"In a solicitor's house, in which, as luck would have it, all was in excellent taste, including a collection of old lace and Eastern works of art, everything was smashed to bits. "I could not resist taking a little memento myself here and there. * * * One house was particularly elegant, everything in the best taste. The hall was of light oak; I found a splendid raincoat under the staircase and a camera for Felix." (From the diary of an officer in the One Hundred Seventy-eighth Regiment, Twelfth Saxon Corps.) But this horror apparently was not shared by the German commander in chief, as is evident from the following: "ORDER. "_To the People of Liége._ "The population of Andenne, after making a display of peaceful intentions towards our troops, attacked them in the most treacherous manner. With my authorisation, the General commanding these troops has reduced the town to ashes and has had 110 persons shot. "I bring this fact to the knowledge of the people of Liége in order that they may know what fate to expect should they adopt a similar attitude. "Liége, 22nd August, 1914. "GENERAL VON BÜLOW." The following "Order of the Day" shows how the town of Huy escaped a like fate. Drunken German soldiers were frightened and began to shoot men and burn houses. The commanding officer condemned this because it was not done by his order and because two German soldiers were wounded. It is evident that massacres and arson were permitted only when commanded by the officers. "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 behavior of the soldiers during the night, with very few exceptions, makes a scandalous impression. "It is highly deplorable when officers or noncommissioned officers set houses on fire without 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 strict instructions shall be given with regard to the treatment of 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 caused a noncommissioned officer and a private to be seriously wounded by German bullets. "The Commanding Officer, "MAJOR VON BASSEWITZ." In his report of September 12, 1917, to the Secretary of State, Minister Whitlock has much to tell of the policy of frightfulness. The following passages refer to the subject of massacres: [Sidenote: Germans force wives to witness husbands' executions.]