Evening star., 1914-09-28
|L0UVA|N BURNING
AS GERMAN SEES|T
Victor S. Clark Translates Ac-
count Published in Berlin
TagebIatt.
STORY WAS WRITTEN
BY DR.. PAUL GRABEIN
Pen Picture of the Fighting and
Sacking Of the Ancient
City Is Given.

Following is German account of the
destruction of Louvain, written by Dr.
Paul Grabein. journalist and author,
and published in the Berlin Tageblatt of
September 5. The translation is by Vic
tor Clark of this city, who says he
presumes the artic:s represents quite
accurately the incidents attending the
citys destruction as seen by German
eyes-"at least it evidently was writ
ten primarily as a news story" he says,
without special regard to opinion out
side of Germany. 1t will be noticed that
nothing is said as to the number of
Germans killed to justify the remark
ably severe measures taken against
the city and it's residents"
In connection with the atrocities at
tributed to soldiers of both armies, in
cluding those said to have excited the
attack of the Louvain townspeople
upon the German troops, Mr.. Clark
says that European mobilization auto
matically draws into the service a
large part of the able-bodied criminal
population.
Thugs, thieves, burglars and apaches
join the colors with honest citizens,
and where organizations correspond to
localities may in case of small detach-
ments outnumber the lattes," he adds.
This element of a modern army is not
reformed by donning Uniform"
Burning of Louvain.
The translation reads:
For centuries the old capital of the
whilom Duchy of Brabant, with her
venerable Gothic monuments and her
ancient university-once the most IA
nous in the world-lay as if in an en-
forgotten by the multitude Travellers
fastening by express to Brussels and
Ostend cast scarcely a f1eeting glance
at the provincial town as they sped by.
fingered to tarry within her walls ana
to let the spirit of ancient times speak
to them in moments of restful peace
and reverie. Now Louvain is again in
she is dead. The fate of men who have
well served humanity is oftentimes the
same.
"One of our reserve regiments entered
forces-though in larger numbers
had passed through without incident.
This seemed about to occur again-in-
deed. the reception Of the regiment was
tanned Hospitality. So the first two
battalions were allowed to march on
to the railway, where they were to take
train for another destination. When
companies to guard the baggage re-
manned behind the townspeople seized
the oportunity to carry out previous
ly plotted surprise.
That this was prepared long before
hand. and that in view of the large
number implicated it was known to
most of the Inhabitants. appears from
the event. For hundreds of the resi-
dents of Louvain took part in the mas
sacre of our soldiers. several machine
guns had been placed with calculating
forethought in serviceable positions.
by
was over not less than 500 weapons
were found collected in a single church,
The details of this treacherous ambus-
cade were thus related to me by eye
The Ambuscade.
"Our infantry. accompanied by the
regimental baggage. was marching
through the principal street. Nothing
in the appearance Of the city besokened
anything unusual. On the contrary.
spectators nodded pleasantly to our
passing troops. and some even beck
oned officers and men to take glass
of wine before their journey. Then
suddenly the city's bells rang out, In
stantly with a crash of musketry a
deluge of bullets rained on the pave
ments.
For a moment our soldiers stood
stupid with surprise. Then they in
stinctively threw themselves fiat upon
tied by from every direction that their
last hour had come. Each man for
moment supposed all his comrades dead
and he alone alive. But then came
up and shouted in a rage-shaken voice.
Up. boys. and at them Every man
still alive and able to stand was on his
feet in an instant. Their maddened at
knn t.
houses-and short shrift to those in
side who were caught with weapons
meanwhile the diabolical tumult was
heard by our entrained soldiers at the
toward the locomotive to investigate.
At that moment a hail of bullets was
turned on the train. and the captain,
the engine driver and the fireman fell
dead before they could speak But the
bombardment that crashed through the
station windows was enough for our
men men; From every car they poured
forth In mad haste. fixing bayonets.
their comrades in the city
"At once the tables were turned. re-
sistance crushed. and that quarter Of
the city surrounded. Houses were
under guard. Men were separated
from women and children. Then came
stern justice to the former. The con-
victed were shot at once. Especially
StuUSHIs anu pTicStS, VINO were tHe
ringleaders, paid for their crime with
instant death. Women and children
were taken away to be sent to their
countrymen at Antwerp. But the tiger
ish fury OF some women. who took part
in the fighting, was unappeasable. A
witness told me of one unsexed harri-
dan, who struck. biting and scratch
ing. violently about her. shrieking:
Bite through the Prussians' throats!
Tear out their eyes!'
Burned as Punishment.