Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-10-03
German Novelist in Arms Tells
VIM He Had to Order Civilians Shot

A letter written from the field by
Paul Oskar Hooker, one Of the leading
German novelists. who IL serving as a
captain Of the Landwehr in Belgium
gives a vivid description Of the search
ing and shooting Of Belgian civilians
AT Rockers own order when they
were found TO be in the possession Of
weapons The letter, which appears
In the Berllnor Lokal-Anzeiger Of Au-
gust "a reads as follows.
"Our assignment IL heavy and griev-
Ous We are not yet to get into the
first llne-~we do not even know whore
the first line is--we are not yet TO
fight with honorable foes in the field
But we are TO clear the territory Of
the Meuse Of snipers Each day shots
are fired from cover upon our troops
as they pass. especially upon small
groups. couriers. cycle officers and
military motors So at last 1t is a
question Of dealing sharply A clear
and energetic proclamation has
warned the inhabitants Of all Belgian
territory 80 far occupied by us to de-
liver over 10 us all weapons, ammuni-
ton and explosives in the next few
hours
My men know what is expected of
them We do not wish 10 act Ike
hnrbarians. but we must act with all
rigor | shall give the proprietor of
every estate search for arms last
chance to hand over to me the weap-
ons he has concealed If he declares
that he has none. and II such are
found IN his place he must be shot
on the spot, Houses from which at
tacks are made or In which opposi-
ton Is encountered in our search, will
be burned down Immediately
Forward, with a heavy heart. ON
the right lies neutral territory. near
Moresnet. In which 'Das IIoratsdorf,
the pretty novel by Nanny Lambrecht,
has it's scene. on the right begins the
road TO Licge, on which snipers have
caused much annoyance. Not far
from Morosnet lie several country
estates Juughuseh, lIoof and two
other buildings To these | send my
four officers, each with a search par
IT, while | ride with the first division
toward Jungbusch.
a red, white, and black flag waves
from the linden tree in front Of the
house. No house in these parts is
without a German flag Just as we
open the gate young fellow makes a
break for the nearby woods | give
chase, but tho white thorn bushes,
high as mans shoulders. make pur-
suit impossible
~ woman appears in answer to our
shout IL she alone in the house
Alone? No: she has a daughter Of Is
years with her No one else Hcsi-
tatingly she adds. yes, her husband is
at home, too. The guardsmen dart
into the house and fetch him. The
lieutenant has the guns put in readi-
ness, the civilians are forced into line
up In front of the fence of the vogeta-
bic garden, and | warn the occupants
of the house as earnestly as | can to
deliver over all the weapons they have
in their home The old man swcars
he mover owned weapon. Ills son,
he SAYS. has been away from home for
several DAYS. Did the son own a gun
All three raise their hands and swear,
no. he was II peace-loving fellow,
never had a weapon in his hand But
many shots have been fired on troops
from this neighhorhood. We must
search the house from top to bottom.
Last Word of Warning,
"A last word Of warming, You
know. monsieur. that every civilian
who Is stil found in possession OF
weapons must be shot forthwith 2
They answered we have no weap-
ons
My men divide into groups and
search cellar livngrooms, barn and
stable. and ransaok the garden and
surrounding green for traces of fresh
digging The three there In front Of
my guardsmen with the appraised gun
meet my gaze untlnchingly
who WAS the fellow who escaped
lust as we came in, monsieur" ! ask
Have you, in this last moment, CON
fesson to make to me
The old man clasps his hands NO,
monsieur officer. as a man Of -
years ! swear to YOU
And then the horrible happens A
guardsman and sergeant drag
young fellow out of the house They
have found him hiding IN the straw
on the ground floor die had Bel.
gian gun ia his hands, loaded with
five cartridges
From the attic window he may
have aimed that gun at many an hon
est Germans head or chest The
Young fellow had been forced to raise
his hands lie stands there trembling,
pale as gheese
Who is this Young fellow o. | ask
the old man.
Al three have fallen upon their
Knees as thunderholt might have
struck them. and are raising loud la
meniatons The woman screams
He is my SON. For Gods sake.
Nou de not mean To take his iife9'
And the 15-year-old girl is bowling