The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-30
If GERMANY WINS, 1T WILL BE
VICTORY OF BLOOD AND IRON
l0UVANW WIPED F MAP BY THE GERMANS
WITHOUT SLIGHTEST EXCUSE Il IS CLAIMED

~ UlnmIU
has greatly exercised all high
government officials. Follow
ing a conference with Premier
Asquith, the official press bu-
reau issued a lengthy denun-
citation of the deed.
"The destruction of this
ancient city was an unpardon-
liable act of vandalism and bar
barism," said the bureau. 1T
was a deliberate act in com
plete violation of the law of
nations. It IS indeed a crime
for which there can be no
'atonement. The German con-
Itention that it was an act JUST
fled by war and a proper re-
lprisal because the inhabitants
had fired on the German troops
is utterly without warrant. It
has already been plainly prov
en- that when Louvain was sur
rendered to the Germans, ev-
ieryone gave up their arms.
Even the civil guard was dis
armed by order of the burgo-
master. Now for Germany to
contend that these unarmed
residents fired on German
troops is absolutely beyond
credence."
The bureau then discusses
at length all of the contentious
raised by the Germans and
quotes the official statement
issued by the Belgian lega-
|tion last night as proving con-
clusively that Germany was
not in any way justified in its
reprisal.
BELGIUM AROUSED.
ANTWERP, Aug. 2e.-Reports of
the wanton destruction Of Louvain by
the Germans have aroused BeIgians
to such an extent that threats Of re-
prisals are BEING freely made. This
act of barbarism" as it is described
In the official reports Coming on top
Of the scores Of instances Of violation
Of the laws Of nations" has aroused
all Belgium.
The foreign minister today person
| ally visited the neutral representatives
here and asked that they bring the
matter to the attention Of their re-
spectIve governments. He will also
try to get a report into the hands Of
the American minister now at Brussels
and request that the United States
take some action to bring the matter
to the attention Of Germany and to
demand that future acts Of this wan
ton character be refrained from.
Many refugees from Louvain have
reached here after terrible sufferines
on the roads. They declare that no
Belgian within the city carried arms
and they also assert that the real rea-
son for burninc the city was the re-
port that BeIaIans had defeated the
Germans at Malines. II is stated that
the Belgian army operating outside Of
Antwerp has taken the offensive and
is now engaged with a strong German
force in the neishborhood Of MaIines.
There Is great activity at the war
office and it is believed certain that
another attempt to cut the German
lines Of communication is to be made.
The offensive movement begun last
Wednesday had the effect Of forcing
the withdrawal Of some 10000 Ger
mans from southern Belgium and they
are now reported in the vicinity OF
Brussels, apparently anticipating an
attack on that city by the eelgians.
Foreign Minister Oavignon has also
addressed an appeal to the United
States asking that it request Germany
to cease it's bo~mhardment Of unforti-
fled towns. He cites the Smelling Of
MaIines and Of a number Of small
points west Of that city. As a result
Of this action Of the Germans It 10
charged there Is hardly a city or to."n
in all north Belgium that has not suf-
fered severely.