We have already stated in the preceding chapter how seldom the Germans have carried out these principles, for, contrariwise, they have deliberately aimed their artillery at establishments for the shelter of the wounded, the sick, and the hospital services. This fact is not the only one which shows the contempt displayed by the Germans for the Geneva Convention. It seems that they have eagerly seized upon every opportunity which presented itself to violate this convention in every way. Not only have the wounded who fell into their hands not been properly treated by them, but in many instances these wounded have been put to death. Sometimes, before killing them, they treated themselves to the enjoyment of making them suffer. It is scarcely credible, but it is true, that in more than one case the killing of the wounded assumed the form of a command issued by the officers themselves. We have said that the Germans have also fired on ambulances. They have killed and ill-treated Red Cross nurses, male and female, and the doctors engaged on Red Cross work. KILLING OF THE WOUNDED ORDERED BY OFFICERS The German wounded are many. It followed, therefore, that the German medical service was disinclined to encumber itself with relays of enemy wounded. Perhaps this is also the reason why orders were given to the soldiers to kill the wounded. General Stenger issued, on the 26th August, an order of the day _giving instructions to make no more prisoners and to leave no living man behind_. The authenticity of this order, the full text of which we give in the next chapter, was confirmed by the evidence of German prisoners. The prisoners cross-examined, says the _Temps_, which reported the depositions, belong to the 112th and 142nd infantry regiments. They were put on oath and signed the report of their examination. A soldier of the 142nd deposed that, on the 26th August, about three o’clock, he was in the van of his battalion in the forest of Thiaville when _the company order giving instructions to kill the wounded was sent along the ranks and repeated from man to man_. This prisoner added that as soon as this order was passed round, ten or twelve French wounded who were lying here and there round about the battalion were dispatched with rifle shots. Another prisoner in the same regiment deposed that, on the 26th August, he saw a cavalry officer, unknown to him, _come and give the order in question as coming from headquarters_. Immediately afterwards rifle shots were heard coming from the head of the detachment in front of him. A soldier of the 112th declared that he heard, on the 26th August, _Captain Curtins, in command of the 3rd Company_, say that henceforth no more wounded were to be made prisoners. Shortly afterwards he heard rifle shots fired at the French wounded who happened to be lying along the roads.