forenoon of August 26th, the inhabitants fired repeatedly and -frequently upon German officers and German soldiers without any cause, -that is to say, without a German officer or a German soldier having -first fired upon the inhabitants. - -Finally, I wish to add that during those days I saw myself a 1st -Surgeon, a Captain, and a Landsturm soldier wounded by small-shot, the -two former in the face; I treated the Landsturm soldier myself; he had -shot-wounds in the forehead, on the right hand, and the right thigh. I -also treated a fourth wounded, a Landsturm soldier with shot-wounds in -the thigh. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Dr. GEORG BERGHAUSEN. - - The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 10. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings. - -Non-commissioned Officer Friedrich Hüllermeier, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Hüllermeier, born at Hardenberg, -near Neviges (district of Düsseldorf), on November 13th, 1874; -Protestant. - -As to Case: On Monday, August 24th, 1914, our company, coming from -Neuss, arrived at Louvain, the 1st Company having gone as far as -Louvain by rail. I was attached to the baggage, consisting of three -carts, three drivers, six men, and four cyclists. We arrived at Louvain -at about 9.30 p.m. The night passed quietly at Louvain. On August 25th -everything in Louvain was quiet until 5 o'clock p.m. Our carts and -baggage, with the necessary guard, stood in front of the hotels in the -station square. At 5.30 the baggage leader, Non-commissioned Officer -Cardinco, came and gave orders to fetch the horses at once from the -avenue and side-street, and to make them ready for marching. We stood -harnessed. At about 8 o'clock our company, with 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt -at its head, returned from the north-west exit of Louvain and drew up -between our baggage. The company had been barely five minutes near the -baggage when suddenly and unexpectedly we were terribly fired at from -the surrounding houses, from windows, attics, and particularly from -the roofs. Beside me stood the servant of Colonel Schweder, Corporal -Fehnes. He received a wound in the head and several in the arm, and -was carried from the place seriously injured. I also saw four of our -horses hit by shots from the windows. I saw that many shots were fired -on us from the Hôtel de l'Industrie, the hotel where our officers -were staying. Several soldiers of our company are said to have been -grievously injured. I add, that the inhabitants fired too high. This -was our good fortune, for, in the terrible fire directed upon us from -all the houses in the station square most of the German officers and -soldiers would have been killed or seriously wounded. At the command -of Colonel Schweder the company was then led close to the station -building. We stood close to the station for about a quarter of an hour, -and then I saw that the houses at the station--except the Hôtel "Maria -Theresa"--were blazing. The Hôtel "Maria Theresa" had not been set on -fire because, as I heard only later on, the German military store of -benzine was near it. But I saw clearly that several volleys had been -fired from the windows and the roof of this hotel, which were aimed -directly at the officers and men in front of the station. Besides my -company, about 120 to 150 soldiers from a regiment just detrained stood -at the station. Only, now, since the volleys had been fired from the -house Hôtel "Maria Theresa," we also fired at this house and set it -alight. Not a single shot was fired either by our soldiers, standing -near the baggage, or by my company, which returned about 8 o'clock from -the north-west exit of Louvain, and which was partly standing between -our baggage and partly lying down a little distance away. Only after -we German officers and soldiers had been fired at from almost all the -houses round the station did we receive orders to reply to the fire. I -can swear to this. - -The witness, after his statement had been read over to him, was -admonished that his statement must be perfectly true, since he would -have to swear to it. The witness declared: - -I have only spoken what is quite true, and I can swear to it to the -best of my knowledge. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRIEDRICH HÜLLERMEIER. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - -Court of the Government-General of Belgium. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -There appears on citation the witness mentioned below, who, after the -object of the examination had been made known to him, was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: Friedrich Hüllermeier, aged 40; non-commissioned officer, -1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On the afternoon of August 25th the alarm was raised -in Louvain because there was a battle in the neighbourhood. I had -instructions to be ready at the station to march with our baggage-carts -(the baggage of the Staff and our company). I saw nothing of a light -signal or a green light near the station. But towards the evening my -attention had been aroused by a very large number of young people -in civilian clothes--compared to the number previously--who moved -about in the streets, and also went into some of the houses. Towards -the evening I also saw some figures glide past the windows of the -surrounding houses, and I noticed curtains at the open windows being -pulled together. Suddenly, after 8 o'clock p.m., we were fired at -from all sides as if by word of command. Many of us were wounded; -some of us were seriously injured. My horse was shot in the head. We -were ordered to lie down, and we fired upon the houses. Previous to -this firing there was perfect quiet, and we were on the best terms -with the inhabitants. Comrades, particularly such as had stood guard -at the station, assured me in the most credible manner that on that -evening, and prior to the sudden firing, they had seen light signals go -up, especially red and green lights. I declare on my oath that I saw -myself how we were fired at from the surrounding houses, particularly -from the windows and attic dormers; I also clearly noticed many shots -from the Hôtel de l'Industrie and whole volleys from the windows and -the roof of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa." - -I maintain my statement, made on September 17th, 1914, which has been -read over to me. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Non-commissioned Officer HÜLLERMEIER. - -The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement with reference to -his previous oath. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 11. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings. - -Landsturm-soldier Wilhelm Krebbers, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm -Infantry Battalion Neuss, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Krebbers, born in Crefeld, October -10th, 1873; Catholic. - -As to Case: I can testify with certainty that the German officers and -we German soldiers only fired on the houses after the inhabitants had -previously made a murderous attack upon us Germans by firing many shots -and whole volleys from the windows and especially the roofs of all -houses near the station. - -I was baggage leader. After the firing was finished, my baggage-cart -and horses had disappeared. It was not until about 12.30 at night that -I met in the Rue de la Station two soldiers of a strange regiment with -my cart and my horses. I got on the cart and drove to the station. When -I passed the Hôtel "Maria Theresa" several volleys were fired from the -windows and the roof upon my cart. The horses bolted and only stopped -behind the station at a wall. - -The statement was read over to the witness, and he was admonished -to speak only the truth, since he would have to swear to it. He then -declared: - -I have spoken the perfect truth, and can swear to it with a clear -conscience. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILH. KREBBERS. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 12. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 17th, 1914_. - Station Buildings. - -Sergeant-Major Schmiele, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss, made the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Arnold Schmiele, born on May 5th, 1882, at -Berlin; Protestant. - -As to Case: I am Sergeant-Major, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm -Infantry Battalion Neuss, and am under the immediate command of 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt. - -When I had heard the first two or three shots of the inhabitants from -the houses opposite the station--it was about 8 o'clock p.m., shortly -after dark--I noticed coming in a south-westerly direction a swarm of -small bluish balls of light that descended on us without making any -noise and were then extinguished. I immediately drew the attention of -the soldiers near me to this; five to six soldiers had, so they told -me, made the same observation as I had done. In my opinion, this rocket -was to be the sign for the inhabitants to begin firing at once upon the -German soldiers; in any case, it is certain that immediately after the -appearance of the rocket in the sky, the inhabitants fired from their -houses. I saw that we German soldiers were fired on from two houses in -the station square directly from the roof and from the attic windows. - -I can swear according to the truth that in the station square where -my company lay, the inhabitants were the first to fire on us from the -houses, and that it was only then, after the Belgians had commenced -the firing, that we Germans fired on the houses in the station square. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ARNOLD SCHMIELE. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 13. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 18th, 1914_. - -Landsturm-soldier Küppers, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Hubert Küppers, born at Güchen, district of -Grevenbroich, on April 11th, 1877; Catholic. - -As to Case: I am a soldier of the 1st Company, Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss. - -On August 25th I was, in the evening between 7 and 9 o'clock, sentinel -in front of the main entrance to the station building at Louvain. At -about 8 o'clock the leader of our company arrived with his company -in the station square. One part of the company drew up between our -baggage-carts in the station square, another part lay down on the -ground a few paces from us. The company had only been in the station -square for about five minutes when I saw a green rocket go up, going in -the direction above the Hôtel "Maria Theresa" at the station square. -I saw how the rocket became extinguished above the Monument in the -station square and a number of bright, many-coloured little balls fell -down, which all went out in the air before they touched the ground. - -Hardly had the green rocket and the small balls become extinguished -when, on the opposite side of the town, and also in the direction -towards the station, a red rocket became visible. After a few minutes -the red rocket also became extinguished, and immediately afterwards a -number of luminous little balls, blue, red, and green, from the rocket -fell down and were extinguished before touching the ground. Only a few -seconds later a murderous fire was opened upon the German soldiers -from the windows and attics of nearly all the houses in the station -square. I am certain that the two rockets were a sign to the Belgians -for commencing the fire upon the German soldiers. At 9 o'clock I was -relieved. I immediately reported to Non-commissioned Officer Grünewald, -on duty in the guardroom, that at about 8 o'clock I had seen two -rockets go up, one from the left of the town and the other from the -right--the first, a green one, followed immediately by a red one, from -both of which fell a quantity of luminous, many-coloured, small balls. - -After the witness had been earnestly exhorted to speak the truth, he -made the following statement: - -I am ready to swear conscientiously to the incident of the two rockets -just as I have described it. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HUBERT KÜPPERS. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 14. - -Court of the Government-General at Brussels. - - Present: - Dr. IVERS, Judge of Military Law. - Secretary, RAMBEAU. - - LOUVAIN, _September 18th, 1914_. - -Non-commissioned Officer Engemann, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, made the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Hugo Engemann, born at Barmen on June 13th, -1876; Catholic. - -As to Case: I am a non-commissioned officer of the 1st Company, -Landsturm Battalion Neuss, and on August 25th I was on duty at -signal-box 2. The guard is posted at some 800 metres' distance from -the station at Louvain. I sat in front of the guard-house and noticed -in the twilight, immediately after 8 o'clock, a red rocket in the -sky. In my opinion it rose above the main railway station at Louvain. -Immediately afterwards I heard loud firing from the town. - -I can swear to my statement with a clear conscience. - - Signed: HUGO ENGEMANN. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. IVERS. Signed: RAMBEAU. - - - D. App. 15. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General-Government of Belgium. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -On citation there appears the witness mentioned below, who, after the -object of the examination has been made known, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Frederic Messelke, aged 42; corporal, 2nd -Landsturm Battalion Neuss, 1st Company, at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On August 25th I marched with my company in close order -through Louvain to the station there. In the preceding action the -Belgians had been pressed back. On our return the town was quiet, nor -did we hear any shots on our return march. The troops in Louvain did -not mistake us for Belgian troops trying to enter the town. Above the -station I saw suddenly, at about 8 o'clock p.m., a blaze of light as of -a rocket. On the appearance of this light we were suddenly fired upon -from every quarter. At the command of our Feldwebelleutnant we fired on -the houses. The shooting continued for some time. I immediately told my -comrades that the signal light mentioned above was evidently a rocket. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRITZ MESSELKE. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 16. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears as witness Corporal Heinrich Weinen, and is examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Heinrich Weinen, aged 38; corporal, 1st -Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On August 25th I saw from the station square a light signal -suddenly given. Upon this signal we were fired at on all sides from -the windows of the surrounding houses. The rooms, from which the shots -came, were dark. I did not see any figures at the windows; I only saw -the flash of the shots; the flashes from the objects pointed from the -windows, which I took to be revolvers, were reflected from the houses -upon the street. The bullets struck the square close to us and burst -about our heads too. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HEINRICH WEINEN. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 17. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on citation Musketeer Wilhelm Mainz as witness, and is -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Mainz, aged 39; musketeer, 1st -Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On August 25th, in the evening, I was on guard at the -signal cabin, about 1000 metres from the railway station at Louvain. -Once, on turning round--it was between 8 and 9 o'clock--I saw clearly -two bright rockets rising near the station. After the ascent of these -rockets, I heard all at once in the town, and more especially near the -station, violent firing. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILHELM MAINZ. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 18. - - LOUVAIN, _November 16th, 1914_. - STATIONSSTRASSE, 118. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -On citation there appears as witness Corporal Erwin Bastian, who is -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Erwin Bastian, aged 28, at present engaged at -the Commandant's office at Louvain. - -As to Case: On August 22nd I came here with 1st Lieutenant Thelemann, -and was billeted upon a wine merchant, W. Philipper, opposite the -infantry barracks, with two more comrades. Up to August 25th the -relations between the local inhabitants and the soldiers were -throughout good, so that the men went partly without arms. On this -evening we retired to rest about 8.30; half an hour later we heard -isolated shots in the street. From what seemed to me the unusual -sound of these shots, I believe I can say with certainty that the -shots did not emanate from our weapons. We dressed ourselves at once. -From the window of my quarters I noticed several horses, especially -officers' horses, galloping through the streets riderless and coming -from Tirlemont. I also saw baggage horses without riders galloping -past, presumably from the baggage column, which was then stationed in -the market square here. Later we went to the infantry barracks, and -there reported ourselves. When the shooting increased, we made our way -out under the command of a non-commissioned officer to the Tirlemont -street, but soon returned again to barracks. Our section had not been -firing. On the way I saw dead horses lying in the street. Riderless -horses also galloped past us. In the barracks we occupied the windows. -From there I saw the flashes of different shots; according to the -illumination they caused, they had been fired from the surrounding -houses, perhaps at the height of the roof in the direction of the -street. I heard the bullets from these shots fall in the street; I had -the impression that they came from small bore rifles. It was dark in -the street; there was no light; the electric lighting, which on the -previous day was in order, had been destroyed during the night. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ERWIN BASTIAN. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 19. - - LOUVAIN, _December 16th, 1914_. - STATIONSSTRASSE, 118. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Robert Dreher, and is -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Robert Dreher, aged 23; musketeer, 11th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 48, at present engaged at the -Commander's office at Louvain. - -As to Case: I arrived here on August 20th, and have remained here since -that date. I was in the infantry barracks here, suffering with bad -feet. On the evening of August 25th, at about 9 o'clock, I heard shots -in the street. I therefore marched with several men under the command -of a non-commissioned officer. In the Rue de Tirlemont shots were fired -upon us from right and left of the houses of this street, and, as I -could clearly see in the illuminating flashes of the firing, by people -dressed as civilians. The shots came from the windows and roofs; the -bullets struck the street. It was clear from the sound of the shots -that they did not come from German weapons. We entered the houses from -which the shots had come and brought out five to six civilians, all -of whom still held revolvers in their hands. These persons were later -on shot at the railway station. I did not notice any previous signal -lights; riderless horses galloped past us, as well as baggage-carts -and horses, without drivers. On the morning of August 26th I saw on -the railway-station square many civilians shot, more than 100, among -whom were five clergymen, because they had shot upon German soldiers, -or because arms had been found with them. On August 27th I was in the -town with a comrade. I was shot at, without being injured, from behind -the hedges of a garden. It was in the afternoon; I was unable to see -the person who had fired the shot. On civilians who had been shot we -subsequently found distinguishing marks, from which I conclude that -they were Belgian soldiers. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Musketeer DREHER. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - D. App. 20. - - LOUVAIN, _November 16th, 1914_. - STATIONSSTRASSE, 118. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -On citation there appears as witness Corporal Willi Kröber, who is -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Willi Kröber, aged 24; corporal, 8th -Leib-Grenadier Regiment, at present in Louvain at the Commandant's -office. - -As to Case: I have been here since the 21st of August, in the infantry -barracks, Rue de Tirlemont, with bad feet. On August 25th, at about -9 o'clock in the evening, we here heard shots which, according to -the sound, came from revolvers, but not German ones. We had to form -up in the court. A sergeant-major distributed cartridges among us, -whereupon I marched off with about twenty men. In the Rue de Tirlemont -we were vigorously fired at from houses to the right of the barracks -and from houses near the military hospital, the shots being fired -from small rifles. We entered a restaurant, from which shots had -been fired on us, and we found that the owner had about 100 Browning -cartridges. He was taken prisoner and shot. In the public square I -saw in the above-mentioned night two dead baggage horses and several -German soldiers lying dead in the street. By the light of the shots it -could be clearly seen that we were being shot at from the houses of -the Rue Tirlemont. We also heard the bullets from these shots strike -the street. On our return to barracks I still heard many shots in the -distance. On August 26th I did not go out. On August 27th, in the -afternoon about 5 o'clock, I went with five men under the command of -a non-commissioned officer from the town hall to the market-place. In -this square we were shot at with revolvers from the roofs of several -houses; the bullets fell near us. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WILLI KRÖBER. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 21. - - MALINES, _November 18th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on request as a witness Assistant Medical Officer Keuten, -who declares: - -As to Person: My name is Arnold Keuten, aged 25; Assistant Medical -Officer of the 2nd Mobile Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in -Malines. - -As to Case: As far as I remember, I came to Louvain in the course of -the afternoon of August 27th, and was there until the beginning of -October, when the Landsturm Battalion marched off. In the course of the -afternoon I heard shots in the Rue de la Station. I was then wearing -the Red Cross armlet. I had the impression that shots were being fired -on us from a house in spite of my visible Red Cross armlet. We moved -towards the house. A German soldier of another battalion jumped out of -the first floor of this house, and in doing so broke the upper part of -the thigh. He related to me that he had just been pursued and shot at -by six civilians in the house. Later I went to the station at Louvain. -There two German soldiers, both wounded by small shot, were taken -to the ward under my care. They had small shot in the upper part of -the thigh and the abdominal muscles respectively. According to their -statement, civilians fired at them from houses when they were standing -at the station between carriages. - -From September 10th to September 12th I had the care of a concentration -ward in Wygmael, about 5 kilometres from Louvain. From the 10th to the -12th of September there had been some engagements in the vicinity, -especially at Rotzelar and Wackerzerl. It was reported to me that there -were still on the battlefield about 300 Belgians. I went there twice -to take care of the wounded Belgians, the first time with a cart and -a few men wearing the Red Cross. In bringing out the severely wounded -Belgians from a house, we were shot at from bushes two or three times, -though it was still light. On the second occasion, too, when I went to -the field with two motor ambulances and two transport cars for wounded, -marked with the Red Cross and carrying flags with the Red Cross that -were visible a long way off, shots were fired at us from bushes; the -drive was merely undertaken in order to bring in Belgian wounded. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: A. KEUTEN. - -The witness was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 22. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on citation as witness Non-commissioned Officer Joseph -Fenes, who is examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Joseph Fenes, aged 44; non-commissioned -officer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in -Malines. - -As to Case: I arrived at Louvain on the evening of August 24th with my -Landsturm Battalion. In the afternoon of the following day, at about -4 o'clock, I was ordered to saddle at once, ready for battle, the two -horses of our commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Schweder. The hotel, at -which my commander had put up, was situated at the right, looking from -the station square, at a corner of the square. When I arrived at the -hotel with the two saddled horses my commander had already left in -his automobile for the battlefield. I was instructed to wait with the -two horses outside the hotel. From this point in front of the hotel I -could well overlook the station square. I noticed that on the stroke -of 8 o'clock (German time) a rocket went up suddenly from the station -square, such as I have seen them at displays of fireworks. The rocket, -giving a bright light, went up from the square to the right of the -station from a bush near which there are to-day graves; I was about 50 -metres away from it. I only saw one rocket go up. Before the rocket -went up I had already noticed that between 6 and 7 in the evening a -remarkable number of the civilians who passed me entered the hotel of -my commander and went up the stairs. - -Hardly had the above-mentioned rocket gone up when shots were fired -from all the surrounding houses upon the German soldiers who were in -the station square. The shots were fired from the houses by civilians, -as I noticed distinctly--it was still fairly light. I also saw -civilians running about on the roofs of the surrounding houses and -firing down from the roofs. The first shot fell from a window of the -top storey of the hotel of my commander, outside which I was waiting, -and, as I distinctly noticed, was fired by a civilian. Immediately -afterwards many more shots were fired from the windows of this hotel -into the street. For safety's sake I at once mounted one of the horses. -But immediately after I had mounted, it was shot in the leg (hind leg) -from the window of my commander's hotel, so that it fell down with me. -Just afterwards the other horse also was struck by a bullet from the -hotel. It fell on me, so that I broke a rib and shoulder. As I was -lying between the two horses, I received suddenly from above, from a -window of the hotel, a shot on the crown of the head. (Witness shows -the wound; the injury is to-day still clearly visible, and is situated -on the upper part of the head, approximately in the centre, so that he -must have received the shot from above.) I was carried to the hotel by -a comrade and bandaged by a German military doctor who did not belong -to our battalion. Later on I was moved to another house, and then laid -down in a place amongst some bushes. From there I saw that brisk firing -was still taking place from the surrounding houses. The persons firing -the shots I could not recognise because of the darkness. I declare most -positively that the German soldiers only fired after the civilians had -already begun the firing from the houses, after the rocket had gone -up. After the rocket had ascended, wild and indiscriminate firing at -once began from all the surrounding houses. A mad confusion ensued. -Riderless horses and driverless baggage-carts tore past. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOSEPH FENES. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 23. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on citation as witness Medical Non-commissioned Officer -Adam Meschede, who is examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Adam Meschede, aged 42; medical -non-commissioned officer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, -at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On the evening of August 25th, between 8 and 9 o'clock, I -was in a ward at the railway station of Louvain. As trained medical -non-commissioned officer I was bandaging the wounded there. Among the -wounded two German soldiers of the 1st Company of our battalion were -brought to me this evening; their names are Kloenters and Roesseler. -In both cases I ascertained, and I declare this on oath, that they had -been injured by small shot in the head. - -On this evening I had in all about forty to fifty German wounded -brought to me. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ADAM MESCHEDE. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 24. - - MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_. - -Court of the General Belgian Government. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Franz Bongartz, who is -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Franz Bongartz, aged 41; musketeer, 1st -Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines. - -As to Case: On the evening of August 25th we came back from an -engagement near Bueken, and formed up at the station. Suddenly, as -if by command, shots were fired upon us from all sides from the -surrounding houses, as I clearly saw. Whole volleys were discharged at -us. I saw how we were being shot at from a restaurant there. We brought -out from this restaurant a few women and one man, who were taken to -the town hall. On the way there we were shot at from the houses. On -the following day, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, I was shot in -the knee. A German sentry showed me his rifle which, as I convinced -myself, was hit by small shot. I saw clearly that civilians fired from -the houses; the shot I received in the knee was fired from a cellar by -a civilian. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRANZ BONGARTZ. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 25. - - QUEDLINBURG, _November 22nd, 1914_. - -Court of the Ersatzbataillon, 5th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment No. 165. - - Present: - MOELLMANN, Lieutenant, as Officer of the Court. - BRINGERN, Sergeant-Major, as Military Clerk. - -There appeared as witness Musketeer August Zander, 3rd Ersatz Company, -5th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment No. 165, shop assistant by calling, -and after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he -was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is August Zander, aged 21; Protestant; born in -Schönebeck a.E., now living in Quedlinburg infantry barracks. - -As to Case: On August 21st I was brought to the field hospital at -Louvain because I was hurt in the foot. The field hospital was situated -in the barracks of the 11th Belgian Line Infantry Regiment, opposite -the military hospital, and was recognisable by a Red Cross flag. - -Food was conveyed to us regularly by young Belgians, who visited -a school in Louvain to train as clerics, by a few Dominicans or -Franciscans, who wore yellow coats, and also by a few civilians. The -nursing attendants wore white armlets with the red cross. - -On August 25th these people, who had given us our food, had from the -afternoon onwards disappeared without a trace. The evening meal we -received on this evening from a civilian; it must in some way have -been spoiled, for most who had eaten of it were attacked by violent -diarrhoea. - -In the evening, when most were already abed, it may have been 9 or -9.30, we heard suddenly violent firing. All who could jumped from their -beds and endeavoured to get rifles to defend themselves. - -The senior soldier present in the field hospital was a battalion -drummer (sergeant-major) from Regiment No. 27, who was lying in bed -severely wounded. He tried to quiet us by saying that we were under the -protection of the Red Cross; no one could hurt us. Those of us who had -been able to get rifles crowded to the entrance of the field hospital -in order to defend ourselves. - -I saw quite clearly two or three persons sitting on the roof of a -neighbouring house, who fired at our hospital. - -Below at the door, where the guard stood, we heard violent firing. -One could distinguish clearly between the pistol firing, carried out -by the Belgians, and the rifle fire of our own troops. Meanwhile, one -or other of our soldiers came to us and told us to rest quietly; the -attack undertaken by the inhabitants had failed. They only said that -our sentinels were having a bad time, that they were covered with hot -tar, and were suffering great pain. - -Finally we went to bed again. We heard throughout the night single -pistol shots, which could be clearly distinguished from our rifle shots. - -Next morning, between 8 and 9, I had gone into the court. Two other -soldiers were near. Suddenly about ten pistol shots were fired on -us, which, as I saw clearly, struck the ground quite close to me. -The shots had evidently been fired from the opposite roof by pushing -back the tiles. On the way to the station, which we took on the same -morning, we were repeatedly told by our posts to take care, as more -shots had been fired. At the Louvain station it was some hours before -the field hospital train went off. During this time several pistol -shots fell again at the end of our column, which were evidently -intended for the hospital train; a comrade was immediately afterwards -carried from the rear part of the column, where he had just been -severely wounded in the legs, to the front of the train. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: AUGUST ZANDER. - -The witness was then sworn. - -Signed as above. - - Signed: MOELLMANN. Signed: BRINGERN. - - - D. App. 26. - -_Report._ - -On August 26th, 1914, a motor-car, provided with a Red Cross flag and -painted with the sign, stopped in the town hall square at Louvain. - -The night affair in the streets was finished. - -The square was being cleansed from blood, etc. From Mons had arrived a -vehicle with wounded. - -Of these Captain Count v. Reventlow, 12th Grenadier Regiment, was -carried in the Voluntary Aid Society's automobile. It was 1 p.m., -sunny, raining at times. Rifle fire upon this automobile was opened -from the windows of the houses. - - Signed: GEORG V. ZITZEWITZ, Capitänleutnant, - Delegate of the Voluntary Aid Society. - - - D. App. 27. - - FÜRSTENWALDE (SPREE), _November 25th, 1914_. - - Present: - Lieutenant Prince ZU CAROLATH-BEUTHEN, as Court Officer. - Sergeant-Major ALTENDORF, as Clerk. - -There appears as witness Uhlan Friedrich Herzog, 1st Field Squadron, -Uhlan Regiment (1st Brandenburg) No. 3, who states: - -As to Person: My name is Friedrich Herzog, aged 29; Protestant. - -As to Case: I was in the hospital at Louvain. On the evening of August -25th, 1914, 9 o'clock, we heard shots directed upon our hospital. The -shots came from a house opposite the hospital. They were fired by -civilians, whom I saw myself. - -On the next day I was taken from the hospital to the station at -Louvain. On the way there I saw how shots were fired by civilians upon -four nursing sisters who were carrying a wounded German soldier. The -soldier, on this occasion, was hurt in the foot. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: FRIEDRICH HERZOG. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: ZU CAROLATH-BEUTHEN, Lieutenant, Officer of the Court. - Signed: ALTENDORF, Sergeant-Major, Clerk. - - - D. App. 28. - - FRANKFURT A.O., _November 23rd, 1914_. - -Court of the Reserve Battalion, Grenadier Regiment Prince Carl von -Preussen (2nd Brandenburg) No. 12. - - Present: - Lieutenant and Adjutant QUANDER, as Officer of the Court. - Acting-Sergeant-Major TROSCHEL, as Secretary. - -On citation there appears as witness Reservist Emil Getzke, 2nd -Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 12, now with the 2nd Company of Reserve -Grenadier Regiment No. 12, and after the importance of the oath has -been pointed out, he is examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is as stated. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -fireman by calling, living in Berlin, Winstrasse 58. - -As to Case: From August 19th to 26th, 1914, I was in Louvain, wounded, -where I was stationed with other wounded men in a school arranged as a -hospital. - -On August 25th, shortly after 9 p.m., we suddenly heard rifle fire -coming from the street, which later on was augmented by machine-gun -fire. As we could see nothing from the window owing to the geographical -position of our house, an Offizierstellvertreter, unknown to me, -called the hospital guard, which was stationed in a building separated -by the school-court, to inquire about the reason for the firing. The -guard having replied to the query, the Offizierstellvertreter ran -quickly over and returned in a few moments. He ordered all lights in -the house to be extinguished, and no one was to fire. On the afternoon -of the following day the hospital was cleared. All the wounded, -I amongst them, were conveyed to the station in a furniture van. -Immediately behind the van, sisters of the Red Cross carried a severely -wounded soldier. When we had arrived at the station, and were about -to leave the van, we were suddenly fired on by civilians who were -passing. None of the wounded were hit, nor the sisters, but a few of -the Landwehr men, who were accompanying the conveyance of the wounded. -They, as well as the guard at the station, at once replied to the -firing. A number of the assailants were hit by rifle shots. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: EMIL GETZKE. - -The witness was then sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: QUANDER, Officer of the Court. - Signed: TROSCHEL, Secretary. - - - D. App. 29. - - COLOGNE, _November 13th, 1914_. - -Royal Government. - - Present: - President GREEVEN, as Judge. - Referendary, Dr. WOLTER, as Secretary. - -On citation there appears as witness the soldier Dadaczynski, 6th -Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27, who states: - -As to Person: My name is Stanislaus Anton Dadaczynski, aged 31; -Catholic; gardener in Stassfurt, near Magdeburg, at present in the -reserve battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27. - -As to Case: When my battalion was in a village before Louvain, the name -of which I do not remember, I was taken by a non-commissioned officer -to Louvain on account of lung-trouble, together with two other soldiers -who were suffering with their feet. - -On Tuesday, August 25th, 1914, about 9 p.m., we were lying in the -barracks in which I was placed, in our rooms, on the straw. Each one -had by his side his rifle, also loaded cartridges. Suddenly we heard -shots directed upon our barracks from the hospital opposite. Shots -also came from the houses near the hospital. I can say with certainty -that shots were also fired from the hospital. We could hear distinctly -that shots were being discharged not only from guns, but also from -machine-guns. - -When we heard the shooting we took our rifles and ran from the second -or third storey, where we were stationed, downstairs. As the main -entrance of the barracks was covered by machine-gun fire, we could -not get out of the barracks. Some of us, who tried all the same, were -wounded; one fell dead. When the shots ceased for a moment we ran, -thirty to forty together, out of the barracks. We were shot at from all -surrounding houses, from cellars and windows. - -We now stormed all the houses from which shots had fallen; I with -four others rushed into the first house to the left of the hospital. -We brought out five inhabitants; from the other houses, close by, -about twenty men were brought out. Those who were found with arms were -immediately shot or bayoneted. Some twenty men, who were unarmed, we -brought to the barracks. From all side-streets near the hospital came -shots. We had to rush house after house. Wherever an armed inhabitant -was discovered he was killed. The house in which he was found was set -on fire. I myself, together with a comrade, bayoneted one inhabitant -who went for me with a knife. - -Shots were fired not only from the windows and cellar-openings, but -from the upper storeys of houses tin boxes filled with hot tar were -thrown on us. I saw myself how a box filled with tar was thrown upon -the helmet of one of my comrades, so that the tar ran down his neck and -shoulder. Another comrade had been hit by such a tar box on the arm, -so that the tar ran down his sleeve. Happily for them, the tar was no -longer so very hot as to cause worse burns. - -During the storming of the houses we again made a number of prisoners, -among them women and children; these were taken for safety's sake. We -brought these prisoners also to the barracks, and had to guard them -there. - -Shots were heard until 2 a.m., and between 6 and 7 a.m. the firing -commenced afresh. - -At about 9 a.m. I saw a church burning near the town hall, also many -houses in the neighbourhood. The shooting continued intermittently -until Thursday, August 27th, when I received instructions to accompany -the convoy of captured francs-tireurs, to which were added about four -hundred English prisoners, from Louvain _via_ Aachen to Cologne, where -we were dismissed to the Ersatz Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 27. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: STANISLAUS DADACZYNSKI. - -After the importance of the oath had been urged upon the witness, he -was duly sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: GREEVEN. Signed: Dr. WOLTER. - - - D. App. 30. - - AIX-LA-CHAPELLE, _November 14th, 1914_. - -Garrison Command. - - Present: - President of the Court, Captain SCHNEIDER. - Secretary, KLINKE. - -On citation there appears as witness Herr Hubert Sittart, Member of the -Imperial Diet, living in Aix-la-Chapelle, and on being questioned he -declares the following: - -On August 31st a number of women of Louvain told me there, with tears -in their eyes, of the sorrow caused them by the bombardment of the -town. They admitted emphatically that our troops had been fired at -from the houses and cellars. One of them, the widow of a medical man, -thought the firing had been done by the Garde Civique. But when she -heard that wounded were lying at Aix-la-Chapelle who had been seriously -wounded by small shot, she had to admit that civilians had also taken -part in the firing. She also agreed with me when I declared that the -Garde Civique, as well as the regular troops, deserved no forbearance -if they fired from an ambush, from cellars and roofs instead of in -open, honest fighting. - -The vice-rector of Louvain University, Monsignore Coenraets, told me -that he was ordered as hostage to read out to the people a proclamation -to the effect that the hostages would be shot and fire opened on the -town if the troops were treacherously fired at. He had hardly read -this out in one street when shots were actually fired upon the German -soldiers accompanying him. - -The importance of the oath having been pointed out to the witness, he -was sworn according to regulations. - - Signed: H. SITTART. - Signed: SCHNEIDER. Signed: KLINKE. - - - D. App. 31. - - LOUVAIN, _November 14th, 1914_. - -Court of the Government-General of Belgium. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - -On citation there appears the witness Albert Lemaire, aged 37, -professor of medicine, chief physician of St. Peter's Hospital at -Louvain, living in the Leopoldstrasse, and he declared: - -In the afternoon of August 25th German Landwehr (I do not know the -number of the regiment) was quartered on me. The Germans behaved -quietly and decently. Later on they marched out in consequence of -an alarm. Later on in the evening, whilst taking supper with my -family, I heard violent firing in the street. We fled to the cellar. -Between 11 and 12 o'clock (Belgian time) I went once from there into -the garden. There I was several times fired at, but owing to the -darkness I cannot tell by whom. Previously I heard a German call out, -"Louvain is on fire." I could see from my garden various reflections -of conflagrations. I did not see civilians fire from houses or in -the streets. Nearly all the houses of doctors and professors in the -Leopoldstrasse are burned down. - -On the following day I had my family taken to the hospital by two -German soldiers for safety's sake. On Thursday, August 27th, the -bombardment and destruction of the town was announced. I went to the -country with my family. On my return I found my house burned down. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Professor Dr. ALBERT LEMAIRE. - -After the importance of the oath had been pointed out, the witness -was sworn according to regulations. The examination took place in the -German language. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 32. - - Proceedings at LOUVAIN, - _November 20th, 1914_. - -Court of the Government-General. - - Present: - President, STEMPEL. - Secretary, STEMPER. - - -_Legal Statement of Evidence._ - -In a side-street of the Rue de Tirlemont at Louvain, near the prison, -the following was ascertained: - -In this side-street there is on the left-hand side, coming from the Rue -de Tirlemont, a long wall, about 4 metres high. Opposite this wall lies -a continuous row of houses of several storeys. The wall shows numerous -traces of gun-shots. According to the traces of these shots, which are -still clearly visible, they have been fired without a doubt from the -upper storeys of the houses opposite. The range of these shots on the -wall extends, according to the traces there left, transversely from the -top to the bottom. - - Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER. - - - D. App. 33. - - DEPOSITION of Reservist Hermann Behnke, 11th Company, Reserve Infantry - Regiment No. 86, received by Pastor Friedrichs in the reserve field - hospital at Hagen, on September 21st, 1914. - -On August 25th we arrived at Louvain station in a military transport -train. We heard brisk firing, so that we assumed that a battle between -our troops and the Belgian troops was taking place. However, when we -arrived in the town, we saw that civilians were firing from the houses -and from trees. We noticed that German troops were fighting a regular -street battle with these civilians. We went to the assistance of our -troops. The civilians were requested to leave the houses from which -firing had taken place. These houses were then set on fire. - - Proceedings at Hagen in the Office of the reserve field hospital, - Hochstrasse 45, on November 28th, 1914, placed at the disposal of the - Royal War Ministry, Military Examination Office for infringement of - military law. - -There appears Hermann Behnke, reservist, 11th Company, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 86, and declares: - -The above is my correct name. I was born on February 28th, 1887, at -Neuhof in Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Protestant; married. - -Admonished to speak the truth, I make the following statement: - -I maintain as correct the deposition made on September 21st before the -Protestant minister, Wilhelm Friedrichs. This deposition is true in -every respect, and it has been read over to me. - -Behnke is then sworn. - - Signed: HERMANN BEHNKE. - -The correctness of the above is certified by: - - Signed: Dr. JOTEL, Chief Regimental Surgeon. - Signed: WINAND ENGEL, Clergyman of the field hospital. - - - D. App. 34. - - QUARTERS AT THIESCOURT, _November 29th, 1914_. - - Present: - Leader of the proceedings, Lieutenant STEGMUELLER. - Secretary, SCHMIDT. - -There appeared as witness Captain Josephson, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out, declared: - -As to Person: My name is Walter Josephson, aged 46; Protestant; Leader -of 2nd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53. - -As to Case: On August 27th, 1914, the 3rd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry -Regiment No. 53, marching from Rotzelaer to Louvain, had to conduct -a transport of about 1000 civilian prisoners. At first, the 9th -Company, under my leadership, and the 12th Company, Landwehr Infantry -Regiment No. 53, under the leadership of Captain Ernst, carried out -the supervision. When subsequently further transports of prisoners -were added, the 1st Battalion of the Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. -53 assisted in the supervision. Amongst the prisoners were a number -of Belgian clergymen, one of whom particularly attracted my attention -because at every halt he went from one prisoner to the other and spoke -to them excitedly, so that I had to put him under special supervision. -At Louvain we delivered the prisoners at the station; another section -of the troops, whom I cannot now name, undertook the watch over them. -On the following morning I was told by various people, amongst whom -was also Captain Ernst, that the clergyman above mentioned had fired -upon a guard, but had not hit him, and that he had therefore been -shot on the square outside the station, probably by the order of the -local commandant. Captain Ernst saw his body still lying there on the -following day. - -With regard to the conditions then prevailing at Louvain I am able -further to state the following: - -The 3rd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53, entered Louvain -on August 25th, that is, on the day of the sudden attack, and remained -at Louvain from August 27th to September 1st. My company was quartered -on the Belgian rector of an intermediate school, a very quiet, -sober-minded man, with whom I fully discussed the attack. He related -to me that he had gone for a walk in the neighbourhood of Louvain on -the day of the attack, and had visited an inn. The host told him that -on that day a troop of about 100 young men, who conversed in different -languages, had passed his house on the way to Louvain. They asked for -drinks and lodgings for the night, but the whole thing appeared to him -so suspicious that he removed the sign outside his inn, so as to have -nothing to do with these people. He said to the rector literally, "If -these people get to Louvain, there will be bad smells there to-morrow," -by which he meant to say that then blood would flow. The rector also -stated to me that in almost every house at Louvain a room for students -is to be let. These rooms were tenantless at the time in question -on account of the university holidays; friends and acquaintances of -the students, or persons who posed as such, could quite easily get -admission to these rooms; he assumed that these rooms had been occupied -by the above-mentioned persons. It was, at any rate, a striking fact -that when I rode at the head of my battalion, together with Captain -Ernst and the adjutant, Lieutenant Stegmueller, in order to quarter -myself at Louvain in the Rue des Joyeuses Entrées, there was a young -man in almost every house, whereas the younger Belgian male population -had been called up for war service; that, furthermore, the inhabitants -absolutely urged us to quarter only officers in their houses, and that, -finally, in all officers' quarters there was--so we were told--only in -the outhouses room for the officers' servants, and never in the houses -in which officers were quartered. - -I had to supply the guard at the railway station from my company; -opposite the station building lies a block of houses, and in front -of it a street fenced off by boards from the station. From this -plank-fence the watch was fired on daily in the dark. I had then all -the houses cleared and the block of houses surrounded by guards. On -the evening of this day I saw myself how, at dark, a troop of 50 to 60 -civilians emerged from the wood which was about 600 to 800 metres away, -but withdrew when the guard was noticed. From this date the firing upon -the guard ceased. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: JOSEPHSON, Captain and Battalion Leader. - -The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations. - - Signed: STEGMUELLER. Signed: SCHMIDT. - - - D. App. 35. - - Proceedings at RESERVE FIELD HOSPITAL AT CLEVE, - _October 9th, 1914_. - -Royal Court of Justice. - - Present: - Judge, FRITZEN. - Secretary, FRINGS. - -There appears the under-mentioned witness, and, after having been -acquainted with the object of the examination, he was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Adam Hoos, aged 32; Catholic; soldier, 2nd -Company, Landwehr Regiment No. 55, at Wesel, at present in reserve -field hospital at Cleve. - -As to Case: On August 25th we entered Louvain and took part in the -street-fighting. On the morning of August 26th, when searching the -houses for wounded, we found in the cellar of a house a soldier of our -regiment whose name I do not know, whose body had been cut open so that -the entrails protruded. We did not ascertain whether the dead man was -otherwise wounded. In my opinion, the cut could have only been effected -with a sharp knife. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: ADAM HOOS. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: FRITZEN. Signed: FRINGS. - - - D. App. 36. - - LÜBECK, _March 8th, 1915_. - -Court of Justice, Department 10. - - Present: - Judge, DUBEL. - Secretary, GIESE. - -At the request of the war minister appeared on citation the witnesses -mentioned below, who were examined individually and in the absence of -witnesses to be heard subsequently. - -1. Student Oldenburg. - -As to Person: My name is Hans Ludwig Oldenburg, aged 24; Protestant; -student of law; at present non-commissioned officer, 3rd Reserve -Company, Reserve Battalion No. 162. - -As to Case: On August 25th, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m., our regiment -entered Louvain in marching order. The standard of the battalion was at -the head of our company. It was already dark and, in marked contrast to -the places through which we had passed the previous night, a surprising -number of gas-lamps were alight. In the doors of the houses stood -Belgians in civilian dress who behaved in a quiet and not unfriendly -fashion. I saw no windows illuminated. Having marched into Louvain for -about ten minutes, there was suddenly a halt. Two to three minutes -later, but perhaps sooner, we were suddenly fired at from the houses of -the right and left. I also saw the flashes of several shots from the -houses near me. From one house I also saw bombs fall; one fell about -10 metres away from me in the street and exploded there with great -detonation. I do not know whether anyone was hit by it. I can point out -accurately the house from which the bomb fell. It stood on the left -side, near the second lamp, which stands behind the next cross-road, or -the next yard-entrance, on the left. - -When the bomb fell, no shots had as yet been fired by us. We now -received orders, "About turn, march." But after we had turned we were -ordered from the rear to shoot into the houses. We then fired into both -fronts of the houses. I cannot say what reply was made to our fire -because the noise and confusion was too great. It also became at once -quite dark, because we demolished the lamps with our fire so as to -offer no aim to the opponent. This firing may have lasted a full hour. -During the firing I saw a soldier near me fall. I was then run over -and lost consciousness. When I recovered from my swoon, the firing was -still continuing. I dragged myself to the nearest wall, and was then -driven by an automobile to the field hospital. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: OLDENBURG. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Corporal Hoehne. - -As to Person: My name is Max Robert Theodor Hoehne, aged 28; -Protestant; art dealer; at present corporal, 4th Reserve Company, -Reserve Battalion No. 162. - -As to Case: On the evening of August 25th, at about 9 o'clock, our -regiment marched into Louvain in column of route. At the head marched -the 1st Company. Then followed the 2nd, to which I belonged. It was -already dark. The gas-lamps were alight. Outside in the suburb a few -windows showed light. People in civilian dress put water in the street -for us. But we did not drink of it because an officer warned us not to -do so. The civilians behaved in a quiet and not unfriendly manner. - -We marched over the railway bridge into the town straight on. At a -point where there was a square occupied by automobiles, the road made -a sharp bend. We marched past this bend straight on again. Up till -then nothing happened, except that we saw no civilians at all in the -town. The windows of the ground floors in this part of the street were -closed by shutters. The windows of the upper floors were open. But this -fact only struck me when we were fired at. Shortly after my company -passed the bend of the road, a shot rang out, and this was immediately -followed by brisk firing. I saw many such shots flash from the upper -windows, and also noticed how sparks flew about as the bullets fell -into the street. Immediately at the beginning of the firing two men -behind me fell; one of them was Corporal Wiessner. Wiessner sat down -at the roadside; the other soldier remained lying in the street, face -down. We now dispersed on both sides and fired into the upper windows. -During the firing I saw yet another soldier fall. In the meantime we -had destroyed the lamps by our fire, so that nothing could be seen. I -cannot say how long the firing continued. After some time the order -was passed along to cease firing. When we were about to reassemble we -were fired at from the windows of the ground floors. I was hit by small -shot that had been fired directly through a window-pane on the ground -floor; the shot remained in the haversack and coat. A comrade who -turned towards the window fell at once owing to, so I assume, a shot in -the head. - -We now fired also into the ground-floor windows, removing in part the -shutters. I, with a few others who had burst open the door, entered -the house from which came the small shot. We could find no one in -the house, but in the room from which the small shot had come, an -overturned paraffin-lamp, still smouldering, was on the table. - -When the firing ceased, the order to "rally" was sounded, and I only -heard the call of our company. We rallied outside a restaurant at the -corner of a street, and were suddenly fired at from a window near us, -with revolvers, as I could tell by the sound. After having rallied, -we wanted to return in close order, but were again fired at from the -houses. The greater part of us continued the retreat. I and four -others, however, turned about and marched on in the old direction. We -joined some few other soldiers going in the same direction. On our way -we saw more than half a dozen wounded soldiers lying in the street. Two -men lay beneath and beside a shot horse. One of them pulled himself -from beneath it. I pulled away the other from the horse, but left him -lying because he was dead. In doing this I was kicked on the knee by -the horse. Later on we joined the main body of our battalion near the -station bridge in that road which one reaches when entering Louvain -straight from the railway bridge. The troops were here drawn up and -ordered to search the houses. Shortly before, a woman, with a child -upon her arm and with two children beside her, passed right through -the troops. No harm befell her. She was allowed to pass into the town -unchecked. - -Read over, approved, and signed. - - Signed: MAX HOEHNE. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: DUBEL. Signed: GIESE. - - - D. App. 37. - - BREMEN, _January 10th, 1915_. - - Present: - Officer of the Court, AHRENS. - Secretary, HEINHORST. - -At the investigation regarding the events at Louvain the following -witnesses appeared, and, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to them, made the following statement: - -1. Officer's Deputy Walter Kruse, 3rd Company, Reserve Battalion, -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75. - -On the evening of August 25th, 1914, at about 9 o'clock, the 3rd -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75, entered by train the -station at Louvain. At a distance of about 300 metres from the station -building our train was suddenly fired at from both sides of the railway -embankment. I heard the shots rattling against the carriages. The -train stopped, and an order was given to leave the train. I made my -men at once deploy along the track and reply to the firing. We were -about three to four minutes under fire when I received some small shot -in the right upper thigh. I then had myself bandaged, and was not a -direct witness of the subsequent events. The firing, after scarcely -ten minutes, suddenly ceased, whereupon the companies were rallied. In -the dark one could only see the flashes of the shots. They came for -the most part from above, so that one was obliged to assume that they -had been fired from the windows, roofs, and trees. I did not see any -individual persons who fired. About an hour and a half later I heard -from the railway station, where I lay wounded, another burst of violent -firing, which, however, ceased again at once. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WALTER KRUSE. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Sergeant-Major Ludwig Hilmer, 3rd Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 215, at present at Bremen. - -When the train with the 3rd Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. -75, entered the station at Louvain on the evening of August 25th, 1914, -at about 9 o'clock, we were suddenly fired at from both sides, at a -distance of about 300 to 400 metres from the station building. The -window-panes in my compartment broke at once. We got out and replied to -the firing. The enemy could not be seen, because it was already quite -dark. We only saw the flashes of the shots, and assumed that they came -from the houses at each side of the railway. Five men of my company -were wounded in this fight. I ascertained that the wounds were partly -caused by small shot. After about ten minutes the firing ceased, but -was resumed again at once. Only when we had the lights on the station -extinguished did the firing cease. The companies now rallied to the -station, removed their packs, and were ordered to fire all the houses -from which firing had taken place, after searching them first. With -this order we received strict injunctions not to hurt a hair of women -and children. My company entered in groups the houses of the section -allotted to it. Captain Brinckmann and I entered an inn diagonally -opposite the station, and found there behind the bar a waiter with -a ball-gun and ammunition. He was immediately taken to the railway -commandant by some men. We then continued searching. Various civilians -were led off by my men, and after a final decision of the commandant -they were shot in the place before the station. In accordance with -my orders, I helped to fire several houses, after having convinced -myself in every case that no one was left in them. At about 12 o'clock -p.m. this work was finished, and the company returned to the station -building, in front of which lay about fifteen inhabitants, shot. Two -clergymen also stood there who were to serve as hostages. I heard a -patrol report that in a church inhabitants had been taken with guns -and munition. Sleep was not to be thought of during the night, because -the town was echoing with the explosion of bombs and munition stored -in the burning houses. One might have believed oneself in a heavy -artillery fire. On the morning of August 26th the company was again -alarmed, because baggage was being fired at in the town. We advanced -into a street about five minutes' distance from the station, and were -here fired at from the houses, apparently with shot-guns. We entered -the houses and took prisoner several civilians whose behaviour had -been suspicious. The houses from which the firing had come were then -set on fire. About noon the company returned to the station. At about -3 o'clock p.m. I stood with an acting-sergeant-major at the monument -in front of the station, when we were suddenly exposed to a violent -fire. Immediately afterwards five riderless horses galloped towards -us, coming from the street in which the shots had been fired. As was -ascertained subsequently, the horses were those of gendarmes whose -riders had been shot in the town. Arrangements were now made and -published in the whole town by the ringing of bells and the beating -of drums that every company advancing into the town must be headed by -a number of hostages. These were to be shot the moment there was any -more firing from the houses. Among the hostages held at the station -were clergymen and state officials. In spite of these measures, the -inhabitants again fired on that evening and during the night. The -morning of August 27th passed without any special events for my -company, because we urgently needed rest. It was only during the -afternoon that we were again active. As peace could not be restored in -the town by means of hostages, the order was issued to take all male -inhabitants, aged seventeen to fifty. I carried out this order by the -help of a strong platoon of eighty men after the order had been read -out everywhere by a lieutenant. The people had to be fetched out of -every house. After three hours' work I took 200 to 300 persons to the -station. Every man on whom arms or munition was found was shot; these -again numbered some fifteen to twenty persons. The others were notified -that if shots were again fired during the night they would all be put -in front of a machine-gun. This announcement was effective, for the -next night passed perfectly quietly. On the following morning, hardly -were the prisoners dismissed when the firing began afresh. My company, -accompanied by hostages, advanced again into the town, and was again -fired at. Again we had to fire some houses. On this occasion I saw -with my own eyes how a civilian fired from a high window upon Captain -Brinckmann. I heard the shot fall in the street. The Captain at once -ordered the burning of the house. From here we advanced to a monastery -on a hill. It was said that firing had taken place there, but we found -neither arms nor munition. But immediately we again heard cries for -help from the main road leading past the monastery; we hurried back, -and had to assist an artillery column that had been fired at. We again -set a few houses on fire, whereupon the command was given for all -inhabitants to leave Louvain, as firing with artillery was to commence. -This happened between 2 and 4 o'clock p.m. whilst our battalion was -still at the station. I observed myself that the artillery projectiles -only fell in those parts of the town in which attacks had been made. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HILMER. - -Hilmer was sworn. - -3. Soldier Heinrich Westerkamp, company of wounded, Reserve Battalion, -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75. - -At noon, on August 25th, I had arrived at Louvain with the 2nd -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75. Whilst we were being -provisioned from the field-kitchens in that part of the town which is -near the suburb of Herent we were struck by the number of young strong -people who were in the street and putting their heads together. At -Herent I was transferred to the baggage because of foot-trouble whilst -my battalion marched on. I was about to draw water from a well when -suddenly the baggage was being fired on from all sides. The baggage -had already turned about, and as the horses could not be stopped we -returned to Louvain at full speed. But there, too, all was not safe, -as we heard from stragglers; we wanted to drive past the station into -the nearest village in order to spend the night there. We got, however, -only about 50 metres beyond the station, and had to halt there because -a wheel had come off a cart. Hardly had the carts stopped on the -perfectly dark road when we were violently fired at from the houses -near us, as well as from those on the other side of the railway and -from the bushes on the railway embankment. The man beside me on the -cart immediately received a shot in the foot. We dismounted and tried -to make ourselves safe. At that moment a civilian came running up -towards me from a house, pointing a revolver at me. I immediately shot -the person down. A hand-grenade exploded immediately after this, about -7 to 8 metres away from me, and smashed a horse. Three of us now sought -cover in the recess of a house, from which we succeeded in reaching -a goods-shed. At this time--about 9 p.m.--the 3rd Battalion arrived, -which we joined. During the night the detonations never ceased, and -the houses round the station were burning. From the Hôtel du Nord a -machine-gun had even been fired, as could be distinctly heard from the -regular shots. On the following morning I ascertained that five horses -of the baggage transport had been killed. I remained in front of the -station building until noon on August 26th, and I here saw that about -forty persons were examined by an officer and about half of them were -shot. Two clergymen were also brought forward, one of whom declared -himself a German, and said that he had not fired. I heard subsequently, -however, that a Browning pistol was found on him. I also saw a man -of Regiment No. 162 or 163 carried past on a stretcher. He whimpered -terribly, and I heard that whilst doing patrol duty in the town several -inhabitants fell upon him and cut off the scrotum. Later on I heard -that the man had died of his wound. A Belgian who addressed me in -German declared that the whole misfortune could have been avoided if -the clergy did not from the pulpit praise those who fire upon German -troops. At noon on the same day we followed the company with the -baggage after having previously received fresh horses. We only found -a heap of ruins where the village of Herent had stood. About three -days later I met Lieutenant Foerster (now of the 4th Company, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 75). He told me that German soldiers had had the -genital members cut off and put into the mouth, and that the latter had -then been sewn up. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WESTERKAMP. - -The witness was sworn according to regulations. - - Signed: AHRENS, Lieutenant and Judicial Officer. - Signed: HEINHORST, Non-commissioned Officer. - - - D. App. 38. - - ALTONA, _March 1st, 1915_. - -Court of the Commandant. - - Present: - President, Dr. STEENGRAFE. - Secretary, KOCH. - -There appeared the merchant Gruner as witness, and, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23; Protestant; merchant -in Hamburg. - -As to Case: After mobilisation I offered my services voluntarily and -went into the field as a motor driver on the staff of the IX. Reserve -Army Corps. On the evening of August 25th, 1914, we arrived at Louvain. -As a sortie had been announced from Antwerp, the German troops were -taken from Louvain and, as I assume, employed in the attack. The -baggage, including the motors, stopped in the square in the immediate -vicinity of the Hôtel Métropole. At the command of Captain von Esmarch, -I followed the troops who were marching off and brought back one -company for the protection of the staff, which was then drawn up in the -place mentioned above. At about 9 o'clock p.m. I saw a green rocket -ascend over the town. At the same moment commenced the firing upon us -from the houses surrounding the place. I also heard the regular "tak, -tak" of machine-guns. The German soldiers fired again and succeeded in -beating down the hostile fire; the houses from which firing had taken -place were set alight. I had the impression that the proceedings had -been systematically prepared. Up till then we had been treated by the -inhabitants with the greatest kindness and amiability. - -After the attack in the centre of the town had been dealt with, the -troops in the interior of the town were conducted to the station. Until -then I had not seen any sign of interference on the part of the Belgian -clergy. On the way to the station I saw a man in clerical garb, with -unmistakable clerical physiognomy and a broad-brimmed hat with two -tassels, directing our troops to a certain road. I myself drove along -another road, following some cars before me. Subsequently I heard that -the troops who had followed the directions of the clergyman reached a -cul-de-sac, and were there exposed to fire from the houses. - -When I arrived at the station I heard that here, too, an attack had -been made upon the German soldiers by the civilian population from -the surrounding houses, and had been defeated; in the station square -and throughout the town houses were burning. All citizens taken -were conducted to the station square, examined, and, if their guilt -was ascertained, shot according to martial law. I myself acted as -interpreter during part of the examinations. The examinations continued -through the night until the following morning. The number of persons -shot by court-martial may have been eighty to a hundred; among them -may have been ten to fifteen clergymen. This number is exclusive of -one man in unmistakable clerical garb, because beneath his clerical -garb he wore civilian dress. Among the clergymen shot was the one I -mentioned previously, and of this I am quite sure. He was pointed out -by soldiers as the one who had directed them and their comrades into -the cul-de-sac; he, too, was shot. I interpreted during the examination -of two further clergymen. On one of them a revolver was found that -still contained four cartridges, and one had been discharged; he, -too, was shot. It had, moreover, been announced previously that every -inhabitant on whom arms were found would be shot. I cannot now say what -was furthermore ascertained in relation to this clergyman; but no one -was shot whose participation in the attacks upon the German troops was -not determined beyond doubt by at least two witnesses, or on whom arms -were not found. Those brought up for examination must have rendered -themselves suspect in some way, otherwise they would not have been -examined at all. - -During the night isolated attacks upon German troops took place, also -during the day. - -During the examinations many of the Belgians related that their -behaviour towards the Germans had been represented to them by the -authorities, also by the preachers, as a matter of faith. When we -fetched the wounded in automobiles during the night we were fired at, -and also from a convent. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: GRUNER. - -The witness was duly sworn. - -Authenticated: - - Signed: STEENGRAFE, President. - Signed: KOCH. - - BERLIN, _March 19th, 1915_. - -Ministry of War. - -Military Examination Bureau for Infringements of Martial Law. - - Present: - President, Dr. GRASSHOFF. - Secretary, PAHL. - -There appears on citation merchant Richard Gruner of -Hamburg-Grossborstel, Holunderweg 12. - -The importance of the oath was pointed out to the witness, and he -declared: - -As to Person: My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23; Protestant. - -As to Case: I repeat, first of all, all the statements made during my -judicial examination at Altona on March 1st, 1915. This statement, -which has just been read to me, is perfectly true in all respects. I -add further what follows: - -The examination of the volunteers brought forward by the German troops -on the station square at Louvain on the night of August 25th to 26th, -1914, was conducted by Captain Albrecht, who was then reporting officer -on the staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, and who fell later, at the -end of October 1914, at Noyon. Captain Albrecht was attached to the -Grand General Staff in peace time. I was requested by him to act as -interpreter during part of the examinations. The examination proceeded -in such a way that the soldiers brought forward the civilians taken by -them, whilst the firing in the town continued. I was given about 100 -to 200 persons to search and to examine. Captain Albrecht passed from -one group of persons assembled in the station square for examination to -another group, and inquired the result in order to give instructions -for the further treatment of the accused. Altogether about 600 persons -may have been brought forward, at least 500 of whom were spared death -by shooting because no sure proof of their guilt was brought forward -during the examination. These persons were led aside; the men amongst -them were later on sent to Germany, whilst it was left to the women and -children to go to Anvers. - -It is not true that the persons were arbitrarily selected when -arrangements for shooting them were made; on the contrary, the -examinations were carried out strictly according to the facts. I -examined myself the persons brought forward for arms, and frequently -found arms on them. I also had instructions to see whether the accused -were Belgian soldiers, which could be seen from the identification -disc. On many of the persons brought to me I found the military disc -in the pocket or in the purse. Captain Albrecht proceeded--I assume -on higher command--in such a way that he ordered those to be shot on -whom either arms or a rallying sign was found, or those of whom it -was testified by at least two witnesses that they had fired upon the -German troops. In my opinion it is quite out of the question that any -innocent person lost his life; particularly Captain Albrecht did under -the circumstances all that was possible to exhort the soldiers to speak -the truth; if no arms or identification discs were found, he himself -questioned the witnesses as to whether they could make their assertions -with certitude, and he pointed out to them that the life and death of -a man depended upon their word. And only when the soldiers maintained -their assertions after this admonition, the command for the shooting of -the condemned was given. - -Amongst the persons brought forward were a number of priests; of -these about ten to fifteen in all were shot. I ascertained myself -that one priest carried a loaded revolver which had been fired once, -and the empty cartridge-case was still in the barrel. I furthermore -recognised another priest as the one who, according to the testimony -of the soldiers, had intentionally decoyed them into the fire of the -francs-tireurs. These two were undoubtedly genuine clergymen. On a -third man wearing clerical garb, and civilian clothes underneath, I -found a military identification disc. - -I was in the station square during the whole examinations, and I can -therefore testify from my own knowledge that no mock-execution of -priests has taken place, and that not one of the involuntary spectators -of these scenes was forced to applaud. - -Among the persons brought forward there were many civilians who, when -they became aware that I spoke French, called to me that they were -innocent, and that the priests bore the whole guilt of what had taken -place. They expressly pointed to the priests who had been brought -forward. Amongst them was a Belgian civilian who, as a sign of his -goodwill to the Germans, showed a document, according to which the King -of Prussia had bestowed the Order of the Red Eagle upon him. I took -the opportunity to remonstrate with this person that he, an educated -man, and the other men of his station had not stopped the populace -from making the attack; he replied, "It is quite impossible for us to -prevail upon the people who are in the hands of the clergy." - -I remained at Louvain until August 26th, 1914, 4 p.m. During August -26th I still heard and saw, now and again, firing from the houses; -comrades of mine were wounded actually at my side; thus also the -voluntary soldier Wuppermann. During the morning of August 26th I spoke -in the station square, where there were many women prisoners, with -two of them who evidently belonged to the educated classes. One of -them, an American from St. Louis, addressed me in English and begged -me to release her and another known lady from imprisonment, as they -were innocent. She explained to me that the clergy were responsible -for the events. She then called the other lady, a Belgian, with whom -I also conversed in French. She also confirmed to me that the firing -from the houses was due to the conduct of the clergy. She related -the following: In the evening, Belgian soldiers dressed as civilians -entered individual houses and forced the inhabitants by threats to -receive them and to admit them to the windows in order to shoot from -them; previous to that the clergy had gone into the houses and declared -to the inhabitants that it was their duty to receive and support the -Belgian soldiers because the German troops were making war upon the -faith of the Belgians. - -During the critical days, particularly violent firing on the German -troops came from a convent outside Louvain, on the road from Louvain to -Bueken. I have heard this repeatedly from soldiers, and on August 26th, -1914, in the afternoon, whilst going in my automobile to Bueken, I had -to pass the street near the convent under special protective measures. -In order to be safe from any firing from the convent we had to take -with us several civilians, who were placed partly upon the footboard of -the car, partly upon the cooler. - -I wish to emphasise that even during the examinations in the station -square we were fired at from houses there. I particularly remember the -incident when about ten to twelve young people in sporting-caps--which -was frequently the distinguishing mark of disguised Belgian -soldiers--were brought up quite close to the station building, and -that I was fired upon from a building opposite on my way to see these -persons, and that the prisoners ran away, and that we Germans fired -after them. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: RICHARD GRUNER. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: PAHL. - Signed: Dr. GRASSHOFF. - - - D. App. 39. - - GUISCARD, _March 1st, 1915_. - - Present: - Member of the Military High Court, RIESE. - Secretary, REISENER. - -There appeared as a witness Non-commissioned Officer Muesfeldt, and, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Willy Muesfeldt, aged 33; Protestant; -non-commissioned officer, IX. Reserve Corps. - -As to Case: On August 25th I arrived with the first party of the -General Command at Louvain. We unloaded and drove with the baggage to -the market-place. Here we remained, as it was said that the English -were near, and that we might have to go into action that day. In -the evening, at about 9 o'clock, Captain von Esmarch, leader of our -baggage, arrived in the automobile and said that matters had turned -out differently, and that we could march off to quarters. The Captain -mounted the horse and gave the order "Mount." He had hardly said this -when firing commenced from all sides. I fetched my rifle from the -cart, took cover, and fired. Then I noticed that the Captain lay on -the ground, wounded; I brought him into safety beneath a cart, and -continued firing. I cannot say exactly how long the firing continued. -When it ceased, the order was given to search the houses from which -the firing had taken place for francs-tireurs. I approached a house -from which firing had taken place, battered the street door, and went -down the cellar, from which shots had also been fired. I found there -a man of about forty years of age, with dark pointed beard, who had -a revolver in his hand. I immediately threw myself upon him, and in -spite of his struggles I led him up the stairs, where I handed him -over to gendarmes. I did not indeed see this man shoot, but I assume -it with certainty, since I found him with the revolver in his hand; he -struggled, and there was no one in the house except his wife. All this -I related to Captain von Esmarch at Christmas when he was here on a -visit to the General Command. There was a pharmacy in the house, which -I mentioned above. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: Non-commissioned Officer MUESFELDT. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: RIESE. Signed: REISENER. - - - D. App. 40. - - ALTONA, _March 1st, 1915_. - -Court of the Commandant. - - Present: - President, Dr. STEENGRAFE. - Secretary, Sergeant MEYER. - -There appears as witness engineer Weiss, who, after the importance of -the oath has been pointed out to him, he declares as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Robert Weiss; engineer, in Altona; aged 31; -Christian; motor-driver. - -As to Case: After mobilisation I offered my services as a volunteer, -and went into the field as motor-driver on the staff of the IX. Reserve -Army Corps. - -On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, we arrived at Louvain. The -inhabitants behaved at first more than kindly towards us. - -Towards the evening I had driven a wounded man to the field hospital -near the market-place. The field hospital was established in a -monastery. About 9 o'clock I drove the car with Captain von Harnier in -it from the monastery back to the market-place, when suddenly firing -began on all sides from the houses. I stopped my car and remained -unhurt; Captain von Harnier was wounded in the arm; he hurried to the -market-place, and I sought cover beneath the car. - -I may have remained there about half an hour when a platoon of German -infantry came along the road. I called to the leader, and he had the -surrounding houses, from which the shooting continued, covered by fire. -I then took the car to safety in the yard of the monastery. - -When, after a short time, I wished to leave, Captain von Esmarch -was carried in, covered with blood. Whilst being carried to the -field hospital, he was fired upon from the monastery. I went into -the monastery with an infantryman; we found a revolver, but to save -ourselves from being cut off we could not enter the vaults of the -monastery into which the people had evidently retired. - -The Belgian field hospital did not want to bandage Captain von Esmarch; -I finally forced a Belgian surgeon, whom I caught by the arm, to apply -the bandage. - -Subsequently, on driving my car to the market-place, and from there to -the station with the General Staff, I saw everywhere on the way burning -houses; now and again isolated firing from the houses still took place. - -At the station there were no burning houses, and strict orders had been -given to set no houses on fire there. After half an hour the firing -from the hotels opposite the station began. From that point right to -the station there was firing with machine-guns; I could distinctly hear -the regular "tak, tak." - -It was only then that orders were given to raze the houses in front of -the station; they were set on fire, but even from the burning houses, -and finally from the ruins, the firing continued briskly. We suffered -losses. - -Later on, isolated shots were fired. - -The citizens who had in any way taken part in the attack were brought -to the station square, and, if found guilty, shot according to martial -law. - -The soldiers, who brought the citizens along, were exhorted--as I -have myself heard--to bear witness carefully and conscientiously. The -examinations were conducted by officers of the General Staff. Whoever -carried loaded arms, in spite of the prohibition issued and announced, -was shot at once. - -In the town lay several men in clerical garb, shot; at the station, -too, several men in clerical dress were shot; all were examined, but I -was not present at the examinations. - -On the following day, too, isolated shots fell upon us from houses. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: WEISS. - -The witness was sworn in accordance with the regulations. - - Signed: Dr. STEENGRAFE, President. - Signed: MEYER. - - - D. App. 41. - -Court of the Commander. - - Present: - President, Dr. STEENGRAFE. - Secretary, MEYER. - - ALTONA, _March 3rd, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness merchant Dammann, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as follows: - -As to Person: My name is Carl Dammann, aged 31; Christian; merchant in -Hamburg; soldier of the Reserve. - -As to Case: After mobilisation I volunteered for duty as motor-driver, -and as such I was assigned to the Staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps. - -On the evening of August 25th, 1914, we arrived in Louvain. At first -the inhabitants were very obliging. - -My motor-car was put in the market-place, a big square near which -is the Hôtel Métropole. In the evening, towards 9 o'clock, we -motor-drivers stood under the trees of the place and chatted together. -Comrades told me they had seen a rocket go up. - -Suddenly an awful firing commenced from the houses surrounding the -place. The fire was first of all directed on the baggage-carts which -were to be drawn up at the place. Each one of us sought cover, I on a -baggage-cart, the horses of which had just been shot. My car showed -later on a hole as large as a fist in the protective cover and in the -body of the car; to judge by the way the tin was bent, the shot must -have come from below, from a cellar. Whilst we sought cover, the -firing continued, and some of us were wounded. In my opinion this was a -well-prepared and planned attack of the civilian population. - -After the firing had become less violent, we drivers went to the -station. At the market-place and in its small side-streets the houses -were burning. During our drive to the station, German patrols passed us -everywhere. In the station square firing took place principally from -the four large hotels there. The firing in the station square continued -till the morning. - -Those persons of the town who had participated in the attack upon the -Germans were taken to the station square in the course of the evening -and during the night. An officer then examined them; the soldiers who -had brought up the people were examined. A number of men, nearly fifty, -were shot in the station square after the examination was over. - -As far as I remember, there were two persons in clerical garb amongst -them; but there may have been more. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: CARL DAMMANN. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: Dr. STEENGRAFE, President. - Signed: MEYER. - - - D. App. 42. - -Court of the Commander at Altona. - - Present: - President, Dr. STEENGRAFE. - Secretary, KAHL. - - ALTONA, _December 28th, 1914_. - -On citation there appears as witness Captain of Landwehr II. Hermansen, -who, after the sanctity of the oath had been pointed out to him, makes -the following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Richard, aged 37; Protestant; Public -Prosecutor at Düsseldorf; at present in the Reserve Battalion, Infantry -Regiment No. 76, Hamburg. - -As to Case: I arrived at Louvain on August 25th at about 9 o'clock p.m. -after a railway journey of 55 hours. - -At the moment of alighting a violent fire was opened upon the station -and its vicinity from the houses lying round the station. I also heard -a mechanical noise, which I took to be machine-gun fire. - -We took part in the searching and the burning down of houses from which -firing had taken place. - -Some of the houses were furnished with regular loopholes, among them -also houses which, as I saw on the following morning, had flown white -flags. - -On September 1st, at Lombeek, St. Catharinen, near Ternath, west of -Brussels, I made the acquaintance of a priest, to whom I expressed my -approval of the quiet bearing of the inhabitants of Lombeek towards our -company. - -He said, "Yes, for weeks I have been preaching this from the pulpit, -and my flock listens to me. I have told them that if they wished to -fight, they should go to Antwerp, put on uniform, and obtain a rifle. -The enemy is only doing his duty; his soldiers are children of the same -heavenly Father." - -I replied that, if all his colleagues in office had acted thus, much -that was disagreeable would have been avoided both for the Belgians and -for us. He did not contradict me; we remained talking a little while -longer, and when I took my leave of him, he blessed me. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: HERMANSEN. - -The witness was then sworn according to regulations. - - Signed: STEENGRAFE, President. - Signed: KAHL. - - - D. App. 43. - - Present: - President, FELGNER. - Secretary, BECKER. - - FLENSBURG, _January 8th, 1915_. - -There appeared as witness Captain von Vethacke, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Moritz, aged 37; Protestant; Captain, Reserve -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 86. - -As to Case: I have just read Captain Hermansen's statement of December -28th, 1914, and I confirm it with the following remarks: - -I know for certain that among the corpses lying in the station square -there were several dressed in clerical garb. The examinations in the -station square in Louvain were carried out very carefully. Each company -had its portion of the town which it tried to clear of francs-tireurs. -Persons found with a rifle in their hand were at once shot, but others -who could not be at once convicted of the participation in the attack -were led to the station building for a decision to be come to there -regarding them. The witnesses accompanied them in order to give their -testimony in the station square. Whatever priests were shot, were found -guilty before the Court. I also made the acquaintance of the priest -mentioned by Captain Hermansen at the end of his statement; he made -an excellent impression on me also; he did not contradict me when I -expressed my view that priests had stirred up the people and had taken -part in the attacks. From my conversation with this priest I gained the -impression that he did not approve of the behaviour of his colleagues -in office. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: VON VETHACKE. - -The witness was sworn according to regulations. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: FELGNER. Signed: BECKER. - - - D. App. 44. - -Court of the Bavarian Landsturm Infantry Battalion Gunzenhausen. - - Present: - President, Captain HAHN. - Secretary, WALZ. - - VIELSALEN, _February 4th, 1915_. - -On citation there appeared as witness Herr Karl Dörffer, born on -December 25th, 1877, at Erda, district of Wetzlar; Protestant; 1st -Lieutenant, Reserve of Prussian Railway Regiment No. 3, assigned to -the Railway Constructing Company No. 17, at present commanded by the -Bavarian Staff Officer of railway troops in Vielsalen. - -The witness, to whom the importance of the oath was pointed out, was -examined as follows: - -As to Person: My personal description is correctly stated. - -As to Case: On August 24th, 1914, I was commanded to effect the -detraining at the station in Louvain. I was acting manager in the -station as well as commandant over the station. On August 25th -detraining took place almost continuously; I particularly mention -the detraining of the IX. Reserve Corps and the General Staff of -this corps. On the evening of August 25th, at nightfall, shots fell -suddenly in front of and on both sides of the station area; in this -area were detachment of troops and trains. At first I did not attach -much importance to the firing; but as it became more violent I went to -the front of the station building. - -I now saw that violent firing was taking place, particularly from an -hotel to the right of the station. From the long flash of fire from the -individual shots I assumed that military rifles were not being used. I -know for certain that firing took place from the upper floors of this -hotel, but the windows from which firing took place were dark. - -The following design will indicate the position of the hotel more -clearly: - -[Illustration] - -To judge by the violence of the firing I must assume that firing from -other houses also took place. - -Through officers of the Mecklenburg Dragoons belonging to the General -Commando of the IX. Reserve Army Corps--if I remember right, through -Captain von Alten and another officer--the news was received at the -station that even the transport of the Army Corps had been fired on in -the town. A high officer gave the command to search the hotel mentioned -and other houses, and then to set them on fire. A number of persons, -partly middle aged, partly older people, were taken out of these -houses, and a great number of them--but only males--were immediately -shot according to martial law. It was then quiet in the station -square for a long time. I would point out that I could not stand in -the station square continuously, because I had business to transact in -the station itself. It was therefore impossible for me to watch all -the events in front of the station. At about 11 or 11.30 p.m.--most of -the houses in the station square were burning--a volley was fired on -us from the roof of an hotel on the left of the station; the hotel was -already burning at the bottom. I stood, as it happened, in the centre -of the station square with several officers; there remained nothing -for us but to throw ourselves upon the ground so as to offer the -smallest possible target. Orders were then given to search this house -once again; in spite of this, a few isolated shots were fired during -the night from the houses in the station square, especially from the -houses on the road to Tirlemont, opposite the loading ramp, upon which -artillery and vehicles were unloaded even during the night. - -I know that, after the volley had been fired from the house last -mentioned, a high officer gave orders to clear the people from all the -houses round the station; a number of women and children, also old and -middle-aged men, were thereupon apprehended; a few of the men were shot -according to martial law, but in a great number of cases it could not -longer be ascertained whether they had taken part in the firing. These -persons were first housed in the station; part of them were later on -transported. - -On August 26th a few isolated shots fell near the station. On my -request, the commandant of a battalion--according to my notes it must -have been Colonel von Treskow, 2nd Battalion, Reserve Regiment No. -76--had various houses on the road to Tirlemont cleared; this officer -told me that in doing so he lost one of his reserve officers. I cannot -say whether there were persons of the Garde Civique among the Belgians -who fired on us. - -As to the persons shot--I speak, of course, only of my own -observations--it had been ascertained by witnesses that they were -guilty. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KARL DÖRFFER, 1st Lieutenant of the Reserve. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: HAHN, Captain and Officer of the Court. - Signed: FRIEDRICH WALZ, Secretary. - - - D. App. 45. - -Court of the Mobile Commissary Commando, 1, VII. Army Corps. - - Present: - President, ELBLE. - Secretary, CASSER. - - PÉRONNE, _December 29th, 1914_. - -There appears on citation as witness Paymaster Otto Rudolph, Reserve -Railway Constructing Company No. 11, at present at Péronne, who, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Otto Rudolph, aged 34; Protestant; police -officer at Worms. - -As to Case: The Reserve Railway Constructing Company No. 11, of whom I -am paymaster, marched into Louvain on August 24th, 1914. My Commandant -instructed me to arrange for quarters for the officers and the horses -of the company near the principal railway station. I first applied to -the proprietors of the hotels in the station square, especially to the -proprietor of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa." Everywhere I was received -in the kindest way. As the rooms of the hotel were, however, already -engaged by officers of other units of troops, I could not get the -necessary rooms. I therefore tried to find quarters in the main road -leading from the town hall direct to the station, but the name of which -I have forgotten. Here the necessary rooms were put at my disposal in -the kindest way. In the house No. 105 of this street I found quarters -for three officers. In the house diagonally opposite, the apartments of -a bank official, I was also well received. - -The quarters were not occupied on this day, because the company was -trench-digging at the station during the whole night. - -On the following day I had requisitioned vegetables, straw, etc., at -Linden and Kessel-Loo, the latter a suburb of Louvain. The various -farmers fulfilled my requirements in the kindest way. In the evening I -returned from the requisitioning. On the way, in the suburb Kessel-Loo, -male civilians, who had assembled in imposing numbers, intimated to -me that the English had succeeded in breaking through near Louvain. -On inquiring for the messenger who had brought this news I heard -that priests had related it. I also remember actually to have seen -three priests at the eastern exit of the village at about 7 o'clock -p.m. They went through the streets singly, and here and there made -communications to the people. As I heard the firing of cannon at no -very great distance, I hurried to reach the main station at Louvain. -I arrived there at about 8 o'clock p.m. At about 9 o'clock I suddenly -saw, near the station, a rocket go up. At the same moment I heard -violent gun-fire. In order to inform myself regarding the firing, and -to have a better view, I went to a "G"-car of the company transport, -which was about 30 metres distant from the station square. From -the open peep-hole of the "G"-car I obtained a good outlook over -the station square and towards the road that connects Louvain with -Kessel-Loo. I saw quite clearly firing upon the railway train from the -roof of the third house of the street opposite to the train entering -Louvain. I also remarked firing towards the station square from a -window on the third floor of an hotel. From a window of the Hôtel -"Maria Theresa" firing upon the station square took place. During the -firing, the station square and the adjacent streets, which I was able -to overlook, were filled with our troops. The firing could only be -intended for our troops. Our men replied to the firing. I myself fired -at a window of the second floor of the fifth house of the road that is -parallel to the train, from which a civilian, whom I could clearly see, -was firing. - -After our side had received the signal to stop firing, I went to the -station square; this may have been at about 10.30. A General there -had instructed the field-gendarmes to search the houses from which -firing had taken place for arms and ammunition. On my report of what I -had seen, a search was also made in the third and fifth houses of the -street parallel to the train. In both houses suspected persons with -guns and suitable ammunition were found. One of these persons who was -examined at the station had cartridges which fitted the guns in his -pocket. - -At about 12 o'clock p.m. several civilians, among them about six or -seven priests, were shot in the station square. Suddenly a window was -opened on the second floor of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa," where I had -received information in such a trustworthy manner during my search for -quarters on the previous day. I saw a male person who repeatedly fired -upon the troops assembled in the station square. Firing also took place -from houses whose inhabitants had wished to signify their friendliness -by flying white flags. - -On the following day, August 26th, at about 12 o'clock, I again went -to the station square. A large number of male and female inhabitants -of Louvain were there. Among the male inhabitants who were held as -hostages I recognised the bank official who was the proprietor of the -house in the Rue de la Station in Louvain. I entered into conversation -with him; he told me that the Belgian Garde Civique had fired from his -house, as well as from house No. 105 in which I had intended to engage -quarters. When asked why he had permitted it, he told me that on August -25th, 1914, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, members of the Belgian -Garde Civique had appeared and had forcibly seized the houses under -threat of death; he said that the citizens of Louvain did not wish this -treacherous firing, but had been forced by the Garde Civique to put up -with the firing from the houses. - -At about 2 o'clock p.m., when a few of the houses in the main street -of Kessel-Loo, opposite the main railway station, had been set on -fire, firing took place from the other houses of this street whose -inhabitants had on the previous day conversed with me apparently in the -kindest way. - -In my opinion, supported by the foregoing personal observations, this -treacherous firing was organised according to plan. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: RUDOLPH. - -The witness was then sworn. - - Signed: ELBLE, President. - Signed: CASSER, Secretary. - - - D. App. 46. - -War Ministry. - -Military Examination Office for Infringements of Laws of War. - - BERLIN, _February 12th, 1915_. - -Before the President at the War Ministry in Berlin, Dr. Grasshoff and -the Secretary Pahl, there appears to-day, without citation, Captain -Karl Friedrich von Esmarch (permanently living at his country seat, -Schönheim, Post Rinkenes, district of Apenrade, at present wounded in -Berlin, Club Hospital, Wilhelmstrasse 30, landowner). - -The witness requests to be heard as such with regard to his -observation of the events at Louvain on August 25th, 1914. - -The importance of the oath was pointed out to him, and he makes the -following statement: - -As to Person: My name is Karl Friedrich von Esmarch, aged 40; -Protestant. - -As to Case: On August 25th, 1914, I arrived at Louvain as Commandant -of the Headquarters of the Corps, IX. Reserve Army Corps. We arrived -in Louvain by train about 6 o'clock p.m. We detrained the horses and -the 1st Division. We were to march to a Belgian hussar barrack, take -in provisions, and move into quarters. On the way from the station to -the barracks the adjutant brought me the order to turn back because the -alarm was being raised as our troops were fighting about 10 km. outside -the town. The horses and 1st Division were therefore to go to the -Place du Peuple in Louvain, taking in provisions there, and the riding -horses were to follow on a new order. We rode to the place designated, -and drew up there. In the square stood a train column. The square was -therefore rather fully occupied on all four sides with vehicles and -horses. Gradually it became dark. Infantry regiments marched past us; -on the south-west side of the square they went in the direction of the -town hall. As I had only a few Staff guards to escort the hand-carts, I -asked a passing infantry regiment for a company as reinforcement. I had -become uneasy as to our safety for the following reason: At first the -streets were full, very full of inhabitants; towards the evening all -movement of the inhabitants suddenly stopped; the streets gave me the -impression of being deserted; I also noticed that generally the roller -shutters in the houses were down. I obtained the company and drew it -up on the north-west side of the square; I then rode to the opposite -(south-east) side of the square, where the forage master stood, in -order to urge him to hasten matters. - -I had hardly arrived there when I heard a clock strike. I did not -count the strokes, there may have been eight or nine. It was already -perfectly dark. At the same moment I saw a green rocket go up above -the houses south-west of the place. Shortly afterwards the sound of -gun-fire came from the direction south-west of the place. This first -gun-fire was followed by general firing from all the houses round the -square itself; the firing was directed upon the German troops in the -square. The shots came from the closed shutters; one could clearly see -their flashes; holes must therefore have been bored previously in the -shutters. I now wanted to gallop to the company to make arrangements, -and as I could not ride through the whole park of vehicles I had to -ride round them, _i.e._ round the north-eastern part of the square. -In doing so I was shot from my horse on the north-eastern side of -the square. I heard distinctly the rattling of machine-guns, and the -bullets flew in great quantities all round me. I was severely hit by -five bullets; I also received a large number of grazing shots; my whole -coat was in rags. When I had fallen from the horse I was run over by a -baggage-cart, the horses of which bolted on account of the firing; I -was dragged to the corner of the square which separates the north-east -side from the north-west side. Here I remained lying under the cart -for about half an hour. During this time I never lost consciousness -and I accurately observed my surroundings. The bullets continually -rebounded on the pavement all round me; I noticed clearly the cracking -off of numerous splinters. I also heard repeatedly the explosion of -apparently heavy projectiles all round me; I thought artillery was -firing; but as there was none present there is only one explanation, -that the inhabitants were throwing hand-grenades on us from the houses -in the square. The firing was not answered to by our troops until some -time had elapsed. The firing on both sides continued for about half -an hour, during which time I lay under the cart; the chain of the -brake-shoe had caught my belt so that I could not get free by myself. -When the shooting ceased somewhat, my servant came and released me from -my position. He brought me to the place where my company was drawn up -on the north-west side of the square and laid me on the edge of the -square, leaning my back against the wheel of a cart. From this position -I could observe all the houses on the north-west side of the square and -also the first houses on both sides contiguous to the square. I noticed -the following: - -The company continued firing into the houses. The firing of the -inhabitants gradually ceased. The German soldiers then beat open the -doors of the houses and set them on fire by throwing burning paraffin -lamps into the houses or by knocking off the gas cocks, igniting the -escaping gas and throwing tablecloths and curtains into the flames; -now and again benzine was used as an incendiary means. Colonel von -Stubenrauch gave the order to set the houses on fire, and I heard -his voice. As soon as the smoke in the houses became stronger, the -francs-tireurs came out of their houses down the stairs. In many cases -they still held their arms in their hands; I saw clearly muskets, -revolvers, military rifles, and other firearms. I was particularly -struck by the great number of revolvers. The francs-tireurs were to a -man evil-looking figures such as I have never in my life seen before; -they were shot by the German sentries standing below. Our men took -great care to spare women and children, who were allowed to leave the -burning houses without interference. I have not seen a single case in -which a woman or child were hurt. Some of the women and children even -assembled in the square round us and were very well treated by the -German soldiers. Near me stood a woman with a perambulator containing -a small child. The soldiers standing round were consoling the weeping -woman. - -I watched the scenes of burning the houses and taking the -francs-tireurs perhaps for half an hour. My servant then brought up -a motor-car. Together with other wounded I was driven to a hospital, -which we only reached after driving to and fro for some time. It -was a Belgian military hospital; I took it to be a monastery at the -time, because there were many monks there. I was handed over about 12 -o'clock, midnight, August 25th, 1914. On the very next day, August -26th, 1914, I was again fetched in an automobile and taken to Louvain -station to be transported to Liège. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KARL FRIEDRICH VON ESMARCH. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: GRASSHOFF. Signed: PAHL. - - - D. App. 47. - - Present: - President, Dr. VAN GEMBER. - Secretary, LEMPFRID. - - WESEL, _January 8th, 1915_. - -There appeared as a witness Musketeer Schmidt, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Alfred Schmidt, aged 32; Protestant; butcher; -musketeer, 9th Company, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53. - -As to Case: With regard to participation of civilians in the battle I -know the following: I was attached to the Staff of the 2nd Battalion, -Landwehr Regiment No. 53, as a butcher. On August 25th we had arrived -at Louvain in the afternoon about 5 o'clock. At first we could not go -to our quarters. In the evening at 9 o'clock I was near the baggage. -A lieutenant, who was leader of the baggage, called us together and -explained to us that we were to keep our eyes open, because things did -not seem quite safe. We had hardly returned to our baggage, which stood -in a somewhat narrow turning in the market, when I heard a loud shot. -This was evidently not a rifle-shot, but rather a shot from a small -gun, and evidently a signal; for its sound had hardly died away when we -were fired on from all sides from the houses. The shots came from the -cellars and from all floors; it was real rapid fire. The horses having -shied and the carts having become interlocked, as I stood between two -carts, I could not at first get out. After about five minutes I got -free, looked about for my comrades, and could see none. I therefore ran -to the market, but was fired at there too, also in two side-streets -into which I wished to turn. At a third street I finally succeeded -in finding cover inside a new building. After a time a few comrades -assembled there. We then determined to advance together towards the -gun-fire which we heard in the distance. Coming through a street in -which firing went on continually, I stepped on an iron grate with -which cellar holes are covered in Louvain; I fell through, fell on my -arm, and broke my wrist. Immediately behind me two other comrades fell -into the cellar. We had hardly fallen on the floor when we were fired -at from the interior of the cellar. After some time a sergeant-major -of artillery came who had evidently seen us fall down, and he asked -from the road whether we were Germans. I then stepped up to the cellar -opening, and was pulled up by him by my uninjured hand. The other two -could not rise. I told this to the sergeant-major, who then said that -help was coming immediately. I was taken to a barrack and bandaged. -I cannot say from own knowledge what happened to my comrades who had -fallen in with me. On the following day, however, I was told at our -quarters that they had been severely wounded. - -On August 26th, at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, we were to be sent -off by rail. The signal for starting had already been given when the -train was heavily fired at from the houses near the station. One could -hear the rattling of the bullets. Everybody who could do so had to -load. Not till half an hour later were we able to proceed, the firing -lasted so long. The train was only a hospital train, and was marked as -such with the red cross. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHMIDT. - -The witness was sworn. - - Signed: Dr. VAN GEMBER. - Signed: LEMPFRID. - - - D. App. 48. - - Present: - President, Dr. CZARNIKOW. - Secretary, THIELE. - - ALLEMANT IN FRANCE, _December 18th, 1914_. - -There appeared as witness Lieutenant Brandt of the Reserve, Infantry -Regiment von Alvensleben (6th Brandenburg) No. 52, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows: - -As to Person: My name is Kurt Brandt, aged 32; Protestant; book-keeper -in the printing works of J. Schmidt at Markneukirchen, Saxony. - -As to Case: I can only repeat the statements which I made in my report -to my regiment on September 27th. - -The report was then read to the witness, and he then declared the -following: The report is the one just mentioned by me. I repeat its -contents. The letter of the Belgian Government mentioned therein -and the list of members of the Garde Civique found, I handed to the -regiment on the following day. Lieutenant Dunkel of the Reserve will -confirm the correctness of my statements; he was then also at Louvain, -and led a train of the Army Telegraph Section 1. - -During the firing, field gendarmes handed over to me about five -civilians who bore no badge or uniform. The gendarmes reported that -they had taken the persons with arms in their hands, and they also -produced the arms. I did not examine the prisoners, but had them taken -to the Commandant. - -The owner of the hotel mentioned by me, who appeared in the morning -from within the hotel when it was already quite burned down, was handed -over by me to the General Staff Officer of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, -a captain, whose name I do not know. It was the same officer who had -given me instructions to destroy the two hotels. The civilian was -examined by the officer and shot about half an hour later. At about the -same time two priests were shot; when I saw them, they had already been -apprehended. On inquiry, an orderly officer of the Commander General -told me that they had distributed ammunition among the civilians. - -Major Hildebrand, mentioned in my report, had expressly pointed out -that he and his people had been fired on particularly from the houses -opposite the station. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: KURT BRANDT. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings closed. - - Signed: CZARNIKOW. Signed: THIELE. - -Sender: BRANDT (KURT), Lieutenant of Reserve. - -Place of dispatch: Wood near Fort Condé. - -Date: 27.9, 4 p.m. - - -_Report._ - -To Infantry Regiment No. 52. - -On the 24th ult. I arrived as protection to our Army Telegraph Section -with a platoon of the 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 52, at -Louvain, and took up our quarters in the Court of Justice; we were -exceptionally well received by the inhabitants. On the following day -troop trains arrived continually with troops of the IX. Reserve Army -Corps who marched off in the direction of Antwerp, because a sortie -was reported from that city. Only one company and my platoon remained -behind with the baggage. This and the thunder of the cannon which -could be heard in the town seemed to furnish an opportune moment for -the inhabitants to carry out the attack upon our troops which they had -no doubt planned and prepared. At about 9 o'clock there commenced a -violent firing upon our soldiers from the houses, especially directed -upon the newly arriving trains. Major Hildebrand, leader of a not -yet detrained battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 31, an old -regimental comrade of mine, also suffered from this fire. - -The fire was opened in the whole town in so surprising and uniform a -fashion that preparations for it must surely have been made. In my -opinion, the Belgian Garde Civique took part in it. This assumption -of mine was confirmed by a document of the Belgian Government taken -on the 23rd of August from the Burgomaster of Winghe-St. Georges, -from which can be seen that the Garde Civique was to be mobilised. The -distinctive signs mentioned in the letter (band and rosette) could -not be found, because ostensibly they were to be distributed from -Louvain, as the place belonged to this district. Lists of members for -the last three years were also found. It was impossible to make arrests -because, according to the statement of the Burgomaster, almost the -whole population had fled; I suspect, however, that the male population -had been "drawn" into Louvain where these "troops" were to assemble. -In the course of the evening, troops were brought back into the town, -and at about 12 o'clock the firing ceased at last. On the command of -the General Staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps I then joined the other -troops in the station square, and was suddenly ordered to destroy and -set on fire two hotels from which firing had taken place during the -whole time, and to fetch out the occupants. The principal culprits, -however, evidently found an outlet in time over the roofs, for only -the proprietor came out at about 5 a.m., and very soon he received -his reward, as well as two priests who had distributed munition to -the civilians. On the following morning we continued our march in the -direction of Brussels, and on the way we were again violently fired at -from different houses. - -I reported by telegram what I had ascertained regarding the Garde -Civique to the Commandant of the town of Louvain on the same day (the -23rd), so that he might be able to take counter-measures; I know -nothing further of the result. But like all the others who have lived -through the attack I am firmly convinced that the matter had been -previously arranged by the authorities. - - Signed: KURT BRANDT, Lieutenant of the Reserve, - 9th Company, - Infantry Regiment No. 52. - - - D. App. 49. - -Court of the 18th Reserve Division. - - Present: - President, V. KAUFFBERG. - Secretary, RAPPE. - - AVRICOURT, _January 8th, 1915_. - -There appeared as witnesses the persons mentioned below, who, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to them, were, in the -absence of the witnesses to be heard subsequently, examined as follows: - -1. Captain Schaefer, Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 18. - -As to Person: My name is Walther Schaefer, aged 40; Protestant. - -As to Case: I was leader of the light ammunition column, 2nd Reserve -Field Artillery Regiment No. 18, and arrived with my column at the -station in Louvain on August 25th, 1914, at about 8 p.m. The train -was so long that only half of it could be brought up to the station -platform. When the first half of the train had been unloaded, and I -was remaining with about 100 horses in the goods station, a murderous -gun-fire suddenly commenced. The firing evidently came from the roofs -and windows of the rows of houses to the east and west of the station. -It lasted from twenty minutes to half an hour. In the meantime, a train -with infantry arrived. I heard subsequently that the infantry replied -to this fire from the carriages. - -When the firing had ceased I drew my horses under cover in a goods -shed. We had barely arrived there when we were violently fired at -from the direction of the church tower. I had the impression that the -shots came from above; it was related generally that a machine-gun -had been placed in position on the church tower. The firing lasted at -first only for a short time, but was repeated at brief intervals, and -continued intermittently for a few hours. I cannot state the period -more accurately. - -I was also in the sheds of the stations. A General Staff Officer of the -IX. Reserve Corps was busy there and helped me to get the second half -of my train unloaded; this was about 1 o'clock at night. At 2 o'clock I -marched off in the direction of Herent-Bueken. - -The General commanding the IX. Reserve Corps and Captain Vieregge were -during the night in the square in front of the station. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: SCHAEFER. - -The witness was sworn. - -2. Lieutenant of the Reserve Duckwitz, Reserve Field Artillery Regiment -No. 18. - -As to Person: My name is Richard Duckwitz, aged 28; Protestant. - -As to Case: I belonged to the light ammunition column, which arrived -on August 25th, 1914, about 8 o'clock p.m., at the goods station -of Louvain. Soon after my arrival I was commanded by the leader of -the column to ride to Bueken and to report to the Commandant of the -18th Reserve Division the arrival of the column. I rode along a broad -boulevard that leads along on the outer edge of Louvain. The street was -perfectly quiet. When I subsequently came to smaller streets, I met -infantry marching along rifle in hand. They called to me to dismount -because firing from the houses was taking place. I met infantry who -told me that I could not proceed because our infantry was firing with -machine-guns into the town from the other side. One could hear the -firing. When it became more quiet after a few minutes I rode on and -reached Bueken, part of which was burning. After having made my report, -I was told to ride back and to tell the column to come up at once. -On the return journey I missed the boulevard and got into the town. -I rode along a broad street and overtook a troop of twenty to thirty -gendarmes on foot, revolver in hand. With them were several officers, a -priest in white cassock, and a few civilians surrounded by a division -of soldiers. The priest called out a few words in French now and again; -I heard subsequently that he called out to the people to put lights -in the houses. I also saw that light was burning in some houses; the -street itself was dark. As I could not proceed I returned to Herent, -where I remained during the night. - -On the following morning, at about 4 o'clock, I rode back to Louvain. -I found the boulevard, and arrived at the station at about 6 o'clock. -The houses surrounding the station were partly burned down, partly -still burning. In front of the station was the General in Command with -several officers. After making my report to the leader of my column -we soon marched off and left Louvain unmolested _via_ the boulevard -mentioned above. - -Read over, approved, signed. - - Signed: DUCKWITZ. - -The witness was sworn. - -Proceedings took place as above. - - Signed: V. KAUFFBERG. Signed: RAPPE. - - -TRANSCRIBERS NOTE -I have found two inconsistencies in the spelling of names; -Lieutenant Balterman/Battermann -and -Rifleman Vorwieger/Vorwieder -I have been unable to ascertain the correct spellings, so have left the -names unchanged. - - - - -HEADLEY BROS., ASHFORD, KENT & 18 DEVONSHIRE ST., E.C.2. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The German Army in Belgium, the White -Book of May 1915, by E. N. 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Bennett. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -.small { - font-size: small} - -.medium { - font-size: medium} - -.large { - font-size: large} - -.x-large { - font-size: x-large} - - - - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} -.p4 {margin-top: 5em;} -.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } -.ph5 { text-align: center; font-size: small; margin: 1.12em auto; } -.ph6 { text-align: center; font-size: x-small; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -.hang { - text-indent: -1em; - padding-left: 2em} - -p.drop:first-letter { - font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; - font-size: xx-large; - line-height: 70%} - -.uppercase { - font-size: small; - text-transform: uppercase} - - - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; - clear: both; -} - -hr.tb {width: 45%;} -hr.chap {width: 65%} -hr.full {width: 95%;} - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} -hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em;} - - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdl {text-align: left;} - .tdr {text-align: right;} - .tdc {text-align: center;} - - - - - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - - -.bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} - -.bl {border-left: solid 2px;} - -.bt {border-top: solid 2px;} - -.br {border-right: solid 2px;} - -.bbox {border: solid 2px;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.u {text-decoration: underline;} - - - - - - - - - - - - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - - - - - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -@media handheld { - .hidehand {display: none; visibility: hidden;} -} - - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The German Army in Belgium, the White Book -of May 1915, by E. N. Bennett - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The German Army in Belgium, the White Book of May 1915 - -Author: E. N. Bennett - -Release Date: March 7, 2017 [EBook #54296] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Graeme Mackreth and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<p class="ph1"> -THE GERMAN ARMY<br /> -IN BELGIUM -</p> - -<p class="ph3">THE WHITE BOOK OF MAY 1915</p> - -<p class="ph6" style="margin-top: 10em;">TRANSLATED BY</p> -<p class="ph4">E.N. BENNETT</p> - -<p class="ph6"><i>Late Capt. 4th Batt. Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry,<br /> -formerly Fellow of Hertford College, Oxford</i></p> - -<p class="ph2" style="margin-top: 5em;">WITH A<br /> -FOREWORD ON MILITARY REPRISALS<br /> -IN BELGIUM AND IRELAND</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="front" /> -</p> - - -<p class="ph6" style="margin-top: 5em;">NEW YORK<br /> -B.W. HUEBSCH, INC.<br /> -MCMXXI -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">FOREWORD</p> - - -<p>The Allied case against Germany with respect to the conduct of the -Kaiser's troops in Belgium rests mainly on four publications. (1) -"The Report of the Belgian Commission of Inquiry." (2) The Belgian -"<i>Rapports sur la Violation du Droit des Gens en Belgique</i>." (3) The -Belgian "Reply to the German White Book." (4) The "Bryce Report." It -was the last of these which mainly influenced British and American -opinion. This famous compilation owed much to the reputation of the -eminent scholar who presided over the Enquiry, and to the names -of Messrs. Fisher, Harold Cox and others who were members of the -Commission. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that our experience -during the storm and stress of the war does not indicate that our -literary and intellectual leaders have as a class shown either greater -fidelity to principle or less susceptibility to the evil influences of -war-fever, than the ordinary man in the street; and now that the more -salient symptoms of this fever are abating and prejudice is slowly -being replaced by reasoned judgment, the Bryce report can no longer -retain unchallenged its claim to present a critical and convincing -record of unquestioned facts. The numerous statements which it embodies -were mainly derived from Belgian refugees who had reached our shores. -Very many of these men and women were naturally in a state of nervous -excitement and full of bitter indignation against the invaders of their -soil. Such mental conditions are never conducive to the presentation -of accurate and veridical evidence. Further it is obvious that -some of these refugees were not eye-witnesses of the outrages they -describe, for they had fled from their homes and merely record their -own inferences as to events which had occurred during their absence. -Another serious weakness in the Report arises from the fact that -the various barristers and others who were sent round to interview -these refugees were with very few exceptions quite unable to converse -fluently in French and wholly ignorant of Flemish. Finally, none of -the evidence was taken on oath. Here then we have an ill-digested mass -of unsworn statements—some merely at second-hand—made by excited and -angry Belgians, and transmitted by interpreters, themselves unsworn, -which is presented to the world as final and conclusive proof of -Germany's guilt, while at the same time the publication in this country -of a plain translation of Germany's official defence against these -charges was forbidden by the Censor. The testimony of the Bryce Report -served its purpose and aroused a volume of indignant and scandalised -opinion which provided one of the sharpest weapons employed against our -chief enemy; but it must be admitted that the methods by which it was -compiled were so lax and uncritical that the results sink far below the -level ordinarily demanded by the serious historian.</p> - -<p>The definite and fundamental contention of both the Bryce and the -Belgian Reports is that, with the possible exception of a very few -and very doubtful cases, no civilian attacks were made on the German -troops. This point is strongly and repeatedly emphasised.</p> - -<p>"The German Government" says the Bryce Report, page 31, "have sought -to justify their severities on the ground of military necessity and -have excused them as retaliation for cases in which civilians fired -on German troops. There may have been such cases in which such firing -occurred, but no proof has ever been given, or to our knowledge -attempted to be given of such cases, nor of the stories of shocking -outrages perpetrated by Belgian men and women on German soldiers."</p> - -<p>The Belgian Reply to the White Book (p. 7) is still more emphatic. -"As a matter of fact the so-called Belgian <i>francs-tireurs</i> were -non-existent.... The theory of an armed resistance on the part of the -Belgian civil population to the German troops is utterly opposed to -the facts." The following statement of Monseigneur Haylen is quoted: -"We declare in concert with the whole Belgian people that the story -of Belgian <i>francs-tireurs</i> is a myth, an invention and a calumny. We -do not hesitate most solemnly to defy the German Government to prove -the existence of a single group of <i>francs-tireurs</i>.... We have no -knowledge even of an isolated case of civilians having fired on the -troops.... In no single case was the supposed culprit named."</p> - -<p>Such is the position definitely taken up by the official Reports -and adopted by an overwhelming majority of people in Great Britain -and America, to go no further. Nevertheless I have always found it -difficult to accord unquestioning acceptance to the popular belief. -From an <i>a priori</i> point of view it is difficult to believe that -German troops, probably the most sternly disciplined and best educated -soldiers in the world, should have deliberately gone out of their way -to shoot innocent civilians in Belgium and destroy their property -for no apparent reason at all. To embroil themselves wilfully with -the civilian inhabitants at a time when every minute was precious in -their scheme of a rapid advance against the Anglo-French forces was -obviously the last thing the invaders would desire. The supposition -that the Germans indulged in appalling and indiscriminate acts of -terrorism against quite innocent people in order to secure the safety -of their lines of communication is ridiculous on the face of it. In -short, the current view of "Belgian atrocities," admirably as it served -its purpose as valuable propaganda, contains within itself so many -difficulties that no fair-minded historian of the future could accept -it as it stands.</p> - -<p>We have seen the evidence adduced to prove Germany's misdeeds in -Belgium. Why have we been prevented from seeing Germany's defence -against these charges? In any civilised society, even the vilest -criminal is allowed to defend himself. What is the use of "defying -Germany" to prove a single case of <i>franc-tireur</i> action and at the -same time depriving the public of all access to the German White Book -with its long list of specific outrages supported by sworn evidence?</p> - -<p>Here then is presented for the first time in Great Britain Germany's -official reply to the charges formulated against her troops during -their passage through Belgium. The reader can judge of the evidence -for himself. To refuse it a hearing on the <i>a priori</i> assumption that, -as Mr. Bonar Law declared in the House of Commons, it was "full of -lies," or that nothing that a German states could be true, is scarcely -worthy of a sane and judicial mind. Nor do I hesitate to say in this -respect that any Englishman who knew his Europe in pre-war days would -have regarded the sworn testimony of a German as at least quite as -trustworthy as the unsworn evidence of a Belgian.</p> - -<p>But apart from the Bryce and Belgian Reports on the one hand and the -German White Book on the other there exists a mass of evidence hitherto -almost unknown in Great Britain or America—I refer to the evidence -of the Belgian Press in the early days of the invasion. Here are some -extracts from well-known newspapers:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The <i>Het Handelsblad</i> of Antwerp, August 6th, 1914:—"A furious -struggle without mercy, which roused in a portion of the civilian -population of the Low Countries, disturbed in its peaceful work of -the fields, a veritable and violent desire to defend the natal soil -against the Prussian traitors.... It is incontestable that from the -air-holes of the cellars, loopholes in the roofs made by removing -tiles, from houses, farms and cabins a terrible fire was directed on -the Uhlan and Silesian assailants."</p> - -<p><i>Nieuwe Gazet</i>, August 8th:—De Burgerij Schiet Mee Op Den Indringer. -("The citizens also fire on the invaders.") "At Bernot the outposts -had to fight against the civilians who fired like madmen at the -invaders from houses, roofs and windows. Some women even took part -in the struggle. A young girl, eighteen years of age, armed with a -revolver, fired at an officer.... The peasants and inhabitants kept up -a regular fusillade against the Germans."</p> - -<p><i>Het Handelsblad</i>, No. 190:—"The peasants seized their sporting guns -and killed the officer who was commanding the detachment and several -men."</p> - -<p><i>Nouveau Précurseur</i>, Antwerp, says <i>à propos</i> of the massacre of -Berneau:—"The priest of the village gives the signal to fire with a -sporting gun from the belfry of the village. He was surrounded, forced -to descend and shot." This is given as the account of an eye-witness.</p> - -<p><i>Matin</i>, Antwerp, No. 225:—"At Dormael the three brothers Sevenans -who had fired on the Germans were shot; their bodies were pierced by -lance-wounds and their house was burnt down."</p> - -<p><i>Nouveau Précurseur</i>, No. 223:—"It is no laughing matter. All the -people, soldiers, Gardes Civiques or armed villagers take their -task seriously.... It is no longer a question of soldiers or of the -regular Gardes Civiques. These are villagers and retired members -of the Garde. The majority are armed with sporting guns, several -have revolvers and a few have sabres in addition." This is followed -by the following advice from an officer of the Belgian Staff to a -civilian correspondent:—"Take care not to fall into the hands of the -Uhlans.... Never abandon your revolver; if you see them, fire at them -but do not stop for a moment, it would mean death."</p> - -<p><i>Burgerwelzijn</i>, Bruges, No. 95, gives the following account of the -fighting at Herstael:—"Some 2,000 Germans had penetrated as far as -the National Arms Factory and were received by a hail of bullets. All -the houses, even the smallest, had been transformed into veritable -fortresses. In addition to this, barricades had been erected in the -streets, behind which soldiers and civilians were posted ready to -fire. Women and children brought up the supplies of ammunition. The -resistance lasted until all the men and women were <i>hors de combat</i>. -The Germans then penetrated into the village, no longer fighting under -command, but firing independently. They sheltered themselves behind -a few remaining bushes, for the inhabitants had burned and destroyed -everything which could serve as cover. Their trumpets rallied them, -at least those who survived, and they retired on Vivegnies. It was -with real joy that the inhabitants had seen the enemy disappear, when -the sound of a trumpet was suddenly heard. The Uhlans had remounted -and were advancing on the village at a trot while the infantry at the -same time wheeling to the right attacked the village from the flank. -The population allowed the assailants to approach. The attack of the -Uhlans was terrible, no less terrible the resistance of the villagers. -Men, women and children opened such a frightful fire on the enemy that -the first ranks tumbled one on the other. The Germans nevertheless -entered the village streets, cavalry in front, infantry behind, while -the exasperated populace did not cease to overwhelm the enemy with its -fire. The women poured boiling oil and water on the German soldiers -who rolled on the ground howling with the pain. It will be some time -before the people in Germany learn what the assailants of the village -of Herstael went through; one can, in fact, count on five fingers -those who escaped alive from the carnage."</p> - -<p><i>La Presse</i>, Antwerp, No. 213:—"Fighting in the streets of Liège": -"Liège is resisting marvellously. The inhabitants uniting with the -Garde Civique are fighting in the streets."</p> - -<p><i>La Métropole</i>, Antwerp, August 8th:—"Some of the inhabitants of -Liège broke open the window of a gunsmith's shop, seized guns, -revolvers and cartridges and pursued the Uhlans to the outskirts of -the town."</p> - -<p><i>Nouveau Précurseur</i>, No. 225, <i>apropos</i> of the battle of -Haelen:—"Lieutenant Van Doren, 4th Chasseurs-à-cheval, charged with -the defence of the town of Diest, had not a single soldier at his -disposal. He appealed to the volunteer firemen of Diest. These as one -man demanded to march to the firing line.... Three of the firemen were -slightly wounded; their names are Emil Kneuts, Louis Van Attenhoven -and Leandre Segars."</p> - -<p>With regard to the incidents at Visé:—</p> - -<p><i>De Stem van Haspengouw</i>, August 6th:—"The Germans entered Visé where -they met with a vigorous resistance not only on the part of a small -detachment of soldiers who were there but also on the part of the -civilians. The Germans completely destroyed the town."</p> - -<p>The <i>Nieuwe Gazet</i>, August 7th:—"Some women and civilians have fired -on the Germans who have shown themselves pitiless in sparing nothing."</p> - -<p>Another correspondent of the same paper describes what he saw at Visé: -"Young and old ran to take up arms, and if they were unable to stop -the murderous advance of the German cavalry, the inhabitants at least -resisted till the last moment. People fired from the houses upon the -Germans, who, in conformity with the laws of war, in these cases, -accorded no mercy. They penetrated into the houses from which the -shots had been fired and shot a certain number of inhabitants found -with arms in their hands."</p> - -<p><i>Nieuwe Gazet</i>, August 8th:—"After the German artillery had set some -houses on fire, the infantry marched to the attack. This was not -only directed against the soldiers, but also against the civilian -population who took part in the combat. People shoot from the houses, -small boys and women bombard the assailants with stones, and even some -old men from behind the doors fire on the advancing soldiers."</p> - -<p>The paper goes on to tell us that a German Officer assembled the -inhabitants round him and was urging them to remain calm. "Scarcely -had the officer closed his mouth, when a shot suddenly fired at him -caused him to fall dead to the ground."</p> - -<p><i>Gazette de Liège</i>, August 5th—"The inhabitants of the country side -display a fine enthusiasm; all the peasants are in ambush, armed with -their sporting guns ready to fire on the invader."</p></blockquote> - -<p>In the face of such evidence, much of it furnished by correspondents -who were eye-witnesses of what occurred, the main contention of the -Belgian and Bryce Reports falls to the ground. The Belgian criticism -of these statements as "taken from second-rate papers," "proving -nothing," "unimportant," is obviously futile. That the German troops -were confronted with a wide-spread and determined opposition on the -part of armed civilians in flagrant violation of the Laws of War must -be accepted as a fact established by evidence varied, cumulative and -irresistible. On the other hand it is clear that no final verdict can -be passed on the vexed question of the Belgian atrocities in general, -until the unsworn evidence accumulated against the Kaiser's troops -has been met to a much fuller extent. The White Book does not cover -more than the incidents which occurred at Dinant, Aerschot, Andenne, -Louvain, and the neighbourhood of Visé. While therefore it disproves, -in conjunction with the Belgian evidence cited above, the propaganda -plea that the story of civilian attacks was a myth, it does not of -course deal with more than a portion of the ground covered by the -British and Belgian Reports. Before any complete decision can be -reached we should require official replies from the German Government -to a variety of alleged outrages in dozens of villages like Gomery, -Latour, Ethe, the horrible charge of the shooting of the Valckenaers -family at Thildonck, and so on. There were certain cases, one of them -known to the writer, in which mistakes and misunderstandings led to -the execution of innocent civilians. Full allowance, too, must be -made for the existence in all conscript armies of brutal and criminal -types—not confined to the rank and file—and for the demoralising -effects to which all the armies of the war were exposed whenever an -abundant supply of wines and spirits was easily accessible by purchase -or looting.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless the fact that the main position taken up by the Allied -Reports is obviously untenable, coupled with the significant refusal -to allow the official German defence access to our shores, and the -deliberate and disgraceful circulation of pseudo-atrocity stories -during the war, would seem to suggest that as regards some at least -of the alleged incidents lying outside the White Book suspense of -judgment, pending further researches, may be the wisest attitude. -Some day a useful and interesting monograph may be written on the -whole question of atrocities in war. Careful investigation would, I -am convinced, yield psychological results of permanent value, and -establish the fact that the mental attitude which originates or accepts -atrocity stories is frequently based on an amazing inter-mixture of -credulity, mal-observation, megalomaniac impulses and deception, -conscious or unconscious.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile it is evident that the immense outlay of money and energy -expended on the propaganda publications of the Entente fully -accomplished their object and contributed most effectively towards -winning what President Wilson has described as "a commercial and -industrial war." Nevertheless the impartial historian of the future -will, I think, present the story of the German invasion of Belgium in a -somewhat different light from that in which this chapter of history has -been portrayed in the official propaganda of the Allied Powers.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The final conclusions arrived at will perhaps be shaped on these -lines:—</p> - -<p>(1) That the Allied propagandists adopted methods of investigation -which were often superficial and inadequate and accepted, together with -certain evidence which was valid, much that was unsound and worthless.</p> - -<p>(2) That the official defence put forward by the enemy was to a very -large extent ignored or suppressed.</p> - -<p>(3) That according to the recognised usages of war the German troops -were fully justified in taking reprisals on the persons or property of -those Belgian civilians who actually attacked them.</p> - -<p>(4) That in some cases this right was exercised with unreasonable -severity, and without adequate discrimination.</p> - -<p>(5) That in certain instances, <i>e.g.</i>, the shooting of the hostages at -Les Rivages, the invaders acted in a manner condemned by the general -consensus of civilised opinion.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The civilised world was invited to condemn the German reprisals of -1914 in Belgium. What verdict will it record with reference to British -reprisals in Ireland six years later?</p> - -<p>The analogies inevitably suggested between the two cases are not as -clear as they might at first sight appear to be.</p> - -<p>(1) The civilians who fired on the invaders in Belgium were irregular -combatants wholly distinct from the recognised Belgian Army. They were -in fact <i>francs-tireurs</i> and nothing else. The men who are fighting -against the troops of the Crown in Ireland constitute the only hostile -force we have to meet. They are certainly not <i>francs-tireurs</i>: the -question is, are they rebels or, as they have consistently claimed -to be, combatants in civil war? If the former, they are technically -outlaws and cannot claim belligerent rights. But the Prime Minister -has himself definitely stated that "civil war" is being waged in -Ireland and this statement appears to be in strict accord with -international law, which makes a clear distinction between "rebellion" -and "civil war."<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> Rebellion is action undertaken by sporadic groups -of individuals with little organisation and hopelessly inferior in -numbers to the forces of the existing Government. The Irish Republican -troops on the other hand are organised in Divisions, Brigades and -Battalions, are controlled by responsible leaders, and greatly -outnumber the military and armed police forces opposed to them. Their -claim therefore to be combatants engaged in civil war and, as such, -to be treated in accordance with the rights and usages of war, seems -well grounded. Had this claim been admitted from the commencement, the -hideous death-reprisals indulged in on both sides would probably never -have occurred. Such acts as the ambushing of troops in lorries or on -foot are of course perfectly legitimate methods of offence in ordinary -warfare.</p> - - - -<p>(2) As far as can be gathered from the White Book, the <i>francs-tireurs</i> -who fired on Belgian troops were, even when caught <i>flagrante delicto</i>, -usually accorded a drum-head court-martial or summary trial. But many -instances have occurred in Ireland when unarmed men have been shot dead -in or near their homes and sometimes in their beds, without even the -semblance of a trial.</p> - -<p>(3) Military reprisals in Belgium were, at any rate, regular in one -respect: they were carried out under orders. According to the "Manual -of Military Law," compiled for the use of our own Army, no reprisals -are legitimate unless ordered by an officer. It is obvious that in very -many cases Irish reprisals have been executed by the rank and file on -their own responsibility, in total disregard of military discipline, -but with complete immunity from punishment. Certain of these reprisals, -<i>e.g.</i>, the shooting down of men, women and children at Croke Park, far -exceed in atrocity anything proved against the Germans in Belgium.</p> - -<p>(4) Although houses were frequently destroyed by the Germans the -pretext in every case was that from these houses civilians had fired -upon the troops. No parallel, as far as I can see, exists for the -amazing Order issued in Cork to the effect that houses with their -furniture are to be burnt because the occupants "must have known -of ambushes" in the neighbourhood and "ought to have informed the -authorities." Nor again is any parallel found in the White Book to the -reckless destruction in Cork of public and private buildings, including -the Free Library, as a reprisal for an ambush outside the city, or for -the burning of creameries, factories, farms and haystacks in a general -campaign of vengeance. It seems clear that fresh precedents are here -established which are certainly not covered by the rules of civilised -warfare, and run counter to the ordinary laws of reason and humanity.</p> - -<p>(5) The use of hostages has been adopted in Ireland, as in Belgium, for -there is little discrimination in principle between shooting hostages -and exposing them to death on military lorries from the fire of their -compatriots.</p> - -<p>Although the question of hostages is not covered by the Regulations of -either Geneva or the Hague, the claim to inflict injury or death on -innocent persons in order to bring pressure to bear on an enemy force -is now generally condemned as a barbarous and obsolete usage of war, -and as such is expressly discountenanced by our "Manual of Military -Law" (page 306).</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>Vide</i> Sir T. Barclay, "Laws of War" (<i>Encyc. Brit.</i>). -</p> -<p> -Even rebels, when fighting for a political object, are, according to -high authorities like Bluntschli and Fiore, entitled to belligerent -rights, and must not be treated as a "crowd of criminals" (eine Masse -von Verbrechern). -</p> -<p> -<i>Cf.</i> Bluntschli (Das moderne Völkerrecht VIII. 512).—Wird sie dagegen -nur strafrechtlich verfolgt, so wird dadurch der tatsächliche Kampf -verwildert und es ist Gefahr dass die beiden streitenden Parteien -in die Barbarei versinken und einander mit grausamen Represalien zu -überbieten suchen. What a prophetic picture of Ireland in 1921!</p></div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">PREFACE</p> - - -<p>Immediately after the outbreak of the present war, the Belgian civil -population began a wild contest against the German troops, which -constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, and resulted in -the most serious consequences for Belgium and its people.</p> - -<p>This struggle of a populace governed by the rudest passions raged -during the entire forward march of the German Army through Belgium. -When the Belgian Army had retired before the German troops, after -obstinate combats, the Belgian civil population in the unoccupied -parts of the country endeavoured to hinder the German advance by -every possible means; moreover, even in the places which had been -in possession of German troops for a long time, the inhabitants had -no hesitation in trying to damage and weaken the German forces by -cowardly and treacherous attacks. The full extent of this armed popular -resistance can be gauged from the accompanying sketch-map (App. 1), -wherein the German lines of advance and the Belgian places in which the -civilian fighting took place are marked. That along these routes and at -these places the Belgian civil population of every grade, age, and sex -took part with the greatest bitterness and fury in the fights against -the German troops can be proved from existing and weighty material, -supported by official documents containing the results secured by -examinations on oath and official reports. A selection from this -material is given in the various Appendices, which, however, only deal -with the most important events, and can be supplemented at any time by -further extracts. According to the accompanying material the Belgian -civil population fought against the German troops in many places in the -provinces of Liège (Apps. 2-10), Luxembourg (Apps. 11-30), Namur (Apps. -12, 17, 31-42), Hainault (Apps. 3, 7, 10, 40, 43-46, 49), Brabant -(Apps. 47-49), East and West Flanders (Apps. 49, 50). The fights were -of a particularly dreadful character in Aerschot, Andenne, Dinant, and -Louvain, and about these places special reports were delivered by -the Military Court of Examinations, instituted by the Ministry of War -for the purpose of inquiring into the violations of the laws of war -(Apps. A, B, C, D). According to these reports, men in all stations of -life—workmen, factory owners, doctors, teachers, even priests, not to -speak of women and children—were arrested with weapons in their hands -(Apps. 18, 20, 25, 27, 43, 47; A5; C18, 26, 29, 31, 41, 45, 48); in -districts from which the Belgian regular troops had long since retired -the Germans were fired on from houses and gardens, roofs and cellars, -fields and woods. In the fighting, methods were employed to which -regular troops would certainly not have resorted, and large quantities -of sporting-guns and ammunition, out-of-date revolvers and pistols -were also found (Apps. 6, 11, 13, 26, 36, 37, 44, 48, 49; A2; C52, 81; -D1, 2, 6, 20, 37); in consequence, there were numerous cases of wounds -caused by small-shot, and also by scalding with hot tar and boiling -water (Apps. 3, 10; B2; C5, 11, 28, 57; D25, 29). In view of all these -facts, there can be no doubt that the uprising in Belgium was not -undertaken by isolated civilians, but by large masses of the population.</p> - -<p>The methods of fighting employed by the civilian population were -absolutely incompatible with the universally recognised rules of -international law, as laid down in Articles 1 and 2 of the Hague -Convention (Laws and Customs of War on Land), which had also been -accepted by Belgium. These rules differentiate between organised and -unorganised civilian warfare. In an organised People's War (Article -1) the militia and volunteer corps, in order to be recognised as -belligerents, must observe the four following regulations: They must -have responsible leaders at their head; they must wear a distinctive -badge, also visible at a distance; they must carry their weapons -openly; and must conform with the laws and usages of war. The -unorganised People's War (Article 2) need not fulfil the first two of -the above conditions, but must strictly adhere to the two latter ones: -it may only be carried on in territory not yet occupied by the enemy, -and only then if no time has been left to arrange for an organised -People's War.</p> - -<p>The two special conditions laid down for organised civilian warfare -were certainly not carried out by the Belgian francs-tireurs, because -all the German military reports are unanimous in stating that the -civilians found fighting had no responsible leaders, and wore no -military badges (Apps. 6, 49; C4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31; D). The -Belgian francs-tireurs can therefore not be looked upon as organised -militia or volunteer corps according to the meaning of the laws of war. -The fact that apparently Belgian soldiers and members of the Garde -Civique also took part in their enterprises does not alter the case, -because, as these persons too did not wear military badges, but mingled -with the population in civilian dress (Apps. 6; A3; C25; D1, 30, 45, -46), they forfeited the rights of belligerents.</p> - -<p>The whole of the Belgian People's War can therefore only be regarded -as an unorganised armed opposition of the civilian population. Being -as such only permissible in unoccupied territory, it was without -doubt absolutely against international law, when carried out in -places already in the possession of German troops, as, for instance, -in Aerschot, Andenne, and Louvain. But also in those places not yet -occupied by German troops unorganised civilian war was not permissible, -as the Belgian Government had had ample time to organise civilian -war in accordance with international law. The Belgian Government -had reckoned with the fact for many years, that in the event of an -outbreak of war between Germany and France they would be drawn into -the conflict; the preparations for their mobilisation were, as can -be proved, commenced at least a week before the entry of the German -troops. The Government were therefore in the position to provide those -members of the civilian population they proposed to make use of for -fighting purposes with military badges, and give them responsible -leaders. If the Belgian Government made known to the German Government -through the mediation of a neutral Power that they had taken the -necessary measures, this only proves that they were in a position to -comply with the conditions as laid down; in any case, however, such -steps were not taken in those parts of the country traversed by the -German troops.</p> - -<p>The requirements of international law for an unorganised People's War -were, according to this, quite disregarded in Belgium, and, moreover, -it was carried on in a manner which alone would have sufficed to have -put those who participated in it outside the laws of war. For the -Belgian francs-tireurs regularly carried their weapons in a concealed -fashion, and failed to observe the laws and usages of war throughout.</p> - -<p>On unimpeachable evidence it has been proved that, in a large number -of cases, the German troops were received by the inhabitants on their -arrival in an apparently friendly manner, and then, when darkness set -in, or some other opportunity presented itself, were surprised by an -armed attack; such cases occurred especially in Blegny, Esneux, Grand -Rosière, Bièvre, Gouvy, Villers devant Orval, Sainte-Marie, Les Bulles, -Yschippe, Acoz, Aerschot, Andenne, and Louvain (Apps. 3, 8, 11-13, 18, -22, 28, 31, 43; A, B, D). All these surprise attacks obviously offend -against the precept of international law that weapons are to be carried -openly.</p> - -<p>The chief burden of blame which rests on the Belgian people is, -however, their unheard-of violation of the usages of war. In several -places, for instance Liège, Herve, Brussels, Aerschot, Dinant, and -Louvain, German soldiers were treacherously murdered (Apps. 18, 55, -61, 65, 66; A1; C56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78), which is absolutely against -the prohibition which forbids the "treacherous killing or wounding -of individuals belonging to the enemy people or army" (Article 23, -Section 1 (b) of the Hague Convention: The Laws and Customs of War on -Land). Further, the Belgian population did not respect the sign of -the Red Cross, and thereby offended against Article 9 of the Geneva -Convention of July 6th, 1906; in particular, they did not hesitate to -fire upon the German troops under the protection of this sign, and also -to attack hospitals in which there were wounded, as well as members of -the Ambulance Corps, while they were carrying out their duties (Apps. -3, 4, 12, 19, 23, 28, 29, 32, 41, 49; C9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70; D9, 21, -25-29, 38, 47). Finally, it is absolutely certain that German wounded -were plundered and killed by the Belgian population, and indeed in many -cases horribly mutilated; and that even women and young girls took -part in these shameful actions. In this way the eyes of German wounded -were torn out, ears, noses, fingers, and sexual organs cut off, or -their bodies slit open (Apps. 54-66; C73, 78; D35, 37); in other cases, -German soldiers were poisoned, hung on trees, deluged with burning -fluid or otherwise burnt, so that they died a particularly agonising -death (Apps. 50, 55, 63; C56, 59, 61, 67, 74-78). This bestial -behaviour on the part of the population is not only absolutely contrary -to the express obligation laid down in Article 1, Section 1 of the -Geneva Convention regarding the "respect and care of" the wounded and -sick of the enemy army, but also to the first principles of the laws of -war and humanity.</p> - -<p>Under these circumstances, the Belgian civil population who took part -in the fights could of course make no claim to the treatment due to -belligerents. On the contrary, it was absolutely necessary for the -preservation of the German Army to have recourse to the sharpest -measures against these francs-tireurs. Individuals who fought against -the German troops had therefore to be cut down; prisoners could not -be treated as prisoners of war, according to the laws of war, but as -murderers. All the same, the forms of judicial procedure were complied -with, in so far as they were compatible with the necessities of war; -the prisoners were, when the circumstances permitted, only shot after -a hearing in accordance with the regulations, or after sentence by a -military court (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48). Old men, women, -and children were spared to the widest extent, even when gravely -suspected (Apps. 49; C5, 6, 25, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79); and indeed -the German soldiers, although their patience was put to an extremely -hard test, looked after such people, whenever possible, sometimes in -the most self-sacrificing manner, taking the helpless under their -protection when in danger, sharing their bread with them, bringing the -sick and weak to places where they could be cared for (Apps. C45, 47, -51-53, 55, 58, 80-86).</p> - -<p>That the Belgian Government are largely to blame for the illegal -attitude of their population towards the German Army is indisputable. -For apart from the fact that a Government has, under all circumstances, -to bear the responsibility for actions of this kind, which are the -expression of the popular will, the serious accusation must be made -against them that they did not put an end to this guerilla war, -although they could have done so (Apps. 33, 51-53; D42, 43, 48). -It would certainly have been easy for them to give the necessary -instructions to their officials, such as the Burgomasters, members of -the Garde Civique, and the soldiers, in order to check the passionate -excitement of the people, which had been artificially aroused. -Therefore the full responsibility for the terrible blood-guiltiness -which rests upon Belgium must be attached to the Belgian Government.</p> - -<p>The Belgian Government have made the attempt to free themselves from -this responsibility by attributing blame for the occurrences to the -destructive rage of the German troops, who are said to have committed -deeds of violence without any reason. They have appointed a Commission -for the investigation of the alleged German outrages, and have made -the findings of this Commission the subject of diplomatic complaint. -This attempt to pervert the facts has failed utterly. The German Army -is accustomed to make war only against hostile armies, and not against -peaceful inhabitants. The incontestable fact that from the commencement -a defensive struggle was forced on the German troops in the interests -of self-protection by the population of the country cannot be argued -away by the investigations of any Commission.</p> - -<p>The narratives of fugitives gathered together by the Belgian -Commission, which are characterised as being the result of scrupulously -impartial investigations, bear the stamp of untrustworthiness, if not -of malicious misrepresentation. In view of the existing conditions -the Commission was not in a position to test the correctness of the -reports brought before it, or to grasp the connection of events. Their -accusations against the German Army are therefore nothing but low -calumnies, which cannot stand before the documentary evidence possessed -by us.</p> - -<p>The struggle of the German troops with the civil population of Aerschot -did not arise because German officers attacked the honour of the -Burgomaster's family, as is suggested on the Belgian side, but on -account of a well-thought-out attack on the Commanding Officer of the -place by the civil population, who treacherously murdered him (App. -A). At Dinant it was not innocent, peaceful inhabitants who fell -victims to the German arms, but murderers, who treacherously attacked -German soldiers, and in this way involved the troops in a struggle -which destroyed the city (App. C). In Louvain the fight with the civil -population did not arise because fleeing German troops were involved -by mistake in hand-to-hand contests with their comrades who were -entering the town, but because a deluded population, unable to grasp -the course of events, thought they could destroy the returning German -soldiers without danger (App. D). Moreover in Louvain, as in other -towns, the burning torch was only applied by German troops when bitter -necessity demanded it. The plan of the destruction of Louvain (App. -50) shows clearly how the troops confined themselves to destroying -only those parts of the city in which the inhabitants opposed them in -a treacherous and murderous manner. It was indeed German troops who -took care, whenever possible, to save the artistic treasures, not only -of Louvain, but of other towns; a special German Commission has shown -to what a large extent German troops protected the art treasures of -Belgium.</p> - -<p>The Imperial German Government believe that by the publication of -the material contained in this work they have proved in a convincing -manner that the action of the German troops against the Belgian civil -population was provoked by the illegal guerilla war, and was required -by the necessities of war. On the other hand, they level a solemn and -emphatic protest against a population which has, by the most despicable -means, waged a dishonourable war against the German soldiers and still -more against a Government which, in complete perversion of its duties, -gave rein to the senseless passions of the population, and now does -not scruple to endeavour to free itself from its own heavy guilt by -mendacious libels upon the German Army.</p> - -<p style="margin-left: 5%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>May 10th, 1915</i>.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">THE GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM</p> - -<p class="ph2">APPENDICES 2-66—<br />DOWN THE EASTERN FRONTIER</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;" >App. 2.</span> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Lieutenant of Reserve Max von Amelunxen, Jäger -Battalion No. 4 (at the time attached to the Headquarters Staff, 2nd -Army).</p></blockquote> - -<p>I took part in the sudden outbreak of hostilities at Liège as Reserve -officer of my battalion. When during the advance upon Liège a stoppage -occurred on the line of march, I rode out through the village of -Battice to discover the cause. At the very first houses, I was fired -upon, and saw clearly two civilians shooting from a window in the roof, -whose fire I returned. One of them I must have killed with my Mauser -carbine, for he fell to the ground at once. I believe I hit the other -also. At the same time from different sides—in my estimate there were -at least from 15 to 20 guns—fire was opened on myself and the cavalry -men, who had in the meantime arrived on the scene. I received a light -gunshot wound in the lower part of my body, while many pellets passed -through my valise. The persons who fired were certainly civilians. -The houses, from which they had been fired at, were set alight by the -troops who had arrived. I myself had meanwhile ridden on farther. The -incident must have occurred on the 4th or 5th of August.</p> - -<p>During later motor-car journeys on military duties I was fired at by -civilians on countless occasions. In France up to the present nothing -of the kind has ever happened to me.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Amelunxen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Colonel von Gottberg, Infantry Regiment Freiherr -von Sparr (3rd Westphalian), No. 16, 14th Division.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>September 29th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On the 5th August 1914, just before dark, violent gun-fire was directed -against our heavy baggage from many windows by the inhabitants of the -village of Blegny. Lieutenant Hahn deposes that troops were fired -upon at night by the inhabitants from the very same houses in Blegny -in which they had been entertained during the day. Musketeer Gocheln -of the 6th Company was killed in this way; Musketeer Hochgrafe of the -7th Company was wounded by a shot in his shoulder. Both companies were -witnesses to this. These incidents were repeated during the night, -and in this way Musketeers Maiworm and Epping of the 5th Company were -wounded.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Edler von Daniels testifies that in a Belgian village near -Blegny his patrol was fired upon from ambush. This took place in a -street where the 9th Company had bivouacked for a day and a night.</p> - -<p>At Troisfontaines the 11th Company was fired upon from the houses -by civilians. Musketeers Meister and Schwaffertz were wounded. In -this same place men belonging to this company were in the daytime -entertained with cigars and food, and particularly by an elderly man; -this same man fired by night and wounded a man of the company.</p> - -<p>Staff-Surgeon Dr. Falk, who, with the ambulance party of the 1st -Battalion, wanted to push forward to the wounded on August 5th, 1914, -was fired upon by civilians, so that he was forced to take shelter. -Non-commissioned Officer Voss of the 4th Company was killed by three -shots from civilians. He could not be fetched, as the street had -been brought under fire by the inhabitants. Lieutenant Hahn was an -eye-witness of what took place.</p> - -<p>In Anderlues shots were fired from a house by a French soldier and -a civilian. An Acting-Sergeant-Major and non-commissioned officer -were seriously wounded, a musketeer of the 11th Company was killed. -A witness of this occurrence is Captain Eckhardt. The soldier and -civilian were shot.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Gottberg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. -Rehm, Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Cherisy</span>, <i>November 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Court of the 7th Infantry Division.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Dr. <span class="smcap">Welt</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lorenz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. Rehm, 3rd -Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 165, who, after the importance of the -oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On the 6th of August 1914 I reached at Retinne a military ambulance -station, where the staff was very busily occupied. The character of the -station was clearly made known by its Red Cross flags, and in view of -the whole nature of its activities no doubt could exist as to its real -character. In the immediate vicinity no fighting had taken place; on -the contrary, our troops had already advanced to Bellaire. Nevertheless -our ambulance station was persistently fired upon; continually, for -the whole day long, single shots fell amongst us, coming from the -houses close at hand, and mostly, as a matter of fact, from the roofs. -The shots which fell upon the hospital could only have proceeded from -civilians, as there were no longer any enemy troops in the place. As I -could not for the time being secure any troops for the protection of -the ambulance station, I armed the lightly wounded and allowed them to -return the fire—for the moment, however, with little success, as we -could not see our well-concealed adversaries. When in the evening some -detachments of troops arrived at Retinne and were also fired at, the -houses were systematically searched. From some houses dozens of men -were dragged out. It was noticeable that in the houses were only one or -two women and no children at all, so that I formed the impression that -the firing had been arranged beforehand. The men fetched out of the -houses were without exception civilians of various ages.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Staff-Surgeon Dr. <span class="smcap">Rehm</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Welt</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lorenz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 5.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Lieutenant Zielsche, Machine-gun Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 42.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Waldrieder</span>, <i>August 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>1. At Visé the inhabitants carried out a surprise attack upon the 18th -Pioneers on the night of the 15th-16th August.</p> - -<p>2. Between Visé and Warsage my platoon was continuously fired at from -the immediate surroundings from about 10 o'clock in the evening till 3 -in the morning. A column of army bakers retired from Visé and was also -fired at. We could see nothing of the inhabitants. When in the morning -I passed through Warsage in order to secure provisions, it was empty, -with the exception of one or two houses.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Zielsche</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 6.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Non-commissioned Officer of -Reserve Rasch (Reserve Regiment No. 74).</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Hanover</span>, <i>November 20th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Lindenberg</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lühe</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Dentist Rasch, Non-commissioned Officer of -Reserve, now in Reserve battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 74, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Gustav. I am 29 years old; Lutheran.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the mobile Infantry Regiment No. 74 was marching -on Liège in August 1914, I received the order to remain behind with -a detachment of the 9th Company for the protection of the baggage -collected in the market-place at Poulseur. There were also available -a few infantry soldiers and hussars as escort. Amongst the officers -personally known to me was an Artillery Lieutenant of Reserve, -Hildebrandt, who came from Hanover. When the regiment itself had -already advanced from Poulseur in the direction of Liège, and night -had fallen, the baggage and the escort beside it in the market-place -were suddenly fired upon from all the surrounding houses. This hostile -firing had clearly been planned and concerted beforehand, for -immediately before the fire began the lights in the surrounding houses -were simultaneously extinguished, and at the same moment came firing -from all sides. We did not know what was happening to us. Moreover, we -were not only fired at from the houses, but assailed with cartridges of -dynamite or some similar explosive, which possibly were derived from -one of the mines in the neighbourhood of Poulseur.</p> - -<p>The firing continued, with certain intervals, the whole night through. -We on our side of course opened fire and tried as far as possible to -find shelter behind the baggage waggons. Nevertheless we had dead and -wounded; among these was a Lieutenant of Reserve of a hussar regiment, -whom we placed in an inn belonging to a German. I myself took part with -my men in storming a number of houses. During this process persons who -actually opposed us in the houses with weapons in their hands were shot -down. Where we found arms and munitions in the houses, we brought the -occupants into the market-place. I can affirm with absolute certainty -that all those who resisted us or were brought to the market-place wore -no uniforms; on the contrary, they were, without exception, civilians. -Next morning when we had proceeded with the baggage to the outskirts -of the town there arose from the town an extremely violent series of -crackling sounds which served to indicate the existence of thousands of -cartridges. Some of the men said that the countless cartridges which -had been found in the Burgomaster's house were exploding.</p> - -<p>Further, when the baggage of Regiment No. 74 withdrew on the following -day through Poulseur from the direction of Liège, we were again fired -upon.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Rasch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Verified.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lindenberg</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lühe</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 7.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Captain Haupt, Commander of the Heavy -Commissariat Column No. 2, X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>At midday on August 14th, at Louveigné, an artillery munitions column -marching behind the commissariat column was fired on by civilians. The -number of the column I cannot now remember.</p> - -<p>On August 28th, at Gerpinnes, Driver Pook, who was looking for food in -an abandoned house, was fired at from a neighbouring house, and wounded -slightly in the hand. The search among the neighbouring houses for the -assailant was unsuccessful.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Haupt</span>, Captain and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 8.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Sergeant-Major Mävers, -Non-commissioned Officer Kielholz, Corporal Fruth, Lieutenant Schliep, -Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, and Corporal Niebeln, all of Infantry -Regiment No. 73.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Pontgivart</span>, <i>November 12th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Fuhse</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Hensen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witnesses the under-mentioned persons, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to them, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>1. Sergeant-Major Mävers, 4th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Mävers. I am 27 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 7th, 1914, somewhere between -6 and 7 o'clock, our company had to secure the eastern exits of -Louveigné. We took up a position before a farm at the exit of the -village. Suddenly—it was still quite light—a shot was fired near -us; the bullet whistled close past my ear. The shot was evidently the -sign for a general firing upon the company and on the baggage which -remained behind us in the village, for there now commenced a violent -fire from the houses, especially from the roofs and upper storeys. The -company speedily took up a position on the slope of a garden near the -farm where we were posted. While this was going on, I looked round -and noticed that several shots were fired from the first storey of a -corner house; one saw the smoke rise up after the shot was fired. I am -quite certain that I saw that those who fired wore civilian clothes. -The company replied to the firing for about ¼ hour, and directed -their fire against a house near the above-mentioned farm. In our -neighbourhood the fire slackened, while in the village shooting still -continued.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Mävers</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Non-commissioned Officer Kielholz, 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 73.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul. I am 23 years old; Protestant; bank -employé at Husum.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the 7th August 1914 I was one of a field outpost, which -was placed about 300 metres west of Louveigné on the road. Suddenly -as it began to grow dusk we were fired on from the village, and shots -were directed against us from trees and from a rather high-lying -cornfield. We skirmished out and lay down in a field of roots, and some -of us replied to the fire. We then noticed that a number of people in -civilian clothing who had been lying in the cornfield were running -away. We were under fire for about half an hour, and at least 100 shots -were fired at us.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kielholz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>3. Corporal of Reserve Fruth, 9th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich. I am 26 years old; Protestant; -hairdresser.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 5th, 1914, I found myself near the campaign -baggage of the company. In the afternoon we reached Esneux, where we -halted in the village street. The inhabitants were very friendly to us, -and the people came out of the houses and gave us food and cigarettes -without taking payment.</p> - -<p>Towards evening we left this place and marched in the direction of -Liège. We then noticed that the people looked at us from the windows -and laughed ironically. About a kilometre in rear of Esneux we had to -halt. Suddenly fire was opened upon us from some ground near us on our -left, whereupon we received the order to turn back. Up to the present -only single shots had been fired at us, but as soon as we regained the -village a hot fire was opened from the houses. Shots came from almost -every house; it was impossible to select any in particular. From the -sound of the shots one could recognise that the guns were of different -patterns. Several of us were wounded, one horse was shot dead, another -was wounded. We searched the houses and found guns of various kinds. I -did not see any of military pattern.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fruth</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>4. Acting-Sergeant-Major Horn, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Horn. I am 28 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the 6th August this year I was in charge of the -baggage of the 2nd Battalion of my regiment. When I arrived in the -neighbourhood of Poulseur I sent forward three men of the cyclist -company of the 10th Jäger Battalion, who had joined us as stragglers, -as a cyclist patrol, towards the village ahead, in order to see if -the battalion was already there. However, one man of the patrol soon -returned with the news that he had lost both the others; they had -apparently fallen, as the patrol had been fired at from houses in -Poulseur. When I reached Poulseur with the baggage, I and my men also -came under fire. I placed the two foremost waggons across the road for -defence, and led my men forward. We also made preparations in a house -for our own defence. Then things became quiet. After a short interval -the firing broke out again, so that we were compelled also on our -side to fire into the houses. The sound of the assailants' shots was -altogether different from that from our rifles. There were no enemy -troops in the place; it could therefore be only civilians who had -fired. Several cavalry patrols also declared that they had been fired -at by civilians.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Horn</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>5. As witness, Corporal Niebeln, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 73.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Ernst. I am 25 years old; Lutheran; by calling -a merchant in Hanover.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the day of the fight near Liège our regiment, as we were -leaving Esneux, was under fire from the houses. Further, when outside -the town we were fired upon from the hill-sides on the right and left, -and also from trees.</p> - -<p>Our troops at once forced a way into the houses from which shots had -come, and some civilians were brought out. A number of weapons were -also discovered. I myself saw the civilians. There were no Belgian -troops in the houses.</p> - -<p>Two days after the battle of Liège, when we were leaving the village of -Louveigné in the evening, a hot fire was opened on us from the houses. -One man was wounded, and I saw the pellets in his back. We replied to -the fire and drove the people from the houses. Only civilians emerged, -and these were shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Niebeln</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fuhse</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Hensen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 9.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Non-commissioned Officer -Gruber, Bombardier Schökel, and Captain Neumann, all of the 1st -Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Alsfeld le Ville</span>, <i>November 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Officer of the Court, Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Maack</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Schütte</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>With reference to what took place at the surprise attack at Louveigné, -the under-mentioned witnesses, after the importance and sanctity of the -oath had been pointed out to them, made the following statements:</p> - -<p>1. Non-commissioned Officer Gruber.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Fritz Gruber. I am 35 years old; Protestant; -non-commissioned officer, 1st Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps; -implement-smith in a machine factory in Hanover.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the second day of our march through Belgium we passed -through Louveigné. The place was already burnt down. We halted here, -and orders were given to water the horses. As we were waiting for the -command to make ready, a shot was suddenly fired at us from a house -in the street on our right, and after this a number of other shots -followed from other points. I was standing by the last waggon in -front of the supplementary convoy, so pretty nearly at the end of the -column. We forced our way in the direction of the shots into the garden -belonging to the house, and here caught two civilians, one of whom -had his hand in his pocket full of cartridges. He was hidden in some -bushes, and tried to escape on our approach; the other was standing -close beside him.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritz Gruber</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Captain Neumann.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Neumann. I am 45 years of age; -Lutheran; Captain and Leader of the 1st Infantry Munitions Column, X. -Army Corps; Police-Court Councillor at Syke, near Bremen.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 14th, 1914, my column was marching with others -through Louveigné. A halt was made here for watering the horses. I was -near the head of the column when I heard shots behind me. Subsequently -I was informed that the rear of the column had been fired at from the -flanks. Soon after, before I could make any definite arrangements, two -civilian men were brought forward by soldiers belonging to my column, -with the information that these were caught in trying to escape after -they had fired on the column.</p> - -<p>After a brief trial these persons were shot because they had been -caught in the act.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Neumann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Maack</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schütte</span>, Non-commissioned Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 10.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of 1st Lieutenant Helmke of the Telephone -Detachment, X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the night of the 11th-12th August at Hockai, in the quarter in which -I lay with my platoon together with a platoon of infantry, two infantry -soldiers were wounded in the head by small shot which had been fired -from outside through the open door down the passage. As I myself, too, -stepped out of the house a shot was fired at me in the dark, apparently -from a revolver. As there were no enemy troops in the vicinity, it is -only the action of civilian inhabitants which comes into question here.</p> - -<p>When on the evening of the 22nd August, during an advance, I entered -with my detachment the apparently deserted village of Aiseau, near -Tamines, in the middle of the village, at a bend of the street, -a vigorous fire was opened on the detachment from the houses on -every side. This had the appearance of a surprise attack, thoroughly -prepared beforehand; and this was afterwards confirmed by the fact -that on searching the houses we discovered a considerable collection -of ammunition on the window-sills, amongst it a large number of French -cartridges.</p> - -<p>As cartridges of military pattern were found in the houses of four of -the inhabitants, we may accept it as certain that the inhabitants had -taken part in the firing. The four inhabitants were arrested and led -away by a platoon of pioneers who had carried out the search of the -village.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Helmke</span>, 1st Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 11.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Colonel von Wentzky, commanding 11th Cavalry -Brigade, 5th Cavalry Division.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the 10th August, Dragoon Regiment No. 8 arrived at Grande Rossière -(2½ kil. N.W. of Nives) and there bivouacked for the first time on -Belgian soil, <i>i.e.</i> four squadrons of the regiment bivouacked in two -detachments quite close to the village. The staff of the 11th Cavalry -Brigade took up its quarters in a house. Here we found two elderly -women and a young man who received us in a markedly cordial manner and -exerted themselves most willingly in looking after us. We noticed that -during the course of the evening young men came into the house for a -short time and soon afterwards disappeared, and in the same way the -young man belonging to the house disappeared.</p> - -<p>Towards 11 o'clock in the evening I betook myself, accompanied by -an orderly officer, to the bivouac of the 4th and 5th squadrons of -Dragoon Regiment No. 8, which lay some 300 metres from my own quarters. -When, after about 10 minutes, I wanted to return from this spot, I -heard shots in various places; one could distinguish the reports of -the sentries' rifles from those of other weapons. At this moment the -Adjutant of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 came to me and reported that he -had just been fired upon at the door of his house from a house lying -opposite and ostensibly abandoned. I at once made the 4th squadron -take up their rifles, and ordered Lieutenant Baron von Richthofen to -surround the house from which the shots had come, and make prisoners of -the persons found inside. Some minutes later the firing was renewed. -Lieutenant Baron von Richthofen received a shot in the body, and died -next day from the wound. Two civilians were fetched out of the house -with pistols in their hands which had just been discharged; we also -found in their possession both discharged and loaded cartridges. Later -in the course of the night the bivouacs of Dragoon Regiment No. 8 were -repeatedly fired at. According to the report of Lieutenant Nikisch -there were found in the houses a considerable number of pistols, guns, -and ammunition; also loose powder and quickfires, more especially in -the house occupied by the 11th Cavalry Brigade.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Wentzky</span>, Colonel and Brigade Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 12.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander von -Giese (Leib-Kürassier Regiment No. 1).</p></blockquote> - -<p>At Petite-Rosière, the first quarters occupied by the regiment in -Belgium, the inhabitants received the troops, and especially the -officers, with the utmost cordiality and goodwill, so that not the -slightest difficulty was experienced in securing food and forage. At -Grande-Rosière, distant about 1½ kil., lay Dragoon Regiment No. -8, and also the staff of the 11th Cavalry Brigade. At this place the -inhabitants waited until the officers assembled in the evening for the -issue of orders, and then opened fire upon them as they left the house. -Very soon after this shooting, shots were fired by the inhabitants of -Petite-Rosière at the bivouacs of the squadrons and at the pickets. -This firing only ceased completely when every inhabitant had been -brought out of the houses and had one and all been locked up. The -inhabitants of the village were not irritated in any way whatever, but -were treated throughout with kindness.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd at Bièvre the 3rd squadron acting as reconnoitring -squadron found facilities for watering the horses placed at its -disposal in a very obliging manner. Then after a short time the -inhabitants fired at the squadron from the houses. In this place at the -same time one of the inhabitants shot a trooper of the 8th Kürassiers -dead, and severely wounded an infantry soldier.</p> - -<p>At the fight of Les Rivages the regiment had to leave behind some of -its wounded on a very thickly wooded hillside. When the surgeons and -the ambulance men of the regiment approached the wood over open ground, -shots were fired at them by the inhabitants in spite of the waving -of two large Red Cross flags. On the nearer approach of our men the -assailants withdrew; nevertheless, the ambulance men while still in the -wood were again fired at, even when engaged in succouring the wounded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Giese</span>, Lieutenant-Colonel and Regimental Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;" > -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 13.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of the Brigade Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade (32nd -Division), in quarters at Condé.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>October 8th, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On the 5th August of this year the 64th Infantry Brigade entered Gouvy. -The population at first gave us the appearance of being well disposed -to the Germans, and was extremely cordial. Pails of water, <i>e.g.</i>, -were provided for the troops as they marched through, without any -previous request for this service. The stationmaster was especially -prominent in welcoming the troops; the parish priest, in apparently -friendly fashion, took pains to make the officers comfortable. Despite -all this, the behaviour of the inhabitants seemed to the brigade to be -suspicious, and for this reason the place was searched for weapons. -The search of the station buildings also took place in the presence of -the stationmaster. To the question whether goods of any kind, weapons, -explosives, etc., were to be found in the place, the stationmaster -returned a most decided negative. His assertion, nevertheless, turned -out to be false. For in a small room, lying hidden away, which, -according to the stationmaster's statement, served for the storing -of his furniture, we discovered, underneath a good deal of rubbish, -boxes which contained about 300 Browning pistols. In addition to this -there was concealed in the room a hundred-weight of dynamite. As the -stationmaster could give no credible explanation as to the use which -was to be made of these weapons and explosives, he was arrested.</p> - -<p>Further, on the night of 8th-9th August 1914, the orderly officer of -the 64th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant of Reserve Schmidt, was ordered -to ride to Vielsalm and there give the alarm to the Guard-Jäger -Battalion and the 11th Jägers. On the way there he was fired at by -civilians in the neighbourhood of Bovigny. At this time no enemy troops -were to be found in that locality.</p> - -<p>At Leffe it was established unquestionably by the Brigade Staff that, -after the capture of this place, the civil population fired on the -troops of the 64th Infantry Brigade from cellar windows and barricaded -houses, to some extent even using small shot. In consequence, we lost a -number of men, including officers.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Morgenstern-Döring</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 14.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander Marggraf, -Field-Bakery Column No. 1, III. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Montaigu</span>, <i>October 3rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On the morning of August 20th the Field-Bakery Column No. 1, III. Army -Corps, had begun work near Marche, almost as far up as the village of -Hollogne-Aye. The occupants of the houses in the vicinity displayed -throughout the day no hostile intentions. Nevertheless, when towards -evening a munitions column wished to drive up into position, quite -close to the bakery, shots were fired at them from the neighbouring -woods and gardens, which contained some single houses. On searching -these houses no arms were found on the inhabitants, but some of them -were still in possession of cartridges loaded with large shot. These -persons were taken away.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Marggraf</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 15.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> and <span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Captain -Burkhardt, Commanding Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Ferme Fleuricourt</span>, <i>October 3rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The Heavy Commissariat Column No. 2 reports that the column on the 20th -and 23rd August, before and after its entrance into Marche, was fired -at by the inhabitants.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Burkhardt</span>, Captain and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Ferme Fleuricourt</span>, <i>October 7th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain Burkhardt, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Heinrich Burkhardt. I am 44 years old; -evangelical; farmer; now Captain of Landwehr; Commander of the Heavy -Commissariat Column No. 2.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 29th, 1914, outside Hollogne, fire was opened -upon us from the wood from all sides. It was about 6 o'clock in the -evening. We were on the march to Marche. There were no enemy troops in -the neighbourhood. Our assailants were therefore civilians. We also -took prisoner about twenty civilians who were caught red-handed in -the wood, and these were conveyed to Marche by an artillery munitions -column.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, we marched right through Marche. Shots were fired -at us and at the munitions column from various houses. However, we made -no halt here at all, as we were bound for Laroche.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Burkhardt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 16.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Army Baker Börner, 2nd -Field-Bakery Column, XII. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Montaigu</span>, <i>October 7th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness the baker Börner, who made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Gotthard Börner. I am 30 years old; -Protestant; by trade formerly baker; later, assistant pointsman; at -present, baker in the Field-Bakery No. 2, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: While we were quartered in Marche, or close to it, I went -with field-baker Werner into the town, where, as we felt thirsty, we -asked a woman who stood at the gate of a yard for <i>l'eau</i>. She gave -us to understand that she would like to give us some coffee, and led -us into the house by the back door. We both drank coffee, thanked the -woman, and went out again by the same way. As I closed the back door -one or more shots were fired from inside. One of the fingers of my left -hand was covered with blood. We tried to enter the house, again, but -the door had been fastened on the inside. I fired a shot through the -door, but I do not know whether I hit anybody.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Börner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 17.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Captain and Detachment Commander, 4th Infantry -Munitions Column, and <span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of -Acting-Sergeant-Major Kern, 3rd Infantry Munitions Column.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Siffone</span>, <i>October 2nd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>On the 22nd of August 1914, at midday, I arrived at the northern -entrance of Marche with the 4th Infantry Munitions Column, which I -commanded, and received orders to pass through the village to the -southern exit. I rode with some mounted men through the place, the -principal buildings of which had already been arranged and taken -over as hospitals. There was also here some of our infantry. Several -inhabitants, amongst them a priest, were standing in the street, -apparently inoffensive.</p> - -<p>As I returned through the village, somebody levelled a gun at me from -the window on the first storey of a house in the neighbouring street. -My assailant was, however, prevented from carrying out his purpose, -thanks to the watchfulness of an infantry sentry, who anticipated the -treacherous villager and frustrated his purpose by a shot from his own -rifle. Hereupon a lively fusillade developed from all the houses, in -which the village priest took part.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Michahelles</span>, Captain and Detachment Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Siffone</span>, <i>October 5th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Kern, who made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Theodor Kern. I am 37 years old; Catholic; -formerly mason; later frontier guard; at present Acting-Sergeant-Major -of Landwehr in the 3rd Infantry Munitions Column.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, about 2.30 p.m., I rode back through -Marche, after I had previously ridden into the place to arrange for -quarters. In front of me rode Captain Michahelles. As we passed a -cross-road the Captain began to trot. At the same moment I saw at a -first-storey window of a house in this cross-street a civilian, who was -aiming with a gun at the soldiers, and in my judgment more especially -at the Captain. Almost at the same instant came the crack of an -infantryman's rifle, who fired up at the civilian.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, we were at Sorrinnes. During the day one noticed -no signs of hostility among the inhabitants, but at 9 o'clock, when it -had become dark, we were fired at from various houses. From one house -Lieutenant Knauer received a shot in the abdomen, from which after some -days he died.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Theodor Kern</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 18.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of the Infantry Regiment von Winterfeldt (2nd Upper -Silesian) No. 23 (24th Infantry Brigade).</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>October 4th, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Captain Wagner states: On 22nd August, at Léglise, two civilians from -Antier were handed over to the company, which was acting as escort to -the heavy baggage. These had been caught with guns in their hands by -two gendarmes. At this period the company was fired at by civilians on -several occasions.</p> - -<p>At Tintigny was discovered the body of a reservist of Infantry Regiment -No. 38, who had been slain by the inhabitants with a mason's pickaxe. -At Laheycourt a man of the 1st Battalion shot dead a civilian who had -fired at the soldiers from a garden.</p> - -<p>Captain von Debschitz states: At Nothomb, our first quarters in -Belgium, after the General in command had issued a proclamation, the -inhabitants immediately handed in a very large quantity of military -rifles and ammunition, which not long before had undoubtedly been -distributed by the authorities for the purpose of a "franc-tireur" -campaign. These were, as far as I knew, Menier rifles, recently oiled, -with cartridges in cotton packing, labelled exactly as if they had just -been received from a depot.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant of Reserve Schmidt, Leader of the heavy baggage of the -regiment, states: On the night of August 23rd-24th, while we were on -our way from Habay to Neuve-Ansart, the heavy baggage was several times -fired upon at Houdemont and Rulles. At Houdemont, inhabitants fired -from windows and from behind walls; upon this, some houses were set on -fire. In rear of Houdemont the heavy baggage passed through a defile. -Here we noticed small lamp signals, and then suddenly a heavy fire -was opened on the baggage from front, rear, and both flanks. Several -bullets struck the woodwork of the waggons and the oat-sacks, one of -which is still in our possession. One man was missing; two horses were -wounded and had to be killed. In the same way at Rulles and in the rear -of this village, the baggage was fired at from the front and on the -right flank.</p> - -<p>On August 24th the heavy baggage on the road from Ansart-Tintigny was -again fired at from houses by francs-tireurs. In this way two convoy -soldiers were shot dead. On the evening of the 25th August the baggage -passed through the village of Villers devant Orval. Our men were there -received in friendly fashion by the inhabitants, who distributed fruit -and eatables among the soldiers. When darkness fell, and the baggage -came to a long halt outside the village, shots were suddenly fired at -them from the rear.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Count Keller</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 19.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Captain and Battery Commander Walter, 3rd -Battalion of Foot Artillery Regiment von Dieskau (Silesian) No. 6.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Condé les Autry</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>August 22nd, 1914.</i>—During the advance through Ansart the troops, -among them the 3rd Battalion of Foot Artillery Regiment No. 6, were -fired at by the inhabitants from the houses. The village was by order -set on fire. The same thing occurred at Tintigny; the village was -already in flames, but in spite of this the population fired from the -burning houses upon the troops passing through.</p> - -<p><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i>—Near St. Vincent the observation post of the 8th -Battery was fired upon by the inhabitants from the woods at the back. -These persons had withdrawn to the woods, because their village was -burnt down.</p> - -<p><i>August 24th, 1914.</i>—During our march through Jamoigne the battalion -and the Light Munitions Column too were fired upon from the houses. -Fire was also opened from the schoolhouse, which flew the Red Cross -flag. The village was partially set on fire.</p> - -<p>On August 25th, 1914, the 6th Battery, which was following the -battalion in the evening alone, was fired on from the rear at Villers -devant Orval, close to the French frontier, although the population -had in the daytime behaved themselves in quite a friendly manner. The -houses from which the shots had come were, by our leader's orders, set -on fire.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Walter</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 20.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Acting-Sergeant-Major of -Reserve Ernst Wolff, Infantry Regiment No. 51.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Marc-aux-Boerst</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Ernst Wolff, -who made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Ernst. I am 28 years old, of the Jewish faith.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am leader of the campaign baggage of the 2nd Battalion, -Infantry Regiment No. 51. At noon on August 22nd, 1914, the campaign -baggage under my command advanced through the Belgian village of -Tintigny, through which our regiment had already ridden. From the -market-place as far as the western exit we were assailed with a hot -fire from the windows of a large number of houses. As we could hear -from the whistling, our assailants were firing bullets. I noticed -people at various windows with the usual Belgian caps on their heads, -standing behind smoking rifle-barrels. As I had no effective troops -at my disposal I endeavoured to pass through the village rapidly, but -I allowed the drivers to dismount quickly for greater protection. -From the western exit I brought the cartridge waggons forward to the -firing line, while the field-kitchens, in order to keep them under -shelter, were compelled once more to pass through the village. In this -way they were again exposed to the fire of civilians, and here too a -field-kitchen was rendered useless by a bullet through the boiler.</p> - -<p>At midday on August 23rd I rode through the village of St. Vincent as -dispatch-rider. As I rode past a house which flew a Red Cross flag, I -came under a vigorous fire from this house and others lying near it, -and here again I was quite convinced the assailants were civilians. My -horse received a bullet through its ear as well as a glancing shot. I -myself was uninjured.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ernst Wolff</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lassmann</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Court Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 21.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Captain of Reserve Adolf -Pachur, Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Binarville</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p> - -<p>Before the under-mentioned Court officer appeared as witness Captain of -Reserve Adolf Pachur, Catholic, 40 years of age, unmarried. After being -informed of the object of his examination and warned to speak the truth -in his deposition, he made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On August 22nd the Light Munitions Column, 1st detachment, Field -Artillery Regiment No. 6, was fired upon by Francs-tireurs on its march -through Tintigny. As the village had a long time since been cleared of -the enemy by our infantry, and our firing line already lay some 2 to 3 -kilometres beyond the village, the firing in question could have come -only from francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>The same position occurred on the 23rd of August at St. Vincent. When -the Light Munitions Column were ordered to halt in the village they -were several times, with brief intervals, under hot fire from houses, -gardens, bushes, and trees. It was noticed that the first shots were -principally on every occasion from one and the same house, and were -followed by a general fusillade. One civilian escaping from a house was -shot dead by the officers and men of the column. A sergeant-major of -infantry who, with a detachment, had been given the duty of clearing -the village of francs-tireurs subsequently established the fact that -this man was armed with a revolver.</p> - -<p>According to the reports I received, the men of the column were -questioned about their leader, <i>i.e.</i> myself, by the proprietor of a -café. This person treated our soldiers with extreme friendliness, but -secured no information. Shortly afterwards I saw how we were being -fired at from this very house which was pointed out to me.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Pachur</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The proceedings were as above stated.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Baron von Steinaeker</span>, Lieutenant and Court Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 22.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> and <span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of -Lieutenant of Reserve Felsmann of the Light Munitions Column, 1st -detachment, Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Lançon</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At Tintigny, on the evening of August 22nd, I received the order to -proceed to the Artillery Munitions Column to replenish ammunition. -On the way at Sainte Marie I had the horses of the ammunition waggon -watered. In doing this I received help apparently of the most willing -character from the occupants of the house from which the water was -drawn. When the harness had been put on the horses again, the occupants -of this very same house fired at the ammunition waggon and wounded one -or more of the horses.</p> - -<p>The Light Munitions Column of the 1st detachment, Field Artillery -Regiment No. 6, on their advance through Tintigny on August 22nd and -through St. Vincent on August 23rd, were heavily fired upon by the -inhabitants of this place from the houses, and partly also from bushes -and trees. At St. Vincent we shot dead a civilian who had fired at us -with a revolver.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Felsmann</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Binarville</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p> - -<p><i>Proceedings.</i></p> - -<p>Before the under-mentioned officer of the Court appeared Lieutenant of -Reserve Johannes Felsmann, Protestant, 31 years of age, married. After -being informed of the object of his examination and warned to speak the -truth in his deposition, he made the following statement:</p> - -<p>I repeat the contents of the preceding statement of September 23rd, -1914, and regard it as correct in all its details.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Felsmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The proceedings were as above stated.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Count von Steinaeker</span>, Lieutenant and Court Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 23.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 157 (78th -Infantry Brigade).</p></blockquote> - -<p>1. On August 22nd, at Tintigny, the heavy baggage was fired upon by -civilians from a house on which the Red Cross flag was flying. The -house was surrounded, and a civilian who was jumping from one of the -windows was shot dead. Witnesses of this incident are Lieutenant -Groeger and Non-commissioned Officer Wollny of the 7th Company of the -regiment.</p> - -<p>2. On the evening of August 22nd, in the village of Rossignol, a -corporal of the 5th Company was fired at from behind by a civilian with -a shot-gun, and wounded.</p> - -<p>3. At nightfall on August 23rd, Non-commissioned Officer Wilde of the -7th Company was dispatched with a detachment to Les Bulles to fetch -straw for the bivouacs. On entering the village these men were fired -at by the inhabitants. Orders were thereupon given to set fire to the -place, and these were partially carried out.</p> - -<p>4. Musketeer Adolf of the 7th Company discovered at Tintigny a -musketeer of Regiment No. 38 tied to a fence with his skull split -open. After considerable search our men discovered in the vicinity a -bloodstained axe.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Guhr</span>, Major and Battalion Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 24.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 157.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Captain Rumland, Leader of the 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 157, -declares:</p> - -<p>When on August 22nd, 1914, I was attached to the heavy baggage, and -this was compelled to halt a little way from Tintigny, I noticed a cart -on which lay the body of the reservist Franke, 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 38. The helmet was driven in, and in Franke's skull was -a square hole, caused by the pickaxe which was lying near him. This -axe was smeared with blood, and the point fitted exactly into the hole -in the skull. Franke had been slain in this way. Some soldiers present -in Tintigny had found Franke's dead body tied to a fence, and made a -report of this.</p> - -<p>We officers held a court-martial for the examination of some twenty -persons who had buried the executed Belgian civilians by the -roadside, in order to investigate more thoroughly the circumstances -of Franke's death. The court was presided over by the president of -the Court-Martial of the 12th Division. For this purpose we brought -these people with us into a field; on the way one of the prisoners -sprang over a bridge into a stream with a stony bed, and was killed -instantly. Our investigation was fruitless. We could not determine who -was the guilty man. In my belief Franke was slain by the man who leapt -over the bridge. The people who buried the executed Belgians made use -of a pickaxe which exactly resembled the one which was lying near the -slaughtered soldier, Franke.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Engelien</span>, Captain and Battalion Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 25.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Lieutenant von Lindeiner -(otherwise von Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Proceedings at <span class="smcap">Binarville</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of Field Artillery Regiment No. 6.</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Lieutenant von Lindeiner (otherwise von -Wildau), Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, who, after he had been -informed of the object of the examination, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My Christian names are Hans Erdmann. I am 31 years old; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: About August 20th of this year I was quartered with -the Staff of my regiment at Thibesart, and was summoned to act as -interpreter in the examination of a woodman called Bienveler, on whom -concealed cartridges were discovered, although he had denied his -possession of any. The soldiers who had fetched him brought some of the -cartridges with them, and I ascertained that a portion of them had been -opened and then again closed, a common practice amongst foresters. -From one of the cartridges which I opened the small shot had been drawn -and pieces of lead, cut up small, loaded in their place. This loading -had evidently taken place quite recently, because the rough edges of -the bits of lead still looked bright and silvery. As I was informed, -several of our patrols were on this and the preceding day fired at from -the wood at Thibesart, amongst them that of Captain von Richthosen, -Mounted Jäger Regiment No. 11, despite the fact that no enemy soldiers -were in the neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>In the fight at Rossignole Tintigny on the 22nd August I rode with -Colonel von Zglinicki into the village of Tintigny. Near us marched a -portion of Grenadier Regiment No. 11, and field-kitchens were standing -on the road. From one of the first houses on the left of our line of -march a woman, standing in the doorway, called out to me some words -like these, "Est-ce que nous sommes sûrs, ici, Monsieur?" As I was -just going to answer her, from this very same direction two shots -passed just in front of and behind my body. At the same instant I saw -on the first storey of this same house two men in civilian clothes who -opened on the German troops a vigorous fire and had apparently fired -the shots at me. My horse made a spring forward where, on the right, a -side street joined the main one. From all the windows of this street I -myself, like all the rest of our German soldiers who were blocked at -this spot, came under a vigorous fire. None of the enemy troops were -to be seen, but, on the other hand, civilians, firing from a number of -windows. I am also convinced that I noticed a machine-gun served by -civilians at the first-floor window of a house some twenty paces from -myself. I observed with my own eyes that a considerable number of our -soldiers were wounded by this fire. We were obviously dealing here -with a concerted co-operation of the inhabitants, for it was after the -two first shots that a simultaneous fusillade broke out throughout the -village.</p> - -<p>I was then sent back, and on the way came again under fire from the -houses of the next village which lay beside the road, running from -north to south. This village, Ansart or Marinsart, lay to the north. I -got some men of the Light Munitions Column (Field Artillery Regiment -No. 42) to break down the fastened doors, and discovered in the house -from which the shots had come six or eight civilians, none of whom were -soldiers or women.</p> - -<p>About an hour afterwards I received orders to lead the 2nd detachment, -Field Artillery Regiment No. 6, on the north side of the road leading -to east and west, past the same village to a position to the west of -the village. I asked for and received an infantry escort of the Rode -Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 10. In carrying out our orders we were -here exposed to a continuous fire, despite the fact that no French or -Belgian soldiers were to be found in the village. In detail I made the -following accurate observations:</p> - -<p>In several places beds were lying in the gardens, and from behind these -beds, which were evidently placed there as a protection, fire was -opened upon us.</p> - -<p>At another place three persons in women's clothes advanced towards us -and then disappeared behind a bush. I had time to call out, "Don't -shoot; they are women." At the same instant we were fired at from this -bush also.</p> - -<p>At the end of the village two or three cows came into a garden towards -us, and at once two shots were fired at us from the direction of -the cows. We then saw that, sheltering behind a cow, a man had also -approached and fired at us. This man was shot dead by one of our -infantrymen.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lindeiner</span> (otherwise <span class="smcap">von Wildau</span>).</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Buttlar</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Zglinicki</span>, President of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 26.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of 10th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 10.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Binarville</span>, <i>September 24th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Fusilier Helmyss, and made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>After the fight of August 22nd, 1914, I passed with some comrades -through St. Vincent. We were fired upon by civilians, and thereupon -forced our way into a house. We here found on tables and window-sills a -great deal of sporting ammunition, consisting of discharged cartridge -cases and loaded cartridges.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Gottfried Helmyss</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Traue</span>, Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness the reservist Stellmacher, who made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>At Thibesart I was sent into the village to fetch a pail of water. I -there entered a house and found several large pails full of leaden -bullets. I thereupon made a closer search with some of my comrades. We -found in this spot a large quantity of sporting ammunition, and behind -a wardrobe several sporting-guns hidden away. On the floor lay strewn -about discharged cartridge cases.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">August Stellmacher</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Traue</span>, Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 27.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Captain von Rode, Grenadier Regiment No. 10.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Binarville</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain von Rode, 1st Battalion, Grenadier -Regiment No. 10, who made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On August 22nd, in the fight at Tintigny, the 1st Company of Grenadier -Regiment No. 10 was acting as escort for artillery near Ansart. When -the artillery was pushed forward a hot fire was opened on the infantry -men by the civilians of the place.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant von Lindeiner, Foot Artillery Regiment No. 6, requested the -company to proceed with the battery through the village as they could -not pass through it without the protection of an infantry escort. The -company was likewise met by shots the moment it entered the place. The -firing was especially violent from the mill, which was occupied by some -thirty men, with women and children. A number of persons, before the -company arrived on the scene, ran off through the bushes, carrying guns -with them. Guns that were discovered were of quite recent manufacture -from Liège. While the company was clearing the mill it was suddenly -fired at from the cellar windows and roof windows of the big white -house which lay obliquely opposite. A portion of the shots struck the -artillery equipment. Two small detachments, which at once stormed the -house, shot down three civilians armed with guns, who were trying to -escape from the back through the garden. Their guns were new, and came -from Liège.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Rode</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The proceedings were as above described.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kruppe</span>, Lieutenant and Adjutant,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">1st Battalion,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Grenadier Regiment No. 10.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p style="margin-top: 5em;"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 28.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of 3rd Upper Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 62 (78th -Infantry Brigade).</p></blockquote> - -<p>1. Major Schwerb of the 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 62, states:</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, after I had placed the wounded Lieutenant Rocholl on -a waggon in order to convey him to a Medical Corps Company, at least -twenty shots were fired at him and myself. The house from which the -shots issued was thereupon to a large extent destroyed by the fire of a -battery which happened to be passing through the village. On the same -evening the battalion, which was marching through Frenois in the dark, -was fired upon, again obviously by inhabitants, from roof windows and -trees.</p> - -<p>2. Captain Rothe of the 9th Company of the regiment states:</p> - -<p>On August 23rd civilians opened fire on the water-carriers of the 9th -Company from the village of Rossignol, which was already occupied -by German troops. The leader of the water-carriers was Sergeant -Flashar. In consequence, the civilians were taken prisoners by the -men of Infantry Regiment No. 157. On August 23rd Cyclist Heinrich was -similarly fired at by civilians in the village of Les Bulles, after a -considerable force of German troops had already marched through the -place.</p> - -<p>3. Lieutenant Stuth of the 11th Company states:</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, when the 3rd Battalion had withdrawn from Les Bulles, -I led the 12th Company to Frenois. We halted in the village street to -wait for the other companies, which I fetched up by orders of Major -Schwerk, as Adjutant-Lieutenant Rocholl had been severely wounded. In -the meantime, the company was suddenly and unexpectedly assailed by -shots fired from the windows by inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Further, as I was riding along through the village, one of the -inhabitants called me to him, but I rode on at a gallop, and was fired -at from behind.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Poser</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 29.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Field Artillery Regiment No. 21 (12th Field -Artillery Brigade).</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Nauroy</span>, <i>October 15th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Captain Blumenthal, Commander of the Light Munitions Column (2nd -Division), reports:</p> - -<p>On August 24th, during the advance, the column halted at Jamoigne for a -considerable time, to water the horses. A number of the inhabitants who -still remained in the village were standing in front of the doors and -behaved in a friendly manner. Water, coffee, and tobacco were offered -to some of the officers and men. While the watering of the horses was -going on, two shots came from a house in front of which a short time -previously an elderly man and a woman had been sitting. The shots were -apparently fired at the two officers who were standing close to the -house, Lieutenants Kloass and Luozny. These two shots gave the signal -for a general fusillade from the skylights and windows of the houses. -While the pioneers, who had been attached on the march for escort, -forced their way into the houses, the column was pushed forward in -order to make room in the village, which had been at once set on fire, -for the other column marching behind it. One man of the column and two -horses were wounded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Warneke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 30.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Medical Corps Company No. 1, VI. Army Corps (11th -Infantry Division).</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Bivouac at Lançon</span>, <i>September 24th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 24th, during the advance of the Army Corps through Jamoigne, -the Medical Corps Company received the order to take charge of the -German and French wounded, who had been conveyed into a hospital and -a convent. On entering the hospital the senior Surgeon and Commander -were received by a Belgian civilian doctor. He declared that he had -only been able to afford the wounded poor attention, because he lacked -medical <i>personnel</i>, bandages, and provisions. Questions addressed -to the Germans in hospital revealed the fact that the wounded had not -been attended to by the local doctor for three days. When our senior -Surgeon remarked that in practice splints ought to have been used for -the wound of one of the patients, the doctor replied that he possessed -no material of this kind. The non-commissioned officer accompanying the -senior Surgeon opened a wardrobe and found splints inside.</p> - -<p>The German wounded, among them the adjutant of the 1st mounted -detachment Field Artillery Regiment No. 11, declared they had had -little to eat. The Sisters in the convent alleged that they possessed -only a meagre quantity of provisions; at the same time they informed us -that women and children had been collected into the cellar after their -flight from the village. These statements of theirs did not arouse any -feelings whatever of distrust. After the whole of the wounded, and, at -the request of the Sisters, also a few poor old folk in the village had -been fed from our field-kitchen, and medical treatment of the wounded -was still taking place, shots were fired at the stretcher-bearers -halted in the convent garden from the tower of the convent, a thicket -in the convent garden, and the roof windows of the hospital some 500 -metres away.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile a detachment of stretcher-bearers proceeded to the convent -with the special order to search it thoroughly from the cellar to the -attics and tower. The firing here at once ceased. In the search of the -convent there were found in the cellar not only children and women, -but also men, and, beside these, a particularly large quantity of -eggs—three kegs holding 750 each.</p> - -<p>Another detachment advanced towards the thicket in the convent gardens -lying close by the convent. Here two elderly men were discovered -standing up to their waists in a stream which flowed through the -thicket. Both these men had guns which they threw into the water the -instant they were caught by the detachment; the pair of them were shot -outside the convent precincts.</p> - -<p>For protection against the firing from the hospital on the other side -of the principal street of the village, the Medical Corps Company -went into a narrow court belonging to the convent. While this was in -progress, shots were fired also from the roof windows of the houses -lying opposite the convent garden and near the hospital. This fire was -diverted from the Medical Corps Company by the passage through the -village of a munitions column.</p> - -<p>The Medical Corps Company quitted Jamoigne and bivouacked outside the -village, taking with it the German wounded and the lightly wounded -French who might still be able to bear arms. The two priests and the -doctor of the village, as well as all the male inhabitants found in -the cellar of the convent, were carried off to the bivouac for greater -security.</p> - -<p>With the exception of the convent and the hospital, the houses from -which shots had been fired were burned to the ground. During the -conflagration a great many explosions occurred. It may be assumed that -in the course of the fire quantities of ammunition exploded, which had -been stored in the houses.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Brettner</span>, Captain and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 31.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Captain Larrass, commanding 9th Foot Artillery -Munitions Column, and of 1st Lieutenant Reichel, commanding -5th Artillery Munitions Column; also the <span class="smcap">Military Court -Examination</span> of Lieutenant-Colonel Hübner and Sergeant-Major -Peschke.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Eastern Camp, Siffone</span>, <i>October 2nd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column.</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column was -bivouacked at Sorrinnes in Belgium at 7.30 p.m. As it was becoming dark -the inhabitants of the village, whose behaviour had been extremely -quiet the whole afternoon, treacherously and maliciously opened fire -on the bivouac. In accordance with my orders, during the afternoon a -young man was seized in a house in which an old man of seventy, alleged -to be at the point of death, was lying on a bed. This was done because -suspicious noises were audible in the house. In the evening the column -was fired at, and more particularly from this house. In the course of -this attack of the inhabitants upon the column, not only small shot was -fired, but also bullets, which exploded on impact.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Larrass</span>, Captain and Commander</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">of the 9th Foot Artillery Munitions Column.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Siffone</span>, <i>November 1st, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>5th Artillery Munitions Column, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, the 5th Artillery Munitions -Column occupied a bivouac at the western exit from Sorrinnes. -Throughout the day no villagers showed themselves; on the contrary, -the village appeared to be completely abandoned. At nightfall, about 9 -p.m., the entire column, bivouacked near Sorrinnes, was from all sides -suddenly fired upon by the inhabitants from the houses or from the roof -windows and from hedges.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Reichel</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berrieux</span>, <i>October 5th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of the Court, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Lieutenant-Colonel Hübner as witness made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Friedrich Hübner. I am 60 years of age; -Protestant; Lieutenant-Colonel (Active List) and Commander of the 1st -Munitions Column Division, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, in command of the munitions column -detachment of the 1st Foot Artillery Regiment No. 9, I arrived with my -staff at our quarters at Yschippe in Belgium. We numbered about 18 men -and 14 horses. Beside ourselves, Munitions Column No. 5 was bivouacked -to the south of the village, while Column No. 6 at the other end had -been actually brought inside the village. The staff was quartered -apart from the other troops in the neighbourhood of the church in two -adjacent buildings. The occupants of these houses, both men and women, -met me in a very friendly spirit.</p> - -<p>At nine o'clock I lay down to sleep in my room on the first floor. At -11.30 I was awakened by a noise in the house, and my non-commissioned -officer informed me that shots had been fired. As I myself had heard -nothing, I did not believe the story, and returned to bed. Scarcely -had I extinguished the light when a gun was fired, and the shot struck -against the window-panes. I then alarmed all the men, and ordered the -unharnessed waggon to be pushed crossways over the street, and the -Mayor and six inhabitants to be brought to me as hostages, and tied -together one pace apart from each other. I informed these persons that -they would be placed in a line across the street if a single other shot -was fired. The wives of the hostages took care that this statement of -mine was made known throughout the place. After this, no more shooting -occurred, and next day I left the village without further molestation.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hübner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Siffone</span>, <i>October 5th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of the Court, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Sergeant-Major Peschke, who made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Friedrich August Peschke. I am 33 years -old; Protestant; a merchant of table-glass; at present Sergeant-Major -of the 6th (Foot) Artillery Munitions Column.</p> - -<p>As to Case: From the 22nd-23rd August 1914 we lay at Yschippe; our -waggons had been driven to the western exit of the place. I had -myself at first found quarters in the village, and found my hosts -there apparently friendly. But after I had learnt that already on -the preceding day shooting had taken place, I determined to pass the -night in bivouac. There we came under fire about 11.45 p.m. from the -direction of Corbion, at a distance of some 500-600 metres to the west -of us. I at once ordered the watch to seek shelter and reply vigorously -to the fire, which then in a short time ceased. After about a quarter -of an hour the firing recommenced, and, indeed, more actively than -before. When I myself with four men advanced towards our assailants -they fled in the direction of Corbion. When we reached the hedge from -behind which firing had taken place our assailants were already from -100-200 metres away. I recognised unmistakably that these persons were -civilians, and not soldiers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Peschke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 32.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Senior Staff-Surgeon Kaiser, Surgeon-in-Chief, -Field Hospital No. 2, XII. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Amifontaine</span>, <i>October 3rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Field Hospital No. 2 of the XII. Army Corps, posted at Sorinnes was, -on the evening of the following day, between 7 and 8 o'clock, fired -upon by armed inhabitants from the park of the castle. The shots came -from the thicket immediately behind the castle courtyard. The fire was -aimed at the <i>personnel</i> of the hospital, who were engaged in cooking -in a large house next to the park. As I myself, with hospital inspector -Voigt, entered the park in order to see after the cooking, we were -fired at.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Kaiser</span>, Senior Staff-Surgeon and Surgeon-in-Chief.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 33.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Senior Staff-Surgeon Esche, Field Hospital 7, No. -73, N. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 24th, towards 6 p.m., a column on the march was at Biesme -fired upon by inhabitants from the houses of the village. A detachment -of some 50 men of Infantry Regiment No. 164, which was guarding 216 -prisoners in the castle garden in which the Field Hospital No. 7 -was posted, moved out in order to restore quiet, while for the time -being lightly wounded men undertook the guarding of the prisoners. -Sergeant Kortebein and two drivers of Field Hospital No. 7, Schmidt and -Dietrich, saw shots fired from two of the houses.</p> - -<p>According to the statement of the lady occupying the castle of -Gougnies, in which the medical officers and officials of the field -hospital were quartered, the <i>Conseiller provinciel</i> at Gougnies, -Adelin Piret, had distributed to the inhabitants the weapons stored up -at the Mairie. Shots were fired from the village at a column marching -through it.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Esche</span>, Senior Staff-Surgeon and Surgeon-in-Chief.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 34.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of 1st Lieutenant Balterman, commanding Military Pack -Column No. 6, X. Army Corps, 1st Train Division of the X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, at Le Roux, Military Park Column No. 6 of the -X. Army Corps was fired at several times from a house. The assailants -escaped. On August 24th the column was fired upon at Biesme from the -flanks and the rear. Moreover, a side street was closed against us -by some twelve armed civilians. These armed civilians were shot and -several houses burnt down.</p> - -<p>On August 24th the column was exposed to a very hot fire at Lanesse and -Somzée. A number of civilians were shot and several houses burnt down.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Battermann</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 35.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Lieutenant Henry Müller -attached to the Telephone Section of the XII. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>October 9th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Müller, and was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Johannes Henry Müller. I am a student of -physics; 28 years of age; Protestant; Lieutenant of Reserve attached to -the Telephone Section of the XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The following statement, dated October 7th, was read over -to the witness:</p> - -<p>On August 22nd there was an interruption in the telephone connection -to Conneaux. Corporal Lorenze and another cyclist were dispatched on -bicycles to remove the cause of this interruption. The two cyclists -were fired upon at close quarters in front of a wood. The search of the -farm, carried out by Lieutenant Müller (Telephone Section XII.), with -a platoon of infantry, proved to be without result. According to the -unanimous reports of soldiers, who were met on the way, a number of -civilians came out of the wood immediately after the shots had been -fired. A further search was set on foot, and the telephone cable was -found to be cut right through at the place where the shots had been -fired.</p> - -<p>The witness thereupon made the following statement:</p> - -<p>I am the Lieutenant Müller mentioned above. I was quartered in the -castle of Conneaux; the little wood lay about 400 metres away from the -castle. After the shots had been fired, the cyclists at once returned -to me. Within a few minutes of their arrival the pursuit could already -be set on foot, because the platoon of infantry mentioned in my report -was ready at hand for employment as an escort. Only for this reason is -it possible to furnish a definite statement as to the time and place -when the civilians were met in the road lying behind.</p> - -<p>The men who fired had only one covered line of retreat, <i>i.e.</i> a road -not under our observation, which I afterwards used in my pursuit. -All the soldiers whom I met on this road gave a nearly unanimous -description of some eight or ten civilians whom they had seen quickly -running away. The approach of nightfall prevented their capture.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johannes Henry Müller</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 36.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Sergeant Ebers, 3rd Guard Field -Artillery Regiment.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>November 12th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Proceedings held at the barracks of the 3rd Guard Field Artillery -Regiment.</p> - -<p>There appeared after citation Sergeant of Landwehr II, Georg Ebers, -office assistant in the chief office of the Great Berlin Tramways, -at this time attached to the 4th Reserve Battery, 3rd Guard Field -Artillery Regiment. The witness, being duly sworn on oath, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, when non-commissioned officer attached to the -5th Battery, 1st Guard Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, I was wounded -in the neighbourhood of Namur. On the next day, August 24th, I was -brought to the 2nd Field Hospital, XI. Army Corps, which occupied -the convent at Champion, near Namur. On the evening of this day, when -everything was already quiet, there commenced at 10 o'clock a general -fusillade. The window-panes were shot through, and we noticed the flash -of the guns from the houses lying opposite. I myself in some ten cases -saw civilians firing upon us from windows and skylights in three houses -lying opposite to the wings of the convent. When the firing began, the -soldiers of the medical corps and the lightly wounded, of whom I was -one, assembled round the doctor in the corridor. We next looked for -the convent Sisters, who had disappeared, and found them hidden in the -cellar. We brought them into our midst and betook ourselves to the main -entrance with the intention, of making a sally. Meanwhile a Belgian and -a French doctor, both of whom were prisoner-inmates of the hospital, -advanced to the door and there addressed the population in the hope of -quieting them. The firing thereupon diminished; but as we entered the -street in order to search the village with the aid of men belonging to -the munitions column encamped in the vicinity, the firing began afresh -and continued till about 11 o'clock in the evening. At night, about -10, houses from which shots had come were set on fire. At daybreak -we ascertained that the outside walls of the convent showed numerous -marks of shot. Further, we found in a house occupied by a priest, lying -opposite the chief entrance of the convent, about 40 cases of dynamite -and some 30 cases of cartridges. I was present, and saw with my own -eyes how our artillerymen ascertained the number and contents of the -cases.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Georg Ebers</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Guradze</span>, Lieutenant of Landwehr Artillery II.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 37.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, -Corporal Spans, and the Grenadiers Wenzel, Kachel, Pfeiffer, -Wittstadt, and Wilhelmy, all of Infantry Regiment No. 93.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Proceedings in <span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>September 18th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witnesses Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, 9th -Company, Corporal Spans, 12th Company, the Grenadiers Wenzel, 5th, -Kachel, 9th, Pfeiffer and Wittstadt, 12th, and Wilhelmy, 5th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 93, and made the following statements in the -official deposition:</p> - -<p>On August 24th, 1914, we were wounded inmates, together with Belgian -and French wounded, of the Convent of Champion, which was arranged as -a hospital. After the withdrawal of our troops, there remained on the -evening of August 24th only a Light Munitions Column in the direct -neighbourhood of the convent. No sentries were posted.</p> - -<p>Towards 10 o'clock in the evening a hot fire was suddenly opened on -the main entrance and windows of the convent. I, Acting-Sergeant-Major -Schulze, was awaked by the shots, and proceeded to the main door, and -there heard the whistle of bullets as they passed. I then returned -to fetch my weapons. When I again reached the exit, the Light -Munitions Column had already commenced operations. Previous to this, -as Grenadiers Wilhelmy and Wenzel had heard, the Belgian doctor, who -was also an inmate of the convent, had gone into the courtyard and -addressed to the shooters concealed from view a demand that they should -cease fire. As the doctor, however, re-entered the convent, the firing -continued.</p> - -<p>The Light Munitions Column now cleared the courtyard and its -surroundings, captured several francs-tireurs, who were proved to have -formed the firing-party, carried out a search of the neighbouring -houses, made absolutely certain that the shots had come from these, and -then, as punishment, set the houses on fire.</p> - -<p>We may also observe that on August 25th a search of all the houses in -the village was undertaken, in the course of which several cases of -dynamite and ammunition were discovered in the house of the priest. -The dynamite was rendered harmless by the artillerymen of the Light -Munitions Column. The priest was left for two days under guard by the -Light Munitions Column, and then once more set at liberty.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schulze</span>, <span class="smcap">Spans</span>, <span class="smcap">Wenzel</span>, <span class="smcap">Kachel</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Pfeiffer</span>, <span class="smcap">Wittstadt</span>, <span class="smcap">Wilhelmy</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hilsmann</span>, Lieutenant and Adjutant,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Reserve Battalion,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 93.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Acting-Sergeant-Major Schulze, together with Corporal Spans and the -soldiers Kachel and Wittstadt, came before the Court after citation, -and were to-day sworn to the preceding declaration.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>November 11th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Officer of the Court:</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hilsmann</span>, Lieutenant and Adjutant.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Secretary of the Court:</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Jumperts</span>, Non-commissioned Officer of Landwehr.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 38.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Major Heltzer, 18th Reserve Hussar Regiment and -Leader of the Heavy Baggage, 32nd Infantry Division.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the early afternoon of August 25th, 1914, the Heavy Baggage of the -staff, 32nd Infantry Division, after a considerable halt at the S.W. -exit of the village of Anthée, was in the act of getting ready to move -off. Very suddenly a vigorous fire was opened upon it on several sides -from houses and from a thicket in the vicinity.</p> - -<p>All the men of the divisional baggage were equipped with rifles and -sent ahead through the houses, in order to protect the waggons as they -moved off. Later on, a detachment of infantry arrived on the scene, -which occupied the village and relieved our men.</p> - -<p>Of this infantry detachment half a platoon was assigned to act as -escort of the Heavy Baggage.</p> - -<p>2. When shortly afterwards the head of the baggage column reached -the neighbouring village of Rosée, here, too, it was assailed by a -vigorous fire from houses and gardens and from a neighbouring copse. I -ordered a search to be made of a farm standing on the road from which -an extremely hot fire had previously come. Inside were found a man, a -woman, and two half-grown boys. The man and the woman were shot while -attempting to escape.</p> - -<p>No Belgian or French troops of any kind were present either in Anthée -or Rosée.</p> - -<p>The attacks on our troops were always made from ambush, and gave one -the appearance of a general and concerted co-operation; they were -usually preceded by a shot, fired as a signal.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Heltzer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 39.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of 1st Lieutenant Stiemcke, commanding Military -Train Column 7, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Section 1, X. Army -Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 26th, 1914, when the column, in conjunction with the 2nd -Echelon, approached the village of Silenrieux, it was immediately fired -upon by members of the civilian population from the church tower. It -was therefore necessary for our riflemen to advance against the place. -When these accordingly replied to the fire, shooting took place from a -number of houses in the village.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stiemcke</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 40.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of 1st Lieutenant Schumann, commanding Military -Train Column No. 4, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Division No. 1, -X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the night of 21st-22nd August, 1914, the Military Train Columns Nos. -1 and 4 bivouacked in front of Fleurus. A soldier standing at his post -was dangerously wounded in his ear by a shot fired by a civilian, who -had crept up under cover of a straw stack. The civilian escaped in the -darkness.</p> - -<p>On August 26th, 1914, the column proceeded on its march to Verguies -through the village of Silenrieux. The inhabitants met our troops on -the march in a kindly and well-disposed manner. At the exit of the -village towards Verguies the column was forced to halt for some time. -At this point the officers of the column, which was halting in front of -the church, noticed that the church roof was partially uncovered on the -side next to the street. The village itself did not show any signs of -damage in the case of the houses lying on the other main street. When -the advance of the column was resumed, the last section, as it passed -the church and the houses lying near it, was suddenly fired upon. To -meet this surprise attack the riflemen of the column were deployed and -opened fire upon the church and the houses from which the shots had -come.</p> - -<p>As at least 30 to 40 shots were fired from the church tower, it is -impossible that this could have happened without the knowledge of the -priest. The surprise attack gave one the impression of having been -thoroughly prepared in advance.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schumann</span>, Ist Lieutenant and Commander.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 41.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Lieutenant Deule, Telephone Section, X. Army -Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 22nd I, with my platoon of the Telephone Section, X. Army -Corps, was marching from Tongrinne to the Château of Quiltremont <i>via</i> -Tamines. Towards 5 p.m. I found myself with my platoon on the street -of Vignées at Tamines at the spot where, on the right side of our line -of march, a long stretch of the street is skirted by a manufactory. -At this point my platoon, which was marching alone, was suddenly -assailed by a hot, but badly aimed, fire from the church and from a -large building lying off the road to the left, and easily recognised -by its Red Cross flags. I at once ordered my platoon to take up a -position under cover, and then dispatched flanking patrols on the right -and left against the buildings indicated above. In the vicinity of my -men we ascertained for certain that a considerable number of armed -civilians had retired in hasty flight into a wood behind the buildings, -so that it was impossible for us to open an effective fire on those -persons. My official duties prevented me from undertaking the pursuit; -nevertheless, I had a brief account of these incidents written with -chalk on the big gates of a factory in this place to serve as a warning -to any detachments of German troops who might follow us.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Deule</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 42.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Acting-Sergeant-Major and Officer-Substitute -Mackemehl, 4th Battery, Field Artillery Regiment No. 4.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the afternoon of August 26th we halted with the "heavy baggage" (we -had also with us the baggage of Infantry Regiments Nos. 177 and 178 and -of Field Artillery Regiment No. 28) at Convin, north of Nocroi. The -infantry baggage behind us was fired upon from a house on the right -of our line of march. On searching the house, we found that the only -inmates were three civilians, who were in possession of weapons and -cartridges.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Mackemehl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 43.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Lieutenant Huck, commanding Horse Depot No. 2, -X. Army Corps (2nd Train Detachment No. 10, X. Army Corps).</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 24th, 1914, at 8.30 p.m. I entered Acoz with my Horse Depot -No. 2. I then with the unmounted men and non-commissioned officers -endeavoured to secure stabling for the horses. I came across only a -very few people; these were extremely friendly, and offered me milk -without payment and water for washing. The only exception was the -village priest. The large size of his house and courtyard rendered -them in my opinion very suitable as quarters for men and horses. He -received me very curtly, showed me the Red Cross brassard on his -arm—this had no official stamp—and declared that he had no room for -me. His behaviour and manner displeased me, and at once rendered me -suspicious. Most of the houses appeared to be abandoned, and were shut -up: so I saw it was necessary to break down the doors and find suitable -accommodation. When I had brought most of my horses under shelter, and -only a few were still standing in the street, a heavy fire was suddenly -opened upon us from the windows and houses. I saw the flashes of the -rifles coming from the upper windows of almost every house in the -street in which I myself was standing. My sergeant-major and I heard -quite clearly the whistling of bullets round our heads. I ordered my -troops to reply to the fire, which on the side of the assailants died -out after about three-quarters of an hour. I directed the especial -attention of some of my men to the priest's house. They accordingly -forced their way in and found the priest and, further, two other men -hidden in the loft. According to the soldiers' statements, these -persons had also weapons in their possession. They were handcuffed -and handed over to the munitions column, whose men had joined in the -fighting and advanced against the house. I was told that the priest -and the two other men were shot next day. On more careful search -cartridges, both discharged and loaded, were found on their persons.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Huck</span>, Lieutenant and Commander, Horse Depot 2,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">X. Army Corps.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 44.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Captain Lüdke, commanding 2nd Train Detachment, -X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 24th, 1914, the 2nd Echelon of Trains had assigned to it -for quarters the villages of Acoz and Joncret. The staff of the 2nd -Train Section, X. Army Corps, and Horse Depot No. 2, occupied quarters -in Acoz. On our arrival at Acoz at 8.30 p.m. there was scarcely a -villager to be seen in the street. The doors and windows of the houses -were shut. After the horses had been brought into a barn opposite the -church, the three staff officers took up their quarters in the empty -and open house of the doctor, which was also opposite the church, but -on the other side of the square. The men of the Horse Depot were still -engaged in bringing their horses into the side street. When we officers -had been in the house about half an hour, a hot fire was, as if by word -of command, opened upon the doctor's house in which we were quartered -and on the Horse Depot. The shots came from all the windows of the -houses which lay opposite, and from those of the side street, in which -a part of the Horse Depot had already taken up their quarters, though -some were yet in the street. At this moment an artillery munitions -column marched through Acoz past the square near the church. These -troops were in the same way assailed by the fire of the inhabitants. In -conjunction with the men of the Horse Depot and this munitions column -we advanced against the houses from which shots were still being fired. -At last the firing ceased. All the front doors were shut, and had to -be burst open; all the back doors which led into gardens or the open -fields stood open. When the houses were searched there were found in -the priest's house the priest himself and two men, whom he had hidden -in the loft, with cartridges in their possession. The priest and these -two men were taken off by the munitions column, which continued its -march. The houses from which shots had come were set on fire. The staff -of the 2nd Train Section and Horse Depot No. 2 occupied quarters in -Serpinnes. Next day I dispatched Non-commissioned Officer Trapp and -Corporal Bölhof from the staff of the 2nd Train Section to Joncret with -orders. At Acoz, which they passed on the way, they were informed by -several non-commissioned officers and men of the artillery munitions -column and by an artillery non-commissioned officer, that in the town -hall, which lies near the doctor's house, several cases of dynamite had -been discovered and some hundreds of guns and cartridges in packets. -Each packet bore a label with the name of the townsman to whom they -were assigned. The artillery munitions column took possession of these -objects.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lüdke</span>, Major and Commander, 2nd Train Section,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">X. Army Corps.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 45.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of 1st Lieutenant Müller, -Lieutenant Schröder, and Gunner Huismann, all of the 5th Artillery -Munitions Column, X. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Maack</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer, <span class="smcap">Schütte</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Avaux</span>, <i>November 20th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>With respect to the incidents which occurred during the surprise attack -at Acoz, the under-mentioned witnesses, after the importance and -sanctity of the oath had been pointed out, were examined as follows:</p> - -<p>1. 1st Lieutenant Müller.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard Müller. I am 36 years of age; -Protestant; brewery director in Hanover; 1st Lieutenant and Leader of -the 5th Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Towards 10 p.m. on August 24th, 1914, I was marching with -my column through the village of Acoz. I allowed my men to dismount -here, because in front of me the 3rd Foot Artillery Munitions Column, -X. Army Corps, were watering their horses. At the moment when I gave -my men the order to mount again, the column was assailed by a vigorous -fire from the houses of the village. In my opinion some 30 to 40 shots -were fired at once. They were firing from shot-guns, for I could hear -from the sound of these shots that they were using small shot. As a -number of horses fell headlong, and various men were also wounded, -I endeavoured for the moment to get the column again on the march. -Meanwhile, with a detachment of about twenty men, who had come to help -from the neighbourhood of the wireless station, I had the village -searched.</p> - -<p>During the search of the village three persons were seized who had been -found in the priest's house, two of them indeed hidden in the loft. In -examining these persons I found on one of them called Boucher, or some -name like this, four discharged cartridges. According to the reports -of the soldiers, the priest, who was found amongst the captured men, -strenuously denied that any people were with him in the house; he had -also by gestures offered the search-party money and drink to keep them -back from searching his house. He had also for the moment refused them -entrance into his house by pointing to a red cross which he carried on -his arm. None of these three persons denied their participation in the -attack. Some hours later there was found on the priest an invoice for -the receipt of an English revolver. These men were subsequently shot.</p> - -<p>It is altogether out of the question that the surprise attack could -have been brought about by uniformed troops. The Belgian-French army -had already retired a long way, and the village of Acoz had already -been for several days in German occupation.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Müller</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Lieutenant Schröder.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Schröder. I am 34 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of Reserve, 5th Artillery Munitions Column, X. Army Corps; -farmer in Nordermon, Administrative District of Elsfleth.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 24th I followed with the supplementary platoon -of the 5th Artillery Munitions Column about an hour's distance on the -road to Serpinnes. The moment I arrived before the village of Acoz my -platoon was fired upon from the houses and from the high ground. At -Acoz, which meanwhile had been set on fire, I got into contact with -the column. I learnt that they had been fired at, and that the village -had been set on fire after the perpetrators of the attack were found -to be civilians. Three persons were arrested—the parish priest and -two others called Bastin and Boucher. Since the leader of the column, -1st Lieutenant Müller, had been wounded through a fall, I did not know -whether he had examined these persons, and so examined them myself -for our better security. The three prisoners gave only unintelligible -replies to my questions. I accordingly examined the soldiers who had -taken part in the affair. I ascertained that Bastin and Boucher had -been found hidden in the loft, where weapons and discharged cartridges -had also been discovered. As regards the priest, it was reported to me -that he had offered wine and money to the soldiers as they were forcing -their way in, to deter them from searching his house. On the following -morning there was found on the priest a receipt with reference to -a revolver and 50 cartridges which had been assigned to a <i>garde -champêtre</i>, or, through his agency, to someone else. I had ordered a -soldier to search all three men, and personally discovered the paper in -question in the purse which was taken from the priest.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Georg Schröder</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Concluded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Maack</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schütte</span>, Non-commissioned Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 46.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Captain von Guaita, Uhlan -Westphal, and Sergeant Hammermeister, all of Reserve Uhlan Regiment -No. 2.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Bazancourt</span>, <i>November 22nd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the 2nd Guard Reserve Division.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Dr. <span class="smcap">Bernhold</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Guntowsky</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared before the Court the under-mentioned witnesses, who, -after the importance and sanctity of the oath had been pointed out to -them, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>1. Captain von Guaita, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Leon. I am 36 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 22nd, 1914, I rode in company with Lieutenant -Feierabend, Dragoon Regiment No. 1, at the head of a troop of cavalry -consisting of some twenty-five Uhlans. Our orders were to reconnoitre -the bridge at Monceau sur Sambre. In the middle of the town of Monceau -sur Sambre, while we were both halted in the Rue Neuve, we were -suddenly assailed by a hot fire. Shots were fired at us from all the -windows of the houses and from cellar gratings. As our men were falling -around me I rode forward and reached a side street. One man had been -killed, four wounded, and six horses were dead; Lieutenant Feierabend -received a shot through the leg. I was unwounded, but my map, which I -held in my left hand, was pierced by two pellets. This is a convincing -proof of the fact that a sporting-gun was used to fire at me. I am -convinced that fire was opened upon us at a prearranged signal.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Guaita</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Sergeant Hammermeister, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hermann. I am 23 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 22nd of this year I was one of the patrol led -by 1st Lieutenant von Guaita. Our orders were to reconnoitre the -bridge over the Sambre. When we were in the middle of a street in -Monceau sur Sambre we were fired at on our front. My impression was -that two volleys were fired from the quarter in front of us. This was -clearly the signal for the fire now directed upon us from the houses. -Shots came from doors, windows, and cellar openings. I saw a civilian -standing in a doorway and firing at us with a revolver. I saw no -soldiers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hammermeister</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>3. Uhlan Westphal, Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Westphal. I am 26 years old; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the Reserve Uhlan Regiment No. 2 passed through -Monceau sur Sambre I was acting as cyclist in front of it. In the main -street I immediately came under fire from a house at the moment when I -wanted to ride back in order to report to the regiment that the patrol -under 1st Lieutenant von Guaita had been assailed by a hot fire. With -some men of the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 15 I forced a way into -the house from which the shots had come, and there saw on the stairs a -civilian with a gun in his hand. We at once shot this man.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wilh. Westphal</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>The above is a true account of the proceedings.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Bernhold</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Guntowsky</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 47.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Captain Caspari, Infantry -Regiment No. 75.</p></blockquote> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Stürenberg-Jung</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Bannehr</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain Caspari, who was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>When the head of the 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 75, to which I -belonged, approached Hougaerde, it was met by a person from the small -town in priest's clothing. He greeted me and declared that there were -no more Belgian troops in the place, and that the feelings of the -inhabitants were quite friendly towards us; further, that we had no -reason to fear any surprise attack from them. My request that he should -act as our guide through Hougaerde was obviously distasteful to this -person; nevertheless, he undertook to lead us.</p> - -<p>During our march into the village the street was quite empty, the -window-shutters and doors closed, and the window-apertures of a new -house on the right were covered with sacking. Just before we reached a -bend in the street, some 100 to 200 metres behind the railway crossing, -the priest sprang into a doorway. A man at the head of the company, -Musketeer Ernst Block, just managed to seize him by his coat-tails and -dragged him back. At the bend we saw ourselves confronted by a street -barricade at a distance of some 30 to 40 metres, and were at once met -by simultaneous volleys of fire from the houses on all sides, and -even from the rear. The priest was one of the first who was mortally -wounded by shots from the houses. As I subsequently ascertained, the -village had been systematically arranged for defence. Houses and walls -were furnished with concealed and barely visible loopholes, prepared -beforehand by the population for a surprise attack by fire at a fixed -spot. That civilians took part in this fighting I can personally -guarantee, for I saw such persons escaping through the gardens with -weapons in their hands. Moreover, several men were wounded by small -shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Caspari</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stürenberg-Jung</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bannehr</span>, Lieutenant and President of the Court, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 48.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Captain Strauss, Grenadier Regiment No. 12 (3rd -Infantry Division).</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Condé</span>, <i>September 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 18th, after the retirement of the enemy, I rode through the -village of Capellen with my company and heard shots being fired at my -riflemen from a house behind me—from the house itself and from the -garden. While the garden was being searched, the firing was renewed, -and was replied to by my men. A woman, whose dead body was subsequently -found in the garden, was a victim of this firing. The firing from the -house continued, though from what part I could not determine. We found -two men and some nine women and children, all unarmed. There were no -soldiers in the house. I had the house set on fire, and, during the -conflagration, cartridges exploded four or five times in the burning -house.</p> - -<p>After the decision of the regiment had been secured next morning the -inhabitants in question were set at liberty, because they had not -been found with weapons in their hands, nor had any such persons been -discovered in searching the house.</p> - -<p>The firing from the house and garden undoubtedly occurred.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Strauss</span>, Captain and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 49.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Musketeer Peter Behle, Infantry -Regiment No. 16, Non-commissioned Officer Otto Biernirth, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 213, War Volunteer Willi Kandt, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 201, War Volunteer Fritz Blum, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 233, and War Volunteer Franz Breidbach, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 235.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Lennep</span>, <i>November 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Königliches Amtsgericht.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Amtsgerichtsrat <span class="smcap">Landsberg</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Referendar <span class="smcap">Weltman</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the Red Cross hospital at Lennep the under-mentioned witnesses were -met, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -them, were examined as follows:</p> - -<p>1. Peter Behle, 20 years of age, Catholic, foreman builder from Lennep, -musketeer of the 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 16, after taking -the oath, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>In the middle of August, in a Belgian village called, I think, -Tirlemont, a controlled fire was opened upon us in the dark by the -civil population. No Belgian troops had been there for a long time. -Shots were fired from, amongst other places, a fruit garden. My -comrade, Franz Gockel from Wiesdorf, was fatally shot through the back -of his head. The order was then given to collect the weapons in the -houses, to secure the men, and bring the women and children into the -church. In doing this we discovered unfinished revolvers, the wooden -handles of which were still lacking. The houses, from which shots had -come, were set on fire.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Peter Behle</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>2. Otto Biernirth, 34 years of age, Protestant, certificated business -instructor of Bremenhaven, non-commissioned officer, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 213, after taking the oath, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On October 20th we were in front of the village of Staden (Flanders). -The whole night through we were fighting exclusively with -francs-tireurs, who fired from the houses. In the morning we had to -capture the town. However, some 400 to 500 metres from the town, a -flanking fire came from a single house on the left, whereby our -comrade Fröse was struck by a ricochet bullet. From this house, which -was seized, four francs-tireurs emerged.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto Biernirth</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>3. Willi Kandt, 31 years of age, Evangelical, merchant from Berlin, war -volunteer, 2nd Company Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 201, after taking -the oath, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On the march to Lessen we came under fire from two farms lying -opposite. A reconnoitring company ascertained that the shots came -from a barn. This was set on fire, and one could hear the continuous -explosion of the cartridges stored up in the barn.</p> - -<p>On Tuesday, October 20th, 1914, we caught a civilian, who was shot -because he had cartridges in his pocket.</p> - -<p>Towards the evening of this day the first four companies of Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 201 were to go forward on outpost duty, followed -by the remaining companies. When the last companies had passed through -the town of Lessen and the baggage had already arrived on the scene, -it was fired upon on all sides from the houses and the church tower. -Four of our men were wounded. When our artillery received the order to -bombard the church tower, the church was set on fire, and in this way, -probably, a non-commissioned officer and eight men who had been sent to -search the tower were burnt to death. The enemy troops had already left -the place; the only persons still there were civilians.</p> - -<p>On the following day we were fired at from a farm, but could find -nobody in the house. After the house had been burnt down, we found -inside the body of a franc-tireur.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Willi Kandt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Continued in the Königliches Amtsgericht at Lennep on November 20th, -1914.</p> - -<p>4. Fritz Blum, 17 years of age, Evangelical, a compositor from -Meiningen, war volunteer, 4th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. -233, after taking the oath, made the following declaration:</p> - -<p>On October 18th we occupied quarters at Westroosebeek (between Thielt -and Roulers). We there ascertained that both the millers had set the -wings of their windmills in a particular direction, and so furnished a -signal which betrayed our entry. Both the millers were seized, but in -the course of a subsequent fight we lost sight of them.</p> - -<p>On October 19th we took Roulers by storm. When we marched in we came -under a hot fire from the houses. In searching the houses I found on -the roof of a house a civilian who had fired with a shot-gun. He was -just trying to escape through the skylight. So, as he paid no attention -to my call, I shot him. He wore wooden shoes, and was otherwise dressed -altogether as a townsman, and differed in no respects from a civilian. -On the stairs we found bullets; they were partly of French origin, -partly "dum-dum" leaden bullets, apparently made at home. The gun that -was found was an old sporting-gun.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritz Bluhm</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>5. Franz Breidbach, 19 years of age, Catholic, Abiturient from -Luttinghausen, war volunteer, 6th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 235, after taking the oath, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>On October 19th we marched through Roulers, which had previously been -captured by Infantry Regiment No. 233. Our company formed the head of -the column; the entire town was badly injured by artillery fire, and -there was only one street which was fairly intact. From the houses of -this street shots were fired at us, coming more especially from the -cellar windows. My comrade, Kremst of Coblenz, fell in front of me, and -two other comrades were slightly wounded. When we searched the houses -we found six to eight francs-tireurs and a number of revolvers. A large -quantity of ammunition was indubitably stored in the houses, for when -the houses were set on fire a continuous series of explosions occurred.</p> - -<p>On October 22nd I arrived at a field hospital in Roulers. There I -heard four or five shots strike the hospital; a wounded Jäger, who -was lying on a stretcher in front of the hospital, was shot dead by -francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Franz Breidbach</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Landsberg</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Veltman</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 50.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Ersatzreservist Gottfried -Hilberath, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 236.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings at Werne in the hospital, October 31st, 1914.</p> - -<p>Königliches Amtsgericht, Langendreer.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Magistrate <span class="smcap">Hidding</span>, as Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">District Court Assistant, <span class="smcap">Harries</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On the suggestion of the authorities of the hospital at Werne, the -above-mentioned Court Commission visited the hospital in order to -examine a sick soldier.</p> - -<p>There was brought before them Gottfried Hilberath, of 60 Moselstrasse, -Cologne, who, after being warned against the giving of a false oath, -was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Gottfried Hilberath; hotel waiter; born -at Neuenahr, August 12th, 1893; Catholic; Ersatzreservist, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 236, 3rd Battalion, 12th Company.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Our regiment marched off on September 13th, 1914. We were -conveyed by rail from our manœuvre ground. In the middle of October -1914 our detachment lay in the neighbourhood of the Belgian village of -Deynze, near which we had to throw up trenches. During the night we -occupied quarters in the town. At dawn we again entered the trenches. -On the evening of October 25th we brought the wounded into the field -hospital established in a village. At Deynze, with ten to fifteen -comrades, we entered a house which was lighted, and found a number -of our men already there, sitting in the room and drinking coffee. -The housewife made coffee for the party of soldiers, as well as for -ourselves, who came in afterwards. The husband was busily occupied -with his grocery shop. All the soldiers spent the night in the house. -That same evening about eight of our men filled their field flasks -with coffee made by the woman. In the evening some bought themselves -sugar in the shop for 10 centimes. I did this myself, and put it into -my field flask, like the others. The sugar was ready for use in little -packets. It struck me that a sticky mass adhered to the paper, which -looked like gum-arabic. The sugar was made up in twisted pieces of -paper, which were not stuck together and were apparently filled by the -shopkeeper.</p> - -<p>On the following day, some ten minutes after partaking of the coffee -in the trenches, I became unconscious, and must have remained in -this condition about five hours. Two cyclists brought me through the -village of Deynze to the field hospital at West-Roosebeck. Here I heard -that the other comrades too had been poisoned, and also that some of -them were already dead. What happened to the grocer and his wife in -consequence of this, I do not know.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Gottfried Hilberath</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The examined witness, after once more being warned against the giving -of false evidence, thereupon took the oath.</p> - -<p>Proceedings concluded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hidding</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Harries</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 51.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Belgian Government-General.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Brussels</span>, <i>December 14th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Säger</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Court Assistant, <span class="smcap">Dunve</span>, as Secretary.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Interpreter <span class="smcap">Fulles</span> of the Military Court of the Province of Brabant, -once for all put on oath.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness the merchant, Heinrich Bloch, of 35 Rue du -Marché, Brussels, who made the following statements:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is as given above. I am 68 years old, of the -Jewish faith; a citizen of Baden.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Up to 6 a.m. on August 20th, 1914, I was in Brussels. -In the Brussels newspaper there was published a demand that weapons -should be given up. On August 19th, 1914, I sent my man-servant to the -Commissariat, Rue Croisate, with a revolver which he was to hand in. -After a brief interval he returned and used these exact words, "One -must not believe everything one reads in the newspapers" ("Il ne faut -pas croire tout qu'on lit dans les journeaux").</p> - -<p>The proclamations were officially issued by the Burgomeister. That -the Commissaire took us to be Belgians, I have no reason to believe. -The Commissaire who had refrained from taking the revolver from my -man-servant fell in Belgium, when and where I cannot say.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">H. Bloch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared further as witness, the man-servant Jules Brontine, -38 years of age, Catholic, a Belgian citizen, who made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>I can only state what Herr Bloch has already made known. He sent -me on August 19th to the police station, in order to surrender his -revolver. The Commissaire of Police, to whom I handed the weapon, sent -me off with the words, "One must not believe everything one reads in -the newspapers." Thereupon, I returned home again with the revolver. -I said that the weapon belonged to Herr Bloch, who, as a German, was -personally known to the Commissaire of Police. I assumed that the -demand in the newspapers only referred to guns and swords.</p> - -<p>Read over in French, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">J. Brontine</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witnesses Brontine and Bloch were sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p>Proceedings concluded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Säger</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Dunve</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 52.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Lieutenant von Manstein, commanding 1st Squadron, -Dragoon Regiment No. 4.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 27th, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 9th the patrol, while evading two French squadrons in the -direction of Behême, was fired upon by inhabitants of this village.</p> - -<p>A communication dated August 8th was seized, in which the Chief of -the Gardes Forestiers writes to the Burgomeister that Gendarmes -and Verderers were instructed to organise the inhabitants for -armed resistance. An inhabitant of Chiny informed me on August -10th, in answer to my questions—he took me for a Frenchman or an -Englishman—that on the previous day the Garde Civile had been in the -village and carefully instructed the inhabitants in the handling of -weapons and the defence of the village.</p> - -<p>On August 24th the inhabitants of Peissant had placed strong -barricades across all the entrances to the village, shut the doors and -window-shutters of every house, and furnished them with loopholes. -They refused to open me a passage through, because they knew I wanted -to avoid a company of English infantry, which was quite close to the -village, and had with me only a single dispatch rider. During the -night they then divulged to the English artillery the names of the -farms occupied by the 1st Squadron, Uhlan Regiment No. 1, and the 1st -Squadron, Dragoon Regiment No. 4, and also the houses in which our -valuable goods had been stored, so that the next morning the English -artillery brought these farms and houses under shell-fire.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Manstein</span>, Lieutenant, Uhlan Regiment No. 10,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">commanding 1st Squadron,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Dragoon Regiment No. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 53.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Lieutenant of Reserve Bohme, -Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Court of the 7th Infantry Division, Cherisy.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Dr. <span class="smcap">Welt</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lorenz</span>, as Recorder of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>November 25th, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Bohme, Infantry -Regiment No. 165, who, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>When I was quartered at Retinne, an officer of the Rhine Regiment -came to me, and showed to myself and other officers a Bond, which, -according to his account, had been found in the Burgomeister's office, -in a neighbouring village. The Bond was typewritten, and contained the -demand issued by the Belgian Government to the populace, that they -should carry on armed resistance for payment. A fixed sum of money was -mentioned in the Bond. The Bond was stamped with an official seal. The -Bond was seen at the time by my comrades Pusch and Kurt Wagner, as -well as by Lieutenant of Research Bloch, Infantry Regiment No. 27, and -Lieutenant Brohm, Jäger Battalion No. 4.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bohme</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Proceedings concluded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Welt</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lorenz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 54.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Reservist Richard Weise, -Fusilier Regiment No. 36.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Blankenburg</span> (<span class="smcap">Harz</span>), <i>November 13th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Herzogliches Amtsgericht.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oberamtsrichter Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gerichtsobersecretär <span class="smcap">Hornig</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness the reservist Richard Weise, 6th Company, -Fusilier Regiment No. 36, born March 29th, 1890, at Hohenmölsen, -District of Weissenfels, at present in the hospital of this place.</p> - -<p>There were read over to him the following statements made by 1st -Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914:</p> - -<p>"In the early days of August, it may have been the middle of the month, -I was on officer-patrol duty near the Belgian frontier, with orders to -occupy a bridge. A brief engagement took place, and after an hour and a -half the patrol retired. I, with some fusiliers, received some special -orders, and for that reason left the patrol.</p> - -<p>"During our retirement over a meadow we noticed in a street-trench, -near a group of houses, several civilians who remained there. When we -approached nearer, we saw lying in the trench a German soldier whose -eyes had both been cut out. Thereupon we attacked the civilians, who -ran off into the adjacent houses, and from these opened fire upon us. -What became of the cruelly treated soldier I cannot say."</p> - -<p>The witness thereupon declared: This statement is correct. I adopt it -also as my own statement to-day, and make the following addition to it. -I did not see the three or four civilians (who, in fear of us, ran away -from the wounded German soldier into the adjacent houses) put out the -eyes of the soldier. That these men, however, were guilty is clear from -the fact that our wounded German comrade implored us, "Take me with -you; they have just put out my eyes."</p> - -<p>The attention of the witness was then called to the importance of the -oath, and he accordingly gave his sworn testimony.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richard Weise</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">R. Hornig</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 55.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of the Reservists, Gustav Voigt, -Fritz Marks, and Heinrich Hartmann, Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings at Quedlinburg, in the Reserve Hospital.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Keil</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Fahlberg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Schilling</span>, <i>November 11th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the Reserve Hospital at Schilling, to which the above-mentioned -Court officials had proceeded, the following examinations took place -after the witnesses had been individually warned as to the importance -of the oath:</p> - -<p>1. Reservist Gustav Voigt.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Gustav Voigt. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -Reservist of the 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the morning of August 6th found myself with seven -comrades separated from my detachment. In order to get cover we had -to creep through the gardens of a village lying just beyond Herve in -Belgium. We suddenly saw five Belgian soldiers, who held up their -arms and offered to surrender. They called to us, and when we reached -them we noticed that they had with them two German soldiers of the -10th Hussars in handcuffs. One of them brought to our notice that a -third hussar was hanging dead in the tree. We observed that the ears -and nose of the corpse had been cut off. The two hussars told us -also that the five Belgians, who were there, had hung and mutilated -their comrade. The Belgians were just on the point of slaughtering or -mutilating these two also, had we not arrived on the scene. We disarmed -the Belgians, took them prisoners, and handed them over to a party of -five Uhlans, who were already taking several Belgian prisoners away -with them. We, too, then joined the Uhlans in order to regain our -company, and, while passing through the village, were fired at from -the cellars and windows. The name of the village I do not know, but -it lies between Herve and a large coalpit shaft in the direction of -Liège. I myself was wounded in the street-fighting at Liège. On the day -before this occurrence our company had an outpost fight to the right -of Herve, in the course of which an Einjähriger of the 5th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 165, was wounded and left behind. When we passed -this spot again on the following morning we found the body of the -Einjähriger lying under a garden fence; both his eyes had been gouged -out. We were all convinced that this had been done by villagers.</p> - -<p>On about August 7th, as we were advancing towards Liège, we saw a -German infantry-man; I believe he belonged to Infantry Regiment No. 27. -He showed no marks of any shot wound, but was dead, and all his private -parts had been cut away.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Gustav Voigt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>2. Reservist Fritz Marks.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Fritz Marks. I am 23 years old; Protestant; -by calling a factory worker; Reservist of the 2nd Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 165.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 5th our battalion marched through a village near -Herve in Belgium. A man of the 5th Company came to meet us with the -words, "What brutality! Now they have gouged out the eyes of one of our -Einjähriger." He pointed to the place where the Einjähriger lay. We all -had to go to the place, and saw the Einjähriger lying dead by a garden -fence, with his eyes put out. We were convinced that this was the work -of the villagers. Next day, when we again passed through the village, -we were fired at from cellar gratings and windows, so that orders were -received to disarm the villagers and make them prisoners. We forced our -way into the houses and carried out the order. As, in spite of this, -the firing did not cease, six guilty Belgian peasants were shot by -order of an officer.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritz Marks</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>3. Reservist Heinrich Hartmann.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Heinrich Hartmann. I am 24 years old; -Protestant; Reservist in the 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I saw lying on the ground the Einjähriger of the 5th -Company, with his eyes gouged out. Our company leader, Hauptmann -Burkholz, ordered us to search the houses in the place. Inside the -house, by the garden fence of which the Einjähriger was found, we -came across a big strong man of middle age, who was lying on his bed -and pretending to be asleep. We brought him before the officer, who -cross-examined him. The man was then shot by a musketeer of the 4th -Company.</p> - -<p>On the advance towards Liège we came across a German infantry-man who -had been thrust into a swampy pool with his head and half his body -under water; the man was dead.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Heinrich Hartmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witnesses were thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings end.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Keil</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Fahlberg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 56.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Musketeer Paul Blankenburg, -Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Blankenburg</span> (<span class="smcap">Hartz</span>), <i>November 14th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Herzogliches Amtsgericht.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oberamtsgerichter Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gerichtsobersecretär <span class="smcap">Hornig</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Musketeer Paul Blankenburg, 7th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 165, at the present time in the Reserve Hospital -of this place. The witness, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Blankenburg. I was born in Magdeburg, -September 4th, 1893; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The following statement, which he had made on October 31st -of this year before 1st Lieutenant Reyner in this place, was read over -to the witness:</p> - -<p>"We were on the march in close column, and in the course of it passed -through a Belgian village, lying west of Herve. In the village German -wounded were lying, and indeed I recognised some Jäger troops from -Jäger Battalion No. 4. The column in marching through suddenly came -under fire from the houses, and the order was therefore given to remove -all the civilians from the houses, and to get them together into one -place. While this was going on I noticed that some girls of eight or -ten years of age, armed with sharp instruments, were busying themselves -with the German wounded. I subsequently ascertained that, from the most -severely wounded, the lobes and the upper parts of their ears had been -cut off. On continuing our march, an ambulance soldier, belonging, as -far as I remember, to the 27th Regiment, was shot dead from a house by -Belgian civilians while he was occupied in a school-yard in rendering -assistance to a wounded man."</p> - -<p>The witness therefore declared: "The statement just read over to me -corresponds to the truth. I again emphasise the fact that I myself -saw girls of some eight or ten years of age busying themselves with -severely wounded men in the Belgian village. The girls had steel -instruments in their hands—but they were not knives or scissors—and -with these instruments, which were sharp on one side, they busied -themselves among the wounded. We took the instruments from them. The -wounded had fresh wounds on their ears, from which the lobes and upper -portions had evidently been just cut off. One of the wounded told me in -reply to a question that he had been mutilated by the girls in the way -here described."</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Blankenburg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Hornig</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 57.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> and <span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Dragoon -Funke, 2nd Hanoverian Dragoon Regiment No. 16.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Caisnes</span>, <i>November 7th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Dragoon Funke states: At Herve men of the Magdeburg Field Artillery -Regiment, which was marching through the place, drew my attention -to the fact that a dead hussar was lying near a straw stack. I went -towards the body and saw that the ears and nose of the hussar had been -cut off, and also that the whole of his face had been mangled.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Heinichen</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Caisnes</span>, <i>November 7th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deputy-President of the Court, Dr. <span class="smcap">Stahl</span> (Gerichtsassessor).</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Fredersdorf</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Corporal Funke. The witness Funke made the -same statement as that previously made by Lieutenant Heinichen. After -this had been read over he declared, "This is so correct that I have -nothing to add to it."</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Funke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness Funke was thereupon sworn. Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stahl</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Fredersdorf</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 58.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Reservist Ernst Baldeweg, -Infantry Regiment No. 35.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Magdeburg</span>, <i>November 1st, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Gericht der immobilen Etappen-Kommandantur No. 1.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Assistant-Judge Dr. <span class="smcap">Pauls</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Gladrow</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the request of the Deputy-General in Command of the IV. Army Corps, -the Reservist Ernst Baldeweg, dairy assistant in Berlin, 37 Rathenower -Street, 11th Company, Infantry Regiment 35, 28 years of age, Reformed -Church of Germany, after the sanctity of the oath had been pointed out -to him, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>About the 8th of August 1914, in a village close to Verriers, I saw -with my own eyes that in one stable one horse, and in another stable -four horses, had had their tongues cut off. In the first case I noticed -that the tongue had not been completely severed, but hung from the -mouth on the jaws by a small fragment of flesh. I am of opinion that -Belgian civilians had mutilated the animals in order to prevent their -being taken on farther by the Germans.</p> - -<p>Either on Sunday, August 9th, 1914, or on Monday, August 10th, 1914, I -saw at a village quite close to Herve in Belgium a German hussar bound -to a tree by his hands and feet. Two large, long nails had been driven -through his eyes and his head, so that he was fixed to the tree by the -two nails. The hussar had ceased to live. In the same village there -was lying by a wooden fence in front of a farm an infantry-man of the -52nd Infantry Regiment. His eyes had been put out, his ears, nose, and -fingers cut off, and his stomach slashed about so that the intestines -were visible. The breast of the dead soldier had also been so badly -stabbed that it was completely mangled. For both these cases of gross -cruelty the Belgian civilians alone can be held responsible.</p> - -<p>I again assert that I have reported only what I personally observed, -and have refrained from any exaggeration.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, and signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ernst Baldeweg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Pauls</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Glasdrow</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 59.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Musketeer Lagershausen, Ersatz -Regiment No. 230.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%"><span class="smcap">Hanover</span>, <i>November 21st, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Lindenburg</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Koepf</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Musketeer Lagershausen, 1st Ersatz Company, -Reserve Regiment No. 230, who, after the importance of the oath has -been pointed out to him, made the following declaration:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hugo Lagershausen. I am 19 years of age; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was attached to the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -73, which had pushed forward from Spa towards Liège. We, <i>i.e.</i> a -corporal of Regiment No. 74, several musketeers of Regiments Nos. 82 -and 83, and I myself, forthwith got the order to act as a reconnoitring -patrol on the right. This was on the night of August 5th-6th. As the -darkness had set in, and we had to proceed very quietly, I suddenly -found myself separated from all the rest of the patrol. Towards midday -on August 6th I reached a dressing-station which had been arranged in -some farm buildings near the village of Chênée. I found in the house -some fifteen severely wounded German soldiers, four or five of whom -had been shockingly mutilated. Both eyes had been put out, and some of -the victims had several finger joints cut off. Their wounds were still -comparatively fresh, though the blood was already somewhat coagulated. -These soldiers were still alive and groaning. It was impossible for -me to give them any help. There was no doctor in the place, as I had -already ascertained by questioning other wounded men lying in the -house. At the same time I came across in the house six or seven -Belgian civilians; four of these were women, who gave the wounded -water. The men remained quite inactive. I saw no weapons in their -possession; further, whether their hands were bloodstained I cannot -say, because they kept them concealed in their pockets. As regards the -point whether it was these persons who had perpetrated these cruelties -on the wounded soldiers, I can make no definite pronouncement. I could -take no action against these persons, because I was absolutely alone.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Musketeer <span class="smcap">Lagershausen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lindenberg</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Koepf</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 60.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of the soldier Koch, Infantry -Regiment No. 25.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Staden</span>, <i>November 27th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Divisional Headquarters.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Jäger</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Brehmer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness the soldier Koch, 4th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 25. After he had been made aware of the object of the -inquiry, and the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he -was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My Christian name is Mathias. I am 32 years of age; -Catholic; smelter by trade; living in Eschweiter-Röhe.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Up to August 16th of this year I belonged to the 1st -Company of the Ersatz Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 25. We were -assigned as escort to guard the motor ambulances. The motor ambulances -had been provided by the Voluntary Aid Society, and ran between Liège -and Aix-la-Chapelle. One day in the period from 10th-16th August I -was ordered to accompany one of these motors. We drove towards the -battlefield in the vicinity of the town of Visé. In front of us the -men of the Voluntary Aid Society deployed, and we followed slowly -after them. From some rising ground I could easily survey the land -lying in front of me. At a distance of about 500 metres I saw near a -wounded German soldier two women sitting in a crouching position. I at -first assumed that the women were praying beside the soldier. Hard by, -three or four men were standing. One of these suddenly fired at me. I -replied to the shot, whereupon the men and both the women ran away. I -then went up to the wounded soldier, who was bleeding from a wound in -the chest. His trousers were open in front and partly drawn back. On -nearer inspection I ascertained that the sexual organ of the soldier -had been completely severed and placed in his mouth. The soldier showed -no longer any signs of life, but his body was still warm. The sight -appeared to me so terrible that tears came into my eyes. I removed what -had been put in the mouth, and buried it in the ground. I left the -soldier lying there, as he was unquestionably dead.</p> - -<p>On the same day I also found the body of a German, whose ring finger -had been cut off. When I told this to the men of the Voluntary Aid -Society, they gave me to understand that this was no news to them, as -they had often seen the same thing before.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Mathias Koch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings end.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Jäger</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Brehmer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 61.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of Medical Corps Company 2, VI. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Beine</span>, <i>October 15th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 23rd I went to the French field hospital through Rossignol, -where the company had established its chief dressing-station. On the -way a musketeer reported to me that a dead German was lying in a house. -I at once inspected the corpse and ascertained that, in addition to a -wound, which was not mortal, the head of the soldier had been burnt. A -few metres away stood a half-filled bottle of petroleum, and another -half-filled with benzin. One could clearly see from this that the -inhabitants had dragged the wounded soldier into the house, saturated -his head with petroleum and benzin, and then set it alight.</p> - -<p>On the night of 24th-25th of August I drove in an automobile from -Rossignol to Florenville, where a number of inhabitants were standing -by a house engaged in a lively conversation. When, about 100 metres -farther on from this point, I stopped my automobile in order to -ascertain the direction from a signpost, I was suddenly exposed to -a vigorous fire from these people behind me, so that it was only by -driving off very quickly that I was able to save my life.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Sternberg</span>, Captain and Commander of Medical Corps Company 2,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">VI. Army Corps.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 62.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Statement</span> of Senior Staff-Surgeon Dr. Kiefmann, Medical -Corps, VIII. Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings at Field Hospital No. 3, VIII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">St. Morel</span>, <i>October 15th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Dr. Beyer, who states that Lieutenant Erich -Koch, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 160, who had received a severe -wound in the perinæum, with laceration of the rectum, informed him -after receiving his wound he had been stripped naked by the civilians, -robbed, and thrown into a cesspool.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Koch was in fact naked, and only wrapped in a blanket when -brought into the hospital.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Beyer</span>, Staff-Surgeon.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major (Medical Service) Joseph -Steffen, who states in reference to the case in hand:</p> - -<p>I can only confirm the statement of Staff-Surgeon Beyer. Lieutenant -Koch gave me the same information, and added the fact that the women -also had taken part in this outrage. Koch was wounded near Porcheresse.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Steffen</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major, Medical Service.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Kiefmann</span>, Senior Surgeon and Chief Staff-Surgeon.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 63.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Landwehr soldier Alwin Chaton, -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 78.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Braunschweid</span>, <i>October 31st, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">(The Hospital "Konzerthaus.")</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Gericht der stellvertretenden XL. Brigade.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Dr. <span class="smcap">Behme</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">de Boer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared to-day as witness the Landwehr soldier Alwin Chaton, -5th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 78, who made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>My name is Alwin Chaton. I am 32 years old; Protestant; book-keeper at -Emmerstadt, near Helmstadt.</p> - -<p>During the street-fighting in Charleroi, in the course of the fight -we passed the main street and reached a side-street leading from the -main street. When I had come to the street corner and fired down the -side-street, I saw some 50 to 60 paces in front of me a German dragoon -lying in the street. Three civilians were near him, one of whom was -bending over the soldier, who was still kicking with his legs. I fired -among them and hit the last of the three civilians; the others ran -away. On coming nearer I saw that the civilian I had shot had a long -bloodstained knife in his hand. The right eye of the German dragoon had -been cut out, and the left one as well, though this was still hanging -from the side of his head. From the nature of the wounds there could be -no doubt that the eyes had been cut out, not in the fighting, but by -sheer malice. A great deal of smoke came from the body of the dragoon. -He had no doubt been soaked in inflammable liquid and set alight.</p> - -<p>Later on I saw other bodies burning, though there was no sort of fire -in the vicinity; these also must have been set alight.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Alwin Chaton</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Behme</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">de Boer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 64.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Court Examination</span> of Acting-Sergeant-Major -Weinreich, Infantry Regiment No. 20.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Court of the 6th Infantry Division.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deputy-President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schmetzer</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Hänse</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Ursel</span>, <i>November 10th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Weinreich, Machine-gun -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 20, who, after the importance of the -oath had been pointed out to him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Adolf Weinreich. I am 32 years of age; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: One day in the middle of August this year, I proceeded with -the Company Transport, behind the company, which was taking part in -the fight. At the entrance of Neer-Linter I saw a German hussar lying -in the house covered with a sack. I dismounted from my horse, lifted -the sack, and noticed that the hussar was dead. His face was covered -all over with blood, the eye cavities were bored out, the eyeballs -themselves had been completely cut away and had disappeared. The coat -was torn open, the breast exposed, and showed marks of some twenty -stabs. I covered the corpse again with the sack.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Adolf Weinreich</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schmetzer</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Hänse</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 65.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Herzogliches Amtsgericht.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oberamtsrichter Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Hornig</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Blankenburg</span> (<span class="smcap">Hartz</span>), <i>November 14th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Fusilier Paul Rohr, 8th Company, Fusilier -Regiment No. 36, at present in the Reserve Hospital at this place; he -was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Rohr; born on August 28th, 1892, at -Galbitz, near Cönnern; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The following deposition, which he had made before -Lieutenant Reyner on October 31st, 1914, was read over to witness:</p> - -<p>"Whilst taking some straw for camp purposes from a barn near Brussels -we found two otherwise unwounded German Uhlans hidden under the straw. -Both had their eyes poked out. The case, as I know, has already been -reported to my battalion commander, Kirchner."</p> - -<p>He thereupon declared: I affirm this deposition to-day, and add the -following detail: The occurrence took place in a village near Brussels -at about the end of August this year. The two German Uhlans I found -lying dead under the straw in the barn were absolutely unwounded, with -the exception of their torn-out eyes, and there exists no doubt in my -mind that the wounds inflicted, when their eyes were destroyed, were -the sole cause of their death.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Rohr</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the witness had been admonished as to the importance of the oath, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Schilling</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Hornig</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. 66.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Military Examination</span> of Captain Troeger, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 204.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Ministry of War.</p> - -<p>Military place of examination concerning violations of the Laws of War.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Kriegsgerichtzrat, Dr. <span class="smcap">Linde</span>, Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Pfitzner</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>November 24th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain Troeger, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 204, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hans Troeger; 45 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the march from Ghent to Thourout, two volunteers of -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 203, who had collapsed from exhaustion, -were mutilated by Belgian villagers, their ears and noses were cut off, -their stomachs slit open, and one of them had his skull fractured by -the heel of a boot. This fact was made known to us amongst others by -the commanding officer of the company, Captain zur Nieden, to whose -company the two volunteers belonged.</p> - -<p>The following is another case, which took place at Cessen-Kappel:</p> - -<p>Non-commissioned Officer Schnitzer, 5th Company, Reserve Regiment -No. 204, reported to me on October 26th or 27th that he had found -a mutilated Prussian dragoon at Cessen-Kappel whose ears and nose -had been cut off, and his stomach slit open by villagers. The said -non-commissioned officer thereupon searched the farms in question with -a detachment of his men, and found a few armed inhabitants, who were -shot at once.</p> - -<p>On our march through Belgium from Ghent onwards we were constantly -fired on by the inhabitants from houses and church towers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Troeger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings concluded.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Linde</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Pfitzner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">APPENDIX A.—AERSCHOT</p> - - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. A.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Office.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Belgian Civilian Uprising in Aerschot on August 19th and 20th, -1914.</span></p> - -<p><i>Comprehensive Report.</i></p> - -<p>The officially summoned Belgian Commission of Inquiry, together -with the foreign Press, have included the case of Aerschot in their -innumerable calumnies against the German method of waging war in -Belgium. Neither could find enough to say in their descriptions of the -"barbarous" attitude adopted by the German troops and their officers -towards the "harmless" inhabitants, nor against the utter lack of -ground for the Court of Punishment held in the "peaceful" town. The -true facts of the matter, which have been established by a number of -carefully sworn testimonies given by unprejudiced witnesses, reveal -quite a different picture.</p> - -<p>On August 19, 1914, German troops of the 8th Infantry Brigade were -housed in Aerschot. The town quietly watched the Brigade Staff -enter on the same day. Colonel Stenger, in command of the brigade, -sent his adjutant, Captain Schwarz, in advance, in order to procure -billets for the members of the staff. Captain Schwarz was received -in a friendly manner by the Mayor and his wife. The Mayor suggested -that his own house, situated in the market-place, would provide the -best accommodation. The Colonel and his orderly officer, Lieutenant -Beyersdorff (App. 1), went there in the afternoon between four and -five. The relations between the officer staying in those quarters and -his host were from the very first amiable and polite (App. 1).</p> - -<p>Colonel Jenrich, officer commanding Infantry Regiment No. 140, attached -to the Brigade, was made Governor of the town, and summoned the Mayor -in order to ask him whether any dispersed Belgian soldiers were hidden -in the place, or disguised as civilians in the houses. The Mayor -replied to both questions in the negative. Colonel Jenrich warned -him expressly against attacks by the civil population, for which the -Mayor, on penalty of death, would be held responsible. Further, he -desired him to see that the inhabitants delivered up all weapons. This -demand Colonel Jenrich had to repeat twice, as it turned out that great -quantities of weapons were kept back by the population (App. 2).</p> - -<p>At 8 o'clock in the evening a particularly loud report was heard in -the town, which proved to be the signal for a general firing on the -German troops gathered together in the streets and the market-place. -The fire—evidently at the given signal—opened from the roof windows -of a corner house near the market-place, situated opposite that of the -Mayor (App. 3). Three volleys were fired from this house, then the -shooting ceased for a short time, after which brisk and rapid firing -began again from many of the houses. The shots came chiefly from the -roof window. All the doors and windows of the house from which the -first shot had been fired were firmly locked, and had to be broken open -by the soldiers. The house was set on fire. Several civilians, who -attempted to flee, were seized, many with weapons in their hands (App. -5). Eighty-eight men amongst them were shot as francs-tireurs (App. 3).</p> - -<p>Colonel Stenger had remained alone in his room in the Mayor's house. -By a notice on the door the house was easily recognisable as being the -quarters of the Brigade Staff. Colonel Stenger, trusting to the assumed -friendliness of the inhabitants, had spent the afternoon on the balcony -adjoining his room, where he was clearly visible to all. Towards the -evening he retired to his brightly lit room, leaving the balcony doors -wide open (App. 1). When Captain Schwarz and Lieutenant Beyersdorff -went to call on him in the evening about 8 o'clock, in order to receive -instructions with reference to the uprising, they found Colonel -Stenger lying mortally wounded in the middle of the lighted room, with -the balcony doors still wide open. The doctor, who was immediately -summoned, could only testify to the death that had already overtaken -him (App. 1). The shots fired at the Colonel occurred then at the same -time as those of the first lively volleys fired from the house opposite -his room. It was the case of a systematic attack upon the German -troops, who, robbed of their leader, were to fall into disorder and -confusion. Hence the cessation of the firing after the first volleys, -when the criminals saw they had succeeded in murdering the Colonel, and -its immediate hostile renewal against the apparently leaderless troops. -The sequence of events is so obvious that it is only confirmed by the -previous pretence of friendliness on the part of the inhabitants, and -not weakened by this fact, as the Belgian representation of events -would have it.</p> - -<p>An immediate search of the Mayor's house showed that the family were -not only cognizant of the hostilities, but also participated in them. -Shots were fired into the street from the locked cellar, the key of -which the family declared to have been lost, and it had to be forcibly -opened; a stand had even been moved to the cellar window, in order to -make their position easier for the marksmen (App. 1), and a musketeer -was positively certain that he had noticed a shot fired from the house -(App. 1). The Mayor's son alone could be held responsible for the -actual deed; hidden away by his family, he was fetched out of a dark -room (App. 1). But since the whole family were guilty of the Colonel's -murder after having received him with such "hospitality," according to -Belgian reports, both father and son were shot on the following day, -August 20 (App. 2).</p> - -<p>At the town Governor's instigation, Captain Karge, officer commanding -the Military Mounted Police, was lodged in the house of the Mayor's -brother, and thus he too shared the same fate (Apps. 2, 3).</p> - -<p>According to the nature of the firing, no doubt remains of its being -a case of a systematic and murderous attack on the German garrison. -This was also admitted to Captain Karge by a civilian prisoner of the -educated classes (App. 3). The participation of the Mayor's whole -family proves that the Belgian authorities supported such treacherous -deeds against the German troops—deeds that were, unhappily, only too -frequent. In Aerschot this mischievous official authority led to the -ruthless murder of the commanding officer.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>January 17th, 1915</i>.</p> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Major <span class="smcap">Bauer</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>, Member of the Supreme Court of Judicature.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">A. App. 1.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Klauss</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Ross</span>, Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Roubaix</span>, <i>November 6th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the inquiry concerning the events in Aerschot, on the night of -August 19-20, 1914, there appeared as witnesses:</p> - -<p>1. The Adjutant of the 8th Infantry Brigade, Captain Schwarz.</p> - -<p>2. The Orderly Officer of the 8th Infantry Brigade, Lieutenant of -Reserve Beyersdorff. After they had been acquainted with the nature of -the inquiry, and their attention had been called to the importance of -the oath, they were separately examined, as follows:</p> - -<p>1. Captain Schwarz.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Carl Schwarz. I am 34 years of age, of the -Protestant faith.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the 19th of August I was sent in advance of Colonel -Stenger, who later was shot, and was commanding the 8th Infantry -Brigade, to Aerschot, to find quarters for the staff. The Mayor -of Aerschot suggested to me that his own house, situated in the -market-place, would provide the best accommodation. I entered this -house, and was received in the most friendly manner by the Mayor's -wife. Between four and five in the afternoon, Colonel Stenger and the -Orderly Officer, Lieutenant of Reserve Beyersdorff, arrived.</p> - -<p>Shortly before eight in the evening, soon after I had had a short -interview with the Colonel in his room, there suddenly arose a brisk -rifle-fire in the town; it was directed on the troops, who were partly -passing through and partly halting in the market-place. The first -shots, which, according to the sound, seemed to come from a northerly -direction, I thought came from the enemy's fire, who had been reported -as advancing from the north. But I was soon convinced by the shots -directed on our house that they were intended for us. The shots did not -emanate from our troops. After a short pause, the firing was renewed -with equal violence. In the meantime, the Mayor was brought to me by -the men of the 140th Infantry Regiment. I had to protect him from the -fury of the men. I now went through the streets with the Mayor, and -through him tried to bring the citizens to reason. After the firing had -died down, I handed the Mayor over to the commandant of the town, Major -Jenrich.</p> - -<p>As I now returned to the Mayor's house to receive orders from Colonel -Stenger, I found him lying seriously wounded on the floor of his room. -Owing to the many shots fired at our adjoining rooms, and to the fact -that the townsfolk obviously knew that the commander was billeted in -the Mayor's house (indicated on the door), and further, that Colonel -Stenger could be seen through the wide-open doors of the balcony, I was -under the impression that the fire was specially directed against the -Colonel.</p> - -<p>After Colonel Jenrich had given the command that the troops should -leave Aerschot, I personally, accompanied by a few men of the 140th -Infantry Regiment, made a thorough search of the Mayor's house, from -which shots were supposed to have been fired. On this occasion, by my -orders, the locked cellar doors, of which the keys were alleged to -have been lost, were broken in with axes. In the cellar, in front of -the window which opened on to the street, I found a conspicuous stand -from which shots must have been fired. The window-panes were completely -shattered. Whilst we were searching the living-rooms, the Mayor's son -came towards us from a darkened room. I, personally, handed him over to -the sentry in the market-place. Those calumnies about our doings in the -Mayor's house, published in a foreign newspaper, are untrue.</p> - -<p>The negotiations concerning the housing and catering were conducted on -both sides in a friendly fashion, mostly with the Mayor's wife, as the -Mayor was occupied at the town hall. It was natural that, after the -shooting of Colonel Stenger, the friendly tone which had reigned should -have been changed to a strictly official one, and I did not omit to -show my horror at the sad event.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Hereupon the witness took the oath.</p> - -<p>2. Reserve Lieutenant Beyersdorff of the 12th Dragoon Regiment.</p> - -<p>As to Person: I am called Bruno Beyersdorff. I am 31 years of age, and -a Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: At the hearing of the witness it turned out that his -evidence agreed with the evidence of Captain Schwarz. Therefore Captain -Schwrarz's deposition was read to him, whereupon he declared this -evidence to be correct, and confirmed it and added a few more details.</p> - -<p>With the exception of a few short intervals, I was at the time in -question in the same room with Captain Schwarz. The negotiations -concerning the housing and catering, which we both had with the Mayor -and his wife, were conducted in an entirely friendly fashion.</p> - -<p>I am, for similar reasons, of the same opinion as Captain Schwarz, that -the fire which was directed on our quarters was especially intended -for Colonel Stenger. In referring to this, I want to add that Colonel -Stenger, especially noticeable by his decorations, sat for some time -on his balcony, and could be clearly seen from the whole market-place. -I also, with Captain Schwarz, left the room after the first sounds -of firing, and proceeded to the market-place to restore order there -amongst the troops, who had become disorganised through the firing. -When the shooting began soon after, for the second time, I went alone -to Colonel Stenger's room, to ask him for orders. As no one opened the -door after repeated knocking, I entered, and found him stretched on -the floor in the middle of the room, with his face on his bended arm, -in his death-agony. As I could observe wounds, and there was copious -bleeding, I immediately fetched a doctor, who certified that the -Colonel had since died. I cannot give the name of the doctor. I was not -present at the searching of the rooms, which took place later. There -is no question of our having behaved in a rough manner in the Mayor's -house, as is supposed to have been stated in a foreign newspaper. After -the Colonel's body had been found, we did adopt a strictly official -tone towards the Mayor's wife. On leaving the house, Captain Schwarz -said to the Mayor's wife, "Your husband had been frequently warned, -and you will have to bear the consequences." I also wish to add to -this, that, after the firing had ceased, Captain Karge, as far as I -know, gave command for at least three houses to be set on fire, from -which shots were supposed to have been fired. I myself ascertained that -during the burning of the house belonging to the Mayor's neighbour, -exploding munition was distinctly heard. It was noticeable from the -separate detonations.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Beyersdorff</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness thereupon took the oath.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Klauss</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ross</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major, as Clerk to the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">A. App. 2.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Klauss</span>, as Officer to the Military Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Ross</span>, as Secretary to the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Ostel</span>, <i>November 3rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the inquiry concerning the events of the night of August 19 and 20, -1914, in Aerschot, there appeared as witness the officer commanding the -140th Infantry Regiment, Colonel Jenrich. After he had been acquainted -with the subject of the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to -the importance of the oath, he was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>My name is Andreas Jenrich. I am 56 years of age; Protestant. On -August 19th I came personally with the staff of my regiment to -Aerschot, after the 3rd Division had had a fight with Belgian troops -in that neighbourhood. I was commander of the place, and had to make -preparations for internal administration, as well as for safety. The -Staff of the 8th Infantry Brigade were already in Aerschot, and were -billeted in the Mayor's house. I at once sent for this gentleman and -asked him whether there were any disbanded Belgian soldiers hidden -away, or if there were otherwise any Belgian soldiers in civilian -clothing in the houses. He denied this. I pointed out the consequence -to him, for which he and the town would be held responsible, if -anything was undertaken by the populace against the German troops; and -especially I left him in no doubt as to the death penalty awaiting -him should an attack by the civilians against the German soldiers -take place. I felt justified in this threat, as on the day before, in -Schaaffen, near Siest, civilians fired at our soldiers, killing several -of them. As far as I know, at midday on August 19, 1914, the General -commanding the II. Army Corps, Von Linsingen, had likewise warned the -Mayor and the population.</p> - -<p>I also ordered the civilians to give up all their weapons in front of -the town hall in the market-place. After an hour I ascertained that -only a small quantity of arms had been given up. I then renewed my -commands to the Mayor that he should see to the handing over of all -weapons. To my especial astonishment, 36 rifles were then brought -forth, which had evidently been intended for the purpose of public -shows and for the Garde Civique. Portions of ammunition for these -rifles were found packed away in a case. After repeated and serious -warning to the Mayor, a larger quantity of weapons was given up. -Towards 8 o'clock the troops had just marched in, and still found -themselves in the streets. All at once, at 8 o'clock exactly, firing -suddenly began from all the houses, and this was naturally returned -by our men. I should especially like to point out that before the -commencement of the general firing, a particularly loud report was -heard, which must have been the alarm signal. I succeeded, with several -other officers, amongst whom I may mention Brigade Adjutant Captain -Schwarz, in stopping the fire of our soldiers in the market-place. Soon -after I heard from Captain Schwarz that the officer commanding the -brigade had been found shot dead in his room in the Mayor's house. At -about 8.30 in the evening I commanded the evacuation of the town, and -we bivouacked outside the place on the way to Wispelaer.</p> - -<p>In the meantime the houses had been searched by the troops, and a -considerable number of inhabitants taken prisoners, who were proved to -have taken part in the attacks on the soldiers. Of the male population -taken prisoners the Mayor, with his son as well as his brother, and -every third man, were shot the next morning.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Jenrich</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Hereupon the witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Klauss</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer to the Military Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ross</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Secretary to the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">A. App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Hottendorff</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Westphal</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Tourcoing</span>, <i>November 15th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the investigation concerning the events in Aerschot on the night of -August 19th to 20th, 1914, there appeared as witness Captain Karge of -the cavalry, officer commanding the troops of the Field Cavalry Police -of the II. Army Corps, who, after his attention had been drawn to the -importance and sanctity of the oath, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My Christian name is Hans. I am 42 years of age; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The witness was handed the supplement to this Record and -declared:</p> - -<p>I have given my evidence in writing in the supplement. Witness then -further added to the Record, after this supplement had been read -through:</p> - -<p>I acknowledge the supplement just read as my own. Several German -officers told me that, according to report, the Belgian Government, and -especially the King of the Belgians, had intimated that it was the duty -of every male Belgian to do the German Army as much harm as possible.</p> - -<p>An Order of this kind was also supposed to have been found on a -captured Belgian soldier. I also heard that Belgian soldiers had been -discharged in their native towns, so that they could there fight in -plain clothes against the Germans. It is true that a number of Belgian -soldiers, who were partly clothed as civilians, were made prisoners. An -officer, who was present at the attack in Aerschot, told me that on the -belfry tower of a certain place in the neighbourhood of Aerschot he had -himself read that Belgians who caught German officers were not allowed -to keep them prisoners on parole, but were to shoot them. I cannot -exactly repeat this officer's words, but they contained the meaning I -have just given.</p> - -<p>A college teacher from Aerschot, whom I have already mentioned in the -supplement, assured me, as I now positively remember, that the Garde -Civique had orders to do the German Army as much harm as possible.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karge</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness thereupon took the oath.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hottendorff</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Westphal</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Supplement to A. App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 19th, 1914, towards 8 o'clock in the evening, I stood at an -open window in the quarters which had been offered me by the Mayor of -Aerschot, whose brother's house it was, situated in a street which led -to the market-place. It may have been a few minutes to eight when I -heard a shot. A column was just marching down the street towards the -market-place. I leant out of the window, under the impression that -perhaps one of the soldiers had carelessly fired a shot from his rifle; -immediately there was a fusillade. I had just looked in the direction -from which the single shot had been fired, and I could ascertain that -from the ledge of the roof of a red corner-house, situated opposite -my billet, towards the right, the smoke and dust were ascending. -My certainty that the first shot had been fired from this spot was -strengthened, and I now distinctly saw a second volley being fired from -the same place, appearing in thin clouds of smoke. The shots may have -been fired from about eight or ten rifles, and from the regularity of -the volley I had the impression that we had to do with a well-organised -and perhaps military operation. Shortly after the second volley a third -was heard, and added to that a brisk and rapid firing took place, which -did not proceed only from the house mentioned, but also from the other -houses in this street.</p> - -<p>Apparently this firing did not only come from the windows, but also -from the openings in the roof and prepared loopholes in the attics of -the houses; it is because of this that one can explain the small harm -done to the men and animals. The street was narrow, and the rifles had -to be placed in an unnaturally slanting position, if they were to be -aimed at the halting columns in the middle of the street. The drivers -and soldiers of the supply column had in the meantime left their -waggons and horses and sought shelter from the fire in the doorways of -the houses. Some of the waggons had collided with each other, and the -restless horses, having lost their drivers, had broken loose.</p> - -<p>As shots also came my way, I sought shelter against the partition wall -between the windows. After a short time, I thought I heard the firing -returned by our soldiers in the market-place. Soon after, signals and -calls were heard to "cease fire." The firing did then cease for a time, -but was apparently renewed on both sides, though not so violently as -before.</p> - -<p>I had taken the opportunity to leave my billet during the cessation of -the firing, and go to the market-place, to inform a Colonel there of -the proceedings I had witnessed. At the same time, I asked permission -to set fire to the house from which the signal shot—as I took it to -be—had been fired, and from which the volley had also come. In my -opinion, the ringleaders were assembled there. The Colonel refused my -request. I hereupon returned to my street, but was there detained a -moment by a rifleman, who, standing in a doorway, called out, "Just now -I plainly saw a shot fired from the house opposite." He then pointed -out the house, which I recognised as that of the Mayor.</p> - -<p>I now took a few soldiers who were standing near by (of the 140th -Infantry Regiment), and proceeded with them to the house from which -the first shots had been fired, and in the attic of which I guessed -the instigators and leaders still to be. In the meantime the regiment -arrived, and—giving my commands to the officer and his men—I ordered -the doors and windows on the ground floor, which were firmly locked, -to be battered in. The house had a front door and a shop door. I then -also forced my way into the house, and with the help of a fairly large -quantity of turpentine, which was found in a tin can holding about 20 -litres, and which I had partly poured on the first floor, I succeeded, -after a short time, in setting the house on fire. Further, I gave -orders to the men who had so far taken no part in this affair to occupy -the entrances to the houses and arrest all men seeking to escape.</p> - -<p>As I left the burning house several civilians, amongst them a young -priest, were arrested in the neighbouring houses. I had them taken -to the market-place, where in the meantime my troop of Field Cavalry -Police had assembled. I then ordered the columns to march out of the -town, and took over the command of all the prisoners, but released the -women, boys, and girls.</p> - -<p>I received from a staff officer (divisional commander of Artillery -Regiment No. 17) the order to shoot all the captured men. Then I gave -orders to a part of my police force to conduct the columns out of the -town, whilst the others were told to escort the prisoners and take them -away. At the exit of the town a house was burning, and by its light I -saw the guilty men, 88 in number, shot, but not before I had taken away -three cripples from among them.</p> - -<p>Later on I met a second batch of prisoners. I picked out the most -intelligent looking, and told him all the prisoners would be shot, -but that I would save his life if he told me the truth concerning the -organisation of the attack. For I looked upon the whole affair as such. -This man, who spoke German and was a teacher at a college in Aerschot, -confessed to its having been a great mistake of the people of Aerschot -to have sheltered some fugitive Belgian soldiers, and to have hidden -them and clothed them in civilian garments. These had joined the Garde -Civique, and they had then organised an attack.</p> - -<p>If I consider all the circumstances of the strange and remarkable -behaviour of the Mayor, his brother, and other citizens with whom I -came into contact, then I have no doubt that a great part of the civil -population were all agreed in carrying out their hostile intentions.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karge</span>, Captain of Cavalry.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">A. App. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Jüngst</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Court, <span class="smcap">Appel</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Gnesen</span>, <i>November 29th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the investigation concerning the events of the night between August -19th and 20th, 1914, at Aerschot, Captain Schleusener of the 49th -Infantry Regiment, at present in Gnesen, appeared as witness, and -after his attention had been called to the importance of the oath, was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>My name is Georg Schleusener, Captain and Company Commander, 6th -Pomeranian Infantry Regiment No. 49, machine-gun section. I am 35 years -of age, Protestant, and I live in Gnesen.</p> - -<p>Late in the afternoon of August 19th, 1914, I arrived with my -machine-gun section, on a special mission, in this little town of -Aerschot, by the northern exit. About 350 yards from the market-place -I heard a few isolated shots, which I took to be exploding ammunition. -But I soon found I was mistaken, as I encountered some returning -cavalry patrols and their waggons, belonging to the 3rd Infantry -Division, trying to beat a hasty retreat. After having succeeded in -stopping our own firing, I myself saw shots fired from the houses, -whereupon I ordered our machine-guns to be directed on the house fronts -to the left. I was told that shots had been fired from a house on the -right. As I commanded the guns to be turned round in order to open -fire, a medical officer told me that there were wounded in the house. -At my instigation a search was made, and five men were found in the -house. I did not allow this house to be fired on.</p> - -<p>Captain Folz, at present attached to the General Staff in Berlin, is -supposed to be able to give more direct information concerning the -death of Colonel Stenger.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schleusener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was hereupon legally sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Jüngst</span>, President of the Military Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Appel</span>, Secretary of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">A. App. 5.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Bernhards</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clerk of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Hofmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Darmstadt</span>, <i>January 12th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness at the inquiry concerning the detailed -circumstances of the attack of the civil population in Aerschot, -Captain Folz. After he had been acquainted with the subject-matter of -the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to the importance of the -oath, he made the following statement:</p> - -<p>My name is Hermann Folz. I am 32 years of age; Protestant; Captain, -49th Infantry Regiment, at present with the Reserve Flying Corps, -Section 3. On a day in August, the date of which I have forgotten, -I arrived in Aerschot, as my regiment's billeting officer, with the -Staff of the 8th Infantry Brigade. It was between three and four in -the afternoon when we rode into the place. Of German troops, the 3rd -Infantry Division had already passed through in batches, and already -the narrow and angular little town was full of commissariat, artillery, -and ammunition columns. We had been about three hours in the little -town, when suddenly violent firing began. The firing seemed to come -from the north-west exit of the village.</p> - -<p>Immediately afterwards the Medical Corps, I believe it to have been the -2nd (including a certain Dr. Wild) as well as a section of the supplies -of the 3rd Division, came towards us, under incessant fire, and -informed us they had been fired upon. A Belgian battalion was supposed -to be advancing. With difficulty we managed to make headway with our -machine-gun company, and by taking a seat on the last waggon, with -the company leader, Captain Schleusener, I proceeded in the direction -of the alleged advance of the Belgian force. About three kilometres -before the town, near a windmill, we discovered that there was no enemy -at hand. I thereupon returned on foot to Aerschot. We had already, -during our march out of the town, heard continuous firing. Entering -Aerschot by a bridge, I noticed that our troops were being fired upon -from the houses. Shots came sometimes from the upper floors, sometimes -from the cellars, and one could distinctly tell by the sound that both -rifles and machine-guns were being used. The situation developed in -such a manner that our own men had to seek cover with their backs to -the houses, and as soon as a marksman was observed in the opposite -house he was fired at. I saw several of our men wounded by these shots, -and the bullets also whistled round my head. Near the town hall, which -was to have been converted into an artillery depot, stood a captain of -the 140th Infantry Regiment, who continuously ordered the bugles to -sound the "Cease fire." Evidently the officer first wished to stop the -firing of our men in order to be able to settle upon a plan of action. -Brigade Adjutant Schwarz, since fallen, met me in the market-place -and informed me that the officer commanding the 8th Brigade, Colonel -Stenger, had been shot. I immediately hurried to the Mayor's billets, -which were situated in the Mayor's house in the market-place, and there -found Colonel Stenger dead on his bed. The orderly officer present, -Lieutenant Beyersdorff, Dragoon Regiment No. 12, told me he had found -the Colonel in the room, about three metres from the window, lying dead -on his face. On the spot one distinctly saw two pools of blood, and -I also noticed that the wall opposite the window was marked by many -bullet-holes, and the window-panes were shot through. I saw a wound on -the corpse stretching from the right eye to the right ear, and also a -shot through the right breast, but of the latter one saw only the broad -hole caused by the bullet. The regimental doctor of the 140th Infantry -Regiment, who on the following day opened the corpse in my presence, -found in the passage of the breast wound a shapeless lead bullet, -which had broken up on coming in contact with a hard substance. The -bullet had torn a main artery and caused immediate death. According to -the evidence of the doctor, the facial wound was not caused by a shot -from an infantry rifle. Owing to the vertical passage of the wound, -and the nature of the shot, there can be no doubt that the Colonel was -not fired at from the street, but by an inhabitant of the opposite -house. To judge by the calibre of the breast bullet, the weapon used -must have been a muzzle-loader. The bullet taken from the body I gave -into the keeping of the paymaster of the 2nd Battalion, 49th Infantry -Regiment. The paymaster's name is Wirowski. The revolt was then -systematically suppressed, and the houses searched for francs-tireurs. -In this way about forty civilians, amongst whom were several—at least -two—priests, were found with weapons in their hands. According to -my observations and to the events described, there is no doubt that -a systematic plan of attack on the German troops had been adopted by -the Belgian civilians. The regimental adjutant, Lieutenant v. Oppen, -was also witness to the events, and will be able to make a statement -regarding them. The Captain of the II. Corps of Military Police, named -Karge, was also present.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Folz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Legally sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bernhards</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hofmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Supplement to the Record of November 15th, 1914.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">APPENDIX B.—ANDENNE</p> - - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. B.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Office.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Belgian Civilian Uprising in Andenne on August 20th, 1914.</span></p> - -<p><i>Summary Report.</i></p> - -<p>Andenne is a small industrial Belgian town of about 8000 inhabitants, -situated on the southern bank of the Meuse, half-way between the -fortresses of Huy and Namur, in the province of Namur. During their -advance, the German troops had constantly come into contact with -Andenne. About the 20th August 1914 two infantry regiments and a Jäger -Battalion marched from Coutisse towards Andenne, towards the north, in -order to be able to cross the pontoon bridge there over the Meuse. They -were commanded by Major-General Freiherr von Langermann and Erlencamp; -Major von Polentz was at the head of one of the infantry battalions.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants of Andenne received the passing troops in an apparently -friendly manner; they gave them water, and the soldiers believed that -in the quiet of the evening they would be able to pass peaceably -through Andenne and reach the Meuse, flowing northwards. But scarcely -had the head of the marching column arrived at the bridge over the -Meuse, when the peaceful picture presented by the town suddenly -changed, and the inhabitants showed their true character, a thing which -unfortunately occurred only too often in Belgium. This time their -deeds were truly devilish. Bells pealed from the church tower; as they -ceased, the citizens, recently so helpful, suddenly disappeared from -the streets, and bolted their doors and let down the shutters. A mad -fire from all sides was poured upon the unsuspecting troops. In the -town they shot from the cellars and from specially prepared openings -in the roofs, and bombs and hand-grenades were hurled down on the -defenceless men who happened to be nearest. Machine-guns sent their -murderous bullets through the soldiers' ranks. At the same time, hidden -francs-tireurs began firing from the heights opposite the end of the -bridge over the Meuse. Besides which men and women in wild fury poured -boiling water from the half-open windows upon the German troops. Of -Major v. Polentz's men alone over one hundred were scalded. Against -this inhumanity the troops had to defend themselves energetically. They -pressed into the houses and shot down the cowardly aggressors in their -hiding-places. The houses which had served them for cover were set on -fire. About two hundred inhabitants lost their lives in these fights.</p> - -<p>These are the details of the street-fighting in Andenne, which are -supplemented by the official report attached, made by Major-General von -Langermann and Erlencamp; and also by the evidence on oath of Major von -Polentz, as well as of Rifleman Roleff—all eye-witnesses—who gave -evidence without prejudice; and by the report of Lieutenant Goetze.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>the 29th of September 1915</i>.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Major <span class="smcap">Bauer</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>, Member of the Supreme Court of Judicature.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">B. App. 1.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>January 21st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Official Report.</i></p> - -<p>On the afternoon of August 20, 1914, I received the command to march -from Coutisse to Andenne with the brigade (1st and 2nd Guard Reserve -Regiment and Guard Reserve Jäger Battalion); from there we were to -cross the pontoon bridge over the Meuse. In the industrial town of -Andenne we had to call a halt of about ten minutes, during which -the inhabitants standing before their houses in the narrow streets -willingly gave us water and behaved in a remarkably friendly manner. -Just as I had crossed the bridge at the head of 1st Guard Reserve -Regiment, we heard suddenly and simultaneously a furious rifle-fire -coming from the heights opposite the bridge and from the houses. Not -only men fired at us, but also—as I was informed—isolated women. -Our men pressed into the houses from which the firing proceeded, and -shot down the armed inhabitants. By my order the houses, from which -firing had proceeded, were set alight. These measures were helpful; the -rifle-fire gradually decreased and finally ceased altogether, but was -renewed later against the troops that followed my brigade. Marvellous -to relate, our losses were insignificant; the francs-tireurs had aimed -badly. I saw no single French or Belgian soldier in the town or in -the surrounding neighbourhood. The fire directed on us came solely -from the civil population. Later it was reported to us that a document -had been found—on the next day, I believe—with the Commandant of -the town, showing the attack of the civil population to have been -minutely planned, with a fixed hour for its commencement. Shortly -before the prearranged time all the inhabitants, who had met us with -such friendliness in the streets, locked themselves in, and at the -given minute the fire was opened upon us. No cruelties of any sort were -practised by the troops under my command, and all inhabitants found -without weapons in the streets were especially spared; if they seemed -to us to be of a suspicious character they were arrested.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Freiherr <span class="smcap">von Langermann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">B. App. 2.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>November 21st, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Office.</p> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of Military Law.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present at the Court:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>, as Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Court, <span class="smcap">Pfitzner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Major von Polentz, of the above-named place, -who declared:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Fredrich von Polentz. I am 42 years of age; -Protestant; Major in the 3rd Foot Guards Regiment.</p> - -<p>As to Case: In the latter half of August, as I marched through Belgium -in command of the battalion of the 2nd Reserve Guard Regiment, I -frequently saw the Belgian civil population take an active part in -hostilities against our troops; in particular, they fired upon us. I -draw attention to the fact that this happened in Birdontige, near -Stavelot, as well as in Evelette, south of Andenne. The most serious -case, however, occurred in Andenne (between Liège and Namur).</p> - -<p>After we had marched in here, the bells from the church-tower suddenly -began to ring out a signal at about 6.30 in the evening. Thereupon iron -shutters were let down in all the houses; the inhabitants, who until -then had been standing in the streets, vanished; and from different -sides firing began on my troops, especially from the cellars and from -openings in the roofs which the inhabitants had made by removing the -tiles. Also, from many houses boiling water was poured over our men. -In consequence, some bitter street-fighting ensued between the civil -population and my troops, who had given no cause for this treacherous -attack. That these measures were well prepared, and carried out by the -whole population of the town of Andenne and its suburbs, is proved by -the fact that 100—one hundred—of my men were hurt by scalding alone.</p> - -<p>Also the marching column of troops following me was attacked by the -civil population of Andenne, as well as those sections of the marching -column preceding me, who were fired upon.</p> - -<p>In Lenze, north of Namur, I was met by the priest of the place, who -at first assured me in a friendly manner, on his word of honour, that -no hostilities of any sort need be expected from the people in his -parish. In spite of this, shots from six or eight houses were heard -fifteen minutes later. These shots could only have come from the civil -population, as the regular enemy troops had long since been pressed -back.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Polentz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witnesses were thereupon sworn as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Pfitzner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">B. App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>December 5th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Stack</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Military Court, Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Wesselmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Rifleman Hugo Roleff, of the 11th Company -of the 2nd Reserve Guards Regiment, and after his attention had been -called to the importance of the oath, he made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hugo Roleff. I am 28 years of age; Protestant -Reformed Church; by profession a ribbon-weaver, living in Elberfeld, -Osterbaum 9.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I joined the 2nd Company of the 2nd Reserve Guards Regiment -as private, and went with the regiment to the front.</p> - -<p>On August 20, 1914, the first half of the 2nd Company was to serve -as cover to the Artillery Munition Column. We arrived at Andenne in -the evening. As everything was quiet we rode into the town. All went -smoothly through a few streets, but as we were going to turn into the -main street, bells were suddenly heard. At the same time we received -a murderous rifle-fire out of all the windows and from all sides. -Hand-bombs and hand-grenades were used against us, and machine-guns -were also employed. I noticed this as I lay wounded in the street, and -also that regular shots came from the cellar windows, and that the -characteristic noise of machine-guns could be heard.</p> - -<p>Our horses broke loose, our waggon was struck by a hand-grenade, the -horses were thrown to the ground, the waggon was overturned, and, the -following waggons driving into it, a wild confusion ensued. As the -waggon was overthrown, I fell out and crushed the calves of my legs. -We immediately returned the fire, for it had been recommended to us, -and we were prepared in consequence. Before the munition column could -be set in order again and proceed, we had to endure half an hour of -continuous firing, until the defence guard came to our help.</p> - -<p>On account of my wound I was just taken to the market-place, and then -lay for two days in the house of a doctor, who was, however, absent. -After that I was cared for in the schoolhouse, which had been turned -into a hospital. Some German families, who had lived in this place for -a considerable time, looked after us here. These told us that the whole -attack had been planned, and that the clergy had issued directions from -the pulpits.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hugo Roleff</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stack</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Rudolf Wesselmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">B. App. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Namur</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of the Inquiry into the alleged atrocities in Andenne.</p></blockquote> - -<p>At the command of the Imperial Military Government of Namur I went, -on the 5th inst., to Andenne, in order to obtain information from the -Mayor Emile de Jaer regarding the atrocities of war that were said to -have occurred in Andenne. He only knew that on August 20, at 7 o'clock -in the evening, a murderous fire was opened on our troops, who wanted -to cross the bridge leading to Seilles. At my request he handed me over -a list of those who had been shot; it contained 234 names. On examining -this list it turned out that only 196 persons had been shot without any -doubt whatsoever; 28 were missing. I instructed the Mayor to procure a -number of trustworthy witnesses, who in his opinion were in a position -to give information concerning the events.</p> - -<p>Thereupon appeared:</p> - -<p>1. Hermann Frerand, Place du Perron, merchant. He could give no -evidence, as he had been a prisoner from August 21 to 23.</p> - -<p>2. Alexander Wery, Rue Brun, merchant. He declared that he had kept in -hiding during the days of agitation. He therefore knows nothing, but -only heard reports.</p> - -<p>3. Léon Lambert, Place des Tilleuls, merchant. He knows nothing of the -events, as he had been in hiding in his cellar.</p> - -<p>4. Florent Sebrun, factory director, Rue Wouters. On the evening of -August 20, at 7 o'clock, he was in the garden of his brother-in-law, -Dr. Melin, Grande Rue. A large aeroplane appeared at a great height, -and the German troops immediately fired at it. Suddenly fire opened -from all sides of the town.</p> - -<p>5. Madame Ermine Blanchart, Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville, will state -personal grievances, but knows nothing of the events.</p> - -<p>6. Ernest Thys, Rue Brun, merchant, hid himself for five days in his -cellar.</p> - -<p>7. Dr. Isidor Loroy, Rue de l'Industrie, only knows that the Mayor, -Camus, who was a doctor in private life, was shot in the Rue du Pont on -August 20, after having spent the night as a hostage, together with the -priest, in the town hall. He was released towards the morning. Loroy -only knows of the events by report.</p> - -<p>8. Pane Tillmann, Rue Bran, chemist, had been wounded since August 21, -and can give no evidence.</p> - -<p>9. Louis Cartiaux, Place du Chapitre, priest, was arrested on August -19, at 9 o'clock in the evening, and taken to the town hall. Here he -met the Mayor, Camus, who had already been taken as hostage. Cartiaux -was, however, released during the night. About the alleged events -he could only state that a detachment of troops had already made -an inquiry in September, and that three suspected persons had been -arrested, who were, however, not inhabitants of Andenne. He did not -know what had happened to these three people. He refers the matter -of the boy who was supposed to have been shot because he carried a -cartridge on his person, to George Belin, schoolmaster, Rue Bertrand. -The latter had told him that a boy was going to be shot because he wore -some lead as a charm that had been given him by his brother.</p> - -<p>10. Achilles Rambeaux, Rue Bertrand, assistant to a notary, has nothing -to report, as he had kept in hiding in his cellar.</p> - -<p>11. G. Belin, the schoolmaster referred to in No. 9, was heard at Namur -on the morning of January 6. He was asked if he was prepared to swear -to his alleged statement concerning the shooting of a boy. He denied -ever having made such a statement in the most vigorous terms. Pressure -being brought to bear, he admits further that in Andenne the opinion is -held that a Belgian soldier of the 8th Line Infantry Regiment stayed -behind, put on civilian clothes, and actually fired on the German -troops. This soldier was universally known to the townsfolk by the -nickname of "Le Petit Roux," and was Flemish. Another Flemish soldier, -also in mufti, had been in his company. Both had deserted from their -detachments.</p> - -<p>Furthermore all the above-named persons declared unanimously that -another doctor (not Mayor Camus), aged 64 years, had not been shot. -Those rumours were also false which gave out that seven members of one -family had been killed by German bullets; this matter concerned two -families and, moreover, two brothers of the name of Savin.</p> - -<p>That a number of people had been brought out from the cellars, -threatened with death, and placed in front of the machine-guns, in case -of firing from the nearest barricades, could be proved from no side. -It was universally admitted, however, that rumours went round the town, -including those that gave out that inhabitants had been killed with -blows from an axe.</p> - -<p>In Andenne itself 25 houses were destroyed, 12 in the suburb Peau -d'Eau, together therefore 37, while Andenne contained 1900 houses. Not -a single factory was destroyed or burnt. Naturally, as is unavoidable -in street-fighting, many houses were damaged by gun-shots, but not so -severely as to cause the owners any considerable losses. It is true -that a large number of window-panes were shattered when the cannon -fired from the market-place.</p> - -<p>According to the statement of the schoolmaster Belin, the population -of Andenne is rather a simple-minded one, which accounts for the -incredible rumours abroad in the town.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Goetze</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">APPENDIX C.—DINANT</p> - - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. C.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Office.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Military Court of Inquiry into the Violation of the Laws of War.</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Belgian Civilian Warfare in Dinant from August 21st to August 24th, -1914.</span></p> - -<p><i>Summary Report.</i></p> - -<p>Immediately after crossing the Belgian frontier the XII. Army Corps had -difficulties with the civilian population of Belgium, which reached -their climax in and around Dinant. For the advance of the Army Corps -Dinant had especial importance, since here it was that the crossing -of the Meuse was to take place. The town with its suburbs, Leffe and -Les Rivages on the right bank of the Meuse, and Neffe, St. Médard, and -Bouvignes on the left bank, lies along the river in a deep section of -the valley. Both banks rise up in terraces, steep and frequently rocky, -to a height of some 70 metres, the right bank somewhat higher than -the left. On the right bank about the centre of the town stands the -fortress, about 100 metres in height. Close by, to the north, the high -road from Sorinnes enters the town. Two further approaches from the -east are found in the deep-cut flanking valleys which come to an end in -Leffe and Les Rivages.</p> - -<p>On August 15th, 1914, the operations of the German cavalry, in which -among others Jäger Battalion No. 12 took part, led to the temporary -occupation of the right bank of the Meuse. Owing to superior enemy -forces, it was again evacuated on the same day; numerous dead and some -wounded were left behind.</p> - -<p>On August 17th the enemy forces on the left bank of the Meuse withdrew. -From this time onward Dinant, Leffe, and Les Rivages were free from the -presence of any regular enemy troops.</p> - -<p>On August 21st the XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps engaged in -operations before Dinant. The 2nd Battalion of Rifle (Fusilier) -Regiment No. 108, together with a company of pioneers, undertook on -the evening of this day a strong reconnaissance towards Dinant. As -the first houses on the road coming from Sorinnes were reached, the -sound of a signal shot was suddenly heard. The next moment there -came a rattle of musketry from all sides. Shots were fired from all -the houses, and the slopes were lighted up with the flashes. The -houses were firmly barricaded, so that rifle-butts, hatchets, and -hand-grenades had to be used to force an entrance. Trip-wires were -drawn across the road. Numerous wounds were inflicted on our men by the -discharge of small shot. They were even pelted with stones (Apps. 2-5).</p> - -<p>The battalion penetrated as far as the bridge, ascertained that this -was occupied by enemy troops, and then returned, being continually -fired upon from the houses. Under the necessity of haste it was -impossible to clear the place thoroughly of francs-tireurs. To some -extent attempts were made to master them by setting on fire the houses -from which the firing took place.</p> - -<p>It was evident that this assault by the inhabitants on the -reconnoitring detachment took place according to plan, that people -known in Dinant were aware of the intended operation, and that for this -purpose well-prepared measures had been adopted. Among other things -indicating this preparation was the fact that numerous houses and walls -had been provided with loopholes.</p> - -<p>In view of these experiences we naturally assumed that in any further -operations the civilian population would also take part in the -fighting. Nevertheless, all anticipations in this direction were far -exceeded through the extent and obstinacy of the people's participation -in the fight.</p> - -<p>On August the 23rd the left bank of the Meuse was to be taken by the -XII. Corps. After preliminary artillery fire the infantry advanced in -the direction of Dinant—the 32nd Infantry Division to the north, the -23rd Infantry Division to the south. On the left wing the (Guards) -Grenadier Regiment No. 100 forced its way into the town, on the right -of them Infantry Regiment No. 180, and in close conjunction Rifle -Regiment No. 108, whilst in the Leffe valley Infantry Regiment No. 178 -reached Leffe.</p> - -<p>The fighting on August 23rd, accompanied by comparatively slight loss, -resulted in the dislodgement of the enemy forces from the heights of -the left bank of the Meuse. On the other hand, the losses which the -hostile civil population of Dinant and its outskirts had inflicted on -the XII. Corps on August 23rd, and the effort which was necessary to -break down the completely organised resistance of the civil population -on August 23rd and the following days were very considerable. Once -more, as on August 21st, people in Dinant and the neighbourhood had -apparently secured information that a movement of the corps was -imminent, and they were accordingly prepared. The 1st Battalion of -the Guards Regiment, approaching from Herbuchenne, were assailed by -a vigorous fire from the houses and alleys. Bit by bit, every house -had to be fought for singly with the use of hand-grenades in order -to dislodge from their hiding-places the inhabitants who had stowed -themselves away from cellar to attic and who were making use of every -possible kind of weapon. Those who were caught with weapons in their -hands were immediately shot, while suspected persons were led off as -hostages to the town gaol.</p> - -<p>Despite these measures the Grenadier Guards were still further fired on -by the population, and thereby suffered considerable losses, especially -in officers. Here, among others, fell Lieutenant Treusch von Buttlar, -and Captain Legler was severely wounded.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, a great part of the place had been consumed by fire, -caused partly by the use of hand-grenades, partly by the French and -German artillery fire. All this, however, was not sufficient to -convince the population of the uselessness and danger of participating -in the fighting.</p> - -<p>Until the evening, even on the march to the crossing-place at Les -Rivages, the regiment was fired on from the houses (Apps. 1, 5, 7, 10, -11).</p> - -<p>The Regiments No. 108 and No. 182 had similar experiences when they, -to the north of the Guards Regiment, reached Dinant. From the moment -they reached the most easterly houses they came under fire. The farm -of Malais was stormed by the 1st Battalion of the Rifles (Fusilier) -Regiment No. 108, and the whole of the francs-tireurs who made a stand -there were destroyed. Fighting hotly for every house, our men pressed -forward in the direction of the market, all the time expecting to be -fired at by invisible foes from cellars, caves, and hill-sides. It was -here that, among others, Major Lommatzsch of Infantry Regiment No. 182 -was fatally wounded by the bullets of two civilians from the windows -of a house. They even fired down from the cathedral (Apps. 12, 14, -18). Already in the course of the forenoon the Commanding Officer of -the 46th Brigade recognised that it was impossible, without artillery -bombardment, to gain the mastery over the fanatical population.</p> - -<p>The troops were, however, too much involved in house-to-house fighting -to be immediately withdrawn. It was only after 3 o'clock in the -afternoon that it was possible to withdraw the troops to the heights -north of Dinant, so that the artillery, in particular, sections of -Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 and a battery of heavy artillery, could -now bring Dinant, from Leffe, more effectually under their fire (Apps. -12, 19, 21).</p> - -<p>In the early morning Infantry Regiment No. 178 had set out from Thynes -on their march towards Leffe, making use of the Leffe valley road. -Already before reaching Leffe the advance company was fired on from -detached holdings as well as from the steep hill slopes (partially -wooded), which stretched along on the right and the left of the road. -This harassing fire was directed with particular activity from the -paper-mill situated on the left of the road and the adjacent houses. -For this reason, the slopes were searched for francs-tireurs, later -on with the co-operation of the 11th Jägers, and the barricaded -houses forcibly opened and cleared of inhabitants. All those caught -with weapons in their hands were shot. More and more vigorously the -advancing regiment was attacked by the inhabitants concealed in the -houses. There was firing from all the houses, although in many of them -no one was found. The marksmen crept into their hiding-places in order -to leave them later on and renew their firing on the German troops. -This made it necessary to set on fire a number of houses in order to -drive out the marksmen from their places of concealment. A number of -inhabitants were marched off as hostages to the monastery (Apps. 22-32).</p> - -<p>The 9th Company of the 178th Regiment occupied the garden of a villa -along the Meuse and a factory which fronted the enemy on the left bank -of the Meuse (Apps. 25, 30, 79).</p> - -<p>Here again they were fired on; the villa and the factory were therefore -cleared of their occupants. The proprietor and a large number of the -workpeople were fetched out of the cellar of the factory and shot, -whilst the women and children found there were lodged in the monastery.</p> - -<p>Practically for the whole of the day the 178th Regiment carried on -a hot fight with the population of Leffe, and suffered severe losses -(Apps. 25, 26).</p> - -<p>Infantry Regiment No. 103, which reached Leffe towards evening, was -also fired on by francs-tireurs from the slopes of the Leffe ravine -as well as from the houses, and defended itself in the same way by -disarming and shooting the men found with arms, and by burning down -single houses which could not otherwise be cleared (Apps. 33, 36).</p> - -<p>In the evening it became quiet in Leffe. The assumption, however, -that nothing more was to be feared from the inhabitants proved to be -erroneous. After nightfall the left-wing outpost of the 2nd Battalion -of Infantry Regiment No. 178, posted as a guard against attack along -the Meuse, was assailed by a large body of the inhabitants to the south -of the barracks of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment. A detachment -of reinforcements cleared this locality and the adjoining district, -being continually fired upon from the houses by francs-tireurs. A large -number of persons caught with weapons in their hands were shot (Apps. -22, 24, 29).</p> - -<p>In the night, towards 12 o'clock, the Detachment of Zeschau came from -Houx by the northern entrance to Leffe. Scarcely had they reached the -first houses when the foremost company received a brisk rifle fire. The -houses, the doors of which were barred and the windows barricaded with -furniture and beds, were stormed and set on fire as a security against -francs-tireurs, who were not otherwise to be caught. The men found in -them who were carrying arms were shot (App. 38).</p> - -<p>From the factory above mentioned also the detachment, especially the -Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment No. 177, was briskly and -continuously fired on. The shooting of the francs-tireurs only died out -when the factory was set on fire (Apps. 38, 64, 65).</p> - -<p>Whilst these events were taking place in the north of Dinant, in the -south, also at Les Rivages and Anseremme, sanguinary fighting with the -civil population had taken place. Late in the afternoon, Grenadier -Regiment No. 101 with the 3rd Field Pioneer Company reached Les -Rivages by the road which ends there, in order to cross the Meuse. The -pioneers, with pontoon waggons for bridge-building, had already entered -the section of Dinant occupied by the Guards Regiment.</p> - -<p>On account of the fire which they received from the houses, and -of which they could not get the mastery, despite all attempts in -conjunction with the infantry to clear the houses, they had been -obliged to withdraw to the heights.</p> - -<p>The village of Les Rivages at first appeared as if deserted. On the -opposite bank the houses in Neffe, struck by our artillery fire, burst -into flames (Apps. 20, 39, 44).</p> - -<p>The crossing began at once. First the 2nd, then the 11th Company of -Grenadier Regiment No. 101, gained the left bank and advanced to the -attack in extended order against the enemy infantry on the western -heights of the river-bank. The 11th Company received about five -consecutive discharges of small shot from a house in the narrow alley -through which they had passed in Neffe. The barred house was broken -open, and the francs-tireurs, a man and two women, were shot.</p> - -<p>Directly after this the company, led by the company commander, reached -the railway embankment. At this spot a waterway led through the -embankment; before the culvert lay a civilian with a sort of carbine, -shot dead; in the dark culvert people were seen. From the top of the -embankment the officer advancing with another company shouted down -that he had been shot at from the culvert. The company commander -called out loudly, "Sortez, on ne vous fera rien" ("Come out; nothing -will be done to you"). No answer came from the culvert, neither did -the people leave it who were concealed there. Thereupon a number of -volleys were fired into the culvert. The Grenadiers continued their -advance over the railway embankment and up the heights. The detachment -left behind for clearing and guarding the culvert brought out about -thirty-five to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women, and -children, and with them about eight to ten rifles, not sporting-guns, -but apparently military rifles. A portion of the civilians had been -killed or wounded by the fire of the Grenadiers (App. 40). In the -meantime everything had still remained quiet in Les Rivages. The first -person who showed himself was a lame man. He described himself as the -Mayor, and protested that the inhabitants of Les Rivages were peaceable -in contrast to those of Neffe. He was therefore sent over to Neffe for -the purpose of warning the population in that place to keep the peace, -as in that case nothing would happen to them. The commanding officer of -Grenadier Regiment No. 101 forcibly collected a large number of persons -from the nearest houses in order to hold them as hostages against the -hostile action of the populace. It was made clear to them that their -lives were guarantee for the safety of the troops. The causes for -this measure were the notorious hostility of the population of Dinant, -and the report just made by an officer that, close by, to the south of -Les Rivages, towards Anseremme, shots had been fired from the houses. -The men were placed against a garden wall to the left of the place of -crossing, the women and children who came with them out of the houses, -somewhat farther down the river.</p> - -<p>The bridge-building and crossing were in progress. When the bridge had -been built out about 40 metres alike from the houses of Les Rivages -and from the rocky slopes close to the south of the "Rocher Bayard," -francs-tireurs began to direct a hot fire upon the Grenadiers, who were -waiting in close order for crossing, and on the working pioneers. The -greatest consternation and confusion ensued. In consequence of this the -male hostages assembled by the garden wall were shot.</p> - -<p>The shooting of the hostages, evidently visible to the unseen -francs-tireurs, resulted in the cessation of the firing and a -continuation of the bridge-building (Apps. 46, 48).</p> - -<p>Partly during the night of August 24th and partly on the next day the -troops of the Corps were able to cross the Meuse at Les Rivages and -Neffe. On August 25th the rear portions of the Corps also crossed the -Meuse.</p> - -<p>In no way, however, had the severe measures taken on August 23rd -put any final stop to the excesses of the francs-tireurs. On the -two following days also, columns passing through and single persons -were shot at from the slopes and from the houses, although no longer -to the same extent as on August 23rd. This necessarily led again to -retaliatory measures, to the shooting of individual inhabitants caught -in the act, and to the artillery bombardment of buildings which were -occupied by francs-tireurs. The former measures were taken on August -24th in Neffe and St. Médard, and the latter on August 24th and 25th -in all parts of the town (Apps. 49, 50). If one reviews the whole of -the resistance offered to the German troops by the population of Dinant -and its suburbs, the first thing that strikes one is its systematic -organisation (Apps. 12, 25, 30).</p> - -<p>Already before the 23rd of August it was known to the inhabitants -of the neighbourhood of Dinant that in this place there existed an -organisation for treacherous attack on the German troops (Apps. 12, 51).</p> - -<p>It was known that the surprise attacks upon the German troops by the -local inhabitants, which took place at Sorinnes and other places lying -to the east of the Meuse, were partly to be traced to emissaries from -Dinant.</p> - -<p>This organised effort was distinguished by its careful preparation and -by the extent of its activities.</p> - -<p>The houses were placed in a state of defence by the barricading of -the doors and windows, by the construction of loopholes, and by the -accumulation of a large supply of firearms and ammunition in the -houses. The existence of large stocks of ammunition was proved in one -way by the repeated explosions in the burning houses. In the night -operations of August 21st trip-wires were drawn across the street -(Apps. 3, 9, 10, 11, 18, 26, 28, 29, 31, 38, 49, 50, 52, 53, 70, 81).</p> - -<p>From the fact that the firearms were not only in part sporting-guns -and revolvers, but were partly machine-guns and Belgian military -rifles (Apps. 2, 25), one may conclude that the movement had the -support of the Belgian Government. The whole of Dinant with its -suburbs on the right and left bank of the Meuse was prepared in the -same way. Everywhere, in Leffe, in Les Rivages, in Neffe, one found -the barricading of the houses, the loopholes, and the presence of -weapons. At the same time it is expressly pointed out in the reports of -the fighting that the belligerent Belgian civilians did not wear any -kind of military badge (Apps. 4-7, 12, 15, 22, 24, 25, 31). The whole -population was imbued with the same purpose—to hold up the German -advance. If, by taking part in the dangers into which it knowingly -ventured, some portion of it perished, it has only itself to blame.</p> - -<p>This resistance offered to our troops was extremely obstinate. It -was carried on with every kind of weapon, with military rifles and -sporting-guns, with bullets and shot, with revolvers, with knives, with -stones (Apps. 5, 10, 11, 25-28, 31, 35, 38, 43, 54, 55, 57, 58, 63, 67, -81). All grades, even the clergy (App. 18), took part in it, men and -women, old men and children (Apps. 5, 6, 10, 12, 14, 18, 28, 29, 35, -41, 44, 54, 56, 59, 63). From the cellars of burning houses firing was -still kept up. At the very moment when he was being shot by martial -law, a franc-tireur discharged a revolver, which he had kept concealed, -at the firing-party (App. 5). With treachery and cunning (Apps. 28, -32, 43, 44, 50, 68), themselves invisible from the outside, they -fired from loopholes in the rear of passing detachments and on single -officers. They disappeared before the advancing Germans (Apps. 12, 37, -64) through back ways into the caves and subterranean passages, to -continue their work of assassination in some other place.</p> - -<p>Some male francs-tireurs had put on women's clothing (Apps. 64, -65). The Geneva badge was misused by individuals and in the case of -buildings in order, under its protection, to cause injury to the -Germans (Apps. 9, 16-18, 32, 56, 66-70).</p> - -<p>Even the wounded who were being transported to the rear, as well as -hospital orderlies, were shot at from the houses (Apps. 71, 72).</p> - -<p>The fanaticism of the population found its most revolting expression -in the cruel murder of sleeping men, in the mutilation of the fallen, -and in the burning of wounded prisoners who were bound up with wire for -this purpose (Apps. 56, 59, 61, 67, 73-78).</p> - -<p>In judging of the attitude taken by the troops of the XII. Corps in -the face of the action of the civil population, which was hostile to -the last degree and employed the most reprehensible methods, we must -remember that the tactical aim of the XII. Corps was the rapid passage -over the Meuse and the clearing of the enemy from the left bank. The -speedy suppression of the resistance of the inhabitants, which was -directly opposed to this aim, was a military necessity to be secured -by all possible means. From this point of view, the bombardment of the -town, which was taking an active part in the fighting, and the burning -of the houses occupied by the francs-tireurs, as well as the shooting -of inhabitants caught with weapons in their hands, were all justified.</p> - -<p>In the same way, the shooting of the hostages in various localities -was also justified. The troops fighting in the town found themselves -in the direst extremity, inasmuch as they were under the artillery, -machine-gun, and rifle fire of the regular troops posted on the left -bank of the Meuse, and were at the same time being fired at in the -rear and on the flanks by the inhabitants. The hostages were taken as -security in order to put a stop to the conduct of the francs-tireurs. -Despite this, and since the population continued, as before, to inflict -losses on the struggling troops, the shooting of the hostages was -carried out; otherwise, the holding of the hostages would have only -implied an empty threat. Their execution was all the more justified, -since, with the general participation of the populace in the fighting, -it was hardly a case of innocent victims.</p> - -<p>In view of the military objective mentioned above and the serious -straits in which the troops found themselves, treacherously attacked -as they were from the rear, such action on our part could not be -avoided.</p> - -<p>The lives of women and children were, on principle, spared, so long as -they were not caught in the act, or it was not a case of self-defence -against their attacks (Apps. 5, 6, 25, 26, 28, 31, 35, 41, 47, 79). The -fact that, despite this, women and children were killed and wounded is -intelligible from the prevailing circumstances.</p> - -<p>They were struck partly by shots coming from the enemy on the left bank -of the Meuse and partly by stray shots during the house and street -fighting (App. 10). In the shooting of the hostages at Les Rivages a -few women and children were also hit. This happened in the case of some -who, contrary to the arrangements made, had left their station which -was apart from the male hostages, and had crowded together with the -latter (Apps. 45, 46). That the troops of the XII. Corps did not show -themselves harsh or cruel is proved by numerous cases in which they -exhibited, under the existing circumstances, a solicitude, deserving -special recognition, for women, old men, and children (Apps. 52, 53, -55, 58, 80-86). A number of women confined to their beds on account of -child-birth were carried from houses in the danger zone to a sheltered -place and laid on mattresses near our wounded (App. 5). Wounded -inhabitants—the wounds mostly originated from the enemy's fire—were -bandaged and given over to conscientious medical treatment (Apps. 7, -10, 29, 44, 47, 50-52, 68, 86, 87). Little children found alone were -handed over to female care (Apps. 47, 51). The large number of women -and children from burning Dinant who were in Les Rivages on the night -of August 24th were sheltered in a house and provided with food and -drink (Apps. 45, 51). In the morning they all received coffee from the -field-kitchen of the Guards Regiment.</p> - -<p>The account given by the surviving inhabitants of Dinant about the -fighting for their town, and the statements thereto appended by the -Belgian Commission of Inquiry, as well as those of the hostile Press, -are marked by their complete silence as regards the part taken by the -populace in the fighting against our troops, and, with intentional -exaggeration, solely record what our troops have done to suppress this -participation in the fighting. In face of what positively occurred, it -is a malicious distortion of the actual facts to maintain that, because -orders had been issued to give up all weapons, the inhabitants did not -fire.</p> - -<p>Without doubt it is deeply regrettable that, in consequence of the -events of August 23rd and 24th, the flourishing town of Dinant with its -suburbs was burnt and laid in ruins and a great number of human lives -were destroyed. The responsibility for this lies not on the German -Army, but only on the population. The inhabitants collectively engaged -in conflict with the German troops contrary to international law and in -a fanatical and treacherous manner, and forced our troops to take those -counter-measures required for the purposes of war.</p> - -<p>Had the population held aloof from armed resistance and open -participation in the fighting, scarcely any injury would have been -incurred by them, as regards life or property, despite the hazardous -position in which they were placed by reason of military operations.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>April 11th, 1915</i>.</p> - -<p>Military Department of Investigation into the Violation of the Laws of -War.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Major <span class="smcap">Bauer</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Councillor of the Supreme Court of Judicature, Dr. <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 1.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the military diary of the General Officer -commanding the XII. (1st Royal Saxon) Army Corps.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 22nd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On August 22nd the Imperial Headquarters remained at the Château of -Taviet. The day was occupied in carrying on reconnaissances in the -manner directed. Towards 3 o'clock in the forenoon the report came -through a General Staff-Officer sent in advance that the 2nd Battalion -of Rifle Regiment No. 108 had succeeded by a night attack in throwing -the enemy back across the Meuse at Dinant. Here the inhabitants had -once more taken part in the fighting, in some cases with shot-guns.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The General's Staff reached the western outlet of Sorinnes at 4 a.m. -The 23rd Infantry Division, present at the same point, immediately -reported its readiness for opening fire; the 32nd Infantry Division, -communication with which was at first lacking, did not report until -5.40 a.m. At 5.55 a.m. the Commander-in-Chief gave the order to fire, -which, at first, could not be complied with on account of the thick -weather.</p> - -<p>In virtue of the command to open fire, the General in command gave the -order: "The divisions to occupy the bank on this side of the Meuse -with strong lines of riflemen, to enable the slopes on the opposite -side to be taken under an effective infantry fire." As the weather, -towards 6 a.m., permitted regular artillery fire to be delivered, it -was observed that the enemy only replied weakly. For this reason the -General in command gave the order at 6.30 a.m. that his reserve troops -were to follow their divisions, as he expected a more rapid advance of -the divisions towards the Meuse. For the same reason the General Staff -proceeded at 8 a.m. to Gemechenne.</p> - -<p>The next reports received up to 8.30 a.m., as well as a reconnaissance -undertaken by Captain Bahrdt and 1st Lieutenant Count Schall in the -district of Dinant, seemed to contradict this assumption. At 8.50 a.m. -a report arrived from Colonel Francke, Infantry Regiment No. 180, which -seemed to confirm the original opinion of the General in command. -A communication by the Oberquartiermeister with reference to the -observation of an army airman coincided also with this opinion. At the -same time the Commanding General had directed that the order for the -crossing of the Meuse should be made out.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, the troops had also advanced into new positions in the -direction of the Meuse. It seemed to be more and more certain that the -enemy had to all intents and purposes withdrawn, and only continued -to offer any serious resistance at the presumed crossing-places, -especially at Houx.</p> - -<p>Although 1st Lieutenant Berckmüller and 1st Lieutenant Count Schall -reported at 10.15 a.m. that on a renewed reconnaissance near Dinant -they had met with brisk shrapnel-fire, the Army Corps order to cross -the Meuse was given at 10.20 a.m.; for this purpose a half of the -bridge-building corps was placed at the disposal of each of the two -divisions. For the more rapid suppression of the resistance at Houx, -the reserve division of the General in command was given back to the -32nd Infantry Division at 10 a.m.</p> - -<p>After the issue of this order, 1st Lieutenant Hasse of General Staff -No. 3 arrived and reported that the II. Army had crossed the Sambre -to the west of Namur on August 22nd, so that a serious resistance on -the part of the enemy on the Meuse was not to be expected. It was -intended to give the XII. Army Corps the direction on Anthée; the XIX. -Army Corps, on the other hand, was to be taken over the Meuse to the -south of Givet. The possibility of getting into touch on the western -bank of the Meuse with the General Command (left wing, II. Army) was -immediately communicated to the 32nd Infantry Division.</p> - -<p>The opinion, seemingly confirmed by an air report received in the -meantime that the Corps would get across the Meuse without serious -difficulties, was destined to prove incorrect. The 32nd Infantry -Division met with serious opposition at Houx and Leffe, and a similar -experience befell the 46th Infantry Brigade in burning Dinant. It was -only at the crossing-place of the 45th Infantry Brigade at Les Rivages -that everything, at first, appeared to go smoothly, so that the 23rd -Infantry Division reported at 12.40 a.m. through Major v. Zeschau that -they were able to commence the crossing.</p> - -<p>It was to be inferred from the reports in general that the crossing, -even if beset with difficulties, could still be effected in the -afternoon. A Corps command was therefore issued at 5.10 p.m., which -assigned Sommière as the objective of the 32nd Infantry Division, and -Onhaye that of the 23rd Infantry Division.</p> - -<p>The General Staff, in view of the shortly expected crossing, proceeded -from Gemechenne to the bend in the road 1.5 kilometres to the east of -Dinant. At 2 p.m. the XIX. Army Corps reported that the 24th Infantry -Division was crossing at Lenne with a brigade.</p> - -<p>The troops of the Corps had, however, at the crossing-places some very -severe fighting with the enemy posted on the west bank of the Meuse. -This fighting, through the participation of the inhabitants, assumed an -especiallv severe character. At the moment when the (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100 had lowered the first pontoons into the water, a -violent fire was delivered from the adjacent houses. The troops found -themselves in the unpleasant position of being fired at by the infantry -and artillery of the enemy on the western bank and by the inhabitants -in their rear. The most unsatisfactory result of this fight was that a -part of the pontoons had been rendered unserviceable by the bombardment.</p> - -<p>Subsequently the crossing of the 23rd Infantry Division proved -exceedingly difficult. The material to hand was no longer sufficient -for the building of a military bridge. The General in command, who -towards 7 p.m. had personally ascertained the position of the 32nd -Infantry Division in Leffe, proceeded to the crossing-place of the 23rd -Infantry Division, which he reached towards 8 p.m. The position of the -Corps at this time was more or less as follows:</p> - -<p>In Leffe the 32nd Infantry Division was still fighting for the -crossing. At Dinant the 46th Infantry Brigade had been obliged to -withdraw to the heights on the eastern bank because it was impossible -to remain in the burning town. At Les Rivages a part of the bridge -was ready, but the material was not sufficient for its completion, -consequently a system of ferrying had to be contrived.</p> - -<p>The commander of the 23rd Infantry Division accordingly arranged that a -mixed force under Colonel Meister (Grenadier Regiment No. 101, Hussar -Regiment No. 20, 1st Section, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12) should -first be put across. The (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 was to -follow next, while the remainder of the Army Corps was directed to the -bridge of the 32nd Infantry Division at Leffe.</p> - -<p>According to an Army Order sent at 7.15 p.m. to the east of Dinant, the -pursuit was to be taken up with the available troops on the western -bank of Meuse; XII. Army Corps; direction, Philippeville.</p> - -<p>For correct transcript.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Loeben</span>, Captain on the General Staff.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 2.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 -on the fighting in Dinant during the night of the 21st-22nd August -1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p>When the rear of the 2nd Battalion had reached the first houses in -Dinant, a signal shot suddenly rang out. The next moment there was a -rattle of musketry on all sides. There was firing from all the houses; -from all the slopes, which are honeycombed by cellars and vaults, there -came flashes. All the houses were firmly barricaded. An attempt was -made to penetrate into the houses. If rifle-butts and hatchets were -not adequate, there were pioneers at hand to throw in hand-grenades. -Machine-guns had been fixed up in a corner house.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of the 1st Field Company of Pioneer -Battalion No. 12 on the reconnaissance in force of August 21st, 1914, -carried out with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.</p></blockquote> - -<p>As soon as the first houses in Dinant were reached, the street-lighting -was destroyed; the columns marched closely along by the two rows of -houses and arrived as far as the first cross-street. Here the head of -the infantry column suddenly received from the corner house on the -right a very violent fire, which was immediately returned. Instantly -there was firing from all the houses. A violent street-fight then -ensued. The pioneers forced the fastened doors open with hatchets and -axes, threw hand-grenades into the lower rooms, and set others on fire -with the torches which had been in the meantime ignited.</p> - -<p>Lieutenant Brink turned into the first side-street on the left. This, -however, had been obstructed by trip-wires; from the houses came -firing, and stones were thrown.</p> - -<p>All at once the company was fired at from the rear, and was obliged to -return to the corner of the street. Non-commissioned Officer Grosse, -who had been struck by several stones and lay unconscious by the -trip-wires, was also brought back.</p> - -<p>The 1st Company had fifteen slightly wounded and one severely wounded.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Dresden</span>, <i>November 6th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Chief Military Court, Dresden.</p> - -<p>On citation Paul Kurt Büchner, Reservist, 1st Field Company, Pioneer -Battalion No. 12, in Pirna, appeared as witness and made a statement:</p> - -<p>On the night of August 21st, 1914, my company was sent on a -reconnaissance towards Dinant in Belgium. The 2nd Battalion, Rifle -Regiment No. 108, marched with us. When we had arrived in the town we -were briskly shot at from the houses, and, indeed, chiefly with small -shot. We stormed a number of houses, and saw that the marksmen were -civilians without any military uniform or badge. We then withdrew.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, the 23rd Division advanced to the attack on -Dinant. Here, also, we were vigorously fired on from the houses, and -certainly only by civilians, of whom a number were killed. It was here -that I received a shot in the thigh.</p> - -<p>I then got into the hospital which had been established in the Château -of Sorinnes. In the night the Château of Sorinnes was attacked and -fired at by the inhabitants of the place. The inhabitants were, -however, beaten off before they could force their way into the château.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Büchner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Illing</span>, Chief Counsellor of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 5.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>February 20th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the examination concerning the events in Dinant the under-mentioned -witness appeared and stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Herbert Max Reinhard Brink. I am 22 years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant in the 1st Field Company, Pioneer Battalion No. -12, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was leader of the platoon of the 1st Field Pioneer -Company which took part in the reconnaissance in force on the night of -the 21st-22nd August 1914. In Dinant, on that occasion, we were briskly -fired at from the houses. I did not see the marksmen; certainly they -were not soldiers. I conclude this from the numerous injuries from -small shot which our wounded had. During the street-fighting a little -old cylinder-revolver, from which one shot had been discharged, fell on -my head. No officer and, still more, no soldier would have been likely -to use such an antiquated weapon.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, I marched into Dinant with a part of the 1st -Field Pioneer Company, and joined up with the detachment of Count -Kielmannsegg. We were fired at very vigorously from the houses, among -others also from those on the bank of the Meuse, but not at all from -the opposite bank. The marksmen were civilians without any military -badge. I myself saw several civilians with weapons in their hands. A -woman also fired down at us from the stairs as we were forcing our way -into a house. She was immediately shot down from below.</p> - -<p>I was witness how four men and a woman were shot by grenadiers because -they came out, armed, from the houses from which we had been fired -at. I was further witness how a larger number of guilty inhabitants -were shot by order of Count Kielmannsegg; the women and children were -first separated from the men. I saw, at the moment when the volley was -delivered, one of the men draw a revolver from his pocket and fire at -the soldiers. I was astonished, too, that the weapon had not been taken -away from him. In any case, he had only just been brought up at the -last moment before the execution.</p> - -<p>As far as I have seen, our soldiers did not in any way behave cruelly -towards the inhabitants. On the contrary, from the houses out of which -the inhabitants had been driven, our men brought out on mattresses four -women, who were unable to walk on account of recent confinement, and -laid them in the street in a place sheltered from the firing, close to -our own wounded.</p> - -<p>In the evening towards 7 o'clock I marched with my detachment from -Dinant to Les Rivages. On the way, at the last houses in Dinant we -again received a brisk fire from the houses. We had no time to stop -and clear these houses, as we had strict orders to evacuate Dinant -immediately on account of the impending bombardment of the place. As we -entered Les Rivages the bridge-building was in progress.</p> - -<p>We remained at this place a further two days. After the completion of -the bridge, we noticed repeatedly on August 24th that our columns, -which had crossed the bridge and were marching downstream on the west -bank of the Meuse, were fired at from Dinant.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Brink</span>, Lieutenant.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 6.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment -No. 100.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>During the descent towards Dinant all three companies of the 1st -Battalion received losses through the fire of civilians—portions of -the populace, amongst whom were women and children—and presumably also -from Belgian soldiers in civilian clothing, who obstinately defended -themselves with every possible kind of weapon. In the streets the -companies encountered a murderous fire. In parts every single house had -to be fought for with the use of hand-grenades. The civilians wore no -military badge or uniform; if they were caught with weapons in their -hands, they were shot. The remainder of the population were led away -to the town gaol. The Grenadier Guards pressed farther on, all the -time being fired at by the treacherous inhabitants. A great number of -buildings were provided with flags bearing the Geneva cross, yet from -these the troops were fired on with special violence.</p> - -<p>Grenadier H., thrice wounded, nevertheless continued to take part in -the fighting, while he called his comrade's attention to the houses -from which the inhabitants were firing.</p> - -<p>Late in the afternoon, since the whole place was not yet in our hands, -the artillery bombarded the town, which now, for the most part, became -enveloped in flames.</p> - -<p>Towards 8 o'clock in the evening the house-fighting in the midst of the -burning streets broke out once more for a short time.</p> - -<p>The civilians detained in the prison were brought out. Old men, women, -and children were released; the men were led by up to Marche as -prisoners.</p> - -<p>On the morning of August 24th, after the pontoons had been repaired, -the regiment began to cross in pursuit of the retreating enemy. While -this was going on, shots from different houses struck the marching -column.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 7.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Willmsbaracken</span>, <i>January 6th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>By order of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, Lieutenant-Colonel -Count Kielmannsegg appeared for examination and, being warned to speak -the whole truth, made the following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Bernhardt Hermann Carl Kedel, Count -Kielmannsegg, born in Celle (Hanover) on July 6th, 1866; -evangelical-Lutheran; Lieutenant-Colonel in the (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100 and Commander of the 1st Battalion.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The town of Dinant was attacked and occupied at about 8 -o'clock in the forenoon on August 23rd, 1914, by the 3rd Company, -1st Battalion, 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment. No enemy troops were -discovered on the right bank of the Meuse. Notwithstanding this, our -troops were fired on from the houses of the town by persons in civilian -clothing without any military badge or uniform, whereby Captain Legler, -the first of the Guards Company to enter the town, was severely -wounded. Sections of the town were assigned to the companies for the -purpose of searching and clearing, with the injunction to take all -inhabitants, so long as they offered no resistance, to the town gaol; -all those who offered resistance to be dealt with by force of arms. The -occupant of the house, from which Captain Legler was wounded, was shot -by my order.</p> - -<p>Infringements of the orders given by me have not been reported from -anywhere. The search took place by patrols under leaders who were -detailed for this purpose by the companies. Several hundred inhabitants -were brought into the town gaol, and there put under guard. Before -leaving the town, in which the three companies had been engaged, from -about 8 o'clock in the morning until about 8 o'clock in the evening, in -constant street and house fighting, with their own losses as indicated, -about a hundred guilty inhabitants of the male sex were shot by my -direction and in accordance with an order given by higher authority. -Our own wounded, as well as the inhabitants who were wounded, chiefly -by the fire of the enemy on the left bank of the Meuse, were bandaged -and taken care of by Chief-Doctor Merx of the 2nd Battalion of the -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment in a house prepared for this purpose.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kielmannsegg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Haugk</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Beymann</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major, Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 8.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Bandel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Haunstein</span>, as Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>January 9th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order there appeared as witness Captain von Montbé, who, being -warned to speak the whole truth, made the following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Charles Sylvester Alban von Montbé. I am 31 -years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: It has not come to my knowledge that any cruelties have -been committed by our soldiers on the inhabitants of Dinant; neither -have the inhabitants of Dinant been ill-treated or mutilated or been -badly treated at all; on the other hand, various inhabitants of the -place who have treacherously fired from the houses, so far as one could -get hold of them, were shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Montbé</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bandel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Haunstein</span>, Non-commissioned Officer</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 9.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>Lieutenant Prietzel of the Reserve appeared as witness and, being -warned to speak the truth, in lieu of oath declared as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Ernst Rudolf Prietzel. I am 29 years of age; -Evangelical-Lutheran; Dr. Jur. of Bautzen.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the 5th Company of the 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment -marched into Dinant it was fired on from the houses situated in the -narrow lane leading from Herbuchenne. I was myself able to observe -shots from about three windows. Grenadier Oberlander was killed; -probably two or three Grenadiers were wounded. The shots undoubtedly -did not come from the opposite bank of the Meuse, which, at that time, -was only weakly occupied by the enemy troops. On the contrary, the -shots were discharged by the civilian population. In the narrow lane, -and previously towards Herbuchenne, there lay numerous dead and wounded -of the 8th Company, which had, in the same way, been fired at by the -civilian population from the houses.</p> - -<p>One could plainly see in the burning houses of Dinant, mostly wrecked -by our artillery, that cartridges were exploding in the flames. These -houses were unsuitable for military purposes, especially for defence. -The cartridges must therefore have originated from the civilian -population.</p> - -<p>On the other side of the Meuse was a building provided with a Red Cross -flag. The walls enclosing this building had loopholes. The building was -therefore, despite the Red Cross flag, adapted for defence. The 5th -Company, in passing through the narrow lane mentioned above, replied to -the fire of the civilian population.</p> - -<p>It is not true that soldiers of the Guards Regiment or of any other -regiment have taken any action which was not absolutely required by the -military situation or in consequence of the behaviour of the civilian -population.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Prietzel</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Loeben</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Baier</span>, Non-commissioned Officer</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 10.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>February 16th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the matter for investigation with reference to the events in -Dinant, Acting-Sergeant-Major Bartusch appeared as witness. After he -had been made acquainted with the object of the investigation, and -the importance of the oath to be taken had been pointed out, he was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Wilhelm Bartusch. I am 33 years of age; -Protestant; Acting-Sergeant-Major, Battalion Drummer, 1st Battalion, -(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd I served on the staff of the 1st Battalion -in Dinant. We slid down the steep slopes into Dinant rather than ran. -An inhabitant, the Luxemburger mentioned below, told me they did not -believe we should get down; on the contrary, they reckoned that we -would be shot on the way. From the very beginning we were assailed -by fire from the houses, small shot was also used; the firing came -from all the openings in the houses, from the windows and doors, -and also from holes cut out between the roof and wall. Below in the -town we sought a temporary shelter in a warehouse nearly opposite -the gaol. From here an attempt was made to clear the neighbourhood -of sharpshooters. All those of the inhabitants who were found in the -houses were taken to the prison. The persons who had been caught with -weapons in their hands were separated and placed against the garden -wall near the open place. They were there shot by a detachment of -Grenadiers by order of Lieutenant-Colonel Count Kielmannsegg. How many -there were, I cannot exactly say; there may have been 50 or 100. They -stood in three or four rows, and were to my knowledge only men. That -women and children were shot with them, I did not see. One man tried -to keep a child on his arm, but this was prevented by a woman who took -the child from him. One must try to imagine the confusion prevailing, -and that all this was taking place while we were still being fired on. -I think it is possible that some of the women and children, whom we had -forced away from the men, had fled behind the wall of the garden, and -that there they perished either by our bullets which pierced the wall -or by the bullets of the enemy on the other bank of the Meuse. Everyone -who stayed out of doors did so at the continual risk of his life. At -the very commencement, when we reached Dinant, a girl of about thirteen -years of age received a shot in the stomach from the other bank of the -Meuse. She was bandaged by two German stretcher-bearers.</p> - -<p>One man was caught in the street by two Grenadiers, who declared he -had wounded Captain Legler. We tied his hands with a cord and took him -with us. He was, however, rescued by civilians in the street-fighting. -I recognised him again among the men lined up for execution by the -marks left by the cord on his hands. In a house which had already been -searched, and which I and a Grenadier were again searching through, I -found behind a secret door two men of about twenty years of age; each -had a revolver in his hand from which shots had already been discharged.</p> - -<p>Among the persons who had been taken to the prison was a well-dressed -man of about seventy years of age. A bulging of his waistcoat attracted -my attention; when I went to touch it he said, "Purse." I tore his -waistcoat open and produced from it a small revolver from which a shot -had already been discharged. As far as I know, this old man was not -among those who were shot. To judge by the continuous firing, all the -inhabitants of Dinant must have taken part in the shooting. When we -were attending to the thirteen-year-old girl who had been shot, her -father, a Luxemburger living in Dinant, who spoke broken German, said -that in Dinant parents had given revolvers to their children of ten to -twelve years so that they might shoot at the "Allemands."</p> - -<p>In the prison we found about eight pistols and the same number of -swords, as well as a cigar-box full of cardboard packets which were -filled with small shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bartusch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 11.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Willmsbaracken</span>, <i>February 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>By order of the regiment there appeared as witness Grenadier of the -Reserve Straczinsky, 4th Company (Guards), Grenadier Regiment No. -100, who, being warned to speak the whole truth, made the following -deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Felix Johannes Straczinsky; born on the 15th -June 1890 at Bautzen (Saxony); Evangelical-Lutheran.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was wounded on August 23rd, 1914, in Dinant by a -discharge of small shot fired from a cellar window. The shot went -into my right ankle. The grains of shot were removed at Julich, near -Aachen, where I was under treatment. I saw the shot myself.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johannes Straczinsky</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was hereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Also signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Haugk</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Beymann</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk to the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 12.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Reports of the Staff of the 46th Infantry -Brigade and of Regiments Nos. 108 and 182 on the fighting at Dinant, -August 23rd, 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Staff of the 46th Infantry Brigade.</p> - -<p>Towards 9 o'clock in the forenoon Regiments Nos. 108 and 182 reached -the eastern slopes of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>There now ensued a hot fight for the town of Dinant, which was defended -by francs-tireurs, and which resulted in serious loss, especially of -officers. As the Brigade Commander was of opinion that Dinant could not -be taken without previously bombarding it with artillery, he gave the -order at 10 a.m. to again evacuate Dinant if possible. At the time this -was no longer practicable, since the regiments were already too much -involved in the house-to-house fighting and were pressing forward in -the direction of the market-place.</p> - -<p>Whilst every individual house was being hotly fought for, the troops -were being heavily fired on from the opposite bank of the Meuse by -artillery and machine-guns.</p> - -<p>The commanders of the two regiments met in the market-place. Since no -decisive result was possible without artillery against the enemy who -were concealed in houses, cellars, and caves, and who were even firing -from the cathedral, they resolved to gradually evacuate the town.</p> - -<p>This was begun at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>Rifle-Fusilier Regiment No. 108.</p> - -<p>The 3rd Battalion in its advance on Dinant had at once been fired -at from the eastern houses. Nothing was to be seen of the enemy, -although continuous firing came from the northern border of the -Dinant-Gemechenne road valley. The farm of Malais was stormed by the -1st Battalion. The whole of the francs-tireurs who had resisted there -were killed. According to its instructions, the battalion reached Leffe -and Dinant under fire from the inhabitants. In the house of Dinant -there were no longer any of the enemy forces either in uniform or -provided with any military badges, but it was the fanatical population, -even women, who fired on the troops. In the market-place there -developed a brisk house-to-house fight. There was firing even from -the tower of the cathedral. Almost all the houses were systematically -defended. Both regimental commanders (of the 108th and 182nd Regiments) -came to the conclusion that the Meuse could not be reached without -the support of our artillery, and therefore ordered the return of the -regiments at 3.30 in the afternoon. At 5 o'clock the bombardment of -Dinant by our artillery began. On the following morning the brigade -crossed the Meuse on the pontoon bridge at Leffe which was built by -the 32nd Infantry Division, since it was impossible to march through -burning Dinant.</p> - -<p>Infantry Regiment No. 182.</p> - -<p>During the advance of the regiment along the edge of a valley it -received a continuous shrapnel fire from the western bank of the Meuse -and infantry fire from the buildings and copses on the edge of the -valley, causing losses. Captain Klotz, the leader of the machine-gun -company, fell through a shot from above, apparently from one of the -fortress-like watch-towers which stand there. Two battalions penetrated -into Dinant and on towards the bridge, and received a detached fire -from the houses and from the cliffs of the east bank, in numerous rocky -caves of which francs-tireurs were hidden. At 5.30 in the evening the -regiment stood again on the heights above Dinant while our artillery -from the north furiously bombarded the town on both sides of the river.</p> - -<p>In the evening and during the night enemy sharpshooters still continued -to fire from the woods and buildings on the edge of the valley, which -they had reached by passages in the rocks unknown to us, and into which -they again disappeared.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 13.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois</span>, <i>February 5th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared as witness Corporal Schmieder of the 10th Company.</p> - -<p>Warned to speak the whole truth, he made the following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hermann Walter Schmieder. I am 20 years of -age; of the Evangelical-Lutheran faith; gardener by calling; now -corporal in the 10th Company.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the Sorinnes-Dinant road the following occurrence took -place in the part of the town of Dinant which lies on both sides of the -road. I witnessed how two male civilians discharged pistol-shots at -Major Lommatsch, Battalion Commander, 16th Infantry Regiment No. 182, -from the first storey of a house standing directly on the road. Major -Lommatsch immediately collapsed.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schmieder</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lassow</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schubert</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 14.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois</span>, <i>February 5th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared:</p> - -<p>1. Corporal Horn.</p> - -<p>2. Corporal Matthes.</p> - -<p>Warned to speak the whole truth, they made the following deposition:</p> - -<p>1. Horn.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Bruno Horn. I am 22 years old; of the -Evangelical-Lutheran faith; machinery smith by trade; now corporal, -12th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of the 23rd August a platoon of -artillerymen was standing in the vicinity of the water-tower at the -fort of Dinant. All at once the artillerymen sent for the infantry to -help them. The group in which I was moved up. The artillerymen were -firing with their pistols at about eight civilians who were armed -with rifles. When the civilians saw us coming they ran down the slope -towards Dinant. I did not see German soldiers in Dinant commit any -cruelties on the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Horn</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Matthes.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Johannes Walter Matthes. I am 28 years old; of -the Evangelical-Lutheran faith; butcher by trade; now rifleman, 12th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I concur to the fullest extent in the statement of Corporal -Horn, and have nothing further to add.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Matthes</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lossow</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schubert</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 15.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Wood south-west of La Ville aux Bois</span>, <i>February 5th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108 there -appeared as witness Rifleman Körner. Warned to speak the whole truth, -he made the following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Artur Hugo Körner. I am 21 years old; of the -Evangelical-Lutheran faith; glass-cutter by trade; now rifleman, 11th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prince George" No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I belonged to a patrol of twelve men led by Lieutenant -Gauser and Berger with orders to arrest civilians in Dinant who -might take up arms against the Germans. From a building in course of -erection we observed that civilians were firing on us from a house. We -surrounded the house, forced an entrance, and arrested about six male -civilians. All had firearms, but no military badge or uniform. Two of -them were young people about eighteen years old, another an older man -with white hair. I know nothing of cruelties having been perpetrated by -German soldiers on the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Körner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lossow</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schubert</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 16.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Grau</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Limbäcker</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">"<span class="smcap">The Front</span>," <i>February 28th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Major-General Francke, who, after reference -to the significance of the oath, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Franz Samuel Ludwig Francke. I am 51 years -old; Protestant; Major-General and Regimental Commander, Infantry -Regiment No. 182.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I confirm that in Dinant a civilian who wore a white band -with the Geneva Cross was brought to me by a corporal and two men of -the 12th Company. The party assured me that they had seen an arm with -a Geneva brassard project from between the shutters of a window on the -first floor of a house distant about thirty paces from where I was, and -that it had discharged a pistol into the street which was thronged with -soldiers. Several dead and wounded soldiers were lying in the street -who could only have been hit from the houses or straight through from -the houses on the riverside. The soldiers stated that they had broken -into the house and had fetched out the occupants, among whom was this -man.</p> - -<p>The civilian explained to me, without being asked, at first in hardly -intelligible German, and then in French when I addressed him in French, -that he was a doctor, and that he had protected the women who were in -the houses, and had not fired on the soldiers. I thereupon ordered him -to immediately bandage one of the wounded lying there. On his assertion -that he had no bandages, I told him to fetch some bandages from the -pharmacy which was situated directly behind me. I had already wondered -that he had not taken this simple step if he was really a doctor. As -I was very much occupied I could not watch him further myself, but -ordered a corporal and one man to accompany and keep watch on the -supposed doctor. Some time after, the corporal came to me and reported -that, as they entered the ground floor of the pharmacy, the doctor had -suddenly run into the rear part of the house and not into the room used -for the pharmacy on the street front, whereupon they had brought him -out and shot him.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Franz Francke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Grau</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Limbäcker</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 17.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Malmaison</span>, <i>December 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the investigation concerning the violation of international law -committed against the German troops, there appeared as witness Corporal -Saring, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>My name is Johann Georg Saring. I am 22 years of age; Protestant; -locksmith by trade; corporal, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of Sunday the 23rd August, 1914, I saw in Dinant the -arm of a man thrust itself out from the first storey of the pharmacy. -The hand held a pistol. The pistol was fired at us soldiers. The arm -was wearing, as I plainly saw, the Red Cross band. I burst the door -in with a pickaxe; there came out children, women, and an elderly -man, and, last of all, the man with the Red Cross band. This man was -taken to Colonel Francke, whilst the other civilians were detained in -the corner of a house. We then rushed towards the church in which the -inhabitants had been brought together. As I know for certain, we were -fired on from the tower of the church. This could only have been done -by the inhabitants; enemy troops were not to be seen the whole of the -day.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johann Georg Saring</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 18.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Court, <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Malmaison</span>, <i>December 9th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the investigation of the violation of the international law -committed against the German troops, there appeared as witness Corporal -of the Reserve Einax, 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182, who, -after reference to the significance of the oath, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>My name is Karl Hermann Einax. I am 28 years old; Protestant; cooper -by trade; corporal since November 21st, 1914. On Sunday, August 23rd, -1914, during the second hour of the afternoon, as we advanced into -Dinant, we were fired on. It turned out that the fire came from the -other bank of the Meuse. We forced our way into the houses and searched -them. I saw how an elderly man with grey bristly hair stepped out of -a house, into which our comrades had forced an entrance, and fired at -us. Major Lommatsch, who was severely wounded, died in the afternoon in -consequence of the wound.</p> - -<p>On interrogation:</p> - -<p>I then plainly saw that eight gun-barrels projected from the attic -windows of a house in the main street and were directed at us. From the -tower of the church and from cellars we were also fired on. All this -was done by the inhabitants only.</p> - -<p>I remember distinctly that eight men were brought out of a house from -which there had been firing, amongst them the pastor with a Red Cross -band on his arm.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karl Hermann Einax</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 19.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from Reports of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">August 23rd, 1914.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Regimental Staff.</p> - -<p>As our infantry was hindered in the advance into Dinant by franc-tireur -fighting, the town was bombarded and set on fire by the regiment.</p> - -<p>1st Detachment.</p> - -<p>Since we had not gained possession of that part of Dinant situated west -of the Meuse, and, according to reports coming from the front, our -troops had been fired on from the houses by civilians, General Lucius -gave the order to bombard this part of the town. Two companies of the -1st Battery were posted on the western border of Herbuchenne, and set -on fire some large houses with about thirty shrapnel shells.</p> - -<p>As our infantry had again evacuated Dinant in the afternoon, our -detachment received orders to bombard and burn the town. After a short -time the order came to cease fire.</p> - -<p>At 6 o'clock in the evening the opposite heights of the Meuse were in -the possession of our infantry.</p> - -<p>2nd Detachment.</p> - -<p>The commander of the detachment asked for companies from Captain -Pechwell, 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 182, and proceeded with -these to the position ordered; as all the houses and the quarries on -the way had to be searched for francs-tireurs, the position was only -reached at 8.30 p.m. At 11 o'clock two farms situated on the right -flank suddenly burst into flames; at 11.30 lamp-signals were observed -from the quarries north-east of the position.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 20.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from Report of Field Artillery Regiment No. 48.</p></blockquote> - -<p>As our infantry in Dinant, from the houses of which there was heavy -firing, were also still being fired on by the fort, the 3rd Battery -received the order to bombard the fort from a more advanced position. -In Leffe also, our infantry made no headway; the 5th Battery therefore -received the order at 4 o'clock in the afternoon to bombard and set on -fire the farm Roud Chêne and the neighbourhood of Leffe. Dinant was -evacuated by our infantry from 3 o'clock in the afternoon onwards, and -from 5 o'clock onwards was bombarded by our Foot Artillery.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 21.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from Report of Foot Artillery Regiment No. 19, 1st -Battalion.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At midday, by order of Major-General Schramm, the Eichler Battery was -moved forward on the road north of Dinant to an advanced position -south-west of Leffe, later on to the Convent Place of Dinant, and from -there bombarded Dinant itself.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 24th, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The reconnaissance showed that the roads in the Meuse Valley of -Dinant-Leffe were impassable on account of the débris of fallen houses, -conflagrations, and the shots fired from the houses by the inhabitants.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 22.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from Report of the Staff, 64th Infantry Brigade.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The Infantry Regiment No. 178 had not only opposed to it a strong force -of the enemy, but was also being heavily fired on by francs-tireurs -from the houses of the village of Leffe. A company of the 2nd Battalion -as well as a detachment of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 178, were, as the Brigade Staff itself saw, fired on in the same -way from all the houses as they were entering the village of Leffe. -This could only have come from the inhabitants; some of them were -seized with weapons in their hands and shot. Toward 1.45 in the -afternoon a detachment of heavy artillery opened fire on the houses of -Bouvignes which were occupied by the enemy, with obvious results. As -shots were being fired from the woods and cliffs north and south of -Leffe on our troops passing through the village street, the Kurhessian -Jäger Battalion No. 11 received the order to clear the woods. Here also -civilians, without any military badge or uniform, were seized with -weapons in their hands and shot.</p> - -<p>64th Infantry Brigade.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Leffe</span>, <i>August 23rd, 1914, 11.50 a.m.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>To Field Artillery Regiment No. 64.</p> - -<p>The 3rd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, is suffering especially -through infantry fire from the houses with the pointed towers and from -the ruins to the right of them in Bouvignes. The 64th Brigade asks you -to kindly bring these houses under fire.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">64th Infantry Brigade.</span></span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 23.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from Report of Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>When the leading company (9th Company) of Infantry Regiment No. 178 -had almost reached the Meuse in its march through Leffe it received a -brisk fire from the front and on the right and left flanks, chiefly -from the houses. The 9th Company thereupon received orders to clear the -village. The battalion had a severe struggle and suffered considerable -losses, as it was under a violent infantry and machine-gun fire from -the opposite bank of the Meuse, and, above all, because the battalion -was being fired on by the inhabitants from practically all the houses. -Various civilians who had fired at our troops were shot. At 8.30 about -twenty inhabitants were still firing at us to the south of the barracks -of the 13th Belgian Infantry Regiment. They were fetched out and shot.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 24.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178 at <span class="smcap">Variscourt</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Lieutenant Koch, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Bruno Koch. I am 47 years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant-Colonel, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I led the 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, on -August 23, 1914. First of all, in the morning, I had to deal with -the franc-tireur firing in the Leffe valley at "La Papeterie." As -the battalion was continually being fired on there from the houses, -I gave the order, on higher authority, to clear the houses. I was -then detailed to take over the leadership in the fighting at Leffe. -There I saw very many dead civilians lying all along the road and -also especially in an open space in Leffe itself. At nightfall after -the occupation of the place I had to secure the section towards the -Meuse—it was reported to me that my left-wing post was being attacked -by francs-tireurs. I snatched together a number of men, led them -personally to the scene of the fighting, and instituted measures for -clearing the place. By my orders reinforcements arrived, and I gave -over to 1st Lieutenant Wilke the further work of clearing the place. -During this work we were continuously and heavily fired on by civilians -without any military badge or uniform. Consequently, in this affair -also, very many men who were caught with weapons in their hands were -shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Koch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%">C. App. 25.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Short <span class="smcap">Report</span> to the Regiment of the 2nd Battalion, Infantry -Regiment No. 178, on the fighting at Leffe.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 14th, 1915, 5 p.m.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the advance on Leffe the battalion came across a mill or factory. -The advance guard, in which was the Regimental Staff as well as the -Staff of the 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, were received by -a heavy fire from the factory. In the same way the battalion was fired -on from the surrounding heights. The foremost (9th) company stormed the -factory; here were found, despite a close search, only about twenty -men in civilian clothes without any military badge or uniform, and -some women, but no Belgian or French soldiers. The patrols sent out -on the heights also reported that they had seen only single fugitive -civilians, but no soldiers. The civilians captured in the factory -were shot by order of the Regimental Commander because they had been -firing. The battalion thereupon continued its advance towards the Meuse -unmolested. When the head of the battalion reached the Meuse fire was -opened on it from the opposite bank. The battalion deployed in the -town. The locked-up houses had to be opened by force by the companies -in order to bring the enemy under fire from the gardens in the rear on -the Meuse bank. For this moment the population seems to have waited, -for they suddenly opened fire on us from all sides with rifles and -pistols. The companies were now obliged to contend against two fronts, -on the one side against the enemy on the opposite bank of the Meuse, on -the other against the population. One of the first victims was Captain -Franz of the 11th Company of the regiment, who was shot through the -leg from a cellar window. The civilian was fetched out of the cellar -by Captain Lücke of the 9th Company of the regiment, single-handed, -and, as he was caught with a weapon in his hand, was immediately shot. -In the course of further operations six men of the battalion were -killed and a larger number were wounded in the interior of the town, -in places, in fact, where the fire of the troops on the other side of -the Meuse could not have reached them. The losses were to be ascribed -solely to the attack of the inhabitants. From the circumstance that -Belgian military rifles were found with the greater number of the -prisoners and Belgian infantry cartridges in their pockets, it may be -concluded that Belgian soldiers, after discarding their uniforms, had -also taken part in the attack. Hunting-rifles, obsolete and modern -pistols were found in the possession of the others. Whether women or -children participated in the fighting is beyond my knowledge; at any -rate, none were intentionally shot. I had given the order to hand over -all women and children to the abbot of the monastery in Leffe; this was -also done. How many civilians were shot in the street-fighting, I am -unable to state.</p> - -<p>The correctness of the foregoing statements can be testified to by -numerous persons belonging to the battalion who have taken part in the -fighting.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178, <i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary to the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning occurrences in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major Fränzel, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Artur Fränzel. I am 45 years -of age; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Infantry Regiment -No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the reading over of the report of the 14th February 1915 -on the fighting at Leffe:</p> - -<p>This report originated from me. I still hold to-day to its contents. -I still emphasise expressly that only men were shot, no women and -children.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fränzel</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 26.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 14th, 1915.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>On the night of the 22nd August 1914, after its assembly at -Thynes-les-Dinant, the 32nd Infantry Division marched by the so-called -Leffe lower road to the northern suburb of Dinant.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd August, towards 5 o'clock in the forenoon, a halt was made -about 1500 metres east of the spot where this way enters the Meuse -Valley road; the cartridge waggons were emptied and the colours were -unfurled for the first time in the campaign. There the first command to -attack was given. The 64th Infantry Brigade deployed on the heights to -the north of the lower road.</p> - -<p>The 2nd Battalion of the Infantry Regiment held itself at the disposal -of the Brigade Commander on this road close to the first houses in -Leffe. Shortly after the front battalions had fallen in, I received the -order from the Battalion Commander, Major Koch, to report myself to the -Brigade Commander for a reconnaissance patrol. There I received the -instruction to reconnoitre a pathway which leads by La Papeterie to the -heights north of the lower road; a group of about ten houses on the -left of the road, clustering round a large paper factory, is called La -Papeterie.</p> - -<p>In carrying out this order I rode first by the lower road to La -Papeterie in order then to turn off towards the heights. On my -approaching the factory some shots were fired, evidently pistol-shots; -I then rode farther, because I thought the firing was not meant for -me; but as it became more brisk and I saw that the shots struck the -steep-rising wall of the rocks, as high as houses, on the right of the -road, and that I could not carry out the reconnaissance in this very -broken, rocky district on horseback, I turned back. Only the sharpest -pace saved me from the shots which, thick as hail, struck the face of -the cliff beside me. I reported this affair to my Battalion Commander -and took the foremost section of the leading company in order to -execute my errand on foot without delay, not without having first asked -to have the factory cleared. On my second advance I was again fired at, -so that I found myself obliged to turn off before the steep cliff in -order to get forward under cover of gardens and hedges. I succeeded in -this without any losses, although on this occasion I was still briskly -fired at.</p> - -<p>When I had returned from this patrol I learned that the company had -penetrated into the factory and had cleared the place. I heard and saw -shots still being fired from this direction. I thereupon received the -order to clear the houses without regard to anything, but to spare old -men, women, and children. Having reached the houses of the factory -workpeople, I was heavily fired on from all sides. Of the marksmen -there was no trace to be discovered, despite the keenest search. -The houses were consequently surrounded, and separate individuals -forced their way into the buildings. It turned out that these were -strongly barricaded. The doors were barred, the entrances to cellars -and basements were blocked up with boxes, mattresses, and all kinds -of domestic utensils; windows and skylights were covered with boards. -I, personally, penetrated into two or three houses, and am witness -to the fact that it required an extraordinary amount of strength and -skill to gain an entry to the forty-five buildings. In one house I -found a number of discharged Browning-pistol cartridge cases. This -house I had set on fire, as nobody was found in it. In this district -of Leffe we had to deal in the main, according to my opinion, with -Browning marksmen, who did not seem to be properly acquainted with -the weapon. The discharged ammunition found proves this in the first -place; also, on the other hand, the quick succession of shots, then -a long pause, because the marksmen were not properly acquainted with -the loading mechanism of the pistol. Some non-commissioned officers -reported to me that they had fought in the house with armed civilians, -had overpowered, killed, or shot them.</p> - -<p>After the houses had been cleared and searched I assembled my company -and moved back by the road to the original position of the battalion.</p> - -<p>In the meantime the Marburg Jägers had marched up, and had again -searched the factory and the adjacent buildings. I saw how a number of -men in civilian clothing, about twenty, were shot by this unit in the -yard of the factory.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile my company lay on the lower road and was further fired on -from the steep slopes of the valley, which were covered with wood and -thickets, through which the road passed. On the right flank I sent out -in advance Lieutenant Schreyer of the Reserve in order to search the -thickets, whilst the Marburg Jägers advanced on the left. With glasses -I was able to plainly see several civilians on the left slope who were -firing at us. I believe I can remember that they were equipped with -pistols.</p> - -<p>Suddenly I heard firing on the right above me from the detachment of -Schreyer, and saw at the same time how one man collapsed on the left -slope and rolled a few paces, another crawled back apparently wounded, -and a third took to flight into the adjacent wood. The Marburg Jägers, -who soon after came to this spot, and with whom I spoke later, had -ascertained with certainty that in this case we were dealing with -civilians.</p> - -<p>Soon after this, Lieutenant Schreyer came back and reported to me that -he had observed on the opposite slope some suspicious rascals on whom -he had fired. Shortly after we were fired at from a detached house on -the right slope. This was somewhere about 10 o'clock in the morning.</p> - -<p>I once more sent out a strong patrol on the right bank to clear out -this house. The patrol soon returned and brought a big, strong man -about forty years old, in labourer's clothes, and a lad of about -sixteen years, as well as a number of wailing women and children. -The men had been armed, according to the statement of the leader of -the patrol, with sporting-rifles which the patrol themselves in the -house had rendered unserviceable. I can no longer remember the name of -the patrol leader. The men were taken to the factory, the women and -children bundled off to the monastery in Leffe.</p> - -<p>Towards midday the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Regiment No. 178 was -moved forward towards Leffe direct to the Meuse. In the village street -itself there lay a great number of dead men in civilian clothing. -On questioning different soldiers I learnt that the troops marching -through before us had been fired on from almost every house; hence the -great number of civilians shot. Dead women and children I did not see.</p> - -<p>I had my company halted at the monastery at Leffe, and went forward -myself to the Meuse. Parts of the 3rd and 1st Battalions of the 178th -Regiment were still there, fighting the enemy on the opposite bank. I -also saw there bodies of troops, in particular, of Regiments Nos. 102 -and 103, of Rifle Regiment No. 108, of the Marburg Jägers, and of the -artillery.</p> - -<p>In the compact rows of houses at Leffe, the reports of firing were -continuous, and one could not always tell from whence they came. -Without doubt they were pistol-shots discharged from cellars and -attics. I can also remember that a large number of brown sporting-shot -cartridge cases lay in front of a house in the principal street of -Leffe.</p> - -<p>In the course of the afternoon I received the order to occupy -the bank of the Meuse with my company, and was allotted for this -purpose the school and the houses near it. Behind the school was a -gasometer, and close to the gasometer coals had been piled up and -set on fire—manifestly by the civilian population. I therefore sent -Acting-Sergeant-Major Bauer, officer's deputy, with his men, in order -either to extinguish the fire or otherwise to prevent in some way the -threatened explosion. He reported to me, however, that the pioneers -who had already arrived before us, correctly judging the danger of the -gasometer, had emptied it.</p> - -<p>After the enemy had evacuated the opposite bank in the late afternoon, -and the crossing of single detachments of troops had already begun, I -withdrew my company from the school and from the bank of the Meuse and -assembled them in the street enclosed by two rows of houses. Towards 5 -o'clock in the afternoon we were again fired on from these houses, and, -consequently, I got the order from the Battalion Commander to search -all the houses and to have all armed persons shot without compunction. -On this occasion, the soldiers Hautschick and Altermann found in a -house on the floor a soldier of the 9th Company of the 178th Regiment -who had been shot. He lay with his face over a kneading-trough, and had -obviously been shot from behind. In the adjoining room the soldiers -found two sporting-rifles which plainly bore the traces of having been -discharged quite recently.</p> - -<p>In a vineyard just above this house two men were caught with rifles by -two other soldiers, whose names can no longer be ascertained, and shot.</p> - -<p>At about the same time Acting-Sergeant-Major Paatsch (who fell at -Saunois), together with Private Kaspar, broke into a house close by -the castle. Kaspar depicts the occurrence in the following way. On -entering the house a man on the ground floor threatened him with a -long-barrelled pistol. He struck this man down with a spade which he -had at hand. He then mounted with Paatsch to the first floor. Six -men were there with sporting-rifles, whom they shot or felled with -rifle-butts.</p> - -<p>On the floor there stood a chair close to an attic window beside which -lay a number of cartridges, a proof that the people had fired from this -window.</p> - -<p>When they wanted to leave the house, five men armed with rifles again -opposed them. They were only able to overcome these because their -comrades came to their aid from outside. In executing the order -given by the Battalion Commander to search all the houses, I met -the Brigade Commander, who again enjoined me to proceed without any -compunction, and to fire the houses in case the people could not be -got hold of. On this occasion I reported that one company seemed too -weak for such a task, especially as the searching of the houses, with -darkness approaching, would take a lot of time. A second company was -consequently given to me. During the searching of the houses we were -continually being fired on by invisible marksmen. The orders given -to me by my Battalion and Brigade Commanders I have carried out. Men -caught in the act were shot; where the marksmen could not be seized, -the houses were set on fire; women and children were taken to the -convent.</p> - -<p>This order which, by reason of the high risk run by our troops, had -proved to be absolutely necessary, I regarded as executed after about -fifty men had been shot and the main street of Leffe had been rendered -impassable as a result of the burning houses.</p> - -<p>Despite this, my company was again alarmed towards 11 o'clock at night -because a dismounted squadron of hussars on the quay had been fired -on from a single house. Once more I moved with my company through -burning Leffe in order to find the culprits. On the way I met Division -Commander Edler von der Planitz, who once again impressed upon me the -duty of proceeding against the fanatical francs-tireurs without any -compunction whatever, and by the most energetic methods. I had the -house, pointed out to me by the hussars, surrounded and searched, but -found nobody there. After I had set fire to the house, I returned with -my company to the place where the regiment was assembled.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wilke</span>, Captain and Company Leader,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">6th Company, Infantry Regiment</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">No. 178.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant, the witness named below -appeared and stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Manfred Horst Wilke. I am 30 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Leader, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the reading of his report:</p> - -<p>This report is in full conformity with the truth. In addition to those -statements which, as may be recognised from the report, are based -on the statements of others, I mention that I pointed out to the -individuals whom I questioned to tell me the whole truth, so that their -statements could also be maintained on oath.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wilke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 27.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Sender: 7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Date: <i>February 15th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Time: <i>11 a.m.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>To the 2nd Battalion.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd, 1914, towards 9.45 a.m., the 7th Company—placed at the -disposal of the 3rd Battalion, which was fighting in Leffe—marched -into this place. While I rode on to report the arrival of my company to -the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 178th Regiment, the company halted -on the lower road leading to the Meuse, under cover from the opposite -heights of the Meuse, which were occupied by the enemy.</p> - -<p>During this brief halt the company was assailed by a murderous -rifle-fire which came from a house with closed windows and bolted door. -One man (Private Uhlemann) was badly wounded in the right instep, -another (Private Neumann) was slightly wounded by three shots in the -arm and hand; all the wounds came from small shot; the firing could -only have been done by civilians.</p> - -<p>The company then occupied the heights south of Leffe on the east bank -of the Meuse. From here could be plainly seen how, from the windows -of various houses, and stealing about round the houses and in the -gardens and yards, civilians quickly popped up and fired on the German -soldiers. The company had lain on the heights by the Meuse about 4 -hours, and had made these observations chiefly during the first 1½ -hours (10.30 to 12 midday). The last facts I can bear witness to myself.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">John</span>, Captain and Chief Company.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>1st Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 19th, 1915.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>Captain John, questioned, made the following statements, additional to -his preceding report:</p> - -<p>Before the 7th Company was placed at the disposal of the 3rd Battalion -in Leffe on the morning of August 23rd, the company received the -order from the Battalion Commander, Major Koch, to send out, from the -halting-place of the battalion, about 500 metres east of Leffe, a -detachment to La Papeterie, in order to clear this group of houses of -armed civilians who had fired on marching troops and mounted officers -(Captain Wilke), and to shoot the guilty civilians. For this purpose -the detachment of Lieutenant of Reserve Wendt (who fell later) was -detailed to me. When the detachment rejoined the company later on the -heights south of Leffe, Lieutenant of Reserve Wendt reported to me -that, in accordance with the order received, he had had some men shot -whom he had caught in the act; they were armed with Browning pistols.</p> - -<p>I was wounded myself on August 23rd towards 2.30 by a French rifle -bullet which came from the west bank of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>I did not observe any shooting or ill-treatment of women and children.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johannes John</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kaiser</span>, Lieutenant and Legal Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lange</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain John, who, being advised of his -previous statement, deposed:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Johannes John. I am 36 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Chief, 7th Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I maintain my statements.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johannes John</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 28.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>7th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 15th, 1915.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>1. On the events in Dinant I am able, as leader at that time of the -first platoon of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, to make -from personal observation the following statements:</p> - -<p>The 5th Company, in conjunction with the 2nd Battalion, had halted in -the morning hours of August 23rd in a valley before Leffe. During this -halt I heard shots from sporting-rifles and revolvers (pistols) on -the wooded heights which stretch on both sides towards Leffe, without -being able to discern any of our assailants. No one in the company was -hit. This firing, intermingled with infantry fire, was audible during -the whole course of the day. Towards 8 o'clock the company marched -into Leffe, where, in consequence of the incessant firing, a frightful -tumult prevailed. Only a few civilians were to be seen in the streets. -These all showed signs of their peaceable intention by holding up their -hands. Almost all the windows of the houses were closed with blinds, -shutters, etc.; and the majority of these, as well as the doors, walls, -and roofs, were marked with apertures like loopholes.</p> - -<p>Shortly after our entry Major Frenzel brought to the Company Chief -the order of the Brigade Commander to shoot all the men found with -arms. He pointed out a long row of houses which were to be searched -for men, and added in explanation that the inhabitants had shot at our -firing-line from the rear. Captain Gause gave me the order to take -over the searching of the houses with my detachment. I did this with -one party. We found the houses all shut up. Since our summons to open -was regularly ignored, we were everywhere obliged to gain entry by -force. Three men were shot; their wives and children I had taken to the -convent, which had previously been pointed out to me as intended for -that purpose. I also noticed during the course of the day that women -and children were taken there by our men quietly, some by persuasion. -In searching the houses it was seen that the apertures, everywhere -visible from the outside, were doubtless intended for firearms. -According to my observations, no women or children were fired upon -anywhere by us. That some incidentally came to grief in the mêlée was -not to be avoided. I saw one woman who had received a glancing bullet -in the foot. According to the statement of the men, she had been -wounded in a house which had been fired into because it would not open -voluntarily.</p> - -<p>2. Further observations have been made by men of the 5th Company -and by the 7th Company, at that time led by myself, which seem to -be absolutely authentic. The men in question, previous to their -interrogation, had all been warned of the probability of having to -swear to their statement.</p> - -<p>Thus, eight men of the 5th Company were witnesses to the fact that -six civilians, among them one of very youthful age, had fired on -the company. These were all shot. Reservist Kluge, with some other -comrades, in searching a house, found on the floor a German soldier -who had been shot, and close by him a civilian busy with his rifle and -ammunition, whom they shot. The observations of the non-commissioned -officers and men of the 7th Company are of a similar character to those -made by me. Here Privates Uhlmann and Neumann were wounded by small -shot fired from the houses. Acting-Sergeant-Major Schaefer and several -men noticed that civilians (men) had fired on German soldiers. German -cartridges were also found here on the civilians.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kipping</span>, Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lange</span>, Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Lieutenant Kipping, who, after the reading of -his report of February 15th, 1915, stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Martin Friedrich Franz Kipping. I am 29 years -old; Protestant; Lieutenant of Reserve.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I maintain my statements.</p> - -<p>Witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Martin Kipping</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 29.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 14th, 1915.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>With reference to the fighting round Dinant on August 21st and 23rd, -Non-commissioned Officer Macher, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -178, states:</p> - -<p>Towards 7 a.m. on the 23rd August 1914 the order came for the attack on -Leffe, a suburb of Dinant. The 6th and 7th Companies, Infantry Regiment -No. 178, occupied a height in front of the place. The 3rd Battalion of -the regiment had already advanced; the 5th and 8th Companies followed -in the valley in the second line.</p> - -<p>When we came near the place we heard in front a muffled sound of firing.</p> - -<p>The 3rd Detachment of the 8th Company of the regiment was sent in -advance to take cartridges to the 3rd Battalion. The battalion, lying -on the height, was engaged with the enemy's infantry on the opposite -bank of the Meuse. To get there we were obliged to pass through -Dinant. At the entry to the town there already lay dead civilians, and -some soldiers warned us against passing through the place in close -order as there was firing from the houses. After this, we went through -the street on the right and left along by the houses, rifle in hand, -ready to fire. The houses were shut up, the cellar windows barricaded -and provided with loopholes. On the march back to the Company I saw -that the 5th Company of the regiment and the Marburg Jägers were -searching the houses; there were also lying in the street some dead -civilians and a wounded German. Some men and a number of women were -handed over to the platoon by a strange officer to be taken to the -mill. Several civilians had already been assembled there; some dead -also lay there.</p> - -<p>After we had again reached the company we heard, coming from a farm on -the right, firing which was apparently meant for us. Riflemen of the -Guards fetched the people out of the farm; they were only civilians, -about six men and a number of women and children.</p> - -<p>When the company had been advanced to the open space near the convent, -firing came from a house standing opposite. From this quarter also men -were brought out. In the searching of the house, under the leadership -of Sergeant Schuster of the 8th Company, a cellar which was occupied by -civilians was not opened. Sergeant Schuster therefore fired through the -door, and thereby wounded in the chest a woman who was in the cellar. -As Private Jentsch also deposes, after the opening of the cellar, he -immediately provided for the transport of the wounded woman to the -hospital in the convent by men of the Medical Corps. According to the -statement of Private Jentsch, the woman died and lay for two days on a -bier in the convent.</p> - -<p>Finally the company arranged the frontage of the houses along the Meuse -for defence, and other companies undertook to clear the inhabitants -out of the houses. The women and children were principally taken to -the convent. Towards 10 p.m., when the baggage entered the place, -the firing from the houses began again. We were given the alarm. The -buildings behind us on the slopes afforded a special difficulty on -account of the numerous exits. We here came in contact with a company -of Infantry Regiment No. 177. The leader of the company ordered the -houses to be set alight because there was still firing from other -windows. He himself smashed a lamp and fired the first house. We then -marched off and returned to the company. The nocturnal firing, in my -opinion, was done by civilians, for our troops had already occupied the -opposite bank. In one house a dead soldier was lying on the floor, as -was reported to me by men of the company.</p> - -<p>In one street the company was fired on from the rear; many of the men -said at once that the assailant was a woman; this, however, could -not be established with certainty. Among the men seized I saw one of -youthful age; all the rest were older; grey-haired men were also among -them.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lucius</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lange</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Non-commissioned Officer Macher, who, having -been advised of the statement read, deposed as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Otto Macher. I am 23 years old; -Protestant; non-commissioned officer, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I maintain my statement.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Macher</span>, Non-commissioned Officer.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 30.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Having been apprised of the significance of the oath, and advised as -to the object of the examination, Major Fränzel made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Artur Fränzel. I am 45 years -old; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Infantry Regiment No. -178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd the 2nd Battalion, as 1st, received the -order to place itself in possession of Leffe. The whole of the -Regimental Staff rode with the leading company. At the beginning of -the valley, which stretches away to Leffe, there stood a factory; the -battalion was fired at from here and from the heights behind. The -factory was at once stormed; only a few civilians were found in it, -but no French or Belgian soldiers; any escape of the people who had -fired from the factory was impossible as we had surrounded the place. -The guilty civilians, provided they were men, were shot by order of -the Commander of the regiment, Colonel von Reyter, while some women -arrested in the factory were handed over later to the abbot of the -monastery.</p> - -<p>On a further advance the battalion, in order to get into the gardens -on this side of the Meuse which were under the fire of the enemy's -infantry, was obliged to open forcibly several locked-up houses. The -inhabitants seemed to have only been waiting for this, as we were -now fired on from the houses all round, especially from the cellars, -apparently with revolvers and pistols, for we found these later in -clearing the houses, some still loaded. One of the first who was -wounded by a shot from a cellar was Captain Franz, who stood quite -close to me. In all, my battalion had at that time in the place -itself—not by the Meuse—six killed; the number of wounded I am not -able to state. The battalion was forced by the treacherous attack to -proceed against the population; all the houses, from which there had -been firing, were cleared by our troops. How many of the inhabitants -were shot on this day, I am unable to state definitely; at any rate, -all the women and children were led off to the monastery in Leffe and -given over to the abbot. I have further to remark that again late in -the afternoon, as our artillery was entering Leffe, the artillery-men -were fired on by inhabitants of the market-place, although several -francs-tireurs who had been shot were lying there. The battalion was -unable to finish the clearing of the place alone, and was obliged to -ask for support from the regiment, which was granted in the shape of -the 6th and 7th Companies. In searching the houses, not one enemy -soldier was found. Consequently, the shots could only have been -discharged at us by civilians.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fränzel</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Starke</span>, Magistrate.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 31.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the (Deputy) 64th Infantry Brigade.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Magistrate Dr. <span class="smcap">Uhlig</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Görner</span>, as Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Acting-Sergeant-Major Stiebing, 3rd Reserve -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178, who, having been made acquainted -with the object of the inquiry, and advised as to the significance of -the oath, declared:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Franz Paul Stiebing. I am 34 years -old; Protestant; Acting-Sergeant-Major, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, Infantry Regiment No. 177 and my -regiment took part in the fighting on the heights on the right bank -of the Meuse. The 2nd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178, remained -in reserve behind the left wing, just at the entry into Leffe. The -battalion had halted for a rest, and arms were piled. The men lay -and sat in the ditches of the road; otherwise the order of march was -kept, the 8th Company leading just at the entrance into Leffe. The 6th -Company, to which I belonged, followed. It was about 9 o'clock in the -morning when the battalion was suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy fire. -The shots came from the thickets which covered the hills quite close to -Leffe. The district is such that Leffe stretches along the road in a -side-valley of the Meuse and at right angles to the latter. No uniforms -were to be seen on the heights; the firing came first from one thicket -and then from another. In the meantime a Captain of the battalion had -advanced into the village to reconnoitre, and came galloping back -shouting that he had been fired on in the place by francs-tireurs. -Thereupon two detachments of the leading company sallied out from the -village to the left and right, in order to capture the sharpshooters -on the hills. They succeeded after a considerable time in capturing a -number of civilians (peasants), part of them in their shirt-sleeves. -These had fired on us with sporting-rifles and were caught with the -weapons in their hands. The range, from which they shot at us, amounted -to about 100 metres. They fired down from the heights into the hollow -in which we lay.</p> - -<p>In the meantime the last detachment of the foremost company had pushed -forward into the village itself. The men proceeded in quite detached -formation. They were at once received by francs-tireurs firing from the -various visible houses on both sides of the street. The detachment was -obliged first to clear each individual house of francs-tireurs before -they could again advance a little. The street door had to be smashed -in and each separate room had to be captured from the francs-tireurs. -About 10 a.m. two platoons of our company, one of them the 2nd Platoon -under Lieutenant Schreyer, to which I belonged, came to the help of -our comrades. We were obliged to fight for each individual house, to -kill the male population in them who, as far as I saw, carried rifles -and fired, and to shut up the women and children in order in this way -to advance gradually. Only some quite old men were found without arms. -They were not killed, but locked up with the women. In the afternoon, -towards 3 o'clock, the house-fighting still fluctuated, and we had not -yet penetrated as far as the village square when I received the order -to go back with about half a platoon and occupy the heights of the -Meuse from which francs-tireurs were still firing. In executing this -order, I passed a wood-sawing factory before which lay about thirty -francs-tireurs who had been shot. This house had been stormed by men -of my 1st Platoon. They told me in the evening that each separate room -in the house had been occupied by civilians engaged in firing. The -francs-tireurs had been shot according to the usages of war.</p> - -<p>Up on the heights I did not succeed in catching a franc-tireur. Up -there they were by this time very much scattered. Right under the -heights lay the village. I could look straight down from above into -the village street. The street-fighting was still in progress, but -became less since the village in the meantime had begun to burn. On the -opposite heights I saw German Jägers—I believe Marburgers—subduing -armed civilians. These francs-tireurs had previously also fired on my -platoon. When I returned, towards 7 o'clock in the evening, from the -heights, the whole place, as far as the village square which lies on -the Meuse, was in the hands of the Germans. About the whole village, -also on the village square, there lay corpses of francs-tireurs. I -took part in the storming of eight or ten houses. They all afforded -the same picture: shots from the windows, street doors barred so that -they had to be forced open, all male persons, without any military -badge or uniform, armed with sporting-guns. As soon as we got into the -room they dropped their weapons and held up their hands. During the -street-fighting and on the heights where the civilians were firing I -did not see any uniform. The civilians did not give me the impression -of being soldiers in civilian clothes. They were mostly older people, -40 years old and upwards, or young fellows of 17 to 18 years; persons -of 20 to 30 years I practically did not see at all.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stiebing</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Uhlig</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Görner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 32.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Francke</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lange</span>, Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Acting-Sergeant-Major (Deputy Officer) Bauer states:</p> - -<p>My name is Kurt Bauer. I am 24 years old; Protestant; now -Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve, attached to 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 178; in civil life Cand. Arch.</p> - -<p>As my company leader had been fired at from a factory in Leffe my -platoon received the order to clear the factory and the houses standing -in the rear. I advanced with my detachment and plainly saw that we -were heavily fired on from roof windows and skylights in the roofs of -the factory and the houses, as well as from bushes on the heights, by -civilians armed with pistols. We stormed the houses and set them on -fire. I was also witness to the fact that we were even fired on from -the monastery, although the Geneva flag was hoisted above it.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Bauer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Francke</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 33.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of Operations, Infantry Regiment No. -103.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At 4.30 in the afternoon the regiment received the order from the -32nd Infantry Brigade to move off to Leffe. The regiment halted in -the ravine east of Leffe behind the pontoon column of the division. -As the firing from the slopes of the ravine down into the valley was -continuous, the 9th Company received the order to clear the southern -slopes. One man of the regiment was severely wounded by a shot fired -from a house by an inhabitant; the house was set on fire; the men, who -were inside with weapons in their hands were shot; in other ways, too, -the place was cleared of francs-tireurs.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 34.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness, there appeared Major Langheld, who, after being -advised as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Anton Emil Langheld. I am 43 years old; -Protestant; Major, Infantry Regiment No. 143.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd I marched with my battalion -at the head of the regiment from Lisogue to Leffe. The march from the -beginning of the Leffe Valley was somewhat interrupted. During the -advance the report came from the rear that a man of the 1st Company -had been shot at from a house. By command of Captain Wuttig the house -was set on fire by soldiers of the 1st Company, and the men who were -seized in it, with weapons in their hands, were shot. During the whole -of the afternoon one heard continual firing among the houses in Leffe -and on the heights encircling the right and left of the Leffe Valley. -A company of the Jäger Battalion, No. 11, was engaged in clearing the -slopes on which there were armed inhabitants. The 9th Company of my -regiment received a similar commission on the southern slope. I myself -marched on with the 10th and 11th Companies to the bank of the Meuse in -order to cross over there. Here I saw several times that guilty male -inhabitants were shot.</p> - -<p>On the night of the 24th, from time to time, fugitives turned up at -our outposts—principally women and children—amongst them a number -of nuns led by a priest. I sheltered them in a farm near which the -11th Company was in bivouac. Our men gave some of their provisions to -the people, although they had only a little themselves. I pacified -the fugitives myself, and as I was obliged that same night to march -farther, I handed over to the priest a note to say that these people -had incurred no blame. I was unable to take further trouble about them. -However, I asked the Catholic Divisional Chaplain Kaiser, whom I met -next morning, to see that the people got away safely.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>Witness was sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, Sergeant, as Clerk to the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 35.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness, there appeared Lieutenant Richter, who, being -advised as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Martin Richter. I am 31 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of 1st Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the advance of the 1st Battalion of 4th Infantry -Regiment No. 103 on the 23rd August 1914 to the crossing-place over the -Meuse at Leffe, there came a single shot from a farm. A soldier of the -1st Company of the regiment was wounded.</p> - -<p>By order of Captain Wuttig the farm was searched. About fourteen male -civilians were arrested who had with them weapons and ammunition for -sporting-rifles, pistols, etc.</p> - -<p>A thirteen to fifteen year-old lad was released on account of his age; -the other thirteen persons were shot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>Witness was sworn as usual.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, Sergeant, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 36.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On summons there appeared as witness Lieutenant of Reserve Martin, who, -being instructed as to the significance of the oath, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Kurt Martin. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -Lieutenant of Reserve, 2nd Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I have seen how a German soldier was wounded by small shot, -and know that he died of the effect of the injury in the castle before -Leffe. The doctor who treated him was Dr. Schneider, now in Infantry -Regiment No. 102.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants of Leffe arrested in a house near the factory were well -treated. After their provisions were exhausted, they were provided -for from the field kitchen of the 5th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -103. They were later on released by a general order. At one time I was -detailed as guard of the hospital which was located in the Château de -Chession, near Leffe. The proprietress, a Madame Chiehe, and her people -we also provided with food; she expressed her warm appreciation of the -kind treatment.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, Sergeant, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 37.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> of the 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178. on the -fighting round Dinant on August 21st and 23rd, 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>February 14th, 1915.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Private Jentsch states in general the same as the witness, -Non-commissioned Officer Macher,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> except that he actually only saw -a great pool of blood on a floor; the dead German soldier, of whom he -had heard, had already been concealed. He does not now know to which -company he belonged. On the same day, according to his statement, a -further batch of four civilians were shot because they had attacked a -sentry of Infantry Regiment No. 182. These people were fetched out of -an underground passage. The order was given by Lieutenant Tränker.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> See App. 29.</p></div> - -<p>In the military school about 400 men in civilian clothes were guarded. -These were well looked after, and were also later on allowed to receive -their relations. On the fourth day we were relieved by Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 106.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lucius</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lange</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Private Jentsch, who, after the reading over -of the preceding report, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Albin Richard Jentsch. I am 22 years old; -Protestant; private, 8th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I maintain the correctness of my statements.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Jentsch</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Thomas</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 38.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Magistrate, <span class="smcap">Hunersdorf</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Court Secretary, <span class="smcap">Müller</span>, Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Corbeny</span>, <i>December 12th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the investigation concerning the violations of International Law -committed against German troops, there appeared as witness Captain -Nitze, who, after reference to the significance of the oath, was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto Hermann Oswald Nitze. I am 34 years old; -Protestant; Company Leader, Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -177.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, as we were marching into Leffe, I -found myself several hundred metres in front of the company, and was -all at once fired at from the surrounding houses.</p> - -<p>I first rode back to the company and confirmed the order already given -to bring the houses under fire. I then rode to the Detachment Leader, -Lieutenant-Colonel von Zeschau, reported the attack, and received the -order to have the houses searched and, in case any male persons were -found in them with arms, to set the houses on fire.</p> - -<p>In the search there were discovered by Lieutenant-Colonel Reichel in my -presence two persons of forty years of age who had hidden themselves in -a room and were armed with a Belgian pistol and a rifle of an ancient -pattern.</p> - -<p>As I heard, a third man had also been found in the house. The first -two men were immediately shot. While Lieutenant-Colonel Reichel went -on farther to search other houses I saw how at least eight rifles were -discharging on the search-parties a brisk fire from the first floors of -at least two houses. The marksmen stood behind windows barricaded with -mattresses. I saw the flash of the shots and heard the bullets whistle; -as far as I could judge from the reports, they were using partly -bullets, partly small shot. Only the horse of Assistant Doctor Sippel -was wounded.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Nitze</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hunersdorf</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Müller</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 39.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of the 3rd Field Pioneer Company.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The patrols were heavily fired on from the houses and from the other -bank.</p> - -<p>The company advanced with the pontoon waggons on the steep, narrow -road into Dinant behind Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and Infantry -Regiment No. 182.</p> - -<p>There was firing from the houses, although one could see little of the -enemy. The company took part in searching the houses for civilians; -some were arrested with arms in their hands and subsequently shot. The -infantry had considerable losses here.</p> - -<p>The order came to evacuate the town as it was to be first bombarded by -our artillery.</p> - -<p>The company, with Grenadier Regiment No. 101, reached the Meuse at Les -Rivages. The village appeared to be quite peaceful; nevertheless, a -number of inhabitants were arrested by the Grenadiers for security. The -rifle-fire of the enemy on the left bank was only very weak. The houses -over there burst into flames, one after another, as a result of our -artillery fire. The crossing began at once with a half-column corps, -Pontoon train, Train Battalion No. 12, which had been assigned to the -company; the building of the bridge was at once begun, and at first -proceeded rapidly.</p> - -<p>Suddenly we received heavy rifle-fire from the houses on the right -bank. The firing was briskly answered by the Grenadiers who were -waiting in dense masses to cross. The houses were set on fire. On the -afternoon of August 24th the bridge was finished. In the meantime, it -frequently happened that firing came from the heights, and even from -the cellar of a burnt-out house. In such cases, civilians caught with -arms in their hands were shot.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 40.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Invincourt</span>, <i>March 1st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there -appeared as witness Major von Zeschau, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Arnd Maximilian Ernst von Zeschau. I am -41 years old; Protestant; Major and Battalion Commander, Grenadier -Regiment No. 101.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, towards 6 o'clock in the afternoon, -I, with my 11th Company, reached the Meuse at Les Rivages, and was at -once taken across. I had the order to gain the heights on the other -bank, to the right of the 2nd Company, which had already been put -across. Opposite Les Rivages were connected rows of houses. We first -went downstream as far as the church, and then turned off to the right. -I passed with a detachment through a very narrow lane; the shop windows -and house doors were closed. Suddenly four to five shots came from -behind me. My men at once broke open the house from which the shots -were fired. The house was empty; at the back was a small yard with a -washhouse. In the yard lay a discharged sporting-gun.</p> - -<p>Going farther, we came to a railway embankment through which ran a -culvert. Before it lay a dead civilian with a weapon like a carbine. On -the other side of the embankment was Lieutenant von Oer, who shouted -to me that he had been fired at from the culvert. In the culvert I -noticed some people; a few paces in front of the culvert crouched some -of my men with rifles at the ready, and, on my question, reported that -there had been firing from the culvert. I shouted into the culvert, -"Sortez, on ne vous fera rien." As the people did not come out, I -caused about five to six men to fire some shots, ten to twelve in -all, into the culvert. As there arose a great outcry in the culvert, -I left a non-commissioned officer behind to clear it. This officer -reported to me next morning that he had fetched out about thirty-five -to forty civilians, men, half-grown lads, women, and children, and with -them a number of weapons—he told me there were about eight to ten -carbine-shaped weapons. The captured civilians were handed over at the -bridge-head. About 200 metres behind the railway embankment I came into -fighting contact with the French infantry.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Zeschau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 41.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Proviseux</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness for examination Non-commissioned Officer -Faber, who, after reference to the significance and sanctity of the -oath, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Kurt Friedrich Faber, non-commissioned -officer, 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101. I am 22 years old; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: According to my war-diary, I crossed the Meuse at Dinant -on Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, at 6.5 p.m. in company with Major von -Zeschau and about three detachments of Grenadiers. We were bound for -the ridge of hills lying opposite, as these were said to be occupied by -the enemy. On my way thither I noticed in a side-street that a woman -discharged shots at us from a revolver from a half-opened door. I -thereupon fired at the woman, who quickly banged the door to. I do not -know whether I hit her.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Friedrich Faber</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 42.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Lieutenant of Landwehr <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Proviseux</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness for examination Grenadier Schlosser, who, -after reference to the significance and sanctity of the oath, was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Franz Otto Schlosser, Grenadier, 10th Company, -Grenadier Regiment No. 101; 22 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, I crossed the -Meuse at Dinant in a boat with Captain Graisewsky, Lieutenant von der -Decken, and men of the 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101. When -we were about the middle of the river, there began a heavy fire on us -from various directions. On the other bank we occupied, by order of -the Captain, a trench, and there received a heavy fire from the houses -which were on the right and left of us. I saw with my own eyes that -several women stood at the window of a house and discharged shots at -us. We then received the order from the Captain to fetch the occupants -from the houses, and brought about twenty persons out, I believe, only -women and children. These were brought down as prisoners to the Meuse. -We then set fire to the houses.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Franz Otto Schlosser</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 43.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Extract</span> from the Report of Grenadier Regiment No. 101, 22nd -to the 30th August 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>August 23rd, 1914.</i></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The Mayor of Les Rivages appears and protests that none of the -inhabitants are in possession of weapons, and that no attack would take -place on the troops.</p> - -<p>After the Divisional Bridge (Pontoon) Train had arrived, the Pioneers -begin the construction of a bridge over the Meuse, but a heavy enemy -fire, partly from infantry, partly from the inhabitants on the opposite -bank, perforates the pontoons and makes any further construction -impossible.</p> - -<p>At first the 11th Company is put across the Meuse and proceeds on a -broad front through Leffe, where they are fired on from the houses -and from the railway embankment. Several civilians, who fired on the -company from places of concealment, are shot; the houses are set on -fire.</p> - -<p>Following the 2nd Company the remaining companies of the 1st Battalion -have also reached Les Rivages. Whilst the battalion is standing by the -Meuse to cross over, it is attacked from the houses by the inhabitants -of the place. From all the windows, from the hedges of the gardens, -from the slopes of the hills, bullets and shot from the rifles of the -inhabitants rattle down on the companies.</p> - -<p>The battalion at once received the order to take up the fight against -the fanatical inhabitants of the place. With fixed bayonets, the -Grenadiers rush through the narrow streets; with pickaxes and axes the -closed doors and windows are burst open. In groups the Grenadiers force -their way into the houses in order to seize the occupants who are still -firing on us. Not only men and youths take part in the fighting, but -also old men, women, and children.</p> - -<p>The francs-tireurs have well chosen their hiding-places. Already -twilight is falling, but still the fire of the enemy does not abate.</p> - -<p>Our object is to reach the other bank of the Meuse, but, on the other -hand, the troops and columns which follow us must be able to pass -through the place without being attacked anew. Thus there only remains -one remedy, to set the place on fire, and soon it is a sea of flames.</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%">C. App. 44.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> on the Street-fighting in Les Rivages (Dinant) on -August 23rd, 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p>The companies of the 1st Battalion of Grenadier Regiment No. 101 had -reached Les Rivages in the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, but had -to be retired for about 600 to 800 metres on the road from Pont de -Pierre on account of our own artillery having opened a heavy fire -on this locality. The Mayor of the place, who was fetched up by me, -protested that there were no weapons at hand, and that the inhabitants -entertained no plot against our troops. He was commissioned to have -ready, within a fixed time, bread and butter for the companies at the -outlet of the place, where later the bridge was thrown over the Meuse. -The companies did not get there to enjoy these, since, in the meantime, -the 2nd Company had crossed over and the remaining companies were -involved in the street-fighting.</p> - -<p>When the companies, after the cessation of our artillery fire, had -again been led out to Les Rivages and had been divided into commandos -to receive the victuals asked for, the inhabitants began a murderous -fire on the companies from all the houses and gardens and also from -the hill-slopes. Inside and outside the houses, men of all ages were -firing, also innumerable women and even girls of ten years of age. Here -a woman was severely wounded in the breast by the inhabitants, and was -bandaged by us.</p> - -<p>The battalion received the order to take up the fight against the -inhabitants of the place, who were firing as if demented; for this -purpose the 3rd and 4th Companies pushed forward to the street-and -house-fighting, whilst portions of the 1st Company remained on the -river-bank. A part of the inhabitants who were acting in a particularly -mean fashion and were firing madly with all kinds of firearms, without -let or hindrance, upon our troops, were shot down to the number of -about twenty; amongst these were some women who, with special cunning, -fired again and again into the companies from the rear. This shooting -was done to defend ourselves and to scare the inhabitants from any -further atrocities. About 100 to 150 men and women, also children, -were seized and taken over the Meuse to the opposite bank by the first -rope-ferries, partly to prevent further outrages, partly to remove -them, as far as they appeared innocent, from the terrible fighting.</p> - -<p>The fighting of the 3rd and 4th Companies in the streets lasted until -far into the darkness, until finally the burning of the whole place put -a stop to the general activity of the population.</p> - -<p>The order to take up the street-fighting by direction of the regiment -came through me and was detailed by me to the 3rd and 4th Companies. I, -for my part, can only protest that the inhabitants of the place—men -of every age women and girls—fired madly on us at a given signal, -and that the remedy taken only constituted an act of self-defence. -The situation in which the troops found themselves, especially at the -spot where the bridge was later thrown across, deserves, in every true -sense, the name of a witches' cauldron, for a worse situation, brought -about by a raging force of men and women, cannot be imagined. Despite -all the dreadful impressions of such fighting, I have since always -admired the calmness our men maintained in the presence of such brutes, -far removed from any thought of cruelty, even though they themselves -were exposed to the worst.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schlick</span>, Major and Commander, 1st Battalion,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Grenadier Regiment No. 101.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 45.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major von Zeschau, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Adolf Heinrich von Zeschau. I am 46 years -old; Protestant; Major and Adjutant, General Command, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the 23rd of August 1914 I arrived at the Meuse in Les -Rivages at 6 p.m. All the houses were closed; none of the inhabitants -were to be seen. The Grenadiers stood in column of route on the by-road -which enters Les Rivages, the head of the column at the valley road. I -inquired whether the houses had been searched. Thereupon a patrol was -dispatched to search the houses, and an acting-sergeant-major reported -to me that the houses were empty. I stayed there about a quarter of an -hour and watched the effect of our artillery on the houses on the left -bank of the Meuse. At this time there came along by the valley road -from Dinant a number of inhabitants—men, women, and children—who were -held up by the Grenadiers.</p> - -<p>As the bridge was half finished and some pontoons with Grenadiers -were at the opposite bank, my task was finished and I returned to the -Commanding General. When I again returned to the bridge-head at Les -Rivages there lay there a heap of corpses. I learned that shortly after -my departure there had been firing from the seemingly empty houses. In -the night several hundred inhabitants who had come from Dinant arrived -at the crossing-place. These were well treated; many women and children -were also provided with provisions by the soldiers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Zeschau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 46.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>February 19th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there -appeared as witness Captain Reserve Ermisch, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Traugott Hubert Ludwig Ermisch. I am 37 -years old; Protestant; engineer (with diploma), director of mines, now -Captain of Reserve, 1st Field Pioneer Company.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I was with the 3rd Company of the -Pioneer Battalion No. 12, and present when the pontoons of the Corps -Bridging Train, at first brought down to Dinant, were obliged to turn -back. We then made a detour into the valley road which leads to Les -Rivages; from there I was sent out to reconnoitre the place for the -bridge. In Les Rivages all was peaceful. Neither French nor German -soldiers were to be seen. When I had been there about one hour, my -company arrived with the bridging waggons and other German soldiers. -These rounded up the civilian population standing near as hostages. -In the meantime, I commenced with the construction of the bridge. -Somewhere about 4 or 5 o'clock we suddenly received a tolerably heavy -fire, which was directed straight towards us at the bridge-head. We -were forced to conceal ourselves under the cover of the bridge. I -noticed plainly that the firing came from the slopes to the right and -left of the flanking valley, and particularly from a red house not far -from the Bayard Rock, which stands near the north of Les Rivages. In -consequence, the hostages were shot by direction of a senior Grenadier -officer.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ermisch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 47.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness, 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Freiherr von Rochow, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Heinrich Bernhard Wichart Freiherr von Rochow. -I am 30 years old; Protestant; 1st Lieutenant of Reserve Uhlan Regiment -No. 17, now Commander of the Cavalry Staff Escort of the General -Command, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I reached Les Rivages at nightfall, -and saw at the crossing-place a great heap of corpses. In the course of -the evening, when the crossing was in progress and things had become -quieter, we saw that some wounded were among them. These were brought -away. I myself saw a girl of about eight years with an injured face, -and an older woman with a shot in the upper part of the thigh taken to -the women prisoners and handed over to the doctor. I remained until -the bridge was finished the next day. Up till then shots were being -fired again and again, obviously by the inhabitants. The houses were -searched by field-police. The people who were in them were examined, -and in the course of this I also acted as interpreter. Two men, from -whose house there had been firing, and in whose pockets ammunition was -found, were shot. A woman was not shot, although a loaded revolver was -found on her, because her guilt was not fully established.</p> - -<p>The guilt of every single person was dispassionately considered by the -officers present.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Freiherr <span class="smcap">von Rochow</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 48.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Major Steinhoff, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Fritz Eugen Steinhoff. I am 48 years old; -Protestant; Major and Commander of Pioneers, XII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, -I came to the crossing-place at Les Rivages, where there was no one -except an officer's patrol of the Pioneers. I went as far as the bank, -and then on about 100 metres towards Anseremme. Various soldiers -pointed out to me that there was firing from the bridge, and from the -houses near the bridge. Wounded soldiers lay in the street. I was also -fired at, and other soldiers warned me against proceeding farther.</p> - -<p>I went back to the crossing-place, and there met Colonel Meister, -to whom I reported my observations. He had the district cleared by -a detachment, which brought in a large number of men and women. Of -these, the men were placed by a wall at the crossing-place, the women -and children somewhat farther downstream. The crossing and building of -the bridge was now in progress. When the bridge had been pushed out -about 40 metres, a heavy rifle-fire was delivered from the houses of -Les Rivages and from the rocks above on the waiting Grenadiers and the -Pioneers at work. I myself heard the whistle, on a rough estimate, of -100 bullets. A great confusion ensued. Everybody sought cover, and work -was interrupted. Even the Grenadiers, who stood there in a mass, were -in great agitation. I went again through a garden-plot to the Meuse in -order to look after the Pioneers. At this moment the fire of the enemy -flared up, and simultaneously I heard a couple of rapid volleys in the -immediate vicinity.</p> - -<p>I thereupon went back and saw at the spot, where previously the -captured men had stood, a heap of corpses. From that moment onwards -the francs-tireurs' firing ceased completely, and the bridging work -proceeded undisturbed.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Steinhoff</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 49.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>February 18th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness the Divisional Chaplain, Dr. Kaiser, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Dr. Paul Kaiser. I am 52 years old; Roman -Catholic Divisional Chaplain of the 32nd Infantry Division.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I lay in Leffe from the evening of the 23rd until the -morning of the 25th August. On the afternoon of the 24th August, a -Captain of my acquaintance invited me to eat a plate of soup with him. -This took place in a courtyard where, besides ourselves, were the -Captain's servant, who was cooking the soup there, and two or three -units who were pottering about round a freight-automobile. All at once -some shots were heard and missiles flew quite close over us. Everyone -was naturally excited. In the direction from which the shots presumably -came, stood a fairly new brick-built house, distant about 100 metres. -Between the first floor and the attic was a white ledge in which one -could see several holes, and from which arose smoke, evidently from a -shot which had just been discharged. As I learned, the house was then -searched. Shortly afterwards, a whole procession of civilians, men and -women, were led off by us; these persons, as I was told, had all been -arrested in the house. They were then handed over to the Cadet School, -which was used as a prison.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Kaiser</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 51.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Neufchâtel</span>, <i>February 18th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant, there -appeared as witness Staff-Surgeon Dr. Petrenz who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>My name is Max Georg Hand Petrenz. I am 36 years old; Roman Catholic; -by profession Dr. med., Staff-Surgeon with the Commander of the Train, -XIIth Army Corps.</p> - -<p>Questioned on the subject of his examination, he stated the following:</p> - -<p>On August 21st and 22nd, 1914, I was in Taviet; on August 23rd the -mounted echelon of the General Command started off and reached the -Meuse at Les Rivages towards 10 o'clock in the evening. As I learned, -the village of Sorinnes had been cleared on August 22nd of all the men -and suspicious characters by our troops. When I came to Sorinnes early -on the 23rd August I saw a burning house surrounded by our troops. I -learned that passing hussars had been fired on from the house, that -the house had been searched for the marksmen without result, and that -in order to smoke them out of their hiding-places the house had been -set on fire. I related this when I had ridden back again to Taviet, -to my billet-landlady, a woman of the middle class. She gave it as -her opinion that they were certainly, some of them, once more from -Dinant. She related further, that suspicious characters had been sent -out from Dinant to the surrounding districts; if these did anything to -the German troops, the blame was put upon the inhabitants. I gathered -from her words that the resistance to the German troops was directly -organised in Dinant.</p> - -<p>Our mounted escort set out from Taviet at three in the afternoon, made -a halt for some time to the south of the Sorinnes-Dinant road, and -carried out the descent to the Meuse in the ravine which leads to Les -Rivages. We reached this point when it was already dark. In the night -there came here a large number of women and children who really wanted -to go still farther south. As this was attended with great danger, -because everything on the way was burning, we detained them there -and sheltered them in a large empty house, just opposite the pontoon -bridge, where they were safe from the danger of fire. Besides myself, a -number of Grenadier officers of the (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100 -also looked after the sheltering of the women and children. The next -morning, at my request, all the women and children were provided with -warm coffee by Captain von Criegern.</p> - -<p>On the bank of the Meuse, between the river and a garden wall, there -lay close to the left of the pontoon bridge a heap of civilians who -had been shot; how many I do not know—I estimate the number at from -thirty to forty. I do not know who had shot them. I have heard that the -Grenadier Regiment No. 101 had carried out an execution there. Among -those who had been shot were also some women; by far the majority were -young lads. Under the pile I discovered a girl of about five years old, -alive and quite uninjured. I took her out and brought her to the house -where the women were. She accepted some chocolate, was quite pleased -and evidently quite unconscious of the gravity of the situation. I -thereupon examined the pile of corpses to see if any more children were -among them. I only found further a girl of about ten years with a wound -in the leg. I had her bandaged and lodged her with the women also. The -next morning she was almost without pain. It turned out that the mother -of the girl was among the women who had come from Dinant. The mother -and daughter were very grateful to me.</p> - -<p>The pile of corpses was so situated that it could not be seen from -the house in which the women and children were lodged. When I was -getting ready at 9 o'clock the next morning for marching off, Pioneers -were about to dig a common grave for the bodies behind the garden -wall, before which they lay. It was in an orchard. I convinced myself -personally and by daylight that only the dead lay there. Any mistake of -burying alive is precluded.</p> - -<p>Further, I will cite the following:</p> - -<p>In the course of the night I was requested by a Grenadier officer to -take a wounded civilian from a house in danger of fire into a safe -place. The man had a bullet wound in the upper thigh; he belonged to -the better class. He told the Grenadier officers that he had been -shot by Belgian francs-tireurs because he would not grant them a -hiding-place in his house. He had been bandaged by our people, and was -now carried into the house to the women.</p> - -<p>The next morning, after crossing the Meuse, we rode along the left -bank in order to gain the road to Onhaye. The bank lying opposite, as -well as the houses of Dinant, seemed deserted. Only in the doorway of -some hotel stood a civilian who aimed a rifle at us and fired, without -making a hit. When we replied with revolver shots he disappeared.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Petrenz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 52.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Private Steglich, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Willy Steglich. I am 22 years old; Protestant; -by calling bricklayer in Mügeln, now private in the Machine-Gun -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: With Acting-Sergeant-Major and some other men—there were -also present some Marburg Jäger—I fetched the occupants out of a -house in Dinant which had been wrecked by the impact of a shell, and -set them at liberty. There were men, women, and children. They were -then brought to a house where, at the instigation of an officer of the -Marburg Jäger, they were protected and looked after by two Red Cross -nurses.</p> - -<p>In various houses in Dinant we found a quantity of small-shot -ammunition lying piled up by the windows; everywhere the lowest pane -was broken, evidently to allow a rifle to be pushed through the opening.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 53.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Acting-Sergeant-Major Bartsch, who, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Erich Bartsch. I am 25 years old; Protestant; -Acting-Sergeant-Major in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: As patrol leader I found in a series of houses in Dinant -sporting ammunition lying all ready, from which it may with certainty -be assumed that it had been used by the francs-tireurs before their -expulsion, as ammunition for firing on the German troops.</p> - -<p>From the streets I saw inhabitants in the cellars of burning houses, -chiefly women and children, who were no longer able to save themselves -from their perilous position. Through the men of my patrol, in company -with the Marburg Jäger, their rescue was made possible, and the persons -saved were lodged in houses which were guarded by German troops. At -times the work of rescue could only be carried out with great danger to -life on the part of the patrol.</p> - -<p>I myself was witness to the fact that Sisters of Mercy, in company with -German soldiers, fetched along provisions for the inhabitants who had -been given protection.</p> - -<p>I was also present when Colonel Hoch sent all non-interested persons to -their homes, with the strict injunction not to let themselves be seen -in the streets.</p> - -<p>For the other inhabitants whose houses had been completely burned down, -lodging was procured in the houses of the railway signalmen.</p> - -<p>Close to Dinant a bullet was found by a hussar in the leaden centre of -which a spear-shaped steel blade had been inserted. This missile was -passed round in my platoon.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 54.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Reservist Hentschel, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Alfred Hentschel. I am 25 years old; -Protestant; by trade a butcher in Dresden, now Reservist, 9th Company, -Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: In a house in Dinant which stood at the right of the -bridge I found a severely wounded civilian, an old man with white -hair, who still had his sporting rifle with him. I also came across -civilians farther on in Belgium who had fired on the German troops with -sporting rifles. In a village beyond Dinant, which cannot be very far -from Dinant, I had my right hand injured by shot-wounds. The shot are -probably still in the fingers.</p> - -<p>On this side of the Meuse, where a convent stood, we distributed bread -and what else we still had (cold meat, etc.) to the population, women -and children, also men.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%">C. App. 55.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, Officer of the Court I.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois</span>, <i>January 20th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared Assistant Surgeon of Reserve, Dr. Sorge, 1st Battalion, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, who, being warned to speak the -truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Kurt Hermann Georg Sorge. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; 1st Assistant Surgeon of the Ear Department of the town -Infirmary of Friedrichstadt, Dresden.</p> - -<p>As to Case: During the fighting of the 1st Battalion, Rifle -Regiment No. 108, near and in Dinant, I was always in the immediate -neighbourhood of the troops engaged. I have repeatedly bandaged -riflemen whose injuries were to be ascribed to non-military rifles -(shot-wounds).</p> - -<p>Women, children, and old men were always spared. The burial of the -inhabitants who had been shot, as far as my sphere of work extended, -never took place on the same day. I have, moreover, repeatedly seen -that bread and drink were handed to various inhabitants by the riflemen.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">K. Sorge</span>, Assistant Surgeon of Reserve, 1st Battalion,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Glaser</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve, Adjutant, 1st Battalion,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, as Officer of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 56.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Wood south-west of La Ville-aux-Bois</span>, <i>February 5th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order of Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prinz Georg" there appeared as -witness Non-commissioned Officer Lauterbach, who, being warned to speak -the whole truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Rudolf Lauterbach. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; by trade mechanician, now non-commissioned officer, 10th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When, on our advance with the company, from the fort we -had reached the Sorinnes-Dinant road in Dinant, I distinctly saw how -a woman, standing at full height at a window, fired on the German -soldiers with a rifle. The woman was immediately shot by a German -soldier, and fell with the upper part of her body on the window-sill.</p> - -<p>Volleys of rifle-fire were discharged from a remarkably large house on -the west bank of the Meuse which was flying the Red Cross flag.</p> - -<p>South of the Dinant-Sorinnes road by the Meuse, at a place which I am -no longer able to fix, I saw lying there the charred body of a German -Jäger whose feet were bound together with wire.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Rudolf Lauterbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lossow</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schubert</span>, Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 57.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, 2nd Battalion.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Willmsbaracken</span>, <i>January 31st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Deposition concerning the wounding by the discharge of (small) shot in -Dinant.</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Grenadier Bischoff, who, being warned to -speak the truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Bischoff. I was born on January 18th, -1893, at Dürschau, near Zittau; Protestant; by trade butcher.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the 7th Company was marching through Dinant at about -7 o'clock p.m. on August 23rd we were fired on from two houses. I was -struck in the left arm and the left leg. An examination of the wounds -in the leg showed that they resulted from a discharge of small shot.</p> - -<p>In the Carolahaus in Dresden a small round bullet was removed in an -operation by Dr. Kretzschmar from the left foot; besides this a pellet -was located in the left upper thigh, and is still there. On December -10th I returned again to the 7th Company.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karl Bischoff</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">V. Loeben</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Baier</span>, Non-commissioned Officer and Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 58.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Landwehr <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Proviseux</span>, <i>March 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared for examination as witness Deputy-Officer Ebert, who, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Eduard Kurt Ebert, Deputy-Officer, -Acting-Sergeant-Major, 11th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 101; 33 -years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I came back early, towards 9 o'clock, -from a patrol which I had undertaken on the previous evening from -before Château Reux to Dinant in company with Lieutenant Schurig and -some men of the 9th and 12th Companies of my regiment, which lay -in readiness about half an hour's distance from Dinant. On the way -back from Dinant to the regiment we found at the end of the town a -non-commissioned officer and six men of Rifle Regiment No. 108 lying -dead in the road. Some of the dead showed wounds on the face and -chest, which Lieutenant Schurig, as well as myself, recognised without -doubt as having been caused by small shot.</p> - -<p>On the evening of the same day, probably about 5 p.m., I stood with -the 12th Company of Grenadier Regiment No. 101 in the street on the -bank of the Meuse below the place where the bridge was being built. All -at once a heavy fire was opened on us from all sides, especially from -above. A man of the 12th Company, who stood beside me, received a shot -in the stock of the rifle. I removed the missile myself from the wood; -it was a small round bullet. The firing then died down, and I was put -across the Meuse. After I had crossed over, I received the order from -Lieutenant and Adjutant Stark to guard the civilian prisoners who had -been rounded up there, and later the military prisoners also. I then -saw how men of my guard handed water to the captive women and children -and gave them chocolate. I myself bandaged a wounded French sergeant.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Eduard Kurt Ebert</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness Ebert was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Oertel</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Sommerburg</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 59.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois près Pontavert</span>, <i>March 6th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the -General Government in Belgium there appeared by order, as witness, -Medical-Corps Non-commissioned Officer Rost, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been warned to -speak the truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Richard Rost, Medical-Corps -Non-commissioned Officer, 6th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. -108; 25 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When I was attending the wounded in Dinant on the night -of August 21st and 22nd, I noticed that behind the men, some in their -shirt-sleeves, who were firing from the windows, the heads of women -were also visible.</p> - -<p>The next day I saw in the courtyard of the Château of Sorinnes, among -the dead lying there on biers, Corporal Kirchhof of my company. He had -an injury to the skull which could only have originated from a blunt -instrument. The brain-pan was quite smashed in.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd I found on a detached estate near Dinant, close by the -road which leads from Sorinnes to Dinant, a German soldier almost -completely carbonised, lying under a burnt heap of straw. He appeared -to be a Jäger, judging from portions of his equipment which lay near. I -was told by comrades that a second Jäger had been found in a field in -the vicinity of Dinant, with his face burnt. The estate, where I found -the Jäger, had been organised as a dressing-station for wounds.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Richard Rost</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 60.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois près Pontavert</span>, <i>March 6th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium, there appeared by order, as witness, Rifleman -Lange, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Emil Bruno Lange, Rifleman of Reserve, 7th -Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 25 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: In the night-fighting at Dinant on August 21st I saw an -elderly woman firing at us from a house which was brightly lighted up -by a lamp burning in the street. After some time she fell backwards; -apparently she had been hit by us.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Emil Bruno Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 61.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois près Pontavert</span>, <i>March 6th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium, there appeared by order, as witness, Rifleman -Vorwieger, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out -to him, and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Vorwieder, Rifleman, 6th Company, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 20 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: In the street-fighting in Dinant on August 21st I saw in a -house, which I was just about to enter, a woman about thirty years of -age standing with a revolver in her hand, ready to fire.</p> - -<p>On August 23rd I found in an open field, about 600 metres from Dinant, -a dead Saxon Jäger—I recognised him as such by his uniform—with face -completely carbonised. He lay on his back, his arms widely extended.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 62.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Reservist Hund, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Artur Otto Hund; I was born on February -15th, 1889, at Dresden; Protestant; at the time Reservist in the 12th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I saw how the twelve-year-old son of the Lawyer Adam shot -at me and two comrades with a revolver. The two comrades were wounded.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hund</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ryssel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schultz</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178</span>, <i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared as -witness Reservist Hund, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Artur Otto Hund; I was born on February -15th, 1889, at Dresden; Protestant; at the time Reservist in the 12th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178; coachman by calling.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was sent with two comrades into the house to see if it -was vacant, so that it could be turned into a hospital. We were shot -at in the garden behind. When we went in the direction of the shots -we found under a bush a twelve-year-old boy with a revolver in his -hand. One of my comrades was fatally wounded by the shots, the other -slightly. The lad was shot on the spot by one of the comrades who had -also come up. We knew by photographs in the house that he was the son -of the occupier of the house.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hund</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 63.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared Private Trenkler, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. -178, who stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Julius Trenkler; I was born on December -31st, 1891, at Markersdorf; Protestant; at the time on the active -list, 12th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I have seen civilians firing with (small) shot, and, in a -like manner, children have fired on our soldiers in the rear of the -convent.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Max Trenkler</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ryssel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schultz</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Quarters of Infantry Regiment No. 178</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there appeared Private -Max Julius Trenkler as witness, who, after the reading over of the -preceding statement, declared: Details as to myself are correctly -given; I am an excavation worker.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, 1914, we lay in reserve -on the northern slope of the Leffe valley opposite the convent in the -wood. There we saw how a boy on the opposite slope behind the convent -fired at us from a fir copse, and with small shot too. The shot fell -in our vicinity. We called to comrades who were on the road to go and -search for the lad behind the convent. They then brought him along. I -do not know what they did with him.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Trenkler</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schweinitz</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Lips</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 64.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> on the encounter of the Machine-Gun Company with -Francs-Tireurs at Leffe-Dinant on August 23rd, 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p>Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102.</p> - -<p>The Machine-Gun Company of Infantry Regiment No. 102 had started off -from Houx in the rear of the regiment towards the evening of August -23rd, 1914, and had marched along the Meuse to Leffe. When the company -had entered Leffe about midnight, and the last of their vehicles were -passing a bridge, two white figures were all at once seen under it. -The men of the company bringing up the rear noticed these people; -two shots followed close upon one another, and immediately after two -figures enveloped in white clothes were seen to jump into the Meuse. -The marksmen of the Machine-Gun Company fired at the two persons, who, -shortly after, were washed up dead to the bank. A closer examination -showed that they were two men wearing female dress, who had wrapped -themselves up in white cloths. Under the bridge stood two chairs, -and from here the column in marching by had been fired on. It was -supposed that the two francs-tireurs wanted to blow up the bridge, and, -surprised by our people, flew to arms; as their retreat was cut off, -they wanted to make their way through the water.</p> - -<p>Shortly after, Infantry Regiment No. 177, which was marching behind us, -was fired at from the factory which stands close to the bridge. As was -ascertained, a passage led from the bridge into the factory, which was, -at any rate, made use of by other francs-tireurs in order to withdraw -in safety into the factory, from the windows of which they then opened -a brisk fire.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Noack</span>, Lieutenant and Company Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 65.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Winkler</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Schwertner</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Near <span class="smcap">St. Marie</span>, <i>March 7th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the matter for inquiry concerning the firing on a Machine-Gun -Company by francs-tireurs at Leffe-Dinant there appeared as witnesses -Privates Büchner and Ulbricht of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 102, who, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to them, were examined individually as follows:</p> - -<p>1. Private Büchner.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Heinrich Max Emil Büchner, 22 years old; -private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 102.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 102, marched from Houx along the Meuse by Leffe to the -military bridge at Dinant. The company arrived in Leffe towards -midnight of the 23rd and 24th August 1914. On the left of the line of -march was a large factory. From this a brook or canal led into the -Meuse. Our route passed over this brook or canal by a bridge. I marched -with Ulbricht behind a provision waggon which brought up the rear. -When the centre of the company was on the bridge, two shots came from -the direction of the bridge towards us. I at once ran with Ulbricht -to the bank of the Meuse to see if anybody there had fired. The two -shots appeared to have been alarm shots, for immediately after several -rifle-shots were fired from the factory. While we were running to the -bank of the Meuse, two white figures came out from under the bridge in -order to swim to the other bank of the Meuse. I immediately shot with -Ulbricht at the two white figures. We reached one whilst still close -to the bank, whilst the other was already in the middle of the Meuse. -Both figures were hit, for the one who was already in the middle of the -river suddenly drifted with the stream, while the other was floated up -to our bank. Together with Ulbricht, I let myself down the steep bank -with the aid of comrades who had come up, by means of a bearing-girth. -We drew the white body from the water, threw back the white cloth, -and saw by the face that it was a man. This man was wearing women's -green stockings and a pair of black low shoes such as women wear. He -had received a shot in the back of the head and was dead. We then -went under the bridge; not far from the water stood two chairs. From -the bridge, the canal went through a tunnel towards the factory. In -this tunnel-canal, which was about 50 metres long, there was very -little water; one could easily go upright in it. With Ulbricht, I -had penetrated about two to three metres into the tunnel, but as our -company was marching on and were being called by our comrades, we -turned back. Behind us came men of the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 177; they went into the factory in order to search it -whilst I and Ulbricht went to our company. The firing only came from -the factory when the two white figures had discharged the two shots, -the firing, which lasted about five minutes, evidently came from the -windows of the factory and originated from several persons. During -this time our company halted, then it moved nearer to the military -bridge. As the firing from the factory opened again shortly after, -the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 177, replied with the -machine-guns. We now saw the flashes of the francs-tireurs' fire at the -windows of the factory. The firing from the factory only ceased when -the place had been set on fire.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Büchner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>2. Private Ulbricht.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Richard Ulbricht, 22 years old; -Protestant; private in the Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. -102.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The statements of Private Büchner, which were read over to -me, I fully endorse.</p> - -<p>I have nothing further to add.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ulbricht</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witnesses were thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Winkler</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwertner</span>, Non-commissioned Officer and Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 66.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Glaser</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major of Reserve Referendar <span class="smcap">Richter</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Sinzbaracken</span>, <i>February 25th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Rifleman Kähler, 1st Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Emil Robert Kähler, 22 years old; Protestant; -electrician at Kiel, on active service since October 14th, 1913, in the -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I saw in a street at Dinant a -civilian, about twenty-seven years old, who wore a band on the left arm -with the Geneva badge, and who fired a revolver from a house door at a -Pioneer, but without hitting him. I thereupon shot the civilian. The -Pioneer took the revolver away from him.</p> - -<p>Kähler took the oath as a witness.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kähler</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Glaser</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 67.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve and Battalion Adjutant <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois les Pontarvet</span>, <i>February 2nd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared by order as witness, Assistant-Surgeon Dr.med. -Köckeritz, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out -to him and he had been warned to speak the truth, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Albin Werner Köckeritz. I am Assistant-Surgeon -of Reserve, Dr.med.; 28 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: During the night-fighting of August 21st to 22nd, I was in -Dinant. I did not see any cruelties committed by our troops against -the inhabitants, who fired with shot-guns and buck-shot from their -windows. In the further fighting round Dinant also, at the close of -which we moved into Dinant, I saw no misusage whatever of the civilian -population.</p> - -<p>That the bodies of inhabitants, who had been shot for taking part in -fighting, were mutilated, is untrue. I saw, however, in a side-valley -a German cavalryman, who had apparently been shot down, lying charred -upon a grating and fastened with wire. This was in the vicinity of the -Field Dressing Station put up by the 22nd and 3rd Battalion, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and the 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 -and stationed west of Dinant.</p> - -<p>The firing, which came from the hospital denoted by a Red Cross flag, -lighted up for a long way the opposite bank of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Köckeritz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 68.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, Officer of Court III.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Bandel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Ranke</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>January 9th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order there appeared as witness:</p> - -<p>Non-commissioned Officer Martin, 10th Company (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100, who, after having been warned to speak the truth, -made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto Kurt Martin, 22 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Concerning the article "The incredible atrocities of the -German soldiers," Martin made the following statement:</p> - -<p>Inhabitants of the town of Dinant were only shot after it had been -conclusively established that they had treacherously fired at us from -the houses. Moreover, there was firing from houses which displayed the -Red Cross. I did not see any mutilated inhabitants. I likewise do not -know of any cruelties or crimes by our troops. I did not see that our -troops were treated by a Belgian doctor. On the contrary, I noticed -that wounded inhabitants were treated by German doctors and bandaged by -our military non-commissioned officers. I know nothing of the remainder -of the incidents mentioned in the article. I have nothing further to -add.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Martin</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bandel</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ranke</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 69.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Report</span> to (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In the fight at Dinant, heavy rifle fire was directed upon our -troops from several houses on the west bank of the Meuse, especially -from a large red Infirmary. These houses were all distinguished as -hospitals by the hanging out of flags with the Red Cross, and were, -in consequence, at first spared by our troops. Later, however, after -the occupation of these houses by hostile, armed inhabitants had been -definitely ascertained, and it was recognised that the Red Cross only -served as a blind, the houses were brought under fire and destroyed. -Witnesses to this are all the officers of the 1st Battalion (Guards) -Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Zeidler</span>, Captain and Battalion Leader,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">(Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 70.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Magistrate, <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Malmaison</span>, <i>December 10th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law committed -against German troops, there appeared as witness Non-commissioned -Officer Esche, 10th Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>My name is Bruno Arno Esche, 24 years old; Protestant; factory worker.</p> - -<p>On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, in the afternoon, I saw plainly with -field glasses from the right bank of the Meuse that the windows of a -large red house on the left bank of the Meuse were blocked up with -boards, mattresses or coverlets. Loopholes were cut out in the house at -the height of a man. The house was flying the Red Cross flag.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bruno Arno Esche</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 71.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">St. Erme</span>, <i>December 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Staff-Surgeon Dr. Lange, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to him, made, as witness, the following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard Gotthold Lange, 33 years old; -Protestant; Staff-Surgeon and Battalion Surgeon of the 3rd Battalion -Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Directly after the entry of the battalion into Leffe it was -surprised by shots which not only came from the two ranges of hills -but also from the houses and cellars. The houses from which the shots -came were thereupon searched for sharpshooters and the guilty civilians -found there were shot. The houses from which there was no firing were -searched in the same way, and their occupants were guarded in the -street. It was reported to me that a sergeant-major of the 9th Company -of my regiment had been severely wounded, whereupon I rode through the -streets and was continuously fired at from the houses, especially from -the cellars. I found two German wounded inside the houses, further, -one dead in a cellar and another dead on a ground floor. As the number -of the wounded accumulated, I saw myself obliged to arrange as a -dressing-station the villa of Councillor Adam, where I was busy up till -11 o'clock at night. The number of the wounded German soldiers, on the -handing over of the hospital to the 2nd Medical Company, amounted to -about eighty men.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Lange</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Starke</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 72.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Magistrate, <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Malmaison</span>, <i>December 8th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law -committed against German troops, there appeared as witness Medical -Non-commissioned Officer Ostmann of the 5th Company, Grenadier Regiment -No. 101, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto Eduard Ostmann, 26 years old; Protestant; -shop assistant by trade.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the evening of August 23rd, 1914, when it was getting -dark, my company entered Les Rivages. It halted in the street at the -beginning of the place. As there was no medical non-commissioned -officer farther on, I went as far as the crossing-place over the Meuse -and stood close by in the middle of the street. There was no one in the -street in my immediate neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>While I was facing the houses where some civilians were standing, -a shot fell from a house to the right of me; I immediately felt a -stinging pain under my right eye and felt blood running down my cheek.</p> - -<p>My Battalion-Surgeon, Dr. Haupt, after examining the wound, said that a -small shot had grazed me. The shot could only have been meant for me, -since I was the only person standing in an open space of 2 metres in -circumference.</p> - -<p>I had duly put on the Geneva Cross band, which was visible.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto Eduard Ostmann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 73.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Military Magistrate, <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary of the Military Court, <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Malmaison</span>, <i>December 5th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In the inquiry concerning the violations of International Law committed -against German troops, there appeared as witness Transport Soldier of -Reserve Müller, 2nd Field Pioneer Company, Pioneer Battalion No. 12, -who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made -the following statement:</p> - -<p>My name is Emil Erwin Müller, 26 years old; Protestant; fruit grower.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, in company with Non-commissioned -Officer Fehrmann, I saw a number of bodies of civilians and that of -a woman lying in front of a house in a cross-street in Dinant. We -entered the house. In the room on the right there lay an officer—a -lieutenant of Infantry Regiment No. 182—a sofa-cushion under his head; -his head and a part of his chest were covered with a white cloth. All -three civilians wore the uniform of Infantry Regiment No. 182. In the -adjoining room there lay stretched out dead a non-commissioned officer -and five privates of the same regiment.</p> - -<p>I lifted up the cloth covering the lieutenant and saw that he had -received a shot in the head. I did not see any further injuries to the -officer.</p> - -<p>One of the privates who lay beside the lieutenant had his trousers -unbuttoned in front so that one could see his body. This soldier had -a shot in the lower part of the body. Extending from the larynx to at -least 10 cm. to the left was a cut which was bloody and the edges were -probably 1 cm. apart. The blood had flowed down towards the side. I am -convinced that it could only have been a wound from a cut.</p> - -<p>In the other room the trousers of one of the soldiers were unbuttoned -so that one could see the body. This man had a cut or stab wound in the -lower body about 3 cm. wide. The clothing of the remaining soldiers -showed no disarrangement, they all bore shot-wounds.</p> - -<p>The scene conveyed the impression that the officer, the -non-commissioned officer and the men had been attacked in their sleep -by the inhabitants in that quarter. I infer this from the fact that the -officer had a sofa-cushion and the others either a cloth or a knapsack -under their heads. The rifles stood in a corner.</p> - -<p>In the house with Fehrmann and myself was also Pioneer of Reserve -Kretzschmann.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Emil Erwin Müller</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Naumann</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Schwarzbach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 74.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order of the Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment "Prinz Georg" No. 108 there -appeared Staff-Surgeon of Reserve Dr. Holey, who, having been warned to -speak the whole truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Franz Alfred Holey. I was born on September -21st, 1878; Protestant; practising physician in civil life, during the -war, Staff-surgeon and battalion-surgeon with the 3rd Battalion, Rifle -(Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, as we were proceeding to Dinant, my -attention was drawn by Major von der Pforte, a short distance from -Dinant, to the body of a German soldier, who had been fastened -with wire by the hands and feet to pegs which had been driven into -the ground. The body was almost completely carbonised, and to all -appearances some highly inflammable liquid had been poured over it. -According to the state of the existing lines of demarcation, the man -must have been burnt alive. By the remains of the uniform, particularly -the buttons, he was plainly to be recognised as a German soldier.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Holey</span>, Staff-Surgeon of Reserve.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p>Further remark: The body lay in the neighbourhood of an estate near the -marble quarries.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lossow</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schubert</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 75.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois, near Pontarvet</span>, <i>March 6th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By request of the Imperial German Court of Justice of the General -Government in Belgium there appeared by order as witness Corporal of -Reserve Wahl, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed -out to him, and he had been warned to speak the whole truth, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hermann Kurt Wahl, 22 years old; Protestant; -Corporal of Reserve, 5th Company, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; -shop assistant at Deuben, near Dresden.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the march to Dinant on August 23rd, I saw lying in -a ditch by the road to the east of the Sorinnes-Dinant road a dead -Jäger. His hands and feet were bound together with wire. The body was -otherwise completely charred. I was only able to recognise that he was -a Jäger by the articles of equipment lying near.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hermann Kurt Wahl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 76.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois</span>, <i>March 7th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order there appeared as witness Rifleman Willkommen, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been -warned to speak the truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Robert Willkommen, rifleman, 7th Company, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 22 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 23rd, I found a completely -charred body quite close to an estate near Dinant, where we had set up -a dressing-station. On closer inspection it proved to be a Saxon Jäger -whose hands and feet had been tied up. He lay in the ditch close to the -road. We covered him with straw. That he was a Saxon Jäger I recognised -with certainty from his buttons and other articles of equipment.</p> - -<p>On this day, before we marched through Dinant and crossed the Meuse, -my company made a halt at an estate near Dinant. The inhabitants of -the estate—several men, women, and children—fetched us water. I -and several of my comrades gave in return some cigars to the men and -sweetstuff to the children.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Robert Willkommen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 77.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">La Ville-aux-Bois</span>, <i>March 7th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared by order as witness Corporal Oehmigen, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, and he had been -warned to speak the truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto Albert Oehmigen; corporal, 6th Company, -Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108; 23 years old; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: Before we marched through Dinant on August 23rd I saw in a -cabbage field near Dinant the body of a Saxon Jäger with a charred face -lying on his back. He lay in the middle of the field, not by the road. -I did not notice whether his feet and arms were tied.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto Albert Oehmigen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dachsel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Steiger</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 78.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Prouvais</span>, <i>February 24th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By order of Field Artillery Regiment No. 12 there appeared as witness -this day Captain von Lippe of the Light Munitions Columns, 2nd -Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, in order to be examined -on oath regarding the occurrences in Dinant. Captain von Lippe stated:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Fritz von Lippe. I am 40 years old; -Protestant; estate-tenant by calling, attached to the Light Munitions -Column of the 2nd Division, Field Artillery Regiment No. 12.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, behind the firing position of the 2nd -Division, 1st Field Artillery Regiment No. 12, I saw the bodies of a -rifleman and a Jäger. One had his eyes gouged out, and the other lay -half burnt under a heap of straw with hands and feet tied together.</p> - -<p>Captain von Lippe testified his statements on oath, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritz von Lippe</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Haase</span>, 1st Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 79.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">St. Erme</span>, <i>December 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Acting-Sergeant-Major Göpfert, after the importance of the oath had -been pointed out to him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Oswald Emil Göpfert. I am 27 years old; -Protestant; battalion drummer, 3rd Battalion, Infantry Regiment No. 178.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When my battalion was entering Leffe, numerous shots came -from almost all the houses. We supposed at first that the shots came -from soldiers; however, it could only have been civilians, since no -soldiers were found in the houses. I saw with my own eyes that a -civilian fired at and wounded Captain Franz. Only the men who were -implicated in the firing from the houses were shot, while the old men, -women, and children were taken to the convent. I was myself present -when an old man, who had been fetched out of a house, was separated -from the guilty civilians and taken to the convent.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Göpfert</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Starke</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 80.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guignicourt</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Deposition.</i></p> - -<p>There appeared, as witness, Lieutenant of Reserve Löser of the 5th -Company, (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100, who, having been warned -to speak the truth, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>My name is Walter Löser. I am 28 years old; Protestant; -Forest-referendary on the State Forest Preserves, Elster II. at Adorf -in Saxony.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On entering Dinant the 5th Company, (Guards) Grenadier -Regiment No. 100, was ordered to fire only at civilians who were -themselves shooting at our troops. The order was everywhere complied -with. No atrocities were committed by our troops. I even know of cases -where our troops treated with the greatest consideration the innocent -inhabitants of Dinant, who evidently were suffering under the critical -condition of the time. I remember to have seen how the men of our -regiment carried infirm old people and children through the rows of -burning houses with the intention of rescuing them.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Löser</span>, Lieutenant of the Reserve.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Von Loeben</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Baier</span>, Non-commissioned Officer</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 81.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Non-commissioned Officer of Reserve -Teubner, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Teubner. I am 26 years old; Catholic; -by trade a locksmith at Schirgiswalde, now non-commissioned officer of -Reserve, Machine-Gun Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: In the night, after we had crossed the Meuse, two platoons -of the Machine-Gun Company lay by the railway; an infantry guard -lay opposite. In the house where the guard lay were already some -civilians. In the early morning a Belgian woman came to us and gave -us to understand by motions of the hands—we could not understand -French—that somewhere a house was on fire, and that we were to help. -We saw that something must be particularly amiss there, and some of -the men followed the woman with tools (hatchets, etc.). I was not able -to go at once myself. When, later, I was on my way to the burning -house I met the men with the rescued civilians who had stayed in the -cellars and had been buried by the débris. They were men, women, and -children—among them a priest. The people were taken to the guard, and -there examined; later they were again released.</p> - -<p>In the last house of a village behind Dinant we found a large quantity -of ammunition (shot and spear-like missiles), which were evidently -placed there for use. In the gable-roof were openings similar to -loopholes.</p> - -<p>On the march farther I saw a civilian who had been shot lying by -the corner of a house; he had a gun still in his hand—it was a -double-barrelled sporting-gun.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 82.</span><br /> -</p > - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Corporal Richter, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Gustav Richter. I am 23 years old; -Protestant; by trade a chairmaker at Bärenstein, now corporal, 6th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The 6th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 103, after the -fighting at Dinant; was detained to guard the bridge. Lieutenant Lemke -was Local Commandant of the district allotted to us. We lay there four -to five days. During these days Lieutenant Lemke had those civilians -who were innocent taken to a house and looked after. The people -received bread, meat, potatoes, and milk.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 83.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Lieutenant Lemke, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Martin Lemke, 27 years old; Protestant; -merchant at Zürich, now Lieutenant of Reserve, 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: One night between the 23rd and the 26th August 1914, a -large column of 3700 captured Belgian soldiers came through Dinant. -I had been left behind with a platoon of the 6th Company, Infantry -Regiment No. 103, as bridge-guard, and was, during the days named, -Local Commandant of Dinant-Bouvignes. This long column of prisoners -I lodged in double columns of route on the railway track in the -neighbourhood of the station at Dinant. At intervals 100 paces I had -lighted large wood-fires. Towards 3 o'clock a heavy fusillade broke -out. Two Belgians jumped down from the railway embankment into the -road and were shot by my sentries. A wounded Belgian was at once taken -to the "Red Cross" near by, where a small-shot wound in the posterior -was able to be ascertained with certainty. The firing with small shot -came down from the wooded height on this side of the railway track -amongst the resting column, and the result was, that a panic broke -out among the prisoners, of which the two Belgians were the victims. -The Belgian officers present, as well as the Mayor of Bouvignes, to -whom I explained the affair, expressed their indignation about the -francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants were well treated by the soldiers under my command. On -August 24th a number of women, children, and men were fetched out of -the cellar of a burning house on the road to Bouvignes by our soldiers -at the risk of their lives. During those days I provided with victuals -a total of over fifty inhabitants, mostly women, also children and -various men belonging on the average to the better classes. Among them -were also patients from the wrecked hospitals. An old lady who could -not walk was carried by our soldiers to the "Red Cross." We provided -the people with woollen coverings for the night, and gave up some -mattresses from our district, which had been quite forsaken. For the -invalids and a little child we provided milk. For the "Red Cross" in -Bouvignes, where some twenty wounded French soldiers were lying, among -them one Major and one 1st Lieutenant, we also provided victuals, -especially flour for baking bread. The people could not adequately -express their gratitude. The Lord of the Manor at Bouvignes, the Mayor -of Bouvignes, a Mons. van Willmart of the same place, have taken a -note of my home address in order, after the war, to inquire after my -welfare. The people had all acquired a high opinion of Germany. Mons. -van Willmart even wants to visit me after the war. A health-resort -patient at Dinant, a legal official from Brussels, who was staying -there with his two sisters, has written a card to my mother to testify -his gratitude.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 84.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Captain Schröder, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Severin Schröder. I am 34 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Company Chief, 6th Company, Infantry Regiment -No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: My company was bridge-guard on the left Meuse bank from -the 23rd to the 24th August. In some houses were from 150 to 200 -civilian prisoners, among them also many women and some children. I had -the provisions brought together from the partially destroyed houses -in order to provide for my company. On the petition of some women -for victuals I gave them bread, rice, and sausage, and some for the -remainder of the civilians.</p> - -<p>I had explained to the inhabitants that nothing would happen to them -as long as they remained in the houses under the protection of the -company. A number were let go at their request, as they did not appear -to be under suspicion. Men who seemed open to suspicion were detained; -some women remained voluntarily. When I was relieved, Lieutenant Lemke, -who remained behind with his platoon, took over the prisoners.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 85.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant of Reserve <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Orainville</span>, <i>March 17th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Summoned as witness there appeared Captain von Lüder, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg von Lüder. I am 41 years old; -Protestant; Captain and Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion, Infantry -Regiment No. 103.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, as Company Chief, I led the -Machine-Gun Company. This was transported late in the evening on -pontoons across the Meuse. The company remained until midday of August -24th, on the other bank of the Meuse, to await the arrival of the -vehicles which were to reach the left bank of the Meuse by the bridge -erected by the Pioneers. When the vehicles arrived in the afternoon of -August 24th the company marched off.</p> - -<p>During the time the company remained on the left bank of the Meuse, -inhabitants who had been arrested by the soldiers were continually -being brought to a house which was situated next to the halting-place -of the company. I saw the bringing of these inhabitants to the house, -and can confirm that they were decently treated in every respect by the -soldiers escorting them.</p> - -<p>In the forenoon of August 24th my Regimental Commander, Major Hoch, -came to the company and spoke to the inhabitants interned in the -house. At their request he let many of them go free.</p> - -<p>My impression was that the arrested inhabitants were very kindly -treated. They were allotted a room for the night, and on the morning of -August 24th were well and plentifully provided for.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved.</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kleberger</span>, Lieutenant of Reserve and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%">Signed: Sergeant <span class="smcap">Richter</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 86.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Oeser</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Lippmann</span>, as Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Prouvais</span>, <i>March 26th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared for examination Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant -Florey, who, after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to -him, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Friedrich Florey; 22½ years old; -Protestant; Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant, Grenadier Regiment No. -101.</p> - -<p>As to Case: With Lieutenant von Zenker of the 1st Company, I bandaged -a man (inhabitant) in Les Rivages who had a gaping wound in the head. -Later on I gave the men of my platoon the order to carry a woman of -about eighty years from an already burning house and bring her into -safety. My Grenadiers at once complied with this order and handed -over this old lady for further care to other inhabitants. In Neffe I -endeavoured to fetch a doctor for the wounded inhabitants.</p> - -<p>At that time I was platoon leader in the 4th Company.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Florey</span>, Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was thereupon sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Oeser</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lippmann</span>, Acting-Sergeant-Major</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Clerk of the Military Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">C. App. 87.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">The Trenches</span>, <i>January 12th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>By Regimental Order, Chief Surgeon of the Reserve, Dr. Marx, Assistant -Surgeon of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Grenadier Regiment (Guards) No. -100, appears, and, being warned to speak the whole truth, makes the -following deposition:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Theodor Hans Marx. I was born on April -3rd, 1878, in Döbeln (Saxony); Evangelical-Lutheran; Senior Surgeon of -the Reserve, 1st (Guards) Grenadier Regiment No. 100.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I also extended my medical activity during the whole of -the day to the wounded inhabitants of Dinant. In one case I treated a -young girl with a shot wound in the head, and allowed her a separate -room in the house where I had set up my place for dressing-station, so -that her parents could be with her. As towards the evening that part -of the town in which my hospital lay came under heavy artillery fire, -I had the girl carried to a safer part of the town. This was in the -street where the town gaol of Dinant is situated. The wounded girl, -in consequence of her severe injury, lay at the point of death. In -a column of inhabitants which was being sent across the Meuse was a -clergyman, whom I recognised as such by his clothes. I begged him to -take charge of her, and was witness how he gave her absolution. I was -present the whole day (August 23rd, 1914) in Dinant, and did not notice -any excesses on the part of the German soldiers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr.med. <span class="smcap">Hans Marx</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Haugk</span>, Lieutenant and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hartmann</span>, Non-commissioned Officer</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">and Military Clerk of the Court.</span><br /> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="ph2">APPENDIX D.—LOUVAIN</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">App. D.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Office.</p> - -<p>Military Inquiry Office regarding the Breaches of Rules and Usages of -War.</p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The Uprising of the Belgian Populace in Louvain, 25th to the 28th -August 1914.</span></p> - -<p><i>Summary Report.</i></p> - -<p>1. The uprising of the town of Louvain against the German troops of -occupation and the judgment inflicted on this town have found a lasting -echo in the whole world.</p> - -<p>In the first place, because Louvain is a town famous on account of its -time-honoured University, its rich architectural monuments and art -treasures, the fate of which would interest wide circles; principally, -however, because of the action of the opponents of the German people, -especially of the Belgian Government, who have circulated and spread -abroad in the world by means of the Press, by their foreign diplomatic -representatives, and by agents sent everywhere, reports of the events -of August 1914, which were designed to prejudice public opinion against -the Germans.</p> - -<p>The Commission appointed by the Belgian Government for inquiry into -the violation of the code of International Law and of the laws and -usages of war, has tried by every means to throw the blame for the -disturbances in Louvain on the German troops. In several reports it has -brought forward the accusation that the German troops, in violation of -International Law and without any reason, have attacked and ill-treated -the—so it is alleged—unsuspecting and peaceful inhabitants of -Louvain, have wounded and killed a great number, have plundered, -desolated, and burned, and, in fact, completely destroyed the town.</p> - -<p>These accusations are false; moreover, it has been confirmed that -the German troops have acted in a manner free from reproach and have -committed no deeds in violation of International Law. On the contrary, -heavy blame attaches to the civil population of Louvain and the -neighbourhood for having, by reason of their disregard of the rules of -international law, and through their thoughtless and criminal action, -inflicted injury on the German Army, and also, as the result, on the -town of Louvain.</p> - -<p>2. According to inquiries which were instituted, the events in Louvain -occurred as follows:</p> - -<p>On August 19th, 1914, the first German troops marched into Louvain and -occupied quarters in the town. Intercourse between the inhabitants and -the troops, whose number and composition were continually changing, -appeared at first to be exceptionally good. No single case of excess -occurred. The German troops behaved themselves in exemplary fashion, -which even the Belgians recognised; further, the population of the town -made such friendly advances that the German soldiers in Louvain felt so -secure that many of them went about without arms (Apps. 2, 3, 7-9, 11, -18, 31, 36, 38, 40, 45, 48).</p> - -<p>This peaceful picture suddenly changed on August 25th, 1914. On that -day Belgian troops from Antwerp made a thrust in the direction of -Louvain. The German troops in and about Louvain advanced to meet them; -further troops were sent from Liège via Louvain to the front. The -fighting took place on the road to Malines, near Bucken and Herent, in -the vicinity of Louvain. The fight ended in the heavy defeat of the -Belgians, who were thrown back in the evening towards Antwerp.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants of Louvain, who had remained in secret communication -with Antwerp even after the occupation of their town, and who had -information of the impending attack by their countrymen, had apparently -not reckoned on this result of the fight. They held the erroneous -opinion that the projected breaking through of the Belgian Army must, -with the help of English troops, be successful, and saw in the advance -initiated by the Belgian troops a promise of success and also an -encouragement to themselves to take part in the fighting (Apps. 1, 3, -45, 48).</p> - -<p>Already before the fight had been decided, a German company of the -Landsturm, which had been stationed at the north-western exit of -Louvain, marched back towards 7 o'clock in the evening to a place -situated at the east end of the town, near the station, in order -to establish themselves there. During their march through the town -everything was apparently still quiet. In the streets there were -isolated ammunition and baggage columns, and several small detachments -of German soldiers. There were no very large bodies of troops in -Louvain at this time (Apps. 3, 7, 8, 38).</p> - -<p>Among the inhabitants of the town who observed the march through of -the Landsturm company were astonishingly large numbers of young men, -apparently belonging to the wealthier classes, who stood about in the -streets and retired slowly into the houses (Apps. 7, 10, 34, 46); women -and children were not to be seen.</p> - -<p>The return march through the town of the Landsturm company and other -small bodies of troops most likely strengthened the inhabitants of -Louvain in the belief that the Germans were beaten and retreating, and -encouraged them to execute an apparently long-thought-out and prepared -plan to annihilate the Germans during their retreat through the town. A -little later, after the above company had arrived at the station square -and settled themselves to rest, about 8 p.m. German time, rockets shot -up in the town. Quite a number of soldiers saw first a green and then a -red rocket appear against the dark evening sky (Apps. 7, 8, 12-17, 22, -38, 45, 46).</p> - -<p>At the same time, in consequence of this signal, the inhabitants of -Louvain began to open a furious fire from different parts of the town -upon the German troops who were in the town-hall square, the station -square, and the intermediate town quarters.</p> - -<p>They shot with rifles, revolvers, and pistols out of cellars and out -of the windows of the buildings, and especially out of windows in the -roofs (Apps. 1-8, 7-13, 18-22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 32, 33, 36, 45-49); -the firing sounded in several places as if machine-guns were in use -(Apps. 2, 29, 38, 40, 42, 46, 49). The German soldiers were completely -surprised at this attack. Many of them were wounded and some were -killed before they could offer any resistance. Among the columns and -the baggage sections, which had drawn up in the streets, confusion -reigned, because the horses, who had shied from fright and were hit by -the bullets and small-shot, broke loose and were galloping through the -streets (Apps. 8, 18, 19, 37, 47).</p> - -<p>An especially violent fire was poured upon the market-place and the -first échelon of the General Command stationed there. Several officers -and men were wounded or killed. The Staff of the General Command alone -lost 5 officers, 2 officials, 23 men, and 95 horses (App. 1).</p> - -<p>The fire was most violent in the Rue de la Gare and at the station. -The Landsturm company, standing there between the baggage carts, was -obliged to retire into the station in order to find better cover. A -vigorous fire was also directed upon the troops drawn up at the Place -du Peuple (Apps. 6, 20, 46).</p> - -<p>The horror of this treacherous attack was increased by the darkness -which had already fallen on the town, the street-lighting having been -destroyed. The surprised troops tried to assemble, sought to defend -themselves, and returned the fire. When this ceased for a moment they -entered the houses out of which shots had been fired, by the order of -their superior officers, and searched for the culprits. Several of -these had been killed in the fight (Apps. 1, 3, 29, 37); others were -found in possession of arms and were shot according to the usages -of war, after having previously been found guilty of unjustifiable -participation in the fight (Apps. 19, 20, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, -48). Many were able to escape through the back exits of the houses to -participate once more in the continual recommencing street-fights.</p> - -<p>While these fights were raging, the General in command of the XI. -Reserve Army Corps, von Boehn, returned from the battlefield to the -town.</p> - -<p>This was about 11.30 p.m. On his way to the town hall he was several -times shot at. So as to put an end to the street-fighting, he ordered a -brigade of the Landwehr to enter the town, and had the Mayor and other -distinguished citizens arrested as hostages. At his order they were -led through the town and told to order the insurgents in a loud voice -to cease their hostilities. Although accompanied by threats of severe -punishment, these orders had no effect. The population continued to -attack the troops. In their fury they even shot at the doctors, the -hospital orderlies, and at the sick and wounded who were under the -protection of the Red Cross (Apps. 9, 21, 25-28, 47). They paid so -little attention to the Geneva Convention that they also fired out of -houses from which flew the Red Cross flag (Apps. 29, 38); they even -directed their fire against a military hospital (Apps. 25, 27, 28). On -more than one occasion the use of explosives and bombs is vouched for -(Apps. 36, 37, 46); it is proved also that hot tar was poured upon the -German troops (Apps. 25, 29).</p> - -<p>In some cases the population was even carried away to commit barbarous -atrocities on German soldiers who had become defenceless. Private Hoos -found in the cellar of a house the corpse of a German soldier whose -abdomen had been cut open with a sharp knife so that the intestines -were protruding (App. 35); one of the German soldiers had a revolting -mutilation inflicted upon him by one of the inhuman inhabitants, in -consequence of which he died (App. 37).</p> - -<p>In the face of these brutal attacks, the German soldiers had to protect -themselves by energetic retaliatory measures. As had been threatened, -the inhabitants who had participated in the attack were shot, and -the houses out of which they fired were burned. It was impossible to -prevent the fire from spreading to other houses, and thus some rows -of them were destroyed. It was in this way also that the Cathedral -caught fire (App. 4). A further spreading of the conflagration was -prevented by our troops who, led by their officers, undertook the work -of extinguishing the fire in a self-sacrificing manner (App. 46). -Thanks to their efforts, only a comparatively small part of the town, -<i>i.e.</i> the quarter between the station and the town hall, suffered. The -magnificent town hall was saved through the efforts of our troops. The -burning houses lit up the dark night and enabled our soldiers to meet -the attack more effectively. Thus it diminished gradually; only here -and there a few shots were fired during the night. The next morning, -however, the attacks were renewed with great violence. The disturbances -still continued on this and the following days, though the hostages -were, on August the 26th and 27th, again led through the streets in -order to exhort the inhabitants to keep the peace (Apps. 1, 37, 38, 40, -44, 45, 47).</p> - -<p>That the insurrection did not break out accidentally, but was prepared -long beforehand, can be proved, apart from the above-mentioned -rocket-signals which announced the beginning of the surprise attack, by -the following facts:</p> - -<p>1. The circumstance that arms had been found in large quantities, -though these, according to the declaration of the Mayor, had been -already handed over on August 19th (Apps. 1, 20).</p> - -<p>2. The observation that a great number of young men entered Louvain -and dispersed in the town (App. 34). It was easy for them to take up -quarters in the hotels and the lodging-houses left by the students.</p> - -<p>3. Numerous stores of cartridges and explosives, which had been hidden -there by the population, exploded in the burning houses (Apps. 1, 2, 6, -37).</p> - -<p>In accordance with these facts, the attack evidently was carefully -planned, and lasted for several days with the utmost stubbornness. The -length of time during which the revolt against the German military -force continued excludes any idea of spontaneous and excited actions on -the part of isolated persons. The direction of the treacherous revolt -must have been in the hands of highly placed persons. Everything points -to the fact that the authorities had a hand in the organisation. The -official headquarters of the Chief of the so-called Garde Civique were -in Louvain; he was still in the town immediately before the rising, -and the movement commenced there with the dispatch into Louvain of -undisciplined young men not wearing any distinctive badge or uniform, -who, together with soldiers transformed into civilians, concealed -themselves in the houses in order, while invisible themselves, to fire -at a suitable moment upon the apparently departing German troops.</p> - -<p>The Belgian Government itself has never dared to speak about the -regular troops having participated in these actions. We are here -dealing with the perfidious deeds of francs-tireurs who were most -readily received and offered hiding-places by the population of -Louvain. The crimes of the Garde Civique will be unveiled to the whole -civilised world in the classical case of Louvain (Apps. 1, 30, 45, 48).</p> - -<p>Unfortunately a number of priests also allowed themselves to be carried -away into misusing their influence upon the civilian population, and -encouraging them to shelter the insurgents; it is certain that some of -them even took direct part in the fighting (Apps. 1, 19, 34, 37, 38, -41, 42, 45, 48). Those who appreciate the authentic facts discovered -by the German Government regarding the case of Louvain, facts which -are not based upon hasty examinations of people labouring under strong -excitement and possessing little education, by equally agitated -examiners, but which are founded upon inquiries entered upon in a calm -and quiet spirit, will be able to judge for themselves what value can -be attached to other similar accusations on the part of the Belgians -against the German troops.</p> - -<p>In the case of Louvain the Official Belgian Commission of Inquiry has -tried to account for the doubtless very embarrassing fact, so difficult -to be explained away, of the shots fired in the streets by maintaining -that the German troops had fired on their own soldiers. But it -conceals the point that the firing lasted several days and was renewed -continuously. This simple fact does away with the thread-bare attempt -to explain the beginning of the street-fights.</p> - -<p>While the Belgian Commission of Inquiry so lightly brushes aside the -above-mentioned principal question of the violation of International -Law, it seeks to calumniate the German Army by accusations in isolated -cases. We have not been able to establish the truth of any of these -cases; the impartial person must not overlook in this matter on what -kind of evidence these cases are founded, nor how these accusations -recede into the background, compared with the principal question of -the origin of the street-fights. They are based on the depositions of -the same persons who are responsible for the statement that Louvain -was completely destroyed, and that of the whole town nothing but the -town hall and the station remained intact, as is asserted in the third -Report of the Commission and thus announced throughout the whole world.</p> - -<p>The adjoining sketch shows how matters really stand with regard to the -conflagration; in reality not one-sixth part of the town, but only the -quarter in the proximity of the station, was destroyed by the fire -(App. 50).</p> - -<p>One of the few positive calumnies can be brought home, because -it foolishly tries to cast a slur on the entire German Army -Administration; according to the fifth Report of the Commission, -a "large part of the booty (derived from the alleged looting) was -forwarded in military waggons and later on sent to Germany."</p> - -<p>This allegation is a pure invention, for what has to be forwarded in -waggons and railway trucks is decided by the Army Administration, and -the latter has never made any arrangements of the kind.</p> - -<p>The slight importance the Commission even attaches to the tales dished -up to them and unfortunately passed on without criticism is also shown -in the fifth Report, which mentions the execution of Bishop Coenraets -and Father Schmidt. The Commission even speaks about the "alleged" -execution, and adds without further ado the fairy-tale that the -compulsory spectators of this pretended scene were forced to show their -appreciation by clapping. It is impossible to admit more forcibly that -the hurriedly collected material was brought out in order to create -a sensation whereby truth and justice would have to suffer. One must -know, moreover, that—as can hardly have been concealed from the -Belgian Commission—Mons. Coenraets, who is safe and sound, is living -to-day with Professor Toels in Jirlen, Holland.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>April 10th, 1915</i>.</p> - -<p>Military Inquiry Office, regarding the Violations of the Rules and -Usages of War.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Bauer</span>, Major.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Wagner</span>, Councillor of the Supreme Court of Justice.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 1.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of Justice of the Government-General of Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang" > -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Justice of Martial Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Noyon</span>, <i>September 27th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The General commanding IX. Reserve Army Corps, General of Infantry v. -Boehn, declared:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max von Boehn, aged 66: Protestant.</p> - -<p>It was made known to the witness that the Governor-General -Field-Marshal General Baron von der Goltz had ordered an inquiry by the -Court in order to establish whether a punishable offence in connection -with the burning of Louvain could be charged to the account of German -military persons, and, if so, to which persons; he states as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the first échelon of the General Command entered -Louvain on August 25th, the orders received were first briefly talked -over, and the report to the Army Headquarters, dealing with the time -of arrival of the troops of the 9th Reserve Corps, was prepared. The -detraining had not yet been terminated when the report was received -from the 18th Reserve Division that the enemy was advancing to -the attack against Bueken, along the road Malines-Louvain. I went -immediately by motor to the battlefield with the Chief and a part of -the Staff. Here the action was principally sustained by the 18th -Reserve Division. Our losses were only small. While the different -portions of the 18th Reserve Division were advancing, the hussars and -one part of the infantry were furiously fired upon by the inhabitants -in Herent, as well as from the windows of the houses south of Bueken. -They lost heavily. People caught firing were shot and their houses set -on fire.</p> - -<p>When I was on the point of returning to Louvain at midnight with the -officers of my Staff, I was warned by the 17th Landwehr Brigade, which -was resting to the north of the town, not to enter it, as infantry fire -had been heard there. But, as it was necessary for the whole Staff to -be in Louvain, I drove in my motor into the town, where we were very -soon fired upon. I ordered the above-mentioned Landwehr Brigade to -enter Louvain, and went with portions of it to the town hall, where -the Mayor and other hostages were arrested. Under the protection of a -detachment of infantry they were instructed to announce that if the -firing out of houses continued, the hostages would be shot and the -place set on fire by the artillery. It now also came to my knowledge -that the first échelon of the Staff, after having entered the town, -and being drawn up in the market-place, was suddenly assailed by a -murderous fire from the surrounding houses.</p> - -<p>The officers and men present, of course, returned the fire; -nevertheless, apart from other officers, Captains of Cavalry v. -Harnier and v. Esmarch, Captain v. Raven, 1st Lieutenant v. Oertzen, -Lieutenant Risler, as well as several men, were wounded or killed. -Nearly all the saddle-horses were killed or wounded, or had stampeded -and could not be recaptured. The total loss of the Staff in dead, -wounded, and missing amounts to 5 officers, 2 officials, 23 men, and -95 horses fully harnessed. Different houses in the proximity of the -market-place had thereupon been set on fire. Shots had also been fired -out of the hotel into which the hand-baggage of the Staff had already -been taken. I therefore decided to move with the General Command to the -station, and to remain there. The station had to be held, as transport -trains were arriving at intervals of an hour. First of all, fresh -horses were put into the waggons, and the Staff was rearranged. Owing -to the foresight of the Commander of the Ammunition Column, Colonel -Stubenrauch, assisted by the 1st Adjutant, Captain v. Kretschmann, -the Staff was successfully reformed during the night in spite of the -greatest difficulties, and held in readiness at the station. A portion -of the Landwehr Brigade also remained here and one company of Infantry -Regiment No. 163, in order to guard the further unloading of trains -during the night. The heavy baggage of Reserve Regiment of Hussars No. -6 was fired on when moving out of the cavalry barracks, and was forced -to return. When, in the evening, the regiment of hussars had returned -to the barracks, shots were fired into the buildings from all the -surrounding houses. Peace was only restored when all the houses had -been set on fire and the inhabitants shot, in so far as they were found -with arms in their possession. Numerous explosions of stored cartridges -and explosives proved that the attack had been carefully planned and -prepared. The next morning the regiment of hussars was able to leave -the barracks without any losses, but a patrol of the 1st Squadron -in Rotselaer was fired on suddenly by about 50 civilians, and, as a -result, 2 hussars were wounded and 1 horse killed.</p> - -<p>Whenever bodies of troops showed themselves in the town they were fired -at. Towards midnight an especially lively fire was suddenly directed -from the roofs of the houses opposite the station upon the troops and -the General Command encamped there. The proclamation of the Mayor -had consequently been fruitless. Therefore there was nothing else to -be done but to have the civilians found firing from the windows, of -whom several were discovered to be soldiers in disguise, shot, and -the houses set on fire. In spite of those measures, the troops of the -Reserve Corps, who had been fired at from all sides when coming into -the station, were obliged to fight when marching through the town on -the forenoon of the following day, and sustained some losses. On the -morning of August 25th I went with the officers of the Staff to the -field of battle. We were also fired at when driving out. The second -échelon of the Staff remained behind, as well as Staff Officer Captain -Albrecht, to whom I gave orders to collect the arms in the town. For -the execution of this order, the 2nd Battalion of Infantry Reserve -Regiment No. 75 and a company of Infantry Reserve Regiment No. 163 -were placed at his disposal. A threat was made that, in the event -of a continuation of the attacks by the citizens, the town would be -bombarded. On Wednesday forenoon the fighting recommenced with renewed -violence. A systematic disarming of the town became impossible, also -the collection of a fine of twenty million francs levied on the town. -According to the statement of Captain Albrecht, he was obliged to -assemble the whole garrison at the station, in order to hold it under -any circumstances for the coming reinforcements. He was especially -menaced from the houses situated to the east, and from a factory which -had been prepared for defence, and had therefore to be levelled to the -ground. But even from the remaining outer walls, which had escaped -destruction, the fire was reopened. The occupants who had fled into -the cellars procured ladders, from which they renewed the firing. -Several armed persons, remarkable because of their robust and still -comparatively young appearance, were discovered in the trees of the -Boulevard and arrested. Many of them were ascertained to be soldiers -in disguise by their identification discs and parts of their uniform -they were wearing underneath the civilian clothes. Numerous and violent -explosions resounded from the burning houses, due to explosives and -cartridges stored there. On the following day also the troops were -continually fired upon. Captain Albrecht had the people once more -exhorted by two priests to keep the peace, but this attempt also was in -vain. As the revolt again extended a detachment of artillery was sent -into the town on August 27th, and several houses were destroyed. This -detachment of artillery was put at the disposal of Lieutenant-Colonel -Schweder, Commander of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss. On August 28th, -2nd Infantry Reserve Battalion, Regiment No. 75, was replaced by -Landwehr Regiment No. 53, and the detachment of artillery was replaced -by a Landsturm battery. On the same day a detachment of pioneers made -a breach in the convent, situated at the exit leading to Herent, from -which building the military road was fired upon with special intensity.</p> - -<p>In spite of these measures, the firing upon columns and troops -continued without interruption until August 28th.</p> - -<p>After the preceding evidence, His Excellency v. Boehn also gave the -following legal opinion about the burning down of Louvain before Dr. -Ivers, Councillor of the War-Field Court of Justice, leading the -inquiry:</p> - -<p>The progress and the fury of these fights already prove that we are -here dealing with a planned organisation. It is proved beyond doubt by -the following facts:</p> - -<p>1. In a church in Louvain 300 rifles were found, and in Herent numerous -rifles, pistols, and a great quantity of ammunition were discovered by -the 18th Division.</p> - -<p>2. A large number of the civilians, who took part in the rising and -were shot, were ascertained to be soldiers.</p> - -<p>3. In the haversacks of fallen soldiers civilian clothes, especially -garments of priests, were found. The priests themselves led and incited -the population. In Bueken, for instance, the signal to fire was given -by the priest leaving the church. In spite of his assurance that no -armed men were in the church, five were caught. They fired from the -roof of the church. All these people were shot.</p> - -<p>Acting-Sergeant-Major Predöhl, Reserve Regiment of Hussars No. 6, -reported that he was fired at by twelve priests while on patrol duty. -After they had been arrested with the help of the field-battery column -of the III. Reserve Corps, which was close by, they were taken to -the III. Reserve Corps to be tried, but they were liberated by the -court-martial, as it could not be proved who had fired. These people -had identification discs and wore military boots and under-garments.</p> - -<p>4. During the fights a uniform was often found close to the empty -haversack, but no corpse; the owner had no doubt disappeared in -civilian dress.</p> - -<p>5. Amongst those persons caught red-handed and shot immediately were -quite a number in very disarranged workmen's clothes. By their delicate -hands, their exceptionally fine and superior underclothes, one could -recognise with certainty that the garb of a workman was not their -usual one. Inhabitants of the place declared they did not know these -people and had never seen them there before. The Garde Civique formed -the nucleus of these bands of francs-tireurs, at the head of which was -evidently the Commandant of Louvain, whose baggage was taken as booty -to the Hôtel Métropole. It is obvious how easy it is for bodies like -the Garde Civique, who usually wear civilian clothing, to continue to -wear it or put it on again, as best suits their purpose. Louvain was -obviously the centre of this organisation, which was most effectively -made use of here because the Commandant was on the spot.</p> - -<p>The sortie from Antwerp on August 25th was evidently the signal for the -commencement of activities.</p> - -<p>Consequently the whole population had to be removed from the district; -to as large an extent as possible they were taken as prisoners to -Germany. For as Antwerp is not completely shut off, they could always -rise again, and would do it with the courage of despair. Their removal -to Antwerp would therefore be no real remedy.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Boehn</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn. Apart from that, he had taken the oath on -his opinion given in to-day's report of the proceedings.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 2.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Noyon</span>, <i>September 27th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Major von Klewitz, officer of the General Staff, IX. Reserve Corps, -declares as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm von Klewitz, born at Magdeburg on -February 3rd, 1872; Protestant.</p> - -<p>The witness was told that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal General -Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the purpose -of ascertaining whether military persons, and, if so, which, are guilty -of the destruction of Louvain by fire; he then made the following -statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: When the General Staff arrived at Louvain station, Captain -Albrecht, who has since fallen and who had preceded the General Staff, -reported that he had prepared quarters in the town, at the Hôtel -Métropole, where the Commander-in-Chief had also stayed, and that the -town was perfectly quiet. We then proceeded to the Hôtel Métropole in -the town, and from there to our offices. This was about 6 o'clock p.m.</p> - -<p>We had just spread out our maps and were informing ourselves with -regard to the situation when Acting-Sergeant-Major Fischer returned by -motor from the III. Reserve Corps and reported that the III. Reserve -Corps before Antwerp was attacked and asking for immediate support -from the IX. Reserve Corps. At that time about half of our corps was -detrained and the other half still on the rails. The Chief of the -General Staff and I immediately went to see the General in command. -Meanwhile the greater part of the officers of the General Staff with -the horses had arrived and were still busy with the unloading. It must -also be mentioned that on driving up to the battlefield the Commanding -General ordered the alarm to be sounded, and the troops already -quartered in Louvain were ordered to the battle-ground.</p> - -<p>At 9 o'clock p.m. the General, the Chief of the General Staff, and I -returned to Louvain by motor-car. The battle took place at Bueken, -7 km. north of Louvain. On returning to Louvain we already found in -the villages situated between Bueken and Louvain regular troops (of -the Landwehr) who declared that our men were being fired at in the -surrounding villages. We saw ourselves how all the traffic was stopped -in a village because firing from the houses had taken place. All -troops warned the Commanding General from going into the town because -street-fights were taking place there. But the Commanding General -declared that he would not leave his Staff in the town if fighting -were going on, and he wished to return to the Staff. We were therefore -obliged to get out when we got into Louvain. The Commanding General, -with the chauffeurs and we few officers, went through the dark town to -the market-place at about 10 o'clock p.m. During this march through -the town a flank fire was opened on us every time we turned a street -corner. Suddenly, the Staff veterinary surgeon of the corps arrived and -reported that the Staff of the General Commandant had been attacked, -and that the horses were either shot or had stampeded. The men were -firing on the houses. The baggage therefore was safe, only the horses -were gone. We went first of all to the town hall, and there found a -number of hostages who had been taken in the meantime. My brother, -Lieutenant v. Klewitz, now told the hostages in the presence of the -Commanding General that they would be shot if the firing in the town -did not cease at once. The hostages then begged to be allowed to use -their influence in the streets. Lieutenant v. Klewitz then passed -through the town with the hostages, and the inhabitants were exhorted -to be quiet. We then went to our Hôtel Métropole. When we arrived there -we found in front of the house a civilian, shot. It appeared that this -man had sat in the Hôtel Métropole, and when the hotel was searched -he had been found in a room, armed, and had wounded two soldiers, -whereupon the soldiers shot him in a hand-to-hand fight and threw -him out of the window. Besides one civilian person, of whom we know -nothing, there was no longer anyone in the hotel.</p> - -<p>The Commanding General then went, under escort of a company of -infantry, through the streets to the station, and stayed there in order -to conduct the whole affair. The motors of the General Staff had also -taken up a position there. Temporary quiet reigned at the station. -At about 11 o'clock p.m. some isolated shots were fired from the -surrounding houses upon the troops stationed at the railway station, -which was followed by continually increasing firing, so that the -Commanding General ordered the house to be taken. The house was taken -and, as armed resistance was encountered, it was set alight. The house -was hardly alight when I saw personally the following incident:</p> - -<p>I was standing with my back to the station and looking at another -house. I saw how the corner window on the top was lit up, a dark -figure appeared at the window, and a shot was fired into the street. -At the same moment when this shot was fired I saw how the tiles in -the roof of the Hôtel Maria Theresa were raised, and a terrible fire -was opened from the roof of this hotel upon the troops in the station -square. We all immediately sought cover. Personally I had the definite -impression that we were being fired on with machine-guns from the Hôtel -Maria Theresa; the bullets were rattling down on us. On the following -morning one was able to ascertain that we had been fired upon with -machine-guns, because at the station one could distinctly see the rows -of fire. The fire from the machine-guns lasted about four to five -minutes, and was immediately replied to by our troops, who finally took -the house and set it alight. In the meanwhile, a number of wounded were -brought in. Definite instructions had been given to burn at once all -those houses from which firing had taken place. Many Belgian civilians -were taken with arms in their hands; they were to be shot by order of -the General in Command. At about 2 o'clock the firing ceased. Stores of -ammunition continually exploded during the burning down of the houses. -The General in Command sat in a railway carriage from 2 till 4 o'clock -at night. At 4 a.m. the army corps marched to the battle. We did not -pass through the main streets, but drove along an avenue. Here I saw -distinctly the following incident:</p> - -<p>As I sat in the motor several shots were fired out of a cellar on the -left at a distance of 20 metres. We fired on this cellar-opening, -whereupon the firing ceased. The Commanding General left the motor -with loaded revolver and went to the open place just in front of the -bridge. We then went to the battlefield. Behind us, infantry advanced. -The officer marching at the head was shot by a civilian who sat on a -tree at exactly the same place where we had left the car.</p> - -<p>As the regular line of halting-places was continually fired at, orders -were given to clear the town by force. Two guns with 150 rounds were -sent. The two guns fired shrapnel from the station into the streets. -Thus at least that quarter near the station was made safe, and in this -way it was possible to take the columns, that had been bivouacking for -days before Louvain, through the town.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Klewitz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 3.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Major v. Manteuffel, commanding 15th Mobile Commando, declared as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Walter v. Manteuffel, born at Gnesen on -January 23rd, 1864; Protestant.</p> - -<p>The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: On Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, at noon, we arrived at -Louvain. The town gave me an impression of quietude and peace. One -company of Landwehr Regiment No. 66 occupied the town hall. There were -no other troops present. As soon as troops arrived, the company was -to commence the victualling. This was the case on Tuesday at noon. -The following troops had arrived in the meanwhile: two companies and a -battalion of the 27th Landwehr Brigade, which were accommodated in the -town hall and in the building opposite. Sections of troops of the IX. -Reserve Corps also marched through the town. In the afternoon, at about -5 o'clock, the 1st Company of the Landsturm Battalion Neuss, under 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt, arrived at the station.</p> - -<p>At about 7.30 p.m. I had gone to the Hôtel Métropole, Rue Vital -Decoster, to dine. I had just finished the soup when a gendarme (we -had six of them with us) brought me word that I was to go to the town -hall. On the way he told me that inhabitants had fired upon soldiers -in the town. A few minutes later at the town hall I heard suddenly -lively firing in the town-hall square. I saw the company in the -lower room standing at the windows and replying to the firing of the -inhabitants. In front of the town hall, on the entrance staircase, I -also saw soldiers firing who replied to the firing of the inhabitants -in the direction of the houses. When asked, they all declared that -inhabitants had first fired on them from such-and-such windows. The -whistling of the bullets was similar to that of Brownings, and totally -different from the sound of our projectiles. In the meanwhile, the -firing had been stopped by the company leaders. In the upper room lay -another company. It was quiet for a time. The town-hall square was now -filled with artillery—one battery—and with columns, motor-cars, and -benzine-tanks. A tremendous rifle-fire now commenced again from the -surrounding houses of the townsfolk. I saw how one company sought cover -in the entrance to St. Peter's Church.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, we had deposited the wounded in the town hall; I -believe there were three, wounded chiefly in the legs.</p> - -<p>After the firing had again ceased I ordered the surrounding houses to -be searched. This was effected in such a manner that all inhabitants -found with arms or ammunition were immediately shot. The houses were -set on fire. I saw myself one Belgian civilian on whom was found a roll -of cartridges. At about this time the General in Command, IX. Reserve -Corps, His Excellency v. Boehn, arrived at the town hall at about 10.30 -p.m. He was very indignant about this firing by the Belgians. When he -rode to the hotel with the Staff a murderous fire was opened upon him -and his Staff from windows and roofs, without any provocation, and -three of his adjutants were seriously wounded, a troop of about ninety -horses was stampeded, wounded, or killed. His Excellency v. Boehn -asked to be conducted to the town hall to see the hostages. In his own -presence and that of his officers, the hostages were told in French -that if the town continued to be fired on, the town would have to pay a -contribution of twenty million francs, the hostages would be shot, and -the town destroyed.</p> - -<p>I offered to make these measures at once known to the inhabitants by -going through the town with two hostages and a group of soldiers, and -the hostages repeated the words of General v. Boehn. On the following -morning the General had this procession with the hostages repeated. -Several houses from which firing had taken place were already burning. -No firing by the inhabitants was heard at the town hall, but on the -boulevards the firing is said to have been continued. I wish to add -that at the town hall a horse was killed by a shot in the head.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Manteuffel</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Expert Opinion</span> of the Commandant, 15th Mobile Forage -Commando, Major v. Manteuffel.</p></blockquote> - -<p>In addition to my statement as a witness I would like to express expert -opinion as Commandant and soldier to the effect that the whole firing -was instigated by the inhabitants. At the same time, the approach of -two Belgian battalions from the direction of Bueken was reported. -The German detachments on duty were given the alarm to oppose this. -When these troops had nearly got away, the Belgian inhabitants opened -a lively fire upon them from windows and garret dormers. Our German -soldiers went through the streets quietly and unsuspectingly, when they -were suddenly fired on. The German soldiers in no way commenced or -provoked the firing.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Manteuffel</span>, Major and Commandant.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 4.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Lieutenant of the Landwehr Ibach, Adjutant, Mobile Foraging Commando -No. 15, declared as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Ernst Ibach, born on May 16th, 1882, at -Braunschweig; Protestant; Municipal Councillor at Halberstadt.</p> - -<p>The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th, 1914, I was as adjutant of the Forage -Commando at Louvain in the town hall there. Between 7 and 8 p.m. it -was reported to me several times at short intervals that Belgians had -fired upon our German troops on the outskirts of the town. I asked the -Commandant, Major v. Manteuffel, to come to the town hall. Shortly -after his arrival, at about 8 p.m., violent firing took place directly -outside the town hall. On going from the office of the Commando into -the hall, our soldiers told me that the inhabitants had fired from the -opposite windows and roofs. The German soldiers replied to the fire. -Among the soldiers at the town hall I saw several with shot-wounds; one -was injured in the upper part of the thigh, and was bandaged at the -office of the Commando. In the course of the night, German soldiers -brought in a corpse wrapped in a red cover; the bearers related that he -was an ensign of the 90th Regiment, who had been shot in the head by -the Belgians.</p> - -<p>During the night I noticed that a house diagonally opposite and one -behind the town hall were burning. I went to see Judge Schmit, who was -at the town hall as a hostage, and upon my request he asked the police -to collect the firemen who, in company with German soldiers, commenced -operations for extinguishing the fire. The other houses burned near the -town hall and the Peter Church were, as far as I could see, set on fire -by sparks from neighbouring conflagrations. The roof of the church -burned first. The endeavours of an hussar officer to extinguish the -fire by means of a Minimax apparatus from the roof of the church were -ineffective.</p> - -<p>A soldier coming to the town hall gave me a broken shot-gun which -had been found in the possession of an inhabitant shot by summary -court-martial.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ernst Ibach</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 5.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Judge of Military Law Grebin declared as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is John Grebin, born at Halle a.S. on May 30th, -1867; Protestant; President of the Court of Justice at Aschersleben.</p> - -<p>The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the -purpose of ascertaining whether any German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am President of the Military Court of Justice, Mobile -Supply Commando No. 15, and since Sunday, August 23rd, 1914, I have -been at Louvain. On Tuesday, August 25th, at about 7 o'clock p.m., I -was having supper with Major Manteuffel, Captain v. Westhofen, and -1st Lieutenant Winkler, at the Hôtel "Métropole de Suède," Rue Vital -Decoster. Suddenly a gendarme came and reported to Major v. Manteuffel -that the alarm had been raised. Major v. Manteuffel immediately set -out, whilst we others remained a few minutes longer, and then followed -the Major. We then left the hotel and went to the Rue de la Station -on our way to the town hall. On the way there I stopped twice for a -short time, addressing a German company marching through the Rue de -la Station from the direction of the market-place to the station, and -immediately afterwards speaking to an officer who sat in a motor-car. -When I entered the market-place I heard suddenly violent firing to the -right of me, in a street leading to the market-place at the corner of -the Rue de la Station. To judge from the sound, the firing did not come -from German military rifles. As I advanced a few more steps towards the -town hall, violent firing could be heard in the market-place, which, -to judge from the direction of sound, came from the houses. As I could -not proceed and could not remain without cover in the market-place, I -sought cover between the baggage-carts standing on the left of me in -the market-square. While I stood there, a bullet fell a few steps away -from me upon the pavement, and I could clearly see the sparks flying -up. When after a time the firing ceased, I went to the town hall, where -I remained until the morning.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Johannes Grebin</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 6.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>First Lieutenant Telemann of the Reserve, Supply Commando, declared as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Paul Telemann, born at Nordhausen on October -20th, 1877; Protestant; Royal President at the Ministry of Public Works -in Berlin.</p> - -<p>The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for -the purpose of ascertaining whether German military persons, and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: Since noon on August 25th the infantry barracks, Rue -de Tirlemont, with about 300 men suffering from foot trouble and -a few slightly wounded doing guard duty at Louvain, were under my -supervision.</p> - -<p>On the evening of August 25th I and two 1st Staff-Surgeons were -having supper in the Café Royal—since burned down—in the market. -Suddenly—as far as I remember, soon after 8 p.m.—I heard lively -firing in the market, which steadily increased. The hostess, a German, -immediately switched off the electric light, and we and the other -guests of the establishment, chiefly officers and non-commissioned -officers of our army, went into a back room so as not to be hit from -the street. As the greater number of us were without arms, we decided -for the present to wait there.</p> - -<p>When after a time the firing ceased, we hurried into the street, and -there met German soldiers going along the houses for the purpose of -taking action against those from which inhabitants had fired. As far -as I remember, only isolated shots fell at that time. We went over to -the town hall, where I met a group of people from my barrack who had -gone to the town hall to look for me. I at once went with them to the -infantry barracks. During this time also only isolated shots were fired -behind us.</p> - -<p>The guard and a large number of soldiers stationed there stood in front -of the infantry barracks with their rifles ready, and they showed me -several houses in the Rue de Tirlemont from which inhabitants had fired -on them. I forbade them, under threat of heavy punishment, to set -these houses on fire as they had intended, as I wished to protect the -"Military Hospital" opposite the barracks and the barracks themselves -with the wounded. A short time afterwards we heard continuous firing -from the direction of the adjoining Place du Peuple, and in this -direction we also saw several houses burning. Motor-cars arrived -now, bringing German wounded to the "Military Hospital." As far as I -remember, there were in all about thirty to thirty-five, amongst whom -were also some severely wounded, as, for instance, Captain v. Esmarch, -who had shot wounds in the head and had dislocated both arms in his -fall from horseback.</p> - -<p>Owing to the fairly strong wind the entire blocks of houses behind the -field hospital began to catch fire, apparently from the houses set -alight in the Place du Peuple; I had thus to direct my whole attention -to the safety of the wounded. Fortunately the wind abated somewhat -later on and drove the flames to the other side, so that after bringing -up fire-hose, it was possible to save the field hospital.</p> - -<p>During the night the crack of isolated gun-shots and the explosion of -ammunition in the burning houses continued intermittently.</p> - -<p>In the early hours of the morning a division of pioneers marched -through the Rue de Tirlemont, who asserted that they had just been -fired on from the houses of this street, and they also wanted to set -the houses on fire. I forbade this for the reasons already mentioned.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Paul Telemann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 7.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>During the judicial proceedings of the Court of the Government-General -at Brussels for the purpose of ascertaining whether any German military -persons, and, if so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment for -the burning down of Louvain, there appeared as witness:</p> - -<p>Lieutenant-Colonel (Active List) Schweder, commanding 2nd Mobile -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, who made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Karl Schweder, born in Posen on April -24th, 1856; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On Monday, August 24th, 1914, the Landsturm Battalion -Neuss, coming from Neuss, arrived in Tirlemont, and was immediately -detrained. I went with my Staff by motor to Louvain, where I arrived -about 6.30 p.m. It was my intention to prepare everything for the -drawing up and quartering of the Company v. Sandt. The company also -arrived at Louvain at 8.10 p.m.; it was quartered near the station, -with closed ranks in an alarm quarter. I, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt, -1st Surgeon Dr. Berghausen, and Adjutant-Lieutenant Lamberts took up -our quarters at an hotel opposite. The night of August 24th to August -25th was quiet. On August 25th, at 6 a.m., began the marching of the -troops of the IX. Reserve Army Corps through Louvain towards Malines, -coming from Liège. On the 25th there were only about 100 men in Louvain -of the v. Sandt Company, because about 100 men were told off for -guard and sentries. As far as I know, no other troops were present -in Louvain on Tuesday, August 25th, except this company. During the -day, until 5 o'clock p.m., the town was perfectly quiet. At 5 o'clock -Staff-Major-General, 17th Reserve Division, v. Rosenberg appeared and -ordered the company to be ready at the north-west exit of Louvain. I -and 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt immediately led the company there and drew -it up, covered by the crest of a small hill. The company lay there from -5.45 till 7 o'clock at this point without taking part in the fight, -which, as far as I remember, had already begun at 11 a.m. on both sides -of the main road Mechlin-Louvain, and the main points of attack were -Herent and Bueken.</p> - -<p>Shortly after 7 o'clock I ordered 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt to march -back with his company and to draw it up ready at the station at -Louvain, because I felt that the company was more necessary there -than outside the town. I myself went on foot through the town, which -was almost devoid of troops, to the station. I saw some isolated -persons and several of the inhabitants in small groups standing in -front of the houses and walking about in the streets. The houses were -everywhere dark. Of the German forces I saw in the evening only a few -baggage-carts accompanied by small detachments.</p> - -<p>About 500 paces from the station, in the Rue Leopold, I saw suddenly -the flash of a rocket across the station road. At the same moment -firing took place from all surrounding houses, from windows, attics, -cellar gratings, upon me and upon the German soldiers near—about -fifteen men, who were in the street either singly or were following -their baggage, which was ahead of them. I emphasise particularly the -point that before the rocket went up the streets were perfectly quiet, -and that the soldiers went quite quietly and harmlessly on their way. -I assert distinctly that neither a German officer nor a German soldier -had once fired upon the inhabitants of Louvain before this attack -began. I collected about ten soldiers, with whom I went to the station, -part of them going on one side of the road and part of them on the -other. On the way, a distance of about 500 metres, I with my men, about -ten of them, were fired at from the houses of this street, so that we -were continually under a hail of bullets. During this march I ordered -my soldiers to reply to the fire directed upon them.</p> - -<p>When I arrived at the station, 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt's company was -already fighting the inhabitants of the surrounding houses, who fired -from the roofs, windows, and cellar windows. I immediately placed -myself in the firing-line and took part in the fight with a rifle; 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt did the same. About ten minutes later there was a -pause in the firing, which I made use of for sending strong patrols -into the nearest houses, from which firing had taken place, to bring -out the inhabitants. I took the company straight back to the station. -One non-commissioned officer and five men of the company were wounded, -several by small-shot.</p> - -<p>In the course of the evening His Excellency v. Boehn appeared with a -few officers, and I and 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt had to give a general -report.</p> - -<p>I finally add that, with short intervals, the inhabitants fired during -the whole night from their houses, and also from the group of houses to -the east of the station.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Max Schweder</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 8.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>First Lieutenant of Reserve v. Sandt, 2nd Westphalian Hussar Regiment -No. 11 and leader of the company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss, declares the following:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto v. Sandt, born at Bonn, May 11th, 1869; -Catholic.</p> - -<p>The witness was informed that the Governor-General, Field-Marshal -General Baron von der Goltz, had arranged judicial proceedings for the -purpose of ascertaining whether any German military persons; and, if -so, which, were guilty and deserving of punishment; he then made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Case: I arrived at Louvain from Neuss with the 1st Company, 2nd -Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, on August 24th, 1914. My -company was quartered in closed ranks in an alarm quarter near the -station. The night passed quietly; on the morning of August 25th I -commenced at once to fall in 150 sentries as a railway guard. There -were no other troops in Louvain on this day except a section of railway -engineers, about 60 strong. During the day, great trains of troops of -the IX. Reserve Army Corps, coming from Liège, went through Louvain -towards Malines. At about 5 o'clock Colonel Schweder ordered me to -march with my company to the north-west exit of Louvain; at about 6 -o'clock my company lay upon a small hill in a covered position. A good -deal of fighting was taking place about 1500 metres away from us. I -did not take part in it with my company. On the command of Colonel -Schweder we marched back to the station square at Louvain. On the way -to the town-hall square many German troops with the baggage passed us. -Inhabitants stood singly and in groups before the various houses. On -the way to the station square all was quiet; one could not anticipate -that the inhabitants were planning an attack. At about ten minutes -before 8 o'clock I was with my company in the station square near the -baggage that was ready to march. I stood with my company about five -minutes, when my company was suddenly and quite unexpectedly fired -at from all the surrounding houses, from the windows and attics. At -the same time, I heard lively firing in the station road and all the -adjacent streets; firing also took place from the window of my hotel -(Hôtel de l'Industrie), directly from my room.</p> - -<p>We stood near the baggage; then we knelt down and fired upon the houses -opposite. After a short time the baggage horses and those of the -officers, some of which had been wounded by shots, ran away. I then -sought cover with my company inside the doors of a few houses. Five men -of my company were wounded in this attack. That so few were wounded can -be explained by the fact that the inhabitants fired too high. On the -command of Colonel Schweder I then led my company back, close to the -station.</p> - -<p>An hour later an adjutant came who called my name—v. Sandt. He said -that he was an adjutant of His Excellency v. Boehn. The adjutant -asked me, "Can you swear that Belgians fired on your company from the -opposite and adjacent houses?" I replied, "Yes; I can swear that." -The adjutant then led me to General v. Boehn, who stood near. His -Excellency desired an accurate report. I gave my report exactly as I -have given it here before the Judge of Military Law, Dr. Ivers. After -having given my report, His Excellency said to me, "Can you swear to -the accuracy of what you have just reported to me, especially to the -fact that the inhabitants first fired from the houses?" I replied to -this, "Yes; I can swear to this."</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto v. Sandt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings, 4 o'clock p.m.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>First Lieutenant v. Sandt added the following:</p> - -<p>About half an hour after His Excellency v. Boehn had spoken with me -about the firing of the Belgians from their houses upon my company, and -after His Excellency had had these houses at the station set on fire, -and while they were blazing, with the exception of the house "Maria -Theresa" (an hotel which was not set on fire because near it were the -military benzine stores), two or three more volleys were fired from the -windows, and particularly from the roof of this hotel directly upon the -officers and men standing in front of the station. Besides my company, -about 150 soldiers of the 35th Reserve Regiment, just detrained, stood -in front of the station. It was only now that—after having removed the -barrels of benzine—we fired on the house and set it alight.</p> - -<p>After this statement too had been read to the witness he declared it -also on the oath which he had taken at the first examination on the -morning of the same day.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto v. Sandt</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General of Belgium.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation Captain v. Sandt as witness, and after the -object of the examination has been made known to him, he is examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: As already stated.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I can only confirm as perfectly true my statement of -September 17th, 1914, which has been shown to me again. Like my -commander, Schweder, I had taken up my quarters in the Hôtel de -l'Industrie at Louvain. I did not see myself the light signals shown -at the station, but soldiers of my company assured me repeatedly -in the most trustworthy manner that light signals had gone up near -the station, and the firing from the surrounding houses commenced -immediately afterwards. The shots from these houses were undoubtedly -fired by civilians. There were not yet any German soldiers in the -houses at that time. Our soldiers only fired after a lively fire had -been opened on them from the houses. Our troops marched into Louvain -in close order when they arrived from the fight at Bueken, and they -were not pursued by Belgian troops as far as Louvain. The Belgian -troops had been pressed back beyond Herent to Bueken. There was no -reason at all for our troops to fire prior to the firing from the -houses. I emphatically declare on my oath that it is altogether out of -the question that our troops should have previously fired upon each -other by mistake in Louvain. I was told that identification discs were -frequently found on shot civilians, so that one may assume that Belgian -soldiers in civilian clothes took part in the firing. I did not myself -see any mutilated German soldiers in Louvain, but soldiers of the -Marine Battalion—I think of the 7th—under the command of Colonel v. -Berund, told me credibly that a German soldier had been found in the -Hôtel de Suède with the head beaten in. According to their statement -another German soldier was found dead in the Rue Maria Thérèse, his -legs and arms having been chopped off. This house was consequently set -on fire.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Otto v. Sandt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement, referring to the -oath already previously made.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 9.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>First Surgeon, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, Dr. -Berghausen made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Georg Berghausen, born at Cologne o.Rh. on -February 1st, 1881; Old Catholic.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am Battalion Surgeon in the Landsturm Infantry Battalion -Neuss, and arrived at the station of Louvain with the 1st Company of -this regiment on August 24th, 1914, at noon. I lived with the Staff -in the Hôtel "De la Ville," and in order to prepossess the proprietor -and the employés I immediately paid out of my own pocket 50 francs -for the purchase of provisions. The evening of the 24th and the night -passed quietly. At noon on the 25th I was on duty at Herent and Bueken. -At about 4 p.m. I was again in Louvain. At about 5 o'clock I heard -that there was a battle proceeding at Bueken. The 1st Company of the -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, under 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt as -company leader, marched to the north-west exit of Louvain. I had gone -there previously by motor, and went as far as the fighting-line before -Bueken, where I was repeatedly fired at whilst sitting in my car, -though I was wearing the white armlet with the red cross. I returned to -Louvain in my car at 11.30 p.m. I got out near the town hall and sent -my car with the chauffeur to the station. I myself went on foot along -the Rue de la Station in order to go to the station where I was living. -On the way, between the town hall and the station, I was fired at from -the windows of the houses about ten or twelve times. Close to where -the Monument stands, I saw a German soldier lying dead on the ground; -he had been shot in the head (mouth). His comrades, with whom he had -passed the Monument, told me on inquiry as to who had shot the soldier, -that the shot had been fired from the corner house of David Fischbach. -With the help of my servant I broke open the street door, and there -first encountered the occupant, old David Fischbach. I questioned him -regarding the murdered soldier, because, as the other soldiers declared -with certainty, the shot that had killed the soldier on the Monument -place had been fired from his house. Old David Fischbach declared that -he knew nothing about it. His son, young Fischbach, then came down the -stairs of the first floor, and from the porter's lodge came an old -servant. I immediately took father, son, and servant into the street. -At this moment a tumult arose in the street because the soldiers, -standing near the Monument, and I myself, were being terribly fired on -from a few houses farther away on the same side. During this time I -lost Fischbach, his son, and the servant in the darkness.</p> - -<p>Lively firing proceeded from a house obliquely opposite the present -commando, Rue de la Station, No. 120. Just in front of this house, No. -120, two officers of high rank and several soldiers passed, hurrying in -the direction of the station on account of the violent firing. I can -state with certainty that the officers and soldiers, who went along -the Rue de la Station during the time that I passed from the town hall -to the railway, did not fire. Accordingly, it is certain that while -the German soldiers did not fire, the inhabitants fired on us German -officers and soldiers from their windows in the Rue de la Station on -the night of August 25th to 26th, at between 11 and 12 o'clock, and, -particularly that when we passed the house No. 120, Rue de la Station, -I saw myself that a murderous fire was directed upon us officers and -soldiers from the second floor of this house. That we, or some of us, -were not killed, I can only explain by the fact that the officers and -soldiers ran along on the same side of the street from which the firing -took place, and that, moreover, it was dark.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later I met, near the Monument, the commissariat -Commandant, Major v. Manteuffel, with the Belgian president of the -Red Cross, the prior of the Dominican Monastery, and the old priest -of the town. We four or five all saw the shot soldier and, a few -steps farther, the old Fischbach lying shot in front of the Monument. -I assumed that the comrades of the shot soldier, who had seen the -firing from the house of Fischbach upon their comrade, had immediately -carried out this punishment on the owner of the house. I then joined -the Commandant with his group of eight soldiers and the three hostages. -The Commandant went with his soldiers and the three hostages through -the main streets of the town, and the Father Prior announced in a -loud voice in Flemish and French that no Belgians should fire upon -German soldiers, otherwise the hostages would have to be shot and the -town would have to pay a fine of twenty millions, and furthermore the -houses, from which German soldiers had been fired at, would be burnt.</p> - -<p>From this statement of mine, which I can conscientiously swear to, it -can be clearly seen that on the night of August 25th to 26th, and also -on the forenoon of August 26th, the inhabitants fired repeatedly and -frequently upon German officers and German soldiers without any cause, -that is to say, without a German officer or a German soldier having -first fired upon the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>Finally, I wish to add that during those days I saw myself a 1st -Surgeon, a Captain, and a Landsturm soldier wounded by small-shot, the -two former in the face; I treated the Landsturm soldier myself; he had -shot-wounds in the forehead, on the right hand, and the right thigh. I -also treated a fourth wounded, a Landsturm soldier with shot-wounds in -the thigh.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Georg Berghausen</span>.</span></p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 10.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Non-commissioned Officer Friedrich Hüllermeier, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile -Landsturm Infantry Battalion Neuss, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Hüllermeier, born at Hardenberg, -near Neviges (district of Düsseldorf), on November 13th, 1874; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On Monday, August 24th, 1914, our company, coming from -Neuss, arrived at Louvain, the 1st Company having gone as far as -Louvain by rail. I was attached to the baggage, consisting of three -carts, three drivers, six men, and four cyclists. We arrived at Louvain -at about 9.30 p.m. The night passed quietly at Louvain. On August 25th -everything in Louvain was quiet until 5 o'clock p.m. Our carts and -baggage, with the necessary guard, stood in front of the hotels in the -station square. At 5.30 the baggage leader, Non-commissioned Officer -Cardinco, came and gave orders to fetch the horses at once from the -avenue and side-street, and to make them ready for marching. We stood -harnessed. At about 8 o'clock our company, with 1st Lieutenant v. Sandt -at its head, returned from the north-west exit of Louvain and drew up -between our baggage. The company had been barely five minutes near the -baggage when suddenly and unexpectedly we were terribly fired at from -the surrounding houses, from windows, attics, and particularly from -the roofs. Beside me stood the servant of Colonel Schweder, Corporal -Fehnes. He received a wound in the head and several in the arm, and -was carried from the place seriously injured. I also saw four of our -horses hit by shots from the windows. I saw that many shots were fired -on us from the Hôtel de l'Industrie, the hotel where our officers -were staying. Several soldiers of our company are said to have been -grievously injured. I add, that the inhabitants fired too high. This -was our good fortune, for, in the terrible fire directed upon us from -all the houses in the station square most of the German officers and -soldiers would have been killed or seriously wounded. At the command -of Colonel Schweder the company was then led close to the station -building. We stood close to the station for about a quarter of an hour, -and then I saw that the houses at the station—except the Hôtel "Maria -Theresa"—were blazing. The Hôtel "Maria Theresa" had not been set on -fire because, as I heard only later on, the German military store of -benzine was near it. But I saw clearly that several volleys had been -fired from the windows and the roof of this hotel, which were aimed -directly at the officers and men in front of the station. Besides my -company, about 120 to 150 soldiers from a regiment just detrained stood -at the station. Only, now, since the volleys had been fired from the -house Hôtel "Maria Theresa," we also fired at this house and set it -alight. Not a single shot was fired either by our soldiers, standing -near the baggage, or by my company, which returned about 8 o'clock from -the north-west exit of Louvain, and which was partly standing between -our baggage and partly lying down a little distance away. Only after -we German officers and soldiers had been fired at from almost all the -houses round the station did we receive orders to reply to the fire. I -can swear to this.</p> - -<p>The witness, after his statement had been read over to him, was -admonished that his statement must be perfectly true, since he would -have to swear to it. The witness declared:</p> - -<p>I have only spoken what is quite true, and I can swear to it to the -best of my knowledge.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Friedrich Hüllermeier</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General of Belgium.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation the witness mentioned below, who, after the -object of the examination had been made known to him, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: Friedrich Hüllermeier, aged 40; non-commissioned officer, -1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the afternoon of August 25th the alarm was raised -in Louvain because there was a battle in the neighbourhood. I had -instructions to be ready at the station to march with our baggage-carts -(the baggage of the Staff and our company). I saw nothing of a light -signal or a green light near the station. But towards the evening my -attention had been aroused by a very large number of young people -in civilian clothes—compared to the number previously—who moved -about in the streets, and also went into some of the houses. Towards -the evening I also saw some figures glide past the windows of the -surrounding houses, and I noticed curtains at the open windows being -pulled together. Suddenly, after 8 o'clock p.m., we were fired at -from all sides as if by word of command. Many of us were wounded; -some of us were seriously injured. My horse was shot in the head. We -were ordered to lie down, and we fired upon the houses. Previous to -this firing there was perfect quiet, and we were on the best terms -with the inhabitants. Comrades, particularly such as had stood guard -at the station, assured me in the most credible manner that on that -evening, and prior to the sudden firing, they had seen light signals go -up, especially red and green lights. I declare on my oath that I saw -myself how we were fired at from the surrounding houses, particularly -from the windows and attic dormers; I also clearly noticed many shots -from the Hôtel de l'Industrie and whole volleys from the windows and -the roof of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa."</p> - -<p>I maintain my statement, made on September 17th, 1914, which has been -read over to me.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Hüllermeier</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness affirmed the correctness of his statement with reference to -his previous oath.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 11.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Landsturm-soldier Wilhelm Krebbers, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm -Infantry Battalion Neuss, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Krebbers, born in Crefeld, October -10th, 1873; Catholic.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I can testify with certainty that the German officers and -we German soldiers only fired on the houses after the inhabitants had -previously made a murderous attack upon us Germans by firing many shots -and whole volleys from the windows and especially the roofs of all -houses near the station.</p> - -<p>I was baggage leader. After the firing was finished, my baggage-cart -and horses had disappeared. It was not until about 12.30 at night that -I met in the Rue de la Station two soldiers of a strange regiment with -my cart and my horses. I got on the cart and drove to the station. When -I passed the Hôtel "Maria Theresa" several volleys were fired from the -windows and the roof upon my cart. The horses bolted and only stopped -behind the station at a wall.</p> - -<p>The statement was read over to the witness, and he was admonished -to speak only the truth, since he would have to swear to it. He then -declared:</p> - -<p>I have spoken the perfect truth, and can swear to it with a clear -conscience.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wilh. Krebbers</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 12.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 17th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Station Buildings.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Sergeant-Major Schmiele, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Arnold Schmiele, born on May 5th, 1882, at -Berlin; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am Sergeant-Major, 1st Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm -Infantry Battalion Neuss, and am under the immediate command of 1st -Lieutenant v. Sandt.</p> - -<p>When I had heard the first two or three shots of the inhabitants from -the houses opposite the station—it was about 8 o'clock p.m., shortly -after dark—I noticed coming in a south-westerly direction a swarm of -small bluish balls of light that descended on us without making any -noise and were then extinguished. I immediately drew the attention of -the soldiers near me to this; five to six soldiers had, so they told -me, made the same observation as I had done. In my opinion, this rocket -was to be the sign for the inhabitants to begin firing at once upon the -German soldiers; in any case, it is certain that immediately after the -appearance of the rocket in the sky, the inhabitants fired from their -houses. I saw that we German soldiers were fired on from two houses in -the station square directly from the roof and from the attic windows.</p> - -<p>I can swear according to the truth that in the station square where -my company lay, the inhabitants were the first to fire on us from the -houses, and that it was only then, after the Belgians had commenced -the firing, that we Germans fired on the houses in the station square.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Arnold Schmiele</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 13.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 18th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Landsturm-soldier Küppers, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hubert Küppers, born at Güchen, district of -Grevenbroich, on April 11th, 1877; Catholic.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am a soldier of the 1st Company, Landsturm Infantry -Battalion Neuss.</p> - -<p>On August 25th I was, in the evening between 7 and 9 o'clock, sentinel -in front of the main entrance to the station building at Louvain. At -about 8 o'clock the leader of our company arrived with his company -in the station square. One part of the company drew up between our -baggage-carts in the station square, another part lay down on the -ground a few paces from us. The company had only been in the station -square for about five minutes when I saw a green rocket go up, going in -the direction above the Hôtel "Maria Theresa" at the station square. -I saw how the rocket became extinguished above the Monument in the -station square and a number of bright, many-coloured little balls fell -down, which all went out in the air before they touched the ground.</p> - -<p>Hardly had the green rocket and the small balls become extinguished -when, on the opposite side of the town, and also in the direction -towards the station, a red rocket became visible. After a few minutes -the red rocket also became extinguished, and immediately afterwards a -number of luminous little balls, blue, red, and green, from the rocket -fell down and were extinguished before touching the ground. Only a few -seconds later a murderous fire was opened upon the German soldiers -from the windows and attics of nearly all the houses in the station -square. I am certain that the two rockets were a sign to the Belgians -for commencing the fire upon the German soldiers. At 9 o'clock I was -relieved. I immediately reported to Non-commissioned Officer Grünewald, -on duty in the guardroom, that at about 8 o'clock I had seen two -rockets go up, one from the left of the town and the other from the -right—the first, a green one, followed immediately by a red one, from -both of which fell a quantity of luminous, many-coloured, small balls.</p> - -<p>After the witness had been earnestly exhorted to speak the truth, he -made the following statement:</p> - -<p>I am ready to swear conscientiously to the incident of the two rockets -just as I have described it.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hubert Küppers</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 14.</span></p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General at Brussels.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>, Judge of Military Law.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>September 18th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Non-commissioned Officer Engemann, Landsturm Battalion Neuss, made the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hugo Engemann, born at Barmen on June 13th, -1876; Catholic.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I am a non-commissioned officer of the 1st Company, -Landsturm Battalion Neuss, and on August 25th I was on duty at -signal-box 2. The guard is posted at some 800 metres' distance from -the station at Louvain. I sat in front of the guard-house and noticed -in the twilight, immediately after 8 o'clock, a red rocket in the -sky. In my opinion it rose above the main railway station at Louvain. -Immediately afterwards I heard loud firing from the town.</p> - -<p>I can swear to my statement with a clear conscience.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hugo Engemann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Ivers</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rambeau</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 15.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General-Government of Belgium.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears the witness mentioned below, who, after the -object of the examination has been made known, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Frederic Messelke, aged 42; corporal, 2nd -Landsturm Battalion Neuss, 1st Company, at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th I marched with my company in close order -through Louvain to the station there. In the preceding action the -Belgians had been pressed back. On our return the town was quiet, nor -did we hear any shots on our return march. The troops in Louvain did -not mistake us for Belgian troops trying to enter the town. Above the -station I saw suddenly, at about 8 o'clock p.m., a blaze of light as of -a rocket. On the appearance of this light we were suddenly fired upon -from every quarter. At the command of our Feldwebelleutnant we fired on -the houses. The shooting continued for some time. I immediately told my -comrades that the signal light mentioned above was evidently a rocket.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritz Messelke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 16.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Corporal Heinrich Weinen, and is examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Heinrich Weinen, aged 38; corporal, 1st -Company, 2nd Mobile Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th I saw from the station square a light signal -suddenly given. Upon this signal we were fired at on all sides from -the windows of the surrounding houses. The rooms, from which the shots -came, were dark. I did not see any figures at the windows; I only saw -the flash of the shots; the flashes from the objects pointed from the -windows, which I took to be revolvers, were reflected from the houses -upon the street. The bullets struck the square close to us and burst -about our heads too.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Heinrich Weinen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 17.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation Musketeer Wilhelm Mainz as witness, and is -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Wilhelm Mainz, aged 39; musketeer, 1st -Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th, in the evening, I was on guard at the -signal cabin, about 1000 metres from the railway station at Louvain. -Once, on turning round—it was between 8 and 9 o'clock—I saw clearly -two bright rockets rising near the station. After the ascent of these -rockets, I heard all at once in the town, and more especially near the -station, violent firing.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Wilhelm Mainz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the -witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 18.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>November 16th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Stationsstrasse, 118.</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness Corporal Erwin Bastian, who is -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Erwin Bastian, aged 28, at present engaged at -the Commandant's office at Louvain.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 22nd I came here with 1st Lieutenant Thelemann, -and was billeted upon a wine merchant, W. Philipper, opposite the -infantry barracks, with two more comrades. Up to August 25th the -relations between the local inhabitants and the soldiers were -throughout good, so that the men went partly without arms. On this -evening we retired to rest about 8.30; half an hour later we heard -isolated shots in the street. From what seemed to me the unusual -sound of these shots, I believe I can say with certainty that the -shots did not emanate from our weapons. We dressed ourselves at once. -From the window of my quarters I noticed several horses, especially -officers' horses, galloping through the streets riderless and coming -from Tirlemont. I also saw baggage horses without riders galloping -past, presumably from the baggage column, which was then stationed in -the market square here. Later we went to the infantry barracks, and -there reported ourselves. When the shooting increased, we made our way -out under the command of a non-commissioned officer to the Tirlemont -street, but soon returned again to barracks. Our section had not been -firing. On the way I saw dead horses lying in the street. Riderless -horses also galloped past us. In the barracks we occupied the windows. -From there I saw the flashes of different shots; according to the -illumination they caused, they had been fired from the surrounding -houses, perhaps at the height of the roof in the direction of the -street. I heard the bullets from these shots fall in the street; I had -the impression that they came from small bore rifles. It was dark in -the street; there was no light; the electric lighting, which on the -previous day was in order, had been destroyed during the night.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Erwin Bastian</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 19.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>December 16th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Stationsstrasse, 118.</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Robert Dreher, and is -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Robert Dreher, aged 23; musketeer, 11th -Company, Infantry Regiment No. 48, at present engaged at the -Commander's office at Louvain.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I arrived here on August 20th, and have remained here since -that date. I was in the infantry barracks here, suffering with bad -feet. On the evening of August 25th, at about 9 o'clock, I heard shots -in the street. I therefore marched with several men under the command -of a non-commissioned officer. In the Rue de Tirlemont shots were fired -upon us from right and left of the houses of this street, and, as I -could clearly see in the illuminating flashes of the firing, by people -dressed as civilians. The shots came from the windows and roofs; the -bullets struck the street. It was clear from the sound of the shots -that they did not come from German weapons. We entered the houses from -which the shots had come and brought out five to six civilians, all -of whom still held revolvers in their hands. These persons were later -on shot at the railway station. I did not notice any previous signal -lights; riderless horses galloped past us, as well as baggage-carts -and horses, without drivers. On the morning of August 26th I saw on -the railway-station square many civilians shot, more than 100, among -whom were five clergymen, because they had shot upon German soldiers, -or because arms had been found with them. On August 27th I was in the -town with a comrade. I was shot at, without being injured, from behind -the hedges of a garden. It was in the afternoon; I was unable to see -the person who had fired the shot. On civilians who had been shot we -subsequently found distinguishing marks, from which I conclude that -they were Belgian soldiers.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Musketeer <span class="smcap">Dreher</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 20.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>November 16th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Stationsstrasse, 118.</span></span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness Corporal Willi Kröber, who is -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Willi Kröber, aged 24; corporal, 8th -Leib-Grenadier Regiment, at present in Louvain at the Commandant's -office.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I have been here since the 21st of August, in the infantry -barracks, Rue de Tirlemont, with bad feet. On August 25th, at about -9 o'clock in the evening, we here heard shots which, according to -the sound, came from revolvers, but not German ones. We had to form -up in the court. A sergeant-major distributed cartridges among us, -whereupon I marched off with about twenty men. In the Rue de Tirlemont -we were vigorously fired at from houses to the right of the barracks -and from houses near the military hospital, the shots being fired -from small rifles. We entered a restaurant, from which shots had -been fired on us, and we found that the owner had about 100 Browning -cartridges. He was taken prisoner and shot. In the public square I -saw in the above-mentioned night two dead baggage horses and several -German soldiers lying dead in the street. By the light of the shots it -could be clearly seen that we were being shot at from the houses of -the Rue Tirlemont. We also heard the bullets from these shots strike -the street. On our return to barracks I still heard many shots in the -distance. On August 26th I did not go out. On August 27th, in the -afternoon about 5 o'clock, I went with five men under the command of -a non-commissioned officer from the town hall to the market-place. In -this square we were shot at with revolvers from the roofs of several -houses; the bullets fell near us.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Willi Kröber</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 21.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 18th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on request as a witness Assistant Medical Officer Keuten, -who declares:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Arnold Keuten, aged 25; Assistant Medical -Officer of the 2nd Mobile Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in -Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: As far as I remember, I came to Louvain in the course of -the afternoon of August 27th, and was there until the beginning of -October, when the Landsturm Battalion marched off. In the course of the -afternoon I heard shots in the Rue de la Station. I was then wearing -the Red Cross armlet. I had the impression that shots were being fired -on us from a house in spite of my visible Red Cross armlet. We moved -towards the house. A German soldier of another battalion jumped out of -the first floor of this house, and in doing so broke the upper part of -the thigh. He related to me that he had just been pursued and shot at -by six civilians in the house. Later I went to the station at Louvain. -There two German soldiers, both wounded by small shot, were taken -to the ward under my care. They had small shot in the upper part of -the thigh and the abdominal muscles respectively. According to their -statement, civilians fired at them from houses when they were standing -at the station between carriages.</p> - -<p>From September 10th to September 12th I had the care of a concentration -ward in Wygmael, about 5 kilometres from Louvain. From the 10th to the -12th of September there had been some engagements in the vicinity, -especially at Rotzelar and Wackerzerl. It was reported to me that there -were still on the battlefield about 300 Belgians. I went there twice -to take care of the wounded Belgians, the first time with a cart and -a few men wearing the Red Cross. In bringing out the severely wounded -Belgians from a house, we were shot at from bushes two or three times, -though it was still light. On the second occasion, too, when I went to -the field with two motor ambulances and two transport cars for wounded, -marked with the Red Cross and carrying flags with the Red Cross that -were visible a long way off, shots were fired at us from bushes; the -drive was merely undertaken in order to bring in Belgian wounded.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">A. Keuten</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 22.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation as witness Non-commissioned Officer Joseph -Fenes, who is examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Joseph Fenes, aged 44; non-commissioned -officer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in -Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I arrived at Louvain on the evening of August 24th with my -Landsturm Battalion. In the afternoon of the following day, at about -4 o'clock, I was ordered to saddle at once, ready for battle, the two -horses of our commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Schweder. The hotel, at -which my commander had put up, was situated at the right, looking from -the station square, at a corner of the square. When I arrived at the -hotel with the two saddled horses my commander had already left in -his automobile for the battlefield. I was instructed to wait with the -two horses outside the hotel. From this point in front of the hotel I -could well overlook the station square. I noticed that on the stroke -of 8 o'clock (German time) a rocket went up suddenly from the station -square, such as I have seen them at displays of fireworks. The rocket, -giving a bright light, went up from the square to the right of the -station from a bush near which there are to-day graves; I was about 50 -metres away from it. I only saw one rocket go up. Before the rocket -went up I had already noticed that between 6 and 7 in the evening a -remarkable number of the civilians who passed me entered the hotel of -my commander and went up the stairs.</p> - -<p>Hardly had the above-mentioned rocket gone up when shots were fired -from all the surrounding houses upon the German soldiers who were in -the station square. The shots were fired from the houses by civilians, -as I noticed distinctly—it was still fairly light. I also saw -civilians running about on the roofs of the surrounding houses and -firing down from the roofs. The first shot fell from a window of the -top storey of the hotel of my commander, outside which I was waiting, -and, as I distinctly noticed, was fired by a civilian. Immediately -afterwards many more shots were fired from the windows of this hotel -into the street. For safety's sake I at once mounted one of the horses. -But immediately after I had mounted, it was shot in the leg (hind leg) -from the window of my commander's hotel, so that it fell down with me. -Just afterwards the other horse also was struck by a bullet from the -hotel. It fell on me, so that I broke a rib and shoulder. As I was -lying between the two horses, I received suddenly from above, from a -window of the hotel, a shot on the crown of the head. (Witness shows -the wound; the injury is to-day still clearly visible, and is situated -on the upper part of the head, approximately in the centre, so that he -must have received the shot from above.) I was carried to the hotel by -a comrade and bandaged by a German military doctor who did not belong -to our battalion. Later on I was moved to another house, and then laid -down in a place amongst some bushes. From there I saw that brisk firing -was still taking place from the surrounding houses. The persons firing -the shots I could not recognise because of the darkness. I declare most -positively that the German soldiers only fired after the civilians had -already begun the firing from the houses, after the rocket had gone -up. After the rocket had ascended, wild and indiscriminate firing at -once began from all the surrounding houses. A mad confusion ensued. -Riderless horses and driverless baggage-carts tore past.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Joseph Fenes</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 23.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation as witness Medical Non-commissioned Officer -Adam Meschede, who is examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Adam Meschede, aged 42; medical -non-commissioned officer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, -at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the evening of August 25th, between 8 and 9 o'clock, I -was in a ward at the railway station of Louvain. As trained medical -non-commissioned officer I was bandaging the wounded there. Among the -wounded two German soldiers of the 1st Company of our battalion were -brought to me this evening; their names are Kloenters and Roesseler. -In both cases I ascertained, and I declare this on oath, that they had -been injured by small shot in the head.</p> - -<p>On this evening I had in all about forty to fifty German wounded -brought to me.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Adam Meschede</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 24.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Malines</span>, <i>November 19th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the General Belgian Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Franz Bongartz, who is -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Franz Bongartz, aged 41; musketeer, 1st -Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the evening of August 25th we came back from an -engagement near Bueken, and formed up at the station. Suddenly, as -if by command, shots were fired upon us from all sides from the -surrounding houses, as I clearly saw. Whole volleys were discharged at -us. I saw how we were being shot at from a restaurant there. We brought -out from this restaurant a few women and one man, who were taken to -the town hall. On the way there we were shot at from the houses. On -the following day, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, I was shot in -the knee. A German sentry showed me his rifle which, as I convinced -myself, was hit by small shot. I saw clearly that civilians fired from -the houses; the shot I received in the knee was fired from a cellar by -a civilian.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Franz Bongartz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, -he was duly sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 25.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Quedlinburg</span>, <i>November 22nd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Ersatzbataillon, 5th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment No. 165.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Moellmann</span>, Lieutenant, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><span class="smcap">Bringern</span>, Sergeant-Major, as Military Clerk.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Musketeer August Zander, 3rd Ersatz Company, -5th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment No. 165, shop assistant by calling, -and after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he -was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is August Zander, aged 21; Protestant; born in -Schönebeck a.E., now living in Quedlinburg infantry barracks.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 21st I was brought to the field hospital at -Louvain because I was hurt in the foot. The field hospital was situated -in the barracks of the 11th Belgian Line Infantry Regiment, opposite -the military hospital, and was recognisable by a Red Cross flag.</p> - -<p>Food was conveyed to us regularly by young Belgians, who visited -a school in Louvain to train as clerics, by a few Dominicans or -Franciscans, who wore yellow coats, and also by a few civilians. The -nursing attendants wore white armlets with the red cross.</p> - -<p>On August 25th these people, who had given us our food, had from the -afternoon onwards disappeared without a trace. The evening meal we -received on this evening from a civilian; it must in some way have -been spoiled, for most who had eaten of it were attacked by violent -diarrhœa.</p> - -<p>In the evening, when most were already abed, it may have been 9 or -9.30, we heard suddenly violent firing. All who could jumped from their -beds and endeavoured to get rifles to defend themselves.</p> - -<p>The senior soldier present in the field hospital was a battalion -drummer (sergeant-major) from Regiment No. 27, who was lying in bed -severely wounded. He tried to quiet us by saying that we were under the -protection of the Red Cross; no one could hurt us. Those of us who had -been able to get rifles crowded to the entrance of the field hospital -in order to defend ourselves.</p> - -<p>I saw quite clearly two or three persons sitting on the roof of a -neighbouring house, who fired at our hospital.</p> - -<p>Below at the door, where the guard stood, we heard violent firing. -One could distinguish clearly between the pistol firing, carried out -by the Belgians, and the rifle fire of our own troops. Meanwhile, one -or other of our soldiers came to us and told us to rest quietly; the -attack undertaken by the inhabitants had failed. They only said that -our sentinels were having a bad time, that they were covered with hot -tar, and were suffering great pain.</p> - -<p>Finally we went to bed again. We heard throughout the night single -pistol shots, which could be clearly distinguished from our rifle shots.</p> - -<p>Next morning, between 8 and 9, I had gone into the court. Two other -soldiers were near. Suddenly about ten pistol shots were fired on -us, which, as I saw clearly, struck the ground quite close to me. -The shots had evidently been fired from the opposite roof by pushing -back the tiles. On the way to the station, which we took on the same -morning, we were repeatedly told by our posts to take care, as more -shots had been fired. At the Louvain station it was some hours before -the field hospital train went off. During this time several pistol -shots fell again at the end of our column, which were evidently -intended for the hospital train; a comrade was immediately afterwards -carried from the rear part of the column, where he had just been -severely wounded in the legs, to the front of the train.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">August Zander</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p>Signed as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Moellmann</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Bringern</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 26.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>On August 26th, 1914, a motor-car, provided with a Red Cross flag and -painted with the sign, stopped in the town hall square at Louvain.</p> - -<p>The night affair in the streets was finished.</p> - -<p>The square was being cleansed from blood, etc. From Mons had arrived a -vehicle with wounded.</p> - -<p>Of these Captain Count v. Reventlow, 12th Grenadier Regiment, was -carried in the Voluntary Aid Society's automobile. It was 1 p.m., -sunny, raining at times. Rifle fire upon this automobile was opened -from the windows of the houses.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Georg v. Zitzewitz</span>, Capitänleutnant,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Delegate of the Voluntary Aid Society.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 27.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Fürstenwalde</span> (<span class="smcap">Spree</span>), <i>November 25th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant Prince <span class="smcap">zu Carolath-Beuthen</span>, as Court Officer.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Altendorf</span>, as Clerk.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness Uhlan Friedrich Herzog, 1st Field Squadron, -Uhlan Regiment (1st Brandenburg) No. 3, who states:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Friedrich Herzog, aged 29; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was in the hospital at Louvain. On the evening of August -25th, 1914, 9 o'clock, we heard shots directed upon our hospital. The -shots came from a house opposite the hospital. They were fired by -civilians, whom I saw myself.</p> - -<p>On the next day I was taken from the hospital to the station at -Louvain. On the way there I saw how shots were fired by civilians upon -four nursing sisters who were carrying a wounded German soldier. The -soldier, on this occasion, was hurt in the foot.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Friedrich Herzog</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">zu Carolath-Beuthen</span>, Lieutenant, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Altendorf</span>, Sergeant-Major, Clerk.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 28.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Frankfurt a.O.</span>, <i>November 23rd, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Reserve Battalion, Grenadier Regiment Prince Carl von -Preussen (2nd Brandenburg) No. 12.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lieutenant and Adjutant <span class="smcap">Quander</span>, as Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Acting-Sergeant-Major <span class="smcap">Troschel</span>, as Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness Reservist Emil Getzke, 2nd -Company, Grenadier Regiment No. 12, now with the 2nd Company of Reserve -Grenadier Regiment No. 12, and after the importance of the oath has -been pointed out, he is examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is as stated. I am 24 years old; Protestant; -fireman by calling, living in Berlin, Winstrasse 58.</p> - -<p>As to Case: From August 19th to 26th, 1914, I was in Louvain, wounded, -where I was stationed with other wounded men in a school arranged as a -hospital.</p> - -<p>On August 25th, shortly after 9 p.m., we suddenly heard rifle fire -coming from the street, which later on was augmented by machine-gun -fire. As we could see nothing from the window owing to the geographical -position of our house, an Offizierstellvertreter, unknown to me, -called the hospital guard, which was stationed in a building separated -by the school-court, to inquire about the reason for the firing. The -guard having replied to the query, the Offizierstellvertreter ran -quickly over and returned in a few moments. He ordered all lights in -the house to be extinguished, and no one was to fire. On the afternoon -of the following day the hospital was cleared. All the wounded, -I amongst them, were conveyed to the station in a furniture van. -Immediately behind the van, sisters of the Red Cross carried a severely -wounded soldier. When we had arrived at the station, and were about -to leave the van, we were suddenly fired on by civilians who were -passing. None of the wounded were hit, nor the sisters, but a few of -the Landwehr men, who were accompanying the conveyance of the wounded. -They, as well as the guard at the station, at once replied to the -firing. A number of the assailants were hit by rifle shots.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Emil Getzke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Quander</span>, Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Troschel</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 29.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Cologne</span>, <i>November 13th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Royal Government.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President <span class="smcap">Greeven</span>, as Judge.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Referendary, Dr. <span class="smcap">Wolter</span>, as Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness the soldier Dadaczynski, 6th -Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27, who states:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Stanislaus Anton Dadaczynski, aged 31; -Catholic; gardener in Stassfurt, near Magdeburg, at present in the -reserve battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 27.</p> - -<p>As to Case: When my battalion was in a village before Louvain, the name -of which I do not remember, I was taken by a non-commissioned officer -to Louvain on account of lung-trouble, together with two other soldiers -who were suffering with their feet.</p> - -<p>On Tuesday, August 25th, 1914, about 9 p.m., we were lying in the -barracks in which I was placed, in our rooms, on the straw. Each one -had by his side his rifle, also loaded cartridges. Suddenly we heard -shots directed upon our barracks from the hospital opposite. Shots -also came from the houses near the hospital. I can say with certainty -that shots were also fired from the hospital. We could hear distinctly -that shots were being discharged not only from guns, but also from -machine-guns.</p> - -<p>When we heard the shooting we took our rifles and ran from the second -or third storey, where we were stationed, downstairs. As the main -entrance of the barracks was covered by machine-gun fire, we could -not get out of the barracks. Some of us, who tried all the same, were -wounded; one fell dead. When the shots ceased for a moment we ran, -thirty to forty together, out of the barracks. We were shot at from all -surrounding houses, from cellars and windows.</p> - -<p>We now stormed all the houses from which shots had fallen; I with -four others rushed into the first house to the left of the hospital. -We brought out five inhabitants; from the other houses, close by, -about twenty men were brought out. Those who were found with arms were -immediately shot or bayoneted. Some twenty men, who were unarmed, we -brought to the barracks. From all side-streets near the hospital came -shots. We had to rush house after house. Wherever an armed inhabitant -was discovered he was killed. The house in which he was found was set -on fire. I myself, together with a comrade, bayoneted one inhabitant -who went for me with a knife.</p> - -<p>Shots were fired not only from the windows and cellar-openings, but -from the upper storeys of houses tin boxes filled with hot tar were -thrown on us. I saw myself how a box filled with tar was thrown upon -the helmet of one of my comrades, so that the tar ran down his neck and -shoulder. Another comrade had been hit by such a tar box on the arm, -so that the tar ran down his sleeve. Happily for them, the tar was no -longer so very hot as to cause worse burns.</p> - -<p>During the storming of the houses we again made a number of prisoners, -among them women and children; these were taken for safety's sake. We -brought these prisoners also to the barracks, and had to guard them -there.</p> - -<p>Shots were heard until 2 a.m., and between 6 and 7 a.m. the firing -commenced afresh.</p> - -<p>At about 9 a.m. I saw a church burning near the town hall, also many -houses in the neighbourhood. The shooting continued intermittently -until Thursday, August 27th, when I received instructions to accompany -the convoy of captured francs-tireurs, to which were added about four -hundred English prisoners, from Louvain <i>via</i> Aachen to Cologne, where -we were dismissed to the Ersatz Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 27.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stanislaus Dadaczynski</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been urged upon the witness, he -was duly sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Greeven</span>. Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Wolter</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 30.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Aix-la-Chapelle</span>, <i>November 14th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Garrison Command.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President of the Court, Captain <span class="smcap">Schneider</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Klinke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness Herr Hubert Sittart, Member of the -Imperial Diet, living in Aix-la-Chapelle, and on being questioned he -declares the following:</p> - -<p>On August 31st a number of women of Louvain told me there, with tears -in their eyes, of the sorrow caused them by the bombardment of the -town. They admitted emphatically that our troops had been fired at -from the houses and cellars. One of them, the widow of a medical man, -thought the firing had been done by the Garde Civique. But when she -heard that wounded were lying at Aix-la-Chapelle who had been seriously -wounded by small shot, she had to admit that civilians had also taken -part in the firing. She also agreed with me when I declared that the -Garde Civique, as well as the regular troops, deserved no forbearance -if they fired from an ambush, from cellars and roofs instead of in -open, honest fighting.</p> - -<p>The vice-rector of Louvain University, Monsignore Coenraets, told me -that he was ordered as hostage to read out to the people a proclamation -to the effect that the hostages would be shot and fire opened on the -town if the troops were treacherously fired at. He had hardly read -this out in one street when shots were actually fired upon the German -soldiers accompanying him.</p> - -<p>The importance of the oath having been pointed out to the witness, he -was sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">H. Sittart</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schneider</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Klinke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 31.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Louvain</span>, <i>November 14th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General of Belgium.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears the witness Albert Lemaire, aged 37, -professor of medicine, chief physician of St. Peter's Hospital at -Louvain, living in the Leopoldstrasse, and he declared:</p> - -<p>In the afternoon of August 25th German Landwehr (I do not know the -number of the regiment) was quartered on me. The Germans behaved -quietly and decently. Later on they marched out in consequence of -an alarm. Later on in the evening, whilst taking supper with my -family, I heard violent firing in the street. We fled to the cellar. -Between 11 and 12 o'clock (Belgian time) I went once from there into -the garden. There I was several times fired at, but owing to the -darkness I cannot tell by whom. Previously I heard a German call out, -"Louvain is on fire." I could see from my garden various reflections -of conflagrations. I did not see civilians fire from houses or in -the streets. Nearly all the houses of doctors and professors in the -Leopoldstrasse are burned down.</p> - -<p>On the following day I had my family taken to the hospital by two -German soldiers for safety's sake. On Thursday, August 27th, the -bombardment and destruction of the town was announced. I went to the -country with my family. On my return I found my house burned down.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Signed: Professor Dr. <span class="smcap">Albert Lemaire</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>After the importance of the oath had been pointed out, the witness -was sworn according to regulations. The examination took place in the -German language.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 32.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Proceedings at <span class="smcap">Louvain</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>November 20th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Government-General.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p><i>Legal Statement of Evidence.</i></p> - -<p>In a side-street of the Rue de Tirlemont at Louvain, near the prison, -the following was ascertained:</p> - -<p>In this side-street there is on the left-hand side, coming from the Rue -de Tirlemont, a long wall, about 4 metres high. Opposite this wall lies -a continuous row of houses of several storeys. The wall shows numerous -traces of gun-shots. According to the traces of these shots, which are -still clearly visible, they have been fired without a doubt from the -upper storeys of the houses opposite. The range of these shots on the -wall extends, according to the traces there left, transversely from the -top to the bottom.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stempel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Stemper</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 33.</span><br /> -</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><span class="smcap">Deposition</span> of Reservist Hermann Behnke, 11th Company, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 86, received by Pastor Friedrichs in the reserve -field hospital at Hagen, on September 21st, 1914.</p></blockquote> - -<p>On August 25th we arrived at Louvain station in a military transport -train. We heard brisk firing, so that we assumed that a battle between -our troops and the Belgian troops was taking place. However, when we -arrived in the town, we saw that civilians were firing from the houses -and from trees. We noticed that German troops were fighting a regular -street battle with these civilians. We went to the assistance of our -troops. The civilians were requested to leave the houses from which -firing had taken place. These houses were then set on fire.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings at Hagen in the Office of the reserve field hospital, -Hochstrasse 45, on November 28th, 1914, placed at the disposal of the -Royal War Ministry, Military Examination Office for infringement of -military law.</p></blockquote> - -<p>There appears Hermann Behnke, reservist, 11th Company, Reserve Infantry -Regiment No. 86, and declares:</p> - -<p>The above is my correct name. I was born on February 28th, 1887, at -Neuhof in Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Protestant; married.</p> - -<p>Admonished to speak the truth, I make the following statement:</p> - -<p>I maintain as correct the deposition made on September 21st before the -Protestant minister, Wilhelm Friedrichs. This deposition is true in -every respect, and it has been read over to me.</p> - -<p>Behnke is then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hermann Behnke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The correctness of the above is certified by:</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Jotel</span>, Chief Regimental Surgeon.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Winand Engel</span>, Clergyman of the field hospital.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 34.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Quarters at Thiescourt</span>, <i>November 29th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Leader of the proceedings, Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Stegmueller</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Schmidt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain Josephson, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out, declared:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Walter Josephson, aged 46; Protestant; Leader -of 2nd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 27th, 1914, the 3rd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry -Regiment No. 53, marching from Rotzelaer to Louvain, had to conduct -a transport of about 1000 civilian prisoners. At first, the 9th -Company, under my leadership, and the 12th Company, Landwehr Infantry -Regiment No. 53, under the leadership of Captain Ernst, carried out -the supervision. When subsequently further transports of prisoners -were added, the 1st Battalion of the Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. -53 assisted in the supervision. Amongst the prisoners were a number -of Belgian clergymen, one of whom particularly attracted my attention -because at every halt he went from one prisoner to the other and spoke -to them excitedly, so that I had to put him under special supervision. -At Louvain we delivered the prisoners at the station; another section -of the troops, whom I cannot now name, undertook the watch over them. -On the following morning I was told by various people, amongst whom -was also Captain Ernst, that the clergyman above mentioned had fired -upon a guard, but had not hit him, and that he had therefore been -shot on the square outside the station, probably by the order of the -local commandant. Captain Ernst saw his body still lying there on the -following day.</p> - -<p>With regard to the conditions then prevailing at Louvain I am able -further to state the following:</p> - -<p>The 3rd Battalion, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53, entered Louvain -on August 25th, that is, on the day of the sudden attack, and remained -at Louvain from August 27th to September 1st. My company was quartered -on the Belgian rector of an intermediate school, a very quiet, -sober-minded man, with whom I fully discussed the attack. He related -to me that he had gone for a walk in the neighbourhood of Louvain on -the day of the attack, and had visited an inn. The host told him that -on that day a troop of about 100 young men, who conversed in different -languages, had passed his house on the way to Louvain. They asked for -drinks and lodgings for the night, but the whole thing appeared to him -so suspicious that he removed the sign outside his inn, so as to have -nothing to do with these people. He said to the rector literally, "If -these people get to Louvain, there will be bad smells there to-morrow," -by which he meant to say that then blood would flow. The rector also -stated to me that in almost every house at Louvain a room for students -is to be let. These rooms were tenantless at the time in question -on account of the university holidays; friends and acquaintances of -the students, or persons who posed as such, could quite easily get -admission to these rooms; he assumed that these rooms had been occupied -by the above-mentioned persons. It was, at any rate, a striking fact -that when I rode at the head of my battalion, together with Captain -Ernst and the adjutant, Lieutenant Stegmueller, in order to quarter -myself at Louvain in the Rue des Joyeuses Entrées, there was a young -man in almost every house, whereas the younger Belgian male population -had been called up for war service; that, furthermore, the inhabitants -absolutely urged us to quarter only officers in their houses, and that, -finally, in all officers' quarters there was—so we were told—only in -the outhouses room for the officers' servants, and never in the houses -in which officers were quartered.</p> - -<p>I had to supply the guard at the railway station from my company; -opposite the station building lies a block of houses, and in front -of it a street fenced off by boards from the station. From this -plank-fence the watch was fired on daily in the dark. I had then all -the houses cleared and the block of houses surrounded by guards. On -the evening of this day I saw myself how, at dark, a troop of 50 to 60 -civilians emerged from the wood which was about 600 to 800 metres away, -but withdrew when the guard was noticed. From this date the firing upon -the guard ceased.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Josephson</span>, Captain and Battalion Leader.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn in accordance with regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Stegmueller</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Schmidt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 35.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Proceedings at <span class="smcap">Reserve Field Hospital at Cleve</span>,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><i>October 9th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Royal Court of Justice.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Judge, <span class="smcap">Fritzen</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Frings</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears the under-mentioned witness, and, after having been -acquainted with the object of the examination, he was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Adam Hoos, aged 32; Catholic; soldier, 2nd -Company, Landwehr Regiment No. 55, at Wesel, at present in reserve -field hospital at Cleve.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th we entered Louvain and took part in the -street-fighting. On the morning of August 26th, when searching the -houses for wounded, we found in the cellar of a house a soldier of our -regiment whose name I do not know, whose body had been cut open so that -the entrails protruded. We did not ascertain whether the dead man was -otherwise wounded. In my opinion, the cut could have only been effected -with a sharp knife.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Adam Hoos</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Fritzen</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Frings</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 36.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Lübeck</span>, <i>March 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of Justice, Department 10.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Judge, <span class="smcap">Dubel</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Giese</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the request of the war minister appeared on citation the witnesses -mentioned below, who were examined individually and in the absence of -witnesses to be heard subsequently.</p> - -<p>1. Student Oldenburg.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Hans Ludwig Oldenburg, aged 24; Protestant; -student of law; at present non-commissioned officer, 3rd Reserve -Company, Reserve Battalion No. 162.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m., our regiment -entered Louvain in marching order. The standard of the battalion was at -the head of our company. It was already dark and, in marked contrast to -the places through which we had passed the previous night, a surprising -number of gas-lamps were alight. In the doors of the houses stood -Belgians in civilian dress who behaved in a quiet and not unfriendly -fashion. I saw no windows illuminated. Having marched into Louvain for -about ten minutes, there was suddenly a halt. Two to three minutes -later, but perhaps sooner, we were suddenly fired at from the houses of -the right and left. I also saw the flashes of several shots from the -houses near me. From one house I also saw bombs fall; one fell about -10 metres away from me in the street and exploded there with great -detonation. I do not know whether anyone was hit by it. I can point out -accurately the house from which the bomb fell. It stood on the left -side, near the second lamp, which stands behind the next cross-road, or -the next yard-entrance, on the left.</p> - -<p>When the bomb fell, no shots had as yet been fired by us. We now -received orders, "About turn, march." But after we had turned we were -ordered from the rear to shoot into the houses. We then fired into both -fronts of the houses. I cannot say what reply was made to our fire -because the noise and confusion was too great. It also became at once -quite dark, because we demolished the lamps with our fire so as to -offer no aim to the opponent. This firing may have lasted a full hour. -During the firing I saw a soldier near me fall. I was then run over -and lost consciousness. When I recovered from my swoon, the firing was -still continuing. I dragged myself to the nearest wall, and was then -driven by an automobile to the field hospital.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Oldenburg</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Corporal Hoehne.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Max Robert Theodor Hoehne, aged 28; -Protestant; art dealer; at present corporal, 4th Reserve Company, -Reserve Battalion No. 162.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On the evening of August 25th, at about 9 o'clock, our -regiment marched into Louvain in column of route. At the head marched -the 1st Company. Then followed the 2nd, to which I belonged. It was -already dark. The gas-lamps were alight. Outside in the suburb a few -windows showed light. People in civilian dress put water in the street -for us. But we did not drink of it because an officer warned us not to -do so. The civilians behaved in a quiet and not unfriendly manner.</p> - -<p>We marched over the railway bridge into the town straight on. At a -point where there was a square occupied by automobiles, the road made -a sharp bend. We marched past this bend straight on again. Up till -then nothing happened, except that we saw no civilians at all in the -town. The windows of the ground floors in this part of the street were -closed by shutters. The windows of the upper floors were open. But this -fact only struck me when we were fired at. Shortly after my company -passed the bend of the road, a shot rang out, and this was immediately -followed by brisk firing. I saw many such shots flash from the upper -windows, and also noticed how sparks flew about as the bullets fell -into the street. Immediately at the beginning of the firing two men -behind me fell; one of them was Corporal Wiessner. Wiessner sat down -at the roadside; the other soldier remained lying in the street, face -down. We now dispersed on both sides and fired into the upper windows. -During the firing I saw yet another soldier fall. In the meantime we -had destroyed the lamps by our fire, so that nothing could be seen. I -cannot say how long the firing continued. After some time the order -was passed along to cease firing. When we were about to reassemble we -were fired at from the windows of the ground floors. I was hit by small -shot that had been fired directly through a window-pane on the ground -floor; the shot remained in the haversack and coat. A comrade who -turned towards the window fell at once owing to, so I assume, a shot in -the head.</p> - -<p>We now fired also into the ground-floor windows, removing in part the -shutters. I, with a few others who had burst open the door, entered -the house from which came the small shot. We could find no one in -the house, but in the room from which the small shot had come, an -overturned paraffin-lamp, still smouldering, was on the table.</p> - -<p>When the firing ceased, the order to "rally" was sounded, and I only -heard the call of our company. We rallied outside a restaurant at the -corner of a street, and were suddenly fired at from a window near us, -with revolvers, as I could tell by the sound. After having rallied, -we wanted to return in close order, but were again fired at from the -houses. The greater part of us continued the retreat. I and four -others, however, turned about and marched on in the old direction. We -joined some few other soldiers going in the same direction. On our way -we saw more than half a dozen wounded soldiers lying in the street. Two -men lay beneath and beside a shot horse. One of them pulled himself -from beneath it. I pulled away the other from the horse, but left him -lying because he was dead. In doing this I was kicked on the knee by -the horse. Later on we joined the main body of our battalion near the -station bridge in that road which one reaches when entering Louvain -straight from the railway bridge. The troops were here drawn up and -ordered to search the houses. Shortly before, a woman, with a child -upon her arm and with two children beside her, passed right through -the troops. No harm befell her. She was allowed to pass into the town -unchecked.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, and signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Max Hoehne</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Dubel</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Giese</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 37.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Bremen</span>, <i>January 10th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Officer of the Court, <span class="smcap">Ahrens</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Heinhorst</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>At the investigation regarding the events at Louvain the following -witnesses appeared, and, after the importance of the oath had been -pointed out to them, made the following statement:</p> - -<p>1. Officer's Deputy Walter Kruse, 3rd Company, Reserve Battalion, -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75.</p> - -<p>On the evening of August 25th, 1914, at about 9 o'clock, the 3rd -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75, entered by train the -station at Louvain. At a distance of about 300 metres from the station -building our train was suddenly fired at from both sides of the railway -embankment. I heard the shots rattling against the carriages. The -train stopped, and an order was given to leave the train. I made my -men at once deploy along the track and reply to the firing. We were -about three to four minutes under fire when I received some small shot -in the right upper thigh. I then had myself bandaged, and was not a -direct witness of the subsequent events. The firing, after scarcely -ten minutes, suddenly ceased, whereupon the companies were rallied. In -the dark one could only see the flashes of the shots. They came for -the most part from above, so that one was obliged to assume that they -had been fired from the windows, roofs, and trees. I did not see any -individual persons who fired. About an hour and a half later I heard -from the railway station, where I lay wounded, another burst of violent -firing, which, however, ceased again at once.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Walter Kruse</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Sergeant-Major Ludwig Hilmer, 3rd Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment -No. 215, at present at Bremen.</p> - -<p>When the train with the 3rd Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. -75, entered the station at Louvain on the evening of August 25th, 1914, -at about 9 o'clock, we were suddenly fired at from both sides, at a -distance of about 300 to 400 metres from the station building. The -window-panes in my compartment broke at once. We got out and replied to -the firing. The enemy could not be seen, because it was already quite -dark. We only saw the flashes of the shots, and assumed that they came -from the houses at each side of the railway. Five men of my company -were wounded in this fight. I ascertained that the wounds were partly -caused by small shot. After about ten minutes the firing ceased, but -was resumed again at once. Only when we had the lights on the station -extinguished did the firing cease. The companies now rallied to the -station, removed their packs, and were ordered to fire all the houses -from which firing had taken place, after searching them first. With -this order we received strict injunctions not to hurt a hair of women -and children. My company entered in groups the houses of the section -allotted to it. Captain Brinckmann and I entered an inn diagonally -opposite the station, and found there behind the bar a waiter with -a ball-gun and ammunition. He was immediately taken to the railway -commandant by some men. We then continued searching. Various civilians -were led off by my men, and after a final decision of the commandant -they were shot in the place before the station. In accordance with -my orders, I helped to fire several houses, after having convinced -myself in every case that no one was left in them. At about 12 o'clock -p.m. this work was finished, and the company returned to the station -building, in front of which lay about fifteen inhabitants, shot. Two -clergymen also stood there who were to serve as hostages. I heard a -patrol report that in a church inhabitants had been taken with guns -and munition. Sleep was not to be thought of during the night, because -the town was echoing with the explosion of bombs and munition stored -in the burning houses. One might have believed oneself in a heavy -artillery fire. On the morning of August 26th the company was again -alarmed, because baggage was being fired at in the town. We advanced -into a street about five minutes' distance from the station, and were -here fired at from the houses, apparently with shot-guns. We entered -the houses and took prisoner several civilians whose behaviour had -been suspicious. The houses from which the firing had come were then -set on fire. About noon the company returned to the station. At about -3 o'clock p.m. I stood with an acting-sergeant-major at the monument -in front of the station, when we were suddenly exposed to a violent -fire. Immediately afterwards five riderless horses galloped towards -us, coming from the street in which the shots had been fired. As was -ascertained subsequently, the horses were those of gendarmes whose -riders had been shot in the town. Arrangements were now made and -published in the whole town by the ringing of bells and the beating -of drums that every company advancing into the town must be headed by -a number of hostages. These were to be shot the moment there was any -more firing from the houses. Among the hostages held at the station -were clergymen and state officials. In spite of these measures, the -inhabitants again fired on that evening and during the night. The -morning of August 27th passed without any special events for my -company, because we urgently needed rest. It was only during the -afternoon that we were again active. As peace could not be restored in -the town by means of hostages, the order was issued to take all male -inhabitants, aged seventeen to fifty. I carried out this order by the -help of a strong platoon of eighty men after the order had been read -out everywhere by a lieutenant. The people had to be fetched out of -every house. After three hours' work I took 200 to 300 persons to the -station. Every man on whom arms or munition was found was shot; these -again numbered some fifteen to twenty persons. The others were notified -that if shots were again fired during the night they would all be put -in front of a machine-gun. This announcement was effective, for the -next night passed perfectly quietly. On the following morning, hardly -were the prisoners dismissed when the firing began afresh. My company, -accompanied by hostages, advanced again into the town, and was again -fired at. Again we had to fire some houses. On this occasion I saw -with my own eyes how a civilian fired from a high window upon Captain -Brinckmann. I heard the shot fall in the street. The Captain at once -ordered the burning of the house. From here we advanced to a monastery -on a hill. It was said that firing had taken place there, but we found -neither arms nor munition. But immediately we again heard cries for -help from the main road leading past the monastery; we hurried back, -and had to assist an artillery column that had been fired at. We again -set a few houses on fire, whereupon the command was given for all -inhabitants to leave Louvain, as firing with artillery was to commence. -This happened between 2 and 4 o'clock p.m. whilst our battalion was -still at the station. I observed myself that the artillery projectiles -only fell in those parts of the town in which attacks had been made.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hilmer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Hilmer was sworn.</p> - -<p>3. Soldier Heinrich Westerkamp, company of wounded, Reserve Battalion, -Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75.</p> - -<p>At noon, on August 25th, I had arrived at Louvain with the 2nd -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 75. Whilst we were being -provisioned from the field-kitchens in that part of the town which is -near the suburb of Herent we were struck by the number of young strong -people who were in the street and putting their heads together. At -Herent I was transferred to the baggage because of foot-trouble whilst -my battalion marched on. I was about to draw water from a well when -suddenly the baggage was being fired on from all sides. The baggage -had already turned about, and as the horses could not be stopped we -returned to Louvain at full speed. But there, too, all was not safe, -as we heard from stragglers; we wanted to drive past the station into -the nearest village in order to spend the night there. We got, however, -only about 50 metres beyond the station, and had to halt there because -a wheel had come off a cart. Hardly had the carts stopped on the -perfectly dark road when we were violently fired at from the houses -near us, as well as from those on the other side of the railway and -from the bushes on the railway embankment. The man beside me on the -cart immediately received a shot in the foot. We dismounted and tried -to make ourselves safe. At that moment a civilian came running up -towards me from a house, pointing a revolver at me. I immediately shot -the person down. A hand-grenade exploded immediately after this, about -7 to 8 metres away from me, and smashed a horse. Three of us now sought -cover in the recess of a house, from which we succeeded in reaching -a goods-shed. At this time—about 9 p.m.—the 3rd Battalion arrived, -which we joined. During the night the detonations never ceased, and -the houses round the station were burning. From the Hôtel du Nord a -machine-gun had even been fired, as could be distinctly heard from the -regular shots. On the following morning I ascertained that five horses -of the baggage transport had been killed. I remained in front of the -station building until noon on August 26th, and I here saw that about -forty persons were examined by an officer and about half of them were -shot. Two clergymen were also brought forward, one of whom declared -himself a German, and said that he had not fired. I heard subsequently, -however, that a Browning pistol was found on him. I also saw a man -of Regiment No. 162 or 163 carried past on a stretcher. He whimpered -terribly, and I heard that whilst doing patrol duty in the town several -inhabitants fell upon him and cut off the scrotum. Later on I heard -that the man had died of his wound. A Belgian who addressed me in -German declared that the whole misfortune could have been avoided if -the clergy did not from the pulpit praise those who fire upon German -troops. At noon on the same day we followed the company with the -baggage after having previously received fresh horses. We only found -a heap of ruins where the village of Herent had stood. About three -days later I met Lieutenant Foerster (now of the 4th Company, Reserve -Infantry Regiment No. 75). He told me that German soldiers had had the -genital members cut off and put into the mouth, and that the latter had -then been sewn up.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Westerkamp</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Ahrens</span>, Lieutenant and Judicial Officer.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Heinhorst</span>, Non-commissioned Officer.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 38.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Altona</span>, <i>March 1st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Commandant.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Koch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared the merchant Gruner as witness, and, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23; Protestant; merchant -in Hamburg.</p> - -<p>As to Case: After mobilisation I offered my services voluntarily and -went into the field as a motor driver on the staff of the IX. Reserve -Army Corps. On the evening of August 25th, 1914, we arrived at Louvain. -As a sortie had been announced from Antwerp, the German troops were -taken from Louvain and, as I assume, employed in the attack. The -baggage, including the motors, stopped in the square in the immediate -vicinity of the Hôtel Métropole. At the command of Captain von Esmarch, -I followed the troops who were marching off and brought back one -company for the protection of the staff, which was then drawn up in the -place mentioned above. At about 9 o'clock p.m. I saw a green rocket -ascend over the town. At the same moment commenced the firing upon us -from the houses surrounding the place. I also heard the regular "tak, -tak" of machine-guns. The German soldiers fired again and succeeded in -beating down the hostile fire; the houses from which firing had taken -place were set alight. I had the impression that the proceedings had -been systematically prepared. Up till then we had been treated by the -inhabitants with the greatest kindness and amiability.</p> - -<p>After the attack in the centre of the town had been dealt with, the -troops in the interior of the town were conducted to the station. Until -then I had not seen any sign of interference on the part of the Belgian -clergy. On the way to the station I saw a man in clerical garb, with -unmistakable clerical physiognomy and a broad-brimmed hat with two -tassels, directing our troops to a certain road. I myself drove along -another road, following some cars before me. Subsequently I heard that -the troops who had followed the directions of the clergyman reached a -cul-de-sac, and were there exposed to fire from the houses.</p> - -<p>When I arrived at the station I heard that here, too, an attack had -been made upon the German soldiers by the civilian population from -the surrounding houses, and had been defeated; in the station square -and throughout the town houses were burning. All citizens taken -were conducted to the station square, examined, and, if their guilt -was ascertained, shot according to martial law. I myself acted as -interpreter during part of the examinations. The examinations continued -through the night until the following morning. The number of persons -shot by court-martial may have been eighty to a hundred; among them -may have been ten to fifteen clergymen. This number is exclusive of -one man in unmistakable clerical garb, because beneath his clerical -garb he wore civilian dress. Among the clergymen shot was the one I -mentioned previously, and of this I am quite sure. He was pointed out -by soldiers as the one who had directed them and their comrades into -the cul-de-sac; he, too, was shot. I interpreted during the examination -of two further clergymen. On one of them a revolver was found that -still contained four cartridges, and one had been discharged; he, -too, was shot. It had, moreover, been announced previously that every -inhabitant on whom arms were found would be shot. I cannot now say what -was furthermore ascertained in relation to this clergyman; but no one -was shot whose participation in the attacks upon the German troops was -not determined beyond doubt by at least two witnesses, or on whom arms -were not found. Those brought up for examination must have rendered -themselves suspect in some way, otherwise they would not have been -examined at all.</p> - -<p>During the night isolated attacks upon German troops took place, also -during the day.</p> - -<p>During the examinations many of the Belgians related that their -behaviour towards the Germans had been represented to them by the -authorities, also by the preachers, as a matter of faith. When we -fetched the wounded in automobiles during the night we were fired at, -and also from a convent.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Gruner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was duly sworn.</p> - -<p>Authenticated:</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>, President.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Koch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>March 19th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Ministry of War.</p> - -<p>Military Examination Bureau for Infringements of Martial Law.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Grasshoff</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Pahl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation merchant Richard Gruner of -Hamburg-Grossborstel, Holunderweg 12.</p> - -<p>The importance of the oath was pointed out to the witness, and he -declared:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard Gruner, aged 23; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I repeat, first of all, all the statements made during my -judicial examination at Altona on March 1st, 1915. This statement, -which has just been read to me, is perfectly true in all respects. I -add further what follows:</p> - -<p>The examination of the volunteers brought forward by the German troops -on the station square at Louvain on the night of August 25th to 26th, -1914, was conducted by Captain Albrecht, who was then reporting officer -on the staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, and who fell later, at the -end of October 1914, at Noyon. Captain Albrecht was attached to the -Grand General Staff in peace time. I was requested by him to act as -interpreter during part of the examinations. The examination proceeded -in such a way that the soldiers brought forward the civilians taken by -them, whilst the firing in the town continued. I was given about 100 -to 200 persons to search and to examine. Captain Albrecht passed from -one group of persons assembled in the station square for examination to -another group, and inquired the result in order to give instructions -for the further treatment of the accused. Altogether about 600 persons -may have been brought forward, at least 500 of whom were spared death -by shooting because no sure proof of their guilt was brought forward -during the examination. These persons were led aside; the men amongst -them were later on sent to Germany, whilst it was left to the women and -children to go to Anvers.</p> - -<p>It is not true that the persons were arbitrarily selected when -arrangements for shooting them were made; on the contrary, the -examinations were carried out strictly according to the facts. I -examined myself the persons brought forward for arms, and frequently -found arms on them. I also had instructions to see whether the accused -were Belgian soldiers, which could be seen from the identification -disc. On many of the persons brought to me I found the military disc -in the pocket or in the purse. Captain Albrecht proceeded—I assume -on higher command—in such a way that he ordered those to be shot on -whom either arms or a rallying sign was found, or those of whom it -was testified by at least two witnesses that they had fired upon the -German troops. In my opinion it is quite out of the question that any -innocent person lost his life; particularly Captain Albrecht did under -the circumstances all that was possible to exhort the soldiers to speak -the truth; if no arms or identification discs were found, he himself -questioned the witnesses as to whether they could make their assertions -with certitude, and he pointed out to them that the life and death of -a man depended upon their word. And only when the soldiers maintained -their assertions after this admonition, the command for the shooting of -the condemned was given.</p> - -<p>Amongst the persons brought forward were a number of priests; of -these about ten to fifteen in all were shot. I ascertained myself -that one priest carried a loaded revolver which had been fired once, -and the empty cartridge-case was still in the barrel. I furthermore -recognised another priest as the one who, according to the testimony -of the soldiers, had intentionally decoyed them into the fire of the -francs-tireurs. These two were undoubtedly genuine clergymen. On a -third man wearing clerical garb, and civilian clothes underneath, I -found a military identification disc.</p> - -<p>I was in the station square during the whole examinations, and I can -therefore testify from my own knowledge that no mock-execution of -priests has taken place, and that not one of the involuntary spectators -of these scenes was forced to applaud.</p> - -<p>Among the persons brought forward there were many civilians who, when -they became aware that I spoke French, called to me that they were -innocent, and that the priests bore the whole guilt of what had taken -place. They expressly pointed to the priests who had been brought -forward. Amongst them was a Belgian civilian who, as a sign of his -goodwill to the Germans, showed a document, according to which the King -of Prussia had bestowed the Order of the Red Eagle upon him. I took -the opportunity to remonstrate with this person that he, an educated -man, and the other men of his station had not stopped the populace -from making the attack; he replied, "It is quite impossible for us to -prevail upon the people who are in the hands of the clergy."</p> - -<p>I remained at Louvain until August 26th, 1914, 4 p.m. During August -26th I still heard and saw, now and again, firing from the houses; -comrades of mine were wounded actually at my side; thus also the -voluntary soldier Wuppermann. During the morning of August 26th I spoke -in the station square, where there were many women prisoners, with -two of them who evidently belonged to the educated classes. One of -them, an American from St. Louis, addressed me in English and begged -me to release her and another known lady from imprisonment, as they -were innocent. She explained to me that the clergy were responsible -for the events. She then called the other lady, a Belgian, with whom -I also conversed in French. She also confirmed to me that the firing -from the houses was due to the conduct of the clergy. She related -the following: In the evening, Belgian soldiers dressed as civilians -entered individual houses and forced the inhabitants by threats to -receive them and to admit them to the windows in order to shoot from -them; previous to that the clergy had gone into the houses and declared -to the inhabitants that it was their duty to receive and support the -Belgian soldiers because the German troops were making war upon the -faith of the Belgians.</p> - -<p>During the critical days, particularly violent firing on the German -troops came from a convent outside Louvain, on the road from Louvain to -Bueken. I have heard this repeatedly from soldiers, and on August 26th, -1914, in the afternoon, whilst going in my automobile to Bueken, I had -to pass the street near the convent under special protective measures. -In order to be safe from any firing from the convent we had to take -with us several civilians, who were placed partly upon the footboard of -the car, partly upon the cooler.</p> - -<p>I wish to emphasise that even during the examinations in the station -square we were fired at from houses there. I particularly remember the -incident when about ten to twelve young people in sporting-caps—which -was frequently the distinguishing mark of disguised Belgian -soldiers—were brought up quite close to the station building, and -that I was fired upon from a building opposite on my way to see these -persons, and that the prisoners ran away, and that we Germans fired -after them.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Richard Gruner</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Pahl</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Grasshoff</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 39.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Guiscard</span>, <i>March 1st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Member of the Military High Court, <span class="smcap">Riese</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as a witness Non-commissioned Officer Muesfeldt, and, -after the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, he was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Willy Muesfeldt, aged 33; Protestant; -non-commissioned officer, IX. Reserve Corps.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th I arrived with the first party of the -General Command at Louvain. We unloaded and drove with the baggage to -the market-place. Here we remained, as it was said that the English -were near, and that we might have to go into action that day. In -the evening, at about 9 o'clock, Captain von Esmarch, leader of our -baggage, arrived in the automobile and said that matters had turned -out differently, and that we could march off to quarters. The Captain -mounted the horse and gave the order "Mount." He had hardly said this -when firing commenced from all sides. I fetched my rifle from the -cart, took cover, and fired. Then I noticed that the Captain lay on -the ground, wounded; I brought him into safety beneath a cart, and -continued firing. I cannot say exactly how long the firing continued. -When it ceased, the order was given to search the houses from which -the firing had taken place for francs-tireurs. I approached a house -from which firing had taken place, battered the street door, and went -down the cellar, from which shots had also been fired. I found there -a man of about forty years of age, with dark pointed beard, who had -a revolver in his hand. I immediately threw myself upon him, and in -spite of his struggles I led him up the stairs, where I handed him -over to gendarmes. I did not indeed see this man shoot, but I assume -it with certainty, since I found him with the revolver in his hand; he -struggled, and there was no one in the house except his wife. All this -I related to Captain von Esmarch at Christmas when he was here on a -visit to the General Command. There was a pharmacy in the house, which -I mentioned above.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Non-commissioned Officer <span class="smcap">Muesfeldt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Riese</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Reisener</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 40.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Altona</span>, <i>March 1st, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Commandant.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, Sergeant <span class="smcap">Meyer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears as witness engineer Weiss, who, after the importance of -the oath has been pointed out to him, he declares as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Robert Weiss; engineer, in Altona; aged 31; -Christian; motor-driver.</p> - -<p>As to Case: After mobilisation I offered my services as a volunteer, -and went into the field as motor-driver on the staff of the IX. Reserve -Army Corps.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of August 25th, 1914, we arrived at Louvain. The -inhabitants behaved at first more than kindly towards us.</p> - -<p>Towards the evening I had driven a wounded man to the field hospital -near the market-place. The field hospital was established in a -monastery. About 9 o'clock I drove the car with Captain von Harnier in -it from the monastery back to the market-place, when suddenly firing -began on all sides from the houses. I stopped my car and remained -unhurt; Captain von Harnier was wounded in the arm; he hurried to the -market-place, and I sought cover beneath the car.</p> - -<p>I may have remained there about half an hour when a platoon of German -infantry came along the road. I called to the leader, and he had the -surrounding houses, from which the shooting continued, covered by fire. -I then took the car to safety in the yard of the monastery.</p> - -<p>When, after a short time, I wished to leave, Captain von Esmarch -was carried in, covered with blood. Whilst being carried to the -field hospital, he was fired upon from the monastery. I went into -the monastery with an infantryman; we found a revolver, but to save -ourselves from being cut off we could not enter the vaults of the -monastery into which the people had evidently retired.</p> - -<p>The Belgian field hospital did not want to bandage Captain von Esmarch; -I finally forced a Belgian surgeon, whom I caught by the arm, to apply -the bandage.</p> - -<p>Subsequently, on driving my car to the market-place, and from there to -the station with the General Staff, I saw everywhere on the way burning -houses; now and again isolated firing from the houses still took place.</p> - -<p>At the station there were no burning houses, and strict orders had been -given to set no houses on fire there. After half an hour the firing -from the hotels opposite the station began. From that point right to -the station there was firing with machine-guns; I could distinctly hear -the regular "tak, tak."</p> - -<p>It was only then that orders were given to raze the houses in front of -the station; they were set on fire, but even from the burning houses, -and finally from the ruins, the firing continued briskly. We suffered -losses.</p> - -<p>Later on, isolated shots were fired.</p> - -<p>The citizens who had in any way taken part in the attack were brought -to the station square, and, if found guilty, shot according to martial -law.</p> - -<p>The soldiers, who brought the citizens along, were exhorted—as I -have myself heard—to bear witness carefully and conscientiously. The -examinations were conducted by officers of the General Staff. Whoever -carried loaded arms, in spite of the prohibition issued and announced, -was shot at once.</p> - -<p>In the town lay several men in clerical garb, shot; at the station, -too, several men in clerical dress were shot; all were examined, but I -was not present at the examinations.</p> - -<p>On the following day, too, isolated shots fell upon us from houses.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Weiss</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn in accordance with the regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>, President.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Meyer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 41.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Commander.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Meyer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Altona</span>, <i>March 3rd, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness merchant Dammann, who, after the importance -of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Carl Dammann, aged 31; Christian; merchant in -Hamburg; soldier of the Reserve.</p> - -<p>As to Case: After mobilisation I volunteered for duty as motor-driver, -and as such I was assigned to the Staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps.</p> - -<p>On the evening of August 25th, 1914, we arrived in Louvain. At first -the inhabitants were very obliging.</p> - -<p>My motor-car was put in the market-place, a big square near which -is the Hôtel Métropole. In the evening, towards 9 o'clock, we -motor-drivers stood under the trees of the place and chatted together. -Comrades told me they had seen a rocket go up.</p> - -<p>Suddenly an awful firing commenced from the houses surrounding the -place. The fire was first of all directed on the baggage-carts which -were to be drawn up at the place. Each one of us sought cover, I on a -baggage-cart, the horses of which had just been shot. My car showed -later on a hole as large as a fist in the protective cover and in the -body of the car; to judge by the way the tin was bent, the shot must -have come from below, from a cellar. Whilst we sought cover, the -firing continued, and some of us were wounded. In my opinion this was a -well-prepared and planned attack of the civilian population.</p> - -<p>After the firing had become less violent, we drivers went to the -station. At the market-place and in its small side-streets the houses -were burning. During our drive to the station, German patrols passed us -everywhere. In the station square firing took place principally from -the four large hotels there. The firing in the station square continued -till the morning.</p> - -<p>Those persons of the town who had participated in the attack upon the -Germans were taken to the station square in the course of the evening -and during the night. An officer then examined them; the soldiers who -had brought up the people were examined. A number of men, nearly fifty, -were shot in the station square after the examination was over.</p> - -<p>As far as I remember, there were two persons in clerical garb amongst -them; but there may have been more.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Carl Dammann</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>, President.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Meyer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 42.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Commander at Altona.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Kahl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Altona</span>, <i>December 28th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appears as witness Captain of Landwehr II. Hermansen, -who, after the sanctity of the oath had been pointed out to him, makes -the following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard, aged 37; Protestant; Public -Prosecutor at Düsseldorf; at present in the Reserve Battalion, Infantry -Regiment No. 76, Hamburg.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I arrived at Louvain on August 25th at about 9 o'clock p.m. -after a railway journey of 55 hours.</p> - -<p>At the moment of alighting a violent fire was opened upon the station -and its vicinity from the houses lying round the station. I also heard -a mechanical noise, which I took to be machine-gun fire.</p> - -<p>We took part in the searching and the burning down of houses from which -firing had taken place.</p> - -<p>Some of the houses were furnished with regular loopholes, among them -also houses which, as I saw on the following morning, had flown white -flags.</p> - -<p>On September 1st, at Lombeek, St. Catharinen, near Ternath, west of -Brussels, I made the acquaintance of a priest, to whom I expressed my -approval of the quiet bearing of the inhabitants of Lombeek towards our -company.</p> - -<p>He said, "Yes, for weeks I have been preaching this from the pulpit, -and my flock listens to me. I have told them that if they wished to -fight, they should go to Antwerp, put on uniform, and obtain a rifle. -The enemy is only doing his duty; his soldiers are children of the same -heavenly Father."</p> - -<p>I replied that, if all his colleagues in office had acted thus, much -that was disagreeable would have been avoided both for the Belgians and -for us. He did not contradict me; we remained talking a little while -longer, and when I took my leave of him, he blessed me.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hermansen</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Steengrafe</span>, President.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kahl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 43.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Felgner</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Becker</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Flensburg</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Captain von Vethacke, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Moritz, aged 37; Protestant; Captain, Reserve -Battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 86.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I have just read Captain Hermansen's statement of December -28th, 1914, and I confirm it with the following remarks:</p> - -<p>I know for certain that among the corpses lying in the station square -there were several dressed in clerical garb. The examinations in the -station square in Louvain were carried out very carefully. Each company -had its portion of the town which it tried to clear of francs-tireurs. -Persons found with a rifle in their hand were at once shot, but others -who could not be at once convicted of the participation in the attack -were led to the station building for a decision to be come to there -regarding them. The witnesses accompanied them in order to give their -testimony in the station square. Whatever priests were shot, were found -guilty before the Court. I also made the acquaintance of the priest -mentioned by Captain Hermansen at the end of his statement; he made -an excellent impression on me also; he did not contradict me when I -expressed my view that priests had stirred up the people and had taken -part in the attacks. From my conversation with this priest I gained the -impression that he did not approve of the behaviour of his colleagues -in office.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">von Vethacke</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn according to regulations.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Felgner</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Becker</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 44.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Bavarian Landsturm Infantry Battalion Gunzenhausen.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Captain <span class="smcap">Hahn</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Walz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Vielsalen</span>, <i>February 4th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>On citation there appeared as witness Herr Karl Dörffer, born on -December 25th, 1877, at Erda, district of Wetzlar; Protestant; 1st -Lieutenant, Reserve of Prussian Railway Regiment No. 3, assigned to -the Railway Constructing Company No. 17, at present commanded by the -Bavarian Staff Officer of railway troops in Vielsalen.</p> - -<p>The witness, to whom the importance of the oath was pointed out, was -examined as follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My personal description is correctly stated.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 24th, 1914, I was commanded to effect the -detraining at the station in Louvain. I was acting manager in the -station as well as commandant over the station. On August 25th -detraining took place almost continuously; I particularly mention -the detraining of the IX. Reserve Corps and the General Staff of -this corps. On the evening of August 25th, at nightfall, shots fell -suddenly in front of and on both sides of the station area; in this -area were detachment of troops and trains. At first I did not attach -much importance to the firing; but as it became more violent I went to -the front of the station building.</p> - -<p>I now saw that violent firing was taking place, particularly from an -hotel to the right of the station. From the long flash of fire from the -individual shots I assumed that military rifles were not being used. I -know for certain that firing took place from the upper floors of this -hotel, but the windows from which firing took place were dark.</p> - -<p>The following design will indicate the position of the hotel more -clearly:</p> - -<p class="center"> -<img src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="map" /> -</p> - - - -<p>To judge by the violence of the firing I must assume that firing from -other houses also took place.</p> - -<p>Through officers of the Mecklenburg Dragoons belonging to the General -Commando of the IX. Reserve Army Corps—if I remember right, through -Captain von Alten and another officer—the news was received at the -station that even the transport of the Army Corps had been fired on in -the town. A high officer gave the command to search the hotel mentioned -and other houses, and then to set them on fire. A number of persons, -partly middle aged, partly older people, were taken out of these -houses, and a great number of them—but only males—were immediately -shot according to martial law. It was then quiet in the station -square for a long time. I would point out that I could not stand in -the station square continuously, because I had business to transact in -the station itself. It was therefore impossible for me to watch all -the events in front of the station. At about 11 or 11.30 p.m.—most of -the houses in the station square were burning—a volley was fired on -us from the roof of an hotel on the left of the station; the hotel was -already burning at the bottom. I stood, as it happened, in the centre -of the station square with several officers; there remained nothing -for us but to throw ourselves upon the ground so as to offer the -smallest possible target. Orders were then given to search this house -once again; in spite of this, a few isolated shots were fired during -the night from the houses in the station square, especially from the -houses on the road to Tirlemont, opposite the loading ramp, upon which -artillery and vehicles were unloaded even during the night.</p> - -<p>I know that, after the volley had been fired from the house last -mentioned, a high officer gave orders to clear the people from all the -houses round the station; a number of women and children, also old and -middle-aged men, were thereupon apprehended; a few of the men were shot -according to martial law, but in a great number of cases it could not -longer be ascertained whether they had taken part in the firing. These -persons were first housed in the station; part of them were later on -transported.</p> - -<p>On August 26th a few isolated shots fell near the station. On my -request, the commandant of a battalion—according to my notes it must -have been Colonel von Treskow, 2nd Battalion, Reserve Regiment No. -76—had various houses on the road to Tirlemont cleared; this officer -told me that in doing so he lost one of his reserve officers. I cannot -say whether there were persons of the Garde Civique among the Belgians -who fired on us.</p> - -<p>As to the persons shot—I speak, of course, only of my own -observations—it had been ascertained by witnesses that they were -guilty.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karl Dörffer</span>, 1st Lieutenant of the Reserve.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Hahn</span>, Captain and Officer of the Court.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Friedrich Walz</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 45.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the Mobile Commissary Commando, 1, VII. Army Corps.</p> - -<p class="hang" > -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">Elble</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Casser</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Péronne</span>, <i>December 29th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appears on citation as witness Paymaster Otto Rudolph, Reserve -Railway Constructing Company No. 11, at present at Péronne, who, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Otto Rudolph, aged 34; Protestant; police -officer at Worms.</p> - -<p>As to Case: The Reserve Railway Constructing Company No. 11, of whom I -am paymaster, marched into Louvain on August 24th, 1914. My Commandant -instructed me to arrange for quarters for the officers and the horses -of the company near the principal railway station. I first applied to -the proprietors of the hotels in the station square, especially to the -proprietor of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa." Everywhere I was received -in the kindest way. As the rooms of the hotel were, however, already -engaged by officers of other units of troops, I could not get the -necessary rooms. I therefore tried to find quarters in the main road -leading from the town hall direct to the station, but the name of which -I have forgotten. Here the necessary rooms were put at my disposal in -the kindest way. In the house No. 105 of this street I found quarters -for three officers. In the house diagonally opposite, the apartments of -a bank official, I was also well received.</p> - -<p>The quarters were not occupied on this day, because the company was -trench-digging at the station during the whole night.</p> - -<p>On the following day I had requisitioned vegetables, straw, etc., at -Linden and Kessel-Loo, the latter a suburb of Louvain. The various -farmers fulfilled my requirements in the kindest way. In the evening I -returned from the requisitioning. On the way, in the suburb Kessel-Loo, -male civilians, who had assembled in imposing numbers, intimated to -me that the English had succeeded in breaking through near Louvain. -On inquiring for the messenger who had brought this news I heard -that priests had related it. I also remember actually to have seen -three priests at the eastern exit of the village at about 7 o'clock -p.m. They went through the streets singly, and here and there made -communications to the people. As I heard the firing of cannon at no -very great distance, I hurried to reach the main station at Louvain. -I arrived there at about 8 o'clock p.m. At about 9 o'clock I suddenly -saw, near the station, a rocket go up. At the same moment I heard -violent gun-fire. In order to inform myself regarding the firing, and -to have a better view, I went to a "G"-car of the company transport, -which was about 30 metres distant from the station square. From -the open peep-hole of the "G"-car I obtained a good outlook over -the station square and towards the road that connects Louvain with -Kessel-Loo. I saw quite clearly firing upon the railway train from the -roof of the third house of the street opposite to the train entering -Louvain. I also remarked firing towards the station square from a -window on the third floor of an hotel. From a window of the Hôtel -"Maria Theresa" firing upon the station square took place. During the -firing, the station square and the adjacent streets, which I was able -to overlook, were filled with our troops. The firing could only be -intended for our troops. Our men replied to the firing. I myself fired -at a window of the second floor of the fifth house of the road that is -parallel to the train, from which a civilian, whom I could clearly see, -was firing.</p> - -<p>After our side had received the signal to stop firing, I went to the -station square; this may have been at about 10.30. A General there -had instructed the field-gendarmes to search the houses from which -firing had taken place for arms and ammunition. On my report of what I -had seen, a search was also made in the third and fifth houses of the -street parallel to the train. In both houses suspected persons with -guns and suitable ammunition were found. One of these persons who was -examined at the station had cartridges which fitted the guns in his -pocket.</p> - -<p>At about 12 o'clock p.m. several civilians, among them about six or -seven priests, were shot in the station square. Suddenly a window was -opened on the second floor of the Hôtel "Maria Theresa," where I had -received information in such a trustworthy manner during my search for -quarters on the previous day. I saw a male person who repeatedly fired -upon the troops assembled in the station square. Firing also took place -from houses whose inhabitants had wished to signify their friendliness -by flying white flags.</p> - -<p>On the following day, August 26th, at about 12 o'clock, I again went -to the station square. A large number of male and female inhabitants -of Louvain were there. Among the male inhabitants who were held as -hostages I recognised the bank official who was the proprietor of the -house in the Rue de la Station in Louvain. I entered into conversation -with him; he told me that the Belgian Garde Civique had fired from his -house, as well as from house No. 105 in which I had intended to engage -quarters. When asked why he had permitted it, he told me that on August -25th, 1914, at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, members of the Belgian -Garde Civique had appeared and had forcibly seized the houses under -threat of death; he said that the citizens of Louvain did not wish this -treacherous firing, but had been forced by the Garde Civique to put up -with the firing from the houses.</p> - -<p>At about 2 o'clock p.m., when a few of the houses in the main street -of Kessel-Loo, opposite the main railway station, had been set on -fire, firing took place from the other houses of this street whose -inhabitants had on the previous day conversed with me apparently in the -kindest way.</p> - -<p>In my opinion, supported by the foregoing personal observations, this -treacherous firing was organised according to plan.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Rudolph</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was then sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Elble</span>, President.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Casser</span>, Secretary.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 46.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>War Ministry.</p> - -<p>Military Examination Office for Infringements of Laws of War.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, <i>February 12th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Before the President at the War Ministry in Berlin, Dr. Grasshoff and -the Secretary Pahl, there appears to-day, without citation, Captain -Karl Friedrich von Esmarch (permanently living at his country seat, -Schönheim, Post Rinkenes, district of Apenrade, at present wounded in -Berlin, Club Hospital, Wilhelmstrasse 30, landowner).</p> - -<p>The witness requests to be heard as such with regard to his -observation of the events at Louvain on August 25th, 1914.</p> - -<p>The importance of the oath was pointed out to him, and he makes the -following statement:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Karl Friedrich von Esmarch, aged 40; -Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: On August 25th, 1914, I arrived at Louvain as Commandant -of the Headquarters of the Corps, IX. Reserve Army Corps. We arrived -in Louvain by train about 6 o'clock p.m. We detrained the horses and -the 1st Division. We were to march to a Belgian hussar barrack, take -in provisions, and move into quarters. On the way from the station to -the barracks the adjutant brought me the order to turn back because the -alarm was being raised as our troops were fighting about 10 km. outside -the town. The horses and 1st Division were therefore to go to the -Place du Peuple in Louvain, taking in provisions there, and the riding -horses were to follow on a new order. We rode to the place designated, -and drew up there. In the square stood a train column. The square was -therefore rather fully occupied on all four sides with vehicles and -horses. Gradually it became dark. Infantry regiments marched past us; -on the south-west side of the square they went in the direction of the -town hall. As I had only a few Staff guards to escort the hand-carts, I -asked a passing infantry regiment for a company as reinforcement. I had -become uneasy as to our safety for the following reason: At first the -streets were full, very full of inhabitants; towards the evening all -movement of the inhabitants suddenly stopped; the streets gave me the -impression of being deserted; I also noticed that generally the roller -shutters in the houses were down. I obtained the company and drew it -up on the north-west side of the square; I then rode to the opposite -(south-east) side of the square, where the forage master stood, in -order to urge him to hasten matters.</p> - -<p>I had hardly arrived there when I heard a clock strike. I did not -count the strokes, there may have been eight or nine. It was already -perfectly dark. At the same moment I saw a green rocket go up above -the houses south-west of the place. Shortly afterwards the sound of -gun-fire came from the direction south-west of the place. This first -gun-fire was followed by general firing from all the houses round the -square itself; the firing was directed upon the German troops in the -square. The shots came from the closed shutters; one could clearly see -their flashes; holes must therefore have been bored previously in the -shutters. I now wanted to gallop to the company to make arrangements, -and as I could not ride through the whole park of vehicles I had to -ride round them, <i>i.e.</i> round the north-eastern part of the square. -In doing so I was shot from my horse on the north-eastern side of -the square. I heard distinctly the rattling of machine-guns, and the -bullets flew in great quantities all round me. I was severely hit by -five bullets; I also received a large number of grazing shots; my whole -coat was in rags. When I had fallen from the horse I was run over by a -baggage-cart, the horses of which bolted on account of the firing; I -was dragged to the corner of the square which separates the north-east -side from the north-west side. Here I remained lying under the cart -for about half an hour. During this time I never lost consciousness -and I accurately observed my surroundings. The bullets continually -rebounded on the pavement all round me; I noticed clearly the cracking -off of numerous splinters. I also heard repeatedly the explosion of -apparently heavy projectiles all round me; I thought artillery was -firing; but as there was none present there is only one explanation, -that the inhabitants were throwing hand-grenades on us from the houses -in the square. The firing was not answered to by our troops until some -time had elapsed. The firing on both sides continued for about half -an hour, during which time I lay under the cart; the chain of the -brake-shoe had caught my belt so that I could not get free by myself. -When the shooting ceased somewhat, my servant came and released me from -my position. He brought me to the place where my company was drawn up -on the north-west side of the square and laid me on the edge of the -square, leaning my back against the wheel of a cart. From this position -I could observe all the houses on the north-west side of the square and -also the first houses on both sides contiguous to the square. I noticed -the following:</p> - -<p>The company continued firing into the houses. The firing of the -inhabitants gradually ceased. The German soldiers then beat open the -doors of the houses and set them on fire by throwing burning paraffin -lamps into the houses or by knocking off the gas cocks, igniting the -escaping gas and throwing tablecloths and curtains into the flames; -now and again benzine was used as an incendiary means. Colonel von -Stubenrauch gave the order to set the houses on fire, and I heard -his voice. As soon as the smoke in the houses became stronger, the -francs-tireurs came out of their houses down the stairs. In many cases -they still held their arms in their hands; I saw clearly muskets, -revolvers, military rifles, and other firearms. I was particularly -struck by the great number of revolvers. The francs-tireurs were to a -man evil-looking figures such as I have never in my life seen before; -they were shot by the German sentries standing below. Our men took -great care to spare women and children, who were allowed to leave the -burning houses without interference. I have not seen a single case in -which a woman or child were hurt. Some of the women and children even -assembled in the square round us and were very well treated by the -German soldiers. Near me stood a woman with a perambulator containing -a small child. The soldiers standing round were consoling the weeping -woman.</p> - -<p>I watched the scenes of burning the houses and taking the -francs-tireurs perhaps for half an hour. My servant then brought up -a motor-car. Together with other wounded I was driven to a hospital, -which we only reached after driving to and fro for some time. It -was a Belgian military hospital; I took it to be a monastery at the -time, because there were many monks there. I was handed over about 12 -o'clock, midnight, August 25th, 1914. On the very next day, August -26th, 1914, I was again fetched in an automobile and taken to Louvain -station to be transported to Liège.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Karl Friedrich von Esmarch</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Grasshoff</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Pahl</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 47.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">van Gember</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Lempfrid</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Wesel</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as a witness Musketeer Schmidt, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Alfred Schmidt, aged 32; Protestant; butcher; -musketeer, 9th Company, Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 53.</p> - -<p>As to Case: With regard to participation of civilians in the battle I -know the following: I was attached to the Staff of the 2nd Battalion, -Landwehr Regiment No. 53, as a butcher. On August 25th we had arrived -at Louvain in the afternoon about 5 o'clock. At first we could not go -to our quarters. In the evening at 9 o'clock I was near the baggage. -A lieutenant, who was leader of the baggage, called us together and -explained to us that we were to keep our eyes open, because things did -not seem quite safe. We had hardly returned to our baggage, which stood -in a somewhat narrow turning in the market, when I heard a loud shot. -This was evidently not a rifle-shot, but rather a shot from a small -gun, and evidently a signal; for its sound had hardly died away when we -were fired on from all sides from the houses. The shots came from the -cellars and from all floors; it was real rapid fire. The horses having -shied and the carts having become interlocked, as I stood between two -carts, I could not at first get out. After about five minutes I got -free, looked about for my comrades, and could see none. I therefore ran -to the market, but was fired at there too, also in two side-streets -into which I wished to turn. At a third street I finally succeeded -in finding cover inside a new building. After a time a few comrades -assembled there. We then determined to advance together towards the -gun-fire which we heard in the distance. Coming through a street in -which firing went on continually, I stepped on an iron grate with -which cellar holes are covered in Louvain; I fell through, fell on my -arm, and broke my wrist. Immediately behind me two other comrades fell -into the cellar. We had hardly fallen on the floor when we were fired -at from the interior of the cellar. After some time a sergeant-major -of artillery came who had evidently seen us fall down, and he asked -from the road whether we were Germans. I then stepped up to the cellar -opening, and was pulled up by him by my uninjured hand. The other two -could not rise. I told this to the sergeant-major, who then said that -help was coming immediately. I was taken to a barrack and bandaged. -I cannot say from own knowledge what happened to my comrades who had -fallen in with me. On the following day, however, I was told at our -quarters that they had been severely wounded.</p> - -<p>On August 26th, at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, we were to be sent -off by rail. The signal for starting had already been given when the -train was heavily fired at from the houses near the station. One could -hear the rattling of the bullets. Everybody who could do so had to -load. Not till half an hour later were we able to proceed, the firing -lasted so long. The train was only a hospital train, and was marked as -such with the red cross.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schmidt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: Dr. <span class="smcap">van Gember</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Lempfrid</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 48.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, Dr. <span class="smcap">Czarnikow</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Thiele</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Allemant in France</span>, <i>December 18th, 1914</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witness Lieutenant Brandt of the Reserve, Infantry -Regiment von Alvensleben (6th Brandenburg) No. 52, who, after the -importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, was examined as -follows:</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Kurt Brandt, aged 32; Protestant; book-keeper -in the printing works of J. Schmidt at Markneukirchen, Saxony.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I can only repeat the statements which I made in my report -to my regiment on September 27th.</p> - -<p>The report was then read to the witness, and he then declared the -following: The report is the one just mentioned by me. I repeat its -contents. The letter of the Belgian Government mentioned therein -and the list of members of the Garde Civique found, I handed to the -regiment on the following day. Lieutenant Dunkel of the Reserve will -confirm the correctness of my statements; he was then also at Louvain, -and led a train of the Army Telegraph Section 1.</p> - -<p>During the firing, field gendarmes handed over to me about five -civilians who bore no badge or uniform. The gendarmes reported that -they had taken the persons with arms in their hands, and they also -produced the arms. I did not examine the prisoners, but had them taken -to the Commandant.</p> - -<p>The owner of the hotel mentioned by me, who appeared in the morning -from within the hotel when it was already quite burned down, was handed -over by me to the General Staff Officer of the IX. Reserve Army Corps, -a captain, whose name I do not know. It was the same officer who had -given me instructions to destroy the two hotels. The civilian was -examined by the officer and shot about half an hour later. At about the -same time two priests were shot; when I saw them, they had already been -apprehended. On inquiry, an orderly officer of the Commander General -told me that they had distributed ammunition among the civilians.</p> - -<p>Major Hildebrand, mentioned in my report, had expressly pointed out -that he and his people had been fired on particularly from the houses -opposite the station.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Brandt</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings closed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Czarnikow</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Thiele</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Sender: <span class="smcap">Brandt</span> (<span class="smcap">Kurt</span>), Lieutenant of Reserve.</p> - -<p>Place of dispatch: Wood near Fort Condé.</p> - -<p>Date: 27.9, 4 p.m.</p> - - -<p><i>Report.</i></p> - -<p>To Infantry Regiment No. 52.</p> - -<p>On the 24th ult. I arrived as protection to our Army Telegraph Section -with a platoon of the 11th Company, Infantry Regiment No. 52, at -Louvain, and took up our quarters in the Court of Justice; we were -exceptionally well received by the inhabitants. On the following day -troop trains arrived continually with troops of the IX. Reserve Army -Corps who marched off in the direction of Antwerp, because a sortie -was reported from that city. Only one company and my platoon remained -behind with the baggage. This and the thunder of the cannon which -could be heard in the town seemed to furnish an opportune moment for -the inhabitants to carry out the attack upon our troops which they had -no doubt planned and prepared. At about 9 o'clock there commenced a -violent firing upon our soldiers from the houses, especially directed -upon the newly arriving trains. Major Hildebrand, leader of a not -yet detrained battalion, Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 31, an old -regimental comrade of mine, also suffered from this fire.</p> - -<p>The fire was opened in the whole town in so surprising and uniform a -fashion that preparations for it must surely have been made. In my -opinion, the Belgian Garde Civique took part in it. This assumption -of mine was confirmed by a document of the Belgian Government taken -on the 23rd of August from the Burgomaster of Winghe-St. Georges, -from which can be seen that the Garde Civique was to be mobilised. The -distinctive signs mentioned in the letter (band and rosette) could -not be found, because ostensibly they were to be distributed from -Louvain, as the place belonged to this district. Lists of members for -the last three years were also found. It was impossible to make arrests -because, according to the statement of the Burgomaster, almost the -whole population had fled; I suspect, however, that the male population -had been "drawn" into Louvain where these "troops" were to assemble. -In the course of the evening, troops were brought back into the town, -and at about 12 o'clock the firing ceased at last. On the command of -the General Staff of the IX. Reserve Army Corps I then joined the other -troops in the station square, and was suddenly ordered to destroy and -set on fire two hotels from which firing had taken place during the -whole time, and to fetch out the occupants. The principal culprits, -however, evidently found an outlet in time over the roofs, for only -the proprietor came out at about 5 a.m., and very soon he received -his reward, as well as two priests who had distributed munition to -the civilians. On the following morning we continued our march in the -direction of Brussels, and on the way we were again violently fired at -from different houses.</p> - -<p>I reported by telegram what I had ascertained regarding the Garde -Civique to the Commandant of the town of Louvain on the same day (the -23rd), so that he might be able to take counter-measures; I know -nothing further of the result. But like all the others who have lived -through the attack I am firmly convinced that the matter had been -previously arranged by the authorities.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Kurt Brandt</span>, Lieutenant of the Reserve,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">9th Company,</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Infantry Regiment No. 52.</span><br /> -</p> - - -<p class="p4"> -<span style="margin-left: 70%;">D. App. 49.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>Court of the 18th Reserve Division.</p> - -<p class="hang"> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Present:</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">President, <span class="smcap">v. Kauffberg</span>.</span><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Secretary, <span class="smcap">Rappe</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;"><span class="smcap">Avricourt</span>, <i>January 8th, 1915</i>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>There appeared as witnesses the persons mentioned below, who, after -the importance of the oath had been pointed out to them, were, in the -absence of the witnesses to be heard subsequently, examined as follows:</p> - -<p>1. Captain Schaefer, Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 18.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Walther Schaefer, aged 40; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I was leader of the light ammunition column, 2nd Reserve -Field Artillery Regiment No. 18, and arrived with my column at the -station in Louvain on August 25th, 1914, at about 8 p.m. The train -was so long that only half of it could be brought up to the station -platform. When the first half of the train had been unloaded, and I -was remaining with about 100 horses in the goods station, a murderous -gun-fire suddenly commenced. The firing evidently came from the roofs -and windows of the rows of houses to the east and west of the station. -It lasted from twenty minutes to half an hour. In the meantime, a train -with infantry arrived. I heard subsequently that the infantry replied -to this fire from the carriages.</p> - -<p>When the firing had ceased I drew my horses under cover in a goods -shed. We had barely arrived there when we were violently fired at -from the direction of the church tower. I had the impression that the -shots came from above; it was related generally that a machine-gun -had been placed in position on the church tower. The firing lasted at -first only for a short time, but was repeated at brief intervals, and -continued intermittently for a few hours. I cannot state the period -more accurately.</p> - -<p>I was also in the sheds of the stations. A General Staff Officer of the -IX. Reserve Corps was busy there and helped me to get the second half -of my train unloaded; this was about 1 o'clock at night. At 2 o'clock I -marched off in the direction of Herent-Bueken.</p> - -<p>The General commanding the IX. Reserve Corps and Captain Vieregge were -during the night in the square in front of the station.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Schaefer</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>2. Lieutenant of the Reserve Duckwitz, Reserve Field Artillery Regiment -No. 18.</p> - -<p>As to Person: My name is Richard Duckwitz, aged 28; Protestant.</p> - -<p>As to Case: I belonged to the light ammunition column, which arrived -on August 25th, 1914, about 8 o'clock p.m., at the goods station -of Louvain. Soon after my arrival I was commanded by the leader of -the column to ride to Bueken and to report to the Commandant of the -18th Reserve Division the arrival of the column. I rode along a broad -boulevard that leads along on the outer edge of Louvain. The street was -perfectly quiet. When I subsequently came to smaller streets, I met -infantry marching along rifle in hand. They called to me to dismount -because firing from the houses was taking place. I met infantry who -told me that I could not proceed because our infantry was firing with -machine-guns into the town from the other side. One could hear the -firing. When it became more quiet after a few minutes I rode on and -reached Bueken, part of which was burning. After having made my report, -I was told to ride back and to tell the column to come up at once. -On the return journey I missed the boulevard and got into the town. -I rode along a broad street and overtook a troop of twenty to thirty -gendarmes on foot, revolver in hand. With them were several officers, a -priest in white cassock, and a few civilians surrounded by a division -of soldiers. The priest called out a few words in French now and again; -I heard subsequently that he called out to the people to put lights -in the houses. I also saw that light was burning in some houses; the -street itself was dark. As I could not proceed I returned to Herent, -where I remained during the night.</p> - -<p>On the following morning, at about 4 o'clock, I rode back to Louvain. -I found the boulevard, and arrived at the station at about 6 o'clock. -The houses surrounding the station were partly burned down, partly -still burning. In front of the station was the General in Command with -several officers. After making my report to the leader of my column -we soon marched off and left Louvain unmolested <i>via</i> the boulevard -mentioned above.</p> - -<p>Read over, approved, signed.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">Duckwitz</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>The witness was sworn.</p> - -<p>Proceedings took place as above.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 40%;">Signed: <span class="smcap">v. Kauffberg</span>. Signed: <span class="smcap">Rappe</span>.</span><br /> -</p> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p> -TRANSCRIBERS NOTE<br/> -I have found two inconsistencies in the spelling of names; <br /> -Lieutenant Balterman/Battermann<br /> -and<br /> -Rifleman Vorwieger/Vorwieder<br /> -I have been unable to ascertain the correct spellings, so have left the names unchanged. -</p> -</div> - - -<p class="center" style="margin-top: 10em;"><small>HEADLEY BROS., ASHFORD, KENT & 18 DEVONSHIRE ST., E.C.2.</small></p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The German Army in Belgium, the White -Book of May 1915, by E. N. 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