The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-17
ATROCITIES DENIED
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MauDeuge. A son OF the murdered
man. whose name vas Arthur Nico-
dem. showed me blood clots on the
noor marking the place where Nico-
dem fell, his throat cut by a saw
edged German sabre.
1T was said by some Inhabitants
tnat the murdered man showed a pair
or binoculars: but a more probable
explanation was that English outposis
had concealed themselves In the
houses, from which they poured a rain
OF fire upon the FIRST German invaders
The inference that the shooting was
done by Belgian civilians may have
inramed the Germans TO reprisals In
that neighborhood four houses had
been burned and one was still ablaze
as 1 passed on Wednesday. August 20.
This town of Merbes-le-Chateau
which had been the scene OF an un-
important skirmish between the Ger
mans and English on the previous
Sunday. was riddled with rife shots
The small number of windows intact
showed that the Germans had made
deliberate assault upon the resi-
dents OF the town But the inhati-
tants themselves admitted that all of
the shooting had been done by a com
paratively small number OF Germans.
and that the firing had not been be-
concealed themselves in the houses
had fired first upon the Germans.
Travelled and Multiplied.
I have emhaszised the one fatality
OF the noncombatants because the
news Of its travelled up and down .he
Sambre. and across TO Hantes-Wiberle
and Solre-Sur-Sambre, multiplying as
II went and developing CHASTITY and in
human details until II seemed an un-
answerable reproach TO the whole Ger
man empire. With this one possible
exception. ] did not encounter In NJ.
yelles, In Binche. Buissiere OF Solre-
Sur-Sambre or any OF the other towns
visited a single Instance OF mistreat-
ment OF any sort by German officers
or soldiers.
"Buissiere-particularly the lower
part OF the city-had been virtually
DESTROYED by cross-fire from French
and German artillery. But here two
days after the battle. women and chill
dren were moving comfortably about
the town and not single complaint
was uttered against German conduct.
Robert J. Thompson. American
consul at Aachen. visited Liege during
and after the capture of the forts. II
Is the opinion OF MIR. Thompson that
no outrage was committed BY Ger
mans during the several days fighting
There are. of course. reported out.
RACES beyond Investigation, either on
account OF their vaguenes= or because
II Is impossible to weigh the provoca-
ton. IL is known. for instance. that
i1l2 natives were killed in Renou-
CHAMP .Hn not Tar from Ardennes; Ger
man soldiers say that they were killed
because they fired upon them from
the roofs and windows of the houses
Destruction Of LouVain.
Inc history OF the absolute de-
struction OF the historic city of Lou
vain with its cathedral and its uni
yersity. Is by this time well known.
The German version of this IS that
the inhabitants under the direction OF
the burgomaster. established them
serves IN the church, where they also
INSTALLED machine gun. They pro
deadly FIRE
The Belgians say on the other
hand. that part OF the German army.
mistaking one of their retiring III
visions for the enemy. opened fire
upon them. whereupon. deluded into
thinking this an assault by Belgian
icivlians, the Germans razed the
II have not been able 10 acquire any
direct evidence in regard 10 these last
two instances, but the explanation
generally credited by disinterested
laid down their arms according to the
burgomaster's proclamation on the
Ientrance OF the enemy. took them I'M
again when II looked as n the Ger
mans were retreating from the town.
Z opened fire from their windows upon
a retiring German train.
I'm such violation of the rules Of
war. the General said. he punished
the offender by burning the houses
! from which the shots were fred.
This explanation Of the burning OF
villages is given with such perfect
unanimity by all German officers and
men that 10 20 into separate instances
Is unnecessary. II seems 10 serve as
sort Of blanket extenuation for all
| German seventies.
Has knowledge Of Snipina.
have actual knowledge OF the
/ snipinR by Belgian civilians Al Man
a ge and other towns, and even the Rel
CLANS admit that I'm a few Instances
! they have been guilty Of this This
furnishes a provocation for the only
German severity which I have had an
( opportunity 20 observe-the burning
/ OF houses
This. OF course. is not a brief for
the German army: II Is an account Of
/ German conduct a. II appeared 20 an
I impartial observer who had the rath-
/ or extraordinary opportunity Of trav-
/ cling for days with the German col.
/ umns. over distance OF more than
p hundred miles. through a dozen Inn
/ portant cities and towns
II Witnessed numerous cases Of the
| most careful courtesy on the part of
/ German soldiers. In brussels they
| not only paid their cafe bills. but
| tipped generously Along the road.
when a German officer or soldier On.
I tered a Belgian house FOR food or
shelter. u was not with n demand. but
/ n request
| The German soldiers were punctili-
J ously considerntn and polite 10 women
and children. apolorlzinr for the dis.
I comfort they we're causing Upon
/ leaving n house where they had been
/ given shelter 7 have aeen them shake
/ hands with TIN concierge. peasant
| woman. or IN some cases with tho
1 gcntlcwoman % n Belgian villa. az
/ pleasantly az n they we're bidding
| adicu 90 their hostess az a Weekend
I house party
Went Without Food.
| "A french lieutenant and two Eng.
| liah Officers travelled with us In tho
J prison train from beaumont 10 Aachen
q hating journey which took over