2. When shortly afterwards the head of the baggage column reached the neighbouring village of Rosée, here, too, it was assailed by a vigorous fire from houses and gardens and from a neighbouring copse. I ordered a search to be made of a farm standing on the road from which an extremely hot fire had previously come. Inside were found a man, a woman, and two half-grown boys. The man and the woman were shot while attempting to escape. No Belgian or French troops of any kind were present either in Anthée or Rosée. The attacks on our troops were always made from ambush, and gave one the appearance of a general and concerted co-operation; they were usually preceded by a shot, fired as a signal. Signed: HELTZER. App. 39. STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Stiemcke, commanding Military Train Column 7, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Section 1, X. Army Corps. On August 26th, 1914, when the column, in conjunction with the 2nd Echelon, approached the village of Silenrieux, it was immediately fired upon by members of the civilian population from the church tower. It was therefore necessary for our riflemen to advance against the place. When these accordingly replied to the fire, shooting took place from a number of houses in the village. Signed: STIEMCKE, 1st Lieutenant and Column Commander. App. 40. STATEMENT of 1st Lieutenant Schumann, commanding Military Train Column No. 4, X. Army Corps, attached to Train Division No. 1, X. Army Corps. On the night of 21st-22nd August, 1914, the Military Train Columns Nos. 1 and 4 bivouacked in front of Fleurus. A soldier standing at his post was dangerously wounded in his ear by a shot fired by a civilian, who had crept up under cover of a straw stack. The civilian escaped in the darkness. On August 26th, 1914, the column proceeded on its march to Verguies through the village of Silenrieux. The inhabitants met our troops on the march in a kindly and well-disposed manner. At the exit of the village towards Verguies the column was forced to halt for some time. At this point the officers of the column, which was halting in front of the church, noticed that the church roof was partially uncovered on the side next to the street. The village itself did not show any signs of damage in the case of the houses lying on the other main street. When the advance of the column was resumed, the last section, as it passed the church and the houses lying near it, was suddenly fired upon. To meet this surprise attack the riflemen of the column were deployed and opened fire upon the church and the houses from which the shots had come. As at least 30 to 40 shots were fired from the church tower, it is impossible that this could have happened without the knowledge of the priest. The surprise attack gave one the impression of having been thoroughly prepared in advance.