German Atrocities: A Record of Shameless Deeds — John Shaqi
German Atrocities: A Record of Shameless DeedsLe Queux, William
History
German Atrocities: A Record of Shameless Deeds
Le Queux, William
World War, 1914-1918 -- Atrocities
In a chat I also had with M. Emile Van der Velde, another member of the
Delegation and the leader of the Belgian Socialists, he said: “I went to
Malines after the fighting, in order to investigate the state of
affairs. I found only eight Belgian people in the town, but even then
the Germans were bombarding the deserted houses, apparently with the
sole object of destroying them. The whole object of the Germans,” he
added, “had been to create such a reign of terror that the whole
population of Belgium should flee into Antwerp, and so render it
impossible for the people congregated there to be fed. I myself examined
the bodies of a peasant and his son which had been cut to pieces by
bayonet thrusts.”
Another member of the Delegation told me that he had learned from
several wounded persons how a druggist living near Tirlemont, on
refusing to act as guide to the Uhlans, was shot three times and then
bayoneted; and further, in the same hospital, wounded soldiers had told
him how that while lying upon the battlefield many had been bayoneted or
shot.
The Delegation had, earlier in the day on which I had this interview
with them, presented an Address to His Majesty at Buckingham Palace, the
text of which has been published. It ran:--
“SIRE,--Belgium, having had to choose between the sacrifice of her
honour and the peril of war, did not hesitate. She opposed the
brutal aggression committed by a Power which was one of the
guarantors of her neutrality.
“In this critical situation it was for our country an inestimable
tower of strength to see coming forth the resolute and immediate
intervention by great and powerful England.
“Commissioned by His Majesty the King of the Belgians with a
Mission to the President of the United States, we have considered
it to be our duty to make a stay in the capital of the British
Empire to convey to your Majesty the respectful and ardent
expression of gratitude of the Belgian nation....
“Our adversary, after invading our territory, has decimated the
civil population, massacred women and children, carried into
captivity inoffensive peasants, put to death wounded, destroyed
undefended towns, burned churches, historical monuments, and the
famous library of the University of Louvain. All these facts are
established by authenticated documents. Each we shall have the
honour of submitting to the Government of your Majesty.
“In spite of all this suffering in Belgium, which has been made the
personification of outraged right, the country is resolute in
fulfilling to the utmost her duties towards Europe. Whatever may
happen, she must defend her existence, her honour, and her
liberty.”
The King, in reply, said that he would support Belgium, and expressed
his horror at the shocking report of German brutality.
The Belgian Minister’s Statements.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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