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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..d5d7a20 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60364 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60364) diff --git a/old/60364-0.txt b/old/60364-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 29ab017..0000000 --- a/old/60364-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7619 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The German Fury in Belgium, by L. Mokveld - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: The German Fury in Belgium - Experiences of a Netherland Journalist during four months - with the German Army in Belgium - -Author: L. Mokveld - -Translator: C. Thieme - -Release Date: September 26, 2019 [EBook #60364] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Eleni Christofaki and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - -Transcriber's Note. - -A list of the changes made can be found at the end of the book. - - Mark-up: - _italic_ - =bold= - +underline+ - - - - -THE GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM - - - - -THE GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM - -EXPERIENCES OF A NETHERLAND JOURNALIST DURING FOUR MONTHS WITH THE -GERMAN ARMY IN BELGIUM - - BY L. MOKVELD - _War-Correspondent of "De Tijd"_ - - TRANSLATED BY - C. THIEME - _London Correspondent of "De Nieuwe Courant"_ - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO - MCMXVII - - - - -_Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and -Aylesbury._ - - - - -PREFACE - - -AMONG the many books published on the behaviour of the German Army in -Belgium, this account by a distinguished Dutch journalist must occupy -a unique place. It is written by a neutral, who held, at the start, no -brief for either side. It is written by an eye-witness, who chronicles -not what he heard, but what he saw. It is written also by one who -mingled with the German troops and was present at the inception of the -whole campaign of outrage. Mr. Mokveld took his life in his hands when, -with great courage and devotion, he visited Visé and Liège and Louvain -at the most critical moments. His character of neutral journalist was -only a flimsy protection among the drunken and excited German troops. -But his boldness was justified, for after many adventures he came -safely through, and he was enabled in those early weeks to see the -whole of Belgium from Liège to the Yser and from Antwerp to Dinant. -The result is an admirable piece of war-correspondence, which bears on -every page the proofs of shrewd observation and a sincere love of truth -and honest dealing. - -There is much in Mr. Mokveld's narrative to interest the historian. -For example, he gives a fuller account than we have yet had of that -obscure period when Liège had fallen, but its northern forts were -still holding out. But it is less a history of the campaign than a -chronicle of those lesser incidents of war which reveal the character -of the combatants. No more crushing indictment of German methods has -been issued, the more crushing since it is so fair and reasonable. The -author has very readily set down on the credit side any act of German -humanity or courtesy which he witnessed or heard of. But the credit -side is meagre and the black list of crimes portentous. Episodes like -the burning of Visé and the treatment of British prisoners in the train -at Landen would be hard to match in history for squalid horror. - -Two facts are made clear by Mr. Mokveld's book, if, indeed, the world -has ever doubted them. The first is that the German authorities, -believing their victory to be beyond question, deliberately sanctioned -a campaign of frightfulness. They did not imagine that they would -ever be held to account. They wished to terrorise their opponents by -showing them what resistance involved. The atrocities were not the -blunders of drink-sodden reservists, but the result of the theories of -half-witted military pedants. The second is that the invading armies -were as nervous as a hysterical woman. Those would-be conquerors -of the world were frightened by their own shadows. A shot fired by -accident from a German rifle led to tales of attacks by Belgian -_francs-tireurs_ and then to indiscriminate murder by way of revenge. -Mr. Mokveld examined the legends of treacherous Belgian assaults and -the mutilation of the German wounded, and found them in every case -wholly baseless. No German had ever seen these things happen, but had -only heard of them. When definite details were given, Mr. Mokveld -tracked them down and found them false. The Belgian atrocities lacked -even that slender justification which belongs to reprisals. They were -the work of a drunken and "rattled" soldiery--for fear is apt to make -men brutal--deliberately encouraged by the authorities, who for this -purpose relaxed the bonds of military discipline. When the battle of -the Marne changed the complexion of affairs, these authorities grew -scared and repudiated the policy, but Belgium remains a witness of what -Germany's triumph means for her victims. - - JOHN BUCHAN. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - INTRODUCTION 13 - - CHAPTER I - ON THE WAY TO LIÈGE 15 - - CHAPTER II - IN LIÈGE AND BACK TO MAASTRICHT 40 - - CHAPTER III - ROUND ABOUT LIÈGE 56 - - CHAPTER IV - VISÉ DESTROYED: A PREMEDITATED CRIME 72 - - CHAPTER V - FRANCS-TIREURS? 87 - - CHAPTER VI - WITH THE FLEMINGS 95 - - CHAPTER VII - LIÈGE AFTER THE OCCUPATION 108 - - CHAPTER VIII - LOUVAIN DESTROYED 113 - - CHAPTER IX - LOUVAIN UNDER THE MAILED FIST 132 - - CHAPTER X - ALONG THE MEUSE TO HUY, ANDENNE, AND NAMUR 147 - - CHAPTER XI - FROM MAASTRICHT TO THE FRENCH FRONTIER: THE DESTRUCTION OF DINANT 156 - - CHAPTER XII - ON THE BATTLE-FIELDS 169 - - CHAPTER XIII - ROUND ABOUT BILSEN 175 - - CHAPTER XIV - DURING THE SIEGE OF ANTWERP 195 - - CHAPTER XV - THE ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH WOUNDED 217 - - CHAPTER XVI - ON THE YSER 232 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -A FEW words by way of introduction. - -I had wished to publish this book a long time ago, because I think -it my duty to submit to the opinion of the public the things which I -witnessed in the unfortunate land of the Belgians, and where I was -present at such important events as an impartial spectator. I call -myself an impartial spectator, for if this book be anti-German, it -should not be forgotten that the facts give it that tendency. - -That the book was not published sooner is because I could not foresee -more than others how terribly long the war would last; and I should -have preferred to wait till the end in order to insert several reports -which I know are being kept in the occupied part, in order to acquaint -the whole world with the full truth about the behaviour of the -Germans. As long as the Germans keep the upper hand in Belgium, such a -publication cannot take place without danger to several persons. - -But because the German libels go on accusing the Belgian people of -horrible francs-tireurs acts, I have thought that I ought not to wait -any longer before giving my evidence to the public. - -This book does not attempt to give more than evidence of the truth. It -does not claim to have literary distinction; I have not even tried to -give it that stamp. By relating various events successively witnessed, -which have no mutual connection, this would be very difficult. - -My stories are not exaggerated or touched up, but are true to reality. -That is the reason why the German authorities have driven me away from -Belgium, and tried to get hold of me to punish me. On that side they -are afraid that the truth be known. - -A long time after I had left Belgium I got hold of the Black List, in -which I am mentioned twice over among eighty-seven other persons; once -as Hokveld-Journalist and again as Mokveld-Correspondent. The list was -published by me in _De Tijd_ of June 2nd, 1915. - -That I was "wanted" is proved by the fact that two persons have -had the greatest trouble because they were mistaken for the -Mokveld-Correspondent of _De Tijd_. My colleague Kemper passed a -fortnight in prison in Brussels, accused of having written various -articles in _De Tijd_, which were written by me, and I relate, in -the chapter "Round about Bilsen," what Mr. Van Wersch, another -Netherlander, suffered for the same reason. - -But although the Germans are afraid to let the truth be known, there is -no reason why I should withhold my evidence. On the contrary, I will -try to do everything I can to make public opinion do justice to the -unfortunate Belgians, trodden down and insulted, falsely and vilely -libelled by their oppressors, and accused of offences of which they -never were guilty. - - - - -THE GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM - - -CHAPTER I - -ON THE WAY TO LIÈGE - - -WHEN _De Tijd_ sent me to Belgium as its correspondent, I had not the -faintest notion practically how to perform my duties, for the simple -reason that I could not apprehend at all how a modern war might be -conducted. But I was destined to receive my first impressions when -still on Netherland[1] territory and after my arrival at Maastricht. - -On the hot afternoon of August 7th, 1914, the much-delayed train -rumbled into the station at Maastricht. A dense mass stood in front of -the building. Men, women, and children were crowded there and pushed -each other weeping, shouting, and questioning. Families and friends -tried to find each other, and many of the folk of Maastricht assisted -the poor creatures, who, nervously excited, wept and wailed for a -father, for wife and children lost in the crowd. It was painful, -pitiful, this sight of hundreds of fugitives, who, although now safe, -constantly feared that death was near, and anxiously clutched small -parcels, which for the most part contained worthless trifles hurriedly -snatched up when they fled. - -And over these nervous and terrified thousands at Maastricht rolled -from afar the dull roar of the guns, thunder-like bursts from which had -frightened them so terribly. - -The streets leading to the bridge over the Meuse and into the town -were also densely thronged with refugees. Here and there large groups -listened to the stories told, with profusion of tears, of sufferings -inflicted, depicted in far harsher colours than could have been -possible. But the wretched creatures exaggerated unconsciously; in -their affrighted state they had seen things that had never occurred. - -Suddenly every one in the Vrijthof ran in the same direction. I waited -calmly, and saw pass by a tragically long train of hooded carts and -other peasants' conveyances. The drivers walked by the side of the -horses, the Red Cross flag flew from the carriages, fresh clean straw -covered their floor, on which wounded soldiers writhed in excruciating -pain. The crowd did not press nearer, but, standing silently in long -rows, let the sad procession pass by. Such were the first impressions -of the war got in these days; nobody uttered a sound, but many -stealthily brushed a tear away. - -Thus it went on all day long: motors and other conveyances travelled -to and fro between the battle-fields and hospitals at Maastricht; -fugitives moved about in streets and squares, upsetting each other more -and more by fantastic stories. - -As dusk came on nearly the whole population of Maastricht, with all -their temporary guests, formed an endless procession and went to invoke -God's mercy by the Virgin Mary's intercession. They went to Our Lady's -Church, in which stands the miraculous statue of Sancta Maria Stella -Maris. The procession filled all the principal streets and squares of -the town. I took my stand at the corner of the Vrijthof, where all -marched past me, men, women, and children, all praying aloud, with loud -voices beseeching: "Our Lady, Star of the Sea, pray for us ... pray for -us ... pray for us ...!" - -At the same time bells rang ... and guns roared. - -Group after group went by, and I heard French and Netherland, the -Maastricht vernacular and sweet Flemish spoken, all sorts of tongues -and modes of utterance. The men were bare-headed, and each let his -rosary slip through his fingers. Soon after the head of the procession -reached Our Lady Square the huge church was packed, and those who could -not find room inside stood in the square, which also very soon was full -with these thousands of people in a dense mass, like so many blades of -grass in a meadow. - -However large the crowd, it was silent as death when the priest Jacobs -addressed them. He spoke words of encouragement, hope, and confidence, -and urged them to send up their prayers to God Almighty--prayers for -peace. When he had ended, these thousands sang the "Hymn to Mary," -in such perfect order as if only one superhuman body sent forth an -immensely powerful sound from earth to Heaven. - -As I was listening to that hymn the storms in my heart subsided--storms -raised by so many scenes witnessed during the day; but as soon as the -sonorous voices were still, I heard again the dull boom ... boom ... -boom ... of the guns. That dire reality!... - - * * * * * - -The next morning I got up early, having been unable to sleep. I -realised already that my task was difficult, dangerous, and full of -responsibility, for I had to find out and communicate to the public -the truth about events, which would be related as beautiful or horrid, -according to the interests of my informants. It was dangerous, because -I might meet with the same fate that seemed to have been inflicted on -so many civilians already. - -Dressed in my sporting attire, and carrying some necessaries in a -knapsack, I started early, going towards Visé along the canal. As I -came to the Netherland boundary-stone and noticed that of Belgium, I -had a moment of doubt, but it lasted for a second only. In order to -divert my thoughts I walked somewhat more briskly, but was stopped -suddenly on Belgian ground by a custom-house officer. I was astonished -to see that official there still, for the Germans must be quite near -and--as I had been told--small patrols had advanced frequently to this -point. My papers were found to be in order, and the man seemed very -happy to meet a journalist. - -"It is a pity, sir, that you did not arrive a day sooner, then you -might have witnessed great barbarity of the Germans. If you walk on -a little farther along the canal, you will see three persons hanging -from a tree near Haccourt; one of these is a boy of fourteen. Nobody -was allowed on the road, and as a patrol met these three persons, they -concluded immediately that they were francs-tireurs, strung them up -on the tree, without a trial of any sort, and in addition shot each -a bullet through the head. To-day another patrol arrived and had the -effrontery to tell the members of the Maastricht Red Cross that the boy -had murdered a captain. And we are not allowed to remove the corpses. -Horrible!... horrible!" - -"Yes," I reply, "it is bad, very bad, but is it really all true?" - -"True? True, sir? You go and look for yourself! And let me tell you one -thing--there are no francs-tireurs here! We know quite well what we -may do and what not, and only a moment ago I received a message from -the Minister of the Interior, saying that non-combatants who shoot at -the enemy expose themselves to danger and their fellow-citizens to -retaliations." - -I asked him how things were farther on along the Meuse, but he knew -nothing. He was stationed here, he said, and was going to stay as long -as possible. As soon as the Germans arrived, most people fled, and -those who had stayed on were no longer allowed to leave. So he lacked -all information, and only understood that fierce fighting was going on, -as was confirmed by the incessant thunder of the guns. Fort Pontisse -was, moreover, not so very far away, and frequently we could distinctly -tell, by their whistling sound, in which direction the shells flew. - -After a few encouraging words I walked on along the solitary, deserted -road, leaving the canal on the right, until a by-way took me to the -bank of the Meuse, opposite the Netherland frontier village Eysden. I -entered a deserted inn. After shouting for a long time, the inn-keeper -appeared, looked shyly at me, remaining constantly close by the -door of his room. His attitude showed that he was prepared to fly -at the slightest suspicious movement on my part; but as soon as I -had convinced him that I was a Netherland journalist, he became more -friendly, and called his wife and daughters, so that I might tell them -all I knew. They were very desirous to know how the war went ... in the -Netherlands, and whether we were fighting the Germans or the English? -It was very difficult to make them understand that they were under a -misapprehension, but when I had at last succeeded in this, I started in -my turn to ask them what they thought of my intention to go farther. - -"Go farther, sir? But ... but ... sir, don't do that! The Germans shoot -every civilian whom they set eyes on." - -"Oh, go on!" I answered. "I don't think that I need fear anything of -the kind. I am in any case a Netherlander!" - -"Netherlander or not, it does not matter. Whosoever one be, every -civilian is shot down by them." - -"Are they at a great distance from here?" - -"Not at all! If you step outside, you can see them standing, ten -minutes from here. Near Lixhe they threw a bridge across the Meuse. -It is the third already which they put down, for each time they are -smashed from the fort. Oh, it is horrible; there must surely fall a -number of dead, and here we have seen corpses in the Meuse already.... -But I do not understand how you ventured to come here...." - -Well, I did not quite fancy the prospect of being shot like a dog, and -as I had not yet come into touch with the Germans, it was difficult -to say whether these people exaggerated or not. But just opposite was -Eysden, and I made up my mind to go there for further information. - -Netherland soldiers and inhabitants of the village bustled about along -the opposite river-bank. I shouted as loudly as possible; and when at -last I succeeded in drawing their attention, I made them understand -that I wanted to be pulled across in the little boat, which in ordinary -times served as a ferry. A short consultation took place now on the -opposite side, after which a soldier, who clearly possessed a strong -voice, came as near as possible to the waterside and, making a trumpet -of his two hands, roared: - -"Not allowed!" - -"Why not?" - -"We are neutrals!" - -"So am I; I am a Netherlander!" - -"Possibly! Not allowed!" - -And at the same moment he turned round and joined the others. - -So I was left there. The Netherlanders refused to pull me across in -consequence of an exaggerated fear of violating their neutrality; the -Germans in front of me intended, it was said, to shoot me down as soon -as I ventured to get near. But to retrace my steps ... that is a thing -I had never done yet. For a few moments I stood there undecided, but -then made up my mind to see what was going to happen, and went on, in -spite of the warnings of the kind-hearted innkeeper and his family, who -called out to me to return. - -The terrible thunder of the guns, of both besiegers and besieged, -vibrated through the air. In the distance I noticed a couple of men, -probably German soldiers, but a pontoon-bridge was nowhere to be seen. -After a few minutes, however, I reached a spot where the Meuse makes -a short curve, and had scarcely walked round it, when I saw, only a -couple of hundred yards away, the bridge in question, across which a -long train of vehicles was passing, loaded with victuals, hay, straw, -etc. - -On this side hundreds of soldiers were standing; they had taken off -their uniforms in the fierce heat, and were busy loading and unloading -and changing horses. From time to time the entire scene was hidden by -the smoke from numerous burning houses at Lixhe, quite near the river. -I walked in the most casual way, in an unconcerned attitude, looked -calmly at some of the houses I passed, and which were for the greater -part destroyed. The walls were pierced by bullets, the rooms generally -burnt out; in the front gardens lay all sorts of furniture, dragged out -of the house and then smashed to pieces. - -The road was all strewn with straw. I approached the bridge past -burning farms and villas. There the pieces of broken furniture were -even lying in the road, and I had to go warily so that I should not -stumble. The soldiers looked at me as if they were amused, but I went -up to them in the same unconcerned manner and asked them to take me to -their commanding officer. - -"What do you want with him?" - -"I am a Netherland journalist, and want to ask the commander's -permission to go to Liège." - -"Oh, you are a Netherlander; then come along." - -They took me to two officers who stood near the bridge, and told them -that I "pretended" to be a Netherland journalist. Having proved this by -my papers, the officers gave me an escort of three men, who conducted -me to the bridge-commander, on the other side of the Meuse. - -I had to walk along the very edge of the unstable bridge in order -to avoid the wheels of the passing carriages, which shook the whole -bridge and made the rather loose boards clatter. In the meantime, at -no considerable distance, some shells fell in the Meuse, fired at the -bridge from Fort Pontisse. Yet, I did not mind it at all, as all these -new experiences stunned me, so to speak; the incessant hellish noises -of the batteries, the burning houses, the smoke swooping down, the -excited soldiers.... - -As we crossed the bridge, I asked my escort why these houses were -set on fire. I heard then, for the first time, that "they had been -shooting," and they told me of cowardly civilians, who shot from the -windows at unsuspicious soldiers, or stabbed them treacherously. But -of course they had experienced nothing of the kind; it had happened -to troops who were now moving ahead. They had, however, taken part in -the revenge, and told of it with glittering eyes: how they fired the -houses of francs-tireurs and then shot the people who, nearly stifled, -appeared at the windows; how in "holy" anger, in order to avenge -their comrades, they subsequently entered the houses and destroyed -everything. I did not answer, did not know what to think of it, but -shuddered, because it was so gruesome. - -They told this, while we were waiting on a couple of protruding boards -of the pontoon-bridge, so as to allow some extremely wide carts to -pass. Once again shells exploded, a couple of hundred yards behind us, -and one made a hole in the bank quite near. - -"Horrible!" I sighed. "Have they not yet hit the bridge?" - -"Oh yes, it has been destroyed already a couple of times, but we shall -teach them a lesson! Why did not the Belgians allow us to pass through -their country? What can their little army do against us? As soon as a -sufficient number have crossed we shall go for these forts, then on to -Brussels, and within a fortnight we shall be in Paris. Liège we have -taken already." - -"It will cost a great many men!" - -"We have plenty of them; but many of us fall by the treacherous -shooting of the civilians; they are swine, swine! And these Belgian -women ... they are the dirtiest bitches ... beastly swine...." - -The man got more and more excited, but then he was more than "half-seas -over." The smoke made him cough and he stuck in the middle of his -"swine." He made me shudder, and I hastened to pull out a packet of -cigarettes, some of which I gave to him and his mates. In consequence -the two others became more communicative, and in touching harmony -assured me that: - -"Oh yes, the Netherlanders are our friends; they remain neutral. And -that is the best, for otherwise the whole lot would be smashed up, -exactly as here in Belgium." - -They did not understand, of course, that poor Belgium would have liked -nothing better than to remain neutral also. - -Those wide carts had passed us now, and we could proceed slowly. The -bridge led to a farmhouse with tall trees and underwood. They took me -to the right, to a densely overgrown spot, where a clearing had been -made amidst some smaller shrubs. In the centre stood a table covered -with a shining white cloth, and a goodly number of wine-bottles and -glasses. Half a dozen officers in fine uniforms, gilt collars and -epaulettes, were seated around it. - -The sight of that small group, hidden among the green foliage, was -as brilliant as it was surprising. One of the officers, clearly the -highest in rank, summoned us to come nearer, and asked the soldiers -for an explanation. Standing smartly at attention, they gave it, as -a school-child might haltingly recite a lesson learned by heart. -The officer whom I thought it convenient to call "Captain" looked -searchingly at me and then began: - -"Have you got papers?" - -"Yes, captain." - -I pulled them out: birth certificate, certificate of good conduct, -foreign passport, and press-card, which were examined the one after the -other. - -"Are they genuine?" - -"Of course, captain; everything is properly signed, stamped, and -legalised." - -"And what do you want to write about?" - -"I don't know yet. The things I see ... and ... of course that cannot -do harm to the German army." - -"Hm! Hm! All right. So you intend to write friendly about us?" - -"Certainly, certainly, sir! Exactly because we hear so many lies from -foreign countries about the Germans, I want to try and find out the -truth for myself." - -"Is that so? Well, the Netherlanders are our friends, and have so much -in common with our people." - -"Certainly, captain; as a matter of fact we are of the same race." - -But here he looked at me in a curious manner, scrutinising my face, -as if he asked himself: "Is he pulling my leg, or not?" But not a -muscle in my face moved, so that the "Captain" nodded approvingly ... -and wrote out a pass for me to go to Visé! I was not allowed to go to -Liège, for, as he said, he did not yet know himself how matters stood -there. The other officers overwhelmed me with questions: how matters -stood in The Netherlands, and whether Great Britain had already -declared war against us? I think that at that question I looked utterly -perplexed, for in the same breath they told me all they knew about -the danger of war for The Netherlands: Great Britain first sent an -ultimatum to The Netherlands, to force her into joining the Allies -against Germany, and as she had refused, the British Fleet was now -on its way to Flushing. I explained to them in detail that they were -utterly wrong, but they believed only a half of what I said. - -There was a continuous coming and going at the bridge-command, for when -I left the shrubberies a great many soldiers of high and low rank, with -portfolios and documents, were waiting outside. The soldiers were to -escort me back across the bridge, so that I might go on to Visé along -the other bank. - -Before I got to the bridge I saw something gruesome: a number of -corpses of soldiers were lying about and others were brought in ... a -little farther away, on the farm, there they were digging.... I looked -away quickly; I was not yet accustomed to that sort of thing. Most -likely they were men killed a moment ago by shells aimed at the bridge, -for wounded men were also brought in on stretchers. - -At the other end of the bridge I was left by my escort, and went on -alone; on my left the Meuse, on my right burning houses, above me -hissing and whistling shells, that came down in front of me and behind -me, with tremendous explosions, throwing the loose earth high into the -air. - -In Devant-le-Pont, a hamlet opposite Visé, the doors of all the houses -stood open, as a sign that the inhabitants did not propose to offer -any resistance to the Germans. After much shouting the landlady of a -café appeared, distressingly nervous, but doing her utmost to look -unconcerned. - -"A glass of beer, madame." - -"If you please." - -"The guns are horrid, madame; are you not afraid?" - -"No, sir, we must hope for the best." - -"Have the Germans done no harm here yet?" - -"Oh no, sir, not at all!" - -"Are they tolerably kind?" - -"Oh, quite nice people, sir!" - -Her reserve told me that I would not get much information here, and, -finishing my beer, I asked: - -"How much is it, madame?" - -"This? Nothing, sir, nothing." - -"Nothing! But, madame, I want to pay for what I drink!" - -"No, no, I won't take anything for it. It is hot, is it not, and a -soldier ought to get something...." - -I understood only then why the woman was so full of praise of the -Germans, although she was shaking in her shoes: she thought I was a -soldier! How heavily weighed the oppressor's hand on the wretched -population, if now already the honest Belgian heart became hypocritical! - -I had great trouble to make her understand that I was a Netherlander; -and that changed at once her opinion for the Germans. She told me then -that her husband and children had fled to The Netherlands, as had most -of the inhabitants, and that she was left behind merely because she -dawdled too long. And now she was constantly afraid that they might -fire her house as they did the others, and murder her ... for such had -been the fate of several of the villagers. Even whole families had been -killed. - -Many civilians had been put to death, accused of having shot from the -houses, and others for refusing to give up requisitioned food. Probably -they had none, as preceding military divisions had already taken away -all there was. Then some civilians were killed for refusing to work -for the enemy. The houses of all these "condemned" had been burnt, -and everything the soldiers fancied was looted. As a matter of fact, -nearly all the soldiers I met later on were drunk, and they worried me -constantly. Only when I had proved to be a Netherlander, they behaved -a little better, and started abusing "the cursed Belgians," who, -according to them, were all francs-tireurs. - -A short distance beyond this little café lies the large bridge across -the Meuse. Before the Germans arrived it was partly destroyed by the -Belgians, but so inadequately that obviously the enemy could repair -it easily. Bombs were therefore fired regularly from Fort Pontisse at -the bridge, and only an hour ago it had been hit, with the result that -a big hole was made in the undamaged part. In the road also big holes -were made by the exploding projectiles. Having passed underneath the -viaduct of the bridge, I found myself opposite Visé on the sloping bank -of the Meuse. Two boys had been commanded by the Germans to work the -ferry-boat for them, and after I had shown them my passport, they took -me to the other side. - -It was a fine summer afternoon, and the sun shone on the many bright, -whitewashed walls of the old and neat little town, built close to the -rapidly flowing river. There was quiet in the streets, although nearly -all the inhabitants were sitting on their chairs in the streets. But -nobody ventured to move about, and conversations were held only in -whispers. As I walked through the village street in my quaint get-up, -they pushed their chairs a little closer together as if frightened, and -looked shyly at me as if they feared that I was not the harbinger of -much good. And all these hundreds of people saluted me humbly, almost -cringingly, which filled me with pity. - -Visé had not been burnt yet, as had been reported in The Netherlands. -Only here and there had the shells done some damage, and hundreds of -window-panes had been burst by the vibration of the air. As a token of -submission to the invader, small white flags hung from all the windows, -and these, along the whole length of a street, made a decidedly -lamentable impression. - -The inhabitants had already had a variety of experiences. On Tuesday, -August 4th, the first German troops arrived before the little town. The -gendarmes stationed there offered resistance to the invading enemy, -but, being hopelessly outnumbered, they were all shot down. As they -were lying on the ground, badly wounded, Dr. Frits Goffin, head of St. -Hadelin College, came in great haste as soon as he heard the shooting. - -All the wounded were Roman Catholics, and as they saw the approaching -priest, they implored him in a loud voice to give them absolution of -sins, some making an act of contrition. The priest was unable to come -near each of them, and therefore called out in a loud voice: "My Jesus, -be merciful!" He then gave them all absolution of sins. But as he -kneeled down to perform this sacred task, a hostile bullet whizzed past -his ear, and several soldiers who ran by aimed at him, so that he had -to seek safety behind a tree. I saw with my own eyes five bullet-holes -in the tree that was pointed out to me. - -In those first days many civilians were killed, and not only in Visé, -but still more in the surrounding villages, Mouland and Berneaux, which -were soon burnt down and where many a good man was brought low by the -murderous bullets. The savage soldiers killed the cattle also, and a -large number of carcases had been lying about for days. - -At Visé many men had been commanded to do certain kinds of work, -cutting down trees, making of roads, bridges, and so on. Many of them -never returned, because they refused to do the humiliating work and -were shot. Among these there were even aged people; and I myself stood -by the death-bed of a man of ninety, who had been forced to assist in -building a bridge, until the poor wretch broke down and was carried to -St. Hadelin College, turned into a hospital by Dr. Goffin; there he -died. - -No wonder that the inhabitants were afraid and looked askance at me as -they mistook me for a German. - -On this day, August 8th, the reign of terror was still in full -force. There were repeated threats to burn the town and to kill -the inhabitants if they objected to do work or to deliver certain -goods, especially wine and gin, of which thousands of bottles were -requisitioned daily. Several times a day they were summoned by a bell -and informed what the invader wanted, the necessary threats being added -to the command. And the inhabitants, in mortal fear, no longer trusted -each other, but searched each other's houses for things that might be -delivered to satisfy the Germans. - -The entire neighbourhood was still being bombarded from the forts to -the north of Liège; several German divisions succeeded, however, in -crossing the Meuse near Lixhe. In spite of the shell-fire they passed -the pontoon-bridge there, turned into a by-way leading to the canal, -near Haccourt, crossed one of the canal-bridges, of which not one had -been destroyed, and along another by-way, came to the main road from -Maastricht to Tongres, at a spot about three miles from the last-named -town. - -The shelling went on during the night, and all that time the -inhabitants remained in their cellars. - -Although I had got farther on my way than I had dared to expect, my -journalist's heart longed for more. If I could get to Liège, which -was said to have just been taken! But my passport stated that I was -only allowed to go to Visé. I thought the matter out, and the longer I -thought, the stronger became my desire to go on; and at last I decided -to do it. - -Near the outskirts of the town I found barricades which, however, -seemed not to have been used, but stray shells had knocked large pieces -out of the low, wide wall between the road and the Meuse's flowing -water. - -There was not much traffic. Only here and there stood some German -soldiers, or seriously wounded men were lying on mattresses and chairs. -Nearly every house by the roadside had been turned into an emergency -hospital, for from all sides they brought in soldiers wounded by shells -that had exploded amidst the advancing divisions. - -The road along which I walked, the main road between Visé and Liège, -was laid under fire from various forts, and every moment I saw on my -left clouds rise up from the rocky heights that run along the whole -of the Meuse. These clouds were partly formed by smoke from the guns -mounted by the Germans against the forts, partly by volumes of earth -thrown up by the projectiles from the broken-up soil. - -I myself ran great risks too, but I did not mind, and walked on, moved -by a consuming desire to get to Liège, and then back to Maastricht, to -be able to wire to my paper that I had been to Liège only just after it -was taken by the Germans, and that the news, wired from Germany to the -Netherland papers, that the forts had been taken was untrue. - -I had a short chat with the wounded men near the various houses, on -demand showed my passport to those in authority, and was advised as -a friendly Netherlander to return, as it was extremely dangerous on -the road. But I did not dream of doing this, as long as I was not -compelled, and went on towards Liège amidst this maddening thunder. - -I had walked another three miles, when a big crowd of fugitives met -me. They seemed to have come a long way, for the majority could hardly -walk on, and had taken off their shoes and boots, on account of the -scorching heat, going on barefooted in the shade of the tall trees. -It was a procession, numbering hundreds of men, women, and children. -The aged were supported, the babies carried. Most of them had a small -parcel on their back or under their arm. They seemed tired to death, -had dark red faces, and betrayed great fear and nervousness. I crossed -the road to speak to them, and as soon as they noticed it the whole -crowd, numbering hundreds of people, stood still, creeping closer -together, women and girls trying hard to hide themselves behind the -men, and these doffed their caps timidly. - -I was really sorry that I had dressed myself in that grey Norfolk suit, -long stockings, a knapsack strapped to the back, and a leather strap -with a water-bottle. The unfortunate creatures thought that I was a -German soldier. I was bewildered for a moment, but then guessed their -thoughts and hastened to comfort them. - -I could not get much information from them. Twenty spoke at the same -time; in halting, incoherent words they tried to tell me of their -experiences, but I could only catch: killed ... murders ... fire ... -guns.... After much trouble I gathered that they came from the villages -to the north of Liège, where the Germans had told them that on that -same day, within an hour, everything would be burned down. Everybody -had left these places, a good many had gone to Liège, but these -people did not think it safe there either, and wanted to go on to The -Netherlands. - -After giving them some advice how to get to The Netherlands, and -offering some words of sympathy, I wanted to go on, but as they -realised this, the poor, kind creatures surrounded me; many women began -to weep, and from all sides they cried: - -"To Liège? You want to go to Liège? But, sir!--but, sir! We fled to -escape death, because the Germans are going to burn down everything and -shoot everybody. Please don't, sir; they'll kill you ... kill you ... -shoot you ... kill you!" - -"Come, come," I replied, touched by the kind anxiety of these people. -"Come, come; it won't be as bad as all that, and, then, I am a -Netherlander." - -That "being a Netherlander" had become my stock-argument, and, as a -matter of fact, it made me feel calmer. Quietly I made myself free of -the surrounding crowd, in order to proceed on my way; but then they -got hold of my arms and gently tried to induce me to go with them, so -I had to speak more firmly to make them understand that they could not -prevail on me. When at last I was able to resume my march, they looked -back frequently, shaking their heads, and in their anxiety for me, -their fellow-creature, they seemed to forget for a moment their own -hardly bearable sorrows. - -A moment later a gigantic motor-car came racing down at a great speed. -Six soldiers stood up in it, their rifles pointed at me. I thought that -they intended to shoot me and everybody they might meet, but a seventh -soldier standing by the side of the chauffeur made a movement with his -arms, from which I understood that he wanted me to put my hands up. I -did so. - -It is a simple affair, this putting up one's hands, but even at such a -moment a free citizen has a strong objection against being compelled to -this by others, who are no more than one's self, who ask it without any -right, except the might derived from the weapon in their hands. - -When they had passed, I looked round at the people I had left a moment -ago.... There they lay in the road, kneeling, lifting their trembling -hands, although the motor-car was already a couple of hundred yards -away. - -Argenteau was not damaged much, but the inhabitants remained quietly -inside their houses, or probably stayed in their cellars, for fear of -the shells that tore through the air constantly. - -By and by I began to feel that I had already walked about twenty miles -in this great heat, but I would not think of stopping before reaching -my goal. - -At Cherath railway-carriages were lying in the road at the -level-crossing of Visé-Liège line, farther on barbed-wire cut into -pieces, felled trees, and so on. German soldiers had moved these things -out of the way, and motor-cars could pass by again. In the village -itself I saw a man, with a white armlet, posting up a bill, and as -I had seen similar damp bills sticking on the walls in the other -villages, I drew nearer to read it. - -The bill ran as follows:-- - - "Community of ... - - "_To the inhabitants._ - - "The powerful German army, victorious in our district, has promised - to respect our land and private possessions. - - "In the circumstances in which we are placed it is necessary to - retain the greatest possible tranquillity and calm. - - "The burgomaster informs the population that any utterance contrary - to the regulations will be severely punished. - - "THE BURGOMASTER." - -The bill-poster replied "yes" or "no" to my questions, whichever answer -fitted, and as soon as he had finished his task he hurriedly trotted -off. I did not see any other inhabitant. - -Outside Cherath a motor-car stood between some partially removed trees. -Two officers and three soldiers stood around a map which they had laid -on the ground, and with them was a young girl, scarcely twenty years -old. She was weeping, and pointed out something on the map, obviously -compelled to give information. One of the officers stopped me, was -clearly quite satisfied with my papers, but told me that I was not -allowed to go on without a permit from the military command. Then I -pulled out of my pocket, as if of great importance, the scrap of paper -which the commanding officer at the bridge near Lixhe had given me. The -other had scarcely seen the German letters and German stamp when he -nodded his head approvingly, and quickly I put the thing back, so that -he might not notice that I was allowed only to go to Visé. - -At Jupile I saw a pontoon-bridge, not in use for the moment. Just -before this place a slightly sloping road leads from the hills to -the eastern bank of the Meuse and the main road Visé-Liège. Along -this road descended at that moment an immense military force--uhlans, -cuirassiers, infantry, more cuirassiers, artillery, munition and -forage-carts. The train seemed endless, and although I stood there -looking at it for quite a long time, the end had not passed me. - -It was an imposing sight to see all these various divisions in their -brilliant uniforms coming down along the road, the soldiers' uniforms -still without a stain, the horses in new, fine, strong leather harness, -and the rumbling and jolting guns. The soldiers sang patriotic songs, -and among them rode the officers, proud and imperious, many with a -monocle, looking round superciliously. - -I was the only civilian in that road, and the soldiers, with much -curiosity, stared at me. Whenever I noticed an officer, I gave an -elaborate military salute, and with such an air that the officers, -although hesitating at first, did not fail to return the salute. - -After reaching the main road they turned to the right towards Visé, -probably in order to try to cross the Meuse near Lixhe and then proceed -to Tongres along the above-mentioned road. It would not be an easy -undertaking, for the forts refused to keep silent, and already many a -wounded man was carried on a comrade's horse. - -Liège now loomed up in the distance, and the nearer I got, the more -civilians I met. They all wore a white armlet, and walked timidly -and nervously by the side of the road or street, starting at each -thunder-clap of the guns. Near the entrance to the town a small crowd -stood on one of the hills, looking at a flying-machine moving from fort -to fort and over the city, obviously investigating the effect of the -German siege-guns. - -At seven o'clock in the evening I entered Liège; and so far I had -achieved my end. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -IN LIÈGE AND BACK TO MAASTRICHT - - -A GLORIOUS summer evening, quite refreshing after the exhausting heat -of the day. Nature invited to restfulness, and so much the more cruel -sounded the incessant thunder of the guns, which also boomed from the -citadel. As soon as the Germans had taken possession of this old, -dilapidated fortress they proceeded to drag their guns on to it, and -trained them on the surrounding forts. - -The streets offered the same aspect as those at Visé. From each house -floated the pitiful little white flag; the people sat together on their -"stoeps," for they did not venture out in the streets. Everywhere I -was again saluted in the same cringingly polite manner, and eyed with -suspicion. - -Crowds of soldiers moved through the main streets, revelling, shouting, -screaming in their mad frenzy of victors. They sat, or stood, or danced -in the cafés, and the electrical pianos and organs had been started -again "by order." Doors and windows were opened wide, and through -the streets sounded forth the song "Deutschland über Alles" (Germany -before all other), which affected the inhabitants as a provocation and -a challenge. Oh! one could see so clearly how thousands of citizens -suffered from it, how they felt hurt in their tenderest sentiments. -Dull and depressed they stared in front of them, and whenever their set -features relaxed, it was a scornful grin. - -From warehouses and from shops bales of corn, flour, sugar, and other -goods were taken, thrown in heaps and then placed on all sorts of carts -and motors. In the most frequented parts military bands had taken their -stand, and played amidst the loud jubilation of the soldiers. - -I walked about a little longer to examine the damage done. The fine -_Pont des Arches_ was for the greater part destroyed by the retreating -Belgians, as well as the _Pont Maghin_. This is a pity, especially as -regards the first-named bridge, so famous as a work of art, and the -more so as other bridges had not been touched and could be used by the -Germans. The bombardment did not damage the town to any great extent, -but it was remarkable that the largest houses had suffered most. - -Having walked some thirty miles that day, I began to feel a serious -need for rest. But when I applied, there was no room anywhere in the -hotels, and where there was room they told me the contrary after a -critical glance at my outfit. - -I then tried to find the nunnery of the _Sœurs de la Miséricorde_, -where one of my cousins had taken the veil. At last, in the Rue des -Clarisses I found the huge door of the monastery, and rang the bell. -After a few moments a small trellised shutter in the stout door was -opened ajar, and a tremulous voice asked in French what I wanted. I -assumed that it was one of the nuns, but I could see nothing through -that narrow jar. - -"Sister," I said, "I am a cousin of Sœur Eulalie, and should like to -see her, to know how she is and take her greetings to her family in The -Netherlands." - -"Sœur Eulalie!... Sœur Eulalie!... You ... you ... are a ... cousin ... -of ... Sœur Eulalie?" - -The terrified little sister was unable to stammer anything more, and in -great fear suddenly closed the little shutter again. - -There I was left! After waiting a while I rang the bell once more, and -once more the little shutter was opened in the same timid manner. - -"Now, look here, sister, I am a cousin of Sœur...." - -"No, no, sir, your cousin ... is not here." - -Bang! The shutter was closed again. But I did not give it up, for I -needed the sisters' assistance to find a shelter somewhere. Once more -I made the bell to clang, and although I was kept waiting a little -longer, at last I heard voices whispering behind the gate and once more -something appeared behind the trellis. - -"Sister," I said then, "if you will only ask Sœur Eulalie to come to -this gate she will recognise me, of course?" - -"She is your cousin, you say?" - -"Certainly, sister. Tell her that Bart of Uncle Henry is here." Again I -was switched off, but the communication was this time restored after a -few moments, and then I heard a joyful and surprised exclamation: - -"Oh! Bart, is it you?" - -So at last the lock of the heavy door screeched, and I was admitted. -I noticed that about a score of sisters had gathered behind the gate -and were anxiously discussing the "strange occurrence." My meeting -with Sœur Eulalie, however, was so cordial that the good nuns lost all -anxiety, and I was taken inside accompanied by nearly all the inmates -of the convent. - -They first wanted me to explain what put it into my head to come to -Liège, and how I had managed to get there; but as the sisters heard of -my empty stomach and my thirty miles, they would not listen to another -word before I had put myself round a good square meal. - -In the meantime they themselves had a word or two to say about the -fright I gave them; for when I stood at the door they mistook me in my -sporting habit for a German officer, and the top of my water-bottle for -the butt of a revolver! - -The work of these sisters is the education of neglected children, and -they spoke about their fears during the last momentous days. During the -bombardment they stayed night and day with all those little ones in the -heavily vaulted cellars of the nunnery, praying all the time before the -Blessed Sacrament that had been removed from the chapel and taken into -the cellar for safety. - -They constantly heard the boom, boom of the shells exploding near by, -and each time thought that their last hour had struck. The gloomy -cellar depressed them still more, and nobody really believed that -there was any chance of being saved. So the little sisters prayed on, -preparing each other for death, and looking for the approaching end in -quiet resignation. - -For the moment all they knew was that the Germans were in the town, as -none of them yet had ventured outside the building. At present their -great fear was that Germans might be billeted on them.... Oh! they -might take everything if only they did not come themselves. - -When I left I got a lot of addresses of relations in The Netherlands, -and undertook to send a postcard to each of these. They also gave me -an introduction to the proprietor of an hotel whom they knew, in which -they asked him to give me a bed; and thus armed I succeeded at last. -It was high time too, for at nine o'clock everyone had to be at home. -In the hotel everything was dark, for there was no gas in the town. At -last I could lie down on my bed, and had a good rest, although I could -not sleep a wink. I was too tired and had seen and experienced too much -that day. - -The next morning at six I was out and about again. I had not been -able to get any breakfast, for the people themselves had nothing. -The Germans had called at all the hotels and shops requisitioning -everything in stock to feed the thousands who had invaded Liège like so -many locusts. The inhabitants practically starved during those days, -and carefully saved up bits of bread already as hard as bricks. It -was a good thing that the night before I had eaten something at the -nunnery, for although at a shop I offered first one, and later on two -francs for a piece of bread, I could not get any. - -All the forts thundered away again, and the guns of the Germans were -also busy on the citadel and the various surrounding heights. Already -early in the morning a terrible and suffocating smoke of fire and -gunpowder hovered over Liège. The smoke came down also from the burning -villages, like Bressoux, on the slopes of the hills near Liège. The -flames flared up from the houses and offered a melancholy sight. - -German officers told me, with full particulars, how the inhabitants -of those burning villages had offered German soldiers poisoned cocoa, -coffee, and cigarettes, for which crime three hundred civilians had -been shot during the night in a Liège square. - -As even high officers told me those things, not without some emotion, -I began to believe them and wrote something about them to my paper. -But what was made clear to me at a later visit! That there was not a -word of truth in the whole story of that poisoning; that on that day -and in that square no shooting had taken place; that a couple of days -before the population had been ordered to leave their houses within two -hours without any reason being given; and afterwards several houses had -simply been burned down. - -The Liège people were already up and about, and wandered through -the streets full of fear, for all sorts of rumours were heard--that -civilians were murdered, the town was to be burned down, and that a -start would be made very soon. As they looked at those burning hamlets -yonder they believed the rumours, and went nearly mad for fear; the men -as well as the women could not help themselves, and wept. During the -night various posters were stuck on the walls about military action. -The following is the translation of one of these:-- - - "The municipal Government of Liège remind their fellow-citizens, - and all staying within this city, that international law most - strictly forbids civilians to commit hostilities against the German - soldiers occupying the country. - - "Every attack on German troops by others than the military in - uniform not only exposes those who may be guilty to be shot - summarily, but will also bring terrible consequences on leading - citizens of Liège now detained in the citadel as hostages by the - Commander of the German troops. These hostages are:-- - - "1. The Right Rev. Rutten, bishop of Liège. - "2. Kleyer, burgomaster of Liège. - "3. Grégoire, permanent deputy. - "4. Armand Fléchet, senator. - "5. Van Zuylen, senator. - "6. Eduard Peltzer, senator. - "7. Colleaux, senator. - "8. de Ponthière, member of the Town Council. - "9. Van Hoeyaerden, member of the Town Council. - "10. Falloise, alderman. - - "Bishop Rutten and Mr. Kleyer are allowed to leave the citadel for - the present, but remain at the disposition of the German commanders - as hostages. - - "We beseech all residents in the municipality to guard the highest - interests of all the inhabitants and of those who are hostages of - the German Army, and not to commit any assault on the soldiers of - this army. - - "We remind the citizens that by order of the general commanding the - German troops, those who have arms in their possession must deliver - them immediately to the authorities at the Provincial Palace under - penalty of being shot. - - "The Acting Burgomaster, - "V. HENAULT. - - "LIÈGE, - "August 8th." - -Fear reigned everywhere in the bustling streets; people shouted at each -other that the villages burned already, that by and by they would start -with the town, that all civilians would be killed, and other terrible -things. The Germans looked at all this with cynical composure, and when -I asked some of them what the truth was, they shrugged their shoulders, -said that they knew nothing about it, but that it might be true, -because all Belgians were swine who shot at the soldiers or poisoned -them. All of them were furious because the Belgians did not allow them -to march through their country. - -Fugitives arrived from the surrounding villages, who also spoke of -nothing but arson, destruction, and murder. They frightened the Liège -population still more, hundreds of whom packed up some of their -belongings and fled. They stumbled and fell across the barricades in -the streets, blinded as they were by fear, and blinded also by the -smoke which settled down on the city and polluted the air. - -Matters stood so in Liège on the morning of August 9th, when the second -day of the occupation by the Germans had not yet passed. The Belgian -field army, which had bravely defended the ground under the protection -of the forts, and inflicted heavy losses upon the Germans, had to -retreat before their superior numbers, leaving the further defence of -the Meuse to the forts. But a high price had been paid for Liège, for -the German losses were immense, and on the ninth they were still busy -burying their dead. The Germans lost many men, especially near Lixhe -and the Forts Bachon and Fleron. - -At that moment the possession of Liège was of little advantage to the -Germans, as on this 9th of August the Belgians still held all the -forts. This was the most important news that I was about to send to The -Netherlands, for when I left the Netherland newspapers had published -the news wired from Berlin that all the forts had fallen. - -But the Germans were efficient, for during the night they had laid down -the rails on which in the morning they transported parts of the heavy -ordnance that would demolish all the Belgian defences. - -A few minutes after I left the town a scene drew my attention. A lady -stood there with a little girl; the lady seemed to urge the child to -do something to which it objected. She refused to take a bag full of -various small parcels pressed upon her, and clutched hold of the lady's -skirts. I wanted to know what was the matter, got a little nearer, and -was amazed to hear them both speak Netherland. I could not help asking -what the trouble was and whether I might be of service. - -"No, no, sir," the lady said. "Oh, oh, it is so terrible! By and by the -Germans will burn Liège and kill us all. She is the little daughter of -my brother at Maastricht, and came to visit us a few days before war -broke out, but now she will be killed too, for she refuses to go away." - -"But, madame, you do not mean to send that child to Maastricht by -itself?" - -"It must be done, surely, it must be done! That is her only chance of -escape, and if she stops here she will be killed with the rest of us. -Oh!... oh!..." - -"But really, madame, that is only senseless gossip of the people. You -need not be afraid, the Germans will not be so cruel as all that!" - -"Not? Oh! they are sure to do it. All the villages are burning already. -The smoke suffocates us here. In Bressoux there is not a house left -standing, and in other villages all civilians have been killed, men, -women, and children. Not even the tiniest babies escaped.... Oh!... and -now it is Liège's turn!" - -I knew about Bressoux. I had seen the flames burst out from many -houses, and I had reliable information also from other villages about -the slaughter that took place there, although this lady of course -exaggerated when she said that "not even the tiniest babies escaped." - -Need I say that I did all I could to make the woman a little more -reasonable, and make her understand that it would not do to let a child -of ten walk by itself from Liège to Maastricht, and least of all in -these dire times. But I could not make her see this, and this instance -proves all the more, perhaps, how upset the inhabitants of Liège were -that morning; they were nearly out of their senses for fear. - -Of course I did not allow the little girl to go by herself, but took -her with me. It was a wearying expedition in the excessive heat of -that day. Very soon the child was no longer able to carry her small -belongings, and, though already sufficiently loaded myself, I had to -take her bundle as well. She was scarcely able to walk more than a -thousand yards at a stretch, and had then to sit down on the grass by -the roadside and rest. She did not quite understand what was going on, -but she had an undefined feeling of fear on that long, deserted road, -where we did not meet anybody except some well-hidden or stealthily -moving German patrols who suddenly pointed their rifles at us. - -After the explanations required of us they allowed us to go on. The -incessant roar of the guns made the girl tremble for fear, and the -stinging smoke made her cough. After much trouble we got at last as far -as Herstal, where I had promised her a short rest. - -This fine large village, actually a suburb of Liège, was quite -deserted, not a living being was to be seen. I entered shops and -cafés, called at the top of my voice, but got no reply anywhere. I was -inclined to believe that everybody had fled. And they would have been -quite right too, for huge columns of smoke rose up from the heights -around the place, four or five in a row, after a booming and rolling -peal like thunder had seemed to rend the sky. - -The German artillery had taken up their positions here, and bombarded -the forts in their immediate neighbourhood. These did not fail to -answer, and rained shells on the enemy's batteries. One heard their -hissing, which came nearer and nearer, until they fell on the slopes -or the tops of the hills and burst with a terrific explosion. Many a -time we saw this happen only a few hundred yards away. Then the air -trembled, and I felt as if my legs were blown from underneath me. -Broken windows too fell clattering on the "stoeps." - -We entered another café, and once more I shouted for the inhabitants -at the top of my voice. At last I heard a feeble sound somewhere in -the hall, which I entered, but as I saw no one there, I called out -once more. Then I heard distinctly, and knew whence the answer came. I -opened a door, behind which stairs led to the cellar, and from there I -was at last able to speak to some of the Herstal people. I heard that -all of them stayed in their cellars for fear of the bombardment. - -My request to allow the child to stay at the café for half an hour was -granted, and I went through the village towards the place whence the -German batteries sent their destructive fire. At last I got as far as -the top of a hill, from which I could see two forts shrouded in a cloud -of smoke, which was also the case with the German batteries. - -I could not stop there long, for I was actually within range. I saw a -number of shells explode and twice hit a farmhouse, which was destroyed -for the greater part. So I returned as quickly as possible to my little -protégée, and went on with her, following the road as far as the canal, -and then along this to Maastricht. - -On one of the hills, slightly to the south of Haccourt, on the west -bank of the Meuse and the canal, a German battery was firing at Fort -Pontisse. The gunners there were quite kind, and they felt no fear -at all, for although they shelled the fort continuously, it seemed -that nothing was done by way of reply to their fire. The shells from -the fort flew hissing over our heads, in the direction of Lixhe, -which proved that Fort Pontisse was still chiefly busy with the -pontoon-bridge at that place. - -Until now we had walked along the right bank of the canal, until -we crossed one of the many bridges. The little girl was well-nigh -exhausted; from time to time I gave her a rest, and then again I -carried her a part of the way. - -A good many soldiers were lying round about the high cement factory -of Haccourt. The factory itself seemed to be used as a station -for observations, for suddenly a voice roared from a top window: -"Stop those people!" And we were stopped and taken to a small table -where three officers were sitting drinking wine. The colonel asked -for my papers, which he did not consider sufficient, as I had no -passport from some German military authority. So I drew out again the -bridge-commander's scrap of paper which said that I was permitted to go -from Lixhe to Visé. - -"Is this then the road to Visé?" - -"No, sir, I am returning from there." - -"Where then is Visé?" - -"That way, sir!" - -"That way? But how did you get here then?" - -"You see, sir, the bridge across the Meuse has been destroyed, and in -order to get back I had to walk first towards ... towards ... Liège ... -and ... and ... and then they ferried me over somewhere down there, and -told me that I had to go along the canal to get to Maastricht." - -"Is that so? Well, it is not very clear! And that little girl?" - -"That is a Netherland girl, sir, who was staying at her aunt's at Liège -... I mean to say at Visé, and whom I take now with me to Maastricht." - -The officer went on shaking his head at my answers, and I felt as if -this might be the end of my fine little adventure. But I could not tell -him that I had gone to Liège with that permit for Visé! - -At Fort Pontisse or Lierce they seemed to have noticed that the factory -was a station for observation. As the officer was still thinking about -my case, one of those infernal monster shells crashed down among a -group of soldiers, only some yards away. Those who were not hit ran -away, but they came back soon, and took up seven or eight comrades, -whom they carried into the factory. I shuddered when I saw what had -happened, and through the shock the sight gave me I involuntarily -jerked my arms. - -"Stand still!" the officer thundered. - -He looked for a moment at the spot where the deaths happened, from -which the victims were carried away, and then suddenly asked in a -kinder tone of voice: - -"Is there any further news about the war in The Netherlands?" - -I saw that I must take advantage of his changed mood and his curiosity, -and I hastened to reply: - -"Yes, that the French are advancing towards Liège, and that the British -have landed in Belgium." - -"What?" - -"It is as I tell you!" - -"But are you sure? Where are the French now, and where did the British -land?" - -"Well, all the Netherland papers have extensive official reports about -it. The French are now at Namur and the British landed troops at -Ostend...." - -"Wait! wait! wait!" - -Quickly he summoned an orderly and gave some orders, and a few minutes -later four more officers drew round the table, on which a large map of -Belgium was displayed. Their tone became at once charmingly sweet and -kind, and a soldier offered me some lemonade from small bottles kept -cool in a basin filled with cold water. - -I did not feel very comfortable after what had happened to those -soldiers who lost their lives so cruelly sudden, or in any case had -been seriously wounded, while the officers took little notice of them. -But it was desirable to behave as discreetly as possible, and so to get -a permit to Maastricht. - -I had to repeat everything about the advance of the French and the -landing of the British, whilst they followed my story on the map. But -I was soon in a cold sweat, for of course I knew practically nothing, -neither of the French nor of the British, and each time when one of -the officers pressed for details I was in mortal fear that I might -contradict myself. But I stuck to my guns until the end, and assured -them that the French had crossed the Belgian frontier near Givet, and -were now near Namur, whereas the British, disembarking at Ostend, had -advanced as far as Ghent. - -As soon as they had got all the information they required, the -commanding officer ordered a patrol of cyclists of six men to leave -their kit and rifles behind, but to take a Browning, and deliver a -rapidly written letter at Liège. - -They were now very friendly, and spoke even with great kindliness about -the Netherlanders in general. They let me proceed also on my way to -Maastricht, giving me their best wishes. - -My little protégée was, however, soon very tired and complained that -her feet ached. I had to carry her for nearly a mile and a half before -we arrived at the Netherland Custom House, where I left her behind, as -she was now safe. I went on to Maastricht alone, wired to my paper, and -then saw the worried, but soon extremely happy parents of the little -girl. They went at once to the Netherland frontier to take their child -home. - -I had succeeded. I had been in Liège, the first foreign journalist -who got there after her fall, and was able to contradict the numerous -reports about the conquest of the forts which had made the round of the -newspapers for several days. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -ROUND ABOUT LIÈGE - - -DURING the fights round the forts I made a good many tours and was -able to contradict several German reports about alleged successes. The -atrocities in the villages around Liège did not cease, and constantly -fresh crowds of refugees came to Maastricht. - -In order to examine once more the state of affairs around Liège, I -decided to pay another visit to that town. - -Starting in the early morning of August 15th, I arrived at Visé without -much trouble, after having been led across the Lixhe bridge once more. -Since my first visit the bridge had been destroyed three times over, -and this new one seemed very weak. As I stood there looking at it, a -motor lorry had to cross it, and the bridge gave way near the bank. -Another motor had then to pull the lorry up to the top of the bank, and -this made the bridge give way still further. - -For the rest the transports were not much troubled now, for obviously -the bridge was no longer the objective of the Belgian guns. At Visé I -was even told that Fort Pontisse had just been taken and only Lierce -could harass the troops, who, after crossing the bridge, advanced -towards Tongeren. - -Many things had happened at Visé since my first visit. Under the -pretext that the church spire could indicate to Fort Pontisse in which -direction to shoot, paraffin had been poured over church and spire -and fire set to them. It was a venerable ancient structure, built ten -centuries ago, the fine stained windows of which were well known. - -The inhabitants looked upon the church as a special sanctuary, as the -bones of St. Hadelin were kept there. Before the fire these relics had -been removed to the vicarage secretly, and then to St. Hadelin College, -the only large building that escaped the general destruction next day. - -Immediately after the church was set on fire, the dean was arrested, as -well as the burgomaster and five reverend sisters. These last-mentioned -had been in prison a fortnight, when at last the Germans discovered -that the little sisters were of German nationality. The Very Reverend -Dean had been treated very badly during his captivity. - -There was dire want in the little town, for the Germans had been -requisitioning everything until there was nothing left. And as during -the first days of the war all traffic had been stopped, it was -impossible to bring in fresh supplies. The pieces of bread the people -still had were like bricks, and several days old; and yet I could not -get any of it. - -But the German troops had ample provisions for themselves, and as an -officer noticed that I went all over the town to find some food in -one of the restaurants, he offered me, the "friendly" Netherlander, -something to eat at the Guard House. This I declined, however, for I -could not have enjoyed bread taken from the starving population. - -There was still a real reign of terror, and constantly the town-crier's -bell was heard in the streets, informing the people that the victors -required something or other. Only a few days ago it was announced that -all bicycles had to be delivered at the bridge within twenty-four -hours. Any person who after that time was found in possession of such a -vehicle would be shot, and his house burned down. With similar threats -all arms were requisitioned, but with the explicit addition that this -referred also to old, and broken arms, or those which had been taken -to pieces. Eatables and drinkables were also constantly claimed under -threats of arson. - -From Visé I went again across the Meuse to the road along the canal. -Nearing Haccourt, I noticed that Fort Pontisse was actually silent, -but Lierce still in full action. The Germans had mounted long-range -guns on the hills between Lancey and Haccourt, whence they could place -Fort Lierce under fire. A German officer, after some coaxing, allowed -me to witness the operations for a short time. I found a place near -some heavy guns, and sat down amid some underwood. The shooting from -Lierce was very fierce, but only by the plumes of smoke could I tell -whereabouts the fort might be. The shells came down near us, but during -the half hour of my stop not one made a hit. They all fell short of us. - -It was a cruel sight. At a tolerably quick pace hundreds of soldiers -marched out in the direction of the fort, dragging light ordnance with -them. One of the officers explained to me that the big guns could not -yet operate here; and now a division of foot-artillery was commanded to -occupy a small hill near the fort. The big guns had to support them on -the way. The guns roared as if all the thunderbolts of heaven had been -flung into space. The smoke of the powder poisoned the air and made me -cough. Gradually my surroundings were enveloped in a thin haze, which -became denser and more suffocating the longer the guns roared. And -at last those hundreds of men, dragging their guns along the byways, -looked merely like shades. - -For quite a quarter of an hour they seemed to proceed successfully, as -obviously not one shell exploded in their neighbourhood. But suddenly -all along their line dark masses several yards high rose up. This -was the effect of numerous exceedingly well-aimed shells on the dry, -loose sand. Soon the men were surrounded by those thick clouds of -dust, and only during the first few minutes I saw here and there one -of those shades in human form tumble down, evidently hit by one of the -projectiles. Then I saw nothing for a long while, excepting the thick -wall of dust, which seemed to remain standing up, for constantly the -shells threw up anew the earth that had only just fallen down. - -The dust-wall extended gradually as the distance grew covered by the -Germans in their flight to their former positions. But at last we saw -the first men emerge in complete disorder from that driving cloud. -Some on the right, others on the left, here and there also small -groups which courageously dragged their guns with them, as they saved -themselves from that infernal downpour. - -Five minutes later the smoke had disappeared almost, and I was able to -see what had happened on the field in front of me. Terrible! On all -sides lay scattered the lads, who but a short time ago started with -so much enthusiasm, and here and there a gun knocked over, five, six -corpses lying around it. - -In front of me, behind me, on all sides, the guns boomed, clouds of -dust and smoke filled the air, making it impossible to see much, which -made the awe and terror endurable; but after the air became clear -again, and the sun shed glowing light on the beautiful fields, it was -terrible to think that all those dots in the plain were the bodies of -young men, cruelly crushed by the infernal products of human ingenuity. -It was agony to see here and there a body rising up, merely to fall -down again immediately, or an arm waving as if invoking help. - -And by my side stood officers and soldiers raging and cursing. To -them came the returning men, blood running along their faces from -insignificant wounds, and they bawled and bellowed, and thundered -with a thousand curses that they wanted to go back and try again. How -ghastly they rolled their eyes in frenzied excitement! Some pointing at -me asked the officer who I was, and he explained. Then I had to listen -to endless imprecations against the civilian population of Belgium, -who, according to them, consisted entirely of francs-tireurs, who all -of them deserved to be shot, and to have their houses burned down. To -repeat the coarse words which they sputtered out in their rage would -only cause disgust. - -The officer assured me that a new effort would be made soon, as they -were commanded to take Pontisse and Lierce at any price, the seventh -and ninth regiment of foot-artillery of Cologne being selected for the -purpose. - -I did not want to witness that second attack, and, after thanking the -officer, resumed my journey along the canal-road to Liège. - -Near Herstal the Germans were crossing by the large bridge, which the -Belgians had preserved to their own disadvantage. - -In Liège things were no longer so depressing as at the time of my first -visit. There was some traffic in the streets, and by order of the -German authorities the shops had been reopened. - -In a meadow east of the city I saw three big guns mounted, the biggest -I had seen as yet. They kept up a continuous and powerful cannonade at -the forts near the town, that had not yet been taken. There were three -of them left, of which Loncin was the most important. - -A little farther away they were still busy with Lierce, but excepting -these four, all the forts were now taken by the Germans. I stood there -for a moment, gazing at these cannon, the presence of which was clearly -unknown to the Belgians, for their artillery took no notice of them. -Only the day before these guns had started shelling the forts, and on -the evening of August 15th they had silenced two of them; but Loncin -kept up the fight. - -During the evening I was granted an audience by the Right Reverend -Monseigneur Rutten, Bishop of Liège. The venerable, aged prelate -received me very affably, but he was deeply impressed by the terrible -fate that had overwhelmed his poor native country. He himself had -suffered exceedingly bad treatment at the hands of the Germans. First -he and the other hostages were imprisoned in the citadel, where he -was locked up in a small shanty, with a leaking roof, so that the -torrential rain entered it freely. Wet and cold, the Bishop passed that -day without being offered any food, and, as stated above, was at last -allowed to go home. - -He told me a good many other instances of ill-treatment, but as I gave -him my word of honour not to mention them, my mouth is sealed. He -himself was visited a few days later by the German commanding general, -who offered his apologies. - -That same evening many more houses were burned down, more particularly -in Outre-Meuse, although no valid reason was given for that. - -The next day, Sunday, August 16th, I was already about at five o'clock -in the morning, and soon witnessed some historical shots. In the park -on one of the boulevards the Germans had been digging for two days, -and prepared a firm foundation upon which big guns might be mounted. I -saw one of these guns that morning, and at about half-past five three -shots were fired from it at short intervals, by which Fort Loncin was -completely destroyed, as was indicated by the terrific explosions which -followed the third shot. After these shots I was quite benumbed for -several minutes; in all the streets of Liège they caused the greatest -commotion, which became all the greater because large numbers of -cavalry happened to ride through the town, and all the horses started -rearing. - -Was the gun I had seen there one of the notorious forty-two centimetre -monsters? I should not like to wager my head in affirming that. It -was an inordinately unwieldy and heavy piece of ordnance, but during -the first days of the war nothing or very little had yet been said or -written about these forty-two's, and I did not pay sufficient attention -to the one I saw. Only after the fall of Loncin did all those articles -about the forty-two's appear in the papers, and the Germans certainly -asserted that they destroyed Loncin by means of such a cannon. - -But it is equally certain that at Liège as well as at Namur and Antwerp -the Austrian thirty-point-five mortars were used, siege-guns chiefly, -and these were taken by the German soldiers for forty-two's. These -Austrian mortars were equally misnamed in German, French, and even -Netherland illustrated papers. - -However, the effect of these Austrian mortars was terrible enough. I -could not form a correct opinion about them by the sound of the shot; -and only those who were in the fort that was hit were able to realise -the terrific results. Hence the interest of the report by an officer, -who escaped after having been made a prisoner at Loncin. He told my -colleague of _De Tijd_ at Antwerp about it. After having related how, -during nearly ten days, the fort had been defended heroically and -resolutely, he gave the following description of the final struggle:-- - - "On August 14th, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, the - expected storm burst; for twenty-five hours the invisible - siege-guns poured their torrent of projectiles on the fort. Flares - of fire and dense clouds of smoke belched through the crevices. - As the enemy's batteries could not be located, their fire could - not be answered. The artillerists of the garrison were then taken - to the spacious chief gallery, which offered a safe refuge under - its vault, about two and a half to three yards thick. Outside the - sentries were watching. In the parts near the entrance it was - unendurable; the heavy projectiles from the guns mounted in the - town had nibbled away the outer wall, only a yard and a half thick. - There were as yet no casualties among the garrison; calmly they - waited for the infernal tempest to subside and the enemy to storm - the fort, for they had sworn to repulse the assault. - - "General Leman, Commander Naessens, and all the officers were - splendid in their imperturbable courage. They found the words that - went straight to the hearts of their men. These fellows looked more - like bronze statues than human beings. The projectiles hammered - at the walls and smashed huge pieces, penetrating into the parts - near the entrance. The rest of the fort withstood splendidly - the hurricane of hostile steel and fire. During the night the - bombardment stopped, and then the commanding officer went to - inspect the cupolas. - - "The larger ones had suffered little; but the majority were jammed - by fragments of concrete and steel, which struck between the armour - and the front-armour. The small quick-fire cupolas had not been - touched by any projectile. 'It is all right,' he said, 'we shall be - able to repulse the enemy's attack.' - - "At dawn the bombardment started again, but only the front was - seriously damaged. The garrison stood as firm as a rock. Here and - there the beginnings of a fire were soon extinguished. - - "Then a frightful thing happened. The men had finished breakfast, - some were sleeping quietly in spite of the thundering noise. The - assault was expected to commence during the next night. - - "And then the disaster followed suddenly. At about five o'clock - a tremendous explosion shook the fort to the foundations; the - powder-magazine had caught fire. It is impossible to describe the - appalling results of that explosion; the entire middle-part of the - fort collapsed in a stupendous cloud of flames, smoke and dust; - it was an awful destruction, an immense avalanche of masses of - concrete, fragments of armour, which in their fall crushed to death - nearly the whole of the garrison. From this fantastical, confused - mass, overwhelming clouds of suffocating smoke escaped through some - crevices and holes. - - "After this infernal rumble, deadly silence followed, interrupted - only by the groans of the wounded. The German artillery ceased to - fire, and from all sides their infantry came rushing on, their - faces expressing the terror caused by such great calamities. They - were no longer soldiers longing to destroy, but human beings - hurrying to go to the assistance of other human beings. - - "German sappers and other military men cleared away the dead and - the wounded. They also discovered General Leman, whose orderlies, - who had a miraculous escape from death, were already busy in - rescuing him from underneath the ruins. - - "They were all unrecognisable, their faces were black from smoke, - their uniforms in rags, their hands covered with blood. The general - was put on a stretcher, and carried outside the fort across the - heaps of obstacles; there he was attended to by a surgeon. He had - lost consciousness. As soon as he recovered it, he pressed the - hands of two Belgian officers. 'It is all over; there is nothing - left to defend. But we did our utmost courageously.' - - "A German officer came nearer, and, uncovering his head, said in - a voice trembling with emotion: 'General, what you performed is - admirable!' Evidently these words slightly comforted the defender - of Liège, who before long was removed by motor-car to an ambulance - in the town." - -Such was the end of Fort Loncin, and by its fall the last obstacle was -removed by which the undisturbed progress of the German armies might -have been prevented. The brave defenders of Loncin did not surrender, -but stood their ground until they were buried under the ruins of their -own defences. According to information from another source, Lierce had -succumbed the night before. - -Early next morning I walked through the streets of Liège, dull and -depressed, deploring the fact that such clumsy, heavy iron monsters had -been able to crush this stout defence and such men. As I reached the -Place du Marché, there arrived three hundred disarmed Belgian warriors, -escorted by a strong German force. They stopped in the square, and soon -hundreds of the people of Liège crowded around them. They were the -defenders of Fort Pontisse. - -Men and women tried to break through the German cordon, but were -repulsed roughly. So they threw fruit, cigars, and cigarettes at them. -The lads looked gratefully at their compatriots, but for the rest -stared in front of them in dismal depression. Once and again a name was -called, as a relative or friend was recognised. Some shed tears. - -Whether neutral or foreigner, no one could help being deeply moved. -Men and women, boys and girls, pressed once more through the German -fence, just to shake hands with someone they had recognised. No wailing -followed, but when hands were gripped, with a suppressed sob, they said: - -"Bear up, lad! Keep courage; it will soon be different." - -And the answer was: - -"We did our utmost to the last, but it was impossible to go on." - -I could not help myself, but also pressed through the Germans, as I -wanted to exchange a few words with the Belgians. This was possible -for a very few moments only, in which they told me that they had been -firing night and day in order to harass the Germans who crossed the -river, but they had to yield at the end, when the Germans put Belgian -civilians in front of themselves when attacking the fort. - -I was roughly pushed back by the German soldiers twice over. I broke -through only to be repulsed again. They got into difficulties with the -huge crowd, who pushed through on all sides, bought up the stock of -surrounding shops, and threw chocolates and other sweets, cigars and -cigarettes, at their boys. Then a bugle sounded, and the Belgians once -more were arrayed in files. They calmly lighted their cigarettes, and -as the order "march" was given, they took off their caps, waved them -through the air, and, turning to the Liège crowd, exclaimed: "Vive -la Belgique." Then hundreds of caps, hats, and arms were waved in -response, the air resounding the cry: "Vive la Belgique. Au revoir! Au -revoir!" - -As I felt myself one with the population, I uncovered my head and -enthusiastically joined in the cry: "Au revoir! Au revoir!" - - * * * * * - -When I was half way between Liège and the Netherland frontier, I -noticed that the village of Vivignes was burning in various places. -It is a beautiful spot, quite concealed between the green trees on the -slope of the hills, west of the canal. And the finest and largest farms -were exactly those ablaze. The fire crackled fiercely, roofs came down -with a crash and a thud. Not a living being could be seen. From the -windows of the burning houses small white flags hung, and they too were -one by one destroyed by the fire. I counted forty-five farms that were -burning, destroyed by the raging flames. - -In a café, lower down, near the canal I saw a number of German -soldiers, and was successful in having a chat with the inn-keeper, -at the farthest corner of the bar. I asked him, of course, what they -meant by burning the village, and he told me that the Germans had -made a number of unsuccessful attacks on Fort Pontisse, until at last -they reduced it to silence. They were now so near that they could -open the final assault. They were afraid, however, of some ambush, -or underground mine, and the Friday before they had collected the -population, whom they forced to march in front of them. When they had -got quite near they dared not enter it yet, and drove the priest and -twelve of the principal villagers before them. That is how Pontisse was -conquered. - -Later on I heard the same story from several other inhabitants. - -The people had been in deadly terror, and women and old men, fearing -that they would be killed, had fallen on their knees beseeching the -soldiers to spare them. At present many women and old men, and even -strong men, were laid up with violent feverish attacks of nerves. - -Only because these wretched people had not promptly obeyed the order -of the military to march against the fort in front of the soldiers, -Vivignes had been punished, and that morning over forty of the best -houses had been set on fire. - -I shuddered at the thought that in these days such barbarities were -possible. I asked the soldiers whether I was allowed to enter the -burning village, but the commanding sergeant refused his consent. - -I also asked the inn-keeper whether he felt no fear in those -surroundings. But, shrugging his shoulders, he answered: "All we can do -is to wait quietly. I do all in my power to keep them in a good temper, -give them beer and cigars, and yesterday killed one of my two cows for -them. I may have lost everything at the end of the war, ... but even -so, let it be, if I can only save the life of my family and keep a roof -over my head. But my anxiety is great enough, for, you understand, I -have two daughters ... and ... and...." - -We had got near the door of the room that stood ajar, and from there -came the sound of a couple of girls' voices: "Hail, Mary.... Hail, -Mary...." - -The frightened maidens were saying their rosary. - -The news, that all the forts had now been taken was quickly -communicated to the surrounding military posts, and in consequence the -soldiers were in a wanton mood. Most of the houses which I passed had -their doors and windows smashed and broken, but the most provoking was -that soldiers had compelled the people in the cafés along the canal to -open their pianos and make their musical automatons play. To the tunes -of these instruments they danced, yelling and shouting. No greater -contrast was imaginable than that between such scenes and the burning -village with the frightened inhabitants around it. - -Near Haccourt, by the bank of the Meuse, I noticed a terrible glare of -fire and dense smoke. It was an alarming sight, and made me fear the -direst things. I considered for a moment whether I should go there or -not, fearing that I had already taxed my nerves too much. Yet, I made -up my mind to go, and by a side-way got to the Meuse, near Visé. German -engineers were busy here laying telephone wires, and an officer stopped -me, threatening me with his revolver. It was obvious that they were no -longer accustomed to see civilians on that road. After having examined -my passport and seeing that I was a Netherland journalist, he became -very friendly, and politely urged me not to go farther. - -"Why not, sir?" I asked. - -"Well, there is a huge fire yonder; everything is burning!" - -"How did that come about?" - -"Well, it seems that the civilians cannot understand that only soldiers -may fight soldiers, and for that reason the whole place has been set on -fire." - -"Devant-le-Pont?" - -"No, Visé." - -"Visé? Do you mean to say, sir, that the whole of Visé has been set on -fire?" - -"Certainly!" - -"But ... but ...! May I go there?" - -"I must advise you not to, for it is extremely dangerous, but if you -like...." - -"Very well, sir, then I shall go there!" - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -VISÉ DESTROYED: A PREMEDITATED CRIME - - -ONE of the first things I have to deal with is also one of the most -fearful I ever saw, and I only hope that I may never again witness the -like of it. - -I have mentioned already the reign of terror with which the Germans -ruled the wretched townlet ever since they entered it. Something -fateful might happen any moment, and actually occurred during the night -of August 15th and 16th. - -On that evening the soldiers, rough fellows from East Prussia, had been -revelling in the cafés, shouting filthy ditties in the streets, and -most of them in a very advanced state of intoxication. At ten o'clock -suddenly a shot was heard. The fellows took their rifles, which they -had placed against the walls, or on the tables of the cafés, and ran -into the street shouting in a mad rage: "They have been shooting!" -The most tipsy began to shoot at doors and windows simultaneously in -various parts of the town, which made the people in the houses scream, -and this excited the mad drunken soldiers all the more. They forced -their way into several houses, knocking down the frightened inhabitants -when these tried to stop them. - -It is stated that some of the wretched people were even pinioned and -beaten. Their assailants then stumbled up the stairs and began to shoot -wildly from the upper stories into the dark streets, where their own -raving comrades were rushing about like madmen. Some civilians who in -great fear had come to their front door to see what was happening were -shot down. - -After this game had been going on for some time, the order was given: -"Everybody must come outside." Doors and windows were forced open and -broken, and men, women, and children driven out of the houses. They -were at once ruthlessly separated. Men who assisted their aged mothers, -or carried their little babies, were taken away from their families, -and driven away, leaving their wailing and weeping wives and children -behind, while the flames from burning houses threw a lurid light on the -sad scenes of that terrible evening. - -The poor wretches, who expected to be killed at any moment, were driven -into squares or the meadows, where they were exposed to the chilly -night air, so that several babies perished. Only the next morning were -the women and children allowed to leave--that is to say, they were told -to take the shortest way to Maastricht. - -A number of the men were taken to Germany, the others were kept as -prisoners in the neighbourhood, and by and by had to suffer the shame -of being compelled to work for the enemy. Amongst them were men who -had never done any manual work, such as an aged notary public. - -Even a doctor of the Red Cross established at St. Hadelin College had -been removed in his white overall and wearing his Red Cross armlet. -This was Dr. Labye, who already had rendered signal services to the -wounded Germans. In consequence of his detention twenty of them were -left in the hospital without medical attendance.... - -During the night only a few houses were burnt down; the general -destruction followed the next morning, Sunday, August 16th, and just as -I reached the little town the flames were raging all over the place in -a fierce blaze. - -I shall never forget that sight. The Meuse separated me from the -raging blaze on the opposite bank. The flames roared violently, roofs -and rafters and walls crashed down, and the wood of living trees was -burning and screeching loudly. I saw but a sea of fire, one glaring -glow, and the air was scorchingly hot. A light breeze blew through -the place, and made clouds of smoke to whirl through the streets like -avalanches of snow. The view down the longer streets leading straight -from the hill-tops to the Meuse was very fantastic. - -The wind seemed to play with the smoke, rolling dense volumes down the -slopes which dispersed only when they reached the bank along the river. -Whilst the flames soared high up from the roofs, the walls of the -houses stood still erect, and everywhere in the windows one saw those -miserable little white flags, symbols of submission, mute prayers that -submission should be rewarded by sparing the life and possession of the -inhabitants.... - -I stood near the spot where the ferry-boat used to take people across; -but to cross was now out of the question, for any one alighting on -the opposite side would be landed in the scorching glare. Therefore, -I returned to Lixhe, where I might try to cross the river by the -pontoon-bridge, and get to Visé along the other bank of the Meuse. - -On the way I was stopped by two soldiers, one of whom examined my -papers, and, finding that I was a journalist, revealed himself as a -colleague, in ordinary times editor of the _Kölnische Zeitung_. He -shook both my hands quite excitedly, glad to meet a colleague, and, -better still, one from the "friendly" Netherlands. - -I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of the Netherlanders, -who were such sensible people, and the best friends of the Germans; -protestations which did not interest me in the least at that moment. On -the contrary, it struck me as deplorable that this man did not say a -single word of his own accord about the horrible thing happening close -by: the destruction of an entire community! He did not seem to attach -any importance to it.... - -As soon as the "friendly" Netherlander thought that he had swallowed -sufficient praise, I began to ask questions about the meaning of that -wanton devastation, and why it was inflicted on the population! Before -answering, he looked round in a casual manner, as if thinking: "Oh, -it's that bit of fire you refer to!" And then exploded in a string of -imprecations against the population. - -It is a lamentable sign that this German, probably well educated, -had not taken the slightest trouble to find out the reason for this -wholesale wrecking of a town, that the whole affair impressed him -so little. "Somebody" had said that those cursed civilians had been -shooting, that explained it to his satisfaction, and gave him ample -cause for coarse abuse of the wretched people. - -How many soldiers had fallen in consequence of this attack by -francs-tireurs he knew not; which troops had witnessed the occurrence -he could not say. All he did know was that these troops had left in the -morning, leaving a small force behind to impose the punishment. - -The bridge-command at the pontoon-bridge near Lixhe allowed me to -cross, after requesting me very pressingly to make _very clear_ what -swine these Belgians were, who fired so treacherously at unsuspecting -soldiers, put out the eyes of the wounded, cut off their hands and -genitals. When I asked where all these things had happened, the answer -was: "Everywhere!" Of course, I promised them to do everything they -wanted. - -Very large divisions marched from Visé to the pontoon bridge in the -direction of Tongres. After the Liège forts had been taken the bridge -might be passed in perfect safety. All day long troops came along that -road without interruption. I could quite see that the soldiers who were -at Visé the previous day, and brought about the conflagration, were -gone, for they had left their traces behind. All along the road lay -parts of bicycles, shoes, instruments, toys, and so on, everything new -and evidently looted from the shops. Very valuable things were among -them, everything crushed and smashed by the cavalry horses, the clumsy -munition and forage waggons, or the heavy wheels of the guns. - -A little farther on a few houses were left undamaged, because they -stood outside the town proper. A woman who had remained in her house -stood outside with cigar-boxes under her arm. She offered cigars from -an open box to the soldiers of the passing divisions. To me she seemed -to be out of her mind, as she stood there trembling, her face distorted -from hypernervousness. Her cringing kindness was of no avail, for I -noticed a couple of days afterwards that her house too had been totally -destroyed. - -On the first houses of the town large bills had been stuck, intimating -that they were a Netherlander's property, but obviously that had not -impressed the tipsy soldiers to any extent, for they had been wrecked -all the same for the greater part. - -The whole town was like a sea of fire. The Germans, who are nothing -if not thorough, even in the matter of arson, had worked out their -scheme in great detail. In most houses they had poured some benzine or -paraffin on the floor, put a lighted match to it, and thrown a small -black disc, the size of a farthing, on the burning spot, and then -immediately the flames flared up with incredible fury. I do not know -the constituents of this particular product of "Kultur." - -Nor did I see any inhabitants in the burning town. It was practically -impossible to stay in the streets; burning walls and roofs and gutters -crashed down with a great noise, so that the streets were as much on -fire as the houses themselves. Only at the crossings were any soldiers -to be seen, who, in various stages of intoxication, constantly aimed at -the burning houses, and shot everything that tried to escape from the -burning stables and barns: pigs, horses, cows, dogs, and so on. - -Suddenly I saw a boy about twelve years old in one of the burning -streets. He waved his arms, rushed madly to and fro, calling for his -father and mother, and his little brother and sisters. He was in danger -of perishing in the fire, or being killed by the murderous bullet -from a rifle. I ran after him, laid hold of him, and in spite of his -resistance pulled him back. Fortunately I met a couple of kind, sober -soldiers to whom I told the story, and who promised to send the boy -away from the burning town. - -Shortly afterwards I met a Netherland Red Cross motor-car. The male -nurses, who had met me already on former occasions during the war, -recognised me, rushed up to me, and forced me to come with them to the -car. Here they tried to explain with a torrential flow of words that I -exposed myself to the greatest danger by coming here, as nearly all the -soldiers were drunk, shot at every civilian, and so on. - -They insisted upon my staying near the car, and be a little safer under -the protection of the Red Cross. They told me how they had to drag an -old woman out of her house, who refused to come with them, and in her -despair shouted nothing but: "Let me die!--let me die!" - -I could not say or do anything, for I felt as if stunned, and let them -lead me where they liked; so they gave me a glass of claret, and that -revived me. - -A few moments after they went away I went also, and entered the burning -town once more. A Netherland family lived in Villa Rustica, and I had -promised to make inquiries about them. - -As I stood there looking at the ruins of what was once so fine a house, -a small group of refugees approached, carrying as usual their miserable -parcels in which they had hurriedly collected the things that had the -least value. As they saw me they shuddered and shivered and crept -closer together. Most of them wept and sobbed, and their faces were -twisting nervously. - -I went up to them and explained that there was no need at all to be -afraid of me. They were able to give me news of the inhabitants of -Villa Rustica. The owner had died a few days since, from a paralytic -stroke, brought on by the emotions caused by the German horrors, -whereas madame, who had heroically intervened on behalf of some -victims, was probably at St. Hadelin College. - -My poor informants had not yet made up their mind where to go, fearing -that they might not be permitted to enter The Netherlands as they -were without means of subsistence. I assured them, however, that our -conception of neighbourly love and charity was different, and that they -would be hospitably received. - -I showed them the way to Eysden, and they had scarcely started when -a cavalry patrol came racing on, the men tipsy and their seat rather -unstable. Seeing the refugees, they aimed their rifles at them and -roared "Hands up!" The poor creatures not only put up their hands, but -fell on their knees, and muttered incoherent words. The women folded -their hands, and stretched them out to the cavalry, as if praying for -mercy. The soldiers looked at the scene for a moment, burst out in a -harsh laughter, spurred on their horses, and raced on without a word. -Two of them stopped near me. I gave them, however, no time for threats, -but quickly showed them the old pass to Visé. As soon as they saw the -German writing they said: "All right!" and went off. - -I came now to the eastern boundary of the town, whence the streets -slope gently towards the bank of the Meuse. Here I had an atrociously -fantastic view of the burning mass of houses. I fell in with a crowd of -dead-drunk soldiers, who first handed my papers on from the one to the -other, but as soon as they understood that I was a Netherlander they -showed no hostility. - -They sang and shouted and waved their arms. Most of them carried -bottles full of liquor, which they put to their mouths frequently, -smashed them on the ground, or handed them to their comrades, when -unable to drink any more themselves. Each of a troop of cavalry had a -bottle of pickles, and enjoyed them immensely. - -Other soldiers kept on running into the burning houses, carrying out -vases, pictures, plate, or small pieces of furniture. They smashed -everything on the cobbles and then returned to wreck more things that -would have been destroyed by the fire all the same. It was a revelry of -drunken vandalism. They seemed mad, and even risked being burned alive -at this work of destruction. Most of the officers were also tipsy; not -one of them was saluted by the soldiers. - -The beastly scenes which I witnessed in the glaring, scorching heat -benumbed me, and I looked on vacantly for a long time. At last I went -back and called at St. Hadelin College, the Head of which I had visited -already once or twice. The building was still undamaged. - -As soon as the Reverend Head, Dr. Frits Goffin, saw me he burst out -sobbing, and, taking me by the hand, speechless, he pressed it a long -time. I myself also was quite dumb. At length he muttered: - -"Could you ever have thought ... that ... that ... such ... a cruel ... -fate would overwhelm us? What crime did these poor people commit? Have -we not given all we had? Have we not strictly obeyed their commands? -Have we not done more than they asked for? Have we not charitably -nursed their wounded in this House? Oh! they profess deep gratitude to -me. But ... why then? There is nothing left in the House for the aged -refugees whom we admitted, for the soldiers we nurse; our doctor has -been made a prisoner and taken away, and we are without medical help. -This is nothing for the Sisters and myself, but all these unfortunate -creatures ... they must have food...." - -The excellent man went on weeping, and I was not able to console him -and did not know what to say. He took my arm, and led me to the large -common hall, where twenty wounded Germans lay, who had been hit in the -fight for the forts. He went to one bed after the other, and, with -tears in his eyes, asked each man how he felt, and inquired, "Are you -... properly ... cared for ... here? Are you?" The sick men turned -round, their eyes beamed, and they stammered words full of gratitude. -Others said nothing, but took the Head's hand and pressed it long and -warmly. - -The wounded civilians had been put up in the small schoolrooms. Some -of them must soon die. Some had burns, but most of them were hit -the previous night during the mad outbreak, the mad shooting of the -drunken and riotous Germans. In another room a number of old women were -crowded together, who had to fly but could not walk all the way to the -Netherland frontier. - -Near each staircase stood a blackboard on which the Germans had written -that to go upstairs was prohibited under penalty of death. The Head -explained that the Germans alleged that light signals had been given -from the top storey. - -Two South-American boys, about twelve years old, had stayed on and -heroically assisted the Head at his charitable work. Dr. Goffin was -not allowed to take anybody with him except these two children in his -search for the wounded, and to bury the dead. It is scarcely credible -how courageously these boys of such tender age behaved. Later the -Chilean ambassador made inquiries about them and asked for their -portraits. - -I also met there a compatriot, who had got permission to go to The -Netherlands, but declined to leave. She was Mrs. de Villers, _née_ -Borret. On August 27th I wrote about her to _De Tijd_:-- - - "Four days ago her husband was buried. As he was addressing the - League of Old-Retraitants at Cherath he was seized by a paralytic - stroke, which proved fatal. She has no longer a home, beautiful - Villa Rustica being completely burnt out, and now in ruins. But she - refuses to return to The Netherlands, as she is still able to be of - service to the people here. - - "In Cherath she saved the life of a good many. As it was alleged - that there had been shooting, the priest, the chaplain, a retired - priest, eighty years old, the mayor, and several leading citizens - were condemned to be shot. None, not even the priest, was able to - defend himself, as they knew not a word of German, and could not - make themselves understood. Mrs. de Villers, who speaks German - fluently, explained that the spot where the shooting was alleged to - have taken place was not part of Cherath at all. - - "So this brave lady succeeded in getting the sentence of death - withdrawn. But the Germans wanted to torture their wretched - prisoners on any or no plea. They were placed near the church wall, - kept standing there all night, were told that they would be shot by - and by, and threatened by the soldiers with their bayonets. - - "In the morning sixty soldiers escorted them out of the village to - the hamlet Wandre, where the populace was told they would be shot. - Should one shot be fired by one of the inhabitants--thus Mrs. de - Villers was told--the prisoners would be shot out of hand; if not, - they would be released at Wandre. Mrs. de Villers had, of course, - secretly warned the inhabitants in time. - - "She hopes to be able to render further services to the populace, - thanks to her knowledge of German, and stays on, occupying her - time with charitable work. A respectful salute is due to this - courageous compatriot." - -On the same day I wrote as follows about Dr. Goffin:-- - - "His face, unshaven since ever so long, is quite emaciated, and - presents all the symptoms of nervous exhaustion. Once more twenty - German soldiers are being nursed in his college, where only once - a German doctor came to see them. He (Dr. Goffin) and a couple of - Sisters have to manage everything by themselves, and the Germans do - not even dream of providing food for their own wounded, although - the college is so inadequately provisioned that the Head and the - Sisters have to deny themselves the necessary nourishment that they - may feed the wounded. - - "And how are they thanked for it? - - "The Reverend Head has been notified already ten times that he - would be shot, and he is frequently being arrested for alleged - shooting from the building. This shooting is actually done by - German soldiers alone, who are loafing and looting, as I myself - noticed a short time ago. The Head took me to a room where an old - man of ninety, who had just received the extreme unction, lay - dying. By his side sat a broken-hearted little old woman, his wife. - This old man had been taken prisoner with other men of Visé, and - forced to work at a new bridge. The poor fellow broke down under - the strain; it cost him his life." - -I left burning Visé deeply impressed by the savage scenes I had -witnessed: men turned into beasts by drink, passion, and anger, doing -all manner of wrong to the wretched inhabitants; but the impression -became deeper by the great contrast: the perfect, charitable devotion -of a virtuous priest, a courageous lady, and ever kind and commiserate -Sisters. Never have I experienced so many emotions in one day as at -Visé. - -After taking warm leave of the Head of St. Hadelin College, I continued -my walk to the Netherland frontier. - -I was scarcely outside the townlet when I met another little group of -refugees, probably all members of one family. The mother was being -supported by her daughters, all wept, and nervous exhaustion made them -totter as they walked. Every moment the mother looked back pitifully -at the conflagration which devoured all around, including her slender -property, for which she had worked so many years. - -From the other side came two soldiers, one of whom she recognised, as -he had been billeted on her. Constantly weeping, her face distorted, -she sent another glance towards that fiery blaze, looked at the soldier -as if reprovingly, hesitated a moment, but then pressed the enemy's -hand, sobbing: "Adieu!--adieu!" - -Sometimes I felt as if I were dreaming and wanted to call myself back -from this nightmare to another, better, and real world. And I thought -constantly of the man who, by one word, had given the order for these -murders, this arson; the man who severed husbands and fathers, wives -and mothers, and children, who caused so many innocent people to be -shot, who destroyed the results of many, many years of strict economy -and strenuous industry. - -The first acquaintance whom I met on Netherland territory was a -Netherland lady married to a Walloon, who kept a large café at Visé. -Before the destruction she had asked me, full of anxiety, whether the -Germans would indeed carry out their threat and wreck everything. I -had comforted her, and answered that I did not think them capable of -doing such a thing. Weeping, she came to me, and reminded me of my -words. The whole business, in which these young people had invested -their slender capital, had been wrecked. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -FRANCS-TIREURS? - - -I THINK that there is no better occasion to deal with the question -whether there was a franc-tireur-guerilla in Belgium than after the -chapter on the destruction of Visé. - -My opinion on the matter is still the same as when I first wrote -about it to _De Tijd_, and in _Vrij België_; and from my own personal -knowledge and after mixing with the people I consider the allegation -that the Belgians acted as francs-tireurs an absolute lie. - -Some uphold the accusation on the ground of expressions in Belgian -newspapers, collected in a German pamphlet. In my opinion these -quotations have not the slightest value. Everyone will understand -this who thinks of the excitement of journalists, whose country was -suddenly and quite unexpectedly involved in a terrible war, and who -felt now that as journalists they had to perform a great, patriotic -duty. In their nervous, over-excited condition they sat at their desk -and listened to the gossip of refugees about civilians taking part -in the struggle. In their imagination they saw hordes of barbarians -overrun their native soil, saw man and man, woman and woman, shoulder -to shoulder, resisting the invader without regard for their own life. -The thoughts of such journalists, whose very own country had been at -war now for a few days, were not on severe logical lines; they found -a certain beauty in that picture, and I can quite understand how some -came to believe in it as a reality, and gloried in it. - -That is not evidence however, for how did they get the information? -From my own experience I make bold to say with the greatest confidence -that these reports came from German sources only, whereas there was not -any ground for them. - -I have witnessed all the people during the very earliest days of the -war. I came to Liège, passing between the forts, as described already. -I was in Lixhe when the pontoon bridge was wrecked repeatedly by Fort -Pontisse; I stayed at Visé three times before the destruction began, -and I was there when the charming townlet was wrecked by fire; and in -Louvain I have been dragged from my bed by six soldiers and arrested, -when the whole town was still ablaze. - -Very well, I have: - -1. Never seen anything of a franc-tireur-guerilla. - -2. Never seen anyone who was arrested as a franc-tireur. - -3. Never heard any German soldier, of whatever rank, assert that -he himself had witnessed any action by a franc-tireur, although I -questioned such soldiers times without number. They always mentioned -others, who had left days ago, and were said to have gone through the -miserable experience! - -4. Never heard the _name_ of any franc-tireur in answer to my questions. - -But they were _always_ German officers and no others who talked about -francs-tireurs, and at Visé, Liège, Dinant, Bilsen, and particularly -at Louvain, they constantly pressed me and tried to make me promise -that I should write to _De Tijd_ about francs-tireurs and justify the -devastations. These stories emanated from the officers and permeated -the rank and file; and the men grew fearfully angry with the Belgians, -whom they cursed and abused. It also made the soldiers terribly afraid -of francs-tireurs, and I noticed many a time that some loud sound from -a falling wall, for example, made a whole troop of soldiers jump up, -lay hold of their rifles, and hide themselves in an absolute "blue -funk." The mere noise made them curse and rage and talk of nothing but -burning houses. - -In the end these stories of the soldiers convinced even the inhabitants -that there had been francs-tireurs, but never in the place where they -lived, always somewhere else. They could not believe that the Germans -could be so cruel and wreck so much property if nothing at all had -happened; and when at length the time came that they themselves were -obliged to fly, many of them believed that their compatriots who -_elsewhere_ acted as francs-tireurs were to blame for all the dire -calamities. But if they had had my opportunity to go "elsewhere" -and gather information there, they would have been convinced of the -untruth, and probably would have heard the name of their own village -as the scene of the occurrence. That was how rumours and reports got -about. - -Many soldiers, probably most of them, were undoubtedly of good faith, -and _believed_ what they related; but the damnable notion had been put -into their heads by their superiors. That is why I do not consider it -impossible that _some_ places were wrecked on account of _alleged_ acts -by francs-tireurs. - -I have explained already in the chapter "Round about Liège" that I -myself was duped occasionally, for example, by the story of the three -hundred civilians who had been shot. To my mind these violent acts -at the beginning of the war were part and parcel of the system of -frightfulness, by which the Germans tried to scare the population and -indirectly the hostile armies, at the same time rousing their own -soldiers to anger and fury. - -That mad fury was also intensified considerably by the accusations -about gruesome mutilations committed on German soldiers by Belgians, -who were said to have cut off the noses, ears, genitals, and so on of -their enemies. These rumours were so persistent that in the end it was -generally believed in neutral countries that these things had happened -frequently. - -No little astonishment was therefore created by an interview which I -published with Dr. van der Goot of The Hague, who did so much excellent -work in the Red Cross Hospital at Maastricht. He also had come to -believe all these stories, and as everybody always mentioned a large -hospital in Aix-la-Chapelle, which was said to be full of similarly -mutilated soldiers, Dr. van der Goot went to that town to see for -himself. The chief medical officer of that hospital in a conversation -stated that not one single case of that sort had been treated in his -institution nor in any of the other local hospitals where he was a -visiting physician. At a meeting of the medical circle just lately -held he had not heard one word, nor had any one colleague, about the -treatment of similar cases. - -In Louvain I was myself arrested, because a more than half-drunk -soldier had accused me of spying and arson! There too I had to listen -to all sorts of abuse because I was a franc-tireur. And in spite of -all this they tried to extract a promise from me to write against the -francs-tireurs! - -The history of the destruction of Visé affords also interesting support -to my opinion, as previously expressed, that the violent actions of the -Germans took place according to a fully thought-out design. - -During the early days of the war the papers published a report, of -German origin, that Visé had been destroyed because francs-tireurs had -appeared. I was therefore not a little amazed when, arriving there on -August 8th, I found the townlet entirely undamaged, and even the German -military admitted that they had not heard a word about francs-tireurs. - -But the inhabitants were treated even then in a most vexatious manner, -and on August 14th (the destruction came about on the 16th) I wrote to -_De Tijd_ (No. 20457):-- - - "Visé is under a real reign of terror. The day before yesterday the - town-crier walked the streets with his bell, and announced that - within twenty-four hours everyone had to deliver his bicycle at - the bridge. Anyone in whose house a bicycle should be found would - be shot and his house set on fire. Yesterday morning the Germans - announced once more that all arms, including those that were old or - damaged or taken to pieces, should be handed in at the town-hall - within an hour. If any arms should be found anywhere after that, - they would shoot the inhabitants and burn down the town. Eatables - and drinkables were requisitioned continuously under threats of - firing the town, and the inhabitants are afraid of nothing so much - as of the possibility that something may be required some day or - other that cannot be produced." - -Even before that, on August 11th I sent a communication, by post or -cable (_De Tijd_, No. 20353), in which the following is found:-- - - "In and round about Visé people sleep in their cellars, as they are - threatened frequently that the town will be set on fire." - -Anyone who, like myself, has been able to see in what frame of mind -the people were during the first days of the German occupation, cannot -believe it possible that they would even think of taking up arms. They -lived in an unending terror, tried to forestall the invader's demands, -and, if anything was requisitioned, they searched each other's houses -to see whether anything was kept back and all the demanded bottles of -gin or claret were forthcoming. There was not one who did not keep his -door open as widely as possible to prove his complete submissiveness, -and to let the Germans enter his house at any time to check what was -to be found there. Every moment I saw men or women run into the street -offering cigars to the soldiers from open boxes, smiling nervously -and desperately, trying to behave as unconcernedly as possible. -During those early days payment for refreshments was accepted hardly -anywhere, and people often refused to accept money from me, because -they mistook me for a German. - -Men and young women in the prime of life sat whole days in a chair, -or lay abed, because in the most literal sense of the word they were -unable to stand on their feet for fear and terror, caused by the -incessant menaces. - -And during these first days of the war I had not met a single person -who was able to settle down quietly in the existing circumstances, not -a single person in whom anger and fury subdued fear and terror. - -Is it thinkable that persons in that frame of mind would take up arms -and invite the enemy's revenge upon themselves and those near and dear -to them, a revenge of which they were so mortally afraid? - -And supposing for a moment that the allegations made by the Germans -were true, that there had been shooting at Visé for example, then one -might perhaps consider the revenge justifiable, but should also expect -that they would punish with a heavy heart, conscious that they were -inflicting a necessary evil. - -Of a heavy heart, however, there was not a trace. In the previous -chapter I described how beastly they behaved during the destruction -of Visé; how the soldiers drank immoderate quantities of alcohol, and -then jeered at the wretched refugees; how they indulged in unmitigated -vandalism, and wrecked by hand things of which they knew that by and by -would be destroyed by fire. - -Children and old people perished in consequence of the cruel -heartlessness of the Germans, and in St. Hadelin College they robbed -their own wounded of medical help and surgical appliances. - -This happened not only at Visé, but also at other places which I -visited, more especially at Louvain. And those who read the following -chapters carefully will find sufficient support for my opinion, that -_Belgium is innocent of the base charges and allegations uttered -by Germany, which country soiled its conscience still worse, first -by plunging the little kingdom into the direst misery, and then by -accusing it falsely of crimes which it never committed_. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -WITH THE FLEMINGS - - -BETWEEN my tours through the Liège district I made a trip in the -direction of Tongres, because I wanted to know what had become of all -those Germans who had crossed the Meuse near Lixhe. It was remarkable -to notice how friendly the Flemings of that district behaved with -regard to the Germans. Although they criticised the violation of the -country's neutrality sharply, and every family was proud of the sons -who had taken up arms in defence of their Fatherland, yet they judged -quite kindly the German soldiers who passed through their district. I -often heard expressions full of pity toward those men, who could not -help themselves, but were compelled to do whatever their superiors -commanded them. - -The Germans did themselves great injury undoubtedly by their vulgar and -barbarous demeanour, for that lost them every claim on the sympathy of -the people. - -They behaved tolerably well during the first few days after the -occupation of Tongres; but that did not last long, and soon they began -here also to commit atrocious acts of terrorism. One evening at about -the middle of August several civilians were killed, a dozen houses -along the road to Maastricht were fired, and in the town the windows of -several shops smashed, which was followed by general looting. That lost -them whatever sympathy they might have met with in the district. - -On August 12th I came for the first time to Tongres. They had been -there only a few days, and only near the town-hall did I see a goodly -number of the garrison. Many wounded were brought there, and carried -in through the door under the outside stairway. They came from Haelen, -where a battle was being fought that afternoon and for which they -had left in the morning. For the attack on the entrenched Belgians -they had used cavalry exclusively, who were simply mowed down by the -murderous fire from the hidden mitrailleuses and the infantry fire from -the trenches. The Germans suffered a great reverse, and were deeply -embittered. - -Just outside Tongres I met a fleet of Red Cross cars loaded with -wounded. Cavalry escorted them. I was stopped and ordered to go back, -as they expected the Belgians to attack Tongres. - -I thought the result of the battle of Haelen rather important, and -should have liked to have wired it immediately to my paper. Until now -I had always gone on foot, that being the only conveyance which the -Germans could not seize. But this time I preferred a bicycle, as the -only way to get to The Netherlands on that same day. So I tried at a -couple of bicycle-shops to get a second-hand one for love and money. At -the first shop I asked:-- - -"I suppose, madame, that you have an old 'bike' to sell?" - -She looked me up and down suspiciously, and then said: - -"No, I've none to sell." - -I did not fare better at the next. There the answer was: - -"I refuse to sell 'bikes' to Germans." - -"But, madame, I am not German; I am a Netherlander. I should...." - -"I can hear quite well that you are German, and if you were a -Netherlander you would not venture on a bike at this moment. If you -come here to seize my bikes, I'll deliver them, for I cannot do -anything against that, but I refuse to sell them of my own free-will." - -The dear lady rapped it out in such a decided tone of voice that I -desisted. I told my trouble to the proprietor of a café where I took a -glass of beer; he, examining my papers, placed confidence in me, and -got me a rickety thing, for which I paid twenty-two francs. - -After all, this was better than walking, so I decided to make a small -detour, go once more to Liège, and see how the forts were. I lost my -way in a maze of by-roads, and got at last back to the main road near -Jupille, where I met a patrol of Uhlans, who came in my direction at a -trot. - -Already from a distance with much fuss they signalled to me to stop, -and of course I obeyed at once. Two men dismounted, came to me in -a perfect rage, and, without asking who I was or what I was doing, -cut my tyres to pieces in several places; they abused me with wild -gesticulations and threats, jumped on their horses, and rode off. I -dragged my wretched vehicle with its stabbed tyres a little distance, -but then met a second patrol, who showed still greater indignation, and -destroyed it altogether. - -For the rest of the journey I used my only remaining means of -transport, my legs, and after a walk of some hours got to the frontier -of The Netherlands near Oud-Vroenhoven. A Netherland custom-house -officer asked for my papers, and I showed him my huge passport. The man -looked at the sheet critically, and made out that I could not possibly -be a Netherlander, as I was the holder of a "foreign" passport. - -My "foreign" passport was, of course, in French, of which language the -man evidently knew not a word. Although I explained that this passport -was the best one could get in The Netherlands, that I had paid six -guilders and seventy-five cents for it, that I was a war-correspondent -of _De Tijd_, it was all useless. I had to go with him to the -guard-house, and the man kept the queer passport--the damning piece of -evidence--firmly in his hand. All the inquisitive loafers, of which -the frontier was full during those days, followed me, and so we went -in procession to the guard-house, at some distance from the frontier. -I heard all sorts of discussions behind me, and constantly caught -words like: German, boche, deserter, franc-tireur, spy, and other -complimentary niceties. - -As soon as I had entered the guard-house a soldier, rifle in hand, -mounted guard. The custom-house officer handed my French passport to a -lieutenant, who scrutinised it closely. Then followed the examination: - -"You are a journalist?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"On which paper?" - -"_De Tijd_, sir; here is my press-card." - -"Where is _De Tijd_ printed?" - -"In Amsterdam...." - -"In which street?" - -"Well ...! The Nieuwe Zijds Voorburgwal." - -"All right; you may go!" - -Having pushed my way through the loafers, who stood waiting before the -house, I was able to continue my journey to Maastricht. - -A few days later I had to go to Canne, a Belgian hamlet near the -frontier, south of Maastricht. In the evening of August 18th an -atrociously barbarous crime had been committed there, a cool-blooded -murder. At Canne live some good, kind Flemings, who would not hurt a -fly. The kind-hearted burgomaster had, moreover, tried for days to -comfort his fellow-citizens, and was for ever saying: - -"Leave everything to me; I'll invite them to have a glass of wine with -me, and you will see then that they are kind people." - -This he had done. Already for many days he had treated several officers -to his best claret. - -Tuesday night, August 18th, at about 11 o'clock, a train of luggage -carts passed through Canne, and in the village the Browning of one of -the soldiers in the last van went off suddenly. This was the signal -for all Germans to start shooting indiscriminately, anywhere, at -anything, happily without hitting anybody. A few tipsy soldiers went -to the burgomaster's house, and no sooner had his wife opened the door -for the barbarians, when a shot was fired, the bullet passing through -the unfortunate lady's head into the wall opposite the door. I was -there early the next morning and saw the hole. It is evident that the -soldiers ill-treated the dead lady with their rifles in a horrible -manner, for a large part of the wall was spattered over with blood. - -After having murdered the burgomaster's wife, the villains attacked a -guest, Mr. Derricks, a lawyer, and member of the Provincial States, -whom they killed with a bayonet. His wife broke a leg when she tried to -fly to the cellar. - -Mr. Derricks lived at Roelanche, but with his wife and seven children -had fled for security to Canne, where he was hospitably received in Mr. -Poswick's, the burgomaster's, house. - -When I got to the house everything was in a frightful state. A pair of -curtains showed traces of fire; cupboards had been emptied, and nearly -all the china and glass broken; statuary lay broken on the floor; -windows were smashed; bits of bricks and plaster from the ceilings, -through which many shots had been fired, completed the scene of -destruction. On the doorstep I picked up a cartridge-case, which I have -always kept, because it is highly probable that it had contained the -bullet which killed Mrs. Poswick. - -This terrible tragedy took place at scarcely six yards from the -Netherland frontier, for the burgomaster's house stands by a road -half Belgian and half Netherland. The Netherland soldiers who were -doing frontier-duty on the latter part had to fly from the mad shooting -of the Germans. They hid behind a wall that was quickly full of -bullet-holes. The German soldiers spent a considerable time guzzling -the burgomaster's wine, which they looted, and afterwards went off in -the direction of Tongres. - -It was stated later on that the German authorities punished the -culprits and had them executed at Aix-la-Chapelle; _De Tijd_ of August -31st, 1914, also reported it. But the action of these soldiers was -not worse than that of generals who had entire cities destroyed and -civilians killed by the hundred, but were always screened by the German -Government. - - * * * * * - -On Thursday, August 20th, I decided to go once more in the direction of -Tongres. As the Germans had picketed the main road along the Netherland -frontier, I made a detour and dragged my bicycle across the mountain -near Petit Laney, a very trying job in the stifling heat. From the -mountain top I had a beautiful vista, which enabled me to see that near -Riemst a large German force was encamped at which I desired to have -a look. So I walked down the hill to Canne, where some crofters were -trying to get their cattle into The Netherlands. These poor creatures, -who usually own two or three head of cattle, had been compelled already -to give up half of their stock. From Canne I cut through corn and -beetroot fields to the road to Riemst. The first German sentinels were -tolerably friendly. - -"Ah, so you are a Netherlander, aren't you? Then we are friends. The -Netherlands remains neutral, does she not? What news have you from -there; are you already at war with Britain?" - -These and similar questions were asked after a superficial examination -of my papers, and, having answered them, I was allowed to go on. But at -a certain moment an officer appeared, who summoned me to dismount, and -asked for my papers. After a short examination he ordered a soldier to -take me to the commanding officer at Riemst. - -The attitude of all the soldiers changed immediately; they looked at -me with angry eyes, and from time to time I heard hostile remarks. -Whenever I did not walk quickly enough or turned a little to the -right or the left, my escort pulled me roughly by the arm. All the -same I took the case as coolly as possible, fully convinced that the -commanding officer would release me after a superficial examination. - -At Riemst, the soldier took, or rather pummelled me into a large -farm-house, and soon I faced the bigwigs, who had made themselves -as comfortable as possible in a large room. Several pictures and -engravings lay on the ground in pieces, whilst numerous full and empty -wine-bottles indicated that they had abundantly worshipped at the -shrine of Bacchus, and intended to go on with the cult. The higher -officers and the subalterns seemed to be frantically busy; at least -they had violent discussions with many gesticulations over a map. The -soldier reported that he had brought me here by order of Lieutenant -Such--I did not catch the name--and then it began: - -"Who are you?" - -"I am...." - -"What do you want here--what are you here for?" - -"I am a Netherland jour...." - -"What! A Netherlander? I suppose you come to see how many troops are -here, don't you? And then...." - -"Please be good enough to have a look at my papers, and then...." - -"Papers? Papers? Yes, of course you all have papers; all those villains -who shot at our men at Visé come back from The Netherlands with papers, -in order to start afresh. Later on I'll have a look at that stuff. -Here, lock him up for the present." - -He pointed to a couple of soldiers, and they laid hold of me. They -took me to a small room, where I was astonished to find two soldiers -with revolvers guarding a priest and a peasant. As soon as the door -was closed behind me I wished to chat with my fellow-prisoners, for -even in prison I was not oblivious of my journalistic duties. But they -seemed not at all anxious to have anything to do with me, and I soon -understood the reason why. At each question they threw timid glances -at the two watch-dogs, and I saw that fear of these made them withhold -all information. However, after a good deal of trouble I got to know -that the priest was the parish priest, and his companion in misery -the burgomaster. They had been taken as hostages, and would suffer -punishment for acts the villagers might eventually commit against the -German usurpers. I contented myself with this, as I felt that in the -circumstances further questions might make things awkward for these two -men. - -What might happen next? Sitting on a chair in a corner of the room I -began to consider my position. For the moment it was not agreeable, -but by and by those officers might find time to look at my papers. The -only thing I bothered about was a map marked with the places where, -according to the latest news, the German and French armies were. I -kept it in an inside coat-pocket, and it might be found if they should -search me. - -I spent three hours in the small room with my silent companions. -At last I was called, and appeared once more before the casual -court-martial. - -"Very well, now give me those papers." - -Having got them, several officers examined my credentials, and their -faces showed that the horizon was a little clearer for me. - -"Oh, you are a journalist? And what came you here for?" - -"Well, sir, I wanted to follow, as far as the German Authorities -desire to allow it, the movements of the German armies, in order to -give reliable information to the Netherland public, who take a great -interest in your progress." - -"Indeed! And did you take notes already? Just let me have a look." - -The turn things took now was not quite to my liking, and I did not feel -very safe when I handed him my scribbling-pad. - -"I cannot read a word of it! Can you read it at all yourself? Yes? Oh, -but I cannot understand it. Translate some of it." - -That was a relief! I began to translate, taking the liberties to which -every translator is entitled. And I succeeded in making a favourable -impression by censoring my own manuscript. - -"Well, that is right enough. But, mind, don't say in your paper that -you found troops here, and especially avoid telling which troops." - -"Very well, sir." - -"Nor must you tell them that we detained you here. That was really -not our intention at all, but just now we had no time to examine your -papers." - -"All right, sir." - -"And what is the news in The Netherlands about the war?" - -"Well, sir, not much beyond what you are sure to know already: that -Japan declared war against Germany; that the Russians invaded Germany; -that the French gained some important victories in Alsace; that the -German fleet lost some ships...." - -"Oh, bosh! Stop it! These are, of course, all lies from Reuter; they -did not come from Wolff. Japan is not going to declare war against us; -much rather against Russia!" - -"Oh, but, sir, Wolff confirmed these reports." - -"Oh no! That is impossible, and, after all, we are not afraid of Japan -either. You had better write in your paper that we are not afraid of -anything excepting Montenegro. And you may also inform your readers -that it is better for Netherlanders not to cross the frontier, as we -are going to apply much stricter measures. For we have evidence that -those people from Visé and other villages who fled to The Netherlands -are returning with forged papers, in order to shoot at us. And now you -may go, but back to Maastricht at once." - -"But will you then please give me a pass, otherwise I may be detained -again on my way back." - -"Oh yes! You may have that!" - -And the commanding officer gave me a pass, on which this very same -colonel who had prohibited me to write in my paper what troops were at -Riemst, put a stamp on that pass, which contained the German eagle, and -besides this the words: "Royal Prussian 8, Reserve Infantry Regiment, -II Battalion." This confirmed what the rumours said, that the troops -who had passed through Visé and other places during the last days and -committed those atrocities there, were the reserves which had been -called up, among whom discipline is less strict than among the younger -men, who arrived in these districts during the earlier days. - -Although I had been commanded to return "at once" to Maastricht, I -succeeded in having a chat here and there with the inhabitants of -Riemst. I had visited the village about eight days ago, but what a -change! Then the people assured me that "die Duutschen"[2] were not so -bad after all, that they were compelled to do their duty, and were kind -to the inhabitants if these were kind to them. - -And at present? Every word expressed hate, profound hate, hardly -controlled. They trembled all over when they spoke in deep, inspiring -voices about "die Duutschen."[2] - -Everything of value had been stolen from them: horses, cows, sheep, -carts, bicycles, everything, everything!--only in some cases payment -was made with tickets, which might be cashed after the war. During the -night the German soldiers slept in the rooms, but the inhabitants--men, -women, children, babies and sick persons--they locked in barns and -cellars, which they boarded up. - -I was not allowed to return by bicycle, and left it at a café at the -crossing of the roads to Tongres and Riemst. A couple of days later the -Germans had already abstracted the tyres. - -The road to The Netherlands was strewn over with empty wine-bottles. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -LIÈGE AFTER THE OCCUPATION - - -NEXT day I was already back in Liège, where much was changed after my -last visit. The Germans went on terrorising the inhabitants, and these, -being extremely frightened, looked with suspicion at every stranger. -In the streets was the smoke of burning houses, especially from -Outre-Meuse. - -In every quarter I met Belgian refugees from the south, and -Netherlanders who wanted to escape to their safe native country. The -Liège people themselves were not allowed to leave. - -Nearly every hour another proclamation was posted; and this made the -people still more nervous. One of them brought the information that -the province of Liège had to pay a war-tax of fifty million francs. -Another forbade the people to be out in the streets after six o'clock -p.m.; the doors must remain open, the windows show the lights. Burning -and shooting were threatened if any more arms should be found, and all -houses were to be searched. - -Many shops were closed on account of lack of stock, as everything had -been requisitioned, and as yet no traffic was allowed to bring in fresh -provisions. All this bother made the inhabitants discontented, but -frightened them at the same time; they grumbled and whispered, and -looked about with malicious, flaming eyes, but in mortal fear. - -Labourers were called up to assist in reinforcing the conquered forts -on the left bank of the Meuse, the forts which by and by might be used -to shell their fellow-countrymen, in case the Germans should be forced -to retire. Nobody will have offered himself for this work voluntarily, -the less so as the proclamation wound up as follows:-- - - "Des ouvriers volontaires seront embauchés à partir du 21 Août sur - la rive gauche de la Meuse, où on fera connaître les conditions - détaillées": - - ("Voluntary workmen will be enrolled from August 21st on the left - bank of the Meuse, where details of the conditions will be made - known.") - -The streets and squares where the high military officers had -established themselves were closed by cordons of soldiers, and nobody -was allowed to pass them. - -The town was entirely shut off from war- and other news. - -I informed a few priests of the Pope's death, which had been known in -The Netherlands for several days. They knew nothing about it, and asked -whether I had any proof by me. I gave them _De Tijd_ printed with a -black border, and armed with this document they went to communicate the -sad news to the Right Reverend Rutten, bishop of Liège. - -I also brought consternation to the nunnery at which my cousin -lives by this same report of the Holy Father's demise; and the good -dear Sisters roamed through the passages, wringing their hands and -repeating: "Le Pape est mort!--le Pape est mort!" ("The Pope is dead!") - -I met a doctor at this nunnery, who told me highly important news, -but in whispers, because in these days "even walls have ears": the -Allies had gained great victories over the Germans. As he saw by the -expression of my face that I did not believe off-hand all he told, he -became still more impressive in manner, and produced a paper, from -which he recited:-- - - "Great German defeat at Libramont--nine thousand prisoners taken." - - "In Alsace the French are near the Rhine." - - "The Russians advanced fifty miles into East Prussia." - -In the same way the list went on for a goodly length, and he became -actually angry when even then I refused to believe everything. He was -especially pleased with the account of the victory near Libramont. He -had a friend, also a physician, who had been compelled by the Germans -to go with them in the medical service, and this friend had told him -this himself. It was remarkable that educated, superior persons could -become so narrow-minded in times like these, and believed anything -simply because they hoped that it might be true. - -The town was full of soldiers, and I had great trouble to find -lodgings. "Tout est pris par les Allemands" ("Everything is taken by -the Germans") was the answer I got everywhere, with the result that I -was still hunting for a bedroom after six o'clock, although nobody was -then allowed in the streets. I was stopped at every turn, and after -explaining my case got a hint to hurry up. - -At last I found an hotel, where I could have a small garret, -against which arrangement I had not the slightest objection in the -circumstances. The café downstairs looked rather peculiar, with a great -number of looking-glasses, and ladies with powdered faces. These seemed -not averse to closer relations with me, but when I pretended not to -understand a single word of French, they soon gave it up, and showed no -further desire for my friendship. But I could see quite well that they -discussed the question whether I was a German officer or a spy? - -I went to bed early, for that day I had again walked from Maastricht to -Liège. My little bedroom was quite in the roof of the house, and had -evidently been used by a servant. - -About midnight I was roused by an infernal noise in the street. People -yelled and screamed most fearfully, and I heard rifle-shots also. - -I felt not the slightest inclination to go and see what was the matter, -but I stretched myself and yawned, feeling much more tired after a -couple of hours' rest than when I went to bed. The uproar went on, and -suddenly I thought that I also heard a hubbub in the café downstairs. -And, really, it came ever nearer. People rushed up and down the stairs, -screamed and yelled, doors were banged, in short it was as if they were -pulling down the house. - -Very sleepy, I went on listening ... listening ... probably until I -fell asleep again, for I cannot remember what happened after. - -I woke up in the morning, and when going downstairs saw that the -doors of all the rooms stood open, and everything inside was in great -disorder. In the café tables and chairs were overturned, and broken -looking-glasses lay on the floor. The front door was also open, and I -walked away. - -And now the explanation? During the night the Germans had started -house-to-house searches, and wherever the doors were not opened quickly -enough, the soldiers began to shoot. The inhabitants were then driven -into the street amid loud screams and cries. It was also said that some -persons had been shot. - -By what accident had I not been disturbed? The height, perhaps, at -which my miserable little garret-room was situated. - -The hotel where I stayed that night was called _Hôtel de la Paix_; an -hotel of peace, indeed! - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -LOUVAIN DESTROYED - - -As soon as I heard about the horrors that took place at Louvain, I -hastened to try and get there to find out, if possible, by personal -observation the truth of the numberless conflicting stories that would -undoubtedly grow up from the facts. I expected that the situation -round about the town would be rather critical, and decided to proceed -cautiously. It is rather a long stretch of nearly forty-five miles, but -I succeeded in getting to Louvain in the afternoon. - -The road itself had prepared me already in some degree for the horrors -I should find there. All the villages through which I passed, excepting -Tongres and the townlets of St. Trond, Borgloon, and Tirlemont, were -for the greater part burned down or shelled into ruins. The German -troops, who had been stoutly resisted during their march through -St. Trond and Tirlemont, had attacked in a great rage the civilian -population. They set the houses on fire and aimed their rifles at the -terror-stricken civilians who fled from them. The men were nearly all -killed, but women and children were shot as well. - -On the road from Borgloon to Thienen I had a chat with an old crone, -who stood weeping by the ruins of her miserable little cottage, which -she refused to leave. This little house, which strenuous zeal had -enabled her to buy, was all she possessed on earth besides her two -sons, both fallen through the murderous lead of those barbarians, -and buried in the little garden at the back of their ruined home. Of -another family, living close by, the father and two sons were murdered -in the same way. - -Between Thienen and Louvain I met endless trains of refugees, exactly -like those I had seen already near Visé, Liège, and other places. These -also carried their wretched bundles, and children and young people did -their utmost to encourage and support their elders on their arduous -path. All these people saluted me in a cringing, timid manner, nodding -smilingly and taking off their caps already from afar. - -I saw some extremely poor people, very old and stiff, to whom walking -was nearly impossible. A Bavarian soldier escorted them. He had his -rifle slung across his back and in both hands carried the luggage of -the unfortunate creatures. He seemed to have come a long way already, -for he looked tired, and the perspiration ran down his face. Although -it is only natural to assist one's fellow-creatures, this scene touched -me, for hitherto I had seen the Germans commit rough, inhuman deeds -only. - -I noticed the smell of fire already several miles from Louvain. On -both sides of the road small mounds indicated the graves of soldiers -who fell during the brave resistance of the Belgians before Louvain. -A small wooden cross and some pieces of accoutrement were the only -decorations. Carcases of horses were lying in the fields, from which -came a disagreeable smell. - -The town was on fire, and ruddy smoke hovered over it. Deserted like a -wilderness, not a soul moved in the streets. The first street I entered -was the Rue de la Station. Large, imposing mansions used to stand -here, but the devouring fire consumed even the last traces of former -greatness. - -All houses were on fire, and every now and then walls fell down with -a roar of thunder, shrouding the greater part of the street in a -thick cloud of suffocating smoke and dust. Sometimes I had to run to -escape from the filthy mass. On several walls an order was written -in chalk directing the men to come to the market-place to assist in -extinguishing the fire, and the women to stay indoors. As soon as the -order had been obeyed the Germans drove the men from the market to the -station, where they were packed in trucks like cattle. - -Farther on in the Rue de la Station lay nine rotting carcases of -horses, the intestines oozing from the bodies, and a greasy substance -was poured over their skin. The stench was unbearable and made -breathing nearly impossible, which compelled me to jump on my bicycle -and escape as quickly as possible from the pestilential surroundings. - -The sun was already setting, and became still redder, making still more -abominable and more infernal the glare of the burning town. Nobody -moved about in this abode of death. - -I roamed about aimlessly in a scorching heat. Whither? I did not -know myself. I did not know Louvain and met nobody whom I might ask -something. I came near a couple of streets that were only ruins; the -walls collapsed against each other and filled the roadway with rubbish, -so that sometimes I could not see whether I walked on or beside the -place where the houses used to stand. - -Bicycling was of course out of the question; I shouldered my bicycle -and stepped across the glowing cinders, which singed my soles. One spot -could still be recognised as a street corner. Three soldiers emerged -there suddenly and aimed at me with their rifles. - -I explained who I was, and was then allowed to come nearer. They were -drunk, and with glassy eyes talked about francs-tireurs, the friendship -Germans felt for Netherlanders, and so on. One of them entered the -still burning corner house and returned with three bottles of wine, one -a bottle of Champagne; corks were drawn and one of the bottles handed -to me. First I said that I never took wine, then that the doctor had -forbidden it; it was of no use. The fellow who held the bottle in front -of me got nasty, and shouted: - -"If you don't drink with us you are not our friend." At the same time -he beat the ground with his rifle-butt and, willy-nilly, I had to drink. - -Suddenly several shots sounded in the neighbourhood. The three took -their rifles and looked round, somewhat scared. They assured me that -they would protect me. If there had been occasion for it, it would have -been against their own comrades, for a troop of soldiers came sailing -along, swinging about their rifles and shooting at the burning houses -as they walked on, without rhyme or reason, anyhow and anywhere. These -were drunk also. At last I was able to shake off my "friends," and got -through another street into the market-place, at the town-hall and St. -Peter's Church. The beautiful town-hall happily was not destroyed, as -the first reports intimated, but St. Peter's had been damaged most -cruelly. The spire had disappeared, the roof collapsed, windows broken, -the altar burned, the pulpit badly damaged, and so forth. The two -last-named parts were fine works of art. - -For the rest most houses in the market-place were on fire. Soldiers -were billeted on one of the corner houses, and I was of course detained -there, but released again, after having been requested to show up the -francs-tireurs. I had to consider also where I might pass the night in -this burning city? I asked an officer's consent to stay the night with -the soldiers. He gave his permission if I could get the consent of the -commanding officer, whom I might find at the station; he told me that -he was sure to grant it. - -Before I got there I passed the Halls of Louvain, the building that -contained the world-famous library, with its numerous art-treasures. -Only the outer walls were left standing, inside it was all ruins. All -was reduced to dust, to miserable rubbish, and never will one single -page be recovered of all those thousands of burned manuscripts. - -I was greatly astonished to see a little old man sitting by his -house, while all those in the neighbourhood were burning. His own -dwelling had escaped without much damage, and was only hit by rifle -bullets. He told me that his family had fled, his son with wife and all -children but one, a small boy. At length he left also, but had lost -his way outside the town, and returned to his house, where the Germans -"allowed" him to remain. I considered that I might after all sleep -better in that house than yonder among the soldiers, and asked the -little man whether he would put me up for the night. He did not object -at all; but in spite of my pressing, he refused absolutely to accept -any payment. - -"But," he said, "but perhaps you brought some bread with you to eat on -the road, and I should like to have a piece of that ... not for myself -... but for my grandchild; we had nothing to eat all day long, and the -little boy is so ... is so hungry." - -The poor man wept, and, although I had taken with me no more than two -pieces of bread-and-butter, which I had not touched yet, I could not -bear the sight of these poor, hungry things, and handed over to them my -food. - -As I passed a Red Cross Hospital, partly spared, I noticed a Flemish -doctor, who first looked at me from the door held ajar, and then came -nearer; a strapping young fellow with a black beard. After I had made -myself known as a Netherlander, he was clearly surprised, and it seemed -as though he had a lot to ask or to tell. I expected to hear a torrent -of abuse against the Huns, who had destroyed everything, and murdered -so many innocent people, or a lament about the valuable treasures of -the library, which also had not been spared; but no, other thoughts -occupied his mind. With a slightly trembling voice he asked: - -"Ah well, you come from The Netherlands; tell me whether it is true -that you have let the Germans through, allowing them to ravish us? Tell -me whether this is true?" - -The man became quite excited, and took hold of my sleeve. He -looked me straight in the face, as if he wanted to find out by the -expression of my eyes whether I spoke the truth. I could easily stand -the scrutinising look, for I knew too well how utterly false those -suspicions were. So I replied with great emphasis: - -"I know that those rumours have been spread about, but also that they -were contradicted by Belgian officials. I know also, and can affirm it -from my own personal observation, that there is not a single word of -truth in those accusations, for I passed the early days of the war in -the district where the fight was going on." - -The good man's face became quite cheerful, he grasped my hand, deeply -moved, and, pressing it warmly, said: - -"Ah, well, I am sincerely glad to hear that. You cannot believe what -awful sorrow it gave us, Flemings, when we heard that the Netherlanders -were conspiring with the Germans." - -The doctor now became more communicative on other matters. According to -him the Germans contended that the inhabitants had been shooting from -windows and cellars, in order to prevent the garrison from assisting -their comrades, who were fighting a battle against the Belgians at -a distance of about four miles and a half from the town. Such an -organised action of the inhabitants, under the tyrannical rule of -the Germans during the eight days before the destruction, he called -impossible, and therefore the whole accusation absurd. At any rate -they had felt that the destruction was coming, and had been planned -systematically, for during those eight days the Germans had plundered -the population, and taken from them all bread, even what they required -to feed themselves. - -To avenge this alleged shooting by civilians the fires had been kindled -in the houses, maxims placed in the streets, women and children beaten, -men imprisoned or murdered. - -The discovery by the Germans of so-called depôts of Belgian rifles, -each rifle labelled with the name of a citizen, was a gigantic -"misunderstanding." Already before the Germans occupied the town the -burgomaster had issued an order that all arms should be delivered. The -inhabitants had obeyed, and the rifles were provided with a card so -that each might be returned to the lawful owner after the war. This -collection of arms has been used by the Germans as evidence of an -organised revolt of the citizens. - -When I told the doctor that I had to go to the station, he explained to -me how I could get there without walking across red hot cinders, and -I followed his advice. I walked through quarters which used to be the -pride of the city, but were now turned into heaps of rubbish. - -They made also sad havoc of the Boulevard de Namur. Many mansions of -the aristocracy had been destroyed and many people killed. There were -corpses still lying on the Boulevard as I passed, all in a state of -decay. The smell was unbearable and the sight loathsome, especially -when I saw several drunken soldiers insulting the bodies of these -unfortunate people. - -In the flowerbeds in front of the station many corpses had been -buried, especially those of soldiers who had been killed in the fight -near Louvain. The station itself was well guarded, but, thanks to -my passport and resolute manner, I gained admission and was finally -ushered into the presence of the man who is responsible for the -destruction of Louvain, Von Manteuffel. - -I had expected to meet a terrible creature, but must admit that he was -as kind as possible. As soon as he had learned from my papers that I -was a Netherland journalist, he jumped up and stood in the attitude -as though he saw in me the personification of the Kaiser. He already -probably felt the pangs of remorse, and now wanted to try and justify -himself as far as possible in the eyes of the public. - -He stated that the cause of the destruction was the necessity of -punishment, because Belgian soldiers in civilian dress had stayed -behind in Louvain, waiting to attack the German army from behind at the -first favourable opportunity. They thought that their chance had come -when for a short time the German troops had to be withdrawn from the -fortified camp of Antwerp to take their share in a fight near Louvain. -Von Manteuffel thought that by attacking the troops in the town the -Belgians hoped to prevent the Louvain garrison from assisting their -comrades. - -He did not seem to mind much the destruction of the Halls with -their world-famous wealth of books; anyway he spoke about it in an -unconcerned tone. But he seemed to attach great importance to the -safety of the town-hall. He said that when the buildings adjoining the -town-hall began to burn, he had them blown up in order to keep the fire -away from the beautiful monument. - -As darkness was coming on I asked him whether it was not dangerous to -pass the night in the house of that little old man, whom I mentioned -above. He saw nothing dangerous in it, as by far the greater part of -the town was deserted, and no attack need be feared. - -So I thought that I might chance it. The house was some distance from -the station, near the railway line; opposite stood a sort of goods -station guarded by six soldiers. Before entering the house I had a -chat with them, for I thought that if I explained my position and told -them that the commanding officer gave me permission to pass the night -in that house, I should be much safer if anything should happen during -the night, because they knew then that they had to deal with a neutral -journalist. They might moreover warn me should the fire that was -raging all around reach that house. So I told the whole story to these -fellows, who were also more than half drunk, showed them my passports, -gave them some cigars, and after a friendly chat went to the old man -who was to put me up for the night. - -There was of course no gas lit, and there was no paraffin lamp in -the house. I was shown to my room by the dim light of a candle. The -old man could hardly get up the stairs, as he was trembling all over -in consequence of the days passed in fear and dread. The ceiling of -my bedroom had been pierced by bullets, and the fragments covered -nearly the whole of the bed, which had not been made after it was last -used. The unaccustomed work of stripping and making the bed was soon -finished, and I was hardly ready when a soldier entered at the door, -which had to be left open by order, and shouted from the bottom of the -staircase that I was not allowed to have a light, and must blow out my -candle. - -I was soon fast asleep, tired out by my bicycle ride of that day of -about forty-five miles, and my wanderings through Liège. But my rest -was not to be a long one. At about ten o'clock I was awakened by a -great noise on the stairs, and was surprised to see six armed soldiers -in my room. That is not exactly a pleasant manner of waking up after so -short a sleep. They informed me in a gruff voice that I had to get up, -to dress and follow them. As I obeyed the order, I asked what gave me -this unexpected honour; but they refused to enlighten me on that point. - -After I had dressed in their presence, they searched all my pockets, -and felt all over my body to find out whether I had any arms concealed -about me. Then three soldiers went downstairs, I had to follow these, -and the other three came in the rear. I did not understand at all of -what capital crime I was suspected which made it necessary to have me -arrested by six soldiers armed to the teeth. - -We waited in the street for two of the soldiers who went to fetch the -old man. After waiting a good while the poor wretch appeared between -them. He wept profusely, and between his loud sobs affirmed repeatedly -that he was innocent, that he did not know me, that I told him I was -a Netherland journalist, and so on, and so on: "Oh, gentlemen!--oh, -gentlemen!" he exclaimed, "I must not leave my little boy ... my -laddie; ... he is quite alone.... Oh, let me go!" ... - -I pitied him from the bottom of my heart, and tried to console him by -remarking that it was all a misunderstanding, and that I would see to -it that he would soon be released. - -"Come now quietly," I said; "so much the sooner you will be back with -your laddie." - -But he did not take any notice of all my exhortations and was entirely -impervious to them in his grief. So I went to the station side by side -with the weeping man, and surrounded by the six soldiers. The crackle -of the flames, the sound of collapsing houses seemed more terrifying -in the night than in day-time, and now and again I got a shock when -suddenly, by the uncertain light of the flames, I saw the corpse of a -civilian lying in the dark shade of the tall trees on the Boulevard. - -Whenever our escort fancied that they saw something, they stopped and -called out to the supposed approaching persons: "Who goes there?" -Sometimes it was only some shrubs that they saw; at other times -patrolling German soldiers. "Parole?" was asked: "Duisburg!" and -after that answer they came nearer. At the station I was taken to an -officer who sat at a table on the platform and had lit up his nearest -surroundings by means of a paraffin-lamp. My little old man wept now so -badly that he was quite unmanageable, and the officer made up his mind -to get rid of him as quickly as possible. - -"Tell me, father," he began, "did you allow this man by your side to -stay the night at your house?" - -"Oh ... oh ... let me ... go to my laddie ... let me go ... oh ... -oh...." - -"Yes, all right, you may go, but we only want you to tell us what you -know of this man." - -"Oh--oh ... I don't understand you ... let me go ... my little boy -... we have nothing to eat ... we are innocent ... I do not know the -gentleman ... oh ... oh!" - -I took the liberty to explain to the officer that the man did not -understand him, and stated that he did not know me. - -"Then, why did you want to stay at the man's house?--what brought you -here?" - -Thus my examination opened. I told him everything from beginning to -end, also that the commanding officer had given me permission to stay -at that house, that I had shown my papers to the soldiers at the goods -station opposite the house, and that I did not understand why I should -be put to all this inconvenience. - -He explained to me that one of those soldiers accused me of ... spying -and arson. He had thought to recognise in me a person who had asked him -that afternoon whether he was ... a Belgian or a German soldier, and -whom he had also seen escaping from a factory which was in full blaze a -moment later. - -Highly indignant, I claimed of course that that soldier should also be -called; but I was told that I had better assume a more modest tone. I -then asked to be taken to the commanding officer, whom I had seen that -afternoon; but he was away on inspection or something, and would not -return before the next morning. - -After this the officer examined my papers carefully one by one, and had -to admit that they were in perfect order. Still, he had no authority to -take a decision before I had been seen by the commanding officer. - -The old man was allowed to go home, escorted by the same soldiers. At -the very moment that he was about to leave, I happened to notice on -the platform a gigantic heap of loaves, brought in by train for the -soldiers. - -"Do you know," I asked the officer, "that this old man and his -grandchild are starving? He put me up because I gave him a couple of -pieces of bread-and-butter for the child." He looked at me somewhat -crossly, but inquired all the same whether my information was -correct, and then gave the old man two loaves, which dried his tears -immediately, and for which he thanked the donor in a quivering voice. - -Two soldiers now took everything I had in my pockets, even my watch and -my purse. This brought also to light a German map of Belgium, with a -stamp "For military use only." I was told in a gruff voice that this -was a highly suspicious thing, and that they could not understand how -it got into my possession. I replied quite coolly that I had bought the -thing in Aix-la-Chapelle for one mark, where it could be had in many -shops, and that the words "For the military only" merely revealed the -shrewd German commercial instinct, which knows that people always like -to possess things which are not meant for them. - -I believe that this made him angry; at least he ordered me to take off -my shoes also, and their inside was carefully examined. - -I was now escorted to a spot where on some straw several soldiers were -sleeping, who had to do sentry-go at two o'clock that night. It was a -part of the platform which was not even roofed, and entirely under the -open sky. But they anyway had straw to lie on, and sufficient cover, -but I had to lie down between them on the flags, without any blanket. A -separate sentry was commanded to watch me; every two hours another was -charged with the task. I was allowed to try and sleep, with the warning -that I should be shot at the slightest attempt to escape. - -It was a chilly night, and a dense heavy fog made it impossible to see -anything.... My "bed-fellows" raged and fumed at me, saying that I was -one of those villains who had treacherously shot at them. I shivered -from the cold, and felt, as it were, the dampness of the wet stone -floor entering my system. - -While all the others were denouncing me, one soldier was ready to -believe that I was a peaceful foreign journalist, and that all the -misunderstanding would disappear the next morning as soon as I should -be taken to the commanding officer. He took pity on me, and got a thick -soldier's coat for me as cover. I still feel grateful to the man for -it! But sleep was out of the question on that wet floor, in the dense -fog. When the guard was changed and soldiers came back, or others went, -they could not see in the dark where they went, and treated me to a -kick against my head or some other part of my body. - -It was a fantastic night. Trains arrived out of the foggy darkness, -their screeching whistle resounding from the far distance, and when -they steamed into the station a storm of noise arose. All these trains -brought British prisoners of war, captured by the Germans at St. -Quentin, and hundreds of German soldiers escorted the trains, which -were all covered over with green branches, and looked like copse-wood -sliding along the railroad. As soon as they rumbled into the station -the escorts sang loudly their patriotic songs, and "Germany before all -other!" ("Deutschland über Alles!") vibrated through the fog. - -The soldiers lying round about me, and those in other parts of the -station, got up, shouting, "There are the British," and ran towards -the arriving trains. They jeered at the beaten enemies in all sorts of -vulgar and filthy words, which made the German enthusiasm absolutely -lacking in chivalry. Eight trains with captured British arrived during -that night. - -At seven o'clock in the morning I was taken to the commanding officer, -and was glad to see him again. He jumped up immediately and came to me -with a charming smile, when I pointed to my escort and explained that I -was a prisoner. - -He flushed red with anger, and asked the sergeant what it all meant. -The latter told the story and I filled in some details. - -He showed the most profound indignation, and offered his apologies with -lively gestures. He said that my papers proved quite clearly that I was -a Netherland journalist. He declined to allow any further examination, -and gave the peremptory order that everything that had been taken away -from me should be returned at once. When I had put everything in my -pockets, he asked: - -"Have they given you back everything?" - -"Yes, sir," I replied, "excepting my pocket-knife." - -"Where is that knife?" Von Manteuffel asked the sergeant who had -fetched my belongings. - -"But that is a weapon, general!" - -"Return that knife at once!" - -The general expatiated once more on the francs-tireurs of Louvain, and -asked me to explain in my papers without fail that the citizens had -to thank themselves for what had happened. The sergeant who had taken -me to him was ordered to escort me, that I might not have any further -trouble with the soldiers in the city. - -I started on my return journey to The Netherlands sick to death. The -consequences of lying on that wet floor made themselves badly felt, -and besides being quite stiff and chilly, my interior was badly out of -order. - -Many refugees returned to Louvain that morning simply driven by -hunger. I myself lived still on the breakfast I had at Maastricht on -the previous day, and badly wanted something to eat, but still more -a cup of hot coffee, to warm my chilled body. I was able to get the -coffee--without milk or sugar--from a peasant along the road, but food -was out of the question. Most of the people had nothing left, others -saved a piece of bread as hard as a brick for the moment when hunger -might drive them to extreme distress. Whatever sums I offered, nothing -could be had before I came to Tirlemont, where I was able to buy three -eggs. - -I had a rather amusing meeting at Tongres, with a Netherland colleague, -who was on his way to Louvain. - -"Where do you come from?" was his first question. - -"From Louvain!" - -"Have you been there already? I am going there too. How are things -there?" - -"Have you got anything for me to eat?" I asked, not heeding his words. - -I said it quite innocently, without any other desire beyond that of -taking off the edge of my really trying hunger. But the effect of my -question was surprising indeed. He looked at me dumbfounded, and asked: - -"But where did you stay then during the night?" - -"I have been arrested." - -"And did you not get anything to eat?" - -"No!" - -He was back in The Netherlands before me. - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -LOUVAIN UNDER THE MAILED FIST - - -THE next day at Maastricht I tried to cure the evil results of that -night on the damp floor in Louvain by eating great quantities of rice -and drinking much cocoa with liberal doses of cinnamon, but as it was -of no avail, I started again the next morning. - -The majority of the refugees returning to Louvain belonged to the -lower classes, and they began to loot and plunder the town, encouraged -thereto by the German soldiers, who threw the things into the streets, -and said: "Take it, if you like!" In extenuation of the looting and -plundering I might say that the poor wretches tried before all to get -hold of half-burned eatables. - -During my first visit I estimated the number of civilian victims at -about eighty. This number turned out to be larger, as many during the -second fire fled to their cellars, exits of which were however choked -up by the collapsing walls. The corpses of numerous suffocated citizens -were found in these cellars. - -At many monasteries I heard painful details of the treatment suffered -by priests. The majority were made prisoners, and many were tied to -trees during a whole night and afterwards released. Several were -killed. I heard, for example, at the convent of the Jesuits that -a student of theology, Eugène Dupiereux, had been murdered, simply -because he was found to have kept a diary of the war in which he had -expressed a rather unfavourable opinion about the Germans. In the same -manner two Josephite brothers were murdered, who later on were found to -be Germans; of other priests who had been killed, the names were not -yet known. - -Many clerical gentlemen connected with the University had been -ill-treated in the most atrocious manner. The architect Lenertz, a -native of Luxemburg, also connected with the University, had been shot, -for no reason at all, before the eyes of his wife at the moment that he -left the house. And Louvain was so effectively cut off from the outer -world that in most convents I was asked whether the rumour was true -that the Pope was dead! And at that time his successor had already been -appointed. - -I succeeded in laying my hands on an original copy of a proclamation -that ought not to have been posted before the following day. I took the -document with me to The Netherlands, and it is of special interest, -because in it the Germans admit to have tyrannised the people, and -to have not only burned Louvain, but also ransacked the town. The -proclamation had been drawn up in concert with the German authorities -and was approved by them. It was in French and in Flemish, and read as -follows: - - "PROCLAMATION - - _"To the inhabitants of the City of Louvain_ - - "We have in vain visited our municipal representatives. The last - of them, Alderman Schmidt, who was prevented from fulfilling his - office, surrendered to us the municipal power on August 30th. - - "I believe that it is my duty to take that task upon me, assisted - by some well-known burgesses, who have undertaken to stand by me. - - "In agreement with the German Military authority I invite the - inhabitants of Louvain to return to the city, and to take up again - their usual occupations. - - "The orders issued by Monsieur Collins remain valid. - - "I mention more especially:-- - - "1. That it is prohibited to be out of doors after seven o'clock - (Belgian time) in the evening. - - "2. That all who are in possession of any arms, of whatever - description, or any munition must at once deliver everything at the - town-hall. - - "3. That everything that may appear hostile to the German army must - be avoided with the utmost care. - - "_The German military authority have promised us that on these - conditions no further burning and looting shall take place and that - the population shall no longer be threatened or embarrassed._ - - "We are engaged now most actively upon the re-establishment of the - municipal services: Police, Municipal Register, and the Services of - the Canals, which services will all be reopened as soon as possible. - - "The police service will be performed in the daytime by some - volunteers, who will wear an armlet in the municipal colours, and - an identity card, both officially stamped. Well-minded persons, - who are willing to perform these duties, are urgently requested to - present themselves at the town-hall to-day at four o'clock in the - afternoon. - - "The acting burgomaster, A. NERINCX. - - "The town-clerk, EUG. MARGUERY. - - "The committee of burgesses! DR. BOINE, _Pastor_ CLAES, DR. P. - DEBAISIEUX, DR. DECONINCK, CH. DE LA VALLÉE-POUSSIN, MONSEIGNEUR - DEPLOIGNE, P. HELLEPUTTE, A. THIERY, DR. TITS, L. VERHELST, V. - VINGEROEDT. - - "LOUVAIN, - "_September 1st_, 1914." - -Pastor Claes, mentioned in the above proclamation, has done very much -for the miserable Louvain population; they owe him especially much -gratitude for an act of devotion with regard to the murdered victims. - -In the immediate neighbourhood of the railway station a house was -being built, of which only the foundations were laid. The place showed -nothing beyond a huge cavity. I had noticed already several times that -there was an atrocious stench near the station, which at last became -unendurable. Pastor Claes, who courageously entered all destroyed -houses to look for the dead, had discovered the victims also in this -place. In the cave just mentioned he found sixteen corpses of burghers, -two priests among them. In order to remove them from the street the -Germans had simply thrown them into that cave, without covering the -corpses in any way. They had been lying there for days, and were -decaying rapidly. - -I witnessed Pastor Claes's labours for a moment only, for the smell was -unbearable even at a somewhat considerable distance. The good pastor -persevered in the work after having started it, with the assistance -of some faithful helpers, who all of them had sealed their mouths -with a sponge soaked in some disinfectant. The corpses were taken -from the cave, money and documents put away in separate bags, and the -unfortunate owners coffined and blessed. - -During the next days I found a hospitable domicile at the convent of -the Sacred Heart on the Namur Canal ("Naamsche Vest"). It is a seminary -for missionaries, and when I went to them for the first time I had -a letter from their head, the "provincial" in The Netherlands, who -sent the order that all the theological students should be transferred -to The Netherlands as quickly as possible. They received me with the -greatest kindness, and ever since I enjoyed their hospitality. - -A short time after the destruction I was even obliged to accept it for -a whole week, as on the same day on which I arrived in Louvain for -another visit there was renewed fighting round the town. The Belgians -had advanced as far as Rotselair, where the next day they held their -ground against overwhelmingly superior numbers; but at last they had -to retire, leaving a great many dead behind. The Belgians had even got -on to the road Tirlemont-Louvain, and blown up the railway line in two -places. - -On that occasion the Germans arrested me at about two miles from -Tirlemont. Firstly, because I travelled by bicycle, and secondly, -because I was accused of having "cooked" one of my passports. - -This was so far true that I had altered the dates of a passport, -which allowed me to stay in Louvain from September 6th till the 14th, -into the 8th and the 16th. When taken to the commanding officer in -Tirlemont, I convinced him so thoroughly of my complete innocence, that -the next day I was allowed to go on to Louvain. - -There the German authorities detained me for a full week, by -prohibiting me to return: "for the sake of your own safety," they told -me courteously. During the day I was busy enough, and in the evenings I -enjoyed the pleasant company of the three fathers of the Sacred Heart -who had remained in the mission house, and with whose photographic -instrument I took many a snapshot of the Louvain ruins. - -The mission house had become a sanctuary for a good many people. -As bread was lacking, two brothers fried pancakes all day long and -distributed them among the numberless persons who asked for food. Among -these were people who a few days earlier belonged to the well-to-do, -but who saw their business, in which often more than their own capital -was invested, wrecked by fire, and were now obliged to appeal to the -charity of these monks. Indeed during the first weeks after that -terrible event many starved, and I assisted often at the distribution -of the pancakes, because they were short-handed. - -In this grand old monastery, both inside and out a jewel of -architecture, about five hundred people had found shelter. They were -lodged in halls, rooms, and kitchens. The fathers gave them everything -in the way of food they might require, but they had to do their own -cooking. As not one of these people had a home left, which they could -call their own, no wonder that they greatly admired the fathers. Often -when I strolled about with one of these, one or other of the refugees -came to him to press his hand and express gratitude for the hospitality -offered. - -In this way I got into conversation with a middle-aged lady. Her -husband had been shot, and she got a bullet in her arm, which had to be -amputated in consequence. The poor creature had lost all courage, and -lived on her nerves only. It was remarkable to hear this father find -the right words, and succeed in making her calm and resigned. Before -she left us, she had promised that for her children's sake she would do -all in her power to control herself. - -During the week of my compulsory stay in Louvain I had also the -privilege of making the acquaintance of two brave compatriots; I mean -Professor Noyons and his wife. - -They never left Louvain. On August 25th information was sent to the Leo -XIII Institution for Philosophy, a building turned into a hospital, -that a hundred wounded men might be expected towards evening. That -evening began the wild shooting and burning of houses by the Germans, -and soon a large number of wounded was taken to the Institution. -Suddenly Professor Noyons recognised one of his servants among the -wounded who were brought to him for treatment. She had three bullets -in her side. After having bandaged her wounds, he hurried away to his -house, in order to see what had happened. - -He thought that it was sufficiently protected by the immense Red Cross -flag, and the words written on the door by the Germans themselves: -"Professor Noyons, Netherland physician, to be spared." But he had been -mistaken. The soldiers did not respect anything, and had forced an -entry into the house, wounded that servant, and then wrecked everything -in the most scandalous manner. Beautiful large Japanese jars had been -smashed to pieces, valuable furniture damaged by knocking and breaking -large pieces out of it with rifles and bayonets. A fine carpet was -burned, as well as many pieces of furniture. A hole was burned even in -the floor. - -Professor Noyons took me over the house and showed me the destruction. -Bullets had been lodged in the inner walls after piercing the windows -and on a level with the windows. By lengthening the line of trajection -one found that the bullets must have been fired at a distance of nearly -six hundred yards, which proves that the Germans simply fired at random. - -As Professor Noyons heard that other hospitals, churches, and ancient -buildings were not spared either, he went to the commanding officer -through the rain of bullets, clad in his white overalls, to claim -protection for everything that lawfully displayed the Red Cross -flag, and to request that churches, convents, ancient buildings, and -especially the town-hall should be spared. It is only owing to his -intervention that not much more was destroyed in Louvain. - -On the Thursday of the week of destruction the inhabitants were -notified that they had to leave the town, but Professor Noyons and his -wife decided to stay on, as they could not leave the one hundred and -fifty wounded men who were laid up at the Institution. - -They carried all those patients into the cellars on stretchers, and -there waited with the nursing staff for the bombardment that had been -announced, but never came off. - -Professor Noyons took me all over the hospital, and if I should -describe all I saw and heard there, that story alone would fill -volumes. He took me, for example, to a boy of eight years old, whose -shoulder was shattered by rifle-shots. His father and mother, four -little brothers and a sister, had been murdered. The boy himself was -saved because they thought that he was dead, whereas he was only -unconscious. When I asked for his parents, brothers and sister, he put -up his one hand and, counting by his little fingers, he mentioned their -names. - -There lay also a woman, with one leg amputated. Her husband had been -murdered, another bullet had entered the leg of the baby in her arms. -Another woman had her child murdered in her arms. - -Women and children had frequently been ill-treated in a most atrocious -manner, aged and sick people were dragged out of the houses, and flung -down in the street. This happened, for example, to an old man, who lay -dying in his cellar. In spite of the supplications of his wife and two -sons, he was flung on the cobbles, where he died soon. The sons were -taken prisoners and sent away. His widow assists at present nursing -other unfortunates at Professor Noyons' hospital. - -A paralysed woman who had also been flung into the street was nursed -at the hospital, and lay with many others in the chapel of the -Institution, which had been turned into a ward. - -Belgian and German soldiers found excellent nursing here. Many -convalescents were allowed to walk in the large garden, which was -happily divided by a large wall, so that the one-time combatants could -be separated. - -Professor and Mrs. Noyons were busy day and night on behalf of their -fellow-men, and one could quite well tell by their looks that they were -overworked. They took their rest in the kitchen, which was built in -the basement. All male and female voluntary nurses took their meals -there. - -Once I enjoyed the pleasure of partaking of such a "dinner," as the -guest of Professor and Mrs. Noyons. The company was very mixed, and -men who never in their lives had ever done anything else but spoiling -their eyes for the sake of science, by reading all manner of ancient -manuscripts, were now busy, dressed in a blue apron, stirring the soup -and mashing potatoes or vegetables. The menu comprised nothing but -potatoes, a little vegetables, and a finely calculated piece of meat. - -At that dinner I also made the acquaintance of Professor Nerincx, the -acting burgomaster. It was a courageous act to assume the government -of the town destroyed by the Germans; he did it for the sake of his -fellow-citizens, who will never be able to requite their indebtedness -to the temporary burgomaster for what he did for them; and most of them -do not even know it. - -The war is not over yet, and much is still hidden under a veil, but -after the war it will undoubtedly be the duty of the Louvain people to -twine a magnificent wreath round the three names Noyons-Nerincx-Claes. - -The names of many priests will be found in the register of Belgian -martyrs. I have mentioned already some who, although innocent, gave -their life for their country. During my week's stay at Louvain I heard -of other cases. The priest of Corbeek-Loo, for example, was simply -tortured to death on account of one of his sermons in which he said -that the fight of the Belgian army was beautiful "because it lawfully -resists an unlawful invasion," and further for announcing a Holy -Requiem Mass for the souls of the "murdered" citizens. - -At Blauwput, near Louvain, where, according to the Germans, there had -been also shooting, many houses were set on fire and the men placed -in a row. It was then announced that by way of punishment every fifth -man would be shot. When the Germans counted as tenth the father of a -large family, that man fainted, and they simply killed number eleven, a -Capuchin. - -Very many other cases of martyrdom among priests remained unknown to -me, but the various Belgian bishops examined all these events with -praiseworthy zeal and scrupulousness, and by taking extensive evidence -established the fact that in no case the victims could be reproached -with any act that justified the sentence against them. After the war -the world will surely be made acquainted with the horrible truth. - - * * * * * - -The foregoing record of my experiences in Louvain will make it -sufficiently clear to the unprejudiced reader that the destruction -and wholesale murders were nothing but wanton crimes committed by the -German troops stationed there, crimes which it is impossible to justify -on any ground. - -The duration of the war has more or less surprised me, and I postponed -writing this book for a long time as I wished to quote the evidence of -persons in high places, clergymen, and educated foreigners. As the war -is not over yet, I must omit these in the interest of their safety. - -But from my personal knowledge and the evidence referred to, I am able -to establish the following facts in connection with the events that -preceded and followed the destruction of Louvain. - -On August 25th the Antwerp garrison made a sortie, in the direction of -Louvain. At the beginning the Belgians were successful, and came within -four and a half miles of this town. For a moment the situation became -critical, and at about seven o'clock a small troop of cavalry came at a -furious gallop from the scene of battle to Louvain, probably to summon -the assistance of the garrison. - -At that hour the Namur Canal ("Naamsche Vest") was already dark in -consequence of the thick foliage of tall trees, and suddenly the wild -horsemen were shot at. Several neutral witnesses established the fact -that this was done by a small troop of German infantry who came from -the station, probably on their way to the battle-field, and thought -that Belgian cavalry came racing into the town. - -The men stopped their horses, dismounted, and returned the fire from -behind their animals. This went on for about a quarter of an hour. -Every one was alarmed by this shooting; other soldiers came racing in -from the station, and others ran to and fro near that building crying, -"A surprise attack!" Some, thinking that the attack came from the -advancing Belgians, rushed to the place where the fighting took place, -others misunderstood the cry, believed that the citizens assaulted -them, and began to shoot at these, and at the houses. - -Before those on the Naamsche Vest found out their mistake, the shooting -was going on in the greater part of the town, and the excited men, who -at first had been shooting at each other, soon joined the rest. Some -wounded troopers were taken to one of the convents on the Vest, but a -couple of hours later they were suddenly fetched away again. - -The whole evening and the next day the Germans went on shooting people -and firing houses. It is worth recording that the library was already -set on fire that same evening of the fray on the Naamsche Vest; it was -burning at eight o'clock. - -On Thursday everyone, even the persons staying in the Institution and -hospitals, were ordered to leave the town, as it was to be shelled. -They seemed to have no pity even on the wretched wounded men. Only the -male and female nurses remained with these, of their own free will, -determined to die with them if necessary. - -The inhabitants were driven to the station, where the husbands were -cruelly separated from their wives and several persons were shot. -Other men were escorted to a place behind the station, and their wives -and children were told that those men were going to be shot. The poor -things heard indeed the click-clack of the rifles and thought that -their dear ones were dead. However, many returned later, and their -"shooting" seems to have been a mere sham. - -Great crowds walked the long way to Tirlemont. They were constantly -threatened by German soldiers, who aimed their rifles at them; passing -officers commanded from time to time that some should stay behind, -and others were shot. Especially did the clerics amongst the refugees -suffer a great deal; many were not only scandalously scoffed at, but -also maliciously injured. The greater part of the Germans showed a -strong anti-Catholic bias, in particular against the clergy, whom they -accused of having incited the people against them. - -This is only a short record of the destruction of Louvain, the -truthfulness of which will be firmly and fully established after the -war by extensive, accurately drawn up declarations. - -Louvain had been destroyed because a crowd of wanton soldiers, who were -garrisoned there, who hated the Belgians, and who had been kept within -bounds with difficulty, seized on their own stupid mistake to give rein -to their passions. - -Their commanding officer was the worthy head of such a mob, a heartless -creature, who did not show the slightest remorse for the destruction of -those magnificent libraries, set on fire _by his order_. - -It has been alleged that civilians had been shooting from the Halls, -but when a committee examined the remains in the building with the -consent of the military, they found there the carcase of a German -horse. They were ordered to stop their investigations immediately, for -that horse was evidence ... that German military men had been billeted -on the building, and thus no civilians could have been there. This will -also be published later in the reports. - -The German authority left indeed no effort untried to cover up their -atrocious action. Already in a communication from Wolff, dated August -29th, they attempted to violate the truth by asserting that:-- - -"The houses caught fire from burning benzine, and the flames burst out -in other quarters also. On Wednesday afternoon part of the town and the -northern suburb were in flames." - -They have not been able to maintain that story for very long; the truth -overtook the lie. - -May all the nations of the world after the war collaborate to -compensate Louvain for her martyrdom, see that this city shall be -restored to her former, happy prosperity, and get a library which -approaches as much as possible the one she lost. The Germans can -probably do their part by investigating where the motor-cars went which -left the Halls on that wretched Tuesday night, heavily laden with -books. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -ALONG THE MEUSE TO HUY, ANDENNE, AND NAMUR - - -BETWEEN two of my several trips to Louvain I made one to Namur in the -beginning of September, after having secured at Liège, by a trick, a -splendid permit which enabled me to travel even by motor-car. - -There was a little more order in the whole district round Liège, -since the Germans behaved more decently, and provisions had arrived. -The shock, which the burning and butchering of so many places and -persons gave to the whole world, had also influenced the conduct of -the Germans, and from the beginning of September they made a practice -of asking each time when they thought that they had behaved decently: -"Well, are we such barbarians as the world calls us?" - -In this relative calm the population felt somewhat relieved, and -ventured again into the streets. Outdoors on the "stoeps" of the -houses men sat on their haunches smoking their pipe and playing a game -of piquet. Most of them were vigorous fellows, miners, who did not -mind any amount of work, but now came slowly under the demoralising -influence of idleness. - -My motor whirled along the gloriously fine road to Huy. It is a -delicious tour through the beautiful valley of the Meuse, along sloping -light-green roads. Had the circumstances not been so sad, I should have -enjoyed it better. - -I had already been near Huy, at a time when several burning houses -shrouded the whole town in clouds of smoke. On August 24th, at ten -o'clock at night, some shots had been fired in the neighbourhood of the -viaduct. This was a sign for hundreds of soldiers to begin shooting at -random and arrest several persons. Several houses were perforated like -sieves by bullets, and an entire street of twenty-eight houses, the Rue -du Jardin, was reduced to ashes. No civilians were killed. - -It is evident from the "Report on the Violations of International Law -in Belgium" that the Germans themselves admit that they were in the -wrong with regard to the atrocities which were committed here. The -following order of the day proves it: - - "Last night a shooting affray took place. There is no evidence that - the inhabitants of the towns had any arms in their houses, nor is - there evidence that the people took part in the shooting; on the - contrary, it seems that the soldiers were under the influence of - alcohol, and began to shoot in a senseless fear of a hostile attack. - - "The behaviour of the soldiers during the night, with very few - exceptions, makes a scandalous impression. - - "It is highly deplorable when officers or non-commissioned - officers set houses on fire without the permission or order of the - commanding, or, as the case may be, the senior officer, or when by - their attitude they encourage the rank and file to burn and plunder. - - "I require that everywhere a strict investigation shall take place - into the conduct of the soldiers with regard to the life and - property of the civilian population. - - "I prohibit all shooting in the towns without the order of an - officer. - - "The miserable behaviour of the men has been the cause that a - non-commissioned officer and a private were seriously wounded by - German ammunition. - - "The Commanding Officer, - "MAJOR VON BASSEWITZ." - -I was informed further that there had been no fighting for the -possession of Huy. The citadel on which the German flag flew had not -been put in a state of defence on account of its great age. The old -bridge over the Meuse at Huy had been wrecked by the Belgians, but the -Germans had simply driven stout piles into the river, to support a -floor which they put over the wrecked part, and so restored the traffic. - -During my visit I happened to make the acquaintance of Mr. Derricks, a -brother of the lawyer who had been murdered so cruelly at Canne, and -also a member of the Provincial States. The poor man was deeply moved -when he heard the details about his brother's death. I made him very -happy by taking a letter with me for his sister-in-law, who was now at -Maastricht. - -At Andenne things seemed much worse than at Huy. I stopped there on -my way to Namur, and had been prepared in Liège for the sad things -I should hear. A proclamation posted in the last-named town ran as -follows:-- - - "_August 22nd_, 1914. - - "After having protested their peaceful sentiments the inhabitants - of Andenne made a treacherous attack on our troops. - - "The Commanding General burned down the whole city with my - consent, shooting also about one hundred persons. - - "I acquaint the inhabitants of Liège of this, that they may - understand what fate threatens them if they should assume a similar - attitude. - - "The Commanding General-in-chief, - "VON BUELOW." - -General von Buelow says here that he gave his consent to the shooting -of about one hundred persons, but I can state with absolute certainty -that there were about 400 victims. We must therefore assume that the -other 300 were killed without his consent. - -Andenne, on the right bank of the Meuse, was a town of 8,000 -inhabitants. When the Germans arrived there on the morning of August -19th they found the bridge connecting Andenne and Seilles wrecked. In -the afternoon they began building a pontoon bridge, which was ready -the next day. They were very much put out about the wrecking of the -other bridge, by the Belgian soldiers, a couple of hours before their -arrival. Their exasperation became still greater when they discovered -after having finished the pontoon bridge, that the big tunnel on the -left bank of the Meuse had also been made useless by barricades and -entanglements. - -By refusing to pay at cafés and shops the military already expressed -their dissatisfaction. Then on Thursday, August 20th, about six in -the evening, after a great many troops had crossed the river by the -pontoon bridge, a shot was heard which seemed the sign for a terrible -fusillade. Guns seemed to have been mounted at convenient places -outside the town, for shells exploded right at its centre. The troops -did no longer cross the bridge, but spread themselves in a disorderly -manner all over the town, constantly shooting at the windows. Even -mitrailleuses were brought into action. Those of the inhabitants who -could fly did so, but many were killed in the streets and others -perished by bullets entering the houses through the windows. Many -others were shot in the cellars, for the soldiers forced their way -in, in order to loot the bottles of wine and to swallow their fill of -liquor, with the result that very soon the whole garrison was a tipsy -mob. - -It struck me always that as soon as something took place anywhere -which might lead to disorder, the method adopted was as follows: first -a fusillade in order to scare the inhabitants, secondly looting of -numberless bottles of wine, and finally cruel, inhuman murders, the -ransacking and the wrecking. - -The game of shooting and looting went on all through the night of the -20th. Not a window or door remained whole even if the house was not -burned down altogether. - -At four o'clock in the morning all the men, women, and children who had -not yet been put to death were driven to the Place des Tilleuls, but -on the way many men had their brains blown out. Amongst others, Dr. -Camus, the septuagenarian burgomaster, was then wounded and afterwards -received the finishing stroke by a hatchet. - -At the Place des Tilleuls fifty men were taken from the crowd at -random, escorted to the Meuse, and shot. In the meantime other soldiers -went on wrecking, firing, and looting. - -Andenne offered a dismal spectacle. The doors and windows of the houses -that were not completely burned down had been kicked and beaten to -pieces, and boards had been nailed before the holes. The inhabitants -hung about disconsolately, and I could tell by their faces how they -suffered, for every family in the town mourned the death of one dear to -them. - -They all became excited whenever I mentioned the accusations brought -against them. They asserted with the greatest emphasis that it was an -absolute lie that the civilians had shot. "Even if they torture me to -death," said most of them, "I'll still contend that this accusation is -untrue." - -The German officers, of course, held a different opinion; they alleged -that the shooting by the civilians was even very general and purported -to be a decided attack on the army. I asked them whether they had found -any rifles or other arms at the "searches" of the houses--I expressed -myself somewhat cautiously on purpose--for that ought to have been the -case if such a great number of citizens had joined in the shooting. -"No," they answered, "they were sly enough to see to it that we did not -find these. They had been buried in time, of course." - -The answer is, surely, not very convincing! - -The Germans had flung some more bridges across the river beyond -Andenne, which had been used for the occupation of Namur chiefly, -and lay idle now guarded by only one sentry. I left by the town-gate -without any difficulties; the German soldiers jumped out of the way and -stood to attention, as soon as they noticed the Netherland flag flying -at the front of the motor. To the right and the left of the gateway -they had written in gigantic letters: "Newspapers, please!" - -Namur was shelled on August 21st and the 23rd. Many houses were then -already wrecked, many civilians killed. On the 23rd the Belgian army -withdrew and only some of the forts were defended. This withdrawal -of the Belgian army may have been a strategical necessity, but it is -certain that the forts had not been defended unto the last. Five forts -fell into the hands of the Germans without having suffered any damage. - -On the afternoon of the 23rd the hostile troops entered the town, -and on that day the inhabitants had not to suffer, excepting from -requisitions made. But the following evening it was suddenly on fire -at various spots, and the soldiers began to shoot in all directions, -making many victims. Before setting the houses on fire, with a liberal -use of the lozenges mentioned already, the usurpers ransacked them and -removed numerous pieces of valuable furniture. The Place d'Armes, the -Place Léopold, the Rue St. Nicolas, Rue Rogier, and the Avenue de la -Plante were almost entirely reduced to ashes. With the town-hall many -valuable pictures were destroyed. The day following the conflagration -they left off shooting at last, but the looting went on for days more. - -When I drove into Namur, I found the town comparatively quiet; there -was some traffic in the streets, and Belgian army surgeons and British -nurses in their uniforms walked about freely. There were many wounded: -the German wounded were all placed in the military hospital; the -Belgians and the French had been taken to the Sisters of Mercy, the -Institution Saint Louis, the High School for Girls, and the Sisters of -Our Lady. - -When I was eating a little at one of the hotels near the railway -station, I was offered the newspaper _l'Ami de l'Ordre_, which had -appeared again for the first time on that day, September 7th, under -the Censorship of the German authorities. For curiosity's sake I -translate here the first leaderette, published under the rule of the -new masters:-- - - - "ENOUGH DESTROYED, ENOUGH DISTRESSED! - - "More than one hundred houses have been burned or wrecked at Namur, - among them the town-hall, the house at the Namur Citadel, and the - Institution for ophthalmology in the Place Léopold. In the Grand - Marché and its neighbourhood about sixty have been destroyed by - fire. If we add to this the damage done by the bombardment from - Friday the 21st until Sunday the 23rd August, and the wrecking of - the bridges after the retreat of the army, we may estimate the - losses at 10,000,000 francs. - - "Industry, trade, and agriculture exist no longer, labour is - unemployed, and food is getting scarce, and over this dismal scene - hovers the memory of numerous victims, of hundreds of prisoners of - war or missing soldiers. During the bombardment of August 23rd one - hundred persons were killed outright, or succumbed to their wounds. - There are innumerable other wounded. This it is plain must have - plunged the town into deep distress. - - "It mourns the lost liberty, the happiness, the peace, the - brightness of her past prosperity which has vanished for a long - season to come, it laments on account of the prisoners of war, the - wounded, the dead.... And every morning the brilliant sun rises on - the scene, the warm rays bathe town and country, both alike cruelly - lashed by the frightful scourge. - - "Yesterday crowds of believers prayed for peace, for that - blessing which is only valued when it is lost. Let us repeat our - supplications twofold, let us increase our zeal. Lord! O Lord! - listen to the voice of Thy people who pray to Thee! Be merciful! - Give us back our peace!" - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -FROM MAASTRICHT TO THE FRENCH FRONTIER - -THE DESTRUCTION OF DINANT - - -ADVENTURES incite to ever more risky undertakings, and we long -constantly for more sensation. Such an experience prompted me to an -arrangement with Mr. Tervooren, editor of _Het Leven_, to try to motor -to the French frontier. - -We left Maastricht, in the early morning of September 9th, with a smart -fellow as chauffeur. Louvain we found tolerably quiet, although fearful -scenes were witnessed in the search for corpses, which were found in -the cellars of many houses. - -On that day I saw for the first time in Belgium German sailors -and marines, and even an admiral and some officers. At that time -the appearance of the naval men gave the newspapers much room for -conjectures; it was found later that they were to be used in the attack -on Antwerp, and afterwards had the task allotted to them of occupying -the sea-board. - -I found sailors also in Brussels, but for the rest there was only -a little military display there. In this town reigned a certain -oppressive silence and the cafés were not much frequented. The -Brussels people did not hide their patriotic sentiments, and nearly -every house displayed the Belgian flag, thanks chiefly to the strong -attitude of Burgomaster Max. Outwardly Brussels had not suffered by -the war; not a house was damaged and nobody had been killed yet. Nor -was there lack of provisions, as was proved by the fact that at the -"Métropole," one of the largest restaurants, I paid only seventy-five -centimes (sevenpence-halfpenny) for bread, cold beef, and pickles. - -We met only a few Germans on the road from Brussels to Charleroi, and -found no garrison except in the townlet Hal. Very little burning had -taken place on this road, but so much the more plundering and looting. -A woman took us all over her house in the neighbourhood of Brussels, to -show us the total wrecking. Small pieces of furniture were generally -taken away, but stoves, kitcheners, and cupboards were smashed. She -herself had had her face badly wounded, because she had hidden herself -in the cellar when the Germans came near, and they had beaten her out -of that with their rifle-butts. Many other women were treated in the -same manner. - -When we came to Jumet, a suburb of Charleroi, and a prosperous place -with flourishing factories, we found the whole town wrecked.... Nearly -all the houses were burned immediately after the occupation by the -Germans, and many inhabitants were killed, of course under the pretext -that they had been shooting. - -After driving through this scene of misery we entered Charleroi, and -exactly at that moment one of the springs of my motor broke in two, -which made the car useless. Charleroi seemed worse damaged than Namur. -According to an official statement issued at the time, one hundred -and sixty-five houses had been burned, among them many on the fine -Boulevard Audent, the Saint Joseph Institute, the convent of the Sœurs -de Namur, and the adjacent ancient, miraculous little chapel of "Sainte -Marie des Remparts." - -Probably more than one hundred civilians had been shot, whereas many -perished in the cellars. The heads of the municipality and several -priests had at first been taken as hostages. Bail of ten million francs -was asked for their release, but after much haggling they consented -to accept one and a half millions, which sum was forthcoming from the -various local banks. - -Just as at Louvain and other towns, the Germans indulged in looting and -plundering also at Charleroi; and probably this explains why here too -the finest houses were destroyed. Moreover, many atrocious cases of -rape occurred here as at Dinant, about which town more anon. At a café, -where the proprietor unburdened his mind to me, with tears in his eyes, -I read a statement in which they were impudent enough to write that -they had passed a pleasant night in circumstances described in detail, -whilst the father had been locked up. - -Charleroi was taken on August 22nd. On the evening of the 21st a small -patrol had entered the town, and of these not a man escaped. But in the -morning of the 22nd at seven o'clock a large force of Germans arrived -and immediately began to burn and to shoot. - -On the day of my stay at Charleroi, at about seven o'clock in the -evening, there was a good deal of bustle round about the station, -many trains from Maubeuge arriving. One of these trains was entirely -filled by officers of the garrison who had been taken prisoner. Another -carried only wounded Germans, lying on light stretchers, on which they -were transported through the streets to the hospitals at Charleroi. -Many had fearful wounds, and convulsively held their hands on the -injured parts, while others lay still, the pallor of death on their -face. Maubeuge must have cost the Germans enormous sacrifices, as for -many of the wretched wounded no room could be found at Charleroi, and -they had to be taken farther by train, to Namur or Brussels. - -German officials told that immediately after the surrender Maubeuge -had been set on fire in various places, because civilians, etc.... The -reader is by now able to complete the sentence. - -After I had collected some information in the town and my colleague of -_Het Leven_ had taken several snapshots, we thought that it was time to -look for lodgings and to get our motor-car repaired. - -We found rooms, but were guarded during the night by soldiers, who -walked up and down the landing, because there were officers also -staying at the hotel. Their regular footfall prevented us from sleeping -a wink, but with the help of some fibs and Netherland cigars we induced -them to let us go out, and we went to a sort of smith in a kind of -garage to repair the motor-car. We turned up our sleeves and, assisted -by the smith's technical directions, succeeded in putting the broken -spring together, using stout steel clamps and screws. - -Before leaving we went back to the hotel for breakfast. There--it was -a first-class hotel--they gave us an apology for coffee, without milk -or sugar, and two flimsy pieces of bread, as hard as wood and as black -as shoe-polish. I was intensely hungry, and as nowhere at Charleroi -anything else could be had, I did my best with the wooden bread and -succeeded in washing it down with much chewing and jawing. But the -sweet, hard stuff did not suit my digestion, and I felt ill already -when at six o'clock we got into the motor-car and left for Dinant. - -We could not keep to the main road all the time, for it was forbidden -by proclamation to go farther than nine miles and a half from the town, -and we should have been stopped without fail. - -We first drove through the suburb Montigny-sur-Sambre, which shared the -fate of Jumet, and was entirely destroyed by fire. After leaving the -town we went in the direction of Châtelet, where we found an immense -battle-field. Terrific fighting must have taken place here, for the -number of buried was enormous. On a wide stretch of land we saw a great -number of mounds, with crosses, and covered with quicklime. On the -crosses the numbers are given of the brave who fell there. So I read, -for example:-- - - "Here rest 10 soldiers, French, I. Reg. 36. - fell 22.8. R.I.P." - - "Here rest 23 soldiers, German, I.R. 78. and - 91. fell 22.8.14. R.I.P." - - "Here rest 7 officers, German, I.R. fell 22.8.14. - R.I.P." - - "Here rest 140 soldiers, French, I.R. 36. fell 22.8. - R.I.P." - -There were very many similar ones, but I copied only these, because -they lay just near the road; farther on there were numerous other white -mounds with crosses. - -The villages Gougnies and Biesmes had been destroyed also; of the -former not one house was left undamaged; but nothing happened to the -townlet Mettet. Here we were forbidden to go on, as we were already -more than nine miles and a half from Charleroi. This compelled us to -leave the main road, and to proceed along byways which soon took us to -the Ardennes, where our motor-car rushed along in zigzags. - -From time to time the tour became a break-neck affair, as the mountain -roads were wet and muddy after much rain, and at corners we were often -in great fear of being hurled down into the depth. It was a wonderfully -fine district of green rock, although somewhat monotonous after a time, -as it seemed that we were simply moving in a circle, which impression -was strengthened by the fact that frequently we passed through tunnels -and viaducts which were very alike to one another. - -I felt very sick, for the sweet rye-bread which I had forced down my -throat in the morning did not agree with me at all. At last I felt so -ill that I was obliged to lie down on the floor of the car, and it -took my colleague all his time to convince me that he did not think -that my last hour had struck. - -In the end and in despair I accepted an aspirin tablet which he had -pressed on me a hundred times, and although I do not know whether -it was owing to that, or in spite of it, it was a fact that I felt -somewhat better. - -After touring quite a long while through this labyrinth, we got at -last back to the main road from Namur to Dinant, near Anhec. Here -immediately we saw proofs of war, drawn from widespread destruction. -The railway bridge across the Meuse near Houx, so picturesquely -situated at the foot of a high rock, had been blown up. - -Bouvigne, a hamlet near Dinant, had suffered fearfully from the -bombardment of that town. Trees were splintered by the shells, the -church was nearly a total wreck from the same cause, and two houses by -the road had been riddled by bullets into a sieve, and also damaged -by shells. On the whole scene of war I have not seen one house -carrying so many bullets in it; their holes made the doors look like -wire-netting. In these houses the French had barricaded themselves, -brought mitrailleuses to them, and defended them until the last. None -of those heroes left them alive. My colleague took many snapshots of -this remarkable spot, while I collected bullets, fragments of shell, -and similar mementos of this warfield. - -In order to give the reader some idea of the fearful things that -happened at Dinant, I insert here some quotations from the reports -drawn up by the Belgian Inquiry Committee about the Violations of -International Law, of which I can affirm the truth word for word, -because they are identical with the information that I got myself at -Dinant. - - "The destruction took place from August 21st to the 25th. - - "On August 15th a fierce fight took place between the French troops - on the left bank of the Meuse and the Germans who approached from - the east. The Germans were defeated, put to flight, and chased by - the French, who crossed the river. On that day the town was not - damaged much. Some houses were destroyed by German howitzers, which - were undoubtedly aimed at the French regiments on the left bank. - One Red Cross helper who lived at Dinant was killed by a German - bullet when he was taking up one of the wounded. - - "The next day all remained quiet, the French keeping the - surrounding places occupied; not one fight took place between the - two armies and nothing happened which might be looked upon as a - hostile action by the populations, and there were no German troops - near Dinant. - - "At about nine o'clock of Friday evening, August 21st, German - soldiers arriving by rail from Ciney marched into the town by the - Rue Saint Jacques. They began to shoot into the windows without the - slightest provocation, killed a workman who was on his way home, - wounded another inhabitant and compelled him to call out: 'Long - live the Kaiser.' A third they wounded in the abdomen with thrusts - of their bayonets. They burst into the cafés, requisitioned all - spirits, got tipsy on them, and left after setting several houses - on fire and knocking to pieces the doors and windows of others. - - "The inhabitants, frightened and perplexed, hid themselves in the - houses. - - "On Sunday, August 23rd, at half-past six in the morning, the - soldiers of the 108th regiment of the line drove the worshippers - out of the Premonstratensian Church, separated the men from the - women, and shot about fifty of the former through the head. - Between seven and nine o'clock there were house-to-house looting - and burning by the soldiers, who chased the inhabitants into the - street. Those who tried to escape were shot off-hand. - - "At about nine o'clock the soldiers drove all who had been found - in the houses in front of them by means of blows from their - rifle-butts. They crowded them together in the Place d'Armes, where - they kept them until six o'clock in the evening. Their guards - amused themselves by telling the men repeatedly that they would - soon be shot. - - "At six o'clock a captain separated the men from the women and - children. The women were placed behind a line of infantry. The men - had to stand alongside a wall; those in the first row were ordered - to sit on their haunches, the others to remain standing behind - them. A platoon took a stand straight opposite the group. The women - prayed in vain for mercy for their husbands, their sons, and their - brothers; the officer gave the order to fire. He had not made the - slightest investigation, pronounced no sentence of any sort. - - "A score of these men were merely wounded and fell among the dead. - For greater certainty the soldiers fired once more into the mass. - A few got off scot-free in spite of the double fusillade. For over - two hours they pretended to be dead, remained among the corpses - without budging, and when it was dark were able to fly to the - mountains. Eighty-four victims remained behind and were buried in a - garden in the neighbourhood. - - "There were other murders on that same 23rd of August. - - "Soldiers discovered inhabitants of the suburb Saint Pierre in the - cellars of a brewery, and killed them on the spot. - - "On the previous day many workmen of the silk factory Kimmer and - their wives and children had found a shelter in the cellars of the - building, with some neighbours and relatives of their employer. At - six o'clock in the evening the unfortunate people made up their - mind to leave their hiding-place and went into the street, headed - by a white flag. They were immediately seized by the soldiers and - roughly ill-treated. All the men were shot, among them Mr. Kimmer, - Consul of Argentina. - - "Nearly all the men of the suburb Leffe were massacred en masse. - In another quarter twelve citizens were murdered in a cellar. In - the Rue en Ile a paralytic was shot in his bath-chair, and in the - Rue d'Enfer a boy, fourteen years old, was struck down by a soldier. - - "The railway viaduct of the suburb Neffe became the scene of a - bloody massacre. An old woman and all her children were shot in a - cellar. A man sixty-five years old, his wife, a son and a daughter - were placed against a wall and shot through the head. Other - inhabitants of Neffe were placed in a boat, taken to the Rocher - Bayard, and shot there; among them were a woman eighty-three years - old and her husband. - - "A number of men and women had been locked in the yard of the - prison.... At six o'clock in the evening a mitrailleuse was placed - on the mountain and fired at them, an old woman and three others - being killed. - - "Whilst some soldiers committed these murders, others looted - and wrecked the houses, smashed the safes or blew them up with - dynamite. They forced their way into the Banque Centrale de la - Meuse, seized the manager, Mr. Xavier Wasseige, and called upon - him to open the safe. As he refused to do so, they tried to force - it open, but in vain. Thereupon they took Mr. Wasseige and his - two eldest sons to the Place d'Armes, where they and 120 of their - fellow-citizens were shot by means of a mitrailleuse. The youngest - three children of Mr. Wasseige were held by soldiers and forced to - attend the slaughter of their father and brothers. We were also - informed that one of the young Wasseiges lay dying for an hour and - nobody dared to come to his assistance. - - "After the soldiers had performed their duty as vandals and bandits - they set the houses on fire. Soon the whole town was one immense - pool of fire. - - "All the women and children had been taken to a convent, where they - were kept imprisoned for four days, without hearing of the fate of - their beloved ones. They themselves expected to be shot in their - turn. Round about them the burning of the town went on. - - "The first day the religious were allowed to give them some food, - although not sufficient. Soon they had nothing to eat but carrots - and unripe fruit. - - "The inquiry also brought to light that the German soldiers on - the right bank, who were exposed to the fire of the French, hid - themselves here and there behind civilians, women and children. - - "In short the town of Dinant is destroyed. Of 1,400 houses, - 200 only remained standing. The factories, where the labouring - population got their bread and butter, were wrecked systematically. - Many inhabitants were sent to Germany, where they are still kept - as prisoners. The majority of the others are scattered all over - Belgium. Those who stayed in the towns were starved. - - "The committee has a list of the victims. It contains 700 names, - and is not complete. Among those killed are seventy-three women and - thirty-nine children between six months and fifteen years old. - - "Dinant had 7,600 inhabitants, of whom ten per cent. were put to - death; not a family exists which has not to mourn the death of some - victims; many families have been exterminated completely." - -When we entered the town in our motor-car, those of the unfortunate -population who had escaped from the murderous massacre had already left -the town. Between the ruins and the deserted French Red Cross cars we -drove to the pontoon bridge which the Germans had flung across the -river by the side of the Meuse bridge, which had been blown up. Here -we were stopped by German soldiers who guarded the pontoon bridge. In -a café we came across a few of the citizens who had remained. These -unfortunate people had no home, no money, and no food, lacked the -wherewithal to go farther away, and now depended on the charity of the -murderers of their relatives. Twice a day they were allowed to call at -one of the German stores for a piece of bread, in exchange for a ticket -which they might get at the commander's office. The Germans, upholders -of morality and "Kultur," saw to it that their victims did not overeat -themselves. - -Our passport had to be stamped by this same commander, and my colleague -had to ask him for a permit to take photographs. The commander -would not hear of this, but finally agreed, after my colleague had -snapshotted him and his staff in front of the office. Our passport was -marked: "1. Landsturm Infantry Battalion, Dresden." - -Dinant offered a terrible sight; it no longer existed. On foot, of -course, we walked along the place where a large shop once stood, but -one could not even distinguish where the road had been. Not one street -was left, and the few houses that were saved are not in the centre of -the town. On a slope on the left bank of the Meuse there had been two -large monasteries, which had been turned into hospitals. They had been -wrecked completely by gun-fire, and as if in bitter mockery at the -cruel fate, the Red Cross flags flew there still undamaged. - -In the centre of the town everything, including the large buildings, -had been levelled with the ground. This was the case with the principal -church "de Notre Dame," the college of the same name, the "Belle Vue," -the monasteries, etc., of the "Frères et Sœurs de Notre Dame," the -"Saint Nicolas" and "Saint Pierre" churches, and three large factories, -"Oudin," "Le Mérinos," and "La Dinant," the "Banque Centrale de la -Meuse," the town-hall, the ancient "Palace of the Prince-Bishops," and -all its archives, the magnificent post-and-telegraph office, the large -hotels "de la Tête d'Or," "des Postes," "des Ardennes," "Moderne," -"Terminus," the hotels "de la Citadelle," "la Paix," "la Gare," etc., -etc., the "Institut Hydrothérapique," all houses of the "Bon Secours" -Congregation, etc. - -The finest view of Dinant was from the beautiful bridge affording a -passage across the Meuse with the "Notre Dame" in the background. This -church was built just in front of a steep rock, on top of which stood -the citadel of Dinant. - -Now the bridge is blown up, the greater part of the church destroyed by -the Germans, and, had nature not been more powerful than their brutal, -clumsy violence, they would have pulled down that rock too. But it is -still there, the solitary remnant of the famous beauty of Dinant. - -My companion wanted to take a snapshot of this point, but in order -to enliven the scene somewhat, he requested a few soldiers to stand -in the square in front of the church. Each had a couple of champagne -bottles hanging on his stomach, and refused absolutely to accede -to my colleague's request to remove them. They insisted upon being -snapshotted with those bottles hanging on their bodies! So my companion -took this snapshot of "Kultur" in that condition, houses burned down, -a church destroyed, and in front of these the grinning and coarse -villains, puffing out their bodies, proud of their empty bottles.... - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -ON THE BATTLE-FIELDS - - -As often as I went on tour to collect news on the scene of war, I got -dozens of messages and letters, which alarmed people sent to the editor -of _De Tijd_, with the request that they should be handed to me for -further transmission to relatives. I took hundreds of them to and from -Louvain. - -On Monday, September 14th, I took with me a larger number than ever to -Louvain. - -I observed then already that much poverty prevailed, for in many places -I noticed people whose appearance did not suggest that they were -accustomed to that sort of work, creeping quietly in and out of hedges, -carrying bags in which they put the potatoes picked up in the fields. -Naturally they started and looked alarmed, when, suddenly, I passed on -my bicycle. - -Round about Louvain everything was prepared for defensive purposes, -artillery being hidden under straw-roofs, only a few yards away from -the farm-houses, and the sentries were very alert. I never saw them -before I was quite near; then they jumped suddenly from behind a tree, -summoning me to stop by lowering their rifle. In the meadows were a -good many newly cut trenches. - -Some soldiers were rather friendly when I revealed myself as a -Netherland reporter; they informed me with serious faces that -in Germany two million volunteers were drilling; that in each -garrison-town the majority of the men were left behind as reserves; -that by and by they were going to level Antwerp to the ground, if these -Belgians would not keep quiet; that after all Belgium proved a bigger -job than they had bargained for; that Amsterdam and Rotterdam had been -shelled and Flushing taken by the British; that Germany had now sent -a great number of troops into The Netherlands to protect her against -Britain, because The Netherlands herself had no army at all; and so on -and so on. - -One of the soldiers took me to the spot where two days before the -Belgians had blown up the railway which had just now been repaired -by the German engineers. According to his story eighty troopers had -succeeded in surprising a guard of twelve and in pushing on to the -railway. - -Near Corbeek-Loo a strong Belgian force had been able even to reach the -main road to Louvain, and there also destroyed the railway, after which -they retreated before the advancing Germans. - -These minor actions formed part of the sortie by the Belgians from -Antwerp. One division marched towards Louvain and occupied Aerschot -on Thursday evening, September 10th. On Friday they advanced farther -in the direction of Wijgmaal-Rotselair-Corbeek-Loo, with continuous -hard fighting. On Saturday the fights were fiercest round about these -places, and ended in the evening in a retreat of the Belgians, who -made the enemy pay as heavily as possible for their victory, although -they themselves had to leave behind a good many victims. - -Considerations of space forbid me to relate many of the heroic deeds -performed on this occasion, but an exception may be made of the -following:-- - -When I arrived in Louvain I heard of a young Fleming who was then being -nursed in a hospital established by the Norbertine Fathers, and had -been serving at two pieces of ordnance near Corbeek-Loo. As the army -was forced to retreat in the evening his comrades were compelled to -abandon the two guns, but he had to stay, being wounded in the leg by a -grape shot. The Germans made him prisoner, and tied him to a tree. By -an immense effort he succeeded in tearing himself loose, and dragged -himself towards a farm-house. At a short distance from this goal he was -stopped, however, by a German soldier. The Fleming, putting forth all -his remaining strength, gave the other such a tremendous blow in the -face with his rifle-butt that he fell down dead. Subsequently this boy -reached the farm-house, where he was charitably received. Later on he -was fetched away by the Sisters from Boven-Loo, and finally from that -institution by the Norbertine Fathers. - -The Belgians left also a considerable number of dead and wounded at -Wijgmaal and Rotselair. On Tuesday, September 15th, I visited the -battle-fields in that neighbourhood with father Coppens, a Netherland -Norbertine, born at Lieshout. The wounds of the soldiers lying there -were in a most terrible condition, because _the Germans forbade the -removal of the Belgian wounded before all the German dead had been -buried_. In my opinion not only a proof of barbarity, but also an -admission that the Germans themselves must have suffered great losses. - -The Wijgmaal battle-field was after all the least horrible. About -ten houses seemed to have been set on fire on purpose; the rest had -suffered badly from the bombardment. All the inhabitants had fled as -soon as the fighting began. The wounded Belgians had been placed in the -large dancing-room of a café, where father Coppens brought them a large -hamper full of eatables and drinkables, and whence also he had them -transported to Louvain. The food was gratefully accepted, but they were -still more eager to get hold of the mugs, as they were very thirsty -in consequence of the high temperature caused by the inflamed wounds; -often we had to prevent them forcibly from drinking too much. - -We passed a dead field-officer who still laid hold of a piece of a -flag. When I read that sort of thing in a book, I thought: "how pretty -and romantic," but never believed that this would actually happen in -war-time. I saw the reality now, and, deeply touched, bared my head, -saluting that dead hero. From papers we found on him we saw that his -name was Van Gesthel; like most Belgians, he had been killed by shell. - -I went on with Father Coppens and found about one hundred wounded, -of whom only a few had been taken to the houses. Most of them crept -away frightened, but when we told them that we were Netherlanders from -Louvain, who came to bring them food and drink, and to take them away -to be nursed, they got hold of our coats and refused to let us go. - -They drank deep, in long draughts, with trembling lips, and beseeched -us not to leave them again: "Oh, gentlemen, then we shall die!" We -swore that we should come back, and that later on carriages would -arrive from Louvain to take them to some convent or hospital; and, -trusting us, they resigned themselves in the end. - -Goats, pigs, cows, and other cattle roamed freely through the -village-street, looking for food and licking the faces of the dead. - -We entered a stable whence we thought that a sound came. We saw, -however, nothing but a heap of straw, and a pig which ran up against us -near the door. Father Coppens chased it away with a: - -"Get you gone, you brute!" - -And all at once the straw began to move, a head popped out, and a weak -voice exclaimed: - -"Ah well, be you a Fleming?" - -The poor fellow had hidden himself, being afraid that we were Germans; -but when he heard the "Get you gone, you brute!" he ventured to show -himself. - -"Certainly, my lad," said Father Coppens--"certainly we are Flemings. -What is the matter with you?" - -We removed the rest of the straw, undressed him partially, and on both -his legs the most hideous wounds became visible. Septic process had -worsened his condition to such an extent, that the unfortunate boy had -only a short time to live. I moved away ... he confessed to Father -Coppens, who gave him the viaticum, which he carried with him. - -Later on people from Louvain came with carts, which we had ordered -before leaving. Thirteen of these carried the wounded away, whilst a -German patrol went all over the village, setting everything on fire. - -Father Coppens and I beseeched the German commanding officer to spare -the houses of some people, large families, who came for shelter to the -father's convent. And at length, after long supplications, we secured -exemption for a few houses, inhabited by people who could not have -done anything in a village which had been completely evacuated by the -population, at the beginning of the fight. - -In the Hospital Leo XIII, that eager Netherlander, Professor Noyons, -did all he could to save as many as could be saved of the wretched -Belgian wounded; but as rain and cold had done so much harm to the -wounds, amputation of the injured limbs was as a rule the only remedy -left. - -Never thinking of rest he went on day and night, taking away the poor -fellows' arms and legs, and all this by the miserable light of some -candles. Gas and electricity were not to be had, the works being idle -after the destruction of the town.... - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -ROUND ABOUT BILSEN - - -ALTHOUGH at first I had a different plan, I decided on Saturday, -September 26th, to go first to Riempst--a little walk of three hours -each way--as I had read a report in certain papers quoted from the -_Handelsblad van Antwerpen_ that the church of Riempst had been burned -and the vicars of that parish and of Sichem had been made prisoners. - -Arrived at Riempst I found the pretty village church in its full glory -and the vicar engaged in performing his religious functions; the vicar -of Sichem was also still at home. The only part of the report that was -true was that various burgomasters from the environs had been sent to -Tongres and had not returned since. The burgomaster of Riempst, with -whom I had been imprisoned already once, was being searched for by the -Germans everywhere, but could not be found. In several places I heard -also that the Belgians were lying in the woods round about, and that -something was being prepared at Riempst; but no one knew what. So I -decided to go and inquire. - -The road was quite deserted, for the people, who live in great fear, do -not venture out. - -As far as Bilsen everything seemed equally deserted, but quite near -the town a couple of German soldiers suddenly came to me from behind -a house, and ordered me to stop. They took me with them to the guard, -which was established in the aforementioned house. - -There it appeared that my papers were in good order, but at the same -time I was informed that I was to be taken to the commanding officer at -the station and could not be allowed to leave Bilsen for the present. -I was escorted through the townlet, which appeared to be entirely -deserted; but now and then somebody came to his front-door to watch -the latest victim of the Germans being led past. At the station I was -pushed without much courtesy into a keep where six other civilians sat, -who had been picked up as being at large, and whose faces were now -covered with a cold perspiration from fear, because they were firmly -convinced that by and by they would be shot. - -Three soldiers stood before the open door and amused themselves by -provoking these people in the most inhuman manner, by abusing them -and telling them that later on they would be hanged or shot. The poor -fellows shivered and their teeth clattered. I, the newly arrived -"swine," was treated in much the same way, but I reduced the insolent -blusterers into the quietest people of the world by warning them that -by and by I would ask the commanding officer whether his soldiers had -the right to call a Netherlander a "swine." That put some heart into my -fellow-victims, and I urged them that they would do best by replying -calmly to any questions which the commanding officer might put to -them. They actually became more composed, and told me the following: - -The Germans had evacuated Bilsen some days ago, probably after being -informed that a strong force of Belgians was coming on. As a matter of -fact, only eleven Belgian soldiers had entered the townlet. These had -pulled down the German flag from the town-hall and replaced it by the -Belgian. The station and the railway were then closed to the public -for a couple of hours, and in that time they pulled up the rails in -two places. On Friday evening the Germans returned in great numbers by -train from Tongres, and the train derailed on one of those places; but -no lives were lost, as it went very slowly. - -The Germans had then taken it into their heads that the Belgians -occupied Bilsen and the station, and began a terrific fire at the -station and the surrounding houses, although there was not a single -Belgian soldier in the whole town. When they had satisfied themselves -that this was the case, they stopped firing, and were furious on -account of the derailing and the mistake they had made. They then -started a wild hunt for the men, and set about ten houses on fire, as -also the signalman's cottage, because he had not warned them of the -danger by waving his red flag. - -They made no allowance for the fact that they themselves had relieved -all railway officials of their functions until later notification. The -signalman was made a prisoner, but released subsequently. - -As soon as they began to chase the men, the greater part of the -inhabitants fled in dire fear, most of them towards the Campine. In -the fields and the shrubberies the Germans must have killed a good many -of the male fugitives, and made the others prisoners. Among the latter -were my six fellow-victims. - -That same Friday evening the women and children living in the Rue de -la Station were told to leave their houses as the whole street was to -be burned down. Everybody fled, but the design was not executed. The -burgomaster and his son were taken prisoners, and brought to Tongres; -later on the son was released; the Very Reverend the Dean was also -arrested. - -The latter himself told me that he was released in order to instruct -the vicars in the eighteen parishes of his deanery that they should -inform their parishioners that the whole village would be burned and -the inhabitants killed if the railway-line should be broken up, no -matter whether it were done by Belgian soldiers or others. - -After I had been incarcerated for about two hours I was taken to -the commanding officer, Major Krittel, or rather to one of his -subordinates, Captain Spuer, who was having a violent altercation with -his chief. The captain appeared to insist with great force that the -whole place should be burned down and all the prisoners shot. But the -major seemed to be a tolerably reasonable man, tried to soothe the -captain, and at last put down his foot, saying that he had had enough. -The captain, a rude, fat fellow, sat down at a desk and bellowed at me: - -"Here, swine!" - -I did not budge. - -"Here, swine!" - -"I am a Netherlander." - -"Netherlander? Doesn't matter. Have you got papers? All right. You -shan't have those back." - -"Then I'll lodge a complaint with the Imperial Governor of Liège, who -gave me the papers." - -"Swine!" - -Now the major jumped up and shouted at his subordinate that he had to -treat a Netherlander as he ought to be treated. - -The major, sitting at another desk, took my further examination upon -himself, apologising for the "noisy" conduct of his subordinate, who -had got somewhat over-excited in consequence of the circumstances. -He found my papers in perfect order, and told me in civil tones that -I should get back my liberty which I had lost in consequence of a -misunderstanding, but that for the present I was not allowed to leave -Bilsen, as I should run the greatest risk of being shot by German or -Belgian patrols, who were hidden along the road. He asked me to call -again the next morning. - -I availed myself of his benevolent mood and told him that my -fellow-prisoners were treated very unkindly by his soldiers, and -these people had lost their composure entirely in consequence. A calm -examination, I told him, undoubtedly would give him also the conviction -that these people had only fled into the fields because they were -afraid, but not with any criminal intent. He promised me to conduct the -examination himself, and to be as kind as possible. The next morning I -heard that they had all been released. - -I now tried to get something to eat in the town at an hotel. - -"Well, what have you got for me to eat?" - -"To eat, sir--to eat? A bit of bacon ... that's all." - -"Well, that's all right; and what am I going to have with it, bread, -potatoes, or...." - -"Bread, potatoes? Nothing. We have nothing." - -I went to various other places, but there I could not even get a bit -of bacon. So I made up my mind to starve for the present, and to make -inquiries here and there about families whose acquaintances or friends -had asked me to do so through the editor of _De Tijd_. - -Afterwards I sauntered through the very quiet little town, until I -suddenly saw something quite uncommon, namely two civilians who, like -myself, were walking about. When I came near, one of them recited a -rhyme: - - "Ah, there comes Mister Tijd, and he - Lost like ourselves his liberty!" - -I had not the faintest idea who they were, but then they introduced -themselves as van Wersch and Dasoul, both living at the time at -Hasselt. The first had been at Maastricht a couple of days ago and -had seen me there. He told me that that morning he had been "hooked" -and his companion only the evening before. He had come to Bilsen on a -bicycle, and got such a blow on his back from the butt of a German -rifle that the butt was cracked in two although his back was not -injured. - -He had been uneasy because he experienced no disagreeable consequences -of that blow, and had therefore consulted the doctor at Bilsen, who -thought that only his excited nerves had enabled him to withstand such -a blow. Both had been locked up a couple of hours and their bicycles -had been taken away, as also their papers. Mr. van Wersch, however, -had an acquaintance at Bilsen with whom he and his companion found -lodgings, and whither he was good enough to take me as well. - -After a bed had been promised me, my first request was for something to -eat, for I had not enjoyed anything as yet. But there was nothing left, -absolutely nothing. I scratched my head, and rubbed my empty stomach, -when suddenly I heard a fowl cackling outside. Negotiations about it -were soon finished; my companion was to kill the fowl, whereas I was -to call on Major Krittel and tell him that I liked my enforced stay in -Bilsen very much, but that he ought to see now that I got something to -eat. - -I returned with two large round "brown Georges"--soldiers' loaves. - -Never did I enjoy a meal so much; but not so the kind people who had -received us so friendly; they could not eat. The terror which reigned -among the population in those days was indescribable. One must have -seen it and gone through it with them, to realise it. They really -feared that at any moment the Germans would drive the population out of -the houses and set the town on fire. - -Men and women in the prime of life sat on their chairs, gazing vacantly -at nothing, lacking in the most literal sense of the word the strength -to stand or to walk. When at about six o'clock in the evening the -click-clack of rifle-fire was heard--for a Belgian patrol seemed to -have come near the town,--my hostess and her daughter pressed a couple -of papers against their breast, full of fear, ready to fly, but unable -to walk. - -That same afternoon also I made the acquaintance of the editor of a -local weekly, _De Bilsenaar_, which was not allowed to appear during -the occupation of the place by the Germans. He and others had a great -many things to tell me. - -Not half of the requisitioned meat was used by the Germans, and the -rest was simply left to rot, whilst the starving people were not -allowed to touch it. Two pigs and a cow were shot in a meadow, but no -part of these animals had been used, the order to bury them being given -when the smell became unendurable. In some places the Germans indulged -in such unspeakably filthy acts, that it is impossible to mention -details. - -When the Germans entered Bilsen for the first time, four persons were -shot in front of the town-hall; fifteen holes were still to be seen in -the wall. Amongst these four was also the brother-in-law of the editor -of the _Bilsenaar_. He was dragged out of his house, accused of having -shot, although he and his wife and children were at that moment saying -the rosary. His wife had got up that day for the first time after her -confinement. - -The unhappy man asserted in a loud voice that he was innocent, but -got the answer that he would have to prove that later on. But he never -had a chance of doing that. Arriving at the market-place, he and three -others were simply placed against the wall and shot. He could not even -have spiritual assistance. - -Frequently Protestant services were held in the market-place, conducted -by a parson, and the invariable beginning and end of that parson's -allocution was: "There is one God; there must also be one Kaiser." - -A good many lads had been able to escape from Bilsen and the environs -to Antwerp; in the aggregate, 500 from this district, and more went -every day. They were driven to the Belgian army by all they had seen -and experienced. Often one heard women and girls say: "Oh, if I were a -man, if I were a boy, I should be in the army to-morrow!" - -I was sitting comfortably in the home circle of the editor of _De -Bilsenaar_, with father, mother, and daughter. They had one son of -eighteen, who was at the Junior Seminary at Hasselt, and only the first -Sunday in August he had left for Heerenth in order to offer himself -as a missionary aspirant. The next Wednesday the would-be missionary, -an only son, enlisted as a volunteer in the Belgian army.... He was -already the sixteenth of his form of twenty-three boys at the college -at Hasselt. - -The father got up and went to a small cupboard from which he took some -papers, and his eyes, and those of his wife and daughter, became moist -at once; letters from their only boy, written on the battle-field! He -read them out with a broken voice, frequently interrupted by sobs. I -said nothing, could not utter a word. - -The boy also had been obliged to retire into France, had been -transported from Rheims to Havre, and from there, across the sea, -back to Belgium. "Five times already, my dear parents, I have been in -the fight; I have asked them not to let me wait long for the sixth. -Oh, you cannot imagine how glorious it is to be allowed to fight for -my country! Have confidence in the future, dear parents, and say a -paternoster for me and my comrades and also one for our Fatherland." - -Well, I could not keep calm when I heard such things read by a father -from a letter of his only son on the battle-field; that is impossible. - -The next morning was Sunday, and the bells summoned the people to -church. But nobody went, nobody dared to appear in the street, although -prayer-book and rosary are always in everybody's hands during these -days. I had decided to go to the second Mass, but as nobody had come -to the first, there was no second. The Dean himself said that the -people were quite right not to come to church. The previous Sunday -the Germans, who had entered Lanaeken suddenly, had posted themselves -in front of the church, where the believers attended Holy Mass, and -ordered the women and children to leave the church, but the men to -stay. When all the women and children had left, the Germans entered -the building and ... found not a single man, for all had left quickly -by the back door. A veritable battue was held in the whole district -for lads and young men, who were all taken away as prisoners by the -Germans, because during the last few days great numbers had escaped to -the north and enlisted as volunteers in the army. - -I went to the commander's office, and on the way copied the following -Proclamation:-- - - "PROCLAMATION - - "Private motor-cars, motor-bicycles, and bicycles are only allowed - to move about in the districts occupied by the German army if - driven by German soldiers, or the chauffeur possesses a licence. - These licences are only issued by the local commanders, and only in - urgent cases. The motor-cars, motor-bicycles, and bicycles will be - seized if this rule is infringed. Anyone who tries to push through - the German outposts shall be shot at, as also anyone who approaches - them in such a manner that he seems to be a spy. - - "Should telegraph- or telephone-wires be cut in the neighbourhood - of towns and villages, these places will be sentenced to pay a - war-contribution, whether the inhabitants are guilty or not. - - "The Governor-General of Belgium. - BARON VON DER GOLTZ, - _Field-Marshal_." - -At the station Major Krittel was engaged in examining a civilian -and his wife. The man had been found in a field; both shook from -nervous excitement and wept profusely. The major spoke calmly and -encouragingly, and after a short examination both got their liberty. -Major Krittel was also very kind to me again, but asked emphatically -whether I knew that writing false news exposed me to the danger of -capital punishment. I answered that I was firmly convinced of that. He -then gave me another proclamation to read in which this was mentioned, -and I asked and got permission to put the document in my pocket. It -runs as follows:-- - - "TONGRES. - "24.9.1914, - - "PROCLAMATION - - "Several cases which occurred in the Province of Limburg oblige me - to acquaint the inhabitants of a number of regulations: - - "According to Clause 58, Section 1, of the Military Penal Code, - sentence of capital punishment for treason will be pronounced - against those who, intending to assist an enemy army, or to injure - the German army: - - "1. Commit a punishable offence mentioned in Clause 90 of the - German Penal Code. - - "2. Injure or make useless roads or telegraphic instruments. - - "3. Serve the enemy as guides in a military undertaking against the - German allied forces, or mislead the latter when serving them as - guides. - - "4. Who in whatever way in order to harass or mislead the German - forces make military or other signals, urge to flee, or prevent the - reunion of straggling soldiers. - - "5. Who undertake to enter into verbal or written communication - with persons in the army or the fleet, of the enemy country at war - with Germany, about matters relating to the war itself. - - "6. Who distribute in the German army hostile incitements or - communications. - - "7. Who neglect necessary precautions which ought to be taken on - behalf of the army. - - "8. Liberate prisoners of war. - - "According to Clause 90 of the German Penal Code, sentence of penal - servitude for life will be pronounced against those: - - "1. Who surrender to the enemy, either German troops or fortified - bulwarks, trenches or fortified places, or defences, as also parts - or belongings of the German army. - - "2. Who surrender to the enemy of the German forces defensive - works, ships or transports of the fleet, public funds, stocks of - arms, munitions, or other war material, as also bridges, railways, - telegraphs, or other means of communication; or who destroy them or - make them useless on behalf of the enemy. - - "3. Supply men to the enemy or entice away others who belong to the - German army. - - "4. Who serve the enemy as a spy, lodge hostile spies, hide them or - aid them. - - "And it is also to be noticed that it is forbidden to distribute - newspapers and other printed matter published in the part of - Belgium not occupied by German forces. It is forbidden to take - communications of whatever kind from these parts of Belgium and - those that are occupied by the German army. These offences will be - punished with imprisonment. Serious cases, as, for example, any - attempt to assist the hostile forces, will be followed by sentence - of death. - - "STERZEL, - _Major and Commanding Officer_." - -I had also to promise the major that on my return I should bring with -me a copy of _De Tijd_ in which all I had experienced and seen in -Bilsen was described, and also a box of Netherland cigars, which he -promised to pay for; then I was allowed to go. - -As I went a patrol marched out--reinforcements had again come from -Tongres--whose task was to clear the district of the enemy. The patrol -consisted of six Death-head hussars, about forty bicyclists, and the -rest infantry, altogether about four hundred men, who were able to keep -together, because the hussars and the cyclists proceeded very slowly -and cautiously in the direction of Lanaeken. I went with them, chatting -with one of the officers. As soon as they had got to the road, the -greatest caution was observed. The hussars went in front, followed by -some of the infantry, all in loose formation, continually looking about -in all directions, with the finger at the cock of the rifle. - -Not a single person was seen on the road, and everything went -well until we got to the village of Veldwezelt. Suddenly, quite -unexpectedly, a violent rifle fire and a continued whistling of bullets -was heard from the neighbourhood of a house close by. Although the -soldiers later on asserted to the contrary, I was sure that the firing -did not come from the house, but from some underwood near by. - -After some firing one of the hussars was hit and fell from his horse, -which ran away. A few seconds later another hussar was hit in his arm -and his horse in its hind-part. Rider and horse flew away from the -fire. The Germans had, of course, immediately answered the firing, -and pulled me with them behind the bend of the road, where I lay down -with them flat on the ground. A Belgian soldier who came out of the -shrubbery with three others was shot, but as the firing went on for -some time and the hussars and cyclists began to take to their heels, -some order was given, and the Germans jumped up and ran away in the -direction of Bilsen. I was told to come with them, so I also ran, and -we all arrived at Bilsen out of breath. As soon as they had recovered -their breath they gave vent to their rage. - -They yelled and shouted and said that Bilsen and the whole district -must be burned down, that the major was far too kind, that they were -cowardly soldiers who hid themselves in houses and dared not fight -an honest fight in the open, that civilians had also been shooting, -and so on. I pointed out that the firing did not come from the house, -but from the shrubbery near the house; that nobody could have seen a -civilian shooting. As they insisted, I said with a laugh that they had -seen ghosts. That excited them so, that they came on to me in a rage, -and asked whether this was a laughing matter? And they would surely -have used violence had not the sergeant intervened. - -I went immediately to the major to give him a detailed report of the -occurrence, and I believe that I may say without boasting that owing -to my intervention Veldwezelt was not burned down, although other -frightful things happened there. - -The hussar who was first hit, died later on. The other appeared to be -only slightly wounded in the arm. - -Of course I had to remain at Bilsen after this adventure. The major -appeased his men somewhat, mounted a ridiculously small horse, and -marched out at the head of his men. Two hundred men who had just -arrived from Tongres were added as reinforcements to the major's -troops, who had now about six hundred men with him. Thus they went -again to Veldwezelt, but the few Belgians, who were no fools, had left -of course. - -Towards evening the major returned with his men, who in loud voices -sounded forth all sorts of patriotic songs, elated because they had -driven away the enemy. As he entered I addressed the major, who with -a grand sweep of his arm called out to me: "You may go now; I have -cleared the whole district." - -I was very curious to know what had happened in Veldwezelt. When I came -near the village, I noticed great activity; men, women, and children -were busy with saws and hatchets cutting down all the trees and shrubs -along the road. - -Beautiful hedges, which had been grown artificially in fine forms -for years, fell under the blows of the hatchets. The reason? Before -the day was over all hedges, all shrubs, and all trees had to be cut -down, or the village would be set on fire. Still shaking and trembling -in consequence of the terrors they had experienced during the day, -old men, women, and children with red flushed cheeks joined in the -work; they had not even taken time to change their Sunday- for their -working-day clothes. - -And if that had been all! But dozens of boys and young men had been -taken to Bilsen as prisoners. There had been a real hunt for all -able-bodied lads who might be of any use in the Belgian army. Women and -old men were compelled by threats to betray the hiding-places of their -sons or husbands, and if one of them was found hidden away under straw -or in barns, he was ill-treated or beaten with rifle-butts. Some fled -to Maastricht, others to the Campine, the northern part of Belgium. I -presume that both groups have at length arrived in Antwerp. - -Dr. Beckers, Government veterinary surgeon at Veldwezelt, had also been -taken to Bilsen as a hostage. The Germans asserted that the Belgians in -Lanaeken had taken prisoner a German military veterinary surgeon who -looked after the horses, and now intended to keep Dr. Beckers until the -Belgians should have released the German military veterinary surgeon. - -During the occupation a war contribution of 150,000 francs in silver -had been imposed on Bilsen, although there was hardly any silver left -in the place. This punishment was inflicted because Belgian soldiers -had destroyed the railway in two places. - -Near Lanaeken I met suddenly a Belgian soldier, who did not trouble me -after I had shown him my papers. I was quite astonished to find that -man there all by himself, whilst so many Germans were only a few miles -away. When I asked whether he knew this, he answered: - -"Yes." - -"Are you not afraid?" - -"No." - -"But when the Germans come!" - -"Then I shall shoot." - -"But that will mean death for yourself." - -"What does that matter? What do I care for life? I come from Dinant; -they have murdered my dear parents, burned our house. What good is it -to me to be alive? I requested them to give me this dangerous outpost. -When the Germans come, I'll shoot, and then my comrades at Lanaeken -will be warned. Then I'll kill three or four of them, but after that I -shall be ready to die myself." - -The man looked at me with glittering eyes full of the passion of -revenge. I pressed his hand and went on. - -Lanaeken seemed to have been reoccupied by the Belgians, after the -occurrences of the previous Sunday. When I entered the place, I found -the greater number of the men round about the station. - -The Belgians who had fired at the Germans near Veldwezelt had also come -back there. They were eleven motor-cyclists who had been reconnoitring; -when near Veldwezelt they saw the Germans approach and hid themselves -in the shrubberies, intending to attack them. The only wounded person -they had was only slightly hurt, and within a few days he would be able -to rejoin his comrades. - -Mr. van Wersch, whom I mentioned above, and who shared imprisonment -with me at Bilsen, had a rather disagreeable adventure a few days -afterwards, when he had the misfortune of being mistaken for the -war-correspondent of _De Tijd_. - -My letter to that paper about what had happened in Bilsen seemed to -have reached the German authorities at that place, and these gentlemen -were not at all pleased with it. When Mr. van Wersch came back to the -place a few days afterwards he was mistaken for myself, and arrested at -once. - -After having been searched all over, he was escorted by a sergeant and -two soldiers to Tongres, where they took him to Captain Spuer, the same -fat officer who, so kindly, had called me a "swine." - -When they arrived at Tongres, the captain happened to have returned to -Bilsen, whither the prisoner was brought back by the same escort. But -Captain Spuer seemed not to be found there either, in consequence of -which the major allowed Mr. van Wersch at last to go on. - -When he passed the village of Veldwezelt he met a motor-car ... in -which was Captain Spuer. He recognised his victim at once, and also -mistook him for the war correspondent of _De Tijd_. Mr. van Wersch -was immediately detained again, and taken to a farm-house in the -neighbourhood, where he was threatened with a revolver, and roared at: -"You are the correspondent of _De Tijd_." - -Mr. van Wersch denied this of course, but nevertheless they took him -to Bilsen in the motor-car. There he was searched once more, the -Netherland letters he had with him were taken away, as also 1,800 -francs. But when he was released they gave him back the money. - -Mr. van Wersch was told that they intended to send him to Tongres, but -after a deliberation between Captain Spuer and Major Krittel, a very -kind man as I have already remarked, he was allowed to stay at Bilsen -until the examination should be over. He was allowed to walk through -the townlet under military escort at first, but later entirely free, -and to sleep at the station under military guard. After another search, -he was at last allowed to leave for Maastricht on Monday morning. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -DURING THE SIEGE OF ANTWERP - - -MANY days before the Germans marched upon Antwerp I announced the siege -in my paper. In Louvain I had seen all the preparations and also the -arrival of the Austrian 30·5 c.m. which were intended to batter to -ruins the bulwark of the national defence. - -As soon as the siege had begun, I tried to join the Germans, viâ -Louvain, and left Maastricht again by motor-car. Only a few miles from -the Netherland frontier I met the first soldiers, Belgians. When they -saw the Orange flag with the word "Nederland," they let us pass without -any trouble. A little farther on the road walked a civilian, who, by -putting up his hands, requested or commanded us to stop. We took the -most prudent part, and did stop. The man asked in bad Dutch to be -allowed to drive on with us to Brussels, but the motor was not going -beyond Tirlemont; outside that place motor-traffic was forbidden. The -stranger got in all the same, in order to have a convenient journey at -least so far. - -My new companion tried desperately to speak as good Dutch as possible, -but failed in the most deplorable manner; every time pure German -words came in between. He told a story that he stayed at Maastricht -as a refugee, and now wanted to fetch his children from a girls' -boarding-school at Brussels. I pretended to believe every word, and -after he had forgotten the first story he made up another, saying that -he came from Liège, where some officers who were billeted on him were -kind enough to give him a chance of going to Brussels, to purchase -stock for his business. - -When we were stopped by German outposts he put out of the window a -paper at which they just glanced, stood to attention, and said that -all was well. They did not even want to see my papers. In a casual way -I asked what a miraculous sort of paper he had, and then he pretended -that, by the help of those officers who were quartered on him, he had -got a certificate from the Governor of Liège with the order to treat -him with great respect and also to allow him to travel by military -trains if the opportunity happened to offer itself. - -In Tongres it was necessary to get a passport signed, and pay three -marks each, and ten marks for the motor. But the office of the -commander was not open before three o'clock in the afternoon, according -to the soldiers who were doing sentry-go in front of the town-hall. -Wait till three o'clock? No fear! My companion showed his miraculous -paper again, and was allowed to go in, but only by himself. I gave -him my papers and those of the chauffeur, and also wanted to give him -sixteen marks, three each for the chauffeur and myself and ten for the -motor, but he said that that was unnecessary. Within twenty minutes -the fellow came back with our verified passports on which the words -"Paid: Free" were written. - -A lot of artillery and a great number of soldiers were in the -market-place ready to start. The commander sent one of his officers -to us, who addressed me, examined my papers, and then said that I -had surely met Belgian soldiers on the way. Of course I denied this -emphatically. - -"Don't you know then whether there are Belgian military in Vroenhoven?" - -"No." - -"And in Lanaeken?" - -"I know nothing about that." - -"Didn't hear either about it?" - -"No." - -Evidently he seemed to confide in me, and told me that they had been -ordered to clear the north-east corner of Belgium of enemies, and that -by and by they were going to march upon Lanaeken first of all. - -When he was gone I gazed for some moments in silence at all these -men and guns, destined to go and destroy by and by the heroes, who -have done so much harm to the Germans, under command of the brave -lieutenant Count de Caritat, burgomaster of Lanaeken. I thought of that -brave Belgian from Dinant whom I met on his solitary outpost outside -Lanaeken, and if I had acted according to my heart's desire, I should -have sneaked away to the threatened point in order to warn those -courageous men of the approaching disaster. - -My mysterious companion touched my shoulder and asked whether we -should not go on. "All right," I said, and we got in again. - -At Tirlemont they were very busy rebuilding the burnt houses, although -all day long the air shook from the heavy roar of the cannon near -Antwerp. - -I sent the motor back to The Netherlands, and went with my companion -to the commander's office, where we got a permit to go on by military -train. - -From the side of Brussels many soldiers arrived at the station, who had -all been wounded near Antwerp. - -After a long time we were able to enter a train taking numerous new -troops to Antwerp. We occupied a first-class compartment, which looked -like a cattle-truck: pieces of bread, paper, cigar-ends, and tobacco -were lying on the floor and the seats; the ledges of the windows were -full of candle-grease. - -We jogged on to Louvain at a rate of not quite three miles an hour. -Here and there we had to wait a half or a whole hour to let trains from -Brussels pass. The reason why the train went so slowly was because a -week before a Belgian patrol had daringly broken through the outposts -and destroyed the railway near Lovenjool. That village was then burned -down completely and the vicar made a prisoner. - -Near Louvain the train had to stop for another two hours, before it -was allowed to enter the station, which was quite close by. I thanked -my stars that at last I got rid of my companion, who travelled on to -Brussels, whereas I got out at Louvain. It was too late to be allowed -to walk in the streets, but the commander gave me an escort of two -soldiers, who were to take me to the mission house of the Fathers of -the Sacred Heart. - -It was very cold that evening, and the outposts at Heverlee had all -wrapped themselves up in blankets. Once or twice we were stopped, but -the password of my escort removed all difficulties. - -"Is it much farther?" one of my armed guides asked. - -"No, only a couple of minutes." - -"I am thirsty. I should like very much to have a glass of beer." - -"Yes," I replied, "but everything is closed." - -"Yes, yes, but we shall like it also to-morrow, hi, hi, hi!" - -It is as if the curse of drink always pursued the garrison in Louvain, -for when and wherever I met German soldiers in that town, or came into -touch with them, they were always drunk. That evening, also, I was glad -when I arrived at the mission house, tipped the men, and got rid of -them until the next day. - -The Fathers were already in bed, but I soon got them out again. Within -ten minutes I was enjoying what, in the circumstances, was a splendid -meal, and the Fathers were absorbed in the daily and illustrated papers -which I had brought for them. - -The conditions at Louvain were the same as some weeks ago: hunger -and misery. Some male prisoners had come back, and also over 150 -female prisoners, who for more than a month had been in captivity in -the Munster Camp. During the last days a real reign of terror ruled. -Hostages were continually claimed, and nearly always they took -clerics. The week before the people had feared a new destruction. It -was said that there had been shooting again, but happily the inquiry -showed that a German soldier did it, and he was punished. The shot had -been fired in front of the Josephite convent. - - * * * * * - -A remarkable strike had taken place in the Leo XIII Hospital. The head -of this institution, Dr. Tits, also had been taken as a hostage. It -was the most blackguardly act one can think of, to take away the man -who had spent night and day mostly nursing wounded Germans. Dr. Noyons -found it so harsh that he took counsel with the other doctors, and they -decided not to resume work before Dr. Tits came back. This of course -happened immediately. - -The man who bears the full responsibility for the destruction of -Louvain, General von Manteuffel, had left already when I visited the -town this time, and nobody has ever been able to find out what became -of him. The latest proclamations were all signed: "By order of the -General Government of Brussels--the Etappe-Commander." - -Louvain was of course on tenterhooks about the course of the siege of -Antwerp, but everybody was quite confident that this fortress would -withstand a long, long time, although they saw quite well that the -German attack was very fierce, for the tremendous roar of the cannon -never ceased for a moment. - -A walking excursion of one day took me to Brussels. I might have -done it in a few hours less, but I lost my way in the wood-paths near -Brussels, for at a certain moment I read on a finger-post, "Brussels -four miles"; and after walking for a long time, and wondering whether I -should ever finish those four miles, I read suddenly: "Brussels--eight -miles!" That gave me such a shock that once more I had nearly taken the -wrong way. - -I put all my hope on a car that loomed up in the distance. It was -assisting in the reprovisioning of Brussels, and only for that reason -had the carman got permission to use it. I signalled to him, and he -stopped--a big lout of a man who evidently had had a drop too much; he -would not allow me to ride on with him, because he preferred to remain -alone on his car than to help a spy. "I am a Belgian, a Belgian, and -not a traitor, not a traitor of my country," he assured me, with a lot -of beery tears. In any case the man meant well, and probably he had -tried to drown his troubles in drink. - -In other circumstances I should not have taken so much trouble, but I -was so tired that I gave the man all my papers to make him see that I -was a Netherland journalist. But according to him that didn't matter at -all, because the Netherlanders were quite as dirty as the Germans, for -they had allowed the enemies of Belgium to pass through their country, -and so on. In a torrent of words I told him that there was not a word -of truth in it, and that the Belgian Government would surely lose no -time in declaring the same as soon as the country was free again. At -last I appealed to his heart by relating all the Netherlanders had done -for the Belgians. This had the desired effect, and I was allowed to -drive home with him. - -At every inn he felt thirsty, and made me feel quite clearly that I -had every reason to treat him. And every time that we went back to our -seats he said again: - -"Yes, but now you see if after all you are a spy, you see, then, you -see, I'll knock you down, you see?" - -"Yes, yes, but now listen; I have told you already that...." - -"But don't you see if you should, don't you see, you see I am a -patriot." - -"Oh, but listen: my papers...." - -"Yes, but you see they may be forged, you see. They may shoot me, you -see, but a traitor, you see, no, then I would knock you down, you -see...." - -That happened each time that he started again, and I was more tired by -trying to convince this man than if I had walked all the rest of the -way to Brussels. But after all I got there. - -There was much more liveliness in the Belgian capital than during my -first visit; it was as if the bombardment of Antwerp had wakened the -people out of their slumber, an apparent slumber only, for no citizens -were ever more faithful to the Belgian cause than those of Brussels. - -There was shouting enough in the streets and on the boulevards; here -hawkers tried to sell maps of the Fortress of Antwerp; there women -and girls offered scarf-pins with the portrait of Burgomaster Max. -Everybody had such a pin, and I soon sported one too, for only then did -these lady-sellers leave me alone. - -The German proclamations in Brussels were nearly as numerous as the -Max pins. They showered them during the last days on the town, the -one more insolent than the other. After reading those things, a -proclamation by Burgomaster Max affected me beneficially, whenever I -could find one amongst the mass of other bills posted on the walls. -Such a document testified to a grand soul and a firm character, which -vindicated courageously the rights of the oppressed people. - -In the streets and in the cafés I saw a great many marines who had -taken part in the fights near Antwerp and were sent to Brussels for a -few days' rest. It was remarkable that so many of them who had only -lately looked death in the face, thought that they could not amuse -themselves better than by mixing with girls of the worst description. -Although I cannot, of course, always believe what soldiers, fresh back -from a fight, assert in their over-excited condition, I assumed that I -might conclude that things went badly with the defence of Antwerp. - -A trip from Brussels to the scene of the fight convinced me still -more. I passed some time with the artillery which had already silenced -Waelhem, and was now used against the other defences. The sight of such -an action was less interesting than one might think, as I could not get -to the places where the infantry were storming. Only the thunder of -all these guns overwhelmed and gave me an idea of the terror that was -created. - -From Antwerp, which I could see clearly from the positions of the -artillery near Waelhem, high columns of smoke rose up from the Belgian -artillery, which was harassing the German positions. - -Here I also saw in action one of the 30·5 cm. Austrian howitzers -mentioned before. The clumsy monster was constantly being shunted on -a rail forward and backward, and at long intervals sent a gigantic -projectile to the threatened quarters. The sound was terrific, and the -pressure of the air made people at a great distance tremble on the -ground. The Austrian artillerists were still equipped as if they had to -fight in a rough, mountainous country; the soles of their shoes were -all over covered with hobnails. - -The Red Cross Service was well arranged, the wounded were transported -regularly, a large number of motor-cars being used. - -All soldiers and officers took the siege of the great fortress calmly, -convinced that at the most it would be able to hold out for very few -days. Reliable information soon gave me the same impression, although -I had wished it might have been quite different. When I left the scene -of the fight all the forts from Waelhem to St. Cathérine-Waver had been -silenced and in the hands of the Germans, who would soon attack the -inner circle of forts. - -In Brussels the people seemed to be of a different opinion. German -reports about successes obtained were simply not believed, and people -persisted in their opinion that Antwerp would be invincible. The more -reports of victories the Germans posted on the walls, the more excited -people became, and palmed off upon each other all sorts of victories -of the Allies. - -At the Café Quatre Bras, near Tervueren, the innkeeper told me that the -Germans had asked the Netherland Government for permission to place a -42 cm. on Netherland territory in order to be able to shell Antwerp -also from that side, but that the Netherland Government had refused. -I tried as hard as possible to explain to the man that all stories of -such requests were mere gossip. When more and more people entered the -café I withdrew into a corner. They were all very excited, and some of -them had drunk more than was good for them. They related with violent -gesticulations that the Allies had surrounded Brussels and might be -expected to enter the town at any moment, that all was over with the -Germans, and so on. Shouts of "Vive la Belgique!" and "Vive notre roi!" -sounded until suddenly I drew their attention. They looked me up and -down critically, and one of them asked: - -"Who are you?" - -"A Netherland journalist, who is trying to get news for his paper." - -"What, a Netherlander!--a Netherlander! All traitors! You are helping -the Germans, but we are not afraid of either German or Netherlander." - -They crowded threateningly round me, getting more and more excited. - -I saw that I must act, and jumped on a chair. - -"What," I exclaimed, "you dare to say that the Netherlanders act with -the Germans? No, shall I tell you something? The Germans have asked -the Netherland Government for permission to place a 42 cm. gun on -their territory to shell Antwerp from that side, but the Netherland -Government have refused." - -"Lies, gossip." - -"Lies, gossip? Ask the proprietor." - -"Yes, men, what the gentleman says is true." - -The rest was lost to me, for the men crowded round the innkeeper, -who now aired his knowledge about the occurrence and evidently spoke -with true conviction. At the end of the conversation they took their -tankards from the bar, and shouted and cried: "Ah, well, if that is so, -vive la Hollande! vive la Belgique! vive notre roi!" Suddenly we were -the best of friends. - -In Louvain people would not believe that Antwerp was on the point of -surrendering, and persisted in the opinion that the fortress would hold -out much longer, and was in a better position than ever before. - -The German officers at the commander's office were elated in -consequence of the reports received, and also told me that Antwerp -would not be able to hold out for more than two days. They also tried -to explain this to the people in the hall who were waiting for their -passports. I followed the conversation, but not very closely, and one -of the officers explained on a map what he asserted. Willy-nilly, -because they had to get their passports, the waiting people listened to -him. Suddenly I heard him say: "And after all we might have surrounded -Antwerp also on the north by crossing Netherland territory, as we did -when we invaded Belgium." - -Those words gave me a shock, for I had heard that German officers -always tried to encourage the Belgians in their wrong opinion about the -alleged violation of Netherland neutrality, but I had not been able to -believe it. With an innocent face I asked the officer: - -"Where did the Germans cross Netherland territory?" - -"Near Maastricht. You know where Maastricht is?" - -And he summoned me to look at the map, where he pointed out to me where -Maastricht was. - -"Hullo!" I said, "but in those days I was in and about Maastricht, but -I never noticed anything of it." - -"And yet it is so. Are you perhaps a Netherlander?" - -"Oh yes, I am a Netherland journalist." - -"Is that so? I beg your pardon, but won't you come with me? I suppose -that you want a passport. I will take you to the commander." - -He was quite upset, and evidently thought that the best plan was to -muzzle me by taking me away from the others as quickly as possible. - -I asked and got the commander's permission to travel to Liège by -military train, and from there to The Netherlands, not only for -myself, but also for a Netherland girl of nine years, whose parents in -Amsterdam had repeatedly and persistently asked me to see whether there -would be any possibility of letting their little girl come back from a -Louvain boarding-school. The Sisters with whom she was let her go with -me when I showed them a letter from her father. That child had already -seen a good deal! The Sisters had fled with all the children at the -time of the conflagration, and hidden themselves for days in a farm in -the neighbourhood. - -During the last days hundreds of lads had left Louvain for The -Netherlands, and the migration went on throughout the whole occupied -part of Belgium. It was the exodus of the levies of 1914 and 1915, -who had been called up, and many of whom had been sent to Germany as -prisoners. The Germans themselves had not a little furthered the flight -of these crowds; by proclamations they had warned the lads not to try -to escape, for otherwise all of the levies of '14 and '15 would be -taken prisoners, and the parents of the fugitives would be punished. At -Heverlee and Louvain the lads of both levies had to present themselves -every Friday at this station. The consequence was that the following -Friday not one single boy of those levies was to be found in either -place. - -No more wounded were taken to the hospitals of Louvain, as it had -been decided to send them straight on to Germany for the present; yet -there were many wounded men who were being nursed there already, and -the doctors had their hands full attending to the wounded who passed -the town. Dr. Noyons told me that the previous Sunday a train with 600 -wounded had arrived from Northern France, and he and his assistants had -been requested "just" to dress the wounds again of some of them. The -condition of these unfortunate men must have been awful; not one had -a dressing less than eight days old. Most of them had had it on much -longer, and then these were merely emergency dressings. They were laid -on straw in cattle trucks, many of them even in filth, and infection -had worsened their condition to a great extent. Dr. Noyons and his -colleagues tried to give the poor fellows as much relief as possible, -but as a matter of course they could not do very much during a short -stay at a station. - -The general condition of the town was not calmer during these last -days. New hostages were taken continually, and generally, as before, -they were clerics, in consequence of which the religious services were -in a continual muddle, and sometimes on Sundays no Holy Mass could -be said. Burgomaster Nerinx had now posted proclamations in which he -called for volunteers to serve as temporary hostages, instead of the -priests, during the hours of religious service. As if it were office -work they mentioned: "The service begins in the afternoon at ... -o'clock and will end after ... days at ... o'clock." - -It was self-evident that very few were keen to offer themselves as -temporary substitutes for the clerics. - -I have, happily, not seen much of the distressing flight of the Antwerp -population, as I happened to be at Liège when the fortress fell into -German hands. I went to Zundert viâ Maastricht and Breda, in order -to go to the conquered fortress from that Netherland frontier-town, -north-east of Antwerp. - -A good many refugees were on their way to The Netherlands, but the -bulk of the crowd had passed before my visit along the long road which -I walked now in the opposite direction. I did not arrive in Antwerp -before nightfall and was then very tired. The town was dark, dismal, -and deserted, and only German soldiers went about in the streets, -apparently looking in vain for a shop or café where they might find -some diversion. I myself, exhausted by a walk of twenty-five miles, -sauntered along, constantly looking for some place or other to pass the -night. Not a shop or hotel was open, and yet my stomach was craving for -food, my body for rest. At last I met a policeman and told him of my -difficulty. - -"Yes, sir," he answered, "that will be difficult enough. Everybody has -fled, even my own wife and children. I remained because I thought it -was my duty, and now I have been tramping through the streets already -for over twenty-four hours, without being relieved. It seems that by -far the greater number of my colleagues fled also." - -"Don't you think you could find me some hotel, or private people who -might put me up?" - -"I am very much afraid I shan't be able, but come along, and we'll try -together." - -So we went from street to street, without any result. He rang the bell -at many houses where he knew that acquaintances lived, but always in -vain, and at last the kind man had to give it up. - -I went on by myself, and arrived at last in a street where I noticed a -light in a house. When I came near, I stood opposite a small café, with -"Lodgings" over the door. I was hardly able to go on, and did not care -whether it was "lodgings" or "hotel," if I could only get in somewhere. - -But I did not stop long, for after a good look round it seemed -the best to try and get away as quickly as possible, and in that -I succeeded. One understands, however, that it was a terrific -disappointment for a man so tired to leave again after thinking that he -had at last found a place for rest. At length I found an hotel near the -Central Station. - -Antwerp had suffered from the horror of war. The bombardment had -destroyed many beautiful quarters almost entirely, and even damaged -badly a number of hospitals. Of course the loss of many lives had to be -deplored. - -The next day I had the pleasure of an interview with Cardinal Mercier, -whose residence in Antwerp I had been able to find out at last. A -wealthy lady had offered his Eminence her grand house. In one of the -rooms I waited for the arrival of the cardinal, the Metropolitan of the -Belgian Church Provinces, who, both as a prelate and a patriot, had -been tried so sorely in this war, which ravaged both his university -town and his episcopal town. Although he was exceedingly busy, his -Eminence had the kindness to grant me an audience. - -As I was still musing about the tragedy of this venerable personality -in these hard days of war, the door was opened suddenly and his spare -figure stood before me. It was a moment full of emotion, and perhaps I -might not have recovered myself so quickly if the kind prelate had not -met me with so much kindness. - -After his Eminence had allowed me to kiss his ring, he asked me to -sit down. I had now a good opportunity to notice how grief dwelt on -his entirely spiritualised face, in its frame of white hair. But his -extraordinary kindness in intercourse did not leave him for one moment. - -In connection with the summons, which had been sent in the name of the -archdiocese to _De Tijd_, and had been proclaimed in all the churches -of Antwerp in the morning, his Eminence insisted that it should be -printed in its entirety, as very many priests had taken refuge in The -Netherlands, whose help was pressingly wanted in the arch-diocese in -many of the parishes. - -And he went on to say that he desired especially, most fervently the -return of the fled population. - -"Really, in all sincerity," he said, "no danger need be feared. I -should be very grateful if the newspapers in The Netherlands would draw -attention to the following promises which the German authorities gave -me, and authorised me to make in their name:-- - -"1. The young men need not fear that they will be taken to Germany in -order to serve in the German army, or be compelled to do any work. - -"2. Should the police regulations be infringed anywhere by some -individuals, the authorities will find the guilty parties and punish -them, without attributing the guilt to the entire population. - -"3. The German and Belgian authorities will do everything in their -power to prevent scarcity of food." - -"Your Eminence may permit me to remark that the second clause -especially is very important and much more comforting than a previous -declaration of the Imperial Governor, that owing to occasional -mistakes he cannot prevent the innocent population from having to -suffer with those who are guilty. May I ask, has this favourable result -been obtained by your personal intervention?" - -"That is to say ... yes. I have suggested these measures and they have -been consented to. I hope that they may induce all the refugees in -The Netherlands to return at once. A press bureau in your country has -circulated the report that I too had planned to fly. There was no truth -in it at all. It was my duty not to leave my people, is not that so? -The shepherd must stay with his sheep, the vicars must do the same, and -those who went away must therefore come back." - -"Your Eminence visited Malines last Tuesday, I have been told. I may -perhaps ask how you found the condition of the cathedral and the town?" - -The cardinal's face was overclouded suddenly, and quietly he answered: - -"Pardon me, it is perhaps better not to say a word about that for the -moment. We are living through difficult times." - -I understood and respected the restraint of the Belgian primate, who -went on then: - -"Tuesday of next week I hope to be at Malines again, and on the 20th -of this month the administrative service of the archdiocese will be -reinstalled." - -"Then you will stay again at the episcopal palace, your Eminence?" - -"Yes, certainly. It will take time of course, but the damage done to -the St. Rombout church and the palace is not irreparable; the church -has suffered very much, the spire is less damaged." - -"Much will be needed to repair what has been damaged in this -unfortunate country." - -"Yes, yes. An immense amount will be necessary. We are about to form -committees; but so much is needed. In England they are also forming -committees, and I have received money already from England, Scotland, -and Ireland, and The Netherlands...." - -For a moment he gave way to emotion. He hesitated for a few seconds, -and I saw tears in his eyes. He then went on with a trembling voice: - -"The Netherlands is a generous country. How grateful, how immensely -grateful am I to the Netherland people for what they have done for poor -refugees. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude. I have received -reports from priests who came back, and I am deeply moved by them. They -told me how at Roosendaal the Netherland soldiers gave all their bread -to the refugees, knowing well that for some time they themselves would -not get any other. No! I can never be sufficiently grateful for such -sacrifices. And Catholics and non-Catholics all joined in it. That is -beautiful, very, very beautiful." - -"Your Eminence, what The Netherlands did for the poor Belgians came -from the heart of the people, and I know for certain that the Catholics -will be eager to contribute to the rebuilding of the destroyed churches -and houses." - -"The Netherlands has done already so much, but if it would come to the -assistance of our unfortunate people also in this way it would greatly -gladden the archiepiscopal government, who will be only too happy to -accept gifts in these difficult times; and perhaps the Right Reverend -Netherland bishops may be willing to send the gifts for this purpose -to us. We might then distribute those gifts among the parishes in the -country which have suffered most." - -"Well, in any case, your Eminence, I promise to bring it to the -knowledge of the Catholics in The Netherlands, and you may rely upon -their readiness. But now I will not take more of your valuable time, -which you give so zealously to the poor and the unfortunate. I thank -you very much for having granted me this audience." - -"It was in the interests of our suffering country, and we are those who -ought to be grateful. May I insist once more that you ask our refugees -to come back to Antwerp and don't omit to state the three favourable -regulations...." - -His Eminence then got up, kindly offered me his hand, the ring on which -I kissed, and escorted me to the door in the amiable, simple way of -which I shall retain the memory for ever. - -I can see now once more how little Germans care about the given word. -They asked and obtained from Cardinal Mercier his co-operation to -incite the population to return, but the cardinal, always anxious to -safeguard his compatriots, made conditions to which they consented. - -The first of them was that no young man should be taken to Germany, or -compelled to work. Now how many lads are not already in Germany, how -many have not been compelled, especially in both the Flanders, to do -work for the Germans? And were not loyal people who refused to do it -imprisoned? Yes! Did not these violators of law and right proclaim that -all appeal to international agreements would be useless? "We shall no -longer punish a whole population for the deeds of individuals," they -also promised Cardinal Mercier. But many communities have had fines and -taxes imposed upon them in consequence of the offence of one individual. - -And although they also promised to do everything in their power -to prevent lack of food in Belgium, they have bled to death the -unfortunate country by continuous impositions and taxes, and thrown -many into poverty and misery. - -Yes, in the most scandalous manner they have violated the promises -which the Germans gave Cardinal Mercier. But what signifies a word if -treaties are only "scraps of paper?" - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -THE ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH WOUNDED - - -I RETURNED from Louvain by military train. This one had had a most -adventurous journey before it reached Louvain. It had left Cambrai in -North France three days before, always going slowly and making long -stops, to spare the seriously wounded at least a little. I estimated -that in my train over 2,000 wounded had been loaded in a long, dismal -procession of wagons. Most of them had not had their bandages renewed -for a fortnight, and were still wearing the first emergency dressing; -all came from the neighbourhood of Arras. - -A little to the north of this town many had been lying wounded in the -trenches for over eight days, without being able to get their wounds -bandaged. They had to admit the success of the French field artillery, -which produced a most serious effect. - -The Germans all agreed that their right wing lacked artillery. The -German soldiers who fell there were all killed in their trenches by the -falling bombs, there was not sufficient field artillery to answer this -murderous fire efficiently, and they could not do anything with their -rifles against the invisible enemy. The artillery fire of the French -was most serious from the 1st to the 4th of October, and during those -days the German trenches must have been a real hell. On October 4th a -general "sauve qui peut" began from the trenches. - -But the shell-fire of the French overtook them then, as they were -retreating, while many others were killed by bombs from French -aeroplanes, which were in action in great numbers. The retreat -had not stopped before the Germans arrived in Cambray, where the -thousands of wounded could at last be put in long trains and sent to -Aix-la-Chapelle. A great many bombs from aeroplanes also hit these -trains and killed a great many; my own train was everywhere pierced by -fragments of those bombs. Within the carriages it was unendurable; the -wounded men and their malodorous bandages had occupied them such a long -time that the atmosphere was simply insupportable. Happily there was -a corridor, where I stood all the time, with the little girl, in the -company of some German military men who were sent home, not on account -of wounds, but because of internal complaints. - -Very slowly the huge monster sauntered along, stopping and waiting -everywhere to allow long trains with fresh troops to pass. These came -straight from Germany, with the youngest levies and volunteers who had -just finished their drill. These had decorated their trains all over -with green boughs and outside painted all sorts of caricatures, from -which especially King George had to suffer much. Then one read "To -Paris, to England," and similar hopeful devices. - -When their train approached ours they looked out of the windows, or -opened the doors, and waved and greeted and shouted at the top of their -voices. - -But as soon as these "tender-foots" came alongside our train and -were not met with the same impetuous enthusiasm as they displayed -themselves, but, on the contrary, saw sick, discouraged, exhausted -faces gazing at them distressedly, their boisterousness suddenly -extinguished, and a nervous, terrified expression pursed up their -mouths. And the trains were already at some distance from each other -before the young soldiers remembered that they ought to shout and to -wave to those who had already done so much for the Fatherland. - -We arrived at Landen, a place between Tirlemont and Waremme, where -we had a stop of forty minutes, in order to feed the wounded. Soup -was served from large washing-tubs, and I and my small companion were -also offered some of this soldiers' food. When I had finished my meal, -and walked up and down the platform in order to stretch my legs, my -attention was drawn to an uproar in front of one of the last wagons. I -went there, and shall not forget what I saw as long as I live; I wish -that I had never seen it. - -Amongst some Frenchmen, three British soldiers, seriously wounded, -were lying on some straw. They looked distressed, and I thought that -their condition was critical. I was told that these men had not had -any food for five days, and now there stood in front of the open wagon -doors two to three hundred German soldiers, partly slightly wounded, -who were well able to walk, partly German soldiers of the Landen -garrison, who had been told off for distributing the soup. These two to -three hundred men raged and jeered at those three unfortunate, heavily -wounded British soldiers, who had not eaten for five days, and lay -groaning helplessly on some dirty straw in a cattle-truck. The steaming -tubs with hot soup were shown them, and these Germans shouted at them: -"You want to eat, swine, swine; you ought to be killed! Beat them to -death!--beat them to death! Here, that's what you ought to get!" - -As they spoke these last words they aimed their rifles at the -unfortunate, bleeding, helpless, and hungry creatures. Others spat on -their clothes and in their faces, and the enraged Germans foamed at the -mouth. - -With weak eyes, eyes telling of approaching death, one of them gazed -at these cruel torturers, or looked hungrily at the steaming soup; the -two others had turned their heads on one side and closed their eyes. -But at last also the third turned off his head and closed his eyes, -sighing and groaning. In the meantime the Germans went on threatening -them, blurting out all sorts of filthy abuse, spitting or threatening -them with their rifles, while others were laughing and enjoying the -helplessness of those three. - -I stood still, dumb, aghast, unable to utter a word. Then I went to a -sergeant who was also looking on and laughing; and, trembling all over, -I said: - -"What is happening here is frightful; those men are also human beings, -who had to do their duty as much as you!" - -I couldn't say more, my voice stuck in my throat. - -And what was his answer? - -"What? Do their duty? No, they are swine--paid swine; they get money -for their dirty work, the swine!" - -I did not answer. I could not. Silently I looked a little longer at -the beastly scene, only sorry that I was not a giant who, with one -strong hand, might restrain the roughs, and refresh with the other the -burning, feverish lips of the wretched men. - -What distressed me most was that among those two to three hundred -soldiers in front of that open cattle-truck was not one man who wanted -to take the part of these unfortunate British; no, not one! - -When I reported the occurrence in _De Tijd_, I was fully conscious of -the frightful accusation implied by my information; but I am prepared -to confirm with the most sacred oaths that nothing in this accusation -is untrue or exaggerated. - -I was not afraid of an inquiry, but asked for it as a matter of fact, -by writing in my report:-- - - "And if the German authorities intend to institute a serious and - impartial inquiry, then I give them the following particulars: - - "It happened at Landen on Friday, October 9th, in the train with - wounded which arrived there from Brussels at about noon, when food - was being distributed." - -The German authorities have indeed made inquiries about the matter; I -shall deal with that in the next chapter. - -What happened at Landen made a very deep impression upon me; it -shocked me more than all the terrible things which I had seen during -the war and all the dangers which I went through. When the train went -on again, and the soldiers began to speak to me once more, I was unable -to utter a word and sat there musing. - -Before I witnessed this terrible event at Landen some Germans in the -train had already told me that they simply killed the British whom they -made prisoners. Others assured me that such a thing did not happen in -their division, but one asserted that by his company alone already -twenty-six had been killed. I did not believe them then, and thought -that they were better than they made themselves out, but after having -witnessed that scene at Landen ...! - -One hour before the arrival at Liège the engine of our train dashed -into another, and got so badly damaged that all the water from our -engine ran away. This caused a delay of another two hours, so that we -did not arrive at Liège before dusk, and could not think of reaching -The Netherlands that day. - -I took the little Amsterdam girl to my niece in the convent of the -Sisters of Mercy, and went to an hotel myself. A German newspaper, -bought at a bookstall, gave in gigantic type the information that -Antwerp might fall at any moment, and a recently posted bulletin -brought the feared-for news. But the people of Liège could not, and -would not believe it. - -I had expected it and believed the reports, but it hurt all the same. I -had had intercourse with German soldiers almost exclusively; but that -gave me a much better opportunity for observing their conduct, which -roused in me a deep sympathy for the poor, oppressed Belgian people. -That was why I was so sorry to hear of the fall of Antwerp, although -I was not discouraged. Right would triumph, and the day come when the -Belgian nation would shake off the foreign yoke of tyranny, and repair -in peace and prosperity, under the sagacious rule of their king, what -barbarians destroyed and pulled down. - -The next day I got to The Netherlands with my small protégée, after -a tiring walk from Herstal to Eysden, where we could take the train -to Maastricht. Here the father of the little girl came to meet his -daughter, and took her to Amsterdam, to her "Mummy," of whom she had -been speaking during the whole journey with so much longing. - -Only now did I hear what had happened to the village of Lanaeken after -I had seen the German preparations in Tongres for action against the -little Belgian army that was still about in the north-eastern part -of the country. The greater part of Lanaeken had been destroyed by -shelling, and of course a great many innocent victims had fallen in -consequence. - -By destroying the life and possessions of peaceful civilians the -Germans--who always boast so much about their military honour--gave -unconscious expression to their awe of the fearless heroes who still -stood their ground to the north of Liège, whilst the Germans were still -besieging Antwerp. - - * * * * * - -I have mentioned already that the German authorities had ordered a -so-called inquiry about what happened at Landen. As the result of -this inquiry the press of all neutral countries had the following two -official communications wired to them:-- - - "_Berlin, November 10th._ (E. B.).--A correspondent of _De Tijd_ - in Amsterdam has told a number of details about the so-called bad - treatment of British wounded at the station of Landen, according - to which the British had been left without food or drink, had - been spit in their faces, and our soldiers were alleged to have - aimed their rifles at them. The German Government had instituted - a thorough inquiry into this matter and publish the result: 'The - entire allegation of the correspondent is untrue. None of the - details is covered by the facts. The British have not been beaten - nor pushed nor spit at, but on the contrary warm food was offered - them, which was accepted by all except two. Store-inspector Huebner - and the landwehr-soldier Krueger have testified to this." - - "_Berlin, November 10th._ (W. B.) Official.--The _Norddeutsche - Allgemeine Zeitung_ writes: 'The daily newspaper, _De Tijd_, - issued at Amsterdam, published on October 16th a report from a - war correspondent at Maastricht, in which he asserted that on - October 9th a train in which more than two thousand wounded were - transported, arrived at the station at Landen in Belgium between - Tirlemont and Waremme. Here it was said that a stop had taken place - of forty minutes in which to provide the wounded with food. Walking - up and down the platform the reporter pretends to have seen two - to three hundred German soldiers, slightly wounded men and men of - the garrison of Landen, furiously abuse three seriously wounded - British, who were lying in one of the last carriages of the train. - They showed mugs full of steaming soup to the hungry British, whom - they left lying there miserable from starvation. They were also - said to have aimed their rifles at them, laughing roughly, and to - have spit on them. - - "'These allegations of the reporter of _De Tijd_ caused the - authorities to institute inquiries, and the following is now stated - with regard to the alleged events: - - "'On October 9th no train with two thousand wounded arrived at - the station of Landen, but only small transports whose number can - be checked accurately by the lists of wounded. Rioting by two to - three hundred soldiers near a carriage could not take place, as the - station guard was instructed to keep free a path along the train. - There is, moreover, always an officer of the station-guard present, - when a train with wounded leaves. It is impossible that the - soldiers could have aimed their rifles at the British, as the men - who get their food in the dining-hall, as also the serving military - personnel, are always unarmed. Other soldiers are not admitted to - the station. The British have neither been beaten, nor stabbed, nor - spit at; on the contrary plates full of hot soup have been offered - them which were refused by two of them. This has been confirmed by - the declarations of people who were present.'" - -Of course I did not withhold my answer, pilloried the hardly serious -inquiry of the Germans, and published immediately an extensive -contradiction in _De Tijd_. I quote the following from it:-- - - "Only about a month after the publication of my story about what - happened at Landen, the German Government and military authorities - considered that the time had come to contradict it, after ordering - an inquiry which in reality cannot be called an inquiry at all. - From their communiqués it is clear that some soldiers were heard - who probably were privy to the act, and in any case benefited by - a denial of the villainy committed at Landen. That is to say, men - who were counsel in their own cause, and who were believed the - sooner because their declarations were desirable for the support of - German credit. But it does not appear from these communiqués that - the German authorities also examined the wounded who were present, - nor the two Netherlanders who travelled by that train: the young - Miss de Bruin, from Amsterdam, and the present writer, as also - the civilian witnesses at Landen. In opposition to the evidence - of Stores-inspector Huebner and the landwehr-soldier Krueger, of - which evidence it has not been stated that they gave it on oath, I - declare myself prepared and willing, if a complete and impartial - inquiry be instituted, to declare upon oath either to a properly - qualified committee in The Netherlands or in Germany, or to a - thereto-appointed arbiter, the following: - - "'1. On Friday, the ninth of October, at noon, I stopped at Landen - about forty minutes after arriving from Louvain in a terribly long - train of passenger carriages and goods vans, with approximately two - thousand wounded. (This estimate may be wrong to the extent of a - couple of hundred, but that does not matter.) During this time the - wounded were fed. - - "'I saw how two to three hundred German soldiers, part of them - slightly wounded, who were well able to walk, partly soldiers of - the Landen garrison, who crowded about the open doors of one of the - last wagons, raging and jeering against three seriously wounded - British soldiers, about whom their French fellow-passengers told me - that they had had nothing to eat for five days. The wounded were - called "swine," were spit at, and some rifles were aimed at them. - When I told a sergeant that it was a disgusting scene, he answered: - "These British swine, they get paid for their filthy work." He - alluded to the pay which the British volunteers receive because - they enlist as mercenaries, Britain having no compulsory general - military service. Before I witnessed this awful thing at Landen, - Germans in the train had already told me that they simply killed - any British whom they made prisoners. Others said that such a thing - did not happen in their division, but one man contended that by his - company already twenty-six had been killed. I did not believe them, - and thought that they were better than they pretended to be. - - "'2. The soup had been offered to the British, but two refused to - take it, says the German Government. Yes, it was offered these - wretched people, but, as I have said already, the German soldiers - kept the steaming soup before them, shouting at them: "You want to - eat, you swine!--you swine! you ought to be killed! This is what - you may have!" And as they said the latter they aimed their rifles - at the unfortunate men, whilst others who were not armed lifted up - their fists and threatened them, or spat at them. - - "'In my report about the occurrence I had not even exposed in all - its harshness the treatment dealt out to the French soldiers. For - they too were not offered plates of soup, but only the mugs were - filled, forming part of their equipment. And there were many who - put out these mugs as if supplicating to have them filled once - more; as that was not done they constantly put the empty mug to - their mouth to try and lick off any remaining drops that might have - stuck to its side. Some Germans said: "Yes, the French may have - something, for they are soldiers, but those three there, well, they - are paid swine." - - "'3. I published the facts and insisted upon an impartial inquiry, - in order to prevent, if possible, that only guilty soldiers should - be heard should a complaint about the occurrence be lodged with the - highest military authority. - - "'Instead of facing such an impartial inquiry with an examination - of all available witnesses and punishment of the guilty, the German - government finds the courage only to call me, a month after the - event, "a liar," and the whole story a fairy-tale! - - "'If the German government had come somewhat earlier with their - contradiction, it might have been possible to cite another witness, - for--I have not reported that at first--among those who were - present there was a civilian, an inhabitant of Landen, who also - looked with anger at the cruel scene, and expressed his indignation - when he could no longer restrain himself. But then there was a - general outcry of: - - "'"What is this civilian doing here?" The young man could not - explain his presence satisfactorily, and a couple of soldiers got - hold of him, and, in the literal sense of the word, threw him away. - When he waited at a short distance a little longer, with an angry - face, one of the soldiers ran at him, threatening him with his - bayonet. I might have been able to find that young man at the time, - but now, a month later, this will be much more difficult. There - was also another group of civilians packed as densely as herrings - in a cattle-truck on another line; they must have seen the beastly - occurrence as well. - - "'I might quote another small detail. Before the train arrived - at Landen I had had a very pleasant chat in the corridor with a - German soldier, who seemed tolerably humane and civilised, even - in his talk. After the departure from Landen I again got into - conversation with him, and did not fail to express my indignation; - and then he gave me the following reply: "Oh well, one must - think of the position of our soldiers, who have been for days - in the trenches under the murderous fire of the enemy. Later on - they will themselves repent for what has happened." Perhaps the - German government may be able to discover who that soldier is, if - I add that he went home for good because he was suffering from - heart-disease. - - "'And then there is something else. The brakesman of the wagon - in which I travelled was a man who had enlisted only a couple of - weeks ago as a volunteer for the service on the railways, and, - if I remember correctly, hailed from Hamburg. He belonged to a - Trades Union which had already once made a trip to Amsterdam and - Rotterdam, and was for instance able to tell me that Krasnapolsky - at Amsterdam was a large hotel. I also spoke to that man about what - had happened, because I thought I had noticed that he was more - human, but he too gave me the cynical answer: "Oh well, the French - may have something to eat, they fight also for their country, - but not those British, they only fight because that is their - profession." - - "'4. With regard to the arms of the German soldiers, it is true - that the wounded men had none with them, but I have distinctly - stated that the crowd consisted of soldiers who belonged to the - lightly wounded and of soldiers belonging to the Landen garrison. - These latter had been told off to guard the station and the - platforms and maintain order. It is possible that they had also to - prevent the wounded from moving about on the platforms, but in that - case they did not stick to their task, because everybody was free - to go where he liked, and I myself did the same. That these guards - did not guard anything at all at the moment is proved by the fact - that the above-mentioned civilian was able to come near the riot, - although he had to pass a number of platforms. That the soldiers - belonged to the Landen garrison and had to do sentry-go is proved - by the fact that they had their bayonets on their rifles. - - "'Finally, the contention that no riot could have taken place - because the soldiers were fed in the dining-hall is entirely - incorrect. That dining-hall was nothing but a shed entirely open - at the front, in which there were a few seats. There the slightly - wounded soldiers were fed first, and when they had supplied - those, food was taken to the seriously wounded, who had to stop - in the train, as also to myself and my little companion. The - slightly wounded and the soldiers of the guard walked off with - the distributors of the soup along the train in order to have a - chat with their comrades in it. In that way they also came to the - British when the wagon-door had been opened. It will be evident - that I observed closely and retained in my memory all that had - happened there and in the neighbourhood. - - "'5. My pertinent declarations are now opposed by the German - official contradiction; but how weak is the argument! I have - already pointed out that only comrades of the accused men have - been heard, but not the accuser, nor, as is evident, the victims, - nor other witnesses. There is more: "Crowding of two to three - hundred soldiers near a wagon cannot occur"--thus says the - communiqué--"because the station-guard's duty is to keep free the - path along the train." Does anyone understand the weakness of this - contradiction? It is as if one should say: "It is impossible that - anything has been stolen in a town because it is the duty of the - police to guard it." "Moreover there is also always an officer of - the station-guard present at the departure of a train of wounded," - the communiqué proceeds. But again I ask: What does this prove? It - is a fact that this officer, if he was present, did not prevent - what happened. "It is impossible that the soldiers aimed their - rifles at the British, because the men who get their food in the - dining-hall, and those of the military who distribute it, are - always unarmed; no other soldiers are admitted to the station." - I see that the German government simply quote the military - regulations, and from them determine the facts. They cannot realise - that it might be possible for their regulations not to be obeyed - always. - - "'6. I am convinced that on the whole the treatment of the wounded - was generous and exemplary. But it is also a fact that the terrible - hatred of the Germans against the British, encouraged by their - military authorities (one has to think of the proclamation of - Prince Rupert of Bavaria) and their scandalous comic papers, which - disgust even decent Germans, induce to extravagances such as I - witnessed at Landen. Did not a German officer explain to an editor - of the _Algemeen Handelsolad_ (evening issue of October 18th): "The - unwritten order is to make everywhere as many French and as few - English prisoners as possible; we don't try to wound, but to kill - the British."'" - -I think that my answer left nothing to be desired for plainness, -and Germany cannot have derived much pleasure from its official -contradiction. Moreover, the editor of _De Tijd_ had also made -inquiries from the little girl whom I escorted from Louvain on the day -of the occurrence at Landen, and although I admit at once that not too -great a value can be attached to the evidence of a girl of nine, I -insert here what the editor wrote about that interview:-- - - "Our editor has moreover interviewed young Miss Antoinette de - Bruijn here, whom our correspondent brought from Louvain to - Maastricht. In the presence of her mother she told how she had - been in a train full of wounded, that there were armed soldiers on - the platform, and that some wounded soldiers had been teased by - offering them steaming soup which was not given to them. The father - of this girl, Mr. de Bruijn, also assured us that when he met his - daughter at Maastricht, our correspondent, Mr. Mokveld, was still - very much under the impression of what he had witnessed." - -My contradiction became known in Germany, and it was an eye-opener to a -great many people there. The editor of _De Tijd_ received many letters -from that country, and printed some of them with the name of the writer -added. From these it seems that even there it was acknowledged in some -circles that the German inquiry had been extremely one-sided, and that -it would have been wiser to admit what had happened at Landen, and -punish the culprits. - -The only purpose of my publication was to convince everybody of this, -and thereby prevent the repetition of such a scandalous scene. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -ON THE YSER - - -FROM the pretty town of Sluys in the Netherland part of Flanders I made -a good many trips to the Belgian coastal regions and the Yser, the -little river that will always be named in history, because there came -the end of the German advance, and there the Belgian army displayed all -its power, fighting with the courage of lions in defence of the last -bit of their native soil. - -Yes, Sluys will always live in my memory. How well have been received -the thousands of Belgians who went there for shelter and how much -misery have I seen relieved by the effectual mutual help of the -Belgians and that of the civil and military Netherland authorities. -The burgomaster in particular seemed to be the right man in the right -place, and it was chiefly due to his sagacity that everything went so -regularly in that small town, which had to maintain the proportionately -greatest number of refugees. - -In Sluys I also got to know by friendly intercourse the character of -the Belgians, so open, so straightforward, and so bright. - -From this town I got the best connections with the West of Belgium, -and as a rule I always made my first visit to ancient and pretty -Bruges, which was constantly strongly occupied by the Germans. In front -of the well-known Halls two small guns had been mounted, threatening -the market-square. The same was the case in front of the Palace of -Justice, where the commander's office was established. The Government -buildings in the market were entirely occupied by the naval staff -of Admiral von Schroeder, and dozens of sailors were sitting in the -offices, working at their typewriting machines. - -Soldiers came from and went back to the Yser, which river I saw three -times during the fierce fighting. - -The first time when the Germans had only been there for about ten days, -and huge masses were sent to the scene of battle, because they had -decided to break through at any cost. - -Along the coast the German line did not reach far beyond Mariakerke, -where a big German flag on a high dune indicated their most advanced -front. Thanks to the consent of a couple of officers I was allowed to -push on to the front lines, and did this in spite of the danger from -bursting shrapnel. The wounded had to walk back from there to Ostend, -very often suffering the most trying pains, because, according to what -they told me, the Red Cross Service was not able to help them all. They -were very dissatisfied on account of the waste of human life by which -the attacks were accompanied, and some made bitter remarks about the -staff which seemed to be mad, constantly sending new troops into the -murderous fire with such evident callousness. - -I have been able to assist a good many of these unfortunate people by -bandaging the wounds with the dressing they gave me, or getting some -water for them from some house in the neighbourhood; and one, who had -fallen down exhausted by pain, I carried into a house. - -I had more trouble with a wretch who, being heavily wounded in both -legs, lay on the top of a dune beyond Mariakerke. He was quite -alone, and when he discovered me his eyes glistened, full of hope. -He told me of his agonies, and beseeched me to take him to a house -or an ambulance. However much I should have liked to do that, it was -impossible in the circumstances in which I found myself. Nowhere, -even in the farthest distance, was a house to be seen, and I tried -to explain the position to him. But he turned a deaf ear to all my -exhortations, and insisted that I should help him. It was a painful -business, for I could not do the impossible. So I promised him, and -took my oath that I should warn the first ambulance I met, and see to -it that they came and fetched him. - -I went away urging him to maintain his courage for the time being, but -he had scarcely noticed that I was about to go, when his eyes began to -gleam and to roll in his head; then he took his rifle, which was lying -by his side, and I, seeing his intention, ran down the dune as quickly -as possible, whilst I heard the well-known click-clack behind me; the -man had fired two bullets at me.... - -I must not take that sort of thing amiss. Who knew with how much pain -and how long he had been lying there, facing death, but fearing it -too. At last someone came near, and he put all his hope in that man, -but a hope that vanished. Yes, I can quite understand that a man in -those conditions goes mad. - -I was not able to stay long at Mariakerke, but succeeded, by going -in an easterly direction, to get near Leke, where the fight was also -in full swing, and where evidently the same command had been issued: -"Advance at any cost." The German artillery stood south of Leke, but I -succeeded in pushing on to a hill near the road, where I could see the -columns of smoke of the Belgian artillery and the clouds of dust which -the German shrapnel threw up. - -The Germans advanced in a formation which I had never seen yet. The men -went at the double-quick in closed ranks three abreast, each of the -threefold files marching at a small distance from the other. - -They stormed the Belgian lines with lowered bayonets. The Belgians -quietly allowed them to come near, but as soon as they were at a -certain distance from the trenches they wished to take, I heard the -rattle of the mitrailleuses, and the thunder of the guns. The storming -soldiers then disappeared in a fog of smoke and dust, in which I saw -their shadows fall and stagger. This went on for about ten minutes, and -then they came back in complete disorder, still followed by the hostile -bullets and shrapnel. - -A period of calm followed, but not for long, for again and again new -attacks were made. - -I myself was not very safe either, for frequently bursting shells -fell near me. I therefore thought it safer to cross to a farm-house -a hundred yards farther on, where I might find shelter. Before I got -there an officer of a passing division took me violently by the arm -and asked who I was and what I was doing there? His eyes glittered -savagely, and he as well as his men seemed to be fearfully excited. - -I said in a few words who I was, and showed one of my German permits. -He had scarcely seen the many German stamps on it when he let me go -and went on with his men. I then pinned on my coat two permits which -had the greatest number of stamps, and in consequence had no further -trouble. - -From the garret-window of the farm-house I followed the fierce battle -for another half-hour, and saw that the Germans suffered enormous -losses, but achieved no gains. At last I had to leave this place too, -because shells fell again quite near to the house. I stayed another ten -minutes near an ambulance, where they were quite unable to attend to -the numerous wounded men. Most of them got an emergency dressing, and -were advised to go higher up and try to get better attention there. - -The battle I saw that day on the Yser was the beginning of the -trench-war in that district. Many Belgian troops had dug themselves -in, and later on this system was extended, in consequence of which the -Belgian line there became impregnable. - -In those days German Headquarters gave continuously the thoughtless -order: "To Calais, to Calais," and the Staff considered no -difficulties, calculated no sacrifices, in order to achieve success. - -What these frenzied orders have cost in human lives History will tell -later on. - - * * * * * - -As soon as the Germans were near the coast they began to fortify it -most formidably, in order to prevent eventual attempts at landing by -hostile troops. Guns were soon mounted in the dunes, as I noticed -during a trip which I made along the coast on Sunday, October 25th. - -Heyst was occupied by a small division of marines, although a few -days before the garrison had been larger, but on Saturday evening -all soldiers along the coast had been alarmed, and most of them were -ordered to proceed to the battle-field near Nieuwpoort, where matters -were at the time less favourable for the Germans. Near the dyke I found -five pieces of ordnance mounted, their mouths turned towards the sea, -and that they were quite right in taking precautions was proved by the -men-of-war riding on the distant horizon, without motion. - -In the centre of the town I was detained by three sailors, who called -out an angry "Halt!" seized my bicycle, and made me a prisoner, -"because I was an Englishman." Happily I could prove the contrary by my -papers; and the permit of the Bruges commander to go about on a bicycle -made them return it. - -There was a general complaint in that district about the very arbitrary -requisitions: for example, beds and blankets were extensively taken -away from the convents, a thing against which the burgomaster of -Bruges had already protested. Horses, cows, and other cattle were -simply taken from the stables and the meadows, and paid for with paper -promises. - -At Zeebrugge the conditions were not alarming. The houses of those who -had gone away, however, had been damaged most terribly, and looted. -Round the harbour guns were mounted, guarded by many sentries. I was at -first forbidden to cross the canal bridge, but my excellent credentials -at length made the sentries give in. Everything indicated that already -during the first days of the occupation the Germans had begun to -execute their plan to turn Zeebrugge into a station for submarines. - -The commander ruled with a strong hand. They issued not only the usual -proclamations about introducing German time, but the commander went -even so far as to dictate at what hour the Holy Masses had to be said. -In one of the proclamations I read, for example, that in future the -Mass of six o'clock, Belgian time, had to be said at the same hour -German time. Another proclamation said that skippers were forbidden to -sail, and that all boats, including fisher-boats, had been seized. - -In the dunes near Ostend I came across a level field fenced off by the -military, and in the centre I saw a large company of superior officers, -and a marine band. They were arranged round three big caves, into -which just then had been lowered nine military officers and ordinary -soldiers, who died in the nearly completed new Military Hospital of -Ostend in the neighbourhood. - -With a powerful voice, in order to drown the roar of the guns, a -German parson delivered the funeral oration, in which he spoke of the -heroic conduct of the fallen men, who had sacrificed their lives for -God, Kaiser, and Fatherland, and who, by God's inscrutable decree, -were not destined to witness the final victory of the powerful German -armies. The marines put their instruments to their mouths and played a -slow funeral march. It was really very touching, and all the spectators -came under the impression. - -Whilst yet the sweet strains of the music sounded over the dunes, the -dull booming of the heavy field-artillery was heard constantly, and -each boom meant the end of so many more human lives. The music went -on, and the officers approached one after the other to throw a handful -of sand on the corpses of their fallen comrades. I saw their nostrils -tremble, saw them bite their lips nervously, saw tears in their eyes. - -The ceremony wound up with a short silent prayer offered at the request -of the parson. - -The funeral had deeply moved me, and full of emotion I approached the -edge of the graves. I saw three corpses in each of them, simply wrapped -in a clean, white sheet. The only decorations were some green palm -branches ... the branches telling of peace. - -A little farther on I discovered a good many other mounds. A cross made -of two little pieces of wood stood on each, amongst pots with flowers -and small posies. On one of the crosses I saw written in pencil-- - - "Captain Count Von Schwerin, 19. 10.'14." - -It was very interesting, because a humble private had been buried by -his side. - -Of course I did not know this Count von Schwerin, but because I had -just witnessed that funeral, and because it was so striking that men of -every class were buried in the same manner, I reported what I saw to my -paper. And, tragic fate, in consequence of this, the wife of the late -Count heard for the first time of the death of her husband to whom she, -a Netherland baroness, had been married at the beginning of the war. At -the request of the family I made arrangements so that the grave might -be recognised after the war. - -In Ostend every place was full of wounded men, who all came walking -from the battle-field in groups. Even in those days the fierce fights -continued in consequence of the mad attempts to conquer Dunkirk and -Calais. Great losses were suffered also by the enormous effect of the -British naval guns, against which the German marines had mounted big -guns in Ostend and farther along the coast, in order to keep the fleet -at a distance. - -On the day of my visit to Ostend all sorts of conveyances had taken -more than 3,000 wounded into the town. Peasants from the neighbourhood -were compelled to harness their horses and transport the unfortunate -men. Such a procession was distressing to look at, as most men lay -on open carts, only supported by a handful of newly cut straw, and -long processions entered the town continuously. As reinforcements had -arrived, the divisions of the German army which had suffered most came -sometimes from the front to the town, in order to have a rest, and -then I saw a great deal of misery. - -Some of the soldiers were furious and others distressed on account -of the great number of comrades left on the battle-field, while they -hardly made any progress against the tenacity of the Allies. Those who -were not seriously wounded were not even put up in hospitals or similar -buildings, as there was only room for a few, although many private -houses had been turned into supplementary hospitals. In the streets and -the cafés I saw therefore hundreds of men in bandages. - -The condition of the civilian population was not too roseate. Most -of them were away, and from those who had stayed everything was -requisitioned. Staying in the town was not without danger, for two days -before my visit it had been bombarded from noon to one o'clock by the -British fleet, by which an hotel on the boulevard and some houses in -the Rue des Flamands had been damaged. - -From Ostend I went a few days later to Thourout, a townlet to the north -of the centre of the Yser-line. I was accompanied by two Netherland -colleagues whom I had met at Bruges. Everything was quiet there; the -commander of the naval region, Admiral von Schroeder, had made himself -slightly ridiculous, by informing the population in a proclamation that -he had ordered the British citizens in the coastal region to leave the -country, in order to protect them from their fellow-countrymen of the -British fleet, who, by bombarding Ostend, had endangered their lives. - -As we left through the Gate-of-Bruges towards Thourout we were -approached by a small military group, a few German soldiers who -escorted about a dozen French and Belgian prisoners of war. Until that -moment the street had been relatively quiet, but the inhabitants had -scarcely heard that the "boys" came, when each ran into the street, -forgetting all fear of the "Duuts," and, breaking through the escort, -they gave their "boys" an apple, or a pear, or a packet of cigarettes; -so we saw a huge round of white bread fly through the air and land in -the hands of one of the "boys." Such a thing touches one always, and -even the escorting Germans, who at first were very indignant on account -of the sudden and unexpected intrusion, left the citizens alone with a -generous gesture, as to say: "Well, have your way." - -The other eleven miles of the road to Thourout were quite deserted, and -only in one place did I see a man working in the field. We only saw -now and again a small escort which overtook us. From afar a trooper -approached us; after having heard who we were, he told us that he had -been on the way already three days and three nights from the trench -lines, and how fierce the fighting was there. The German losses had -been immense; he pointed to the unoccupied horse by his side, and said: -"My chum, whose horse this was, fell also." He took a couple of strong -pulls at his pipe, and, spurring his mount, rode off with a: "Keep -well." - -At Thourout all convents and large buildings had been turned into -hospitals, and the streets on both sides were full of big wagons. -Hundreds of soldiers went off, and large convoys of carts were -standing in the meadows and on the roads, where officers and men were -also practising riding. We were here in the rear, where there was a -continuous going and coming from the front. Most soldiers were in a -more or less excited mood; some did not hide their discontent, or sat -musing dejectedly, asking themselves how these terrible days would -end for them? Others again seemed to have got into a sort of frenzy -in consequence of the continuous fighting and were not able to think -logically at all. They told excited stories about the British whom they -had killed, and chased away from the 42 c.m. guns, who, according to -them, were also at work in the swampy soil near Nieuwpoort, and also -told about the shooting civilians, and those cursed Belgians, who cut -open the bellies of their poor wounded, or sliced off their noses, -hands, and ears. Of course pure fairy tales, but recited with much -power of conviction. - -The question of lodgings brought also many difficulties, for nobody -wanted to, or could put us up. At last we succeeded at the Hôtel -l'Union, where we first ate two roasted pigeons which were intended for -a couple of officers, who would return in the evening from the front -line. The three of us subsequently occupied one room, after having -written on the door with chalk that Lieutenants So and So were staying -there. For the landlady had told us that she was willing to put us up, -but that the officers who returned every night from the front line were -sure to turn us out. Indeed in the evening we heard heavy steps before -our door, but after a voice had read out that Lieutenants So and So -were passing the night there, they all went away again. - -The next morning the roar of the cannon woke us up, and soon we heard -how the fighting stood, for when we went to the commander for a permit -to go to Dixmuiden, the sympathetic major absolutely refused it, and -haltingly added that he himself did not yet know how things stood -there. Well, that was enough for us. At last he gave us a permit for -Ostend, and we noticed very soon that now we were in the rear of the -front. Whilst the guns were thundering on continuously and the shrapnel -exploded in the air, we passed continuously large contingents, who -actually formed one long line. The fight was going on only a few -miles away, and incessantly the unhappy wounded came out of the small -bypaths, stumbling on in their heavily muddied clothes. - -At the "Oud Slot van Vlaanderen," a large, ancient castle, there was a -lot of hustle and bustle of carriages and motor-cars. We had not gone -another two hundred yards, when someone came after us and stopped us as -suspects. We were escorted back to the castle, where a general command -was established, and an aviators-division, with the motor-section -attached to it. Happily our detention did not last long, and after -examination we were released. On the road was an infernal noise, as -the violent roar of the cannon was mixing with the roar of the wheels -of the heavily-loaded convoys and the whirr and hooting of the army -motors. Long processions of field-kitchens passed us also, most of them -brand-new; but it was remarkable that all carts arranged for a team of -two were drawn with great difficulty by only one horse, and also that -so many civilians have been compelled to act as drivers, or to gather -the wounded. - -Constantly new and large transports of wounded came along the road, and -here and there they were busy killing and burying wounded horses. The -inhabitants locked themselves in their houses, and expected with great -fear that any moment the military might arrive to claim their last -horse or cow. The requisitions went on continuously, and the cattle -were driven to the front in a long, desolate procession. - -As we went on towards Eerneghem French aviators were heroically -reconnoitring above the German lines. One came from Dixmuiden and one -from Nieuwpoort; both went to about half-way between these two towns, -where the centre of the battle was. The Germans kept up an unbroken -artillery fire at those birds in the air. I saw quite near to them -shells exploding right and left and discharging dense, black clouds -of smoke that disappeared slowly. There were moments when these black -stretches of cloud seemed to form a frame round the aeroplanes, but the -brave aviators knew how to escape from their assailants by all sorts of -tricks. They came down to go up again unexpectedly, entirely changed -their direction a moment later, and at last both disappeared undamaged. - -At Eerneghem we were not only stopped, but also sent back outright. -It was considered extremely impudent on our side that we had dared to -push on so far, because we were in the fighting-line. Even the permit -given by the commander of Thourout was of no avail. - -Back at Bruges we attended in the market the concert given by a -German military band near the statues of Breydel and de Koninck. At -the commander's office I witnessed a remarkable incident. A German -post-official and a soldier had just brought in a decently dressed -gentleman. The postman began to relate that he was taking away the -telephone instrument at that gentleman's house in order to fix it up at -the commander's office, and that the gentleman had said: "Why do you -steal that instrument?" As the postman said this the commander jumped -up in a fury, and called out: - -"What? What? Do you dare to call it stealing, what we Germans take here -in Bruges?" - -"Sir, I do not understand German, but----" - -"Not a word, not a word; you have insulted a German official, and -according to the proclamation you know that that is severely punished. -You are my prisoner." - -As he said this the commander put his hand roughly on the shoulder of -the trembling man, who again said in French: - -"I have not used the word 'steal' at all, but let me explain the -matter." - -"There is nothing to explain. Officer, you can take your oath on it?" - -"Certainly, captain." - -"Well"--this to a private--"you call the patrol; this man must be -arrested." - -The unhappy man bowed his head trembling, and with dull resignation he -left the office, strongly escorted. - -The man who had this experience was Mr. Coppieters, the District -Commissioner, a man who had given all his life to the service of -society and the good of the community. - -Happily the burgomaster intervened, and, as I heard later, got him -released. - - * * * * * - -These are some of the things I could tell about my trips in the West of -Belgium. By the end of November I was no longer allowed to move freely -behind the front, although from time to time I visited small Belgian -frontier-places. - -Yet I am glad to have witnessed the terrible fights near the Yser a -couple of times where the German invasion was stopped, and where we may -hope that soon victory may dawn on the brave Belgian army. - - -_Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and -Aylesbury_ - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The translator uses the words "The Netherlands, Netherlander," and -"Netherland" on purpose. The Germans call themselves "Deutsch," the -Americans call them "Dutch," the Flemish use "Duts" or "Duuts," and the -Netherlanders "Duitsch"; so it is desirable to exchange "Dutch" for -"Netherland." - -[2] See note on page 15. - - - - -=The Gods in the Battle= - -By PAUL HYACINTHE LOYSON - -Translated from the French by LADY FRAZER - -With an Introduction by H. G. WELLS - - -_SOME EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE ORIGINAL_ - -=Le Mercure de France= (Marcel Rouff): - -"P. H. Loyson's book hunts down all the subterfuges of dubious -neutralities; it gives chase to all suspicious timidities; it combats -all the criminal cavils.... All this part of the book (on Romain -Rolland) is really grand and tragic." - -=Georges Renard= (Socialist, Professor at the Collège de France): - -"An old volunteer of 1870, like myself, cannot admit that a Frenchman -should lounge in a foreign country and hover 'above the battle' when -his country is threatened with death, together with all the human -ideals for which she stands. Therefore I applaud the shots fired by -this franc-tireur." - -=Le Progrès= (Athens): - -"Among the innumerable books which the great war has produced at Paris, -this is one of powerful interest by a great French patriot, who is at -the same time a writer of indisputable superiority." - -=Boston Evening Transcript= (Alvan F. Sanborn): - -"A striking contrast between the sturdiness, strenuousness, -and boldness of the _ante-bellum_ pacificism of Loyson and the -equivocalness and timidity of that of Rolland." - -=Le Journal des Débats=: - -"This masterly lesson, courageously given, will not be lost." - -=Le Radical= (Eugène Holland): - -"Inspired by his theme, the author soars to the heights of eloquence, -which thus far had only been reached by the grand lyric flight of -D'Annunzio. This book will live." - -=Cloth, 3s. 6d. net= - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO - - - - -=The Bloodless War= - - BY - EZIO M. GRAY - -Translated from the Italian by BERNAND MIALL - -THIS volume will interest the business man and politician as well as -the general public. It shows how Germany, by means of her industrial or -money-lending banks, obtained control of vast sums of Italian capital, -and of most Italian industries; ruining those which competed with her, -and making even those she favoured dependent on her for some necessary -item, so that war meant, or was intended to mean, the economic ruin of -Italy. What Germany did in Italy she has done elsewhere; and everywhere -her banking and commerce go hand in hand with espionage. Signor Gray -tells us what Italy is doing to shake off the German yoke, and what -remains to be done. - -=Almost Ready. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. net= - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO - - - - -=_Third Edition in the Press_= - -The First Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's History of the War - -=The British Campaign in France & Flanders 1914= - - BY - SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE - -With Maps, Plans and Diagrams. 6/-net - -=_SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON NICOLL in "The British Weekly"_= - -"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has given us a classic. His book on the British -Campaign in France and Flanders during 1914 will never be superseded. -It must be read by everyone and kept at hand for constant consultation -by all who make a serious study of the war.... Above all, his entire -work is animated by a noble love of liberty. His is a soul as true -as steel and as transparent as crystal. The power and sincerity of -his narrative have behind them qualities of moral sympathy and moral -indignation which sometimes draw the reader to his feet." - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO - - - - -THE TREATMENT OF ARMENIANS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE - -DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO VISCOUNT GREY OF FALLODON - -_late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs_ - -=WITH A PREFACE BY VISCOUNT BRYCE= - -THIS book is a body of testament from people who were either victims or -eye-witnesses of the Turkish atrocities. - -THE evidence was collected under the direction of Viscount Bryce. - -IS the destiny of all the Near Eastern peoples to be solved by the -crushing of small nations under the heel of the merciless and strong? - -WHEN the day of settlement comes the evidence in this book will have an -important bearing on the answer to this question. - -=Demy 8vo, cloth, 3/-net= - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO - - - - -=SOME IMPORTANT WAR BOOKS= - - -ENGLAND IN WAR-TIME. - -By ANDRE CHEVRILLON. - -With a Preface by RUDYARD KIPLING. - -A striking, impartial, documented and highly sympathetic study, by a -French scholar, well acquainted with England, of the internal evolution -of the country during the last two years. In seven brilliant and -life-like chapters, the author gives a vivid sketch of the initial -attitude of England to the war, of the progressive alterations in -her structure which have resulted from its stress, of the inevitable -opposition they have encountered, and examines the ultimate causes -alike of changes and opposition. The book is indispensable to all -who wish to obtain a clear and scientific view, undistorted by party -feeling, of the epoch-making crisis through which our country is -passing. - -=Price 5s. net.= - - -HURRAH AND HALLELUJAH: - -The Spirit of New Germanism. A Documentation. - -By J. P. BANG, D.D., - -_Professor of Theology at the University of Copenhagen_. - -"My purpose in writing this book is to describe a movement in Germany -which has been active for a long time, but which during the war has -recklessly cast aside all considerations. This movement is twofold: -New Germany's view of other nations, and her valuation of herself -and her supposed mission in the world. My book takes the form of a -comprehensive documentation showing the manifold forms, the wide scope, -and the strength of this movement, which, if its ideas prevail, will be -of the most fatal importance for Germanism and to the world at large." - -=Price 3s. 6d. net.= - - -COMRADES IN ARMS. - -By CAPITAINE PHILIPPE MILLET. - -Capitaine Philippe Millet, already known as the author of "Jenny s'en -va-t-elle en guerre," has written a number of stories illustrating life -in France to-day. Most of the stories vividly picture the actual life -in the trenches and the barrack room, and show in simple and direct -fashion the common bond that is being forged between the soldiers of -our country and those of France. These stories are a revelation of the -English Tommy as seen through the eyes of a French officer, and the -delightful vein of humour running all through will hold the reader -spellbound to the end. It is doubtful whether from any other source it -is possible to obtain such a series of realistic impressions of the -English soldier as seen by one of our Allies in actual warfare. - -=Price 3s. 6d. net.= - - - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - ST. PAUL'S HOUSE, WARWICK SQUARE, LONDON, E.C. - - - - -Transcriber's Note - -Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation -inconsistencies have been silently repaired. - -On page 202, the underlined text was missing: - - "At last I appealed to his heart by relating all the Netherlanders - had done for +the Belgians. This had the desired effect, and I was - allowed to drive home with him. - - At every inn he felt thirsty, and made me feel quite clearly that I - had every reason to treat him.+ And every time that we went back to - our seats he said again:" - -It was completed from the copy of the Library -of Congress found in Internet Archive -https://archive.org/details/germanfuryinbelg02mokv/page/n8 - -Duplicated text on pages 203-204 was deleted. - -Corrections. - -The first line indicates the original, the second the correction. - -p. 75 - - I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of the Netherlander, - I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of the Netherlanders, - -p. 106, Footnote [2] - - See note on page 1. - See note on page 15. - -p. 178 - - to instruct the vicars in the eighteen parishers - to instruct the vicars in the eighteen parishes - -p. 180 - - but then they introducted - but then they introduced - -p. 202 - - There was shouting enough in the streets and on the boulewards - There was shouting enough in the streets and on the boulevards - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The German Fury in Belgium, by L. 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Mokveld - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: The German Fury in Belgium - Experiences of a Netherland Journalist during four months - with the German Army in Belgium - -Author: L. Mokveld - -Translator: C. Thieme - -Release Date: September 26, 2019 [EBook #60364] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM *** - - - - -Produced by Brian Coe, Eleni Christofaki and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="transnote"><h3>Transcriber's Note.</h3> - -<p>A list of the changes made can be found at the <a href="#Transcribers_Note">end of the book</a>.</p> - -</div> - -<h1> -THE GERMAN FURY -IN BELGIUM -</h1> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/front_cover.jpg" width="455" height="700" alt="front cover" /> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/title_page.jpg" width="400" height="608" alt="title page" /> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center"> -<big>THE GERMAN FURY<br /> -IN BELGIUM</big></p> - -<p class="center">EXPERIENCES OF A NETHERLAND JOURNALIST<br /> -DURING FOUR MONTHS WITH THE GERMAN<br /> -ARMY IN BELGIUM</p> - -<p class="center p2"><small>BY</small><br /> -L. MOKVELD -<br /> -<i>War-Correspondent of "De Tijd"</i></p> - -<p class="center p2">TRANSLATED BY<br /> -C. THIEME<br /> -<i>London Correspondent of "De Nieuwe Courant"</i></p> - -<p class="center p2">HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO<br /> -MCMXVII</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<p class="center p4"> -<i>Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., -London and Aylesbury.</i> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Among</span> the many books published on the behaviour -of the German Army in Belgium, this account by -a distinguished Dutch journalist must occupy a -unique place. It is written by a neutral, who held, -at the start, no brief for either side. It is written -by an eye-witness, who chronicles not what he -heard, but what he saw. It is written also by one -who mingled with the German troops and was present -at the inception of the whole campaign of outrage. -Mr. Mokveld took his life in his hands when, with -great courage and devotion, he visited Visé and -Liège and Louvain at the most critical moments. -His character of neutral journalist was only a flimsy -protection among the drunken and excited German -troops. But his boldness was justified, for after -many adventures he came safely through, and he -was enabled in those early weeks to see the whole -of Belgium from Liège to the Yser and from Antwerp -to Dinant. The result is an admirable piece of war-correspondence, -which bears on every page the -proofs of shrewd observation and a sincere love of -truth and honest dealing.</p> - -<p>There is much in Mr. Mokveld's narrative to -interest the historian. For example, he gives a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">6</a></span> -fuller account than we have yet had of that obscure -period when Liège had fallen, but its northern forts -were still holding out. But it is less a history of -the campaign than a chronicle of those lesser incidents -of war which reveal the character of the combatants. -No more crushing indictment of German -methods has been issued, the more crushing since -it is so fair and reasonable. The author has very -readily set down on the credit side any act of German -humanity or courtesy which he witnessed or heard -of. But the credit side is meagre and the black -list of crimes portentous. Episodes like the burning -of Visé and the treatment of British prisoners in -the train at Landen would be hard to match in -history for squalid horror.</p> - -<p>Two facts are made clear by Mr. Mokveld's book, -if, indeed, the world has ever doubted them. The -first is that the German authorities, believing their -victory to be beyond question, deliberately sanctioned -a campaign of frightfulness. They did not -imagine that they would ever be held to account. -They wished to terrorise their opponents by showing -them what resistance involved. The atrocities -were not the blunders of drink-sodden reservists, -but the result of the theories of half-witted military -pedants. The second is that the invading armies -were as nervous as a hysterical woman. Those -would-be conquerors of the world were frightened -by their own shadows. A shot fired by accident -from a German rifle led to tales of attacks by Belgian -<i>francs-tireurs</i> and then to indiscriminate murder -by way of revenge. Mr. Mokveld examined the -legends of treacherous Belgian assaults and the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span> -mutilation of the German wounded, and found -them in every case wholly baseless. No German -had ever seen these things happen, but had only -heard of them. When definite details were given, -Mr. Mokveld tracked them down and found them -false. The Belgian atrocities lacked even that -slender justification which belongs to reprisals. -They were the work of a drunken and "rattled" -soldiery—for fear is apt to make men brutal—deliberately -encouraged by the authorities, who -for this purpose relaxed the bonds of military discipline. -When the battle of the Marne changed -the complexion of affairs, these authorities grew -scared and repudiated the policy, but Belgium remains -a witness of what Germany's triumph means -for her victims.</p> - -<p class="right"> -<span class="smcap">John Buchan.</span> -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<table summary="contents"> -<tr><td> </td><td class="tdr">PAGE</td></tr> -<tr><td>INTRODUCTION</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER I</td></tr> -<tr><td>ON THE WAY TO LIÈGE</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER II</td></tr> -<tr><td>IN LIÈGE AND BACK TO MAASTRICHT</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER III</td></tr> -<tr><td>ROUND ABOUT LIÈGE</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IV</td></tr> - -<tr><td>VISÉ DESTROYED: A PREMEDITATED CRIME</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> -CHAPTER V</td></tr> -<tr><td>FRANCS-TIREURS?</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VI</td></tr> -<tr><td>WITH THE FLEMINGS</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VII</td></tr> -<tr><td>LIÈGE AFTER THE OCCUPATION</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VIII</td></tr> -<tr><td>LOUVAIN DESTROYED</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IX</td></tr> -<tr><td>LOUVAIN UNDER THE MAILED FIST</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER X</td></tr> - -<tr><td>ALONG THE MEUSE TO HUY, ANDENNE, AND NAMUR</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XI -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span></td></tr> -<tr><td>FROM MAASTRICHT TO THE FRENCH FRONTIER: THE DESTRUCTION OF DINANT</td> -<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XII</td></tr> -<tr><td>ON THE BATTLE-FIELDS</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td> </tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIII</td></tr> -<tr><td>ROUND ABOUT BILSEN</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIV</td></tr> -<tr><td>DURING THE SIEGE OF ANTWERP</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XV</td></tr> -<tr><td>THE ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH WOUNDED</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVI</td></tr> -<tr><td>ON THE YSER</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span></p> - -<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> - -<p>A <small>FEW</small> words by way of introduction.</p> - -<p>I had wished to publish this book a long time -ago, because I think it my duty to submit to the -opinion of the public the things which I witnessed -in the unfortunate land of the Belgians, and where -I was present at such important events as an impartial -spectator. I call myself an impartial spectator, -for if this book be anti-German, it should not be -forgotten that the facts give it that tendency.</p> - -<p>That the book was not published sooner is because -I could not foresee more than others how terribly -long the war would last; and I should have preferred -to wait till the end in order to insert several reports -which I know are being kept in the occupied part, -in order to acquaint the whole world with the full -truth about the behaviour of the Germans. As -long as the Germans keep the upper hand in Belgium, -such a publication cannot take place without danger -to several persons.</p> - -<p>But because the German libels go on accusing -the Belgian people of horrible francs-tireurs acts, -I have thought that I ought not to wait any longer -before giving my evidence to the public.</p> - -<p>This book does not attempt to give more than -evidence of the truth. It does not claim to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> -literary distinction; I have not even tried to give -it that stamp. By relating various events successively -witnessed, which have no mutual connection, -this would be very difficult.</p> - -<p>My stories are not exaggerated or touched up, -but are true to reality. That is the reason why the -German authorities have driven me away from -Belgium, and tried to get hold of me to punish -me. On that side they are afraid that the truth -be known.</p> - -<p>A long time after I had left Belgium I got hold -of the Black List, in which I am mentioned twice -over among eighty-seven other persons; once as -Hokveld-Journalist and again as Mokveld-Correspondent. -The list was published by me in <i>De Tijd</i> -of June 2nd, 1915.</p> - -<p>That I was "wanted" is proved by the fact that -two persons have had the greatest trouble because -they were mistaken for the Mokveld-Correspondent -of <i>De Tijd</i>. My colleague Kemper passed a fortnight -in prison in Brussels, accused of having written -various articles in <i>De Tijd</i>, which were written by -me, and I relate, in the chapter "Round about -Bilsen," what Mr. Van Wersch, another Netherlander, -suffered for the same reason.</p> - -<p>But although the Germans are afraid to let the -truth be known, there is no reason why I should -withhold my evidence. On the contrary, I will try -to do everything I can to make public opinion do -justice to the unfortunate Belgians, trodden down -and insulted, falsely and vilely libelled by their -oppressors, and accused of offences of which they -never were guilty.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> - -<small>THE</small><br /> - -<big><strong>GERMAN FURY IN BELGIUM</strong></big> -</p> - -<h2>CHAPTER I<br /> - -ON THE WAY TO LIÈGE</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">When</span> <i>De Tijd</i> sent me to Belgium as its correspondent, -I had not the faintest notion practically -how to perform my duties, for the simple reason -that I could not apprehend at all how a modern -war might be conducted. But I was destined to -receive my first impressions when still on Netherland<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> -territory and after my arrival at Maastricht.</p> - -<p>On the hot afternoon of August 7th, 1914, the -much-delayed train rumbled into the station at Maastricht. -A dense mass stood in front of the building. -Men, women, and children were crowded there and -pushed each other weeping, shouting, and questioning. -Families and friends tried to find each other, -and many of the folk of Maastricht assisted the poor -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span>creatures, who, nervously excited, wept and wailed -for a father, for wife and children lost in the crowd. -It was painful, pitiful, this sight of hundreds of -fugitives, who, although now safe, constantly feared -that death was near, and anxiously clutched small -parcels, which for the most part contained worthless -trifles hurriedly snatched up when they fled.</p> - -<p>And over these nervous and terrified thousands -at Maastricht rolled from afar the dull roar of the -guns, thunder-like bursts from which had frightened -them so terribly.</p> - -<p>The streets leading to the bridge over the Meuse -and into the town were also densely thronged with -refugees. Here and there large groups listened to -the stories told, with profusion of tears, of sufferings -inflicted, depicted in far harsher colours than could -have been possible. But the wretched creatures -exaggerated unconsciously; in their affrighted state -they had seen things that had never occurred.</p> - -<p>Suddenly every one in the Vrijthof ran in the -same direction. I waited calmly, and saw pass by -a tragically long train of hooded carts and other -peasants' conveyances. The drivers walked by the -side of the horses, the Red Cross flag flew from the -carriages, fresh clean straw covered their floor, on -which wounded soldiers writhed in excruciating -pain. The crowd did not press nearer, but, standing -silently in long rows, let the sad procession pass by. -Such were the first impressions of the war got in -these days; nobody uttered a sound, but many -stealthily brushed a tear away.</p> - -<p>Thus it went on all day long: motors and other -conveyances travelled to and fro between the battle-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span>fields -and hospitals at Maastricht; fugitives moved -about in streets and squares, upsetting each other -more and more by fantastic stories.</p> - -<p>As dusk came on nearly the whole population of -Maastricht, with all their temporary guests, formed -an endless procession and went to invoke God's -mercy by the Virgin Mary's intercession. They -went to Our Lady's Church, in which stands the -miraculous statue of Sancta Maria Stella Maris. -The procession filled all the principal streets and -squares of the town. I took my stand at the corner -of the Vrijthof, where all marched past me, men, -women, and children, all praying aloud, with loud -voices beseeching: "Our Lady, Star of the Sea, -pray for us ... pray for us ... pray for us ...!"</p> - -<p>At the same time bells rang ... and guns roared.</p> - -<p>Group after group went by, and I heard French -and Netherland, the Maastricht vernacular and -sweet Flemish spoken, all sorts of tongues and modes -of utterance. The men were bare-headed, and -each let his rosary slip through his fingers. Soon -after the head of the procession reached Our Lady -Square the huge church was packed, and those -who could not find room inside stood in the -square, which also very soon was full with these -thousands of people in a dense mass, like so many -blades of grass in a meadow.</p> - -<p>However large the crowd, it was silent as death -when the priest Jacobs addressed them. He spoke -words of encouragement, hope, and confidence, -and urged them to send up their prayers to God -Almighty—prayers for peace. When he had ended, -these thousands sang the "Hymn to Mary," in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> -such perfect order as if only one superhuman body -sent forth an immensely powerful sound from earth -to Heaven.</p> - -<p>As I was listening to that hymn the storms in my -heart subsided—storms raised by so many scenes -witnessed during the day; but as soon as the -sonorous voices were still, I heard again the dull -boom ... boom ... boom ... of the guns. -That dire reality!...</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The next morning I got up early, having been -unable to sleep. I realised already that my task -was difficult, dangerous, and full of responsibility, -for I had to find out and communicate to the public -the truth about events, which would be related as -beautiful or horrid, according to the interests of -my informants. It was dangerous, because I might -meet with the same fate that seemed to have been -inflicted on so many civilians already.</p> - -<p>Dressed in my sporting attire, and carrying some -necessaries in a knapsack, I started early, going towards -Visé along the canal. As I came to the -Netherland boundary-stone and noticed that of -Belgium, I had a moment of doubt, but it lasted -for a second only. In order to divert my thoughts -I walked somewhat more briskly, but was stopped -suddenly on Belgian ground by a custom-house -officer. I was astonished to see that official there -still, for the Germans must be quite near and—as -I had been told—small patrols had advanced frequently -to this point. My papers were found to -be in order, and the man seemed very happy to meet -a journalist.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span></p> - -<p>"It is a pity, sir, that you did not arrive a day -sooner, then you might have witnessed great -barbarity of the Germans. If you walk on a little -farther along the canal, you will see three persons -hanging from a tree near Haccourt; one of these -is a boy of fourteen. Nobody was allowed on the -road, and as a patrol met these three persons, they -concluded immediately that they were francs-tireurs, -strung them up on the tree, without a trial of any -sort, and in addition shot each a bullet through the -head. To-day another patrol arrived and had the -effrontery to tell the members of the Maastricht -Red Cross that the boy had murdered a captain. -And we are not allowed to remove the corpses. -Horrible!... horrible!"</p> - -<p>"Yes," I reply, "it is bad, very bad, but is it -really all true?"</p> - -<p>"True? True, sir? You go and look for -yourself! And let me tell you one thing—there -are no francs-tireurs here! We know quite well -what we may do and what not, and only a moment -ago I received a message from the Minister of the -Interior, saying that non-combatants who shoot at -the enemy expose themselves to danger and their -fellow-citizens to retaliations."</p> - -<p>I asked him how things were farther on along the -Meuse, but he knew nothing. He was stationed -here, he said, and was going to stay as long as possible. -As soon as the Germans arrived, most people -fled, and those who had stayed on were no longer -allowed to leave. So he lacked all information, and -only understood that fierce fighting was going on, -as was confirmed by the incessant thunder of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> -guns. Fort Pontisse was, moreover, not so very far -away, and frequently we could distinctly tell, by their -whistling sound, in which direction the shells flew.</p> - -<p>After a few encouraging words I walked on along -the solitary, deserted road, leaving the canal on the -right, until a by-way took me to the bank of the -Meuse, opposite the Netherland frontier village -Eysden. I entered a deserted inn. After shouting -for a long time, the inn-keeper appeared, looked -shyly at me, remaining constantly close by the -door of his room. His attitude showed that he -was prepared to fly at the slightest suspicious movement -on my part; but as soon as I had convinced -him that I was a Netherland journalist, he became -more friendly, and called his wife and daughters, so -that I might tell them all I knew. They were -very desirous to know how the war went ... in -the Netherlands, and whether we were fighting -the Germans or the English? It was very difficult -to make them understand that they were under a -misapprehension, but when I had at last succeeded -in this, I started in my turn to ask them what they -thought of my intention to go farther.</p> - -<p>"Go farther, sir? But ... but ... sir, don't -do that! The Germans shoot every civilian whom -they set eyes on."</p> - -<p>"Oh, go on!" I answered. "I don't think that -I need fear anything of the kind. I am in any case -a Netherlander!"</p> - -<p>"Netherlander or not, it does not matter. -Whosoever one be, every civilian is shot down by -them."</p> - -<p>"Are they at a great distance from here?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span></p> - -<p>"Not at all! If you step outside, you can see -them standing, ten minutes from here. Near -Lixhe they threw a bridge across the Meuse. It -is the third already which they put down, for each -time they are smashed from the fort. Oh, it is -horrible; there must surely fall a number of dead, -and here we have seen corpses in the Meuse already.... -But I do not understand how you ventured to -come here...."</p> - -<p>Well, I did not quite fancy the prospect of being -shot like a dog, and as I had not yet come into touch -with the Germans, it was difficult to say whether -these people exaggerated or not. But just opposite -was Eysden, and I made up my mind to go there -for further information.</p> - -<p>Netherland soldiers and inhabitants of the village -bustled about along the opposite river-bank. I -shouted as loudly as possible; and when at last I -succeeded in drawing their attention, I made them -understand that I wanted to be pulled across in -the little boat, which in ordinary times served as -a ferry. A short consultation took place now on -the opposite side, after which a soldier, who clearly -possessed a strong voice, came as near as possible to -the waterside and, making a trumpet of his two -hands, roared:</p> - -<p>"Not allowed!"</p> - -<p>"Why not?"</p> - -<p>"We are neutrals!"</p> - -<p>"So am I; I am a Netherlander!"</p> - -<p>"Possibly! Not allowed!"</p> - -<p>And at the same moment he turned round and -joined the others.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span></p> - -<p>So I was left there. The Netherlanders refused -to pull me across in consequence of an exaggerated -fear of violating their neutrality; the Germans in -front of me intended, it was said, to shoot me down -as soon as I ventured to get near. But to retrace -my steps ... that is a thing I had never done yet. -For a few moments I stood there undecided, but -then made up my mind to see what was going to -happen, and went on, in spite of the warnings of -the kind-hearted innkeeper and his family, who called -out to me to return.</p> - -<p>The terrible thunder of the guns, of both besiegers -and besieged, vibrated through the air. In -the distance I noticed a couple of men, probably -German soldiers, but a pontoon-bridge was nowhere -to be seen. After a few minutes, however, I reached -a spot where the Meuse makes a short curve, and -had scarcely walked round it, when I saw, only a -couple of hundred yards away, the bridge in question, -across which a long train of vehicles was passing, -loaded with victuals, hay, straw, etc.</p> - -<p>On this side hundreds of soldiers were standing; -they had taken off their uniforms in the fierce heat, -and were busy loading and unloading and changing -horses. From time to time the entire scene was -hidden by the smoke from numerous burning houses -at Lixhe, quite near the river. I walked in the -most casual way, in an unconcerned attitude, looked -calmly at some of the houses I passed, and which -were for the greater part destroyed. The walls -were pierced by bullets, the rooms generally burnt -out; in the front gardens lay all sorts of furniture, -dragged out of the house and then smashed to pieces.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span></p> - -<p>The road was all strewn with straw. I approached -the bridge past burning farms and villas. There -the pieces of broken furniture were even lying in -the road, and I had to go warily so that I should not -stumble. The soldiers looked at me as if they were -amused, but I went up to them in the same unconcerned -manner and asked them to take me to their -commanding officer.</p> - -<p>"What do you want with him?"</p> - -<p>"I am a Netherland journalist, and want to ask -the commander's permission to go to Liège."</p> - -<p>"Oh, you are a Netherlander; then come along."</p> - -<p>They took me to two officers who stood near the -bridge, and told them that I "pretended" to be -a Netherland journalist. Having proved this by -my papers, the officers gave me an escort of three -men, who conducted me to the bridge-commander, -on the other side of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>I had to walk along the very edge of the unstable -bridge in order to avoid the wheels of the passing -carriages, which shook the whole bridge and made -the rather loose boards clatter. In the meantime, -at no considerable distance, some shells fell in the -Meuse, fired at the bridge from Fort Pontisse. Yet, -I did not mind it at all, as all these new experiences -stunned me, so to speak; the incessant hellish -noises of the batteries, the burning houses, the smoke -swooping down, the excited soldiers....</p> - -<p>As we crossed the bridge, I asked my escort why -these houses were set on fire. I heard then, for -the first time, that "they had been shooting," -and they told me of cowardly civilians, who shot -from the windows at unsuspicious soldiers, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> -stabbed them treacherously. But of course they -had experienced nothing of the kind; it had happened -to troops who were now moving ahead. -They had, however, taken part in the revenge, and -told of it with glittering eyes: how they fired the -houses of francs-tireurs and then shot the people -who, nearly stifled, appeared at the windows; how -in "holy" anger, in order to avenge their comrades, -they subsequently entered the houses and destroyed -everything. I did not answer, did not know what -to think of it, but shuddered, because it was so -gruesome.</p> - -<p>They told this, while we were waiting on a couple -of protruding boards of the pontoon-bridge, so as -to allow some extremely wide carts to pass. Once -again shells exploded, a couple of hundred yards -behind us, and one made a hole in the bank quite -near.</p> - -<p>"Horrible!" I sighed. "Have they not yet hit -the bridge?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, it has been destroyed already a couple -of times, but we shall teach them a lesson! Why -did not the Belgians allow us to pass through their -country? What can their little army do against -us? As soon as a sufficient number have crossed -we shall go for these forts, then on to Brussels, and -within a fortnight we shall be in Paris. Liège we -have taken already."</p> - -<p>"It will cost a great many men!"</p> - -<p>"We have plenty of them; but many of us fall -by the treacherous shooting of the civilians; they -are swine, swine! And these Belgian women ... -they are the dirtiest bitches ... beastly swine...."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span></p> - -<p>The man got more and more excited, but then -he was more than "half-seas over." The smoke -made him cough and he stuck in the middle of his -"swine." He made me shudder, and I hastened -to pull out a packet of cigarettes, some of which -I gave to him and his mates. In consequence the -two others became more communicative, and in -touching harmony assured me that:</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, the Netherlanders are our friends; they -remain neutral. And that is the best, for otherwise -the whole lot would be smashed up, exactly as here -in Belgium."</p> - -<p>They did not understand, of course, that poor -Belgium would have liked nothing better than to -remain neutral also.</p> - -<p>Those wide carts had passed us now, and we could -proceed slowly. The bridge led to a farmhouse -with tall trees and underwood. They took me -to the right, to a densely overgrown spot, where a -clearing had been made amidst some smaller shrubs. -In the centre stood a table covered with a shining -white cloth, and a goodly number of wine-bottles -and glasses. Half a dozen officers in fine uniforms, -gilt collars and epaulettes, were seated around it.</p> - -<p>The sight of that small group, hidden among the -green foliage, was as brilliant as it was surprising. -One of the officers, clearly the highest in rank, -summoned us to come nearer, and asked the soldiers -for an explanation. Standing smartly at attention, -they gave it, as a school-child might haltingly recite -a lesson learned by heart. The officer whom I -thought it convenient to call "Captain" looked -searchingly at me and then began:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span></p> - -<p>"Have you got papers?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, captain."</p> - -<p>I pulled them out: birth certificate, certificate -of good conduct, foreign passport, and press-card, -which were examined the one after the other.</p> - -<p>"Are they genuine?"</p> - -<p>"Of course, captain; everything is properly -signed, stamped, and legalised."</p> - -<p>"And what do you want to write about?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know yet. The things I see ... and -... of course that cannot do harm to the German -army."</p> - -<p>"Hm! Hm! All right. So you intend to -write friendly about us?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, certainly, sir! Exactly because we -hear so many lies from foreign countries about the -Germans, I want to try and find out the truth for -myself."</p> - -<p>"Is that so? Well, the Netherlanders are our -friends, and have so much in common with our -people."</p> - -<p>"Certainly, captain; as a matter of fact we are -of the same race."</p> - -<p>But here he looked at me in a curious manner, -scrutinising my face, as if he asked himself: "Is he -pulling my leg, or not?" But not a muscle in my -face moved, so that the "Captain" nodded approvingly -... and wrote out a pass for me to go -to Visé! I was not allowed to go to Liège, for, as -he said, he did not yet know himself how matters -stood there. The other officers overwhelmed me -with questions: how matters stood in The Netherlands, -and whether Great Britain had already<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> -declared war against us? I think that at that question -I looked utterly perplexed, for in the same -breath they told me all they knew about the danger -of war for The Netherlands: Great Britain first -sent an ultimatum to The Netherlands, to force her -into joining the Allies against Germany, and as she -had refused, the British Fleet was now on its way to -Flushing. I explained to them in detail that they -were utterly wrong, but they believed only a half -of what I said.</p> - -<p>There was a continuous coming and going at the -bridge-command, for when I left the shrubberies -a great many soldiers of high and low rank, with -portfolios and documents, were waiting outside. The -soldiers were to escort me back across the bridge, -so that I might go on to Visé along the other bank.</p> - -<p>Before I got to the bridge I saw something gruesome: -a number of corpses of soldiers were lying -about and others were brought in ... a little -farther away, on the farm, there they were digging.... -I looked away quickly; I was not yet accustomed -to that sort of thing. Most likely they were -men killed a moment ago by shells aimed at the -bridge, for wounded men were also brought in on -stretchers.</p> - -<p>At the other end of the bridge I was left by my -escort, and went on alone; on my left the Meuse, -on my right burning houses, above me hissing and -whistling shells, that came down in front of me and -behind me, with tremendous explosions, throwing -the loose earth high into the air.</p> - -<p>In Devant-le-Pont, a hamlet opposite Visé, the -doors of all the houses stood open, as a sign that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> -inhabitants did not propose to offer any resistance -to the Germans. After much shouting the landlady -of a café appeared, distressingly nervous, but -doing her utmost to look unconcerned.</p> - -<p>"A glass of beer, madame."</p> - -<p>"If you please."</p> - -<p>"The guns are horrid, madame; are you not -afraid?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir, we must hope for the best."</p> - -<p>"Have the Germans done no harm here yet?"</p> - -<p>"Oh no, sir, not at all!"</p> - -<p>"Are they tolerably kind?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, quite nice people, sir!"</p> - -<p>Her reserve told me that I would not get much -information here, and, finishing my beer, I asked:</p> - -<p>"How much is it, madame?"</p> - -<p>"This? Nothing, sir, nothing."</p> - -<p>"Nothing! But, madame, I want to pay for -what I drink!"</p> - -<p>"No, no, I won't take anything for it. It is -hot, is it not, and a soldier ought to get something...."</p> - -<p>I understood only then why the woman was so -full of praise of the Germans, although she was -shaking in her shoes: she thought I was a soldier! -How heavily weighed the oppressor's hand on the -wretched population, if now already the honest -Belgian heart became hypocritical!</p> - -<p>I had great trouble to make her understand that -I was a Netherlander; and that changed at once -her opinion for the Germans. She told me then -that her husband and children had fled to The -Netherlands, as had most of the inhabitants, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> -that she was left behind merely because she dawdled -too long. And now she was constantly afraid that -they might fire her house as they did the others, and -murder her ... for such had been the fate of -several of the villagers. Even whole families had -been killed.</p> - -<p>Many civilians had been put to death, accused of -having shot from the houses, and others for refusing -to give up requisitioned food. Probably they had -none, as preceding military divisions had already -taken away all there was. Then some civilians -were killed for refusing to work for the enemy. -The houses of all these "condemned" had been -burnt, and everything the soldiers fancied was -looted. As a matter of fact, nearly all the soldiers -I met later on were drunk, and they worried me -constantly. Only when I had proved to be a -Netherlander, they behaved a little better, and -started abusing "the cursed Belgians," who, according -to them, were all francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>A short distance beyond this little café lies the -large bridge across the Meuse. Before the Germans -arrived it was partly destroyed by the Belgians, -but so inadequately that obviously the enemy could -repair it easily. Bombs were therefore fired regularly -from Fort Pontisse at the bridge, and only an -hour ago it had been hit, with the result that a big -hole was made in the undamaged part. In the -road also big holes were made by the exploding -projectiles. Having passed underneath the viaduct -of the bridge, I found myself opposite Visé on the -sloping bank of the Meuse. Two boys had been -commanded by the Germans to work the ferry-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span>boat -for them, and after I had shown them my -passport, they took me to the other side.</p> - -<p>It was a fine summer afternoon, and the sun shone -on the many bright, whitewashed walls of the old -and neat little town, built close to the rapidly -flowing river. There was quiet in the streets, -although nearly all the inhabitants were sitting on -their chairs in the streets. But nobody ventured -to move about, and conversations were held only -in whispers. As I walked through the village street -in my quaint get-up, they pushed their chairs a little -closer together as if frightened, and looked shyly -at me as if they feared that I was not the harbinger -of much good. And all these hundreds of people -saluted me humbly, almost cringingly, which filled -me with pity.</p> - -<p>Visé had not been burnt yet, as had been reported -in The Netherlands. Only here and there had the -shells done some damage, and hundreds of window-panes -had been burst by the vibration of the air. -As a token of submission to the invader, small white -flags hung from all the windows, and these, along -the whole length of a street, made a decidedly -lamentable impression.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants had already had a variety of -experiences. On Tuesday, August 4th, the first -German troops arrived before the little town. The -gendarmes stationed there offered resistance to the -invading enemy, but, being hopelessly outnumbered, -they were all shot down. As they were lying on the -ground, badly wounded, Dr. Frits Goffin, head of -St. Hadelin College, came in great haste as soon as -he heard the shooting.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span></p> - -<p>All the wounded were Roman Catholics, and as -they saw the approaching priest, they implored -him in a loud voice to give them absolution of sins, -some making an act of contrition. The priest was -unable to come near each of them, and therefore -called out in a loud voice: "My Jesus, be merciful!" -He then gave them all absolution of sins. -But as he kneeled down to perform this sacred task, -a hostile bullet whizzed past his ear, and several -soldiers who ran by aimed at him, so that he had to -seek safety behind a tree. I saw with my own eyes -five bullet-holes in the tree that was pointed out -to me.</p> - -<p>In those first days many civilians were killed, and -not only in Visé, but still more in the surrounding -villages, Mouland and Berneaux, which were soon -burnt down and where many a good man was -brought low by the murderous bullets. The savage -soldiers killed the cattle also, and a large number of -carcases had been lying about for days.</p> - -<p>At Visé many men had been commanded to do -certain kinds of work, cutting down trees, making -of roads, bridges, and so on. Many of them never -returned, because they refused to do the humiliating -work and were shot. Among these there were even -aged people; and I myself stood by the death-bed -of a man of ninety, who had been forced to assist -in building a bridge, until the poor wretch broke -down and was carried to St. Hadelin College, turned -into a hospital by Dr. Goffin; there he died.</p> - -<p>No wonder that the inhabitants were afraid and -looked askance at me as they mistook me for a -German.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> - -<p>On this day, August 8th, the reign of terror was -still in full force. There were repeated threats to -burn the town and to kill the inhabitants if they -objected to do work or to deliver certain goods, -especially wine and gin, of which thousands of -bottles were requisitioned daily. Several times a -day they were summoned by a bell and informed -what the invader wanted, the necessary threats -being added to the command. And the inhabitants, -in mortal fear, no longer trusted each other, but -searched each other's houses for things that might -be delivered to satisfy the Germans.</p> - -<p>The entire neighbourhood was still being bombarded -from the forts to the north of Liège; several -German divisions succeeded, however, in crossing -the Meuse near Lixhe. In spite of the shell-fire -they passed the pontoon-bridge there, turned into -a by-way leading to the canal, near Haccourt, crossed -one of the canal-bridges, of which not one had -been destroyed, and along another by-way, came -to the main road from Maastricht to Tongres, at -a spot about three miles from the last-named town.</p> - -<p>The shelling went on during the night, and all -that time the inhabitants remained in their cellars.</p> - -<p>Although I had got farther on my way than I -had dared to expect, my journalist's heart longed -for more. If I could get to Liège, which was said -to have just been taken! But my passport stated -that I was only allowed to go to Visé. I thought -the matter out, and the longer I thought, the -stronger became my desire to go on; and at last -I decided to do it.</p> - -<p>Near the outskirts of the town I found barricades<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> -which, however, seemed not to have been used, but -stray shells had knocked large pieces out of the low, -wide wall between the road and the Meuse's flowing -water.</p> - -<p>There was not much traffic. Only here and -there stood some German soldiers, or seriously -wounded men were lying on mattresses and chairs. -Nearly every house by the roadside had been turned -into an emergency hospital, for from all sides they -brought in soldiers wounded by shells that had -exploded amidst the advancing divisions.</p> - -<p>The road along which I walked, the main road -between Visé and Liège, was laid under fire from -various forts, and every moment I saw on my left -clouds rise up from the rocky heights that run along -the whole of the Meuse. These clouds were partly -formed by smoke from the guns mounted by the -Germans against the forts, partly by volumes of -earth thrown up by the projectiles from the broken-up -soil.</p> - -<p>I myself ran great risks too, but I did not mind, -and walked on, moved by a consuming desire to get -to Liège, and then back to Maastricht, to be able -to wire to my paper that I had been to Liège -only just after it was taken by the Germans, and -that the news, wired from Germany to the -Netherland papers, that the forts had been taken -was untrue.</p> - -<p>I had a short chat with the wounded men near -the various houses, on demand showed my passport -to those in authority, and was advised as a friendly -Netherlander to return, as it was extremely dangerous -on the road. But I did not dream of doing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> -this, as long as I was not compelled, and went on -towards Liège amidst this maddening thunder.</p> - -<p>I had walked another three miles, when a big -crowd of fugitives met me. They seemed to have -come a long way, for the majority could hardly walk -on, and had taken off their shoes and boots, on -account of the scorching heat, going on barefooted -in the shade of the tall trees. It was a procession, -numbering hundreds of men, women, and children. -The aged were supported, the babies carried. Most -of them had a small parcel on their back or under -their arm. They seemed tired to death, had dark -red faces, and betrayed great fear and nervousness. -I crossed the road to speak to them, and as soon -as they noticed it the whole crowd, numbering -hundreds of people, stood still, creeping closer -together, women and girls trying hard to hide -themselves behind the men, and these doffed their -caps timidly.</p> - -<p>I was really sorry that I had dressed myself in -that grey Norfolk suit, long stockings, a knapsack -strapped to the back, and a leather strap with a -water-bottle. The unfortunate creatures thought -that I was a German soldier. I was bewildered -for a moment, but then guessed their thoughts and -hastened to comfort them.</p> - -<p>I could not get much information from them. -Twenty spoke at the same time; in halting, incoherent -words they tried to tell me of their experiences, -but I could only catch: killed ... murders -... fire ... guns.... After much trouble I -gathered that they came from the villages to the -north of Liège, where the Germans had told them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> -that on that same day, within an hour, everything -would be burned down. Everybody had left these -places, a good many had gone to Liège, but these -people did not think it safe there either, and wanted -to go on to The Netherlands.</p> - -<p>After giving them some advice how to get to -The Netherlands, and offering some words of -sympathy, I wanted to go on, but as they realised -this, the poor, kind creatures surrounded me; many -women began to weep, and from all sides they cried:</p> - -<p>"To Liège? You want to go to Liège? But, -sir!—but, sir! We fled to escape death, because the -Germans are going to burn down everything and -shoot everybody. Please don't, sir; they'll kill you -... kill you ... shoot you ... kill you!"</p> - -<p>"Come, come," I replied, touched by the kind -anxiety of these people. "Come, come; it won't -be as bad as all that, and, then, I am a Netherlander."</p> - -<p>That "being a Netherlander" had become my -stock-argument, and, as a matter of fact, it made me -feel calmer. Quietly I made myself free of the -surrounding crowd, in order to proceed on my way; -but then they got hold of my arms and gently tried -to induce me to go with them, so I had to speak -more firmly to make them understand that they -could not prevail on me. When at last I was able -to resume my march, they looked back frequently, -shaking their heads, and in their anxiety for me, -their fellow-creature, they seemed to forget for a -moment their own hardly bearable sorrows.</p> - -<p>A moment later a gigantic motor-car came racing -down at a great speed. Six soldiers stood up in it, -their rifles pointed at me. I thought that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> -intended to shoot me and everybody they might -meet, but a seventh soldier standing by the side of -the chauffeur made a movement with his arms, -from which I understood that he wanted me to put -my hands up. I did so.</p> - -<p>It is a simple affair, this putting up one's hands, -but even at such a moment a free citizen has a -strong objection against being compelled to this -by others, who are no more than one's self, who ask -it without any right, except the might derived from -the weapon in their hands.</p> - -<p>When they had passed, I looked round at the people -I had left a moment ago.... There they lay in -the road, kneeling, lifting their trembling hands, -although the motor-car was already a couple of -hundred yards away.</p> - -<p>Argenteau was not damaged much, but the -inhabitants remained quietly inside their houses, -or probably stayed in their cellars, for fear of the -shells that tore through the air constantly.</p> - -<p>By and by I began to feel that I had already -walked about twenty miles in this great heat, but -I would not think of stopping before reaching my -goal.</p> - -<p>At Cherath railway-carriages were lying in the -road at the level-crossing of Visé-Liège line, farther -on barbed-wire cut into pieces, felled trees, and so -on. German soldiers had moved these things out -of the way, and motor-cars could pass by again. In -the village itself I saw a man, with a white armlet, -posting up a bill, and as I had seen similar damp -bills sticking on the walls in the other villages, I -drew nearer to read it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> - -The bill ran as follows:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Community of ...</p> - -<p class="center">"<i>To the inhabitants.</i></p> - -<p>"The powerful German army, victorious in our district, -has promised to respect our land and private possessions.</p> - -<p>"In the circumstances in which we are placed it is necessary -to retain the greatest possible tranquillity and calm.</p> - -<p>"The burgomaster informs the population that any utterance -contrary to the regulations will be severely punished.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"<span class="smcap">The Burgomaster.</span>" -</p></blockquote> - -<p>The bill-poster replied "yes" or "no" to my -questions, whichever answer fitted, and as soon as -he had finished his task he hurriedly trotted off. -I did not see any other inhabitant.</p> - -<p>Outside Cherath a motor-car stood between some -partially removed trees. Two officers and three -soldiers stood around a map which they had laid -on the ground, and with them was a young girl, -scarcely twenty years old. She was weeping, and -pointed out something on the map, obviously compelled -to give information. One of the officers -stopped me, was clearly quite satisfied with my -papers, but told me that I was not allowed to go -on without a permit from the military command. -Then I pulled out of my pocket, as if of great importance, -the scrap of paper which the commanding -officer at the bridge near Lixhe had given me. The -other had scarcely seen the German letters and -German stamp when he nodded his head approvingly, -and quickly I put the thing back, so that he might -not notice that I was allowed only to go to Visé.</p> - -<p>At Jupile I saw a pontoon-bridge, not in use for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> -the moment. Just before this place a slightly -sloping road leads from the hills to the eastern bank -of the Meuse and the main road Visé-Liège. Along -this road descended at that moment an immense -military force—uhlans, cuirassiers, infantry, more -cuirassiers, artillery, munition and forage-carts. -The train seemed endless, and although I stood there -looking at it for quite a long time, the end had not -passed me.</p> - -<p>It was an imposing sight to see all these various -divisions in their brilliant uniforms coming down -along the road, the soldiers' uniforms still without -a stain, the horses in new, fine, strong leather harness, -and the rumbling and jolting guns. The soldiers -sang patriotic songs, and among them rode the -officers, proud and imperious, many with a monocle, -looking round superciliously.</p> - -<p>I was the only civilian in that road, and the soldiers, -with much curiosity, stared at me. Whenever I -noticed an officer, I gave an elaborate military salute, -and with such an air that the officers, although -hesitating at first, did not fail to return the salute.</p> - -<p>After reaching the main road they turned to the -right towards Visé, probably in order to try to cross -the Meuse near Lixhe and then proceed to Tongres -along the above-mentioned road. It would not be -an easy undertaking, for the forts refused to keep -silent, and already many a wounded man was carried -on a comrade's horse.</p> - -<p>Liège now loomed up in the distance, and the -nearer I got, the more civilians I met. They all -wore a white armlet, and walked timidly and nervously -by the side of the road or street, starting at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> -each thunder-clap of the guns. Near the entrance -to the town a small crowd stood on one of the hills, -looking at a flying-machine moving from fort to -fort and over the city, obviously investigating the -effect of the German siege-guns.</p> - -<p>At seven o'clock in the evening I entered Liège; -and so far I had achieved my end.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER II<br /> - -IN LIÈGE AND BACK TO MAASTRICHT</h2> - -<p>A <small>GLORIOUS</small> summer evening, quite refreshing after -the exhausting heat of the day. Nature invited to -restfulness, and so much the more cruel sounded -the incessant thunder of the guns, which also -boomed from the citadel. As soon as the Germans -had taken possession of this old, dilapidated fortress -they proceeded to drag their guns on to it, and -trained them on the surrounding forts.</p> - -<p>The streets offered the same aspect as those at -Visé. From each house floated the pitiful little -white flag; the people sat together on their -"stoeps," for they did not venture out in the streets. -Everywhere I was again saluted in the same cringingly -polite manner, and eyed with suspicion.</p> - -<p>Crowds of soldiers moved through the main -streets, revelling, shouting, screaming in their mad -frenzy of victors. They sat, or stood, or danced in -the cafés, and the electrical pianos and organs had -been started again "by order." Doors and windows -were opened wide, and through the streets sounded -forth the song "Deutschland über Alles" (Germany -before all other), which affected the inhabitants -as a provocation and a challenge. Oh! one could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> -see so clearly how thousands of citizens suffered -from it, how they felt hurt in their tenderest sentiments. -Dull and depressed they stared in front of -them, and whenever their set features relaxed, it -was a scornful grin.</p> - -<p>From warehouses and from shops bales of corn, -flour, sugar, and other goods were taken, thrown in -heaps and then placed on all sorts of carts and -motors. In the most frequented parts military -bands had taken their stand, and played amidst the -loud jubilation of the soldiers.</p> - -<p>I walked about a little longer to examine the -damage done. The fine <i>Pont des Arches</i> was for the -greater part destroyed by the retreating Belgians, -as well as the <i>Pont Maghin</i>. This is a pity, especially -as regards the first-named bridge, so famous as a -work of art, and the more so as other bridges had -not been touched and could be used by the Germans. -The bombardment did not damage the town to -any great extent, but it was remarkable that the -largest houses had suffered most.</p> - -<p>Having walked some thirty miles that day, I began -to feel a serious need for rest. But when I applied, -there was no room anywhere in the hotels, and -where there was room they told me the contrary -after a critical glance at my outfit.</p> - -<p>I then tried to find the nunnery of the <i>Sœurs de -la Miséricorde</i>, where one of my cousins had taken -the veil. At last, in the Rue des Clarisses I found -the huge door of the monastery, and rang the bell. -After a few moments a small trellised shutter in the -stout door was opened ajar, and a tremulous voice -asked in French what I wanted. I assumed that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> -it was one of the nuns, but I could see nothing -through that narrow jar.</p> - -<p>"Sister," I said, "I am a cousin of Sœur Eulalie, -and should like to see her, to know how she is and -take her greetings to her family in The Netherlands."</p> - -<p>"Sœur Eulalie!... Sœur Eulalie!... You -... you ... are a ... cousin ... of ... Sœur -Eulalie?"</p> - -<p>The terrified little sister was unable to stammer -anything more, and in great fear suddenly closed -the little shutter again.</p> - -<p>There I was left! After waiting a while I rang -the bell once more, and once more the little shutter -was opened in the same timid manner.</p> - -<p>"Now, look here, sister, I am a cousin of -Sœur...."</p> - -<p>"No, no, sir, your cousin ... is not here."</p> - -<p>Bang! The shutter was closed again. But I -did not give it up, for I needed the sisters' assistance -to find a shelter somewhere. Once more I made -the bell to clang, and although I was kept waiting -a little longer, at last I heard voices whispering -behind the gate and once more something appeared -behind the trellis.</p> - -<p>"Sister," I said then, "if you will only ask Sœur -Eulalie to come to this gate she will recognise me, -of course?"</p> - -<p>"She is your cousin, you say?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, sister. Tell her that Bart of Uncle -Henry is here." Again I was switched off, but the -communication was this time restored after a few -moments, and then I heard a joyful and surprised -exclamation:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> - -"Oh! Bart, is it you?"</p> - -<p>So at last the lock of the heavy door screeched, -and I was admitted. I noticed that about a score -of sisters had gathered behind the gate and were -anxiously discussing the "strange occurrence." My -meeting with Sœur Eulalie, however, was so cordial -that the good nuns lost all anxiety, and I was taken -inside accompanied by nearly all the inmates of the -convent.</p> - -<p>They first wanted me to explain what put it into -my head to come to Liège, and how I had managed -to get there; but as the sisters heard of my empty -stomach and my thirty miles, they would not listen -to another word before I had put myself round a -good square meal.</p> - -<p>In the meantime they themselves had a word or -two to say about the fright I gave them; for when -I stood at the door they mistook me in my sporting -habit for a German officer, and the top of my water-bottle -for the butt of a revolver!</p> - -<p>The work of these sisters is the education of -neglected children, and they spoke about their fears -during the last momentous days. During the -bombardment they stayed night and day with all -those little ones in the heavily vaulted cellars of the -nunnery, praying all the time before the Blessed -Sacrament that had been removed from the chapel -and taken into the cellar for safety.</p> - -<p>They constantly heard the boom, boom of the -shells exploding near by, and each time thought that -their last hour had struck. The gloomy cellar -depressed them still more, and nobody really believed -that there was any chance of being saved. So the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> -little sisters prayed on, preparing each other for -death, and looking for the approaching end in quiet -resignation.</p> - -<p>For the moment all they knew was that the Germans -were in the town, as none of them yet had -ventured outside the building. At present their -great fear was that Germans might be billeted on -them.... Oh! they might take everything if only -they did not come themselves.</p> - -<p>When I left I got a lot of addresses of relations -in The Netherlands, and undertook to send a -postcard to each of these. They also gave me an -introduction to the proprietor of an hotel whom they -knew, in which they asked him to give me a bed; -and thus armed I succeeded at last. It was high -time too, for at nine o'clock everyone had to be -at home. In the hotel everything was dark, for -there was no gas in the town. At last I could lie -down on my bed, and had a good rest, although I -could not sleep a wink. I was too tired and had -seen and experienced too much that day.</p> - -<p>The next morning at six I was out and about -again. I had not been able to get any breakfast, for -the people themselves had nothing. The Germans -had called at all the hotels and shops requisitioning -everything in stock to feed the thousands who had -invaded Liège like so many locusts. The inhabitants -practically starved during those days, and carefully -saved up bits of bread already as hard as bricks. -It was a good thing that the night before I had -eaten something at the nunnery, for although at a -shop I offered first one, and later on two francs for -a piece of bread, I could not get any.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> - -All the forts thundered away again, and the guns -of the Germans were also busy on the citadel and -the various surrounding heights. Already early in -the morning a terrible and suffocating smoke of -fire and gunpowder hovered over Liège. The -smoke came down also from the burning villages, -like Bressoux, on the slopes of the hills near Liège. -The flames flared up from the houses and offered a -melancholy sight.</p> - -<p>German officers told me, with full particulars, -how the inhabitants of those burning villages had -offered German soldiers poisoned cocoa, coffee, and -cigarettes, for which crime three hundred civilians -had been shot during the night in a Liège square.</p> - -<p>As even high officers told me those things, not -without some emotion, I began to believe them -and wrote something about them to my paper. -But what was made clear to me at a later visit! -That there was not a word of truth in the whole -story of that poisoning; that on that day and in -that square no shooting had taken place; that a -couple of days before the population had been -ordered to leave their houses within two hours -without any reason being given; and afterwards -several houses had simply been burned down.</p> - -<p>The Liège people were already up and about, and -wandered through the streets full of fear, for all -sorts of rumours were heard—that civilians were -murdered, the town was to be burned down, and -that a start would be made very soon. As they -looked at those burning hamlets yonder they believed -the rumours, and went nearly mad for fear; -the men as well as the women could not help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> -themselves, and wept. During the night various -posters were stuck on the walls about military action. -The following is the translation of one of these:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"The municipal Government of Liège remind their -fellow-citizens, and all staying within this city, that international -law most strictly forbids civilians to commit hostilities -against the German soldiers occupying the country.</p> - -<p>"Every attack on German troops by others than the -military in uniform not only exposes those who may be guilty -to be shot summarily, but will also bring terrible consequences -on leading citizens of Liège now detained in the citadel as -hostages by the Commander of the German troops. These -hostages are:—</p> - -<ul><li>"1. The Right Rev. Rutten, bishop of Liège.</li> - -<li>"2. Kleyer, burgomaster of Liège.</li> - -<li>"3. Grégoire, permanent deputy.</li> - -<li>"4. Armand Fléchet, senator.</li> - -<li>"5. Van Zuylen, senator.</li> - -<li>"6. Eduard Peltzer, senator.</li> - -<li>"7. Colleaux, senator.</li> - -<li>"8. de Ponthière, member of the Town Council.</li> - -<li>"9. Van Hoeyaerden, member of the Town Council.</li> - -<li>"10. Falloise, alderman.</li></ul> - -<p>"Bishop Rutten and Mr. Kleyer are allowed to leave the -citadel for the present, but remain at the disposition of the -German commanders as hostages.</p> - -<p>"We beseech all residents in the municipality to guard the -highest interests of all the inhabitants and of those who are -hostages of the German Army, and not to commit any assault -on the soldiers of this army.</p> - -<p>"We remind the citizens that by order of the general -commanding the German troops, those who have arms in -their possession must deliver them immediately to the authorities -at the Provincial Palace under penalty of being shot.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"The Acting Burgomaster,<br /> -"<span class="smcap">V. Henault</span>. -</p> - -<p> -"<span class="smcap">Liège</span>,<br /> -"August 8th." -</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span></p> - -<p>Fear reigned everywhere in the bustling streets; -people shouted at each other that the villages burned -already, that by and by they would start with the -town, that all civilians would be killed, and other -terrible things. The Germans looked at all this -with cynical composure, and when I asked some of -them what the truth was, they shrugged their -shoulders, said that they knew nothing about it, but -that it might be true, because all Belgians were swine -who shot at the soldiers or poisoned them. All of -them were furious because the Belgians did not -allow them to march through their country.</p> - -<p>Fugitives arrived from the surrounding villages, -who also spoke of nothing but arson, destruction, -and murder. They frightened the Liège population -still more, hundreds of whom packed up some of -their belongings and fled. They stumbled and fell -across the barricades in the streets, blinded as they -were by fear, and blinded also by the smoke which -settled down on the city and polluted the air.</p> - -<p>Matters stood so in Liège on the morning of -August 9th, when the second day of the occupation -by the Germans had not yet passed. The Belgian -field army, which had bravely defended the ground -under the protection of the forts, and inflicted -heavy losses upon the Germans, had to retreat before -their superior numbers, leaving the further defence -of the Meuse to the forts. But a high price had -been paid for Liège, for the German losses were -immense, and on the ninth they were still busy -burying their dead. The Germans lost many men, -especially near Lixhe and the Forts Bachon and -Fleron.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span></p> - -<p>At that moment the possession of Liège was of -little advantage to the Germans, as on this 9th of -August the Belgians still held all the forts. This was -the most important news that I was about to send -to The Netherlands, for when I left the Netherland -newspapers had published the news wired from -Berlin that all the forts had fallen.</p> - -<p>But the Germans were efficient, for during the -night they had laid down the rails on which in the -morning they transported parts of the heavy ordnance -that would demolish all the Belgian defences.</p> - -<p>A few minutes after I left the town a scene drew -my attention. A lady stood there with a little -girl; the lady seemed to urge the child to do something -to which it objected. She refused to take -a bag full of various small parcels pressed upon her, -and clutched hold of the lady's skirts. I wanted to -know what was the matter, got a little nearer, and -was amazed to hear them both speak Netherland. -I could not help asking what the trouble was and -whether I might be of service.</p> - -<p>"No, no, sir," the lady said. "Oh, oh, it is so -terrible! By and by the Germans will burn Liège -and kill us all. She is the little daughter of my -brother at Maastricht, and came to visit us a few -days before war broke out, but now she will be -killed too, for she refuses to go away."</p> - -<p>"But, madame, you do not mean to send that -child to Maastricht by itself?"</p> - -<p>"It must be done, surely, it must be done! -That is her only chance of escape, and if she stops -here she will be killed with the rest of us. Oh!... -oh!..."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span></p> - -<p>"But really, madame, that is only senseless gossip -of the people. You need not be afraid, the Germans -will not be so cruel as all that!"</p> - -<p>"Not? Oh! they are sure to do it. All the -villages are burning already. The smoke suffocates -us here. In Bressoux there is not a house left -standing, and in other villages all civilians have been -killed, men, women, and children. Not even the -tiniest babies escaped.... Oh!... and now it -is Liège's turn!"</p> - -<p>I knew about Bressoux. I had seen the flames -burst out from many houses, and I had reliable -information also from other villages about the -slaughter that took place there, although this lady -of course exaggerated when she said that "not even -the tiniest babies escaped."</p> - -<p>Need I say that I did all I could to make the -woman a little more reasonable, and make her -understand that it would not do to let a child of -ten walk by itself from Liège to Maastricht, and -least of all in these dire times. But I could not make -her see this, and this instance proves all the more, -perhaps, how upset the inhabitants of Liège were -that morning; they were nearly out of their senses -for fear.</p> - -<p>Of course I did not allow the little girl to go by -herself, but took her with me. It was a wearying -expedition in the excessive heat of that day. Very -soon the child was no longer able to carry her small -belongings, and, though already sufficiently loaded -myself, I had to take her bundle as well. She was -scarcely able to walk more than a thousand yards at -a stretch, and had then to sit down on the grass by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> -the roadside and rest. She did not quite understand -what was going on, but she had an undefined -feeling of fear on that long, deserted road, where -we did not meet anybody except some well-hidden -or stealthily moving German patrols who suddenly -pointed their rifles at us.</p> - -<p>After the explanations required of us they allowed -us to go on. The incessant roar of the guns made -the girl tremble for fear, and the stinging smoke -made her cough. After much trouble we got at -last as far as Herstal, where I had promised her a -short rest.</p> - -<p>This fine large village, actually a suburb of Liège, -was quite deserted, not a living being was to be -seen. I entered shops and cafés, called at the top -of my voice, but got no reply anywhere. I was -inclined to believe that everybody had fled. And -they would have been quite right too, for huge -columns of smoke rose up from the heights around -the place, four or five in a row, after a booming and -rolling peal like thunder had seemed to rend the sky.</p> - -<p>The German artillery had taken up their positions -here, and bombarded the forts in their immediate -neighbourhood. These did not fail to answer, and -rained shells on the enemy's batteries. One heard -their hissing, which came nearer and nearer, until -they fell on the slopes or the tops of the hills and -burst with a terrific explosion. Many a time we -saw this happen only a few hundred yards away. -Then the air trembled, and I felt as if my legs were -blown from underneath me. Broken windows too -fell clattering on the "stoeps."</p> - -<p>We entered another café, and once more I shouted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> -for the inhabitants at the top of my voice. At last -I heard a feeble sound somewhere in the hall, which -I entered, but as I saw no one there, I called out -once more. Then I heard distinctly, and knew -whence the answer came. I opened a door, behind -which stairs led to the cellar, and from there I was -at last able to speak to some of the Herstal people. -I heard that all of them stayed in their cellars for -fear of the bombardment.</p> - -<p>My request to allow the child to stay at the café -for half an hour was granted, and I went through -the village towards the place whence the German -batteries sent their destructive fire. At last I got -as far as the top of a hill, from which I could see -two forts shrouded in a cloud of smoke, which was -also the case with the German batteries.</p> - -<p>I could not stop there long, for I was actually -within range. I saw a number of shells explode and -twice hit a farmhouse, which was destroyed for the -greater part. So I returned as quickly as possible -to my little protégée, and went on with her, following -the road as far as the canal, and then along -this to Maastricht.</p> - -<p>On one of the hills, slightly to the south of -Haccourt, on the west bank of the Meuse and the -canal, a German battery was firing at Fort Pontisse. -The gunners there were quite kind, and they felt -no fear at all, for although they shelled the fort -continuously, it seemed that nothing was done by -way of reply to their fire. The shells from the fort -flew hissing over our heads, in the direction of -Lixhe, which proved that Fort Pontisse was still -chiefly busy with the pontoon-bridge at that place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span></p> - -<p>Until now we had walked along the right bank -of the canal, until we crossed one of the many bridges. -The little girl was well-nigh exhausted; from time -to time I gave her a rest, and then again I carried -her a part of the way.</p> - -<p>A good many soldiers were lying round about -the high cement factory of Haccourt. The factory -itself seemed to be used as a station for observations, -for suddenly a voice roared from a top window: -"Stop those people!" And we were stopped and -taken to a small table where three officers were -sitting drinking wine. The colonel asked for my -papers, which he did not consider sufficient, as I -had no passport from some German military -authority. So I drew out again the bridge-commander's -scrap of paper which said that I was -permitted to go from Lixhe to Visé.</p> - -<p>"Is this then the road to Visé?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir, I am returning from there."</p> - -<p>"Where then is Visé?"</p> - -<p>"That way, sir!"</p> - -<p>"That way? But how did you get here then?"</p> - -<p>"You see, sir, the bridge across the Meuse has -been destroyed, and in order to get back I had to -walk first towards ... towards ... Liège ... -and ... and ... and then they ferried me over -somewhere down there, and told me that I had to -go along the canal to get to Maastricht."</p> - -<p>"Is that so? Well, it is not very clear! And -that little girl?"</p> - -<p>"That is a Netherland girl, sir, who was staying -at her aunt's at Liège ... I mean to say at Visé, -and whom I take now with me to Maastricht."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span></p> - -<p>The officer went on shaking his head at my -answers, and I felt as if this might be the end of -my fine little adventure. But I could not tell him -that I had gone to Liège with that permit for Visé!</p> - -<p>At Fort Pontisse or Lierce they seemed to have -noticed that the factory was a station for observation. -As the officer was still thinking about my case, one -of those infernal monster shells crashed down among -a group of soldiers, only some yards away. Those -who were not hit ran away, but they came back -soon, and took up seven or eight comrades, whom -they carried into the factory. I shuddered when -I saw what had happened, and through the shock -the sight gave me I involuntarily jerked my arms.</p> - -<p>"Stand still!" the officer thundered.</p> - -<p>He looked for a moment at the spot where the -deaths happened, from which the victims were -carried away, and then suddenly asked in a kinder -tone of voice:</p> - -<p>"Is there any further news about the war in -The Netherlands?"</p> - -<p>I saw that I must take advantage of his changed -mood and his curiosity, and I hastened to reply:</p> - -<p>"Yes, that the French are advancing towards -Liège, and that the British have landed in Belgium."</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"It is as I tell you!"</p> - -<p>"But are you sure? Where are the French -now, and where did the British land?"</p> - -<p>"Well, all the Netherland papers have extensive -official reports about it. The French are now at -Namur and the British landed troops at Ostend...."</p> - -<p>"Wait! wait! wait!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span></p> - -<p>Quickly he summoned an orderly and gave some -orders, and a few minutes later four more officers -drew round the table, on which a large map of -Belgium was displayed. Their tone became at -once charmingly sweet and kind, and a soldier -offered me some lemonade from small bottles kept -cool in a basin filled with cold water.</p> - -<p>I did not feel very comfortable after what had -happened to those soldiers who lost their lives so -cruelly sudden, or in any case had been seriously -wounded, while the officers took little notice -of them. But it was desirable to behave as discreetly -as possible, and so to get a permit to -Maastricht.</p> - -<p>I had to repeat everything about the advance -of the French and the landing of the British, whilst -they followed my story on the map. But I was -soon in a cold sweat, for of course I knew practically -nothing, neither of the French nor of the British, -and each time when one of the officers pressed for -details I was in mortal fear that I might contradict -myself. But I stuck to my guns until the end, and -assured them that the French had crossed the Belgian -frontier near Givet, and were now near Namur, -whereas the British, disembarking at Ostend, had -advanced as far as Ghent.</p> - -<p>As soon as they had got all the information they -required, the commanding officer ordered a patrol -of cyclists of six men to leave their kit and rifles -behind, but to take a Browning, and deliver a -rapidly written letter at Liège.</p> - -<p>They were now very friendly, and spoke even -with great kindliness about the Netherlanders in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> -general. They let me proceed also on my way to -Maastricht, giving me their best wishes.</p> - -<p>My little protégée was, however, soon very tired -and complained that her feet ached. I had to -carry her for nearly a mile and a half before we -arrived at the Netherland Custom House, where I -left her behind, as she was now safe. I went on to -Maastricht alone, wired to my paper, and then saw -the worried, but soon extremely happy parents of -the little girl. They went at once to the Netherland -frontier to take their child home.</p> - -<p>I had succeeded. I had been in Liège, the first -foreign journalist who got there after her fall, and -was able to contradict the numerous reports about -the conquest of the forts which had made the round -of the newspapers for several days.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER III<br /> - -ROUND ABOUT LIÈGE</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">During</span> the fights round the forts I made a good -many tours and was able to contradict several -German reports about alleged successes. The atrocities -in the villages around Liège did not cease, -and constantly fresh crowds of refugees came to -Maastricht.</p> - -<p>In order to examine once more the state of affairs -around Liège, I decided to pay another visit to -that town.</p> - -<p>Starting in the early morning of August 15th, -I arrived at Visé without much trouble, after having -been led across the Lixhe bridge once more. Since -my first visit the bridge had been destroyed three -times over, and this new one seemed very weak. -As I stood there looking at it, a motor lorry had to -cross it, and the bridge gave way near the bank. -Another motor had then to pull the lorry up to -the top of the bank, and this made the bridge give -way still further.</p> - -<p>For the rest the transports were not much -troubled now, for obviously the bridge was no -longer the objective of the Belgian guns. At Visé -I was even told that Fort Pontisse had just been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> -taken and only Lierce could harass the troops, who, -after crossing the bridge, advanced towards Tongeren.</p> - -<p>Many things had happened at Visé since my first -visit. Under the pretext that the church spire -could indicate to Fort Pontisse in which direction -to shoot, paraffin had been poured over church -and spire and fire set to them. It was a venerable -ancient structure, built ten centuries ago, the fine -stained windows of which were well known.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants looked upon the church as a -special sanctuary, as the bones of St. Hadelin were -kept there. Before the fire these relics had been -removed to the vicarage secretly, and then to St. -Hadelin College, the only large building that escaped -the general destruction next day.</p> - -<p>Immediately after the church was set on fire, -the dean was arrested, as well as the burgomaster -and five reverend sisters. These last-mentioned -had been in prison a fortnight, when at last the -Germans discovered that the little sisters were of -German nationality. The Very Reverend Dean had -been treated very badly during his captivity.</p> - -<p>There was dire want in the little town, for the -Germans had been requisitioning everything until -there was nothing left. And as during the first -days of the war all traffic had been stopped, it was -impossible to bring in fresh supplies. The pieces -of bread the people still had were like bricks, and -several days old; and yet I could not get any of it.</p> - -<p>But the German troops had ample provisions for -themselves, and as an officer noticed that I went all -over the town to find some food in one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> -restaurants, he offered me, the "friendly" Netherlander, -something to eat at the Guard House. This -I declined, however, for I could not have enjoyed -bread taken from the starving population.</p> - -<p>There was still a real reign of terror, and constantly -the town-crier's bell was heard in the streets, -informing the people that the victors required -something or other. Only a few days ago it was -announced that all bicycles had to be delivered at -the bridge within twenty-four hours. Any person -who after that time was found in possession of -such a vehicle would be shot, and his house burned -down. With similar threats all arms were requisitioned, -but with the explicit addition that this -referred also to old, and broken arms, or those which -had been taken to pieces. Eatables and drinkables -were also constantly claimed under threats of arson.</p> - -<p>From Visé I went again across the Meuse to the -road along the canal. Nearing Haccourt, I noticed -that Fort Pontisse was actually silent, but Lierce -still in full action. The Germans had mounted -long-range guns on the hills between Lancey and -Haccourt, whence they could place Fort Lierce -under fire. A German officer, after some coaxing, -allowed me to witness the operations for a short -time. I found a place near some heavy guns, and -sat down amid some underwood. The shooting -from Lierce was very fierce, but only by the plumes -of smoke could I tell whereabouts the fort might be. -The shells came down near us, but during the -half hour of my stop not one made a hit. They all -fell short of us.</p> - -<p>It was a cruel sight. At a tolerably quick pace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> -hundreds of soldiers marched out in the direction -of the fort, dragging light ordnance with them. -One of the officers explained to me that the big -guns could not yet operate here; and now a -division of foot-artillery was commanded to occupy -a small hill near the fort. The big guns had to -support them on the way. The guns roared as if -all the thunderbolts of heaven had been flung into -space. The smoke of the powder poisoned the air -and made me cough. Gradually my surroundings -were enveloped in a thin haze, which became denser -and more suffocating the longer the guns roared. -And at last those hundreds of men, dragging their -guns along the byways, looked merely like shades.</p> - -<p>For quite a quarter of an hour they seemed to -proceed successfully, as obviously not one shell -exploded in their neighbourhood. But suddenly -all along their line dark masses several yards high -rose up. This was the effect of numerous exceedingly -well-aimed shells on the dry, loose sand. Soon -the men were surrounded by those thick clouds of -dust, and only during the first few minutes I saw -here and there one of those shades in human form -tumble down, evidently hit by one of the projectiles. -Then I saw nothing for a long while, excepting -the thick wall of dust, which seemed to remain -standing up, for constantly the shells threw up -anew the earth that had only just fallen down.</p> - -<p>The dust-wall extended gradually as the distance -grew covered by the Germans in their flight to -their former positions. But at last we saw the first -men emerge in complete disorder from that driving -cloud. Some on the right, others on the left, here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> -and there also small groups which courageously -dragged their guns with them, as they saved themselves -from that infernal downpour.</p> - -<p>Five minutes later the smoke had disappeared -almost, and I was able to see what had happened -on the field in front of me. Terrible! On all sides -lay scattered the lads, who but a short time ago -started with so much enthusiasm, and here and -there a gun knocked over, five, six corpses lying -around it.</p> - -<p>In front of me, behind me, on all sides, the guns -boomed, clouds of dust and smoke filled the air, -making it impossible to see much, which made the -awe and terror endurable; but after the air became -clear again, and the sun shed glowing light on the -beautiful fields, it was terrible to think that all -those dots in the plain were the bodies of young -men, cruelly crushed by the infernal products of -human ingenuity. It was agony to see here and -there a body rising up, merely to fall down again -immediately, or an arm waving as if invoking help.</p> - -<p>And by my side stood officers and soldiers raging -and cursing. To them came the returning men, -blood running along their faces from insignificant -wounds, and they bawled and bellowed, and thundered -with a thousand curses that they wanted to go -back and try again. How ghastly they rolled their -eyes in frenzied excitement! Some pointing at me -asked the officer who I was, and he explained. -Then I had to listen to endless imprecations against -the civilian population of Belgium, who, according -to them, consisted entirely of francs-tireurs, who -all of them deserved to be shot, and to have their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> -houses burned down. To repeat the coarse words -which they sputtered out in their rage would only -cause disgust.</p> - -<p>The officer assured me that a new effort would be -made soon, as they were commanded to take Pontisse -and Lierce at any price, the seventh and ninth -regiment of foot-artillery of Cologne being selected -for the purpose.</p> - -<p>I did not want to witness that second attack, and, -after thanking the officer, resumed my journey -along the canal-road to Liège.</p> - -<p>Near Herstal the Germans were crossing by the -large bridge, which the Belgians had preserved to -their own disadvantage.</p> - -<p>In Liège things were no longer so depressing as at -the time of my first visit. There was some traffic -in the streets, and by order of the German authorities -the shops had been reopened.</p> - -<p>In a meadow east of the city I saw three big guns -mounted, the biggest I had seen as yet. They -kept up a continuous and powerful cannonade at the -forts near the town, that had not yet been taken. -There were three of them left, of which Loncin -was the most important.</p> - -<p>A little farther away they were still busy with -Lierce, but excepting these four, all the forts were -now taken by the Germans. I stood there for a -moment, gazing at these cannon, the presence of -which was clearly unknown to the Belgians, for -their artillery took no notice of them. Only the -day before these guns had started shelling the forts, -and on the evening of August 15th they had silenced -two of them; but Loncin kept up the fight.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span></p> - -<p>During the evening I was granted an audience -by the Right Reverend Monseigneur Rutten, -Bishop of Liège. The venerable, aged prelate -received me very affably, but he was deeply impressed -by the terrible fate that had overwhelmed his poor -native country. He himself had suffered exceedingly -bad treatment at the hands of the Germans. First -he and the other hostages were imprisoned in the -citadel, where he was locked up in a small shanty, -with a leaking roof, so that the torrential rain entered -it freely. Wet and cold, the Bishop passed that day -without being offered any food, and, as stated above, -was at last allowed to go home.</p> - -<p>He told me a good many other instances of ill-treatment, -but as I gave him my word of honour -not to mention them, my mouth is sealed. He -himself was visited a few days later by the German -commanding general, who offered his apologies.</p> - -<p>That same evening many more houses were burned -down, more particularly in Outre-Meuse, although -no valid reason was given for that.</p> - -<p>The next day, Sunday, August 16th, I was already -about at five o'clock in the morning, and soon witnessed -some historical shots. In the park on one -of the boulevards the Germans had been digging -for two days, and prepared a firm foundation upon -which big guns might be mounted. I saw one of -these guns that morning, and at about half-past -five three shots were fired from it at short intervals, -by which Fort Loncin was completely destroyed, as -was indicated by the terrific explosions which followed -the third shot. After these shots I was quite -benumbed for several minutes; in all the streets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> -of Liège they caused the greatest commotion, which -became all the greater because large numbers of -cavalry happened to ride through the town, and all -the horses started rearing.</p> - -<p>Was the gun I had seen there one of the notorious -forty-two centimetre monsters? I should not like -to wager my head in affirming that. It was an inordinately -unwieldy and heavy piece of ordnance, -but during the first days of the war nothing or very -little had yet been said or written about these forty-two's, -and I did not pay sufficient attention to the -one I saw. Only after the fall of Loncin did -all those articles about the forty-two's appear -in the papers, and the Germans certainly asserted -that they destroyed Loncin by means of such a -cannon.</p> - -<p>But it is equally certain that at Liège as well as -at Namur and Antwerp the Austrian thirty-point-five -mortars were used, siege-guns chiefly, and these -were taken by the German soldiers for forty-two's. -These Austrian mortars were equally misnamed in -German, French, and even Netherland illustrated -papers.</p> - -<p>However, the effect of these Austrian mortars -was terrible enough. I could not form a correct -opinion about them by the sound of the shot; and -only those who were in the fort that was hit were -able to realise the terrific results. Hence the -interest of the report by an officer, who escaped -after having been made a prisoner at Loncin. He -told my colleague of <i>De Tijd</i> at Antwerp about it. -After having related how, during nearly ten days, -the fort had been defended heroically and reso<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span>lutely, -he gave the following description of the -final struggle:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"On August 14th, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, -the expected storm burst; for twenty-five hours the -invisible siege-guns poured their torrent of projectiles on the -fort. Flares of fire and dense clouds of smoke belched through -the crevices. As the enemy's batteries could not be located, -their fire could not be answered. The artillerists of the -garrison were then taken to the spacious chief gallery, which -offered a safe refuge under its vault, about two and a half to -three yards thick. Outside the sentries were watching. In -the parts near the entrance it was unendurable; the heavy -projectiles from the guns mounted in the town had nibbled -away the outer wall, only a yard and a half thick. There -were as yet no casualties among the garrison; calmly they -waited for the infernal tempest to subside and the enemy to -storm the fort, for they had sworn to repulse the assault.</p> - -<p>"General Leman, Commander Naessens, and all the officers -were splendid in their imperturbable courage. They found -the words that went straight to the hearts of their men. -These fellows looked more like bronze statues than human -beings. The projectiles hammered at the walls and smashed -huge pieces, penetrating into the parts near the entrance. -The rest of the fort withstood splendidly the hurricane of -hostile steel and fire. During the night the bombardment -stopped, and then the commanding officer went to inspect -the cupolas.</p> - -<p>"The larger ones had suffered little; but the majority -were jammed by fragments of concrete and steel, which struck -between the armour and the front-armour. The small -quick-fire cupolas had not been touched by any projectile. -'It is all right,' he said, 'we shall be able to repulse the enemy's -attack.'</p> - -<p>"At dawn the bombardment started again, but only the -front was seriously damaged. The garrison stood as firm as -a rock. Here and there the beginnings of a fire were soon -extinguished.</p> - -<p>"Then a frightful thing happened. The men had finished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span> -breakfast, some were sleeping quietly in spite of the thundering -noise. The assault was expected to commence during the -next night.</p> - -<p>"And then the disaster followed suddenly. At about five -o'clock a tremendous explosion shook the fort to the foundations; -the powder-magazine had caught fire. It is impossible -to describe the appalling results of that explosion; the entire -middle-part of the fort collapsed in a stupendous cloud of -flames, smoke and dust; it was an awful destruction, an -immense avalanche of masses of concrete, fragments of armour, -which in their fall crushed to death nearly the whole of the -garrison. From this fantastical, confused mass, overwhelming -clouds of suffocating smoke escaped through some crevices and -holes.</p> - -<p>"After this infernal rumble, deadly silence followed, -interrupted only by the groans of the wounded. The German -artillery ceased to fire, and from all sides their infantry came -rushing on, their faces expressing the terror caused by such -great calamities. They were no longer soldiers longing to -destroy, but human beings hurrying to go to the assistance -of other human beings.</p> - -<p>"German sappers and other military men cleared away -the dead and the wounded. They also discovered General -Leman, whose orderlies, who had a miraculous escape from -death, were already busy in rescuing him from underneath -the ruins.</p> - -<p>"They were all unrecognisable, their faces were black -from smoke, their uniforms in rags, their hands covered with -blood. The general was put on a stretcher, and carried outside -the fort across the heaps of obstacles; there he was -attended to by a surgeon. He had lost consciousness. As -soon as he recovered it, he pressed the hands of two Belgian -officers. 'It is all over; there is nothing left to defend. But -we did our utmost courageously.'</p> - -<p>"A German officer came nearer, and, uncovering his head, -said in a voice trembling with emotion: 'General, what you -performed is admirable!' Evidently these words slightly -comforted the defender of Liège, who before long was removed -by motor-car to an ambulance in the town."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span></p> - -<p>Such was the end of Fort Loncin, and by its fall -the last obstacle was removed by which the undisturbed -progress of the German armies might have -been prevented. The brave defenders of Loncin -did not surrender, but stood their ground until they -were buried under the ruins of their own defences. -According to information from another source, -Lierce had succumbed the night before.</p> - -<p>Early next morning I walked through the streets -of Liège, dull and depressed, deploring the fact -that such clumsy, heavy iron monsters had been -able to crush this stout defence and such men. As -I reached the Place du Marché, there arrived three -hundred disarmed Belgian warriors, escorted by -a strong German force. They stopped in the -square, and soon hundreds of the people of Liège -crowded around them. They were the defenders of -Fort Pontisse.</p> - -<p>Men and women tried to break through the German -cordon, but were repulsed roughly. So they -threw fruit, cigars, and cigarettes at them. The -lads looked gratefully at their compatriots, but for -the rest stared in front of them in dismal depression. -Once and again a name was called, as a relative or -friend was recognised. Some shed tears.</p> - -<p>Whether neutral or foreigner, no one could help -being deeply moved. Men and women, boys and -girls, pressed once more through the German fence, -just to shake hands with someone they had recognised. -No wailing followed, but when hands were -gripped, with a suppressed sob, they said:</p> - -<p>"Bear up, lad! Keep courage; it will soon be -different."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span></p> - -<p>And the answer was:</p> - -<p>"We did our utmost to the last, but it was impossible -to go on."</p> - -<p>I could not help myself, but also pressed through -the Germans, as I wanted to exchange a few words -with the Belgians. This was possible for a very -few moments only, in which they told me that they -had been firing night and day in order to harass -the Germans who crossed the river, but they had to -yield at the end, when the Germans put Belgian -civilians in front of themselves when attacking the -fort.</p> - -<p>I was roughly pushed back by the German soldiers -twice over. I broke through only to be repulsed -again. They got into difficulties with the huge -crowd, who pushed through on all sides, bought up -the stock of surrounding shops, and threw chocolates -and other sweets, cigars and cigarettes, at their -boys. Then a bugle sounded, and the Belgians -once more were arrayed in files. They calmly -lighted their cigarettes, and as the order "march" -was given, they took off their caps, waved them -through the air, and, turning to the Liège crowd, -exclaimed: "Vive la Belgique." Then hundreds -of caps, hats, and arms were waved in response, the -air resounding the cry: "Vive la Belgique. Au -revoir! Au revoir!"</p> - -<p>As I felt myself one with the population, I uncovered -my head and enthusiastically joined in the -cry: "Au revoir! Au revoir!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When I was half way between Liège and the -Netherland frontier, I noticed that the village of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> -Vivignes was burning in various places. It is a -beautiful spot, quite concealed between the green -trees on the slope of the hills, west of the canal. -And the finest and largest farms were exactly those -ablaze. The fire crackled fiercely, roofs came down -with a crash and a thud. Not a living being could -be seen. From the windows of the burning houses -small white flags hung, and they too were one by -one destroyed by the fire. I counted forty-five -farms that were burning, destroyed by the raging -flames.</p> - -<p>In a café, lower down, near the canal I saw a -number of German soldiers, and was successful in -having a chat with the inn-keeper, at the farthest -corner of the bar. I asked him, of course, what they -meant by burning the village, and he told me that -the Germans had made a number of unsuccessful -attacks on Fort Pontisse, until at last they reduced -it to silence. They were now so near that they -could open the final assault. They were afraid, -however, of some ambush, or underground mine, -and the Friday before they had collected the population, -whom they forced to march in front of them. -When they had got quite near they dared not enter -it yet, and drove the priest and twelve of the -principal villagers before them. That is how -Pontisse was conquered.</p> - -<p>Later on I heard the same story from several -other inhabitants.</p> - -<p>The people had been in deadly terror, and women -and old men, fearing that they would be killed, -had fallen on their knees beseeching the soldiers to -spare them. At present many women and old men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> -and even strong men, were laid up with violent -feverish attacks of nerves.</p> - -<p>Only because these wretched people had not -promptly obeyed the order of the military to march -against the fort in front of the soldiers, Vivignes -had been punished, and that morning over forty -of the best houses had been set on fire.</p> - -<p>I shuddered at the thought that in these days -such barbarities were possible. I asked the soldiers -whether I was allowed to enter the burning village, -but the commanding sergeant refused his -consent.</p> - -<p>I also asked the inn-keeper whether he felt no fear -in those surroundings. But, shrugging his shoulders, -he answered: "All we can do is to wait quietly. I -do all in my power to keep them in a good temper, -give them beer and cigars, and yesterday killed one -of my two cows for them. I may have lost everything -at the end of the war, ... but even so, let -it be, if I can only save the life of my family and keep -a roof over my head. But my anxiety is great -enough, for, you understand, I have two daughters -... and ... and...."</p> - -<p>We had got near the door of the room that stood -ajar, and from there came the sound of a couple of -girls' voices: "Hail, Mary.... Hail, Mary...."</p> - -<p>The frightened maidens were saying their -rosary.</p> - -<p>The news, that all the forts had now been taken -was quickly communicated to the surrounding -military posts, and in consequence the soldiers were -in a wanton mood. Most of the houses which I -passed had their doors and windows smashed and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> -broken, but the most provoking was that soldiers -had compelled the people in the cafés along the -canal to open their pianos and make their musical -automatons play. To the tunes of these instruments -they danced, yelling and shouting. No -greater contrast was imaginable than that between -such scenes and the burning village with the frightened -inhabitants around it.</p> - -<p>Near Haccourt, by the bank of the Meuse, I -noticed a terrible glare of fire and dense smoke. It -was an alarming sight, and made me fear the direst -things. I considered for a moment whether I -should go there or not, fearing that I had already -taxed my nerves too much. Yet, I made up my -mind to go, and by a side-way got to the Meuse, -near Visé. German engineers were busy here laying -telephone wires, and an officer stopped me, threatening -me with his revolver. It was obvious that they -were no longer accustomed to see civilians on that -road. After having examined my passport and -seeing that I was a Netherland journalist, he became -very friendly, and politely urged me not to go -farther.</p> - -<p>"Why not, sir?" I asked.</p> - -<p>"Well, there is a huge fire yonder; everything is -burning!"</p> - -<p>"How did that come about?"</p> - -<p>"Well, it seems that the civilians cannot understand -that only soldiers may fight soldiers, and -for that reason the whole place has been set on -fire."</p> - -<p>"Devant-le-Pont?"</p> - -<p>"No, Visé."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span></p> - -<p>"Visé? Do you mean to say, sir, that the whole of -Visé has been set on fire?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly!"</p> - -<p>"But ... but ...! May I go there?"</p> - -<p>"I must advise you not to, for it is extremely -dangerous, but if you like...."</p> - -<p>"Very well, sir, then I shall go there!"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER IV<br /> - -VISÉ DESTROYED: A PREMEDITATED -CRIME</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">One</span> of the first things I have to deal with is also -one of the most fearful I ever saw, and I only hope -that I may never again witness the like of it.</p> - -<p>I have mentioned already the reign of terror with -which the Germans ruled the wretched townlet -ever since they entered it. Something fateful might -happen any moment, and actually occurred during -the night of August 15th and 16th.</p> - -<p>On that evening the soldiers, rough fellows from -East Prussia, had been revelling in the cafés, shouting -filthy ditties in the streets, and most of them in a -very advanced state of intoxication. At ten o'clock -suddenly a shot was heard. The fellows took their -rifles, which they had placed against the walls, or on -the tables of the cafés, and ran into the street shouting -in a mad rage: "They have been shooting!" -The most tipsy began to shoot at doors and windows -simultaneously in various parts of the town, which -made the people in the houses scream, and this -excited the mad drunken soldiers all the more.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> -They forced their way into several houses, knocking -down the frightened inhabitants when these tried -to stop them.</p> - -<p>It is stated that some of the wretched people -were even pinioned and beaten. Their assailants -then stumbled up the stairs and began to shoot -wildly from the upper stories into the dark streets, -where their own raving comrades were rushing -about like madmen. Some civilians who in great -fear had come to their front door to see what was -happening were shot down.</p> - -<p>After this game had been going on for some time, -the order was given: "Everybody must come -outside." Doors and windows were forced open -and broken, and men, women, and children driven -out of the houses. They were at once ruthlessly -separated. Men who assisted their aged mothers, -or carried their little babies, were taken away -from their families, and driven away, leaving -their wailing and weeping wives and children -behind, while the flames from burning houses -threw a lurid light on the sad scenes of that -terrible evening.</p> - -<p>The poor wretches, who expected to be killed -at any moment, were driven into squares or the -meadows, where they were exposed to the chilly -night air, so that several babies perished. Only -the next morning were the women and children -allowed to leave—that is to say, they were told to -take the shortest way to Maastricht.</p> - -<p>A number of the men were taken to Germany, -the others were kept as prisoners in the neighbourhood, -and by and by had to suffer the shame of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> -compelled to work for the enemy. Amongst them -were men who had never done any manual work, -such as an aged notary public.</p> - -<p>Even a doctor of the Red Cross established at -St. Hadelin College had been removed in his white -overall and wearing his Red Cross armlet. This -was Dr. Labye, who already had rendered signal -services to the wounded Germans. In consequence -of his detention twenty of them were left in the -hospital without medical attendance....</p> - -<p>During the night only a few houses were burnt -down; the general destruction followed the next -morning, Sunday, August 16th, and just as I reached -the little town the flames were raging all over the -place in a fierce blaze.</p> - -<p>I shall never forget that sight. The Meuse -separated me from the raging blaze on the opposite -bank. The flames roared violently, roofs and rafters -and walls crashed down, and the wood of living -trees was burning and screeching loudly. I saw -but a sea of fire, one glaring glow, and the air was -scorchingly hot. A light breeze blew through the -place, and made clouds of smoke to whirl through -the streets like avalanches of snow. The view down -the longer streets leading straight from the hill-tops -to the Meuse was very fantastic.</p> - -<p>The wind seemed to play with the smoke, rolling -dense volumes down the slopes which dispersed -only when they reached the bank along the river. -Whilst the flames soared high up from the roofs, -the walls of the houses stood still erect, and everywhere -in the windows one saw those miserable -little white flags, symbols of submission, mute prayers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> -that submission should be rewarded by sparing the -life and possession of the inhabitants....</p> - -<p>I stood near the spot where the ferry-boat used -to take people across; but to cross was now out of -the question, for any one alighting on the opposite -side would be landed in the scorching glare. Therefore, -I returned to Lixhe, where I might try to cross -the river by the pontoon-bridge, and get to Visé -along the other bank of the Meuse.</p> - -<p>On the way I was stopped by two soldiers, one -of whom examined my papers, and, finding that I -was a journalist, revealed himself as a colleague, in -ordinary times editor of the <i>Kölnische Zeitung</i>. -He shook both my hands quite excitedly, glad to -meet a colleague, and, better still, one from the -"friendly" Netherlands.</p> - -<p>I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of -the <span class="err" title="original: Netherlander">Netherlanders</span>, who were such sensible people, -and the best friends of the Germans; protestations -which did not interest me in the least at that -moment. On the contrary, it struck me as deplorable -that this man did not say a single word of his -own accord about the horrible thing happening -close by: the destruction of an entire community! -He did not seem to attach any importance to it....</p> - -<p>As soon as the "friendly" Netherlander thought -that he had swallowed sufficient praise, I began to -ask questions about the meaning of that wanton -devastation, and why it was inflicted on the population! -Before answering, he looked round in a casual -manner, as if thinking: "Oh, it's that bit of fire -you refer to!" And then exploded in a string of -imprecations against the population.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span></p> - -<p>It is a lamentable sign that this German, probably -well educated, had not taken the slightest trouble -to find out the reason for this wholesale wrecking -of a town, that the whole affair impressed him so -little. "Somebody" had said that those cursed -civilians had been shooting, that explained it to his -satisfaction, and gave him ample cause for coarse -abuse of the wretched people.</p> - -<p>How many soldiers had fallen in consequence of -this attack by francs-tireurs he knew not; which -troops had witnessed the occurrence he could not -say. All he did know was that these troops had left -in the morning, leaving a small force behind to impose -the punishment.</p> - -<p>The bridge-command at the pontoon-bridge near -Lixhe allowed me to cross, after requesting me very -pressingly to make <i>very clear</i> what swine these -Belgians were, who fired so treacherously at unsuspecting -soldiers, put out the eyes of the wounded, -cut off their hands and genitals. When I asked -where all these things had happened, the answer -was: "Everywhere!" Of course, I promised -them to do everything they wanted.</p> - -<p>Very large divisions marched from Visé to the -pontoon bridge in the direction of Tongres. After -the Liège forts had been taken the bridge might be -passed in perfect safety. All day long troops came -along that road without interruption. I could -quite see that the soldiers who were at Visé the -previous day, and brought about the conflagration, -were gone, for they had left their traces -behind. All along the road lay parts of bicycles, -shoes, instruments, toys, and so on, everything new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> -and evidently looted from the shops. Very valuable -things were among them, everything crushed -and smashed by the cavalry horses, the clumsy -munition and forage waggons, or the heavy wheels -of the guns.</p> - -<p>A little farther on a few houses were left undamaged, -because they stood outside the town -proper. A woman who had remained in her house -stood outside with cigar-boxes under her arm. -She offered cigars from an open box to the soldiers -of the passing divisions. To me she seemed to be -out of her mind, as she stood there trembling, her -face distorted from hypernervousness. Her cringing -kindness was of no avail, for I noticed a couple of -days afterwards that her house too had been totally -destroyed.</p> - -<p>On the first houses of the town large bills had -been stuck, intimating that they were a Netherlander's -property, but obviously that had not -impressed the tipsy soldiers to any extent, for they -had been wrecked all the same for the greater -part.</p> - -<p>The whole town was like a sea of fire. The -Germans, who are nothing if not thorough, even -in the matter of arson, had worked out their scheme -in great detail. In most houses they had poured -some benzine or paraffin on the floor, put a lighted -match to it, and thrown a small black disc, the size -of a farthing, on the burning spot, and then immediately -the flames flared up with incredible fury. I -do not know the constituents of this particular -product of "Kultur."</p> - -<p>Nor did I see any inhabitants in the burning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> -town. It was practically impossible to stay in the -streets; burning walls and roofs and gutters crashed -down with a great noise, so that the streets were as -much on fire as the houses themselves. Only at -the crossings were any soldiers to be seen, who, in -various stages of intoxication, constantly aimed at -the burning houses, and shot everything that tried -to escape from the burning stables and barns: pigs, -horses, cows, dogs, and so on.</p> - -<p>Suddenly I saw a boy about twelve years old in -one of the burning streets. He waved his arms, -rushed madly to and fro, calling for his father and -mother, and his little brother and sisters. He -was in danger of perishing in the fire, or being killed -by the murderous bullet from a rifle. I ran after -him, laid hold of him, and in spite of his resistance -pulled him back. Fortunately I met a couple of kind, -sober soldiers to whom I told the story, and who -promised to send the boy away from the burning -town.</p> - -<p>Shortly afterwards I met a Netherland Red Cross -motor-car. The male nurses, who had met me -already on former occasions during the war, recognised -me, rushed up to me, and forced me to come -with them to the car. Here they tried to explain -with a torrential flow of words that I exposed -myself to the greatest danger by coming here, as -nearly all the soldiers were drunk, shot at every -civilian, and so on.</p> - -<p>They insisted upon my staying near the car, and -be a little safer under the protection of the Red -Cross. They told me how they had to drag an old -woman out of her house, who refused to come with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> -them, and in her despair shouted nothing but: -"Let me die!—let me die!"</p> - -<p>I could not say or do anything, for I felt as if -stunned, and let them lead me where they liked; so -they gave me a glass of claret, and that revived me.</p> - -<p>A few moments after they went away I went also, -and entered the burning town once more. A Netherland -family lived in Villa Rustica, and I had promised -to make inquiries about them.</p> - -<p>As I stood there looking at the ruins of what was -once so fine a house, a small group of refugees approached, -carrying as usual their miserable parcels in -which they had hurriedly collected the things that -had the least value. As they saw me they shuddered -and shivered and crept closer together. Most of -them wept and sobbed, and their faces were twisting -nervously.</p> - -<p>I went up to them and explained that there was -no need at all to be afraid of me. They were able to -give me news of the inhabitants of Villa Rustica. -The owner had died a few days since, from a paralytic -stroke, brought on by the emotions caused by -the German horrors, whereas madame, who had -heroically intervened on behalf of some victims, -was probably at St. Hadelin College.</p> - -<p>My poor informants had not yet made up their -mind where to go, fearing that they might not be -permitted to enter The Netherlands as they were -without means of subsistence. I assured them, -however, that our conception of neighbourly love -and charity was different, and that they would be -hospitably received.</p> - -<p>I showed them the way to Eysden, and they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> -scarcely started when a cavalry patrol came racing -on, the men tipsy and their seat rather unstable. -Seeing the refugees, they aimed their rifles at them -and roared "Hands up!" The poor creatures not -only put up their hands, but fell on their knees, -and muttered incoherent words. The women -folded their hands, and stretched them out to the -cavalry, as if praying for mercy. The soldiers -looked at the scene for a moment, burst out in a -harsh laughter, spurred on their horses, and raced -on without a word. Two of them stopped near -me. I gave them, however, no time for threats, -but quickly showed them the old pass to Visé. -As soon as they saw the German writing they said: -"All right!" and went off.</p> - -<p>I came now to the eastern boundary of the town, -whence the streets slope gently towards the bank -of the Meuse. Here I had an atrociously fantastic -view of the burning mass of houses. I fell in with -a crowd of dead-drunk soldiers, who first handed -my papers on from the one to the other, but as -soon as they understood that I was a Netherlander -they showed no hostility.</p> - -<p>They sang and shouted and waved their arms. -Most of them carried bottles full of liquor, which -they put to their mouths frequently, smashed them -on the ground, or handed them to their comrades, -when unable to drink any more themselves. Each -of a troop of cavalry had a bottle of pickles, and -enjoyed them immensely.</p> - -<p>Other soldiers kept on running into the burning -houses, carrying out vases, pictures, plate, or small -pieces of furniture. They smashed everything on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> -the cobbles and then returned to wreck more -things that would have been destroyed by the -fire all the same. It was a revelry of drunken -vandalism. They seemed mad, and even risked -being burned alive at this work of destruction. -Most of the officers were also tipsy; not one of them -was saluted by the soldiers.</p> - -<p>The beastly scenes which I witnessed in the -glaring, scorching heat benumbed me, and I looked -on vacantly for a long time. At last I went back and -called at St. Hadelin College, the Head of which I -had visited already once or twice. The building -was still undamaged.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Reverend Head, Dr. Frits Goffin, -saw me he burst out sobbing, and, taking me by -the hand, speechless, he pressed it a long time. I -myself also was quite dumb. At length he -muttered:</p> - -<p>"Could you ever have thought ... that ... -that ... such ... a cruel ... fate would overwhelm -us? What crime did these poor people -commit? Have we not given all we had? Have we -not strictly obeyed their commands? Have we not -done more than they asked for? Have we not -charitably nursed their wounded in this House? -Oh! they profess deep gratitude to me. But ... -why then? There is nothing left in the House for -the aged refugees whom we admitted, for the -soldiers we nurse; our doctor has been made a -prisoner and taken away, and we are without -medical help. This is nothing for the Sisters and -myself, but all these unfortunate creatures ... -they must have food...."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span></p> - -<p>The excellent man went on weeping, and I was -not able to console him and did not know what to -say. He took my arm, and led me to the large -common hall, where twenty wounded Germans lay, -who had been hit in the fight for the forts. He -went to one bed after the other, and, with tears -in his eyes, asked each man how he felt, and inquired, -"Are you ... properly ... cared for ... here? -Are you?" The sick men turned round, their -eyes beamed, and they stammered words full of -gratitude. Others said nothing, but took the Head's -hand and pressed it long and warmly.</p> - -<p>The wounded civilians had been put up in the -small schoolrooms. Some of them must soon -die. Some had burns, but most of them were -hit the previous night during the mad outbreak, -the mad shooting of the drunken and riotous -Germans. In another room a number of old -women were crowded together, who had to fly -but could not walk all the way to the Netherland -frontier.</p> - -<p>Near each staircase stood a blackboard on which -the Germans had written that to go upstairs was -prohibited under penalty of death. The Head -explained that the Germans alleged that light -signals had been given from the top storey.</p> - -<p>Two South-American boys, about twelve years -old, had stayed on and heroically assisted the Head -at his charitable work. Dr. Goffin was not allowed -to take anybody with him except these two children -in his search for the wounded, and to bury the -dead. It is scarcely credible how courageously -these boys of such tender age behaved. Later the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> -Chilean ambassador made inquiries about them -and asked for their portraits.</p> - -<p>I also met there a compatriot, who had got permission -to go to The Netherlands, but declined to -leave. She was Mrs. de Villers, <i>née</i> Borret. On -August 27th I wrote about her to <i>De Tijd</i>:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Four days ago her husband was buried. As he was -addressing the League of Old-Retraitants at Cherath he was -seized by a paralytic stroke, which proved fatal. She has -no longer a home, beautiful Villa Rustica being completely -burnt out, and now in ruins. But she refuses to return to -The Netherlands, as she is still able to be of service to the -people here.</p> - -<p>"In Cherath she saved the life of a good many. As it was -alleged that there had been shooting, the priest, the chaplain, -a retired priest, eighty years old, the mayor, and several leading -citizens were condemned to be shot. None, not even the -priest, was able to defend himself, as they knew not a word -of German, and could not make themselves understood. -Mrs. de Villers, who speaks German fluently, explained that -the spot where the shooting was alleged to have taken place -was not part of Cherath at all.</p> - -<p>"So this brave lady succeeded in getting the sentence of -death withdrawn. But the Germans wanted to torture their -wretched prisoners on any or no plea. They were placed -near the church wall, kept standing there all night, were told -that they would be shot by and by, and threatened by the -soldiers with their bayonets.</p> - -<p>"In the morning sixty soldiers escorted them out of the -village to the hamlet Wandre, where the populace was told -they would be shot. Should one shot be fired by one of the -inhabitants—thus Mrs. de Villers was told—the prisoners -would be shot out of hand; if not, they would be released at -Wandre. Mrs. de Villers had, of course, secretly warned the -inhabitants in time.</p> - -<p>"She hopes to be able to render further services to the -populace, thanks to her knowledge of German, and stays on,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> -occupying her time with charitable work. A respectful salute -is due to this courageous compatriot."</p></blockquote> - -<p>On the same day I wrote as follows about Dr. -Goffin:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"His face, unshaven since ever so long, is quite emaciated, -and presents all the symptoms of nervous exhaustion. Once -more twenty German soldiers are being nursed in his college, -where only once a German doctor came to see them. He -(Dr. Goffin) and a couple of Sisters have to manage everything -by themselves, and the Germans do not even dream of -providing food for their own wounded, although the college -is so inadequately provisioned that the Head and the Sisters -have to deny themselves the necessary nourishment that they -may feed the wounded.</p> - -<p>"And how are they thanked for it?</p> - -<p>"The Reverend Head has been notified already ten times -that he would be shot, and he is frequently being arrested for -alleged shooting from the building. This shooting is actually -done by German soldiers alone, who are loafing and looting, -as I myself noticed a short time ago. The Head took me to -a room where an old man of ninety, who had just received the -extreme unction, lay dying. By his side sat a broken-hearted -little old woman, his wife. This old man had been taken -prisoner with other men of Visé, and forced to work at a new -bridge. The poor fellow broke down under the strain; it -cost him his life."</p></blockquote> - -<p>I left burning Visé deeply impressed by the -savage scenes I had witnessed: men turned into -beasts by drink, passion, and anger, doing all manner -of wrong to the wretched inhabitants; but the -impression became deeper by the great contrast: -the perfect, charitable devotion of a virtuous priest, -a courageous lady, and ever kind and commiserate -Sisters. Never have I experienced so many emotions -in one day as at Visé.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span></p> - -<p>After taking warm leave of the Head of St. -Hadelin College, I continued my walk to the -Netherland frontier.</p> - -<p>I was scarcely outside the townlet when I met -another little group of refugees, probably all -members of one family. The mother was being -supported by her daughters, all wept, and nervous -exhaustion made them totter as they walked. -Every moment the mother looked back pitifully at -the conflagration which devoured all around, including -her slender property, for which she had -worked so many years.</p> - -<p>From the other side came two soldiers, one of -whom she recognised, as he had been billeted on -her. Constantly weeping, her face distorted, she -sent another glance towards that fiery blaze, looked -at the soldier as if reprovingly, hesitated a moment, -but then pressed the enemy's hand, sobbing: -"Adieu!—adieu!"</p> - -<p>Sometimes I felt as if I were dreaming and wanted -to call myself back from this nightmare to another, -better, and real world. And I thought constantly -of the man who, by one word, had given the order -for these murders, this arson; the man who severed -husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, and -children, who caused so many innocent people to -be shot, who destroyed the results of many, many -years of strict economy and strenuous industry.</p> - -<p>The first acquaintance whom I met on Netherland -territory was a Netherland lady married to a -Walloon, who kept a large café at Visé. Before -the destruction she had asked me, full of anxiety, -whether the Germans would indeed carry out their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> -threat and wreck everything. I had comforted -her, and answered that I did not think them capable -of doing such a thing. Weeping, she came to me, -and reminded me of my words. The whole business, -in which these young people had invested their -slender capital, had been wrecked.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER V<br /> - -FRANCS-TIREURS?</h2> - -<p>I <small>THINK</small> that there is no better occasion to deal with -the question whether there was a franc-tireur-guerilla -in Belgium than after the chapter on the -destruction of Visé.</p> - -<p>My opinion on the matter is still the same as -when I first wrote about it to <i>De Tijd</i>, and in <i>Vrij -België</i>; and from my own personal knowledge and -after mixing with the people I consider the allegation -that the Belgians acted as francs-tireurs an -absolute lie.</p> - -<p>Some uphold the accusation on the ground of -expressions in Belgian newspapers, collected in a -German pamphlet. In my opinion these quotations -have not the slightest value. Everyone will understand -this who thinks of the excitement of journalists, -whose country was suddenly and quite unexpectedly -involved in a terrible war, and who felt now that -as journalists they had to perform a great, patriotic -duty. In their nervous, over-excited condition -they sat at their desk and listened to the gossip of -refugees about civilians taking part in the struggle. -In their imagination they saw hordes of barbarians -overrun their native soil, saw man and man, woman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> -and woman, shoulder to shoulder, resisting the -invader without regard for their own life. The -thoughts of such journalists, whose very own country -had been at war now for a few days, were not on -severe logical lines; they found a certain beauty -in that picture, and I can quite understand how -some came to believe in it as a reality, and gloried -in it.</p> - -<p>That is not evidence however, for how did they -get the information? From my own experience -I make bold to say with the greatest confidence -that these reports came from German sources only, -whereas there was not any ground for them.</p> - -<p>I have witnessed all the people during the very -earliest days of the war. I came to Liège, passing -between the forts, as described already. I was in -Lixhe when the pontoon bridge was wrecked -repeatedly by Fort Pontisse; I stayed at Visé three -times before the destruction began, and I was -there when the charming townlet was wrecked by -fire; and in Louvain I have been dragged from -my bed by six soldiers and arrested, when the whole -town was still ablaze.</p> - -<p>Very well, I have:</p> - -<ul><li>1. Never seen anything of a franc-tireur-guerilla.</li> - -<li>2. Never seen anyone who was arrested as a -franc-tireur.</li> - -<li>3. Never heard any German soldier, of whatever -rank, assert that he himself had witnessed any action -by a franc-tireur, although I questioned such -soldiers times without number. They always mentioned -others, who had left days ago, and were said -to have gone through the miserable experience!</li> - -<li><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> - -4. Never heard the <i>name</i> of any franc-tireur in -answer to my questions.</li></ul> - -<p>But they were <i>always</i> German officers and no -others who talked about francs-tireurs, and at Visé, -Liège, Dinant, Bilsen, and particularly at Louvain, -they constantly pressed me and tried to make me -promise that I should write to <i>De Tijd</i> about francs-tireurs -and justify the devastations. These stories -emanated from the officers and permeated the rank -and file; and the men grew fearfully angry with -the Belgians, whom they cursed and abused. -It also made the soldiers terribly afraid of francs-tireurs, -and I noticed many a time that some -loud sound from a falling wall, for example, -made a whole troop of soldiers jump up, lay -hold of their rifles, and hide themselves in an -absolute "blue funk." The mere noise made -them curse and rage and talk of nothing but -burning houses.</p> - -<p>In the end these stories of the soldiers convinced -even the inhabitants that there had been francs-tireurs, -but never in the place where they lived, -always somewhere else. They could not believe -that the Germans could be so cruel and wreck so -much property if nothing at all had happened; -and when at length the time came that they themselves -were obliged to fly, many of them believed -that their compatriots who <i>elsewhere</i> acted as francs-tireurs -were to blame for all the dire calamities. -But if they had had my opportunity to go "elsewhere" -and gather information there, they would -have been convinced of the untruth, and probably -would have heard the name of their own village as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> -the scene of the occurrence. That was how rumours -and reports got about.</p> - -<p>Many soldiers, probably most of them, were -undoubtedly of good faith, and <i>believed</i> what they -related; but the damnable notion had been put -into their heads by their superiors. That is why -I do not consider it impossible that <i>some</i> places were -wrecked on account of <i>alleged</i> acts by francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>I have explained already in the chapter "Round -about Liège" that I myself was duped occasionally, -for example, by the story of the three hundred -civilians who had been shot. To my mind these -violent acts at the beginning of the war were part -and parcel of the system of frightfulness, by which -the Germans tried to scare the population and -indirectly the hostile armies, at the same time -rousing their own soldiers to anger and fury.</p> - -<p>That mad fury was also intensified considerably -by the accusations about gruesome mutilations -committed on German soldiers by Belgians, who -were said to have cut off the noses, ears, genitals, -and so on of their enemies. These rumours were -so persistent that in the end it was generally believed -in neutral countries that these things had happened -frequently.</p> - -<p>No little astonishment was therefore created by -an interview which I published with Dr. van der -Goot of The Hague, who did so much excellent -work in the Red Cross Hospital at Maastricht. He -also had come to believe all these stories, and as -everybody always mentioned a large hospital in -Aix-la-Chapelle, which was said to be full of similarly -mutilated soldiers, Dr. van der Goot went to that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> -town to see for himself. The chief medical officer -of that hospital in a conversation stated that not -one single case of that sort had been treated in his -institution nor in any of the other local hospitals -where he was a visiting physician. At a meeting -of the medical circle just lately held he had not -heard one word, nor had any one colleague, about -the treatment of similar cases.</p> - -<p>In Louvain I was myself arrested, because a more -than half-drunk soldier had accused me of spying -and arson! There too I had to listen to all sorts -of abuse because I was a franc-tireur. And in spite -of all this they tried to extract a promise from me -to write against the francs-tireurs!</p> - -<p>The history of the destruction of Visé affords -also interesting support to my opinion, as previously -expressed, that the violent actions of the Germans -took place according to a fully thought-out design.</p> - -<p>During the early days of the war the papers -published a report, of German origin, that Visé had -been destroyed because francs-tireurs had appeared. -I was therefore not a little amazed when, arriving -there on August 8th, I found the townlet entirely -undamaged, and even the German military admitted -that they had not heard a word about francs-tireurs.</p> - -<p>But the inhabitants were treated even then in -a most vexatious manner, and on August 14th (the -destruction came about on the 16th) I wrote to <i>De -Tijd</i> (No. 20457):—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Visé is under a real reign of terror. The day before -yesterday the town-crier walked the streets with his bell, and -announced that within twenty-four hours everyone had to -deliver his bicycle at the bridge. Anyone in whose house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> -a bicycle should be found would be shot and his house set on -fire. Yesterday morning the Germans announced once more -that all arms, including those that were old or damaged or -taken to pieces, should be handed in at the town-hall within -an hour. If any arms should be found anywhere after that, -they would shoot the inhabitants and burn down the town. -Eatables and drinkables were requisitioned continuously under -threats of firing the town, and the inhabitants are afraid of -nothing so much as of the possibility that something may be -required some day or other that cannot be produced."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Even before that, on August 11th I sent a communication, -by post or cable (<i>De Tijd</i>, No. 20353), -in which the following is found:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"In and round about Visé people sleep in their cellars, as -they are threatened frequently that the town will be set on -fire."</p></blockquote> - -<p>Anyone who, like myself, has been able to see -in what frame of mind the people were during the -first days of the German occupation, cannot believe -it possible that they would even think of taking up -arms. They lived in an unending terror, tried to -forestall the invader's demands, and, if anything was -requisitioned, they searched each other's houses -to see whether anything was kept back and all the -demanded bottles of gin or claret were forthcoming. -There was not one who did not keep his door open -as widely as possible to prove his complete submissiveness, -and to let the Germans enter his house -at any time to check what was to be found there. -Every moment I saw men or women run into the -street offering cigars to the soldiers from open boxes, -smiling nervously and desperately, trying to behave -as unconcernedly as possible. During those early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> -days payment for refreshments was accepted hardly -anywhere, and people often refused to accept money -from me, because they mistook me for a German.</p> - -<p>Men and young women in the prime of life sat -whole days in a chair, or lay abed, because in the -most literal sense of the word they were unable to -stand on their feet for fear and terror, caused by -the incessant menaces.</p> - -<p>And during these first days of the war I had not -met a single person who was able to settle down -quietly in the existing circumstances, not a single -person in whom anger and fury subdued fear and -terror.</p> - -<p>Is it thinkable that persons in that frame of mind -would take up arms and invite the enemy's revenge -upon themselves and those near and dear to them, -a revenge of which they were so mortally afraid?</p> - -<p>And supposing for a moment that the allegations -made by the Germans were true, that there had -been shooting at Visé for example, then one might -perhaps consider the revenge justifiable, but should -also expect that they would punish with a heavy -heart, conscious that they were inflicting a necessary -evil.</p> - -<p>Of a heavy heart, however, there was not a trace. -In the previous chapter I described how beastly they -behaved during the destruction of Visé; how the -soldiers drank immoderate quantities of alcohol, -and then jeered at the wretched refugees; how -they indulged in unmitigated vandalism, and -wrecked by hand things of which they knew that -by and by would be destroyed by fire.</p> - -<p>Children and old people perished in consequence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> -of the cruel heartlessness of the Germans, and in -St. Hadelin College they robbed their own wounded -of medical help and surgical appliances.</p> - -<p>This happened not only at Visé, but also at other -places which I visited, more especially at Louvain. -And those who read the following chapters carefully -will find sufficient support for my opinion, that -<i>Belgium is innocent of the base charges and allegations -uttered by Germany, which country soiled its conscience -still worse, first by plunging the little kingdom into -the direst misery, and then by accusing it falsely of -crimes which it never committed</i>.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VI<br /> - -WITH THE FLEMINGS</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Between</span> my tours through the Liège district I -made a trip in the direction of Tongres, because I -wanted to know what had become of all those -Germans who had crossed the Meuse near Lixhe. -It was remarkable to notice how friendly the -Flemings of that district behaved with regard to -the Germans. Although they criticised the violation -of the country's neutrality sharply, and every -family was proud of the sons who had taken up -arms in defence of their Fatherland, yet they judged -quite kindly the German soldiers who passed through -their district. I often heard expressions full of -pity toward those men, who could not help themselves, -but were compelled to do whatever their -superiors commanded them.</p> - -<p>The Germans did themselves great injury undoubtedly -by their vulgar and barbarous demeanour, -for that lost them every claim on the sympathy of -the people.</p> - -<p>They behaved tolerably well during the first few -days after the occupation of Tongres; but that -did not last long, and soon they began here also to -commit atrocious acts of terrorism. One evening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> -at about the middle of August several civilians -were killed, a dozen houses along the road to Maastricht -were fired, and in the town the windows of -several shops smashed, which was followed by general -looting. That lost them whatever sympathy they -might have met with in the district.</p> - -<p>On August 12th I came for the first time to -Tongres. They had been there only a few days, -and only near the town-hall did I see a goodly -number of the garrison. Many wounded were -brought there, and carried in through the door under -the outside stairway. They came from Haelen, -where a battle was being fought that afternoon -and for which they had left in the morning. For -the attack on the entrenched Belgians they had -used cavalry exclusively, who were simply mowed -down by the murderous fire from the hidden -mitrailleuses and the infantry fire from the trenches. -The Germans suffered a great reverse, and were -deeply embittered.</p> - -<p>Just outside Tongres I met a fleet of Red Cross -cars loaded with wounded. Cavalry escorted them. -I was stopped and ordered to go back, as they -expected the Belgians to attack Tongres.</p> - -<p>I thought the result of the battle of Haelen -rather important, and should have liked to have -wired it immediately to my paper. Until now I -had always gone on foot, that being the only conveyance -which the Germans could not seize. But -this time I preferred a bicycle, as the only way to -get to The Netherlands on that same day. So I tried -at a couple of bicycle-shops to get a second-hand -one for love and money. At the first shop I asked:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span></p> - -<p>"I suppose, madame, that you have an old -'bike' to sell?"</p> - -<p>She looked me up and down suspiciously, and -then said:</p> - -<p>"No, I've none to sell."</p> - -<p>I did not fare better at the next. There the -answer was:</p> - -<p>"I refuse to sell 'bikes' to Germans."</p> - -<p>"But, madame, I am not German; I am a -Netherlander. I should...."</p> - -<p>"I can hear quite well that you are German, and -if you were a Netherlander you would not venture -on a bike at this moment. If you come here to -seize my bikes, I'll deliver them, for I cannot do -anything against that, but I refuse to sell them of -my own free-will."</p> - -<p>The dear lady rapped it out in such a decided tone -of voice that I desisted. I told my trouble to the -proprietor of a café where I took a glass of beer; he, -examining my papers, placed confidence in me, and -got me a rickety thing, for which I paid twenty-two -francs.</p> - -<p>After all, this was better than walking, so I decided -to make a small detour, go once more to Liège, and -see how the forts were. I lost my way in a maze -of by-roads, and got at last back to the main road -near Jupille, where I met a patrol of Uhlans, who -came in my direction at a trot.</p> - -<p>Already from a distance with much fuss they -signalled to me to stop, and of course I obeyed at -once. Two men dismounted, came to me in a -perfect rage, and, without asking who I was or -what I was doing, cut my tyres to pieces in several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> -places; they abused me with wild gesticulations -and threats, jumped on their horses, and rode off. -I dragged my wretched vehicle with its stabbed -tyres a little distance, but then met a second patrol, -who showed still greater indignation, and destroyed -it altogether.</p> - -<p>For the rest of the journey I used my only remaining -means of transport, my legs, and after a walk of -some hours got to the frontier of The Netherlands -near Oud-Vroenhoven. A Netherland custom-house -officer asked for my papers, and I showed him -my huge passport. The man looked at the sheet -critically, and made out that I could not possibly -be a Netherlander, as I was the holder of a "foreign" -passport.</p> - -<p>My "foreign" passport was, of course, in French, -of which language the man evidently knew not a -word. Although I explained that this passport -was the best one could get in The Netherlands, -that I had paid six guilders and seventy-five cents -for it, that I was a war-correspondent of <i>De Tijd</i>, -it was all useless. I had to go with him to the -guard-house, and the man kept the queer passport—the -damning piece of evidence—firmly in his -hand. All the inquisitive loafers, of which the -frontier was full during those days, followed me, -and so we went in procession to the guard-house, -at some distance from the frontier. I heard all -sorts of discussions behind me, and constantly -caught words like: German, boche, deserter, franc-tireur, -spy, and other complimentary niceties.</p> - -<p>As soon as I had entered the guard-house a -soldier, rifle in hand, mounted guard. The cus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span>tom-house -officer handed my French passport to a -lieutenant, who scrutinised it closely. Then followed -the examination:</p> - -<p>"You are a journalist?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"On which paper?"</p> - -<p>"<i>De Tijd</i>, sir; here is my press-card."</p> - -<p>"Where is <i>De Tijd</i> printed?"</p> - -<p>"In Amsterdam...."</p> - -<p>"In which street?"</p> - -<p>"Well ...! The Nieuwe Zijds Voorburgwal."</p> - -<p>"All right; you may go!"</p> - -<p>Having pushed my way through the loafers, who -stood waiting before the house, I was able to continue -my journey to Maastricht.</p> - -<p>A few days later I had to go to Canne, a Belgian -hamlet near the frontier, south of Maastricht. In -the evening of August 18th an atrociously barbarous -crime had been committed there, a cool-blooded -murder. At Canne live some good, kind -Flemings, who would not hurt a fly. The kind-hearted -burgomaster had, moreover, tried for days -to comfort his fellow-citizens, and was for ever -saying:</p> - -<p>"Leave everything to me; I'll invite them to have -a glass of wine with me, and you will see then that -they are kind people."</p> - -<p>This he had done. Already for many days he had -treated several officers to his best claret.</p> - -<p>Tuesday night, August 18th, at about 11 o'clock, -a train of luggage carts passed through Canne, and -in the village the Browning of one of the soldiers -in the last van went off suddenly. This was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> -signal for all Germans to start shooting indiscriminately, -anywhere, at anything, happily without -hitting anybody. A few tipsy soldiers went to the -burgomaster's house, and no sooner had his wife -opened the door for the barbarians, when a shot was -fired, the bullet passing through the unfortunate -lady's head into the wall opposite the door. -I was there early the next morning and saw the hole. -It is evident that the soldiers ill-treated the dead -lady with their rifles in a horrible manner, for a large -part of the wall was spattered over with blood.</p> - -<p>After having murdered the burgomaster's wife, the -villains attacked a guest, Mr. Derricks, a lawyer, and -member of the Provincial States, whom they killed -with a bayonet. His wife broke a leg when she -tried to fly to the cellar.</p> - -<p>Mr. Derricks lived at Roelanche, but with his -wife and seven children had fled for security to -Canne, where he was hospitably received in Mr. -Poswick's, the burgomaster's, house.</p> - -<p>When I got to the house everything was in a -frightful state. A pair of curtains showed traces -of fire; cupboards had been emptied, and nearly all -the china and glass broken; statuary lay broken on -the floor; windows were smashed; bits of bricks -and plaster from the ceilings, through which many -shots had been fired, completed the scene of destruction. -On the doorstep I picked up a cartridge-case, -which I have always kept, because it is highly -probable that it had contained the bullet which -killed Mrs. Poswick.</p> - -<p>This terrible tragedy took place at scarcely six -yards from the Netherland frontier, for the burgo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span>master's -house stands by a road half Belgian and half -Netherland. The Netherland soldiers who were -doing frontier-duty on the latter part had to fly -from the mad shooting of the Germans. They hid -behind a wall that was quickly full of bullet-holes. -The German soldiers spent a considerable time -guzzling the burgomaster's wine, which they looted, -and afterwards went off in the direction of Tongres.</p> - -<p>It was stated later on that the German authorities -punished the culprits and had them executed -at Aix-la-Chapelle; <i>De Tijd</i> of August 31st, 1914, -also reported it. But the action of these soldiers was -not worse than that of generals who had entire cities -destroyed and civilians killed by the hundred, but -were always screened by the German Government.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>On Thursday, August 20th, I decided to go once -more in the direction of Tongres. As the Germans -had picketed the main road along the Netherland -frontier, I made a detour and dragged my bicycle -across the mountain near Petit Laney, a very trying -job in the stifling heat. From the mountain top -I had a beautiful vista, which enabled me to see that -near Riemst a large German force was encamped -at which I desired to have a look. So I walked -down the hill to Canne, where some crofters were -trying to get their cattle into The Netherlands. -These poor creatures, who usually own two or three -head of cattle, had been compelled already to give up -half of their stock. From Canne I cut through -corn and beetroot fields to the road to Riemst. -The first German sentinels were tolerably friendly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span></p> - -<p>"Ah, so you are a Netherlander, aren't you? -Then we are friends. The Netherlands remains -neutral, does she not? What news have you from -there; are you already at war with Britain?"</p> - -<p>These and similar questions were asked after a -superficial examination of my papers, and, having -answered them, I was allowed to go on. But at a -certain moment an officer appeared, who summoned -me to dismount, and asked for my papers. After -a short examination he ordered a soldier to take -me to the commanding officer at Riemst.</p> - -<p>The attitude of all the soldiers changed immediately; -they looked at me with angry eyes, and from -time to time I heard hostile remarks. Whenever I -did not walk quickly enough or turned a little to the -right or the left, my escort pulled me roughly by the -arm. All the same I took the case as coolly as -possible, fully convinced that the commanding -officer would release me after a superficial examination.</p> - -<p>At Riemst, the soldier took, or rather pummelled -me into a large farm-house, and soon I faced the bigwigs, -who had made themselves as comfortable as -possible in a large room. Several pictures and engravings -lay on the ground in pieces, whilst numerous -full and empty wine-bottles indicated that they had -abundantly worshipped at the shrine of Bacchus, -and intended to go on with the cult. The higher -officers and the subalterns seemed to be frantically -busy; at least they had violent discussions with many -gesticulations over a map. The soldier reported -that he had brought me here by order of Lieutenant -Such—I did not catch the name—and then it began:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span></p> - -<p>"Who are you?"</p> - -<p>"I am...."</p> - -<p>"What do you want here—what are you here -for?"</p> - -<p>"I am a Netherland jour...."</p> - -<p>"What! A Netherlander? I suppose you come -to see how many troops are here, don't you? And -then...."</p> - -<p>"Please be good enough to have a look at my -papers, and then...."</p> - -<p>"Papers? Papers? Yes, of course you all have -papers; all those villains who shot at our men at -Visé come back from The Netherlands with papers, -in order to start afresh. Later on I'll have a look -at that stuff. Here, lock him up for the present."</p> - -<p>He pointed to a couple of soldiers, and they laid -hold of me. They took me to a small room, where -I was astonished to find two soldiers with revolvers -guarding a priest and a peasant. As soon as the -door was closed behind me I wished to chat with -my fellow-prisoners, for even in prison I was not -oblivious of my journalistic duties. But they -seemed not at all anxious to have anything to do -with me, and I soon understood the reason why. -At each question they threw timid glances at the -two watch-dogs, and I saw that fear of these made -them withhold all information. However, after a -good deal of trouble I got to know that the priest -was the parish priest, and his companion in misery -the burgomaster. They had been taken as hostages, -and would suffer punishment for acts the villagers -might eventually commit against the German -usurpers. I contented myself with this, as I felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> -that in the circumstances further questions might -make things awkward for these two men.</p> - -<p>What might happen next? Sitting on a chair -in a corner of the room I began to consider my -position. For the moment it was not agreeable, -but by and by those officers might find time to look -at my papers. The only thing I bothered about -was a map marked with the places where, according -to the latest news, the German and French armies -were. I kept it in an inside coat-pocket, and it -might be found if they should search me.</p> - -<p>I spent three hours in the small room with my -silent companions. At last I was called, and -appeared once more before the casual court-martial.</p> - -<p>"Very well, now give me those papers."</p> - -<p>Having got them, several officers examined my -credentials, and their faces showed that the horizon -was a little clearer for me.</p> - -<p>"Oh, you are a journalist? And what came -you here for?"</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, I wanted to follow, as far as the -German Authorities desire to allow it, the movements -of the German armies, in order to give -reliable information to the Netherland public, who -take a great interest in your progress."</p> - -<p>"Indeed! And did you take notes already? -Just let me have a look."</p> - -<p>The turn things took now was not quite to my -liking, and I did not feel very safe when I handed -him my scribbling-pad.</p> - -<p>"I cannot read a word of it! Can you read it at -all yourself? Yes? Oh, but I cannot understand -it. Translate some of it."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span></p> - -<p>That was a relief! I began to translate, taking -the liberties to which every translator is entitled. -And I succeeded in making a favourable impression -by censoring my own manuscript.</p> - -<p>"Well, that is right enough. But, mind, don't -say in your paper that you found troops here, and -especially avoid telling which troops."</p> - -<p>"Very well, sir."</p> - -<p>"Nor must you tell them that we detained you -here. That was really not our intention at all, but -just now we had no time to examine your papers."</p> - -<p>"All right, sir."</p> - -<p>"And what is the news in The Netherlands about -the war?"</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, not much beyond what you are sure -to know already: that Japan declared war against -Germany; that the Russians invaded Germany; -that the French gained some important victories -in Alsace; that the German fleet lost some -ships...."</p> - -<p>"Oh, bosh! Stop it! These are, of course, -all lies from Reuter; they did not come from Wolff. -Japan is not going to declare war against us; much -rather against Russia!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, but, sir, Wolff confirmed these reports."</p> - -<p>"Oh no! That is impossible, and, after all, we -are not afraid of Japan either. You had better -write in your paper that we are not afraid of anything -excepting Montenegro. And you may also -inform your readers that it is better for Netherlanders -not to cross the frontier, as we are going -to apply much stricter measures. For we have -evidence that those people from Visé and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> -villages who fled to The Netherlands are returning -with forged papers, in order to shoot at us. And -now you may go, but back to Maastricht at once."</p> - -<p>"But will you then please give me a pass, otherwise -I may be detained again on my way back."</p> - -<p>"Oh yes! You may have that!"</p> - -<p>And the commanding officer gave me a pass, -on which this very same colonel who had prohibited -me to write in my paper what troops were at -Riemst, put a stamp on that pass, which contained -the German eagle, and besides this the words: -"Royal Prussian 8, Reserve Infantry Regiment, -II Battalion." This confirmed what the rumours -said, that the troops who had passed through Visé -and other places during the last days and committed -those atrocities there, were the reserves which had -been called up, among whom discipline is less strict -than among the younger men, who arrived in these -districts during the earlier days.</p> - -<p>Although I had been commanded to return "at -once" to Maastricht, I succeeded in having a chat -here and there with the inhabitants of Riemst. I -had visited the village about eight days ago, but -what a change! Then the people assured me that -"die Duutschen"<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> were not so bad after all, that -they were compelled to do their duty, and were -kind to the inhabitants if these were kind to them.</p> - -<p>And at present? Every word expressed hate, -profound hate, hardly controlled. They trembled -all over when they spoke in deep, inspiring voices -about "die Duutschen."<a name="FNanchor_2b_2b" id="FNanchor_2b_2b"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p>Everything of value had been stolen from them: -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span>horses, cows, sheep, carts, bicycles, everything, -everything!—only in some cases payment was made -with tickets, which might be cashed after the war. -During the night the German soldiers slept in the -rooms, but the inhabitants—men, women, children, -babies and sick persons—they locked in barns and -cellars, which they boarded up.</p> - -<p>I was not allowed to return by bicycle, and left -it at a café at the crossing of the roads to Tongres -and Riemst. A couple of days later the Germans -had already abstracted the tyres.</p> - -<p>The road to The Netherlands was strewn over -with empty wine-bottles.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VII<br /> - -LIÈGE AFTER THE OCCUPATION</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Next</span> day I was already back in Liège, where much -was changed after my last visit. The Germans -went on terrorising the inhabitants, and these, being -extremely frightened, looked with suspicion at -every stranger. In the streets was the smoke of -burning houses, especially from Outre-Meuse.</p> - -<p>In every quarter I met Belgian refugees from the -south, and Netherlanders who wanted to escape -to their safe native country. The Liège people -themselves were not allowed to leave.</p> - -<p>Nearly every hour another proclamation was -posted; and this made the people still more nervous. -One of them brought the information that the -province of Liège had to pay a war-tax of fifty -million francs. Another forbade the people to be -out in the streets after six o'clock p.m.; the doors -must remain open, the windows show the lights. -Burning and shooting were threatened if any more -arms should be found, and all houses were to be -searched.</p> - -<p>Many shops were closed on account of lack of -stock, as everything had been requisitioned, and -as yet no traffic was allowed to bring in fresh pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span>visions. -All this bother made the inhabitants -discontented, but frightened them at the same -time; they grumbled and whispered, and looked -about with malicious, flaming eyes, but in mortal -fear.</p> - -<p>Labourers were called up to assist in reinforcing -the conquered forts on the left bank of the Meuse, -the forts which by and by might be used to shell -their fellow-countrymen, in case the Germans -should be forced to retire. Nobody will have -offered himself for this work voluntarily, the less -so as the proclamation wound up as follows:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Des ouvriers volontaires seront embauchés à partir du -21 Août sur la rive gauche de la Meuse, où on fera connaître -les conditions détaillées":</p> - -<p>("Voluntary workmen will be enrolled from August 21st -on the left bank of the Meuse, where details of the conditions -will be made known.")</p></blockquote> - -<p>The streets and squares where the high military -officers had established themselves were closed by -cordons of soldiers, and nobody was allowed to pass -them.</p> - -<p>The town was entirely shut off from war- and -other news.</p> - -<p>I informed a few priests of the Pope's death, which -had been known in The Netherlands for several -days. They knew nothing about it, and asked -whether I had any proof by me. I gave them <i>De -Tijd</i> printed with a black border, and armed with -this document they went to communicate the sad -news to the Right Reverend Rutten, bishop of Liège.</p> - -<p>I also brought consternation to the nunnery at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> -which my cousin lives by this same report of the -Holy Father's demise; and the good dear Sisters -roamed through the passages, wringing their hands -and repeating: "Le Pape est mort!—le Pape est -mort!" ("The Pope is dead!")</p> - -<p>I met a doctor at this nunnery, who told me -highly important news, but in whispers, because -in these days "even walls have ears": the Allies -had gained great victories over the Germans. As -he saw by the expression of my face that I did not -believe off-hand all he told, he became still more -impressive in manner, and produced a paper, from -which he recited:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Great German defeat at Libramont—nine thousand -prisoners taken."</p> - -<p>"In Alsace the French are near the Rhine."</p> - -<p>"The Russians advanced fifty miles into East Prussia."</p></blockquote> - -<p>In the same way the list went on for a goodly -length, and he became actually angry when even -then I refused to believe everything. He was -especially pleased with the account of the victory -near Libramont. He had a friend, also a physician, -who had been compelled by the Germans to go with -them in the medical service, and this friend had told -him this himself. It was remarkable that educated, -superior persons could become so narrow-minded -in times like these, and believed anything simply -because they hoped that it might be true.</p> - -<p>The town was full of soldiers, and I had great -trouble to find lodgings. "Tout est pris par les -Allemands" ("Everything is taken by the Germans") -was the answer I got everywhere, with the result<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> -that I was still hunting for a bedroom after six -o'clock, although nobody was then allowed in the -streets. I was stopped at every turn, and after -explaining my case got a hint to hurry up.</p> - -<p>At last I found an hotel, where I could have a -small garret, against which arrangement I had not -the slightest objection in the circumstances. The -café downstairs looked rather peculiar, with a great -number of looking-glasses, and ladies with powdered -faces. These seemed not averse to closer relations -with me, but when I pretended not to understand -a single word of French, they soon gave it up, -and showed no further desire for my friendship. -But I could see quite well that they discussed -the question whether I was a German officer or -a spy?</p> - -<p>I went to bed early, for that day I had again -walked from Maastricht to Liège. My little bedroom -was quite in the roof of the house, and had -evidently been used by a servant.</p> - -<p>About midnight I was roused by an infernal -noise in the street. People yelled and screamed -most fearfully, and I heard rifle-shots also.</p> - -<p>I felt not the slightest inclination to go and see -what was the matter, but I stretched myself and -yawned, feeling much more tired after a couple of -hours' rest than when I went to bed. The uproar -went on, and suddenly I thought that I also heard -a hubbub in the café downstairs. And, really, -it came ever nearer. People rushed up and down the -stairs, screamed and yelled, doors were banged, in -short it was as if they were pulling down the house.</p> - -<p>Very sleepy, I went on listening ... listening ...<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> -probably until I fell asleep again, for I cannot remember -what happened after.</p> - -<p>I woke up in the morning, and when going downstairs -saw that the doors of all the rooms stood open, -and everything inside was in great disorder. In -the café tables and chairs were overturned, and -broken looking-glasses lay on the floor. The front -door was also open, and I walked away.</p> - -<p>And now the explanation? During the night the -Germans had started house-to-house searches, and -wherever the doors were not opened quickly enough, -the soldiers began to shoot. The inhabitants were -then driven into the street amid loud screams -and cries. It was also said that some persons had -been shot.</p> - -<p>By what accident had I not been disturbed? The -height, perhaps, at which my miserable little garret-room -was situated.</p> - -<p>The hotel where I stayed that night was called -<i>Hôtel de la Paix</i>; an hotel of peace, indeed!</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER VIII<br /> - -LOUVAIN DESTROYED</h2> - -<p>As soon as I heard about the horrors that took -place at Louvain, I hastened to try and get there to -find out, if possible, by personal observation the -truth of the numberless conflicting stories that would -undoubtedly grow up from the facts. I expected -that the situation round about the town would be -rather critical, and decided to proceed cautiously. -It is rather a long stretch of nearly forty-five miles, -but I succeeded in getting to Louvain in the afternoon.</p> - -<p>The road itself had prepared me already in some -degree for the horrors I should find there. All the -villages through which I passed, excepting Tongres -and the townlets of St. Trond, Borgloon, and -Tirlemont, were for the greater part burned down or -shelled into ruins. The German troops, who had -been stoutly resisted during their march through -St. Trond and Tirlemont, had attacked in a great -rage the civilian population. They set the houses on -fire and aimed their rifles at the terror-stricken -civilians who fled from them. The men were nearly -all killed, but women and children were shot as -well.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span></p> - -<p>On the road from Borgloon to Thienen I had a -chat with an old crone, who stood weeping by the -ruins of her miserable little cottage, which she refused -to leave. This little house, which strenuous -zeal had enabled her to buy, was all she possessed on -earth besides her two sons, both fallen through the -murderous lead of those barbarians, and buried in the -little garden at the back of their ruined home. Of -another family, living close by, the father and two -sons were murdered in the same way.</p> - -<p>Between Thienen and Louvain I met endless -trains of refugees, exactly like those I had seen -already near Visé, Liège, and other places. These -also carried their wretched bundles, and children -and young people did their utmost to encourage -and support their elders on their arduous path. All -these people saluted me in a cringing, timid manner, -nodding smilingly and taking off their caps already -from afar.</p> - -<p>I saw some extremely poor people, very old and -stiff, to whom walking was nearly impossible. A -Bavarian soldier escorted them. He had his rifle -slung across his back and in both hands carried the -luggage of the unfortunate creatures. He seemed -to have come a long way already, for he looked -tired, and the perspiration ran down his face. -Although it is only natural to assist one's fellow-creatures, -this scene touched me, for hitherto I -had seen the Germans commit rough, inhuman -deeds only.</p> - -<p>I noticed the smell of fire already several miles -from Louvain. On both sides of the road small -mounds indicated the graves of soldiers who fell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> -during the brave resistance of the Belgians before -Louvain. A small wooden cross and some pieces -of accoutrement were the only decorations. Carcases -of horses were lying in the fields, from which -came a disagreeable smell.</p> - -<p>The town was on fire, and ruddy smoke hovered -over it. Deserted like a wilderness, not a soul -moved in the streets. The first street I entered was -the Rue de la Station. Large, imposing mansions -used to stand here, but the devouring fire consumed -even the last traces of former greatness.</p> - -<p>All houses were on fire, and every now and then -walls fell down with a roar of thunder, shrouding -the greater part of the street in a thick cloud of -suffocating smoke and dust. Sometimes I had to -run to escape from the filthy mass. On several walls -an order was written in chalk directing the men to -come to the market-place to assist in extinguishing -the fire, and the women to stay indoors. As soon -as the order had been obeyed the Germans drove -the men from the market to the station, where they -were packed in trucks like cattle.</p> - -<p>Farther on in the Rue de la Station lay nine rotting -carcases of horses, the intestines oozing from the -bodies, and a greasy substance was poured over their -skin. The stench was unbearable and made breathing -nearly impossible, which compelled me to jump -on my bicycle and escape as quickly as possible from -the pestilential surroundings.</p> - -<p>The sun was already setting, and became still -redder, making still more abominable and more -infernal the glare of the burning town. Nobody -moved about in this abode of death.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span></p> - -<p>I roamed about aimlessly in a scorching heat. -Whither? I did not know myself. I did not know -Louvain and met nobody whom I might ask something. -I came near a couple of streets that were only -ruins; the walls collapsed against each other and -filled the roadway with rubbish, so that sometimes -I could not see whether I walked on or beside the -place where the houses used to stand.</p> - -<p>Bicycling was of course out of the question; -I shouldered my bicycle and stepped across the glowing -cinders, which singed my soles. One spot could -still be recognised as a street corner. Three soldiers -emerged there suddenly and aimed at me with their -rifles.</p> - -<p>I explained who I was, and was then allowed to -come nearer. They were drunk, and with glassy -eyes talked about francs-tireurs, the friendship -Germans felt for Netherlanders, and so on. One -of them entered the still burning corner house and -returned with three bottles of wine, one a bottle of -Champagne; corks were drawn and one of the -bottles handed to me. First I said that I never took -wine, then that the doctor had forbidden it; it was -of no use. The fellow who held the bottle in front -of me got nasty, and shouted:</p> - -<p>"If you don't drink with us you are not our -friend." At the same time he beat the ground with -his rifle-butt and, willy-nilly, I had to drink.</p> - -<p>Suddenly several shots sounded in the neighbourhood. -The three took their rifles and looked round, -somewhat scared. They assured me that they would -protect me. If there had been occasion for it, it -would have been against their own comrades,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> -for a troop of soldiers came sailing along, swinging -about their rifles and shooting at the burning houses -as they walked on, without rhyme or reason, anyhow -and anywhere. These were drunk also. At last I -was able to shake off my "friends," and got through -another street into the market-place, at the town-hall -and St. Peter's Church. The beautiful town-hall -happily was not destroyed, as the first reports -intimated, but St. Peter's had been damaged most -cruelly. The spire had disappeared, the roof -collapsed, windows broken, the altar burned, the -pulpit badly damaged, and so forth. The two last-named -parts were fine works of art.</p> - -<p>For the rest most houses in the market-place -were on fire. Soldiers were billeted on one of the -corner houses, and I was of course detained there, -but released again, after having been requested to -show up the francs-tireurs. I had to consider also -where I might pass the night in this burning city? -I asked an officer's consent to stay the night with -the soldiers. He gave his permission if I could get -the consent of the commanding officer, whom I -might find at the station; he told me that he was -sure to grant it.</p> - -<p>Before I got there I passed the Halls of Louvain, -the building that contained the world-famous -library, with its numerous art-treasures. Only the -outer walls were left standing, inside it was all ruins. -All was reduced to dust, to miserable rubbish, and -never will one single page be recovered of all those -thousands of burned manuscripts.</p> - -<p>I was greatly astonished to see a little old man -sitting by his house, while all those in the neighbour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span>hood -were burning. His own dwelling had escaped -without much damage, and was only hit by rifle -bullets. He told me that his family had fled, his -son with wife and all children but one, a small boy. -At length he left also, but had lost his way outside -the town, and returned to his house, where the -Germans "allowed" him to remain. I considered -that I might after all sleep better in that house -than yonder among the soldiers, and asked the -little man whether he would put me up for the -night. He did not object at all; but in spite of -my pressing, he refused absolutely to accept any -payment.</p> - -<p>"But," he said, "but perhaps you brought some -bread with you to eat on the road, and I should like -to have a piece of that ... not for myself ... -but for my grandchild; we had nothing to eat -all day long, and the little boy is so ... is so -hungry."</p> - -<p>The poor man wept, and, although I had taken -with me no more than two pieces of bread-and-butter, -which I had not touched yet, I could not -bear the sight of these poor, hungry things, and -handed over to them my food.</p> - -<p>As I passed a Red Cross Hospital, partly spared, -I noticed a Flemish doctor, who first looked at me -from the door held ajar, and then came nearer; -a strapping young fellow with a black beard. After -I had made myself known as a Netherlander, he -was clearly surprised, and it seemed as though he -had a lot to ask or to tell. I expected to hear a -torrent of abuse against the Huns, who had destroyed -everything, and murdered so many innocent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> -people, or a lament about the valuable treasures -of the library, which also had not been spared; -but no, other thoughts occupied his mind. With -a slightly trembling voice he asked:</p> - -<p>"Ah well, you come from The Netherlands; -tell me whether it is true that you have let the -Germans through, allowing them to ravish us? -Tell me whether this is true?"</p> - -<p>The man became quite excited, and took hold of -my sleeve. He looked me straight in the face, as -if he wanted to find out by the expression of my -eyes whether I spoke the truth. I could easily -stand the scrutinising look, for I knew too well how -utterly false those suspicions were. So I replied -with great emphasis:</p> - -<p>"I know that those rumours have been spread -about, but also that they were contradicted by -Belgian officials. I know also, and can affirm it -from my own personal observation, that there is -not a single word of truth in those accusations, for -I passed the early days of the war in the district -where the fight was going on."</p> - -<p>The good man's face became quite cheerful, he -grasped my hand, deeply moved, and, pressing it -warmly, said:</p> - -<p>"Ah, well, I am sincerely glad to hear that. You -cannot believe what awful sorrow it gave us, -Flemings, when we heard that the Netherlanders -were conspiring with the Germans."</p> - -<p>The doctor now became more communicative -on other matters. According to him the Germans -contended that the inhabitants had been shooting -from windows and cellars, in order to prevent the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> -garrison from assisting their comrades, who were -fighting a battle against the Belgians at a distance -of about four miles and a half from the town. -Such an organised action of the inhabitants, under -the tyrannical rule of the Germans during the -eight days before the destruction, he called impossible, -and therefore the whole accusation absurd. -At any rate they had felt that the destruction was -coming, and had been planned systematically, for -during those eight days the Germans had plundered -the population, and taken from them all bread, -even what they required to feed themselves.</p> - -<p>To avenge this alleged shooting by civilians the -fires had been kindled in the houses, maxims placed -in the streets, women and children beaten, men -imprisoned or murdered.</p> - -<p>The discovery by the Germans of so-called depôts -of Belgian rifles, each rifle labelled with the name -of a citizen, was a gigantic "misunderstanding." -Already before the Germans occupied the town -the burgomaster had issued an order that all arms -should be delivered. The inhabitants had obeyed, -and the rifles were provided with a card so that -each might be returned to the lawful owner after -the war. This collection of arms has been used -by the Germans as evidence of an organised revolt -of the citizens.</p> - -<p>When I told the doctor that I had to go to the -station, he explained to me how I could get there -without walking across red hot cinders, and I -followed his advice. I walked through quarters -which used to be the pride of the city, but were -now turned into heaps of rubbish.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span></p> - -<p>They made also sad havoc of the Boulevard de -Namur. Many mansions of the aristocracy had -been destroyed and many people killed. There -were corpses still lying on the Boulevard as I passed, -all in a state of decay. The smell was unbearable -and the sight loathsome, especially when I saw -several drunken soldiers insulting the bodies of these -unfortunate people.</p> - -<p>In the flowerbeds in front of the station many -corpses had been buried, especially those of soldiers -who had been killed in the fight near Louvain. -The station itself was well guarded, but, thanks to -my passport and resolute manner, I gained admission -and was finally ushered into the presence of the -man who is responsible for the destruction of -Louvain, Von Manteuffel.</p> - -<p>I had expected to meet a terrible creature, but -must admit that he was as kind as possible. As -soon as he had learned from my papers that I was -a Netherland journalist, he jumped up and stood -in the attitude as though he saw in me the personification -of the Kaiser. He already probably felt -the pangs of remorse, and now wanted to try and -justify himself as far as possible in the eyes of the -public.</p> - -<p>He stated that the cause of the destruction was -the necessity of punishment, because Belgian soldiers -in civilian dress had stayed behind in Louvain, -waiting to attack the German army from behind at -the first favourable opportunity. They thought -that their chance had come when for a short time -the German troops had to be withdrawn from the -fortified camp of Antwerp to take their share in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> -fight near Louvain. Von Manteuffel thought that -by attacking the troops in the town the Belgians -hoped to prevent the Louvain garrison from assisting -their comrades.</p> - -<p>He did not seem to mind much the destruction -of the Halls with their world-famous wealth of -books; anyway he spoke about it in an unconcerned -tone. But he seemed to attach great importance -to the safety of the town-hall. He said that when -the buildings adjoining the town-hall began to -burn, he had them blown up in order to keep the -fire away from the beautiful monument.</p> - -<p>As darkness was coming on I asked him whether -it was not dangerous to pass the night in the house -of that little old man, whom I mentioned above. -He saw nothing dangerous in it, as by far the greater -part of the town was deserted, and no attack need -be feared.</p> - -<p>So I thought that I might chance it. The house -was some distance from the station, near the railway -line; opposite stood a sort of goods station guarded -by six soldiers. Before entering the house I had -a chat with them, for I thought that if I explained -my position and told them that the commanding -officer gave me permission to pass the night in that -house, I should be much safer if anything should -happen during the night, because they knew then -that they had to deal with a neutral journalist. -They might moreover warn me should the fire that -was raging all around reach that house. So I told -the whole story to these fellows, who were also more -than half drunk, showed them my passports, gave -them some cigars, and after a friendly chat went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> -to the old man who was to put me up for the -night.</p> - -<p>There was of course no gas lit, and there was no -paraffin lamp in the house. I was shown to my -room by the dim light of a candle. The old man -could hardly get up the stairs, as he was trembling -all over in consequence of the days passed in fear -and dread. The ceiling of my bedroom had been -pierced by bullets, and the fragments covered nearly -the whole of the bed, which had not been made -after it was last used. The unaccustomed work -of stripping and making the bed was soon finished, -and I was hardly ready when a soldier entered -at the door, which had to be left open by order, -and shouted from the bottom of the staircase that -I was not allowed to have a light, and must blow -out my candle.</p> - -<p>I was soon fast asleep, tired out by my bicycle ride -of that day of about forty-five miles, and my -wanderings through Liège. But my rest was not to -be a long one. At about ten o'clock I was awakened -by a great noise on the stairs, and was surprised to -see six armed soldiers in my room. That is not -exactly a pleasant manner of waking up after so -short a sleep. They informed me in a gruff voice -that I had to get up, to dress and follow them. As -I obeyed the order, I asked what gave me this -unexpected honour; but they refused to enlighten -me on that point.</p> - -<p>After I had dressed in their presence, they searched -all my pockets, and felt all over my body to find out -whether I had any arms concealed about me. Then -three soldiers went downstairs, I had to follow these,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> -and the other three came in the rear. I did not -understand at all of what capital crime I was -suspected which made it necessary to have me -arrested by six soldiers armed to the teeth.</p> - -<p>We waited in the street for two of the soldiers -who went to fetch the old man. After waiting a -good while the poor wretch appeared between them. -He wept profusely, and between his loud sobs -affirmed repeatedly that he was innocent, that he -did not know me, that I told him I was a Netherland -journalist, and so on, and so on: "Oh, gentlemen!—oh, -gentlemen!" he exclaimed, "I must not leave -my little boy ... my laddie; ... he is quite -alone.... Oh, let me go!" ...</p> - -<p>I pitied him from the bottom of my heart, and -tried to console him by remarking that it was all a -misunderstanding, and that I would see to it that -he would soon be released.</p> - -<p>"Come now quietly," I said; "so much the -sooner you will be back with your laddie."</p> - -<p>But he did not take any notice of all my exhortations -and was entirely impervious to them in his -grief. So I went to the station side by side with -the weeping man, and surrounded by the six soldiers. -The crackle of the flames, the sound of collapsing -houses seemed more terrifying in the night than -in day-time, and now and again I got a shock when -suddenly, by the uncertain light of the flames, I -saw the corpse of a civilian lying in the dark shade -of the tall trees on the Boulevard.</p> - -<p>Whenever our escort fancied that they saw something, -they stopped and called out to the supposed -approaching persons: "Who goes there?" Some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span>times -it was only some shrubs that they saw; at -other times patrolling German soldiers. "Parole?" -was asked: "Duisburg!" and after that answer -they came nearer. At the station I was taken to -an officer who sat at a table on the platform and -had lit up his nearest surroundings by means of a -paraffin-lamp. My little old man wept now so -badly that he was quite unmanageable, and the -officer made up his mind to get rid of him as quickly -as possible.</p> - -<p>"Tell me, father," he began, "did you allow -this man by your side to stay the night at your -house?"</p> - -<p>"Oh ... oh ... let me ... go to my laddie -... let me go ... oh ... oh...."</p> - -<p>"Yes, all right, you may go, but we only want -you to tell us what you know of this man."</p> - -<p>"Oh—oh ... I don't understand you ... let -me go ... my little boy ... we have nothing -to eat ... we are innocent ... I do not know -the gentleman ... oh ... oh!"</p> - -<p>I took the liberty to explain to the officer that -the man did not understand him, and stated that -he did not know me.</p> - -<p>"Then, why did you want to stay at the man's -house?—what brought you here?"</p> - -<p>Thus my examination opened. I told him everything -from beginning to end, also that the commanding -officer had given me permission to stay -at that house, that I had shown my papers to the -soldiers at the goods station opposite the house, -and that I did not understand why I should be put -to all this inconvenience.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span></p> - -<p>He explained to me that one of those soldiers -accused me of ... spying and arson. He had -thought to recognise in me a person who had asked -him that afternoon whether he was ... a Belgian -or a German soldier, and whom he had also seen -escaping from a factory which was in full blaze a -moment later.</p> - -<p>Highly indignant, I claimed of course that that -soldier should also be called; but I was told that -I had better assume a more modest tone. I then -asked to be taken to the commanding officer, whom -I had seen that afternoon; but he was away on -inspection or something, and would not return -before the next morning.</p> - -<p>After this the officer examined my papers carefully -one by one, and had to admit that they were in -perfect order. Still, he had no authority to take -a decision before I had been seen by the commanding -officer.</p> - -<p>The old man was allowed to go home, escorted -by the same soldiers. At the very moment that -he was about to leave, I happened to notice on the -platform a gigantic heap of loaves, brought in by -train for the soldiers.</p> - -<p>"Do you know," I asked the officer, "that this -old man and his grandchild are starving? He -put me up because I gave him a couple of pieces of -bread-and-butter for the child." He looked at -me somewhat crossly, but inquired all the same -whether my information was correct, and then -gave the old man two loaves, which dried his tears -immediately, and for which he thanked the donor -in a quivering voice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span></p> - -<p>Two soldiers now took everything I had in my -pockets, even my watch and my purse. This -brought also to light a German map of Belgium, -with a stamp "For military use only." I was -told in a gruff voice that this was a highly suspicious -thing, and that they could not understand how -it got into my possession. I replied quite coolly -that I had bought the thing in Aix-la-Chapelle -for one mark, where it could be had in many shops, -and that the words "For the military only" merely -revealed the shrewd German commercial instinct, -which knows that people always like to possess -things which are not meant for them.</p> - -<p>I believe that this made him angry; at least he -ordered me to take off my shoes also, and their -inside was carefully examined.</p> - -<p>I was now escorted to a spot where on some straw -several soldiers were sleeping, who had to do sentry-go -at two o'clock that night. It was a part of the -platform which was not even roofed, and entirely -under the open sky. But they anyway had straw -to lie on, and sufficient cover, but I had to lie down -between them on the flags, without any blanket. -A separate sentry was commanded to watch me; -every two hours another was charged with the -task. I was allowed to try and sleep, with the -warning that I should be shot at the slightest -attempt to escape.</p> - -<p>It was a chilly night, and a dense heavy fog made -it impossible to see anything.... My "bed-fellows" -raged and fumed at me, saying that I was -one of those villains who had treacherously shot at -them. I shivered from the cold, and felt, as it were,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> -the dampness of the wet stone floor entering my -system.</p> - -<p>While all the others were denouncing me, one -soldier was ready to believe that I was a peaceful -foreign journalist, and that all the misunderstanding -would disappear the next morning as soon as I should -be taken to the commanding officer. He took pity -on me, and got a thick soldier's coat for me as cover. -I still feel grateful to the man for it! But sleep -was out of the question on that wet floor, in the -dense fog. When the guard was changed and -soldiers came back, or others went, they could not -see in the dark where they went, and treated me to -a kick against my head or some other part of my -body.</p> - -<p>It was a fantastic night. Trains arrived out of -the foggy darkness, their screeching whistle resounding -from the far distance, and when they steamed -into the station a storm of noise arose. All these -trains brought British prisoners of war, captured -by the Germans at St. Quentin, and hundreds of -German soldiers escorted the trains, which were -all covered over with green branches, and looked -like copse-wood sliding along the railroad. As soon -as they rumbled into the station the escorts sang -loudly their patriotic songs, and "Germany before -all other!" ("Deutschland über Alles!") vibrated -through the fog.</p> - -<p>The soldiers lying round about me, and those in -other parts of the station, got up, shouting, "There -are the British," and ran towards the arriving trains. -They jeered at the beaten enemies in all sorts of -vulgar and filthy words, which made the German<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> -enthusiasm absolutely lacking in chivalry. Eight -trains with captured British arrived during that -night.</p> - -<p>At seven o'clock in the morning I was taken to -the commanding officer, and was glad to see him -again. He jumped up immediately and came to -me with a charming smile, when I pointed to my -escort and explained that I was a prisoner.</p> - -<p>He flushed red with anger, and asked the sergeant -what it all meant. The latter told the story and -I filled in some details.</p> - -<p>He showed the most profound indignation, and -offered his apologies with lively gestures. He said -that my papers proved quite clearly that I was a -Netherland journalist. He declined to allow any -further examination, and gave the peremptory order -that everything that had been taken away from me -should be returned at once. When I had put -everything in my pockets, he asked:</p> - -<p>"Have they given you back everything?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," I replied, "excepting my pocket-knife."</p> - -<p>"Where is that knife?" Von Manteuffel asked -the sergeant who had fetched my belongings.</p> - -<p>"But that is a weapon, general!"</p> - -<p>"Return that knife at once!"</p> - -<p>The general expatiated once more on the francs-tireurs -of Louvain, and asked me to explain in my -papers without fail that the citizens had to thank -themselves for what had happened. The sergeant -who had taken me to him was ordered to escort me, -that I might not have any further trouble with -the soldiers in the city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span></p> - -<p>I started on my return journey to The Netherlands -sick to death. The consequences of lying on -that wet floor made themselves badly felt, and -besides being quite stiff and chilly, my interior was -badly out of order.</p> - -<p>Many refugees returned to Louvain that morning -simply driven by hunger. I myself lived still on -the breakfast I had at Maastricht on the previous -day, and badly wanted something to eat, but still -more a cup of hot coffee, to warm my chilled body. -I was able to get the coffee—without milk or sugar—from -a peasant along the road, but food was out -of the question. Most of the people had nothing -left, others saved a piece of bread as hard as a brick -for the moment when hunger might drive them to -extreme distress. Whatever sums I offered, nothing -could be had before I came to Tirlemont, where I -was able to buy three eggs.</p> - -<p>I had a rather amusing meeting at Tongres, -with a Netherland colleague, who was on his way -to Louvain.</p> - -<p>"Where do you come from?" was his first -question.</p> - -<p>"From Louvain!"</p> - -<p>"Have you been there already? I am going there -too. How are things there?"</p> - -<p>"Have you got anything for me to eat?" I -asked, not heeding his words.</p> - -<p>I said it quite innocently, without any other -desire beyond that of taking off the edge of my -really trying hunger. But the effect of my question -was surprising indeed. He looked at me dumbfounded, -and asked:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span></p> - -<p>"But where did you stay then during the -night?"</p> - -<p>"I have been arrested."</p> - -<p>"And did you not get anything to eat?"</p> - -<p>"No!"</p> - -<p>He was back in The Netherlands before me.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER IX<br /> - -LOUVAIN UNDER THE MAILED FIST</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> next day at Maastricht I tried to cure the -evil results of that night on the damp floor in Louvain -by eating great quantities of rice and drinking -much cocoa with liberal doses of cinnamon, but -as it was of no avail, I started again the next morning.</p> - -<p>The majority of the refugees returning to Louvain -belonged to the lower classes, and they began -to loot and plunder the town, encouraged thereto -by the German soldiers, who threw the things into -the streets, and said: "Take it, if you like!" In -extenuation of the looting and plundering I might -say that the poor wretches tried before all to get -hold of half-burned eatables.</p> - -<p>During my first visit I estimated the number of -civilian victims at about eighty. This number -turned out to be larger, as many during the second -fire fled to their cellars, exits of which were however -choked up by the collapsing walls. The corpses -of numerous suffocated citizens were found in these -cellars.</p> - -<p>At many monasteries I heard painful details of -the treatment suffered by priests. The majority -were made prisoners, and many were tied to trees -during a whole night and afterwards released. -Several were killed. I heard, for example, at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> -convent of the Jesuits that a student of theology, -Eugène Dupiereux, had been murdered, simply -because he was found to have kept a diary of the war -in which he had expressed a rather unfavourable -opinion about the Germans. In the same manner -two Josephite brothers were murdered, who later -on were found to be Germans; of other priests who -had been killed, the names were not yet known.</p> - -<p>Many clerical gentlemen connected with the -University had been ill-treated in the most atrocious -manner. The architect Lenertz, a native of -Luxemburg, also connected with the University, had -been shot, for no reason at all, before the eyes of his -wife at the moment that he left the house. And -Louvain was so effectively cut off from the outer -world that in most convents I was asked whether -the rumour was true that the Pope was dead! And -at that time his successor had already been appointed.</p> - -<p>I succeeded in laying my hands on an original -copy of a proclamation that ought not to have -been posted before the following day. I took the -document with me to The Netherlands, and it is -of special interest, because in it the Germans admit -to have tyrannised the people, and to have not only -burned Louvain, but also ransacked the town. The -proclamation had been drawn up in concert with the -German authorities and was approved by them. -It was in French and in Flemish, and read as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="center">"PROCLAMATION</p> - -<p class="center"><i>"To the inhabitants of the City of Louvain</i></p> - -<p>"We have in vain visited our municipal representatives. -The last of them, Alderman Schmidt, who was prevented<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> -from fulfilling his office, surrendered to us the municipal -power on August 30th.</p> - -<p>"I believe that it is my duty to take that task upon me, -assisted by some well-known burgesses, who have undertaken -to stand by me.</p> - -<p>"In agreement with the German Military authority I -invite the inhabitants of Louvain to return to the city, and -to take up again their usual occupations.</p> - -<p>"The orders issued by Monsieur Collins remain valid.</p> - -<p>"I mention more especially:—</p> - -<ul><li>"1. That it is prohibited to be out of doors after seven -o'clock (Belgian time) in the evening.</li> - -<li>"2. That all who are in possession of any arms, of whatever -description, or any munition must at once deliver everything -at the town-hall.</li> - -<li>"3. That everything that may appear hostile to the German -army must be avoided with the utmost care.</li></ul> - -<p>"<i>The German military authority have promised us that on -these conditions no further burning and looting shall take place -and that the population shall no longer be threatened or embarrassed.</i></p> - -<p>"We are engaged now most actively upon the re-establishment -of the municipal services: Police, Municipal Register, -and the Services of the Canals, which services will all be -reopened as soon as possible.</p> - -<p>"The police service will be performed in the daytime by -some volunteers, who will wear an armlet in the municipal -colours, and an identity card, both officially stamped. Well-minded -persons, who are willing to perform these duties, are -urgently requested to present themselves at the town-hall -to-day at four o'clock in the afternoon.</p> - -<p class="right">"The acting burgomaster, <span class="smcap">A. Nerincx</span>.</p> - -<p class="right">"The town-clerk, <span class="smcap">Eug. Marguery</span>.</p> - -<p class="right">"The committee of burgesses! <span class="smcap">Dr. Boine</span>, -<i>Pastor</i> <span class="smcap">Claes</span>, <span class="smcap">Dr. P. Debaisieux</span>, <span class="smcap">Dr. Deconinck</span>, -<span class="smcap">Ch. de la Vallée-Poussin</span>, <span class="smcap">Monseigneur -Deploigne</span>, <span class="smcap">P. Helleputte</span>, <span class="smcap">A. Thiery</span>, -<span class="smcap">Dr. Tits</span>, <span class="smcap">L. Verhelst</span>, <span class="smcap">V. Vingeroedt</span>.</p> - -<p> -"<span class="smcap">Louvain</span>,<br /> -"<i>September 1st</i>, 1914." -</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span></p> - -<p>Pastor Claes, mentioned in the above proclamation, -has done very much for the miserable Louvain -population; they owe him especially much -gratitude for an act of devotion with regard to the -murdered victims.</p> - -<p>In the immediate neighbourhood of the railway -station a house was being built, of which only the -foundations were laid. The place showed nothing -beyond a huge cavity. I had noticed already several -times that there was an atrocious stench near the -station, which at last became unendurable. Pastor -Claes, who courageously entered all destroyed houses -to look for the dead, had discovered the victims also -in this place. In the cave just mentioned he found -sixteen corpses of burghers, two priests among -them. In order to remove them from the street -the Germans had simply thrown them into that -cave, without covering the corpses in any way. -They had been lying there for days, and were -decaying rapidly.</p> - -<p>I witnessed Pastor Claes's labours for a moment -only, for the smell was unbearable even at a somewhat -considerable distance. The good pastor persevered -in the work after having started it, with the assistance -of some faithful helpers, who all of them had -sealed their mouths with a sponge soaked in some -disinfectant. The corpses were taken from the cave, -money and documents put away in separate bags, -and the unfortunate owners coffined and blessed.</p> - -<p>During the next days I found a hospitable domicile -at the convent of the Sacred Heart on the Namur -Canal ("Naamsche Vest"). It is a seminary for -missionaries, and when I went to them for the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> -time I had a letter from their head, the "provincial" -in The Netherlands, who sent the order that all -the theological students should be transferred to -The Netherlands as quickly as possible. They -received me with the greatest kindness, and ever -since I enjoyed their hospitality.</p> - -<p>A short time after the destruction I was even -obliged to accept it for a whole week, as on the -same day on which I arrived in Louvain for another -visit there was renewed fighting round the town. -The Belgians had advanced as far as Rotselair, where -the next day they held their ground against overwhelmingly -superior numbers; but at last they had -to retire, leaving a great many dead behind. The -Belgians had even got on to the road Tirlemont-Louvain, -and blown up the railway line in two places.</p> - -<p>On that occasion the Germans arrested me at -about two miles from Tirlemont. Firstly, because -I travelled by bicycle, and secondly, because I was -accused of having "cooked" one of my passports.</p> - -<p>This was so far true that I had altered the dates -of a passport, which allowed me to stay in Louvain -from September 6th till the 14th, into the 8th and -the 16th. When taken to the commanding officer -in Tirlemont, I convinced him so thoroughly of my -complete innocence, that the next day I was allowed -to go on to Louvain.</p> - -<p>There the German authorities detained me for a -full week, by prohibiting me to return: "for the sake -of your own safety," they told me courteously. -During the day I was busy enough, and in the evenings -I enjoyed the pleasant company of the three -fathers of the Sacred Heart who had remained in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> -mission house, and with whose photographic instrument -I took many a snapshot of the Louvain ruins.</p> - -<p>The mission house had become a sanctuary for a -good many people. As bread was lacking, two -brothers fried pancakes all day long and distributed -them among the numberless persons who asked for -food. Among these were people who a few days -earlier belonged to the well-to-do, but who saw their -business, in which often more than their own capital -was invested, wrecked by fire, and were now obliged -to appeal to the charity of these monks. Indeed -during the first weeks after that terrible event many -starved, and I assisted often at the distribution of -the pancakes, because they were short-handed.</p> - -<p>In this grand old monastery, both inside and -out a jewel of architecture, about five hundred -people had found shelter. They were lodged in -halls, rooms, and kitchens. The fathers gave them -everything in the way of food they might require, -but they had to do their own cooking. As not one -of these people had a home left, which they could call -their own, no wonder that they greatly admired the -fathers. Often when I strolled about with one of -these, one or other of the refugees came to him to -press his hand and express gratitude for the hospitality -offered.</p> - -<p>In this way I got into conversation with a middle-aged -lady. Her husband had been shot, and she got -a bullet in her arm, which had to be amputated in -consequence. The poor creature had lost all -courage, and lived on her nerves only. It was -remarkable to hear this father find the right words, -and succeed in making her calm and resigned.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> -Before she left us, she had promised that for her -children's sake she would do all in her power to -control herself.</p> - -<p>During the week of my compulsory stay in Louvain -I had also the privilege of making the acquaintance -of two brave compatriots; I mean Professor -Noyons and his wife.</p> - -<p>They never left Louvain. On August 25th information -was sent to the Leo XIII Institution for -Philosophy, a building turned into a hospital, that -a hundred wounded men might be expected towards -evening. That evening began the wild shooting -and burning of houses by the Germans, and soon a -large number of wounded was taken to the Institution. -Suddenly Professor Noyons recognised one -of his servants among the wounded who were -brought to him for treatment. She had three bullets -in her side. After having bandaged her wounds, -he hurried away to his house, in order to see what -had happened.</p> - -<p>He thought that it was sufficiently protected by -the immense Red Cross flag, and the words written -on the door by the Germans themselves: "Professor -Noyons, Netherland physician, to be spared." But -he had been mistaken. The soldiers did not respect -anything, and had forced an entry into the house, -wounded that servant, and then wrecked everything -in the most scandalous manner. Beautiful large -Japanese jars had been smashed to pieces, valuable -furniture damaged by knocking and breaking large -pieces out of it with rifles and bayonets. A fine -carpet was burned, as well as many pieces of furniture. -A hole was burned even in the floor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span></p> - -<p>Professor Noyons took me over the house and -showed me the destruction. Bullets had been -lodged in the inner walls after piercing the windows -and on a level with the windows. By lengthening -the line of trajection one found that the bullets -must have been fired at a distance of nearly six -hundred yards, which proves that the Germans -simply fired at random.</p> - -<p>As Professor Noyons heard that other hospitals, -churches, and ancient buildings were not spared -either, he went to the commanding officer through -the rain of bullets, clad in his white overalls, to -claim protection for everything that lawfully displayed -the Red Cross flag, and to request that -churches, convents, ancient buildings, and especially -the town-hall should be spared. It is only owing -to his intervention that not much more was destroyed -in Louvain.</p> - -<p>On the Thursday of the week of destruction the -inhabitants were notified that they had to leave the -town, but Professor Noyons and his wife decided to -stay on, as they could not leave the one hundred and -fifty wounded men who were laid up at the Institution.</p> - -<p>They carried all those patients into the cellars on -stretchers, and there waited with the nursing staff -for the bombardment that had been announced, -but never came off.</p> - -<p>Professor Noyons took me all over the hospital, -and if I should describe all I saw and heard there, -that story alone would fill volumes. He took me, -for example, to a boy of eight years old, whose -shoulder was shattered by rifle-shots. His father and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> -mother, four little brothers and a sister, had been -murdered. The boy himself was saved because they -thought that he was dead, whereas he was only -unconscious. When I asked for his parents, brothers -and sister, he put up his one hand and, counting by -his little fingers, he mentioned their names.</p> - -<p>There lay also a woman, with one leg amputated. -Her husband had been murdered, another bullet -had entered the leg of the baby in her arms. Another -woman had her child murdered in her arms.</p> - -<p>Women and children had frequently been ill-treated -in a most atrocious manner, aged and sick -people were dragged out of the houses, and flung -down in the street. This happened, for example, to -an old man, who lay dying in his cellar. In spite -of the supplications of his wife and two sons, he was -flung on the cobbles, where he died soon. The -sons were taken prisoners and sent away. His -widow assists at present nursing other unfortunates -at Professor Noyons' hospital.</p> - -<p>A paralysed woman who had also been flung -into the street was nursed at the hospital, and -lay with many others in the chapel of the Institution, -which had been turned into a ward.</p> - -<p>Belgian and German soldiers found excellent -nursing here. Many convalescents were allowed -to walk in the large garden, which was happily -divided by a large wall, so that the one-time combatants -could be separated.</p> - -<p>Professor and Mrs. Noyons were busy day and -night on behalf of their fellow-men, and one could -quite well tell by their looks that they were overworked. -They took their rest in the kitchen, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> -was built in the basement. All male and female -voluntary nurses took their meals there.</p> - -<p>Once I enjoyed the pleasure of partaking of such a -"dinner," as the guest of Professor and Mrs. -Noyons. The company was very mixed, and men -who never in their lives had ever done anything else -but spoiling their eyes for the sake of science, by -reading all manner of ancient manuscripts, were now -busy, dressed in a blue apron, stirring the soup and -mashing potatoes or vegetables. The menu comprised -nothing but potatoes, a little vegetables, and -a finely calculated piece of meat.</p> - -<p>At that dinner I also made the acquaintance of -Professor Nerincx, the acting burgomaster. It was -a courageous act to assume the government of the -town destroyed by the Germans; he did it for the -sake of his fellow-citizens, who will never be able to -requite their indebtedness to the temporary burgomaster -for what he did for them; and most of them -do not even know it.</p> - -<p>The war is not over yet, and much is still hidden -under a veil, but after the war it will undoubtedly -be the duty of the Louvain people to twine a magnificent -wreath round the three names Noyons-Nerincx-Claes.</p> - -<p>The names of many priests will be found in the -register of Belgian martyrs. I have mentioned -already some who, although innocent, gave their -life for their country. During my week's stay at -Louvain I heard of other cases. The priest of -Corbeek-Loo, for example, was simply tortured to -death on account of one of his sermons in which he -said that the fight of the Belgian army was beauti<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span>ful -"because it lawfully resists an unlawful invasion," -and further for announcing a Holy Requiem -Mass for the souls of the "murdered" citizens.</p> - -<p>At Blauwput, near Louvain, where, according to -the Germans, there had been also shooting, many -houses were set on fire and the men placed in a row. -It was then announced that by way of punishment -every fifth man would be shot. When the Germans -counted as tenth the father of a large family, that -man fainted, and they simply killed number eleven, -a Capuchin.</p> - -<p>Very many other cases of martyrdom among -priests remained unknown to me, but the various -Belgian bishops examined all these events with -praiseworthy zeal and scrupulousness, and by taking -extensive evidence established the fact that in no -case the victims could be reproached with any act -that justified the sentence against them. After -the war the world will surely be made acquainted -with the horrible truth.</p> - -<p class="p2">The foregoing record of my experiences in -Louvain will make it sufficiently clear to the unprejudiced -reader that the destruction and wholesale -murders were nothing but wanton crimes committed -by the German troops stationed there, -crimes which it is impossible to justify on any ground.</p> - -<p>The duration of the war has more or less surprised -me, and I postponed writing this book for a long -time as I wished to quote the evidence of persons -in high places, clergymen, and educated foreigners. -As the war is not over yet, I must omit these in the -interest of their safety.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span></p> - -<p>But from my personal knowledge and the evidence -referred to, I am able to establish the following -facts in connection with the events that preceded -and followed the destruction of Louvain.</p> - -<p>On August 25th the Antwerp garrison made a -sortie, in the direction of Louvain. At the beginning -the Belgians were successful, and came within four -and a half miles of this town. For a moment the -situation became critical, and at about seven o'clock -a small troop of cavalry came at a furious gallop -from the scene of battle to Louvain, probably to -summon the assistance of the garrison.</p> - -<p>At that hour the Namur Canal ("Naamsche Vest") -was already dark in consequence of the thick foliage -of tall trees, and suddenly the wild horsemen were -shot at. Several neutral witnesses established the -fact that this was done by a small troop of German -infantry who came from the station, probably on -their way to the battle-field, and thought that -Belgian cavalry came racing into the town.</p> - -<p>The men stopped their horses, dismounted, and -returned the fire from behind their animals. This -went on for about a quarter of an hour. Every -one was alarmed by this shooting; other soldiers -came racing in from the station, and others ran to -and fro near that building crying, "A surprise -attack!" Some, thinking that the attack came from -the advancing Belgians, rushed to the place where -the fighting took place, others misunderstood the -cry, believed that the citizens assaulted them, and -began to shoot at these, and at the houses.</p> - -<p>Before those on the Naamsche Vest found out -their mistake, the shooting was going on in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span> -greater part of the town, and the excited men, who -at first had been shooting at each other, soon joined -the rest. Some wounded troopers were taken to -one of the convents on the Vest, but a couple of -hours later they were suddenly fetched away again.</p> - -<p>The whole evening and the next day the Germans -went on shooting people and firing houses. It is -worth recording that the library was already set -on fire that same evening of the fray on the Naamsche -Vest; it was burning at eight o'clock.</p> - -<p>On Thursday everyone, even the persons staying in -the Institution and hospitals, were ordered to leave -the town, as it was to be shelled. They seemed to -have no pity even on the wretched wounded men. -Only the male and female nurses remained with -these, of their own free will, determined to die with -them if necessary.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants were driven to the station, where -the husbands were cruelly separated from their -wives and several persons were shot. Other men -were escorted to a place behind the station, and -their wives and children were told that those men -were going to be shot. The poor things heard -indeed the click-clack of the rifles and thought that -their dear ones were dead. However, many returned -later, and their "shooting" seems to have -been a mere sham.</p> - -<p>Great crowds walked the long way to Tirlemont. -They were constantly threatened by German soldiers, -who aimed their rifles at them; passing officers -commanded from time to time that some should -stay behind, and others were shot. Especially did -the clerics amongst the refugees suffer a great deal;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> -many were not only scandalously scoffed at, but also -maliciously injured. The greater part of the -Germans showed a strong anti-Catholic bias, in -particular against the clergy, whom they accused -of having incited the people against them.</p> - -<p>This is only a short record of the destruction of -Louvain, the truthfulness of which will be firmly -and fully established after the war by extensive, -accurately drawn up declarations.</p> - -<p>Louvain had been destroyed because a crowd of -wanton soldiers, who were garrisoned there, who -hated the Belgians, and who had been kept within -bounds with difficulty, seized on their own stupid -mistake to give rein to their passions.</p> - -<p>Their commanding officer was the worthy head -of such a mob, a heartless creature, who did not -show the slightest remorse for the destruction of -those magnificent libraries, set on fire <i>by his order</i>.</p> - -<p>It has been alleged that civilians had been shooting -from the Halls, but when a committee examined -the remains in the building with the consent of -the military, they found there the carcase of a -German horse. They were ordered to stop their -investigations immediately, for that horse was -evidence ... that German military men had been -billeted on the building, and thus no civilians could -have been there. This will also be published later -in the reports.</p> - -<p>The German authority left indeed no effort -untried to cover up their atrocious action. Already -in a communication from Wolff, dated August 29th, -they attempted to violate the truth by asserting -that:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span></p> - -<p>"The houses caught fire from burning benzine, -and the flames burst out in other quarters also. -On Wednesday afternoon part of the town and the -northern suburb were in flames."</p> - -<p>They have not been able to maintain that story -for very long; the truth overtook the lie.</p> - -<p>May all the nations of the world after the war -collaborate to compensate Louvain for her martyrdom, -see that this city shall be restored to her -former, happy prosperity, and get a library which -approaches as much as possible the one she lost. -The Germans can probably do their part by investigating -where the motor-cars went which left -the Halls on that wretched Tuesday night, heavily -laden with books.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER X<br /> - -ALONG THE MEUSE TO HUY, ANDENNE, -AND NAMUR</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Between</span> two of my several trips to Louvain I made -one to Namur in the beginning of September, after -having secured at Liège, by a trick, a splendid permit -which enabled me to travel even by motor-car.</p> - -<p>There was a little more order in the whole -district round Liège, since the Germans behaved -more decently, and provisions had arrived. The -shock, which the burning and butchering of so -many places and persons gave to the whole world, -had also influenced the conduct of the Germans, -and from the beginning of September they made -a practice of asking each time when they thought -that they had behaved decently: "Well, are we -such barbarians as the world calls us?"</p> - -<p>In this relative calm the population felt somewhat -relieved, and ventured again into the streets. Outdoors -on the "stoeps" of the houses men sat on -their haunches smoking their pipe and playing a -game of piquet. Most of them were vigorous -fellows, miners, who did not mind any amount -of work, but now came slowly under the demoralising -influence of idleness.</p> - -<p>My motor whirled along the gloriously fine road<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> -to Huy. It is a delicious tour through the beautiful -valley of the Meuse, along sloping light-green roads. -Had the circumstances not been so sad, I should -have enjoyed it better.</p> - -<p>I had already been near Huy, at a time when -several burning houses shrouded the whole town in -clouds of smoke. On August 24th, at ten o'clock -at night, some shots had been fired in the neighbourhood -of the viaduct. This was a sign for hundreds -of soldiers to begin shooting at random and arrest -several persons. Several houses were perforated -like sieves by bullets, and an entire street of twenty-eight -houses, the Rue du Jardin, was reduced to -ashes. No civilians were killed.</p> - -<p>It is evident from the "Report on the Violations -of International Law in Belgium" that the Germans -themselves admit that they were in the wrong with -regard to the atrocities which were committed here. -The following order of the day proves it:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Last night a shooting affray took place. There is no -evidence that the inhabitants of the towns had any arms in -their houses, nor is there evidence that the people took part -in the shooting; on the contrary, it seems that the soldiers -were under the influence of alcohol, and began to shoot in a -senseless fear of a hostile attack.</p> - -<p>"The behaviour of the soldiers during the night, with very -few exceptions, makes a scandalous impression.</p> - -<p>"It is highly deplorable when officers or non-commissioned -officers set houses on fire without the permission or order of -the commanding, or, as the case may be, the senior officer, or -when by their attitude they encourage the rank and file to -burn and plunder.</p> - -<p>"I require that everywhere a strict investigation shall take -place into the conduct of the soldiers with regard to the life -and property of the civilian population.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> -"I prohibit all shooting in the towns without the order of -an officer.</p> - -<p>"The miserable behaviour of the men has been the cause -that a non-commissioned officer and a private were seriously -wounded by German ammunition.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"The Commanding Officer,<br /> - -"<span class="smcap">Major Von Bassewitz</span>." -</p></blockquote> - -<p>I was informed further that there had been no -fighting for the possession of Huy. The citadel -on which the German flag flew had not been put -in a state of defence on account of its great age. -The old bridge over the Meuse at Huy had been -wrecked by the Belgians, but the Germans had -simply driven stout piles into the river, to support -a floor which they put over the wrecked part, and -so restored the traffic.</p> - -<p>During my visit I happened to make the acquaintance -of Mr. Derricks, a brother of the lawyer who -had been murdered so cruelly at Canne, and also -a member of the Provincial States. The poor man -was deeply moved when he heard the details about -his brother's death. I made him very happy by -taking a letter with me for his sister-in-law, who -was now at Maastricht.</p> - -<p>At Andenne things seemed much worse than at -Huy. I stopped there on my way to Namur, and -had been prepared in Liège for the sad things I -should hear. A proclamation posted in the last-named -town ran as follows:—</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="right"> -"<i>August 22nd</i>, 1914. -</p> - -<p>"After having protested their peaceful sentiments the -inhabitants of Andenne made a treacherous attack on our -troops.</p> - -<p>"The Commanding General burned down the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> -city with my consent, shooting also about one hundred -persons.</p> - -<p>"I acquaint the inhabitants of Liège of this, that they may -understand what fate threatens them if they should assume -a similar attitude.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"The Commanding General-in-chief,<br /> -"<span class="smcap">Von Buelow</span>." -</p></blockquote> - -<p>General von Buelow says here that he gave his -consent to the shooting of about one hundred -persons, but I can state with absolute certainty that -there were about 400 victims. We must therefore -assume that the other 300 were killed without his -consent.</p> - -<p>Andenne, on the right bank of the Meuse, was -a town of 8,000 inhabitants. When the Germans -arrived there on the morning of August 19th they -found the bridge connecting Andenne and Seilles -wrecked. In the afternoon they began building -a pontoon bridge, which was ready the next day. -They were very much put out about the wrecking -of the other bridge, by the Belgian soldiers, a couple -of hours before their arrival. Their exasperation -became still greater when they discovered after -having finished the pontoon bridge, that the big -tunnel on the left bank of the Meuse had also been -made useless by barricades and entanglements.</p> - -<p>By refusing to pay at cafés and shops the military -already expressed their dissatisfaction. Then on -Thursday, August 20th, about six in the evening, -after a great many troops had crossed the river by -the pontoon bridge, a shot was heard which seemed -the sign for a terrible fusillade. Guns seemed to -have been mounted at convenient places outside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> -the town, for shells exploded right at its centre. -The troops did no longer cross the bridge, but spread -themselves in a disorderly manner all over the town, -constantly shooting at the windows. Even mitrailleuses -were brought into action. Those of the -inhabitants who could fly did so, but many were -killed in the streets and others perished by bullets -entering the houses through the windows. Many -others were shot in the cellars, for the soldiers forced -their way in, in order to loot the bottles of wine -and to swallow their fill of liquor, with the result -that very soon the whole garrison was a tipsy mob.</p> - -<p>It struck me always that as soon as something -took place anywhere which might lead to disorder, -the method adopted was as follows: first a fusillade -in order to scare the inhabitants, secondly looting -of numberless bottles of wine, and finally cruel, -inhuman murders, the ransacking and the wrecking.</p> - -<p>The game of shooting and looting went on all -through the night of the 20th. Not a window or -door remained whole even if the house was not -burned down altogether.</p> - -<p>At four o'clock in the morning all the men, women, -and children who had not yet been put to death -were driven to the Place des Tilleuls, but on the -way many men had their brains blown out. Amongst -others, Dr. Camus, the septuagenarian burgomaster, -was then wounded and afterwards received the -finishing stroke by a hatchet.</p> - -<p>At the Place des Tilleuls fifty men were taken -from the crowd at random, escorted to the Meuse, -and shot. In the meantime other soldiers went on -wrecking, firing, and looting.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span></p> - -<p>Andenne offered a dismal spectacle. The doors -and windows of the houses that were not completely -burned down had been kicked and beaten to -pieces, and boards had been nailed before the holes. -The inhabitants hung about disconsolately, and I -could tell by their faces how they suffered, for -every family in the town mourned the death of one -dear to them.</p> - -<p>They all became excited whenever I mentioned the -accusations brought against them. They asserted -with the greatest emphasis that it was an absolute -lie that the civilians had shot. "Even if they -torture me to death," said most of them, "I'll -still contend that this accusation is untrue."</p> - -<p>The German officers, of course, held a different -opinion; they alleged that the shooting by the -civilians was even very general and purported to -be a decided attack on the army. I asked them -whether they had found any rifles or other arms at -the "searches" of the houses—I expressed myself -somewhat cautiously on purpose—for that ought -to have been the case if such a great number of -citizens had joined in the shooting. "No," they -answered, "they were sly enough to see to it that -we did not find these. They had been buried in -time, of course."</p> - -<p>The answer is, surely, not very convincing!</p> - -<p>The Germans had flung some more bridges across -the river beyond Andenne, which had been used -for the occupation of Namur chiefly, and lay idle -now guarded by only one sentry. I left by the -town-gate without any difficulties; the German -soldiers jumped out of the way and stood to atten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span>tion, -as soon as they noticed the Netherland flag -flying at the front of the motor. To the right and -the left of the gateway they had written in gigantic -letters: "Newspapers, please!"</p> - -<p>Namur was shelled on August 21st and the 23rd. -Many houses were then already wrecked, many -civilians killed. On the 23rd the Belgian army -withdrew and only some of the forts were defended. -This withdrawal of the Belgian army may have -been a strategical necessity, but it is certain that -the forts had not been defended unto the last. -Five forts fell into the hands of the Germans without -having suffered any damage.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of the 23rd the hostile troops -entered the town, and on that day the inhabitants -had not to suffer, excepting from requisitions made. -But the following evening it was suddenly on fire at -various spots, and the soldiers began to shoot in all -directions, making many victims. Before setting -the houses on fire, with a liberal use of the lozenges -mentioned already, the usurpers ransacked them and -removed numerous pieces of valuable furniture. -The Place d'Armes, the Place Léopold, the Rue -St. Nicolas, Rue Rogier, and the Avenue de la -Plante were almost entirely reduced to ashes. -With the town-hall many valuable pictures were -destroyed. The day following the conflagration -they left off shooting at last, but the looting went -on for days more.</p> - -<p>When I drove into Namur, I found the town -comparatively quiet; there was some traffic in the -streets, and Belgian army surgeons and British -nurses in their uniforms walked about freely.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> -There were many wounded: the German wounded -were all placed in the military hospital; the Belgians -and the French had been taken to the Sisters of -Mercy, the Institution Saint Louis, the High School -for Girls, and the Sisters of Our Lady.</p> - -<p>When I was eating a little at one of the hotels -near the railway station, I was offered the newspaper -<i>l'Ami de l'Ordre</i>, which had appeared again -for the first time on that day, September 7th, under -the Censorship of the German authorities. For -curiosity's sake I translate here the first leaderette, -published under the rule of the new masters:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"ENOUGH DESTROYED, ENOUGH DISTRESSED!</p> - -<p>"More than one hundred houses have been burned or -wrecked at Namur, among them the town-hall, the house -at the Namur Citadel, and the Institution for ophthalmology -in the Place Léopold. In the Grand Marché and its neighbourhood -about sixty have been destroyed by fire. If we add -to this the damage done by the bombardment from Friday -the 21st until Sunday the 23rd August, and the wrecking of -the bridges after the retreat of the army, we may estimate -the losses at 10,000,000 francs.</p> - -<p>"Industry, trade, and agriculture exist no longer, labour -is unemployed, and food is getting scarce, and over this dismal -scene hovers the memory of numerous victims, of hundreds of -prisoners of war or missing soldiers. During the bombardment -of August 23rd one hundred persons were killed outright, -or succumbed to their wounds. There are innumerable -other wounded. This it is plain must have plunged the town -into deep distress.</p> - -<p>"It mourns the lost liberty, the happiness, the peace, the -brightness of her past prosperity which has vanished for a -long season to come, it laments on account of the prisoners -of war, the wounded, the dead.... And every morning the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> -brilliant sun rises on the scene, the warm rays bathe town and -country, both alike cruelly lashed by the frightful scourge.</p> - -<p>"Yesterday crowds of believers prayed for peace, for that -blessing which is only valued when it is lost. Let us repeat -our supplications twofold, let us increase our zeal. Lord! -O Lord! listen to the voice of Thy people who pray to Thee! -Be merciful! Give us back our peace!"</p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XI<br /> - -FROM MAASTRICHT TO THE FRENCH -FRONTIER</h2> - -<h3><span class="smcap">The Destruction of Dinant</span></h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">Adventures</span> incite to ever more risky undertakings, -and we long constantly for more sensation. Such -an experience prompted me to an arrangement with -Mr. Tervooren, editor of <i>Het Leven</i>, to try to -motor to the French frontier.</p> - -<p>We left Maastricht, in the early morning of -September 9th, with a smart fellow as chauffeur. -Louvain we found tolerably quiet, although fearful -scenes were witnessed in the search for corpses, -which were found in the cellars of many houses.</p> - -<p>On that day I saw for the first time in Belgium -German sailors and marines, and even an admiral -and some officers. At that time the appearance -of the naval men gave the newspapers much room -for conjectures; it was found later that they were -to be used in the attack on Antwerp, and afterwards -had the task allotted to them of occupying the -sea-board.</p> - -<p>I found sailors also in Brussels, but for the rest -there was only a little military display there. In -this town reigned a certain oppressive silence and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> -the cafés were not much frequented. The Brussels -people did not hide their patriotic sentiments, and -nearly every house displayed the Belgian flag, -thanks chiefly to the strong attitude of Burgomaster -Max. Outwardly Brussels had not suffered by the -war; not a house was damaged and nobody had -been killed yet. Nor was there lack of provisions, -as was proved by the fact that at the "Métropole," -one of the largest restaurants, I paid only seventy-five -centimes (sevenpence-halfpenny) for bread, -cold beef, and pickles.</p> - -<p>We met only a few Germans on the road from -Brussels to Charleroi, and found no garrison except -in the townlet Hal. Very little burning had taken -place on this road, but so much the more plundering -and looting. A woman took us all over her -house in the neighbourhood of Brussels, to show us -the total wrecking. Small pieces of furniture were -generally taken away, but stoves, kitcheners, and -cupboards were smashed. She herself had had her -face badly wounded, because she had hidden herself -in the cellar when the Germans came near, and -they had beaten her out of that with their rifle-butts. -Many other women were treated in the -same manner.</p> - -<p>When we came to Jumet, a suburb of Charleroi, -and a prosperous place with flourishing factories, -we found the whole town wrecked.... Nearly -all the houses were burned immediately after the -occupation by the Germans, and many inhabitants -were killed, of course under the pretext that they -had been shooting.</p> - -<p>After driving through this scene of misery we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> -entered Charleroi, and exactly at that moment one -of the springs of my motor broke in two, which made -the car useless. Charleroi seemed worse damaged -than Namur. According to an official statement -issued at the time, one hundred and sixty-five -houses had been burned, among them many on the -fine Boulevard Audent, the Saint Joseph Institute, -the convent of the Sœurs de Namur, and the adjacent -ancient, miraculous little chapel of "Sainte -Marie des Remparts."</p> - -<p>Probably more than one hundred civilians had -been shot, whereas many perished in the cellars. -The heads of the municipality and several priests -had at first been taken as hostages. Bail of ten -million francs was asked for their release, but after -much haggling they consented to accept one and a -half millions, which sum was forthcoming from -the various local banks.</p> - -<p>Just as at Louvain and other towns, the Germans -indulged in looting and plundering also at Charleroi; -and probably this explains why here too the finest -houses were destroyed. Moreover, many atrocious -cases of rape occurred here as at Dinant, about -which town more anon. At a café, where the proprietor -unburdened his mind to me, with tears in -his eyes, I read a statement in which they were -impudent enough to write that they had passed a -pleasant night in circumstances described in detail, -whilst the father had been locked up.</p> - -<p>Charleroi was taken on August 22nd. On the -evening of the 21st a small patrol had entered the -town, and of these not a man escaped. But in the -morning of the 22nd at seven o'clock a large force<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> -of Germans arrived and immediately began to burn -and to shoot.</p> - -<p>On the day of my stay at Charleroi, at about -seven o'clock in the evening, there was a good deal -of bustle round about the station, many trains from -Maubeuge arriving. One of these trains was entirely -filled by officers of the garrison who had been -taken prisoner. Another carried only wounded -Germans, lying on light stretchers, on which they -were transported through the streets to the hospitals -at Charleroi. Many had fearful wounds, -and convulsively held their hands on the injured -parts, while others lay still, the pallor of death on -their face. Maubeuge must have cost the Germans -enormous sacrifices, as for many of the wretched -wounded no room could be found at Charleroi, -and they had to be taken farther by train, to Namur -or Brussels.</p> - -<p>German officials told that immediately after -the surrender Maubeuge had been set on fire in -various places, because civilians, etc.... The -reader is by now able to complete the sentence.</p> - -<p>After I had collected some information in the -town and my colleague of <i>Het Leven</i> had taken -several snapshots, we thought that it was time to -look for lodgings and to get our motor-car repaired.</p> - -<p>We found rooms, but were guarded during the -night by soldiers, who walked up and down the landing, -because there were officers also staying at the -hotel. Their regular footfall prevented us from -sleeping a wink, but with the help of some fibs and -Netherland cigars we induced them to let us go out, -and we went to a sort of smith in a kind of garage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> -to repair the motor-car. We turned up our sleeves -and, assisted by the smith's technical directions, -succeeded in putting the broken spring together, -using stout steel clamps and screws.</p> - -<p>Before leaving we went back to the hotel for -breakfast. There—it was a first-class hotel—they -gave us an apology for coffee, without milk or sugar, -and two flimsy pieces of bread, as hard as wood and -as black as shoe-polish. I was intensely hungry, -and as nowhere at Charleroi anything else could -be had, I did my best with the wooden bread and -succeeded in washing it down with much chewing -and jawing. But the sweet, hard stuff did not suit -my digestion, and I felt ill already when at six -o'clock we got into the motor-car and left for Dinant.</p> - -<p>We could not keep to the main road all the time, -for it was forbidden by proclamation to go farther -than nine miles and a half from the town, and we -should have been stopped without fail.</p> - -<p>We first drove through the suburb Montigny-sur-Sambre, -which shared the fate of Jumet, and was -entirely destroyed by fire. After leaving the town -we went in the direction of Châtelet, where we -found an immense battle-field. Terrific fighting -must have taken place here, for the number of -buried was enormous. On a wide stretch of land -we saw a great number of mounds, with crosses, -and covered with quicklime. On the crosses the -numbers are given of the brave who fell there. So -I read, for example:—</p> -<blockquote> -<p class="center"> -"Here rest 10 soldiers, French, I. Reg. 36. -fell 22.8. R.I.P."</p> -<p class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> -"Here rest 23 soldiers, German, I.R. 78. and -91. fell 22.8.14. R.I.P."</p> - -<p class="center">"Here rest 7 officers, German, I.R. fell 22.8.14. -R.I.P."</p> - -<p class="center">"Here rest 140 soldiers, French, I.R. 36. fell 22.8. -R.I.P." -</p> -</blockquote> -<p>There were very many similar ones, but I copied -only these, because they lay just near the road; -farther on there were numerous other white -mounds with crosses.</p> - -<p>The villages Gougnies and Biesmes had been -destroyed also; of the former not one house was -left undamaged; but nothing happened to the -townlet Mettet. Here we were forbidden to go on, -as we were already more than nine miles and a half -from Charleroi. This compelled us to leave the -main road, and to proceed along byways which soon -took us to the Ardennes, where our motor-car -rushed along in zigzags.</p> - -<p>From time to time the tour became a break-neck -affair, as the mountain roads were wet and muddy -after much rain, and at corners we were often in -great fear of being hurled down into the depth. -It was a wonderfully fine district of green rock, -although somewhat monotonous after a time, as -it seemed that we were simply moving in a circle, -which impression was strengthened by the fact -that frequently we passed through tunnels and -viaducts which were very alike to one another.</p> - -<p>I felt very sick, for the sweet rye-bread which I -had forced down my throat in the morning did not -agree with me at all. At last I felt so ill that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> -was obliged to lie down on the floor of the car, -and it took my colleague all his time to convince -me that he did not think that my last hour had -struck.</p> - -<p>In the end and in despair I accepted an aspirin -tablet which he had pressed on me a hundred times, -and although I do not know whether it was owing -to that, or in spite of it, it was a fact that I felt -somewhat better.</p> - -<p>After touring quite a long while through this -labyrinth, we got at last back to the main road from -Namur to Dinant, near Anhec. Here immediately -we saw proofs of war, drawn from widespread -destruction. The railway bridge across the Meuse -near Houx, so picturesquely situated at the foot of a -high rock, had been blown up.</p> - -<p>Bouvigne, a hamlet near Dinant, had suffered -fearfully from the bombardment of that town. -Trees were splintered by the shells, the church was -nearly a total wreck from the same cause, and two -houses by the road had been riddled by bullets into -a sieve, and also damaged by shells. On the whole -scene of war I have not seen one house carrying so -many bullets in it; their holes made the doors look -like wire-netting. In these houses the French had -barricaded themselves, brought mitrailleuses to them, -and defended them until the last. None of those -heroes left them alive. My colleague took many -snapshots of this remarkable spot, while I collected -bullets, fragments of shell, and similar mementos -of this warfield.</p> - -<p>In order to give the reader some idea of the -fearful things that happened at Dinant, I insert<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> -here some quotations from the reports drawn up -by the Belgian Inquiry Committee about the -Violations of International Law, of which I can -affirm the truth word for word, because they are -identical with the information that I got myself -at Dinant.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"The destruction took place from August 21st to the -25th.</p> - -<p>"On August 15th a fierce fight took place between the -French troops on the left bank of the Meuse and the Germans -who approached from the east. The Germans were defeated, -put to flight, and chased by the French, who crossed the river. -On that day the town was not damaged much. Some houses -were destroyed by German howitzers, which were undoubtedly -aimed at the French regiments on the left bank. One Red -Cross helper who lived at Dinant was killed by a German -bullet when he was taking up one of the wounded.</p> - -<p>"The next day all remained quiet, the French keeping the -surrounding places occupied; not one fight took place between -the two armies and nothing happened which might be looked -upon as a hostile action by the populations, and there were -no German troops near Dinant.</p> - -<p>"At about nine o'clock of Friday evening, August 21st, -German soldiers arriving by rail from Ciney marched into the -town by the Rue Saint Jacques. They began to shoot into -the windows without the slightest provocation, killed a workman -who was on his way home, wounded another inhabitant -and compelled him to call out: 'Long live the Kaiser.' A -third they wounded in the abdomen with thrusts of their -bayonets. They burst into the cafés, requisitioned all spirits, -got tipsy on them, and left after setting several houses on -fire and knocking to pieces the doors and windows of others.</p> - -<p>"The inhabitants, frightened and perplexed, hid themselves -in the houses.</p> - -<p>"On Sunday, August 23rd, at half-past six in the morning, -the soldiers of the 108th regiment of the line drove the worshippers -out of the Premonstratensian Church, separated the -men from the women, and shot about fifty of the former<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> -through the head. Between seven and nine o'clock there were -house-to-house looting and burning by the soldiers, who -chased the inhabitants into the street. Those who tried to -escape were shot off-hand.</p> - -<p>"At about nine o'clock the soldiers drove all who had been -found in the houses in front of them by means of blows from -their rifle-butts. They crowded them together in the Place -d'Armes, where they kept them until six o'clock in the -evening. Their guards amused themselves by telling the -men repeatedly that they would soon be shot.</p> - -<p>"At six o'clock a captain separated the men from the -women and children. The women were placed behind a line -of infantry. The men had to stand alongside a wall; those -in the first row were ordered to sit on their haunches, the -others to remain standing behind them. A platoon took -a stand straight opposite the group. The women prayed in -vain for mercy for their husbands, their sons, and their brothers; -the officer gave the order to fire. He had not made the -slightest investigation, pronounced no sentence of any sort.</p> - -<p>"A score of these men were merely wounded and fell among -the dead. For greater certainty the soldiers fired once more -into the mass. A few got off scot-free in spite of the double -fusillade. For over two hours they pretended to be dead, -remained among the corpses without budging, and when it -was dark were able to fly to the mountains. Eighty-four -victims remained behind and were buried in a garden in the -neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>"There were other murders on that same 23rd of August.</p> - -<p>"Soldiers discovered inhabitants of the suburb Saint Pierre -in the cellars of a brewery, and killed them on the spot.</p> - -<p>"On the previous day many workmen of the silk factory -Kimmer and their wives and children had found a shelter in -the cellars of the building, with some neighbours and relatives -of their employer. At six o'clock in the evening the unfortunate -people made up their mind to leave their hiding-place and -went into the street, headed by a white flag. They were -immediately seized by the soldiers and roughly ill-treated. All -the men were shot, among them Mr. Kimmer, Consul of -Argentina.</p> - -<p>"Nearly all the men of the suburb Leffe were massacred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> -en masse. In another quarter twelve citizens were murdered -in a cellar. In the Rue en Ile a paralytic was shot in his bath-chair, -and in the Rue d'Enfer a boy, fourteen years old, was -struck down by a soldier.</p> - -<p>"The railway viaduct of the suburb Neffe became the -scene of a bloody massacre. An old woman and all her -children were shot in a cellar. A man sixty-five years old, -his wife, a son and a daughter were placed against a wall and -shot through the head. Other inhabitants of Neffe were -placed in a boat, taken to the Rocher Bayard, and shot there; -among them were a woman eighty-three years old and her -husband.</p> - -<p>"A number of men and women had been locked in the yard -of the prison.... At six o'clock in the evening a mitrailleuse -was placed on the mountain and fired at them, an old woman -and three others being killed.</p> - -<p>"Whilst some soldiers committed these murders, others -looted and wrecked the houses, smashed the safes or blew -them up with dynamite. They forced their way into the -Banque Centrale de la Meuse, seized the manager, Mr. Xavier -Wasseige, and called upon him to open the safe. As he refused -to do so, they tried to force it open, but in vain. Thereupon -they took Mr. Wasseige and his two eldest sons to the Place -d'Armes, where they and 120 of their fellow-citizens were shot -by means of a mitrailleuse. The youngest three children of -Mr. Wasseige were held by soldiers and forced to attend the -slaughter of their father and brothers. We were also informed -that one of the young Wasseiges lay dying for an hour and -nobody dared to come to his assistance.</p> - -<p>"After the soldiers had performed their duty as vandals and -bandits they set the houses on fire. Soon the whole town was -one immense pool of fire.</p> - -<p>"All the women and children had been taken to a convent, -where they were kept imprisoned for four days, without hearing -of the fate of their beloved ones. They themselves expected -to be shot in their turn. Round about them the burning of -the town went on.</p> - -<p>"The first day the religious were allowed to give them -some food, although not sufficient. Soon they had nothing -to eat but carrots and unripe fruit.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> -"The inquiry also brought to light that the German soldiers -on the right bank, who were exposed to the fire of the French, -hid themselves here and there behind civilians, women and -children.</p> - -<p>"In short the town of Dinant is destroyed. Of 1,400 -houses, 200 only remained standing. The factories, where -the labouring population got their bread and butter, were -wrecked systematically. Many inhabitants were sent to Germany, -where they are still kept as prisoners. The majority of -the others are scattered all over Belgium. Those who stayed -in the towns were starved.</p> - -<p>"The committee has a list of the victims. It contains -700 names, and is not complete. Among those killed are -seventy-three women and thirty-nine children between six -months and fifteen years old.</p> - -<p>"Dinant had 7,600 inhabitants, of whom ten per cent. were -put to death; not a family exists which has not to mourn -the death of some victims; many families have been exterminated -completely."</p></blockquote> - -<p>When we entered the town in our motor-car, -those of the unfortunate population who had -escaped from the murderous massacre had already -left the town. Between the ruins and the deserted -French Red Cross cars we drove to the pontoon -bridge which the Germans had flung across the -river by the side of the Meuse bridge, which had -been blown up. Here we were stopped by German -soldiers who guarded the pontoon bridge. In a -café we came across a few of the citizens who had -remained. These unfortunate people had no home, -no money, and no food, lacked the wherewithal to -go farther away, and now depended on the charity -of the murderers of their relatives. Twice a day -they were allowed to call at one of the German stores -for a piece of bread, in exchange for a ticket which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> -they might get at the commander's office. The -Germans, upholders of morality and "Kultur," saw -to it that their victims did not overeat themselves.</p> - -<p>Our passport had to be stamped by this same -commander, and my colleague had to ask him for -a permit to take photographs. The commander -would not hear of this, but finally agreed, after my -colleague had snapshotted him and his staff in -front of the office. Our passport was marked: -"1. Landsturm Infantry Battalion, Dresden."</p> - -<p>Dinant offered a terrible sight; it no longer -existed. On foot, of course, we walked along -the place where a large shop once stood, but one -could not even distinguish where the road had been. -Not one street was left, and the few houses that -were saved are not in the centre of the town. On -a slope on the left bank of the Meuse there had been -two large monasteries, which had been turned into -hospitals. They had been wrecked completely by -gun-fire, and as if in bitter mockery at the cruel -fate, the Red Cross flags flew there still undamaged.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the town everything, including -the large buildings, had been levelled with the -ground. This was the case with the principal -church "de Notre Dame," the college of the same -name, the "Belle Vue," the monasteries, etc., of -the "Frères et Sœurs de Notre Dame," the "Saint -Nicolas" and "Saint Pierre" churches, and three -large factories, "Oudin," "Le Mérinos," and "La -Dinant," the "Banque Centrale de la Meuse," -the town-hall, the ancient "Palace of the Prince-Bishops," -and all its archives, the magnificent post-and-telegraph -office, the large hotels "de la Tête<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> -d'Or," "des Postes," "des Ardennes," "Moderne," -"Terminus," the hotels "de la Citadelle," "la -Paix," "la Gare," etc., etc., the "Institut Hydrothérapique," -all houses of the "Bon Secours" -Congregation, etc.</p> - -<p>The finest view of Dinant was from the beautiful -bridge affording a passage across the Meuse with -the "Notre Dame" in the background. This -church was built just in front of a steep rock, on -top of which stood the citadel of Dinant.</p> - -<p>Now the bridge is blown up, the greater part of -the church destroyed by the Germans, and, had -nature not been more powerful than their brutal, -clumsy violence, they would have pulled down that -rock too. But it is still there, the solitary remnant -of the famous beauty of Dinant.</p> - -<p>My companion wanted to take a snapshot of this -point, but in order to enliven the scene somewhat, -he requested a few soldiers to stand in the square -in front of the church. Each had a couple of -champagne bottles hanging on his stomach, and -refused absolutely to accede to my colleague's -request to remove them. They insisted upon being -snapshotted with those bottles hanging on their -bodies! So my companion took this snapshot of -"Kultur" in that condition, houses burned down, -a church destroyed, and in front of these the grinning -and coarse villains, puffing out their bodies, proud -of their empty bottles....</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XII<br /> - -ON THE BATTLE-FIELDS</h2> - -<p>As often as I went on tour to collect news on the -scene of war, I got dozens of messages and letters, -which alarmed people sent to the editor of <i>De Tijd</i>, -with the request that they should be handed to -me for further transmission to relatives. I took -hundreds of them to and from Louvain.</p> - -<p>On Monday, September 14th, I took with me -a larger number than ever to Louvain.</p> - -<p>I observed then already that much poverty -prevailed, for in many places I noticed people -whose appearance did not suggest that they were -accustomed to that sort of work, creeping quietly -in and out of hedges, carrying bags in which they -put the potatoes picked up in the fields. Naturally -they started and looked alarmed, when, suddenly, -I passed on my bicycle.</p> - -<p>Round about Louvain everything was prepared for -defensive purposes, artillery being hidden under -straw-roofs, only a few yards away from the farm-houses, -and the sentries were very alert. I never -saw them before I was quite near; then they jumped -suddenly from behind a tree, summoning me to stop -by lowering their rifle. In the meadows were a -good many newly cut trenches.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span></p> - -<p>Some soldiers were rather friendly when I revealed -myself as a Netherland reporter; they informed -me with serious faces that in Germany two -million volunteers were drilling; that in each -garrison-town the majority of the men were left -behind as reserves; that by and by they were going -to level Antwerp to the ground, if these Belgians -would not keep quiet; that after all Belgium -proved a bigger job than they had bargained for; -that Amsterdam and Rotterdam had been shelled -and Flushing taken by the British; that Germany -had now sent a great number of troops into The -Netherlands to protect her against Britain, because -The Netherlands herself had no army at all; and -so on and so on.</p> - -<p>One of the soldiers took me to the spot where two -days before the Belgians had blown up the railway -which had just now been repaired by the German -engineers. According to his story eighty troopers -had succeeded in surprising a guard of twelve and in -pushing on to the railway.</p> - -<p>Near Corbeek-Loo a strong Belgian force had -been able even to reach the main road to Louvain, -and there also destroyed the railway, after which -they retreated before the advancing Germans.</p> - -<p>These minor actions formed part of the sortie by -the Belgians from Antwerp. One division marched -towards Louvain and occupied Aerschot on Thursday -evening, September 10th. On Friday they advanced -farther in the direction of Wijgmaal-Rotselair-Corbeek-Loo, -with continuous hard fighting. -On Saturday the fights were fiercest round about -these places, and ended in the evening in a retreat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> -of the Belgians, who made the enemy pay as heavily -as possible for their victory, although they themselves -had to leave behind a good many victims.</p> - -<p>Considerations of space forbid me to relate many -of the heroic deeds performed on this occasion, but -an exception may be made of the following:—</p> - -<p>When I arrived in Louvain I heard of a young -Fleming who was then being nursed in a hospital -established by the Norbertine Fathers, and had been -serving at two pieces of ordnance near Corbeek-Loo. -As the army was forced to retreat in the -evening his comrades were compelled to abandon -the two guns, but he had to stay, being wounded in -the leg by a grape shot. The Germans made him -prisoner, and tied him to a tree. By an immense -effort he succeeded in tearing himself loose, and -dragged himself towards a farm-house. At a short -distance from this goal he was stopped, however, -by a German soldier. The Fleming, putting forth -all his remaining strength, gave the other such a -tremendous blow in the face with his rifle-butt that -he fell down dead. Subsequently this boy reached -the farm-house, where he was charitably received. -Later on he was fetched away by the Sisters from -Boven-Loo, and finally from that institution by -the Norbertine Fathers.</p> - -<p>The Belgians left also a considerable number of -dead and wounded at Wijgmaal and Rotselair. On -Tuesday, September 15th, I visited the battle-fields -in that neighbourhood with father Coppens, a -Netherland Norbertine, born at Lieshout. The -wounds of the soldiers lying there were in a most -terrible condition, because <i>the Germans forbade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> -the removal of the Belgian wounded before all the -German dead had been buried</i>. In my opinion not -only a proof of barbarity, but also an admission that -the Germans themselves must have suffered great -losses.</p> - -<p>The Wijgmaal battle-field was after all the least -horrible. About ten houses seemed to have been -set on fire on purpose; the rest had suffered badly -from the bombardment. All the inhabitants had -fled as soon as the fighting began. The wounded -Belgians had been placed in the large dancing-room -of a café, where father Coppens brought them a -large hamper full of eatables and drinkables, and -whence also he had them transported to Louvain. -The food was gratefully accepted, but they were -still more eager to get hold of the mugs, as they were -very thirsty in consequence of the high temperature -caused by the inflamed wounds; often we had to -prevent them forcibly from drinking too much.</p> - -<p>We passed a dead field-officer who still laid hold -of a piece of a flag. When I read that sort of thing -in a book, I thought: "how pretty and romantic," -but never believed that this would actually happen -in war-time. I saw the reality now, and, deeply -touched, bared my head, saluting that dead hero. -From papers we found on him we saw that his name -was Van Gesthel; like most Belgians, he had been -killed by shell.</p> - -<p>I went on with Father Coppens and found about -one hundred wounded, of whom only a few had been -taken to the houses. Most of them crept away -frightened, but when we told them that we were -Netherlanders from Louvain, who came to bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> -them food and drink, and to take them away to be -nursed, they got hold of our coats and refused to let -us go.</p> - -<p>They drank deep, in long draughts, with trembling -lips, and beseeched us not to leave them again: -"Oh, gentlemen, then we shall die!" We swore -that we should come back, and that later on carriages -would arrive from Louvain to take them to some -convent or hospital; and, trusting us, they resigned -themselves in the end.</p> - -<p>Goats, pigs, cows, and other cattle roamed freely -through the village-street, looking for food and -licking the faces of the dead.</p> - -<p>We entered a stable whence we thought that a -sound came. We saw, however, nothing but a heap -of straw, and a pig which ran up against us near the -door. Father Coppens chased it away with a:</p> - -<p>"Get you gone, you brute!"</p> - -<p>And all at once the straw began to move, a head -popped out, and a weak voice exclaimed:</p> - -<p>"Ah well, be you a Fleming?"</p> - -<p>The poor fellow had hidden himself, being afraid -that we were Germans; but when he heard the -"Get you gone, you brute!" he ventured to -show himself.</p> - -<p>"Certainly, my lad," said Father Coppens—"certainly -we are Flemings. What is the matter -with you?"</p> - -<p>We removed the rest of the straw, undressed him -partially, and on both his legs the most hideous -wounds became visible. Septic process had -worsened his condition to such an extent, that the -unfortunate boy had only a short time to live. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> -moved away ... he confessed to Father Coppens, -who gave him the viaticum, which he carried with -him.</p> - -<p>Later on people from Louvain came with carts, -which we had ordered before leaving. Thirteen -of these carried the wounded away, whilst a German -patrol went all over the village, setting everything -on fire.</p> - -<p>Father Coppens and I beseeched the German -commanding officer to spare the houses of some -people, large families, who came for shelter to the -father's convent. And at length, after long -supplications, we secured exemption for a few houses, -inhabited by people who could not have done -anything in a village which had been completely -evacuated by the population, at the beginning of -the fight.</p> - -<p>In the Hospital Leo XIII, that eager Netherlander, -Professor Noyons, did all he could to save -as many as could be saved of the wretched Belgian -wounded; but as rain and cold had done so much -harm to the wounds, amputation of the injured -limbs was as a rule the only remedy left.</p> - -<p>Never thinking of rest he went on day and night, -taking away the poor fellows' arms and legs, and all -this by the miserable light of some candles. Gas -and electricity were not to be had, the works being -idle after the destruction of the town....</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIII<br /> - -ROUND ABOUT BILSEN</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Although</span> at first I had a different plan, I decided -on Saturday, September 26th, to go first to Riempst—a -little walk of three hours each way—as I had read -a report in certain papers quoted from the <i>Handelsblad -van Antwerpen</i> that the church of Riempst -had been burned and the vicars of that parish and -of Sichem had been made prisoners.</p> - -<p>Arrived at Riempst I found the pretty village -church in its full glory and the vicar engaged in performing -his religious functions; the vicar of Sichem -was also still at home. The only part of the report -that was true was that various burgomasters from -the environs had been sent to Tongres and had not -returned since. The burgomaster of Riempst, with -whom I had been imprisoned already once, was being -searched for by the Germans everywhere, but could -not be found. In several places I heard also that -the Belgians were lying in the woods round about, -and that something was being prepared at Riempst; -but no one knew what. So I decided to go and -inquire.</p> - -<p>The road was quite deserted, for the people, who -live in great fear, do not venture out.</p> - -<p>As far as Bilsen everything seemed equally deserted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> -but quite near the town a couple of German soldiers -suddenly came to me from behind a house, and -ordered me to stop. They took me with them to the -guard, which was established in the aforementioned -house.</p> - -<p>There it appeared that my papers were in good -order, but at the same time I was informed that I -was to be taken to the commanding officer at the -station and could not be allowed to leave Bilsen -for the present. I was escorted through the townlet, -which appeared to be entirely deserted; but -now and then somebody came to his front-door to -watch the latest victim of the Germans being led -past. At the station I was pushed without much -courtesy into a keep where six other civilians sat, -who had been picked up as being at large, and whose -faces were now covered with a cold perspiration -from fear, because they were firmly convinced that -by and by they would be shot.</p> - -<p>Three soldiers stood before the open door and -amused themselves by provoking these people in -the most inhuman manner, by abusing them and -telling them that later on they would be hanged or -shot. The poor fellows shivered and their teeth -clattered. I, the newly arrived "swine," was treated -in much the same way, but I reduced the insolent -blusterers into the quietest people of the world by -warning them that by and by I would ask the -commanding officer whether his soldiers had the -right to call a Netherlander a "swine." That put -some heart into my fellow-victims, and I urged them -that they would do best by replying calmly to any -questions which the commanding officer might put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> -to them. They actually became more composed, -and told me the following:</p> - -<p>The Germans had evacuated Bilsen some days -ago, probably after being informed that a strong -force of Belgians was coming on. As a matter of fact, -only eleven Belgian soldiers had entered the townlet. -These had pulled down the German flag from -the town-hall and replaced it by the Belgian. The -station and the railway were then closed to the -public for a couple of hours, and in that time they -pulled up the rails in two places. On Friday evening -the Germans returned in great numbers by train -from Tongres, and the train derailed on one of -those places; but no lives were lost, as it went very -slowly.</p> - -<p>The Germans had then taken it into their heads -that the Belgians occupied Bilsen and the station, -and began a terrific fire at the station and the -surrounding houses, although there was not a single -Belgian soldier in the whole town. When they -had satisfied themselves that this was the case, -they stopped firing, and were furious on account -of the derailing and the mistake they had made. -They then started a wild hunt for the men, and set -about ten houses on fire, as also the signalman's -cottage, because he had not warned them of the -danger by waving his red flag.</p> - -<p>They made no allowance for the fact that they -themselves had relieved all railway officials of their -functions until later notification. The signalman -was made a prisoner, but released subsequently.</p> - -<p>As soon as they began to chase the men, the greater -part of the inhabitants fled in dire fear, most of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> -them towards the Campine. In the fields and the -shrubberies the Germans must have killed a good -many of the male fugitives, and made the others -prisoners. Among the latter were my six fellow-victims.</p> - -<p>That same Friday evening the women and children -living in the Rue de la Station were told to -leave their houses as the whole street was to be -burned down. Everybody fled, but the design -was not executed. The burgomaster and his son -were taken prisoners, and brought to Tongres; -later on the son was released; the Very Reverend -the Dean was also arrested.</p> - -<p>The latter himself told me that he was released -in order to instruct the vicars in the eighteen -parishes of his deanery that they should inform -their parishioners that the whole village would be -burned and the inhabitants killed if the railway-line -should be broken up, no matter whether it -were done by Belgian soldiers or others.</p> - -<p>After I had been incarcerated for about two -hours I was taken to the commanding officer, Major -Krittel, or rather to one of his subordinates, Captain -Spuer, who was having a violent altercation with -his chief. The captain appeared to insist with -great force that the whole place should be burned -down and all the prisoners shot. But the major -seemed to be a tolerably reasonable man, tried to -soothe the captain, and at last put down his foot, -saying that he had had enough. The captain, a -rude, fat fellow, sat down at a desk and bellowed -at me:</p> - -<p>"Here, swine!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span></p> - -<p>I did not budge.</p> - -<p>"Here, swine!"</p> - -<p>"I am a Netherlander."</p> - -<p>"Netherlander? Doesn't matter. Have you -got papers? All right. You shan't have those -back."</p> - -<p>"Then I'll lodge a complaint with the Imperial -Governor of Liège, who gave me the papers."</p> - -<p>"Swine!"</p> - -<p>Now the major jumped up and shouted at his -subordinate that he had to treat a Netherlander -as he ought to be treated.</p> - -<p>The major, sitting at another desk, took my -further examination upon himself, apologising for -the "noisy" conduct of his subordinate, who had -got somewhat over-excited in consequence of the -circumstances. He found my papers in perfect -order, and told me in civil tones that I should get -back my liberty which I had lost in consequence -of a misunderstanding, but that for the present I -was not allowed to leave Bilsen, as I should run -the greatest risk of being shot by German or Belgian -patrols, who were hidden along the road. He -asked me to call again the next morning.</p> - -<p>I availed myself of his benevolent mood and told -him that my fellow-prisoners were treated very -unkindly by his soldiers, and these people had lost -their composure entirely in consequence. A calm -examination, I told him, undoubtedly would give -him also the conviction that these people had only -fled into the fields because they were afraid, but -not with any criminal intent. He promised me -to conduct the examination himself, and to be as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> -kind as possible. The next morning I heard that -they had all been released.</p> - -<p>I now tried to get something to eat in the town -at an hotel.</p> - -<p>"Well, what have you got for me to eat?"</p> - -<p>"To eat, sir—to eat? A bit of bacon ... that's -all."</p> - -<p>"Well, that's all right; and what am I going to -have with it, bread, potatoes, or...."</p> - -<p>"Bread, potatoes? Nothing. We have nothing."</p> - -<p>I went to various other places, but there I could -not even get a bit of bacon. So I made up my -mind to starve for the present, and to make inquiries -here and there about families whose acquaintances -or friends had asked me to do so through the editor -of <i>De Tijd</i>.</p> - -<p>Afterwards I sauntered through the very quiet -little town, until I suddenly saw something quite -uncommon, namely two civilians who, like myself, -were walking about. When I came near, one of -them recited a rhyme:</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div class="i0">"Ah, there comes Mister Tijd, and he</div> -<div class="i0">Lost like ourselves his liberty!"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>I had not the faintest idea who they were, but -then they introduced themselves as van Wersch -and Dasoul, both living at the time at Hasselt. The -first had been at Maastricht a couple of days ago -and had seen me there. He told me that that -morning he had been "hooked" and his companion -only the evening before. He had come to Bilsen -on a bicycle, and got such a blow on his back from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> -the butt of a German rifle that the butt was cracked -in two although his back was not injured.</p> - -<p>He had been uneasy because he experienced no -disagreeable consequences of that blow, and had -therefore consulted the doctor at Bilsen, who -thought that only his excited nerves had enabled -him to withstand such a blow. Both had been -locked up a couple of hours and their bicycles had -been taken away, as also their papers. Mr. van -Wersch, however, had an acquaintance at Bilsen -with whom he and his companion found lodgings, -and whither he was good enough to take me as well.</p> - -<p>After a bed had been promised me, my first -request was for something to eat, for I had not -enjoyed anything as yet. But there was nothing -left, absolutely nothing. I scratched my head, -and rubbed my empty stomach, when suddenly I -heard a fowl cackling outside. Negotiations about -it were soon finished; my companion was to kill -the fowl, whereas I was to call on Major Krittel -and tell him that I liked my enforced stay in Bilsen -very much, but that he ought to see now that I -got something to eat.</p> - -<p>I returned with two large round "brown -Georges"—soldiers' loaves.</p> - -<p>Never did I enjoy a meal so much; but not so -the kind people who had received us so friendly; -they could not eat. The terror which reigned -among the population in those days was indescribable. -One must have seen it and gone through -it with them, to realise it. They really feared that -at any moment the Germans would drive the population -out of the houses and set the town on fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span></p> - -<p>Men and women in the prime of life sat on their -chairs, gazing vacantly at nothing, lacking in the -most literal sense of the word the strength to -stand or to walk. When at about six o'clock in the -evening the click-clack of rifle-fire was heard—for -a Belgian patrol seemed to have come near the town,—my -hostess and her daughter pressed a couple of -papers against their breast, full of fear, ready to fly, -but unable to walk.</p> - -<p>That same afternoon also I made the acquaintance -of the editor of a local weekly, <i>De Bilsenaar</i>, which -was not allowed to appear during the occupation -of the place by the Germans. He and others had -a great many things to tell me.</p> - -<p>Not half of the requisitioned meat was used by -the Germans, and the rest was simply left to rot, -whilst the starving people were not allowed to -touch it. Two pigs and a cow were shot in a -meadow, but no part of these animals had been -used, the order to bury them being given when the -smell became unendurable. In some places the -Germans indulged in such unspeakably filthy acts, -that it is impossible to mention details.</p> - -<p>When the Germans entered Bilsen for the first -time, four persons were shot in front of the town-hall; -fifteen holes were still to be seen in the wall. -Amongst these four was also the brother-in-law -of the editor of the <i>Bilsenaar</i>. He was dragged -out of his house, accused of having shot, although -he and his wife and children were at that moment -saying the rosary. His wife had got up that day -for the first time after her confinement.</p> - -<p>The unhappy man asserted in a loud voice that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> -he was innocent, but got the answer that he would -have to prove that later on. But he never had -a chance of doing that. Arriving at the market-place, -he and three others were simply placed against -the wall and shot. He could not even have spiritual -assistance.</p> - -<p>Frequently Protestant services were held in the -market-place, conducted by a parson, and the invariable -beginning and end of that parson's allocution -was: "There is one God; there must also -be one Kaiser."</p> - -<p>A good many lads had been able to escape from -Bilsen and the environs to Antwerp; in the aggregate, -500 from this district, and more went every -day. They were driven to the Belgian army by -all they had seen and experienced. Often one -heard women and girls say: "Oh, if I were a -man, if I were a boy, I should be in the army -to-morrow!"</p> - -<p>I was sitting comfortably in the home circle of the -editor of <i>De Bilsenaar</i>, with father, mother, and -daughter. They had one son of eighteen, who -was at the Junior Seminary at Hasselt, and only the -first Sunday in August he had left for Heerenth in -order to offer himself as a missionary aspirant. The -next Wednesday the would-be missionary, an only -son, enlisted as a volunteer in the Belgian army.... -He was already the sixteenth of his form of -twenty-three boys at the college at Hasselt.</p> - -<p>The father got up and went to a small cupboard -from which he took some papers, and his eyes, and -those of his wife and daughter, became moist at -once; letters from their only boy, written on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> -battle-field! He read them out with a broken voice, -frequently interrupted by sobs. I said nothing, -could not utter a word.</p> - -<p>The boy also had been obliged to retire into -France, had been transported from Rheims to -Havre, and from there, across the sea, back to Belgium. -"Five times already, my dear parents, I have -been in the fight; I have asked them not to let me -wait long for the sixth. Oh, you cannot imagine -how glorious it is to be allowed to fight for my -country! Have confidence in the future, dear -parents, and say a paternoster for me and my comrades -and also one for our Fatherland."</p> - -<p>Well, I could not keep calm when I heard such -things read by a father from a letter of his only son -on the battle-field; that is impossible.</p> - -<p>The next morning was Sunday, and the bells -summoned the people to church. But nobody -went, nobody dared to appear in the street, although -prayer-book and rosary are always in everybody's -hands during these days. I had decided to go to -the second Mass, but as nobody had come to the first, -there was no second. The Dean himself said that -the people were quite right not to come to church. -The previous Sunday the Germans, who had -entered Lanaeken suddenly, had posted themselves -in front of the church, where the believers attended -Holy Mass, and ordered the women and children to -leave the church, but the men to stay. When all -the women and children had left, the Germans -entered the building and ... found not a single -man, for all had left quickly by the back door. A -veritable battue was held in the whole district for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> -lads and young men, who were all taken away as -prisoners by the Germans, because during the last -few days great numbers had escaped to the north -and enlisted as volunteers in the army.</p> - -<p>I went to the commander's office, and on the way -copied the following Proclamation:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p class="center">"PROCLAMATION</p> - -<p>"Private motor-cars, motor-bicycles, and bicycles are only -allowed to move about in the districts occupied by the German -army if driven by German soldiers, or the chauffeur possesses -a licence. These licences are only issued by the local commanders, -and only in urgent cases. The motor-cars, motor-bicycles, -and bicycles will be seized if this rule is infringed. -Anyone who tries to push through the German outposts shall -be shot at, as also anyone who approaches them in such a -manner that he seems to be a spy.</p> - -<p>"Should telegraph- or telephone-wires be cut in the neighbourhood -of towns and villages, these places will be sentenced -to pay a war-contribution, whether the inhabitants are guilty -or not.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"The Governor-General of Belgium.<br /> -<span class="smcap">Baron Von der Goltz</span>,<br /> -<i>Field-Marshal</i>." -</p></blockquote> - -<p>At the station Major Krittel was engaged in -examining a civilian and his wife. The man had -been found in a field; both shook from nervous -excitement and wept profusely. The major spoke -calmly and encouragingly, and after a short examination -both got their liberty. Major Krittel was -also very kind to me again, but asked emphatically -whether I knew that writing false news exposed me -to the danger of capital punishment. I answered -that I was firmly convinced of that. He then gave -me another proclamation to read in which this was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> -mentioned, and I asked and got permission to put the -document in my pocket. It runs as follows:—</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="right"> -"<span class="smcap">Tongres.</span><br /> -"24.9.1914, -</p> - -<p class="center">"PROCLAMATION</p> - -<p>"Several cases which occurred in the Province of Limburg -oblige me to acquaint the inhabitants of a number of regulations:</p> - -<p>"According to Clause 58, Section 1, of the Military Penal -Code, sentence of capital punishment for treason will be -pronounced against those who, intending to assist an enemy -army, or to injure the German army:</p> - -<ul><li>"1. Commit a punishable offence mentioned in Clause 90 -of the German Penal Code.</li> - -<li>"2. Injure or make useless roads or telegraphic instruments.</li> - -<li>"3. Serve the enemy as guides in a military undertaking -against the German allied forces, or mislead the latter when -serving them as guides.</li> - -<li>"4. Who in whatever way in order to harass or mislead -the German forces make military or other signals, urge to -flee, or prevent the reunion of straggling soldiers.</li> - -<li>"5. Who undertake to enter into verbal or written communication -with persons in the army or the fleet, of the -enemy country at war with Germany, about matters relating -to the war itself.</li> - -<li>"6. Who distribute in the German army hostile incitements -or communications.</li> - -<li>"7. Who neglect necessary precautions which ought to be -taken on behalf of the army.</li> - -<li>"8. Liberate prisoners of war.</li></ul> - -<p>"According to Clause 90 of the German Penal Code, -sentence of penal servitude for life will be pronounced against -those:</p> - -<ul><li>"1. Who surrender to the enemy, either German troops -or fortified bulwarks, trenches or fortified places, or defences, -as also parts or belongings of the German army. </li> - -<li>"2. Who surrender to the enemy of the German forces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> -defensive works, ships or transports of the fleet, public funds, -stocks of arms, munitions, or other war material, as also -bridges, railways, telegraphs, or other means of communication; -or who destroy them or make them useless on behalf of -the enemy.</li> - -<li>"3. Supply men to the enemy or entice away others who -belong to the German army.</li> - -<li>"4. Who serve the enemy as a spy, lodge hostile spies, -hide them or aid them.</li> -</ul> -<p>"And it is also to be noticed that it is forbidden to distribute -newspapers and other printed matter published in the part of -Belgium not occupied by German forces. It is forbidden -to take communications of whatever kind from these parts -of Belgium and those that are occupied by the German army. -These offences will be punished with imprisonment. Serious -cases, as, for example, any attempt to assist the hostile forces, -will be followed by sentence of death.</p> - -<p class="right"> -"<span class="smcap">Sterzel</span>,<br /> -<i>Major and Commanding Officer</i>." -</p></blockquote> - -<p>I had also to promise the major that on my -return I should bring with me a copy of <i>De Tijd</i> -in which all I had experienced and seen in Bilsen -was described, and also a box of Netherland cigars, -which he promised to pay for; then I was allowed -to go.</p> - -<p>As I went a patrol marched out—reinforcements -had again come from Tongres—whose task was to -clear the district of the enemy. The patrol consisted -of six Death-head hussars, about forty bicyclists, -and the rest infantry, altogether about four hundred -men, who were able to keep together, because the -hussars and the cyclists proceeded very slowly and -cautiously in the direction of Lanaeken. I went -with them, chatting with one of the officers. As -soon as they had got to the road, the greatest caution<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> -was observed. The hussars went in front, followed -by some of the infantry, all in loose formation, -continually looking about in all directions, with the -finger at the cock of the rifle.</p> - -<p>Not a single person was seen on the road, and -everything went well until we got to the village -of Veldwezelt. Suddenly, quite unexpectedly, a -violent rifle fire and a continued whistling of bullets -was heard from the neighbourhood of a house close -by. Although the soldiers later on asserted to the -contrary, I was sure that the firing did not come -from the house, but from some underwood near by.</p> - -<p>After some firing one of the hussars was hit and -fell from his horse, which ran away. A few seconds -later another hussar was hit in his arm and his horse -in its hind-part. Rider and horse flew away from -the fire. The Germans had, of course, immediately -answered the firing, and pulled me with them -behind the bend of the road, where I lay down with -them flat on the ground. A Belgian soldier who -came out of the shrubbery with three others was -shot, but as the firing went on for some time and the -hussars and cyclists began to take to their heels, -some order was given, and the Germans jumped up -and ran away in the direction of Bilsen. I was told -to come with them, so I also ran, and we all arrived -at Bilsen out of breath. As soon as they had -recovered their breath they gave vent to their rage.</p> - -<p>They yelled and shouted and said that Bilsen -and the whole district must be burned down, that -the major was far too kind, that they were cowardly -soldiers who hid themselves in houses and dared -not fight an honest fight in the open, that civilians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> -had also been shooting, and so on. I pointed out -that the firing did not come from the house, but from -the shrubbery near the house; that nobody could -have seen a civilian shooting. As they insisted, I said -with a laugh that they had seen ghosts. That -excited them so, that they came on to me in a rage, -and asked whether this was a laughing matter? -And they would surely have used violence had not -the sergeant intervened.</p> - -<p>I went immediately to the major to give him a -detailed report of the occurrence, and I believe -that I may say without boasting that owing to my -intervention Veldwezelt was not burned down, -although other frightful things happened there.</p> - -<p>The hussar who was first hit, died later on. The -other appeared to be only slightly wounded in -the arm.</p> - -<p>Of course I had to remain at Bilsen after this -adventure. The major appeased his men somewhat, -mounted a ridiculously small horse, and marched out -at the head of his men. Two hundred men who had -just arrived from Tongres were added as reinforcements -to the major's troops, who had now about -six hundred men with him. Thus they went again -to Veldwezelt, but the few Belgians, who were no -fools, had left of course.</p> - -<p>Towards evening the major returned with his -men, who in loud voices sounded forth all sorts of -patriotic songs, elated because they had driven -away the enemy. As he entered I addressed the -major, who with a grand sweep of his arm called out -to me: "You may go now; I have cleared the -whole district."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span></p> - -<p>I was very curious to know what had happened -in Veldwezelt. When I came near the village, I -noticed great activity; men, women, and children -were busy with saws and hatchets cutting down all -the trees and shrubs along the road.</p> - -<p>Beautiful hedges, which had been grown artificially -in fine forms for years, fell under the blows -of the hatchets. The reason? Before the day was -over all hedges, all shrubs, and all trees had to be -cut down, or the village would be set on fire. Still -shaking and trembling in consequence of the terrors -they had experienced during the day, old men, -women, and children with red flushed cheeks joined -in the work; they had not even taken time to change -their Sunday- for their working-day clothes.</p> - -<p>And if that had been all! But dozens of boys and -young men had been taken to Bilsen as prisoners. -There had been a real hunt for all able-bodied lads -who might be of any use in the Belgian army. -Women and old men were compelled by threats -to betray the hiding-places of their sons or husbands, -and if one of them was found hidden away under -straw or in barns, he was ill-treated or beaten with -rifle-butts. Some fled to Maastricht, others to -the Campine, the northern part of Belgium. I -presume that both groups have at length arrived in -Antwerp.</p> - -<p>Dr. Beckers, Government veterinary surgeon at -Veldwezelt, had also been taken to Bilsen as a -hostage. The Germans asserted that the Belgians -in Lanaeken had taken prisoner a German military -veterinary surgeon who looked after the horses, and -now intended to keep Dr. Beckers until the Belgians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span> -should have released the German military veterinary -surgeon.</p> - -<p>During the occupation a war contribution of -150,000 francs in silver had been imposed on Bilsen, -although there was hardly any silver left in the place. -This punishment was inflicted because Belgian -soldiers had destroyed the railway in two places.</p> - -<p>Near Lanaeken I met suddenly a Belgian soldier, -who did not trouble me after I had shown him my -papers. I was quite astonished to find that man -there all by himself, whilst so many Germans were -only a few miles away. When I asked whether he -knew this, he answered:</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"Are you not afraid?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"But when the Germans come!"</p> - -<p>"Then I shall shoot."</p> - -<p>"But that will mean death for yourself."</p> - -<p>"What does that matter? What do I care for -life? I come from Dinant; they have murdered -my dear parents, burned our house. What good -is it to me to be alive? I requested them to give -me this dangerous outpost. When the Germans -come, I'll shoot, and then my comrades at Lanaeken -will be warned. Then I'll kill three or four of -them, but after that I shall be ready to die myself."</p> - -<p>The man looked at me with glittering eyes full -of the passion of revenge. I pressed his hand and -went on.</p> - -<p>Lanaeken seemed to have been reoccupied by -the Belgians, after the occurrences of the previous -Sunday. When I entered the place, I found the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> -greater number of the men round about the -station.</p> - -<p>The Belgians who had fired at the Germans near -Veldwezelt had also come back there. They were -eleven motor-cyclists who had been reconnoitring; -when near Veldwezelt they saw the Germans -approach and hid themselves in the shrubberies, -intending to attack them. The only wounded -person they had was only slightly hurt, and within -a few days he would be able to rejoin his comrades.</p> - -<p>Mr. van Wersch, whom I mentioned above, and -who shared imprisonment with me at Bilsen, had -a rather disagreeable adventure a few days afterwards, -when he had the misfortune of being mistaken -for the war-correspondent of <i>De Tijd</i>.</p> - -<p>My letter to that paper about what had happened -in Bilsen seemed to have reached the German -authorities at that place, and these gentlemen -were not at all pleased with it. When Mr. van -Wersch came back to the place a few days afterwards -he was mistaken for myself, and arrested at -once.</p> - -<p>After having been searched all over, he was escorted -by a sergeant and two soldiers to Tongres, where -they took him to Captain Spuer, the same fat officer -who, so kindly, had called me a "swine."</p> - -<p>When they arrived at Tongres, the captain happened -to have returned to Bilsen, whither the -prisoner was brought back by the same escort. -But Captain Spuer seemed not to be found there -either, in consequence of which the major allowed -Mr. van Wersch at last to go on.</p> - -<p>When he passed the village of Veldwezelt he met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span> -a motor-car ... in which was Captain Spuer. -He recognised his victim at once, and also mistook -him for the war correspondent of <i>De Tijd</i>. Mr. -van Wersch was immediately detained again, and -taken to a farm-house in the neighbourhood, where -he was threatened with a revolver, and roared at: -"You are the correspondent of <i>De Tijd</i>."</p> - -<p>Mr. van Wersch denied this of course, but nevertheless -they took him to Bilsen in the motor-car. -There he was searched once more, the Netherland -letters he had with him were taken away, as also -1,800 francs. But when he was released they gave -him back the money.</p> - -<p>Mr. van Wersch was told that they intended to -send him to Tongres, but after a deliberation between -Captain Spuer and Major Krittel, a very -kind man as I have already remarked, he was allowed -to stay at Bilsen until the examination should be -over. He was allowed to walk through the townlet -under military escort at first, but later entirely free, -and to sleep at the station under military guard. -After another search, he was at last allowed to leave -for Maastricht on Monday morning.</p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XIV<br /> - -DURING THE SIEGE OF ANTWERP</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">Many</span> days before the Germans marched upon -Antwerp I announced the siege in my paper. In -Louvain I had seen all the preparations and also -the arrival of the Austrian 30·5 c.m. which were -intended to batter to ruins the bulwark of the -national defence.</p> - -<p>As soon as the siege had begun, I tried to join -the Germans, viâ Louvain, and left Maastricht -again by motor-car. Only a few miles from the -Netherland frontier I met the first soldiers, Belgians. -When they saw the Orange flag with the word -"Nederland," they let us pass without any trouble. -A little farther on the road walked a civilian, who, -by putting up his hands, requested or commanded -us to stop. We took the most prudent part, and -did stop. The man asked in bad Dutch to be -allowed to drive on with us to Brussels, but the -motor was not going beyond Tirlemont; outside -that place motor-traffic was forbidden. The -stranger got in all the same, in order to have a -convenient journey at least so far.</p> - -<p>My new companion tried desperately to speak as -good Dutch as possible, but failed in the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> -deplorable manner; every time pure German words -came in between. He told a story that he stayed -at Maastricht as a refugee, and now wanted to -fetch his children from a girls' boarding-school at -Brussels. I pretended to believe every word, and -after he had forgotten the first story he made up -another, saying that he came from Liège, where -some officers who were billeted on him were kind -enough to give him a chance of going to Brussels, -to purchase stock for his business.</p> - -<p>When we were stopped by German outposts he -put out of the window a paper at which they just -glanced, stood to attention, and said that all was -well. They did not even want to see my papers. -In a casual way I asked what a miraculous sort of -paper he had, and then he pretended that, by the -help of those officers who were quartered on him, -he had got a certificate from the Governor of Liège -with the order to treat him with great respect and -also to allow him to travel by military trains if -the opportunity happened to offer itself.</p> - -<p>In Tongres it was necessary to get a passport -signed, and pay three marks each, and ten marks -for the motor. But the office of the commander -was not open before three o'clock in the afternoon, -according to the soldiers who were doing sentry-go -in front of the town-hall. Wait till three o'clock? -No fear! My companion showed his miraculous -paper again, and was allowed to go in, but only -by himself. I gave him my papers and those of -the chauffeur, and also wanted to give him sixteen -marks, three each for the chauffeur and myself and -ten for the motor, but he said that that was un<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span>necessary. -Within twenty minutes the fellow came -back with our verified passports on which the words -"Paid: Free" were written.</p> - -<p>A lot of artillery and a great number of soldiers -were in the market-place ready to start. The -commander sent one of his officers to us, who addressed -me, examined my papers, and then said -that I had surely met Belgian soldiers on the way. -Of course I denied this emphatically.</p> - -<p>"Don't you know then whether there are Belgian -military in Vroenhoven?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"And in Lanaeken?"</p> - -<p>"I know nothing about that."</p> - -<p>"Didn't hear either about it?"</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>Evidently he seemed to confide in me, and told -me that they had been ordered to clear the north-east -corner of Belgium of enemies, and that by and -by they were going to march upon Lanaeken first -of all.</p> - -<p>When he was gone I gazed for some moments in -silence at all these men and guns, destined to go and -destroy by and by the heroes, who have done so -much harm to the Germans, under command of the -brave lieutenant Count de Caritat, burgomaster -of Lanaeken. I thought of that brave Belgian -from Dinant whom I met on his solitary outpost -outside Lanaeken, and if I had acted according to -my heart's desire, I should have sneaked away to -the threatened point in order to warn those -courageous men of the approaching disaster.</p> - -<p>My mysterious companion touched my shoulder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> -and asked whether we should not go on. "All -right," I said, and we got in again.</p> - -<p>At Tirlemont they were very busy rebuilding the -burnt houses, although all day long the air shook -from the heavy roar of the cannon near Antwerp.</p> - -<p>I sent the motor back to The Netherlands, and -went with my companion to the commander's office, -where we got a permit to go on by military train.</p> - -<p>From the side of Brussels many soldiers arrived -at the station, who had all been wounded near -Antwerp.</p> - -<p>After a long time we were able to enter a train -taking numerous new troops to Antwerp. We -occupied a first-class compartment, which looked -like a cattle-truck: pieces of bread, paper, cigar-ends, -and tobacco were lying on the floor and -the seats; the ledges of the windows were full of -candle-grease.</p> - -<p>We jogged on to Louvain at a rate of not quite -three miles an hour. Here and there we had to -wait a half or a whole hour to let trains from Brussels -pass. The reason why the train went so slowly -was because a week before a Belgian patrol had -daringly broken through the outposts and destroyed -the railway near Lovenjool. That village was then -burned down completely and the vicar made a -prisoner.</p> - -<p>Near Louvain the train had to stop for another -two hours, before it was allowed to enter the station, -which was quite close by. I thanked my stars that -at last I got rid of my companion, who travelled -on to Brussels, whereas I got out at Louvain. It -was too late to be allowed to walk in the streets,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> -but the commander gave me an escort of two soldiers, -who were to take me to the mission house of the -Fathers of the Sacred Heart.</p> - -<p>It was very cold that evening, and the outposts -at Heverlee had all wrapped themselves up in -blankets. Once or twice we were stopped, but the -password of my escort removed all difficulties.</p> - -<p>"Is it much farther?" one of my armed guides -asked.</p> - -<p>"No, only a couple of minutes."</p> - -<p>"I am thirsty. I should like very much to have -a glass of beer."</p> - -<p>"Yes," I replied, "but everything is closed."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, but we shall like it also to-morrow, -hi, hi, hi!"</p> - -<p>It is as if the curse of drink always pursued the -garrison in Louvain, for when and wherever I met -German soldiers in that town, or came into touch -with them, they were always drunk. That evening, -also, I was glad when I arrived at the mission house, -tipped the men, and got rid of them until the next -day.</p> - -<p>The Fathers were already in bed, but I soon got -them out again. Within ten minutes I was enjoying -what, in the circumstances, was a splendid meal, -and the Fathers were absorbed in the daily and -illustrated papers which I had brought for them.</p> - -<p>The conditions at Louvain were the same as some -weeks ago: hunger and misery. Some male -prisoners had come back, and also over 150 female -prisoners, who for more than a month had been -in captivity in the Munster Camp. During the -last days a real reign of terror ruled. Hostages were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> -continually claimed, and nearly always they took -clerics. The week before the people had feared -a new destruction. It was said that there had -been shooting again, but happily the inquiry -showed that a German soldier did it, and he was -punished. The shot had been fired in front of -the Josephite convent.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A remarkable strike had taken place in the Leo -XIII Hospital. The head of this institution, Dr. -Tits, also had been taken as a hostage. It was -the most blackguardly act one can think of, to take -away the man who had spent night and day mostly -nursing wounded Germans. Dr. Noyons found -it so harsh that he took counsel with the other -doctors, and they decided not to resume work -before Dr. Tits came back. This of course happened -immediately.</p> - -<p>The man who bears the full responsibility for -the destruction of Louvain, General von Manteuffel, -had left already when I visited the town this time, -and nobody has ever been able to find out what -became of him. The latest proclamations were -all signed: "By order of the General Government -of Brussels—the Etappe-Commander."</p> - -<p>Louvain was of course on tenterhooks about the -course of the siege of Antwerp, but everybody was -quite confident that this fortress would withstand -a long, long time, although they saw quite well -that the German attack was very fierce, for the -tremendous roar of the cannon never ceased for a -moment.</p> - -<p>A walking excursion of one day took me to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> -Brussels. I might have done it in a few hours less, -but I lost my way in the wood-paths near Brussels, -for at a certain moment I read on a finger-post, -"Brussels four miles"; and after walking for a -long time, and wondering whether I should ever -finish those four miles, I read suddenly: "Brussels—eight -miles!" That gave me such a shock that -once more I had nearly taken the wrong way.</p> - -<p>I put all my hope on a car that loomed up in the -distance. It was assisting in the reprovisioning of -Brussels, and only for that reason had the carman -got permission to use it. I signalled to him, and -he stopped—a big lout of a man who evidently -had had a drop too much; he would not allow me -to ride on with him, because he preferred to remain -alone on his car than to help a spy. "I am a -Belgian, a Belgian, and not a traitor, not a traitor -of my country," he assured me, with a lot of beery -tears. In any case the man meant well, and probably -he had tried to drown his troubles in drink.</p> - -<p>In other circumstances I should not have taken -so much trouble, but I was so tired that I gave the -man all my papers to make him see that I was a -Netherland journalist. But according to him that -didn't matter at all, because the Netherlanders were -quite as dirty as the Germans, for they had allowed -the enemies of Belgium to pass through their country, -and so on. In a torrent of words I told him that -there was not a word of truth in it, and that the -Belgian Government would surely lose no time -in declaring the same as soon as the country was -free again. At last I appealed to his heart by -relating all the Netherlanders had done for the Belgians. -This had the desired effect, and I was allowed to drive home with him.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> -At every inn he felt thirsty, and made me feel -quite clearly that I had every reason to treat him. -And every time that we went back to our seats he -said again:</p> - -<p>"Yes, but now you see if after all you are a spy, -you see, then, you see, I'll knock you down, you -see?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, but now listen; I have told you already -that...."</p> - -<p>"But don't you see if you should, don't you see, -you see I am a patriot."</p> - -<p>"Oh, but listen: my papers...."</p> - -<p>"Yes, but you see they may be forged, you see. -They may shoot me, you see, but a traitor, you see, -no, then I would knock you down, you see...."</p> - -<p>That happened each time that he started again, -and I was more tired by trying to convince this man -than if I had walked all the rest of the way to -Brussels. But after all I got there.</p> - -<p>There was much more liveliness in the Belgian -capital than during my first visit; it was as if the -bombardment of Antwerp had wakened the people -out of their slumber, an apparent slumber only, for -no citizens were ever more faithful to the Belgian -cause than those of Brussels.</p> - -<p>There was shouting enough in the streets and -on the boulevards; here hawkers tried to sell maps -of the Fortress of Antwerp; there women and girls -offered scarf-pins with the portrait of Burgomaster -Max. Everybody had such a pin, and I soon sported -one too, for only then did these lady-sellers leave -me alone.</p> - -<p>The German proclamations in Brussels were -nearly as numerous as the Max pins. They showered -them during the last days on the town, the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> -more insolent than the other. After reading those -things, a proclamation by Burgomaster Max affected -me beneficially, whenever I could find one amongst -the mass of other bills posted on the walls. Such a -document testified to a grand soul and a firm character, -which vindicated courageously the rights of -the oppressed people.</p> - -<p>In the streets and in the cafés I saw a great many -marines who had taken part in the fights near Antwerp -and were sent to Brussels for a few days' rest. -It was remarkable that so many of them who had -only lately looked death in the face, thought that -they could not amuse themselves better than by -mixing with girls of the worst description. Although -I cannot, of course, always believe what soldiers, -fresh back from a fight, assert in their over-excited -condition, I assumed that I might conclude that -things went badly with the defence of Antwerp.</p> - -<p>A trip from Brussels to the scene of the fight -convinced me still more. I passed some time with -the artillery which had already silenced Waelhem, -and was now used against the other defences. The -sight of such an action was less interesting than one -might think, as I could not get to the places where -the infantry were storming. Only the thunder of -all these guns overwhelmed and gave me an idea of -the terror that was created.</p> - -<p>From Antwerp, which I could see clearly from -the positions of the artillery near Waelhem, high -columns of smoke rose up from the Belgian artillery, -which was harassing the German positions.</p> - -<p>Here I also saw in action one of the 30·5 cm. -Austrian howitzers mentioned before. The clumsy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> -monster was constantly being shunted on a rail -forward and backward, and at long intervals sent -a gigantic projectile to the threatened quarters. -The sound was terrific, and the pressure of the -air made people at a great distance tremble on the -ground. The Austrian artillerists were still -equipped as if they had to fight in a rough, mountainous -country; the soles of their shoes were all -over covered with hobnails.</p> - -<p>The Red Cross Service was well arranged, the -wounded were transported regularly, a large number -of motor-cars being used.</p> - -<p>All soldiers and officers took the siege of the great -fortress calmly, convinced that at the most it would -be able to hold out for very few days. Reliable -information soon gave me the same impression, -although I had wished it might have been quite -different. When I left the scene of the fight all the -forts from Waelhem to St. Cathérine-Waver had -been silenced and in the hands of the Germans, -who would soon attack the inner circle of forts.</p> - -<p>In Brussels the people seemed to be of a different -opinion. German reports about successes obtained -were simply not believed, and people persisted in -their opinion that Antwerp would be invincible. -The more reports of victories the Germans posted -on the walls, the more excited people became, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> -palmed off upon each other all sorts of victories of -the Allies.</p> - -<p>At the Café Quatre Bras, near Tervueren, the -innkeeper told me that the Germans had asked the -Netherland Government for permission to place a -42 cm. on Netherland territory in order to be able -to shell Antwerp also from that side, but that the -Netherland Government had refused. I tried as -hard as possible to explain to the man that all stories -of such requests were mere gossip. When more and -more people entered the café I withdrew into a -corner. They were all very excited, and some of -them had drunk more than was good for them. -They related with violent gesticulations that the -Allies had surrounded Brussels and might be expected -to enter the town at any moment, that all -was over with the Germans, and so on. Shouts of -"Vive la Belgique!" and "Vive notre roi!" -sounded until suddenly I drew their attention. -They looked me up and down critically, and one -of them asked:</p> - -<p>"Who are you?"</p> - -<p>"A Netherland journalist, who is trying to get -news for his paper."</p> - -<p>"What, a Netherlander!—a Netherlander! All -traitors! You are helping the Germans, but we are -not afraid of either German or Netherlander."</p> - -<p>They crowded threateningly round me, getting -more and more excited.</p> - -<p>I saw that I must act, and jumped on a chair.</p> - -<p>"What," I exclaimed, "you dare to say that the -Netherlanders act with the Germans? No, shall -I tell you something? The Germans have asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> -the Netherland Government for permission to place -a 42 cm. gun on their territory to shell Antwerp -from that side, but the Netherland Government -have refused."</p> - -<p>"Lies, gossip."</p> - -<p>"Lies, gossip? Ask the proprietor."</p> - -<p>"Yes, men, what the gentleman says is true."</p> - -<p>The rest was lost to me, for the men crowded -round the innkeeper, who now aired his knowledge -about the occurrence and evidently spoke with true -conviction. At the end of the conversation they -took their tankards from the bar, and shouted and -cried: "Ah, well, if that is so, vive la Hollande! -vive la Belgique! vive notre roi!" Suddenly we -were the best of friends.</p> - -<p>In Louvain people would not believe that -Antwerp was on the point of surrendering, and -persisted in the opinion that the fortress would -hold out much longer, and was in a better position -than ever before.</p> - -<p>The German officers at the commander's office -were elated in consequence of the reports received, -and also told me that Antwerp would not be able -to hold out for more than two days. They also -tried to explain this to the people in the hall who -were waiting for their passports. I followed the -conversation, but not very closely, and one of the -officers explained on a map what he asserted. -Willy-nilly, because they had to get their passports, -the waiting people listened to him. Suddenly I heard -him say: "And after all we might have surrounded -Antwerp also on the north by crossing Netherland -territory, as we did when we invaded Belgium."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span></p> - -<p>Those words gave me a shock, for I had heard -that German officers always tried to encourage the -Belgians in their wrong opinion about the alleged -violation of Netherland neutrality, but I had not -been able to believe it. With an innocent face I -asked the officer:</p> - -<p>"Where did the Germans cross Netherland -territory?"</p> - -<p>"Near Maastricht. You know where Maastricht -is?"</p> - -<p>And he summoned me to look at the map, where -he pointed out to me where Maastricht was.</p> - -<p>"Hullo!" I said, "but in those days I was in -and about Maastricht, but I never noticed anything -of it."</p> - -<p>"And yet it is so. Are you perhaps a Netherlander?"</p> - -<p>"Oh yes, I am a Netherland journalist."</p> - -<p>"Is that so? I beg your pardon, but won't you -come with me? I suppose that you want a passport. -I will take you to the commander."</p> - -<p>He was quite upset, and evidently thought that -the best plan was to muzzle me by taking me away -from the others as quickly as possible.</p> - -<p>I asked and got the commander's permission to -travel to Liège by military train, and from there to -The Netherlands, not only for myself, but also for -a Netherland girl of nine years, whose parents in -Amsterdam had repeatedly and persistently asked -me to see whether there would be any possibility -of letting their little girl come back from a Louvain -boarding-school. The Sisters with whom she was -let her go with me when I showed them a letter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> -from her father. That child had already seen a -good deal! The Sisters had fled with all the children -at the time of the conflagration, and hidden themselves -for days in a farm in the neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>During the last days hundreds of lads had left -Louvain for The Netherlands, and the migration -went on throughout the whole occupied part of -Belgium. It was the exodus of the levies of 1914 -and 1915, who had been called up, and many of -whom had been sent to Germany as prisoners. The -Germans themselves had not a little furthered the -flight of these crowds; by proclamations they had -warned the lads not to try to escape, for otherwise -all of the levies of '14 and '15 would be taken -prisoners, and the parents of the fugitives would -be punished. At Heverlee and Louvain the lads -of both levies had to present themselves every -Friday at this station. The consequence was that -the following Friday not one single boy of those -levies was to be found in either place.</p> - -<p>No more wounded were taken to the hospitals of -Louvain, as it had been decided to send them -straight on to Germany for the present; yet there -were many wounded men who were being nursed -there already, and the doctors had their hands full -attending to the wounded who passed the town. -Dr. Noyons told me that the previous Sunday a -train with 600 wounded had arrived from Northern -France, and he and his assistants had been requested -"just" to dress the wounds again of some of them. -The condition of these unfortunate men must have -been awful; not one had a dressing less than eight -days old. Most of them had had it on much longer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> -and then these were merely emergency dressings. -They were laid on straw in cattle trucks, many of -them even in filth, and infection had worsened their -condition to a great extent. Dr. Noyons and his -colleagues tried to give the poor fellows as much relief -as possible, but as a matter of course they could -not do very much during a short stay at a station.</p> - -<p>The general condition of the town was not calmer -during these last days. New hostages were taken -continually, and generally, as before, they were -clerics, in consequence of which the religious services -were in a continual muddle, and sometimes on -Sundays no Holy Mass could be said. Burgomaster -Nerinx had now posted proclamations in which he -called for volunteers to serve as temporary hostages, -instead of the priests, during the hours of religious -service. As if it were office work they mentioned: -"The service begins in the afternoon at ... o'clock -and will end after ... days at ... o'clock."</p> - -<p>It was self-evident that very few were keen to -offer themselves as temporary substitutes for the -clerics.</p> - -<p>I have, happily, not seen much of the distressing -flight of the Antwerp population, as I happened -to be at Liège when the fortress fell into German -hands. I went to Zundert viâ Maastricht and -Breda, in order to go to the conquered fortress -from that Netherland frontier-town, north-east of -Antwerp.</p> - -<p>A good many refugees were on their way to The -Netherlands, but the bulk of the crowd had passed -before my visit along the long road which I walked -now in the opposite direction. I did not arrive in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> -Antwerp before nightfall and was then very tired. -The town was dark, dismal, and deserted, and only -German soldiers went about in the streets, apparently -looking in vain for a shop or café where they -might find some diversion. I myself, exhausted by -a walk of twenty-five miles, sauntered along, constantly -looking for some place or other to pass the -night. Not a shop or hotel was open, and yet my -stomach was craving for food, my body for rest. -At last I met a policeman and told him of my -difficulty.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," he answered, "that will be difficult -enough. Everybody has fled, even my own wife -and children. I remained because I thought -it was my duty, and now I have been tramping -through the streets already for over twenty-four -hours, without being relieved. It seems that by -far the greater number of my colleagues fled also."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think you could find me some hotel, -or private people who might put me up?"</p> - -<p>"I am very much afraid I shan't be able, but -come along, and we'll try together."</p> - -<p>So we went from street to street, without any -result. He rang the bell at many houses where he -knew that acquaintances lived, but always in vain, -and at last the kind man had to give it up.</p> - -<p>I went on by myself, and arrived at last in a street -where I noticed a light in a house. When I came -near, I stood opposite a small café, with "Lodgings" -over the door. I was hardly able to go on, and did -not care whether it was "lodgings" or "hotel," -if I could only get in somewhere.</p> - -<p>But I did not stop long, for after a good look<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> -round it seemed the best to try and get away as -quickly as possible, and in that I succeeded. One -understands, however, that it was a terrific disappointment -for a man so tired to leave again after -thinking that he had at last found a place for -rest. At length I found an hotel near the Central -Station.</p> - -<p>Antwerp had suffered from the horror of war. -The bombardment had destroyed many beautiful -quarters almost entirely, and even damaged badly -a number of hospitals. Of course the loss of many -lives had to be deplored.</p> - -<p>The next day I had the pleasure of an interview -with Cardinal Mercier, whose residence in Antwerp -I had been able to find out at last. A wealthy lady -had offered his Eminence her grand house. In one -of the rooms I waited for the arrival of the cardinal, -the Metropolitan of the Belgian Church Provinces, -who, both as a prelate and a patriot, had been -tried so sorely in this war, which ravaged both his -university town and his episcopal town. Although -he was exceedingly busy, his Eminence had the kindness -to grant me an audience.</p> - -<p>As I was still musing about the tragedy of this -venerable personality in these hard days of war, the -door was opened suddenly and his spare figure stood -before me. It was a moment full of emotion, and -perhaps I might not have recovered myself so -quickly if the kind prelate had not met me with -so much kindness.</p> - -<p>After his Eminence had allowed me to kiss his -ring, he asked me to sit down. I had now a good -opportunity to notice how grief dwelt on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> -entirely spiritualised face, in its frame of white -hair. But his extraordinary kindness in intercourse -did not leave him for one moment.</p> - -<p>In connection with the summons, which had -been sent in the name of the archdiocese to <i>De -Tijd</i>, and had been proclaimed in all the churches -of Antwerp in the morning, his Eminence insisted -that it should be printed in its entirety, as very -many priests had taken refuge in The Netherlands, -whose help was pressingly wanted in the arch-diocese -in many of the parishes.</p> - -<p>And he went on to say that he desired especially, -most fervently the return of the fled population.</p> - -<p>"Really, in all sincerity," he said, "no danger -need be feared. I should be very grateful if the -newspapers in The Netherlands would draw attention -to the following promises which the German -authorities gave me, and authorised me to make -in their name:—</p> - -<ul><li>"1. The young men need not fear that they will -be taken to Germany in order to serve in the German -army, or be compelled to do any work.</li> - -<li>"2. Should the police regulations be infringed -anywhere by some individuals, the authorities will -find the guilty parties and punish them, without -attributing the guilt to the entire population.</li> - -<li>"3. The German and Belgian authorities will do -everything in their power to prevent scarcity of -food."</li></ul> - -<p>"Your Eminence may permit me to remark that -the second clause especially is very important and -much more comforting than a previous declaration -of the Imperial Governor, that owing to occasional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> -mistakes he cannot prevent the innocent population -from having to suffer with those who are guilty. -May I ask, has this favourable result been obtained -by your personal intervention?"</p> - -<p>"That is to say ... yes. I have suggested -these measures and they have been consented to. -I hope that they may induce all the refugees in -The Netherlands to return at once. A press bureau -in your country has circulated the report that I -too had planned to fly. There was no truth in it -at all. It was my duty not to leave my people, is -not that so? The shepherd must stay with his -sheep, the vicars must do the same, and those who -went away must therefore come back."</p> - -<p>"Your Eminence visited Malines last Tuesday, -I have been told. I may perhaps ask how you -found the condition of the cathedral and the -town?"</p> - -<p>The cardinal's face was overclouded suddenly, -and quietly he answered:</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, it is perhaps better not to say a -word about that for the moment. We are living -through difficult times."</p> - -<p>I understood and respected the restraint of the -Belgian primate, who went on then:</p> - -<p>"Tuesday of next week I hope to be at Malines -again, and on the 20th of this month the administrative -service of the archdiocese will be reinstalled."</p> - -<p>"Then you will stay again at the episcopal palace, -your Eminence?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, certainly. It will take time of course, -but the damage done to the St. Rombout church<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> -and the palace is not irreparable; the church has -suffered very much, the spire is less damaged."</p> - -<p>"Much will be needed to repair what has been -damaged in this unfortunate country."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes. An immense amount will be necessary. -We are about to form committees; but so -much is needed. In England they are also forming -committees, and I have received money already -from England, Scotland, and Ireland, and The -Netherlands...."</p> - -<p>For a moment he gave way to emotion. He -hesitated for a few seconds, and I saw tears in his -eyes. He then went on with a trembling voice:</p> - -<p>"The Netherlands is a generous country. How -grateful, how immensely grateful am I to the -Netherland people for what they have done for poor -refugees. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude. -I have received reports from priests who came back, -and I am deeply moved by them. They told me -how at Roosendaal the Netherland soldiers gave -all their bread to the refugees, knowing well that -for some time they themselves would not get any -other. No! I can never be sufficiently grateful -for such sacrifices. And Catholics and non-Catholics -all joined in it. That is beautiful, very, very -beautiful."</p> - -<p>"Your Eminence, what The Netherlands did for -the poor Belgians came from the heart of the people, -and I know for certain that the Catholics will be -eager to contribute to the rebuilding of the destroyed -churches and houses."</p> - -<p>"The Netherlands has done already so much, -but if it would come to the assistance of our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> -unfortunate people also in this way it would greatly -gladden the archiepiscopal government, who will be -only too happy to accept gifts in these difficult -times; and perhaps the Right Reverend Netherland -bishops may be willing to send the gifts for this -purpose to us. We might then distribute those -gifts among the parishes in the country which have -suffered most."</p> - -<p>"Well, in any case, your Eminence, I promise to -bring it to the knowledge of the Catholics in The -Netherlands, and you may rely upon their readiness. -But now I will not take more of your valuable time, -which you give so zealously to the poor and the -unfortunate. I thank you very much for having -granted me this audience."</p> - -<p>"It was in the interests of our suffering country, -and we are those who ought to be grateful. May -I insist once more that you ask our refugees to come -back to Antwerp and don't omit to state the three -favourable regulations...."</p> - -<p>His Eminence then got up, kindly offered me his -hand, the ring on which I kissed, and escorted me -to the door in the amiable, simple way of which I -shall retain the memory for ever.</p> - -<p>I can see now once more how little Germans care -about the given word. They asked and obtained -from Cardinal Mercier his co-operation to incite -the population to return, but the cardinal, always -anxious to safeguard his compatriots, made conditions -to which they consented.</p> - -<p>The first of them was that no young man should -be taken to Germany, or compelled to work. Now -how many lads are not already in Germany, how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> -many have not been compelled, especially in both -the Flanders, to do work for the Germans? And -were not loyal people who refused to do it imprisoned? -Yes! Did not these violators of law -and right proclaim that all appeal to international -agreements would be useless? "We shall no longer -punish a whole population for the deeds of individuals," -they also promised Cardinal Mercier. -But many communities have had fines and taxes -imposed upon them in consequence of the offence -of one individual.</p> - -<p>And although they also promised to do everything -in their power to prevent lack of food in -Belgium, they have bled to death the unfortunate -country by continuous impositions and taxes, and -thrown many into poverty and misery.</p> - -<p>Yes, in the most scandalous manner they have -violated the promises which the Germans gave -Cardinal Mercier. But what signifies a word if -treaties are only "scraps of paper?"</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XV<br /> - -THE ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH -WOUNDED</h2> - -<p>I <small>RETURNED</small> from Louvain by military train. This -one had had a most adventurous journey before it -reached Louvain. It had left Cambrai in North -France three days before, always going slowly and -making long stops, to spare the seriously wounded -at least a little. I estimated that in my train over -2,000 wounded had been loaded in a long, dismal -procession of wagons. Most of them had not had -their bandages renewed for a fortnight, and were -still wearing the first emergency dressing; all came -from the neighbourhood of Arras.</p> - -<p>A little to the north of this town many had been -lying wounded in the trenches for over eight days, -without being able to get their wounds bandaged. -They had to admit the success of the French field -artillery, which produced a most serious effect.</p> - -<p>The Germans all agreed that their right wing -lacked artillery. The German soldiers who fell -there were all killed in their trenches by the falling -bombs, there was not sufficient field artillery to -answer this murderous fire efficiently, and they -could not do anything with their rifles against the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> -invisible enemy. The artillery fire of the French -was most serious from the 1st to the 4th of October, -and during those days the German trenches must -have been a real hell. On October 4th a general -"sauve qui peut" began from the trenches.</p> - -<p>But the shell-fire of the French overtook them -then, as they were retreating, while many others -were killed by bombs from French aeroplanes, -which were in action in great numbers. The retreat -had not stopped before the Germans arrived in -Cambray, where the thousands of wounded could -at last be put in long trains and sent to Aix-la-Chapelle. -A great many bombs from aeroplanes -also hit these trains and killed a great many; my -own train was everywhere pierced by fragments of -those bombs. Within the carriages it was unendurable; -the wounded men and their malodorous -bandages had occupied them such a long time that -the atmosphere was simply insupportable. Happily -there was a corridor, where I stood all the time, with -the little girl, in the company of some German -military men who were sent home, not on account -of wounds, but because of internal complaints.</p> - -<p>Very slowly the huge monster sauntered along, -stopping and waiting everywhere to allow long -trains with fresh troops to pass. These came -straight from Germany, with the youngest levies -and volunteers who had just finished their drill. -These had decorated their trains all over with green -boughs and outside painted all sorts of caricatures, -from which especially King George had to suffer -much. Then one read "To Paris, to England," -and similar hopeful devices.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span></p> - -<p>When their train approached ours they looked -out of the windows, or opened the doors, and waved -and greeted and shouted at the top of their voices.</p> - -<p>But as soon as these "tender-foots" came alongside -our train and were not met with the same -impetuous enthusiasm as they displayed themselves, -but, on the contrary, saw sick, discouraged, exhausted -faces gazing at them distressedly, their boisterousness -suddenly extinguished, and a nervous, terrified -expression pursed up their mouths. And the trains -were already at some distance from each other -before the young soldiers remembered that they -ought to shout and to wave to those who had -already done so much for the Fatherland.</p> - -<p>We arrived at Landen, a place between Tirlemont -and Waremme, where we had a stop of forty minutes, -in order to feed the wounded. Soup was served -from large washing-tubs, and I and my small -companion were also offered some of this soldiers' -food. When I had finished my meal, and walked -up and down the platform in order to stretch my -legs, my attention was drawn to an uproar in front -of one of the last wagons. I went there, and shall -not forget what I saw as long as I live; I wish that -I had never seen it.</p> - -<p>Amongst some Frenchmen, three British soldiers, -seriously wounded, were lying on some straw. They -looked distressed, and I thought that their condition -was critical. I was told that these men had not -had any food for five days, and now there stood in -front of the open wagon doors two to three hundred -German soldiers, partly slightly wounded, who were -well able to walk, partly German soldiers of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> -Landen garrison, who had been told off for distributing -the soup. These two to three hundred men -raged and jeered at those three unfortunate, heavily -wounded British soldiers, who had not eaten for -five days, and lay groaning helplessly on some dirty -straw in a cattle-truck. The steaming tubs with -hot soup were shown them, and these Germans -shouted at them: "You want to eat, swine, swine; -you ought to be killed! Beat them to death!—beat -them to death! Here, that's what you ought to -get!"</p> - -<p>As they spoke these last words they aimed their -rifles at the unfortunate, bleeding, helpless, and -hungry creatures. Others spat on their clothes -and in their faces, and the enraged Germans foamed -at the mouth.</p> - -<p>With weak eyes, eyes telling of approaching death, -one of them gazed at these cruel torturers, or looked -hungrily at the steaming soup; the two others had -turned their heads on one side and closed their eyes. -But at last also the third turned off his head and -closed his eyes, sighing and groaning. In the -meantime the Germans went on threatening them, -blurting out all sorts of filthy abuse, spitting or -threatening them with their rifles, while others were -laughing and enjoying the helplessness of those -three.</p> - -<p>I stood still, dumb, aghast, unable to utter a word. -Then I went to a sergeant who was also looking on -and laughing; and, trembling all over, I said:</p> - -<p>"What is happening here is frightful; those men -are also human beings, who had to do their duty as -much as you!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span></p> - -<p>I couldn't say more, my voice stuck in my throat.</p> - -<p>And what was his answer?</p> - -<p>"What? Do their duty? No, they are swine—paid -swine; they get money for their dirty work, -the swine!"</p> - -<p>I did not answer. I could not. Silently I -looked a little longer at the beastly scene, only -sorry that I was not a giant who, with one strong -hand, might restrain the roughs, and refresh with -the other the burning, feverish lips of the wretched -men.</p> - -<p>What distressed me most was that among those -two to three hundred soldiers in front of that open -cattle-truck was not one man who wanted to take -the part of these unfortunate British; no, not one!</p> - -<p>When I reported the occurrence in <i>De Tijd</i>, I was -fully conscious of the frightful accusation implied -by my information; but I am prepared to confirm -with the most sacred oaths that nothing in this -accusation is untrue or exaggerated.</p> - -<p>I was not afraid of an inquiry, but asked for it -as a matter of fact, by writing in my report:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"And if the German authorities intend to institute a -serious and impartial inquiry, then I give them the following -particulars:</p> - -<p>"It happened at Landen on Friday, October 9th, in the -train with wounded which arrived there from Brussels at -about noon, when food was being distributed."</p></blockquote> - -<p>The German authorities have indeed made -inquiries about the matter; I shall deal with that -in the next chapter.</p> - -<p>What happened at Landen made a very deep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> -impression upon me; it shocked me more than all -the terrible things which I had seen during the -war and all the dangers which I went through. -When the train went on again, and the soldiers -began to speak to me once more, I was unable to -utter a word and sat there musing.</p> - -<p>Before I witnessed this terrible event at Landen -some Germans in the train had already told me -that they simply killed the British whom they made -prisoners. Others assured me that such a thing -did not happen in their division, but one asserted -that by his company alone already twenty-six had -been killed. I did not believe them then, and -thought that they were better than they made -themselves out, but after having witnessed that -scene at Landen ...!</p> - -<p>One hour before the arrival at Liège the engine -of our train dashed into another, and got so badly -damaged that all the water from our engine ran -away. This caused a delay of another two hours, -so that we did not arrive at Liège before dusk, and -could not think of reaching The Netherlands that day.</p> - -<p>I took the little Amsterdam girl to my niece in -the convent of the Sisters of Mercy, and went to -an hotel myself. A German newspaper, bought -at a bookstall, gave in gigantic type the information -that Antwerp might fall at any moment, and a -recently posted bulletin brought the feared-for -news. But the people of Liège could not, and would -not believe it.</p> - -<p>I had expected it and believed the reports, but it -hurt all the same. I had had intercourse with -German soldiers almost exclusively; but that gave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> -me a much better opportunity for observing their -conduct, which roused in me a deep sympathy for -the poor, oppressed Belgian people. That was -why I was so sorry to hear of the fall of Antwerp, -although I was not discouraged. Right would -triumph, and the day come when the Belgian -nation would shake off the foreign yoke of tyranny, -and repair in peace and prosperity, under the -sagacious rule of their king, what barbarians destroyed -and pulled down.</p> - -<p>The next day I got to The Netherlands with my -small protégée, after a tiring walk from Herstal to -Eysden, where we could take the train to Maastricht. -Here the father of the little girl came to meet his -daughter, and took her to Amsterdam, to her -"Mummy," of whom she had been speaking during -the whole journey with so much longing.</p> - -<p>Only now did I hear what had happened to the -village of Lanaeken after I had seen the German -preparations in Tongres for action against the little -Belgian army that was still about in the north-eastern -part of the country. The greater part of -Lanaeken had been destroyed by shelling, and of -course a great many innocent victims had fallen in -consequence.</p> - -<p>By destroying the life and possessions of peaceful -civilians the Germans—who always boast so much -about their military honour—gave unconscious -expression to their awe of the fearless heroes who -still stood their ground to the north of Liège, whilst -the Germans were still besieging Antwerp.</p> - -<p class="p2">I have mentioned already that the German autho<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span>rities -had ordered a so-called inquiry about what -happened at Landen. As the result of this inquiry -the press of all neutral countries had the following -two official communications wired to them:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"<i>Berlin, November 10th.</i> (E. B.).—A correspondent of -<i>De Tijd</i> in Amsterdam has told a number of details about the -so-called bad treatment of British wounded at the station of -Landen, according to which the British had been left without -food or drink, had been spit in their faces, and our soldiers -were alleged to have aimed their rifles at them. The German -Government had instituted a thorough inquiry into this -matter and publish the result: 'The entire allegation of the -correspondent is untrue. None of the details is covered by -the facts. The British have not been beaten nor pushed nor -spit at, but on the contrary warm food was offered them, -which was accepted by all except two. Store-inspector -Huebner and the landwehr-soldier Krueger have testified to -this."</p> - -<p>"<i>Berlin, November 10th.</i> (W. B.) Official.—The <i>Norddeutsche -Allgemeine Zeitung</i> writes: 'The daily newspaper, -<i>De Tijd</i>, issued at Amsterdam, published on October 16th -a report from a war correspondent at Maastricht, in which he -asserted that on October 9th a train in which more than -two thousand wounded were transported, arrived at the station -at Landen in Belgium between Tirlemont and Waremme. -Here it was said that a stop had taken place of forty minutes -in which to provide the wounded with food. Walking up -and down the platform the reporter pretends to have seen two -to three hundred German soldiers, slightly wounded men and -men of the garrison of Landen, furiously abuse three seriously -wounded British, who were lying in one of the last carriages -of the train. They showed mugs full of steaming soup to -the hungry British, whom they left lying there miserable -from starvation. They were also said to have aimed their -rifles at them, laughing roughly, and to have spit on them.</p> - -<p>"'These allegations of the reporter of <i>De Tijd</i> caused the -authorities to institute inquiries, and the following is now -stated with regard to the alleged events:</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span></p> -<p>"'On October 9th no train with two thousand wounded -arrived at the station of Landen, but only small transports -whose number can be checked accurately by the lists of -wounded. Rioting by two to three hundred soldiers near a -carriage could not take place, as the station guard was instructed -to keep free a path along the train. There is, moreover, -always an officer of the station-guard present, when a -train with wounded leaves. It is impossible that the soldiers -could have aimed their rifles at the British, as the men who -get their food in the dining-hall, as also the serving military -personnel, are always unarmed. Other soldiers are not -admitted to the station. The British have neither been -beaten, nor stabbed, nor spit at; on the contrary plates full -of hot soup have been offered them which were refused by -two of them. This has been confirmed by the declarations -of people who were present.'"</p></blockquote> - -<p>Of course I did not withhold my answer, pilloried -the hardly serious inquiry of the Germans, and -published immediately an extensive contradiction in -<i>De Tijd</i>. I quote the following from it:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Only about a month after the publication of my story -about what happened at Landen, the German Government -and military authorities considered that the time had come -to contradict it, after ordering an inquiry which in reality -cannot be called an inquiry at all. From their communiqués -it is clear that some soldiers were heard who probably were -privy to the act, and in any case benefited by a denial of the -villainy committed at Landen. That is to say, men who were -counsel in their own cause, and who were believed the sooner -because their declarations were desirable for the support of -German credit. But it does not appear from these communiqués -that the German authorities also examined the -wounded who were present, nor the two Netherlanders who -travelled by that train: the young Miss de Bruin, from -Amsterdam, and the present writer, as also the civilian witnesses -at Landen. In opposition to the evidence of Stores-inspector -Huebner and the landwehr-soldier Krueger, of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> -which evidence it has not been stated that they gave it on -oath, I declare myself prepared and willing, if a complete and -impartial inquiry be instituted, to declare upon oath either -to a properly qualified committee in The Netherlands or in -Germany, or to a thereto-appointed arbiter, the following:</p> - -<p>"'1. On Friday, the ninth of October, at noon, I stopped -at Landen about forty minutes after arriving from Louvain in -a terribly long train of passenger carriages and goods vans, with -approximately two thousand wounded. (This estimate may be -wrong to the extent of a couple of hundred, but that does not -matter.) During this time the wounded were fed.</p> - -<p>"'I saw how two to three hundred German soldiers, part -of them slightly wounded, who were well able to walk, partly -soldiers of the Landen garrison, who crowded about the open -doors of one of the last wagons, raging and jeering against -three seriously wounded British soldiers, about whom their -French fellow-passengers told me that they had had nothing -to eat for five days. The wounded were called "swine," were -spit at, and some rifles were aimed at them. When I told a -sergeant that it was a disgusting scene, he answered: "These -British swine, they get paid for their filthy work." He alluded -to the pay which the British volunteers receive because they -enlist as mercenaries, Britain having no compulsory general -military service. Before I witnessed this awful thing at -Landen, Germans in the train had already told me that they -simply killed any British whom they made prisoners. Others -said that such a thing did not happen in their division, but -one man contended that by his company already twenty-six -had been killed. I did not believe them, and thought that -they were better than they pretended to be.</p> - -<p>"'2. The soup had been offered to the British, but two -refused to take it, says the German Government. Yes, it was -offered these wretched people, but, as I have said already, the -German soldiers kept the steaming soup before them, shouting -at them: "You want to eat, you swine!—you swine! you -ought to be killed! This is what you may have!" And as -they said the latter they aimed their rifles at the unfortunate -men, whilst others who were not armed lifted up their fists -and threatened them, or spat at them.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span></p> -<p>"'In my report about the occurrence I had not even exposed -in all its harshness the treatment dealt out to the French -soldiers. For they too were not offered plates of soup, but -only the mugs were filled, forming part of their equipment. -And there were many who put out these mugs as if supplicating -to have them filled once more; as that was not done they -constantly put the empty mug to their mouth to try and lick -off any remaining drops that might have stuck to its side. -Some Germans said: "Yes, the French may have something, -for they are soldiers, but those three there, well, they are paid -swine."</p> - -<p>"'3. I published the facts and insisted upon an impartial -inquiry, in order to prevent, if possible, that only guilty soldiers -should be heard should a complaint about the occurrence be -lodged with the highest military authority.</p> - -<p>"'Instead of facing such an impartial inquiry with an -examination of all available witnesses and punishment of the -guilty, the German government finds the courage only to -call me, a month after the event, "a liar," and the whole -story a fairy-tale!</p> - -<p>"'If the German government had come somewhat earlier -with their contradiction, it might have been possible to cite -another witness, for—I have not reported that at first—among -those who were present there was a civilian, an inhabitant of -Landen, who also looked with anger at the cruel scene, and -expressed his indignation when he could no longer restrain -himself. But then there was a general outcry of:</p> - -<p>"'"What is this civilian doing here?" The young man -could not explain his presence satisfactorily, and a couple of -soldiers got hold of him, and, in the literal sense of the word, -threw him away. When he waited at a short distance a little -longer, with an angry face, one of the soldiers ran at him, -threatening him with his bayonet. I might have been able -to find that young man at the time, but now, a month later, -this will be much more difficult. There was also another -group of civilians packed as densely as herrings in a cattle-truck -on another line; they must have seen the beastly -occurrence as well.</p> - -<p>"'I might quote another small detail. Before the train<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> -arrived at Landen I had had a very pleasant chat in the corridor -with a German soldier, who seemed tolerably humane and -civilised, even in his talk. After the departure from Landen -I again got into conversation with him, and did not fail to -express my indignation; and then he gave me the following -reply: "Oh well, one must think of the position of our -soldiers, who have been for days in the trenches under the -murderous fire of the enemy. Later on they will themselves -repent for what has happened." Perhaps the German government -may be able to discover who that soldier is, if I add that -he went home for good because he was suffering from heart-disease.</p> - -<p>"'And then there is something else. The brakesman of -the wagon in which I travelled was a man who had enlisted -only a couple of weeks ago as a volunteer for the service on the -railways, and, if I remember correctly, hailed from Hamburg. -He belonged to a Trades Union which had already once made -a trip to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and was for instance -able to tell me that Krasnapolsky at Amsterdam was a large -hotel. I also spoke to that man about what had happened, -because I thought I had noticed that he was more human, -but he too gave me the cynical answer: "Oh well, the French -may have something to eat, they fight also for their country, -but not those British, they only fight because that is their -profession."</p> - -<p>"'4. With regard to the arms of the German soldiers, it is -true that the wounded men had none with them, but I -have distinctly stated that the crowd consisted of soldiers who -belonged to the lightly wounded and of soldiers belonging to -the Landen garrison. These latter had been told off to guard -the station and the platforms and maintain order. It is -possible that they had also to prevent the wounded from -moving about on the platforms, but in that case they did not -stick to their task, because everybody was free to go -where he liked, and I myself did the same. That these -guards did not guard anything at all at the moment is proved -by the fact that the above-mentioned civilian was able -to come near the riot, although he had to pass a number of -platforms. That the soldiers belonged to the Landen garrison<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> -and had to do sentry-go is proved by the fact that they had -their bayonets on their rifles.</p> - -<p>"'Finally, the contention that no riot could have taken -place because the soldiers were fed in the dining-hall is entirely -incorrect. That dining-hall was nothing but a shed entirely -open at the front, in which there were a few seats. There the -slightly wounded soldiers were fed first, and when they had -supplied those, food was taken to the seriously wounded, who -had to stop in the train, as also to myself and my little companion. -The slightly wounded and the soldiers of the guard -walked off with the distributors of the soup along the train -in order to have a chat with their comrades in it. In that -way they also came to the British when the wagon-door had -been opened. It will be evident that I observed closely and -retained in my memory all that had happened there and in -the neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>"'5. My pertinent declarations are now opposed by the -German official contradiction; but how weak is the argument! -I have already pointed out that only comrades of the accused -men have been heard, but not the accuser, nor, as is evident, -the victims, nor other witnesses. There is more: "Crowding -of two to three hundred soldiers near a wagon cannot occur"—thus -says the communiqué—"because the station-guard's -duty is to keep free the path along the train." Does anyone -understand the weakness of this contradiction? It is as if -one should say: "It is impossible that anything has been -stolen in a town because it is the duty of the police to -guard it." "Moreover there is also always an officer of the -station-guard present at the departure of a train of wounded," -the communiqué proceeds. But again I ask: What does -this prove? It is a fact that this officer, if he was present, -did not prevent what happened. "It is impossible that -the soldiers aimed their rifles at the British, because the men -who get their food in the dining-hall, and those of the military -who distribute it, are always unarmed; no other soldiers are -admitted to the station." I see that the German government -simply quote the military regulations, and from them determine -the facts. They cannot realise that it might be -possible for their regulations not to be obeyed always.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span></p> -<p>"'6. I am convinced that on the whole the treatment of the -wounded was generous and exemplary. But it is also a fact -that the terrible hatred of the Germans against the British, -encouraged by their military authorities (one has to think of -the proclamation of Prince Rupert of Bavaria) and their -scandalous comic papers, which disgust even decent Germans, -induce to extravagances such as I witnessed at Landen. Did -not a German officer explain to an editor of the <i>Algemeen -Handelsolad</i> (evening issue of October 18th): "The unwritten -order is to make everywhere as many French and as few -English prisoners as possible; we don't try to wound, but -to kill the British."'"</p></blockquote> - -<p>I think that my answer left nothing to be desired -for plainness, and Germany cannot have derived -much pleasure from its official contradiction. Moreover, -the editor of <i>De Tijd</i> had also made inquiries -from the little girl whom I escorted from Louvain -on the day of the occurrence at Landen, and -although I admit at once that not too great a value -can be attached to the evidence of a girl of nine, I -insert here what the editor wrote about that -interview:—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Our editor has moreover interviewed young Miss Antoinette -de Bruijn here, whom our correspondent brought from -Louvain to Maastricht. In the presence of her mother she -told how she had been in a train full of wounded, that there -were armed soldiers on the platform, and that some wounded -soldiers had been teased by offering them steaming soup which -was not given to them. The father of this girl, Mr. de Bruijn, -also assured us that when he met his daughter at Maastricht, -our correspondent, Mr. Mokveld, was still very much under -the impression of what he had witnessed."</p></blockquote> - -<p>My contradiction became known in Germany, -and it was an eye-opener to a great many people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span> -there. The editor of <i>De Tijd</i> received many letters -from that country, and printed some of them with -the name of the writer added. From these it seems -that even there it was acknowledged in some circles -that the German inquiry had been extremely one-sided, -and that it would have been wiser to admit -what had happened at Landen, and punish the -culprits.</p> - -<p>The only purpose of my publication was to convince -everybody of this, and thereby prevent the -repetition of such a scandalous scene.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span></p> - -<h2>CHAPTER XVI<br /> - -ON THE YSER</h2> - -<p><span class="smcap">From</span> the pretty town of Sluys in the Netherland -part of Flanders I made a good many trips to the -Belgian coastal regions and the Yser, the little river -that will always be named in history, because there -came the end of the German advance, and there -the Belgian army displayed all its power, fighting -with the courage of lions in defence of the last bit -of their native soil.</p> - -<p>Yes, Sluys will always live in my memory. How -well have been received the thousands of Belgians -who went there for shelter and how much misery -have I seen relieved by the effectual mutual help -of the Belgians and that of the civil and military -Netherland authorities. The burgomaster in particular -seemed to be the right man in the right place, -and it was chiefly due to his sagacity that everything -went so regularly in that small town, which -had to maintain the proportionately greatest number -of refugees.</p> - -<p>In Sluys I also got to know by friendly intercourse -the character of the Belgians, so open, so straightforward, -and so bright.</p> - -<p>From this town I got the best connections with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> -the West of Belgium, and as a rule I always made -my first visit to ancient and pretty Bruges, which -was constantly strongly occupied by the Germans. -In front of the well-known Halls two small guns -had been mounted, threatening the market-square. -The same was the case in front of the Palace of -Justice, where the commander's office was established. -The Government buildings in the market -were entirely occupied by the naval staff of Admiral -von Schroeder, and dozens of sailors were sitting -in the offices, working at their typewriting machines.</p> - -<p>Soldiers came from and went back to the Yser, -which river I saw three times during the fierce -fighting.</p> - -<p>The first time when the Germans had only been -there for about ten days, and huge masses were sent -to the scene of battle, because they had decided -to break through at any cost.</p> - -<p>Along the coast the German line did not reach -far beyond Mariakerke, where a big German flag -on a high dune indicated their most advanced -front. Thanks to the consent of a couple of officers -I was allowed to push on to the front lines, and did -this in spite of the danger from bursting shrapnel. -The wounded had to walk back from there to Ostend, -very often suffering the most trying pains, because, -according to what they told me, the Red Cross -Service was not able to help them all. They were -very dissatisfied on account of the waste of human -life by which the attacks were accompanied, and -some made bitter remarks about the staff which -seemed to be mad, constantly sending new troops -into the murderous fire with such evident callousness.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span></p> - -<p>I have been able to assist a good many of these -unfortunate people by bandaging the wounds with -the dressing they gave me, or getting some water -for them from some house in the neighbourhood; -and one, who had fallen down exhausted by pain, -I carried into a house.</p> - -<p>I had more trouble with a wretch who, being -heavily wounded in both legs, lay on the top of a -dune beyond Mariakerke. He was quite alone, and -when he discovered me his eyes glistened, full of -hope. He told me of his agonies, and beseeched -me to take him to a house or an ambulance. However -much I should have liked to do that, it was -impossible in the circumstances in which I found -myself. Nowhere, even in the farthest distance, -was a house to be seen, and I tried to explain the -position to him. But he turned a deaf ear to all my -exhortations, and insisted that I should help him. -It was a painful business, for I could not do the -impossible. So I promised him, and took my oath -that I should warn the first ambulance I met, and -see to it that they came and fetched him.</p> - -<p>I went away urging him to maintain his courage -for the time being, but he had scarcely noticed that -I was about to go, when his eyes began to gleam and -to roll in his head; then he took his rifle, which was -lying by his side, and I, seeing his intention, ran -down the dune as quickly as possible, whilst I heard -the well-known click-clack behind me; the man -had fired two bullets at me....</p> - -<p>I must not take that sort of thing amiss. Who -knew with how much pain and how long he had -been lying there, facing death, but fearing it too.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span> -At last someone came near, and he put all his hope -in that man, but a hope that vanished. Yes, -I can quite understand that a man in those conditions -goes mad.</p> - -<p>I was not able to stay long at Mariakerke, but -succeeded, by going in an easterly direction, to get -near Leke, where the fight was also in full swing, -and where evidently the same command had been -issued: "Advance at any cost." The German -artillery stood south of Leke, but I succeeded in -pushing on to a hill near the road, where I could -see the columns of smoke of the Belgian artillery -and the clouds of dust which the German shrapnel -threw up.</p> - -<p>The Germans advanced in a formation which I -had never seen yet. The men went at the double-quick -in closed ranks three abreast, each of the -threefold files marching at a small distance from -the other.</p> - -<p>They stormed the Belgian lines with lowered -bayonets. The Belgians quietly allowed them to -come near, but as soon as they were at a certain -distance from the trenches they wished to take, I -heard the rattle of the mitrailleuses, and the thunder -of the guns. The storming soldiers then disappeared -in a fog of smoke and dust, in which I saw -their shadows fall and stagger. This went on for -about ten minutes, and then they came back in -complete disorder, still followed by the hostile -bullets and shrapnel.</p> - -<p>A period of calm followed, but not for long, for -again and again new attacks were made.</p> - -<p>I myself was not very safe either, for frequently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span> -bursting shells fell near me. I therefore thought -it safer to cross to a farm-house a hundred yards -farther on, where I might find shelter. Before -I got there an officer of a passing division took -me violently by the arm and asked who I was and -what I was doing there? His eyes glittered savagely, -and he as well as his men seemed to be fearfully -excited.</p> - -<p>I said in a few words who I was, and showed one -of my German permits. He had scarcely seen the -many German stamps on it when he let me go -and went on with his men. I then pinned on my -coat two permits which had the greatest number -of stamps, and in consequence had no further -trouble.</p> - -<p>From the garret-window of the farm-house I -followed the fierce battle for another half-hour, -and saw that the Germans suffered enormous -losses, but achieved no gains. At last I had to -leave this place too, because shells fell again quite -near to the house. I stayed another ten minutes -near an ambulance, where they were quite unable -to attend to the numerous wounded men. Most -of them got an emergency dressing, and were -advised to go higher up and try to get better attention -there.</p> - -<p>The battle I saw that day on the Yser was the -beginning of the trench-war in that district. Many -Belgian troops had dug themselves in, and later on -this system was extended, in consequence of which -the Belgian line there became impregnable.</p> - -<p>In those days German Headquarters gave continuously -the thoughtless order: "To Calais, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> -Calais," and the Staff considered no difficulties, -calculated no sacrifices, in order to achieve success.</p> - -<p>What these frenzied orders have cost in human -lives History will tell later on.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>As soon as the Germans were near the coast -they began to fortify it most formidably, in order -to prevent eventual attempts at landing by hostile -troops. Guns were soon mounted in the dunes, -as I noticed during a trip which I made along the -coast on Sunday, October 25th.</p> - -<p>Heyst was occupied by a small division of marines, -although a few days before the garrison had been -larger, but on Saturday evening all soldiers along -the coast had been alarmed, and most of them were -ordered to proceed to the battle-field near Nieuwpoort, -where matters were at the time less favourable -for the Germans. Near the dyke I found five pieces -of ordnance mounted, their mouths turned towards -the sea, and that they were quite right in taking -precautions was proved by the men-of-war riding -on the distant horizon, without motion.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the town I was detained by three -sailors, who called out an angry "Halt!" seized my -bicycle, and made me a prisoner, "because I was -an Englishman." Happily I could prove the -contrary by my papers; and the permit of the -Bruges commander to go about on a bicycle made -them return it.</p> - -<p>There was a general complaint in that district -about the very arbitrary requisitions: for example, -beds and blankets were extensively taken away from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> -the convents, a thing against which the burgomaster -of Bruges had already protested. Horses, cows, -and other cattle were simply taken from the stables -and the meadows, and paid for with paper promises.</p> - -<p>At Zeebrugge the conditions were not alarming. -The houses of those who had gone away, however, -had been damaged most terribly, and looted. Round -the harbour guns were mounted, guarded by many -sentries. I was at first forbidden to cross the canal -bridge, but my excellent credentials at length made -the sentries give in. Everything indicated that -already during the first days of the occupation the -Germans had begun to execute their plan to turn -Zeebrugge into a station for submarines.</p> - -<p>The commander ruled with a strong hand. They -issued not only the usual proclamations about introducing -German time, but the commander went even -so far as to dictate at what hour the Holy Masses -had to be said. In one of the proclamations I -read, for example, that in future the Mass of six -o'clock, Belgian time, had to be said at the same -hour German time. Another proclamation said -that skippers were forbidden to sail, and that all -boats, including fisher-boats, had been seized.</p> - -<p>In the dunes near Ostend I came across a level field -fenced off by the military, and in the centre I saw a -large company of superior officers, and a marine -band. They were arranged round three big caves, -into which just then had been lowered nine military -officers and ordinary soldiers, who died in the nearly -completed new Military Hospital of Ostend in the -neighbourhood.</p> - -<p>With a powerful voice, in order to drown the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span> -roar of the guns, a German parson delivered the -funeral oration, in which he spoke of the heroic -conduct of the fallen men, who had sacrificed their -lives for God, Kaiser, and Fatherland, and who, -by God's inscrutable decree, were not destined to -witness the final victory of the powerful German -armies. The marines put their instruments to -their mouths and played a slow funeral march. -It was really very touching, and all the spectators -came under the impression.</p> - -<p>Whilst yet the sweet strains of the music sounded -over the dunes, the dull booming of the heavy field-artillery -was heard constantly, and each boom -meant the end of so many more human lives. The -music went on, and the officers approached one -after the other to throw a handful of sand on the -corpses of their fallen comrades. I saw their nostrils -tremble, saw them bite their lips nervously, saw -tears in their eyes.</p> - -<p>The ceremony wound up with a short silent prayer -offered at the request of the parson.</p> - -<p>The funeral had deeply moved me, and full of -emotion I approached the edge of the graves. I -saw three corpses in each of them, simply wrapped -in a clean, white sheet. The only decorations were -some green palm branches ... the branches telling -of peace.</p> - -<p>A little farther on I discovered a good many other -mounds. A cross made of two little pieces of wood -stood on each, amongst pots with flowers and small -posies. On one of the crosses I saw written in -pencil—</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>"Captain Count Von Schwerin, 19. 10.'14."</p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> - -It was very interesting, because a humble private -had been buried by his side.</p> - -<p>Of course I did not know this Count von Schwerin, -but because I had just witnessed that funeral, and -because it was so striking that men of every class -were buried in the same manner, I reported what -I saw to my paper. And, tragic fate, in consequence -of this, the wife of the late Count heard for the first -time of the death of her husband to whom she, a -Netherland baroness, had been married at the -beginning of the war. At the request of the family -I made arrangements so that the grave might be -recognised after the war.</p> - -<p>In Ostend every place was full of wounded men, -who all came walking from the battle-field in groups. -Even in those days the fierce fights continued in -consequence of the mad attempts to conquer -Dunkirk and Calais. Great losses were suffered -also by the enormous effect of the British naval guns, -against which the German marines had mounted -big guns in Ostend and farther along the coast, -in order to keep the fleet at a distance.</p> - -<p>On the day of my visit to Ostend all sorts of -conveyances had taken more than 3,000 wounded -into the town. Peasants from the neighbourhood -were compelled to harness their horses and transport -the unfortunate men. Such a procession was distressing -to look at, as most men lay on open carts, -only supported by a handful of newly cut straw, -and long processions entered the town continuously. -As reinforcements had arrived, the divisions of -the German army which had suffered most came -sometimes from the front to the town, in order<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> -to have a rest, and then I saw a great deal of -misery.</p> - -<p>Some of the soldiers were furious and others -distressed on account of the great number of -comrades left on the battle-field, while they hardly -made any progress against the tenacity of the Allies. -Those who were not seriously wounded were not -even put up in hospitals or similar buildings, as -there was only room for a few, although many private -houses had been turned into supplementary hospitals. -In the streets and the cafés I saw therefore hundreds -of men in bandages.</p> - -<p>The condition of the civilian population was not -too roseate. Most of them were away, and from -those who had stayed everything was requisitioned. -Staying in the town was not without danger, for -two days before my visit it had been bombarded -from noon to one o'clock by the British fleet, by -which an hotel on the boulevard and some houses -in the Rue des Flamands had been damaged.</p> - -<p>From Ostend I went a few days later to Thourout, -a townlet to the north of the centre of the Yser-line. -I was accompanied by two Netherland -colleagues whom I had met at Bruges. Everything -was quiet there; the commander of the naval -region, Admiral von Schroeder, had made himself -slightly ridiculous, by informing the population in -a proclamation that he had ordered the British -citizens in the coastal region to leave the country, -in order to protect them from their fellow-countrymen -of the British fleet, who, by bombarding Ostend, -had endangered their lives.</p> - -<p>As we left through the Gate-of-Bruges towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> -Thourout we were approached by a small military -group, a few German soldiers who escorted about -a dozen French and Belgian prisoners of war. -Until that moment the street had been relatively -quiet, but the inhabitants had scarcely heard that -the "boys" came, when each ran into the street, -forgetting all fear of the "Duuts," and, breaking -through the escort, they gave their "boys" an -apple, or a pear, or a packet of cigarettes; so we -saw a huge round of white bread fly through the air -and land in the hands of one of the "boys." Such -a thing touches one always, and even the escorting -Germans, who at first were very indignant on account -of the sudden and unexpected intrusion, left the -citizens alone with a generous gesture, as to say: -"Well, have your way."</p> - -<p>The other eleven miles of the road to Thourout -were quite deserted, and only in one place did I see -a man working in the field. We only saw now and -again a small escort which overtook us. From afar -a trooper approached us; after having heard who -we were, he told us that he had been on the way -already three days and three nights from the trench -lines, and how fierce the fighting was there. The -German losses had been immense; he pointed to -the unoccupied horse by his side, and said: "My -chum, whose horse this was, fell also." He took -a couple of strong pulls at his pipe, and, spurring -his mount, rode off with a: "Keep well."</p> - -<p>At Thourout all convents and large buildings had -been turned into hospitals, and the streets on both -sides were full of big wagons. Hundreds of soldiers -went off, and large convoys of carts were standing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span> -in the meadows and on the roads, where officers -and men were also practising riding. We were -here in the rear, where there was a continuous going -and coming from the front. Most soldiers were -in a more or less excited mood; some did not hide -their discontent, or sat musing dejectedly, asking -themselves how these terrible days would end for -them? Others again seemed to have got into a -sort of frenzy in consequence of the continuous -fighting and were not able to think logically at all. -They told excited stories about the British whom -they had killed, and chased away from the 42 c.m. -guns, who, according to them, were also at work in -the swampy soil near Nieuwpoort, and also told -about the shooting civilians, and those cursed -Belgians, who cut open the bellies of their poor -wounded, or sliced off their noses, hands, and ears. -Of course pure fairy tales, but recited with much -power of conviction.</p> - -<p>The question of lodgings brought also many -difficulties, for nobody wanted to, or could put us -up. At last we succeeded at the Hôtel l'Union, -where we first ate two roasted pigeons which were -intended for a couple of officers, who would return -in the evening from the front line. The three of -us subsequently occupied one room, after having -written on the door with chalk that Lieutenants -So and So were staying there. For the landlady -had told us that she was willing to put us up, -but that the officers who returned every night from -the front line were sure to turn us out. Indeed -in the evening we heard heavy steps before our door, -but after a voice had read out that Lieutenants So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> -and So were passing the night there, they all -went away again.</p> - -<p>The next morning the roar of the cannon woke -us up, and soon we heard how the fighting stood, -for when we went to the commander for a permit -to go to Dixmuiden, the sympathetic major absolutely -refused it, and haltingly added that he himself -did not yet know how things stood there. Well, -that was enough for us. At last he gave us a permit -for Ostend, and we noticed very soon that now we -were in the rear of the front. Whilst the guns were -thundering on continuously and the shrapnel -exploded in the air, we passed continuously large -contingents, who actually formed one long line. -The fight was going on only a few miles away, and -incessantly the unhappy wounded came out of the -small bypaths, stumbling on in their heavily muddied -clothes.</p> - -<p>At the "Oud Slot van Vlaanderen," a large, -ancient castle, there was a lot of hustle and bustle -of carriages and motor-cars. We had not gone -another two hundred yards, when someone came -after us and stopped us as suspects. We were -escorted back to the castle, where a general command -was established, and an aviators-division, with the -motor-section attached to it. Happily our detention -did not last long, and after examination we -were released. On the road was an infernal noise, -as the violent roar of the cannon was mixing with -the roar of the wheels of the heavily-loaded convoys -and the whirr and hooting of the army motors. -Long processions of field-kitchens passed us also, -most of them brand-new; but it was remarkable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> -that all carts arranged for a team of two were -drawn with great difficulty by only one horse, and -also that so many civilians have been compelled to -act as drivers, or to gather the wounded.</p> - -<p>Constantly new and large transports of wounded -came along the road, and here and there they were -busy killing and burying wounded horses. The -inhabitants locked themselves in their houses, and -expected with great fear that any moment the -military might arrive to claim their last horse or -cow. The requisitions went on continuously, and -the cattle were driven to the front in a long, desolate -procession.</p> - -<p>As we went on towards Eerneghem French aviators -were heroically reconnoitring above the German -lines. One came from Dixmuiden and one from -Nieuwpoort; both went to about half-way between -these two towns, where the centre of the battle -was. The Germans kept up an unbroken artillery -fire at those birds in the air. I saw quite near -to them shells exploding right and left and -discharging dense, black clouds of smoke that -disappeared slowly. There were moments when -these black stretches of cloud seemed to form -a frame round the aeroplanes, but the brave -aviators knew how to escape from their assailants -by all sorts of tricks. They came down to go -up again unexpectedly, entirely changed their direction -a moment later, and at last both disappeared -undamaged.</p> - -<p>At Eerneghem we were not only stopped, but also -sent back outright. It was considered extremely -impudent on our side that we had dared to push<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span> -on so far, because we were in the fighting-line. -Even the permit given by the commander of -Thourout was of no avail.</p> - -<p>Back at Bruges we attended in the market the -concert given by a German military band near the -statues of Breydel and de Koninck. At the commander's -office I witnessed a remarkable incident. -A German post-official and a soldier had just brought -in a decently dressed gentleman. The postman -began to relate that he was taking away the telephone -instrument at that gentleman's house in order to -fix it up at the commander's office, and that the -gentleman had said: "Why do you steal that -instrument?" As the postman said this the commander -jumped up in a fury, and called out:</p> - -<p>"What? What? Do you dare to call it stealing, -what we Germans take here in Bruges?"</p> - -<p>"Sir, I do not understand German, but——"</p> - -<p>"Not a word, not a word; you have insulted a -German official, and according to the proclamation -you know that that is severely punished. You are -my prisoner."</p> - -<p>As he said this the commander put his hand -roughly on the shoulder of the trembling man, who -again said in French:</p> - -<p>"I have not used the word 'steal' at all, but let -me explain the matter."</p> - -<p>"There is nothing to explain. Officer, you can -take your oath on it?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, captain."</p> - -<p>"Well"—this to a private—"you call the patrol; -this man must be arrested."</p> - -<p>The unhappy man bowed his head trembling,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> -and with dull resignation he left the office, strongly -escorted.</p> - -<p>The man who had this experience was Mr. -Coppieters, the District Commissioner, a man who -had given all his life to the service of society and -the good of the community.</p> - -<p>Happily the burgomaster intervened, and, as I -heard later, got him released.</p> - -<p class="p2">These are some of the things I could tell about -my trips in the West of Belgium. By the end of -November I was no longer allowed to move freely -behind the front, although from time to time I -visited small Belgian frontier-places.</p> - -<p>Yet I am glad to have witnessed the terrible -fights near the Yser a couple of times where the -German invasion was stopped, and where we may -hope that soon victory may dawn on the brave -Belgian army.</p> - -<p class="p6 center"><i>Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., -London and Aylesbury</i></p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<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> The translator uses the words "The Netherlands, Netherlander," -and "Netherland" on purpose. The Germans call -themselves "Deutsch," the Americans call them "Dutch," the -Flemish use "Duts" or "Duuts," and the Netherlanders -"Duitsch"; so it is desirable to exchange "Dutch" for "Netherland."</p></div> - -<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 note on page <a href="#Page_15"><span class="err" title="original:1">15</span></a>.</p></div></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="center"><b>The Gods in the Battle</b></p> - -<p class="center">By PAUL HYACINTHE LOYSON</p> - -<p class="center">Translated from the French by LADY FRAZER</p> - -<p class="center">With an Introduction by H. G. WELLS</p> - -<p class="center"><i>SOME EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS OF THE -ORIGINAL</i></p> - -<p><b>Le Mercure de France</b> (Marcel Rouff):</p> - -<p>"P. H. Loyson's book hunts down all the subterfuges of dubious -neutralities; it gives chase to all suspicious timidities; it combats all -the criminal cavils.... All this part of the book (on Romain Rolland) -is really grand and tragic."</p> - -<p><b>Georges Renard</b> (Socialist, Professor at the Collège de France):</p> - -<p>"An old volunteer of 1870, like myself, cannot admit that a Frenchman -should lounge in a foreign country and hover 'above the battle' when -his country is threatened with death, together with all the human -ideals for which she stands. Therefore I applaud the shots fired by this -franc-tireur."</p> - -<p><b>Le Progrès</b> (Athens):</p> - -<p>"Among the innumerable books which the great war has produced -at Paris, this is one of powerful interest by a great French patriot, who -is at the same time a writer of indisputable superiority."</p> - -<p><b>Boston Evening Transcript</b> (Alvan F. Sanborn):</p> - -<p>"A striking contrast between the sturdiness, strenuousness, and boldness -of the <i>ante-bellum</i> pacificism of Loyson and the equivocalness and -timidity of that of Rolland."</p> - -<p><b>Le Journal des Débats</b>:</p> - -<p>"This masterly lesson, courageously given, will not be lost."</p> - -<p><b>Le Radical</b> (Eugène Holland):</p> - -<p>"Inspired by his theme, the author soars to the heights of eloquence, -which thus far had only been reached by the grand lyric flight of -D'Annunzio. This book will live."</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Cloth, 3s. 6d. net</b></p> - -<p class="center bt"> -HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO -</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="bbox"><p class="center"><b><big>The Bloodless War</big></b></p> - -<p class="center"><small>BY</small></p> - -<p class="center">EZIO M. GRAY</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Translated from the Italian by BERNAND MIALL</b></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">This</span> volume will interest the business man -and politician as well as the general public. -It shows how Germany, by means of her -industrial or money-lending banks, obtained -control of vast sums of Italian capital, and -of most Italian industries; ruining those -which competed with her, and making even -those she favoured dependent on her for -some necessary item, so that war meant, -or was intended to mean, the economic ruin -of Italy. What Germany did in Italy she -has done elsewhere; and everywhere her -banking and commerce go hand in hand -with espionage. Signor Gray tells us what -Italy is doing to shake off the German yoke, -and what remains to be done.</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Almost Ready. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. 6d. net</b></p> - -<p class="center bt"> -HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO -</p></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="u"><b><i>Third Edition in the Press</i></b></p> - -<p>The First Volume of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's History -of the War</p> - -<p class="center"> -<b><big>The British Campaign<br /> -in France & Flanders<br /> -1914</big></b> -</p> - -<p class="center">BY</p> - -<p class="center"><b>SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE</b></p> - -<p class="center">With Maps, Plans and Diagrams. 6/-net</p> - -<p class="center"><b><i>SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON NICOLL in "The -British Weekly"</i></b></p> - -<p>"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has given us a classic. -His book on the British Campaign in France and -Flanders during 1914 will never be superseded. It -must be read by everyone and kept at hand for constant -consultation by all who make a serious study of -the war.... Above all, his entire work is animated -by a noble love of liberty. His is a soul as true as -steel and as transparent as crystal. The power and -sincerity of his narrative have behind them qualities -of moral sympathy and moral indignation which sometimes -draw the reader to his feet."</p> - -<p class="center bt"> -HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="center"><b><big>THE TREATMENT OF -ARMENIANS IN THE -OTTOMAN EMPIRE</big></b></p> - -<p class="center">DOCUMENTS PRESENTED TO -VISCOUNT GREY OF FALLODON</p> - -<p class="center"><i>late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs</i></p> - -<p class="center"><b>WITH A PREFACE BY -VISCOUNT BRYCE</b></p> - -<p class="hang">THIS book is a body of testament from -people who were either victims or eye-witnesses -of the Turkish atrocities.</p> - -<p class="hang">THE evidence was collected under the -direction of Viscount Bryce.</p> - -<p class="hang">IS the destiny of all the Near Eastern -peoples to be solved by the crushing -of small nations under the heel of the -merciless and strong?</p> - -<p class="hang">WHEN the day of settlement comes the -evidence in this book will have an -important bearing on the answer to -this question.</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Demy 8vo, cloth, 3/-net</b></p> - -<p class="center bt"> -HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -LONDON, NEW YORK AND TORONTO -</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="bbox"> -<p class="center bb"><b><big>SOME IMPORTANT WAR BOOKS</big></b></p> - -<p class="center">ENGLAND IN WAR-TIME.</p> - -<p class="center">By ANDRE CHEVRILLON.</p> - -<p class="center">With a Preface by RUDYARD KIPLING.</p> - -<p>A striking, impartial, documented and highly sympathetic study, by a French -scholar, well acquainted with England, of the internal evolution of the country -during the last two years. In seven brilliant and life-like chapters, the author -gives a vivid sketch of the initial attitude of England to the war, of the progressive -alterations in her structure which have resulted from its stress, of the -inevitable opposition they have encountered, and examines the ultimate causes -alike of changes and opposition. The book is indispensable to all who wish to -obtain a clear and scientific view, undistorted by party feeling, of the epoch-making -crisis through which our country is passing.</p> - -<p class="center bb"><b>Price 5s. net.</b></p> - -<p class="center">HURRAH AND HALLELUJAH:</p> - -<p class="center">The Spirit of New Germanism. A Documentation.</p> - -<p class="center">By J. P. BANG, D.D.,</p> - -<p class="center"><i>Professor of Theology at the University of Copenhagen</i>.</p> - -<p>"My purpose in writing this book is to describe a movement in Germany -which has been active for a long time, but which during the war has recklessly -cast aside all considerations. This movement is twofold: New Germany's view -of other nations, and her valuation of herself and her supposed mission in the -world. My book takes the form of a comprehensive documentation showing the -manifold forms, the wide scope, and the strength of this movement, which, if its -ideas prevail, will be of the most fatal importance for Germanism and to the -world at large."</p> - -<p class="center bb"><b>Price 3s. 6d. net.</b></p> - -<p class="center">COMRADES IN ARMS.</p> - -<p class="center">By CAPITAINE PHILIPPE MILLET.</p> - -<p>Capitaine Philippe Millet, already known as the author of "Jenny s'en -va-t-elle en guerre," has written a number of stories illustrating life in France -to-day. Most of the stories vividly picture the actual life in the trenches and -the barrack room, and show in simple and direct fashion the common bond that -is being forged between the soldiers of our country and those of France. These -stories are a revelation of the English Tommy as seen through the eyes of a -French officer, and the delightful vein of humour running all through will hold -the reader spellbound to the end. It is doubtful whether from any other source -it is possible to obtain such a series of realistic impressions of the English soldier -as seen by one of our Allies in actual warfare.</p> - -<p class="center"><b>Price 3s. 6d. net.</b></p> - -<p class="center bt"> -HODDER AND STOUGHTON<br /> -ST. PAUL'S HOUSE, WARWICK SQUARE, LONDON, E.C.<br /> -</p> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="transnote"> -<h3><a id="Transcribers_Note"></a>Transcriber's Note</h3> - -<p>Variable spelling and hyphenation have been retained. Minor punctuation -inconsistencies have been silently repaired.</p> -<p> -On page <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, the underlined text was missing:</p> - -<blockquote><p>"At last I appealed to his heart by relating all the Netherlanders had done for -<span class="u">the Belgians. This had the desired effect, and I was allowed to drive home with him.</span></p> - -<p><span class="u">At every inn he felt thirsty, and made me feel quite clearly that I had every reason to treat him. </span> -And every time that we went back to our seats he said again:</p> -</blockquote> - -<p>It was completed from the copy of the Library of Congress found in Internet Archive -<a href="https://archive.org/details/germanfuryinbelg02mokv/page/n8">https://archive.org/details/germanfuryinbelg02mokv/page/n8</a> -</p> -<p>Duplicated text on pages 203-204 was deleted. </p> - -<h4>Corrections.</h4> - -<p>The first line indicates the original, the second the correction.</p> - -<p>p. <a href="#Page_75">75</a></p> -<ul><li>I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of -the Netherlander,</li> - -<li>I had to listen to a prolonged hymn of praise of -the <span class="u">Netherlanders</span>,</li></ul> - -<p>p. <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, Footnote <a href="#FNanchor_2_2">[2]</a></p> -<ul><li>See note on page 1.</li> -<li>See note on <span class="u">page 15</span>.</li></ul> - -<p>p. <a href="#Page_178">178</a></p> - -<ul><li>to instruct the vicars in the eighteen parishers</li> - -<li>to instruct the vicars in the eighteen <span class="u">parishes</span></li></ul> - -<p>p. <a href="#Page_180">180</a></p> - -<ul><li>but then they introducted</li> - -<li>but then they <span class="u">introduced</span></li></ul> - -<p>p. <a href="#Page_202">202</a></p> - -<ul><li>There was shouting enough in the streets and on the boulewards</li> - -<li>There was shouting enough in the streets and on the <span class="u">boulevards</span></li></ul> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The German Fury in Belgium, by L. 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