Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-25
BELGIANS KILLED
FOR REFUSING TO
GIVE UP WEAPONS
German Novelist Hoecker,
Now a Landwehr Captain,
Describes the Narrowing
Scene and Says There's
Much Sniping.

y letter written from the field by Paul
Oskar HoeCker, one of the leading Ger
man novelists. who is serving as cap
tain of the Landwehr in Belgium, gives
a vivid description of the searching and
shooting Of Belgian civilians at Hoecker's
own order, when they were found to be
in possession of weapons The letter,
which appears in the Berlin Lokal-An-
zeiser of August p, reads in part, as
follows:
our assignment is heavy and grievous
We are not yet TO get into the first line
we do not even know where the first line
is-We are not yet to fight with hon
orable foes in the field. But we are to
clear the territory of the Meuse of
suipers. Each day shots are fired from
cally upon small groups, Couriers, cycle
officers and the military motors. So at
last ii is a question of dealing sharply.
\ clear and energetic proclamation has
warned the inhabitants of all Belgian
territory so far occupied by us TO deliver
over to US all weapons, ammunition and
explosives in the next few hours.
SOLDIERS GIVE CHASE.
NO house in these parts is without a
German flag. Just as we open the gate
n young fellow makes break for the
nearby woods. I give chase, but the
white thorn bushes, high as a mans
shoulders. make pursuit impossible.
"A woman appears in answer To- our
shout. Is she alone in the house? Alone?
No she has daughter of IL years with
her No one else? Hesitatingly she adds.
yes her husband Is at home, too. We
must search the house from top to bot
tom.
"A last word of warning: You know.
Monsieur, that every civilian who is still
found in possession of weapons must be
have no weapons"
MY men divide into groups and search
cellar, living rooms, barn and stable,
and rausach the garden.
Who was the fellow who escaped
Just as We came in Monsieur | ask.
Have you, in this last moment, a con-
fcssion 10 make 10 me?'
The old man clasps his hands; No,
Monsieur Officer, as a man of 72 years
/ swear 10 you
THEY FIND A sNIPER.
And then the horrible happens. A
-uardsman and a sergeant drag young
fellow out OF the house. They have
found him hiding i'm the straw on the
ground floor He had a Belgian gun in
his hands loaded with five cartridges.
From the attic window he may have
aimed that gun at many an honest Ger
mans head or chest The young fellow
had been forced 10 raise his hands. lie
stands there trembling pale as cheese.
"'Who is this young fellow?' | ask the
old mani
AN three have fallen upon their knees,
as n thuuderbolt might have struck
thom. aud are raising loud lamentations.
The woman screams.
9" He is my son. For Gods sake, you
do not mean TO take his lfe?'
"Aud the l5-year-old girl Is bowling so
that our hearts almost break with pity
for her. The delinquent tries to break
away, but is caught by our men.
Il am Obliged perforce to bring up
into my mind the picture Of the poor
Germans on patrol, riding out true TO
duty, in the night, around whose heads
the bullets OF treachcrous snipers
whizzcd; must perforce conjure up In
my mind the bright eyes and handsome
figures Of our good German boys-in or
der to keep my nerve In the face OF all
this misery and lamentation and to obey
strict orders.
He win be shot. Three men for
WaFdl'