New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2: Who Began the War, and Why?
Various
World War, 1914-1918
In several localities the civil population has been sent to
Germany, to be compelled there, it appears, to labor in the fields,
as was done in the slave days of olden times. Numerous cases are
known where the inhabitants were forced to serve as guides and to
make trenches for the Germans. Numerous depositions reveal that in
their march, and even in their attacks, the Germans put before them
civilians, men and women, in order to prevent our soldiers from
firing. Other testimony proves that German detachments do not
hesitate to fly either a white flag or a Red Cross flag, so as to
approach our troops without being suspected. On the other hand they
fire on our ambulances and ill-treat our ambulance nurses. They
ill-treat and even kill our wounded. Clergymen seem to be
particularly the object of their attacks. Last, but not least, we
have in our possession explosive bullets left behind them by the
enemy at Wechter, and we are also in receipt of medical
certificates testifying that the wounds must have been inflicted by
bullets of the variety mentioned above.
Documents and testimonials in support of these facts will be
published.
(Signed)
GOOREMAN, President.
COUNT GOBLET D'ALVIELLA.
ERNST DE BUNSWYCK,
ORTS, Secretaries.
* * * * *
FURTHER REPORTS.
Cabled to Royal Commission at Washington from Belgian Foreign Office.
Cablegram Received Sept. 8.
You have received the reports of the commission of Aug. 25 and 31.
Since then a great many localities, situated in the Vilvorde-Malines-
Louvain triangle, an extremely fertile and densely populated district,
have been partially pillaged and totally destroyed by fire. Their
inhabitants have fled, while a number of them, among others women and
children, were arrested and shot without trial, and without apparent
reason, except to inspire the population with terror. This was done in
Sempst, Weerde, Elewyt, Hofstade, Wespelaer, Wilsele, Bucken, Eppeghem,
Houthem, Tremeloo, Tistelt, Gelrode, Herent. At Wavre, where the
population was unable to pay a levy of 3,000,000 francs, fifty-six
houses were set on fire. The largest part of Cortenberg is burned. To
excuse these attacks the Germans allege that an army of civilians
resisted them. According to trustworthy testimony, no provocation can
be proved at Vise, Aerschot, Louvain, Wavre, and in other localities
situated in the Malines-Louvain-Vilvorde district, where fire was set
and massacres committed several days after the German occupation.
Cablegram Received Sept. 15.
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