The contents of this book are no hearsay stories, but hard facts officially recorded in _dossiers_ in the French and Belgian Ministries of War, most of them, indeed, sworn statements taken before burgomasters, mayors, prefects, and magistrates. Even our brave fellows wounded in the Kaiser’s savage attack upon Europe have brought back from the front similar narratives of the most appalling crimes. Evidence of German trickery and savagery we have, too, in our midst, for trains, sentries, and policemen have been shot at under cover of darkness by men who mean to emulate the methods of their compatriots. The frightful deeds which have been done over the face of Belgium and in France are, no doubt, intended to be repeated in Great Britain, and, if it were possible, the Red Hand of Destruction would certainly be laid very heavy upon us--more heavily, perhaps, because we, by our honesty of purpose, have incurred the hatred of Kaiserdom. I would bid all sufferers in Belgium and France to remember that when Attila of old came to Chalons, full of ostentation as the great War-Lord, he came to his own undoing, and his dominion at once disappeared to the winds. There is One with Whom vengeance lies for wrongs, and most assuredly will He mete out the same dread Fate of death and obscurity to the unblushing War-Lord of Germany, who, daily, with his blasphemous impiety, lifts his bloodstained hands and thanks his Maker for his shameful “successes.” WILLIAM LE QUEUX. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE 5 WHAT THE KAISER SAID 8 FOREWORD 9 AUTHOR’S NOTE 10 INTRODUCTION 11 CHAPTER I. ARTICLE XXIII. OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION 19 “ II. MY INTERVIEW WITH BELGIAN MINISTERS OF STATE 21 “ III. THE BRITISH PRESS BUREAU STATEMENT 26 “ IV. SECOND REPORT OF THE BELGIAN COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY 34 “ V. CAN THESE THINGS BE TRUE? 44 “ VI. WANTON BRUTALITY 47 “ VII. 300 MEN SHOT IN COLD BLOOD 52 “ VIII. THE INFERNO AT VISÉ 54 “ IX. THE MAIDEN TRIBUTE 58 “ X. ATROCITIES ROUND LIÉGE 66 “ XI. THE CRIME OF LOUVAIN 73 “ XII. FRENCH PROTEST TO THE POWERS 91 “ XIII. THE DESECRATION OF CHURCHES 101 “ XIV. TREATMENT OF ENGLISH TRAVELLERS 105