Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original maps. See 50788-h.htm or 50788-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50788/50788-h/50788-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/50788/50788-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/truthaboutgerman00londiala Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=). THE TRUTH ABOUT GERMAN ATROCITIES Founded on the Report of the Committee on Alleged German Outrages 1915 Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, 12, Downing Street, London, S.W. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 Appointment of Committee 2 Terms of Reference 2 Composition of Committee 2 1. CIVILIANS murdered and ill-treated 5 2. WOMEN murdered and outraged 15 3. Murder and ill-treatment of CHILDREN 16 4. Brutal treatment of the AGED, the CRIPPLED and the INFIRM 17 5. The use of CIVILIANS as SCREENS 18 6. KILLING WOUNDED SOLDIERS and PRISONERS 19 7. LOOTING, BURNING and DESTRUCTION of PROPERTY 19 FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 23 (1365) W. 5601/507 250M 7/15 H. C. & L., Ltd. THE TRUTH ABOUT GERMAN ATROCITIES. INTRODUCTION. _Prussia joined in a Guarantee of Belgian Neutrality._ The neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed by a treaty signed in 1839 to which France, Prussia and Great Britain were parties. _Recent German Assurances._ In 1913 the German Secretary of State, at a meeting of a Budget Committee of the Reichstag, declared that "Belgian neutrality is provided for by international conventions, and Germany is determined to respect those conventions." On July 31st, 1914, when the danger of war between Germany and France seemed imminent, Herr von Below, the German Minister in Brussels, being interrogated by the Belgian Foreign Department, replied that he knew of the assurances given by the German Chancellor in 1911 (that Germany had no intention of violating Belgian neutrality) and that he "was certain that the sentiments expressed at that time had not changed." _Passage through Belgium Demanded by Germany._ Nevertheless, on August 2nd, the same Minister presented a note to the Belgian Government demanding a passage through Belgium for the German Army on pain of an instant declaration of war. _Passage Refused by Belgian King and Government._