"Several cases which occurred in the Province of Limburg oblige me to acquaint the inhabitants of a number of regulations: "According to Clause 58, Section 1, of the Military Penal Code, sentence of capital punishment for treason will be pronounced against those who, intending to assist an enemy army, or to injure the German army: "1. Commit a punishable offence mentioned in Clause 90 of the German Penal Code. "2. Injure or make useless roads or telegraphic instruments. "3. Serve the enemy as guides in a military undertaking against the German allied forces, or mislead the latter when serving them as guides. "4. Who in whatever way in order to harass or mislead the German forces make military or other signals, urge to flee, or prevent the reunion of straggling soldiers. "5. Who undertake to enter into verbal or written communication with persons in the army or the fleet, of the enemy country at war with Germany, about matters relating to the war itself. "6. Who distribute in the German army hostile incitements or communications. "7. Who neglect necessary precautions which ought to be taken on behalf of the army. "8. Liberate prisoners of war. "According to Clause 90 of the German Penal Code, sentence of penal servitude for life will be pronounced against those: "1. Who surrender to the enemy, either German troops or fortified bulwarks, trenches or fortified places, or defences, as also parts or belongings of the German army. "2. Who surrender to the enemy of the German forces defensive works, ships or transports of the fleet, public funds, stocks of arms, munitions, or other war material, as also bridges, railways, telegraphs, or other means of communication; or who destroy them or make them useless on behalf of the enemy. "3. Supply men to the enemy or entice away others who belong to the German army. "4. Who serve the enemy as a spy, lodge hostile spies, hide them or aid them. "And it is also to be noticed that it is forbidden to distribute newspapers and other printed matter published in the part of Belgium not occupied by German forces. It is forbidden to take communications of whatever kind from these parts of Belgium and those that are occupied by the German army. These offences will be punished with imprisonment. Serious cases, as, for example, any attempt to assist the hostile forces, will be followed by sentence of death. "STERZEL, _Major and Commanding Officer_." I had also to promise the major that on my return I should bring with me a copy of _De Tijd_ in which all I had experienced and seen in Bilsen was described, and also a box of Netherland cigars, which he promised to pay for; then I was allowed to go.