(2) At a village about 3 miles S.E. of Ypres, about three weeks next Monday, forty-five of us advanced to rush a house; only seven of us returned. As we were advancing they opened fire on us with a machine gun. We were only about fifteen strong when we got there. We had to break an entrance through the window. We heard shouts and a disturbance inside; it was the Germans making for the cellars. Captain A---- went upstairs after leaving some men on the cellar steps; I followed him. In the back room upstairs was a maxim gun. In one of the other rooms was a girl about fifteen--she had nothing on except a man’s overcoat. When we broke into the room we thought she was absolutely mad. She cried out something, but we could not understand what it was. She rushed out of the room into the front bedroom which was locked. We smashed it in with our rifle butts and there found a woman, her mother, with her right breast all bleeding, and her clothes torn--her breast had been cut as if with a sword, not a bayonet. We used our field bandages and made her as comfortable as we could and sent a volunteer back for stretcher-bearers. [This soldier was at times in great pain when he spoke, but his mind was clear. I am convinced he spoke the truth.--J. H. M.] (18) Corporal D----, Loyal North Lancs., 1st Batt.:--At Ypres, end of November, I was in the trenches, and I saw two of our men, who had been sent out as snipers, hit, and the Germans motioned to them to come into their trenches (which were about 80 yards from ours); they began to crawl in, and as they got on the parapet of the trench the Germans shot them. (19) J. A----, Private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Batt.:--About the beginning of December we were billeted in the outskirts of Armentières, and were allowed out between twelve and three. We passed a man standing at his door, and he asked us if we had any bully beef--we said no, but we offered him a packet of cigarettes. We stood at the door talking and his wife and children came to the door. The woman looked bad--very delicate looking. He then told us that nine Germans had stopped in the house, and some of them had outraged his wife while he was in the house. He spoke very fair English. Private McM---- and S---- were with me. (20) Private K----, 1st Loyal North Lancs.:--On Monday night we attacked them and took two trenches. Everything was quiet till the next morning except for sniping. At about 8.30 they advanced upon us, and the officer of ---- Company, seeing the men were overpowered, put up the white flag, and the men put their hands up to surrender. The Germans advanced, and when they got up to the trenches, they shot them each in their trenches as they stood. _I saw this. I was on the left flank._ (21)