The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-29
Say Belgians Made PerfidiOus
Attack and Torch Is
Punishment.
BELGIANS DENY THIS
IN PROTEST TO L. s.
Assert One Body of Invaders
Fired on Another-City
Rich i'm Art.
WAsHfSGroN. August %.

the Belgian city Of Louvain had been
destroyed by the Germans because the
citizens fired on the invading troops.
The information was contained in n
wireless message from Berlin received
at the Telefunken station in Sayvllle,
L. L.. and was forwarded to Ambassador
Won Bernstorff The message said:
civilians of the Belgian town OF
Louvain made perfdious attack on
German troops while nghting. Louvaln
was punished by the destruction Of the
city"
The Belgian Minister laid before the
United States Government to-day a
protest against the conduct OF the Ger
mans In burning Louvaln. The des-
patch from the Belgian Foreign Office
to Secretary Bryan was as follows:
"On Tuesday evening body of Ger
man troops. who had been driven back.
retired in disorder upon the town Of .
Louvain. Germans who were guarding |
the town thought that the retiring |
troops were Belgians and fired upon .
them. In order to excuse this mistake /
energetic denials on the part Of the /
authorities. pretended that Belgians had !
fired on the Germans. although the In /
habtants. including policemen. had
been disarmed for more than week.
bombs Used to Fire city.
without any examination and without |
listening to any protest, the commanding I
officer announced that the town would be |
Immediately destroyed. All inhabitants '
had to leave their homes at once. some
were made prisoners, women and children |
were put into "A train OF which the desti- |
nation was unknown. soldiers with bombs |
set fire to the different quarters OF the
town the splendid church OF Fl. Pierre.
the markets, the university and It's
scientific establishments were given to
the flames and It is probable that the
Hotel De Vile. this celebrated jewel OF
Gothic art, will have disappeared In the
disaster. Several notables were shot at
sight.
Thus town of 10000 inhabitants
which since the fifteenth century has been
the Intellectual and scientific capital oil
the Low Countries is heap or ashes
/ Americans many OF whom have followed
the courses of this illustrious alma mater
! and have there received such cordial nos
| pitality. cannot remain insensiole To tnls
| outrage on the rights OF humanity anu
! civilization which IL unprecedented In MS
/ tory"
Tho written history OF the city OF
/ I<ouvain dates back To the ninth century
4 d, although in local tradition 'ul'us
/ Cesar Is said TO have estaolsneu
permanent camp here from "Hsh w
I present city developed. In tho eleventh
century the Dukes Of Brabant made Lou
] vain their place Of residence. ana the
city became the most important town W.
Belglum. retaining its prominence uht''
the rise OF Brussels.
Change Of Dynasty.
IN 1864 Du,o John III. summoned inc
representatives OF the Duchy OF Brabant
IN IouyaIn 10 announce the marriage OF
his daughter Jeanne OF Brabant, TO Wen
! ceslaus Duke OF LuNemburg. ana onered
the people Of the duchy liberal conces-
slons in return for their consent 10 tne
charge OF dynasty Two years 'ater
/ Wence slaus and Jeanne entered brussels
| and syorc 10 the provisions OF the charter
known as the Joyeuse Entree, which was
destined to become the model Tor o'ner
provinces and the cornerstone on the
liberties Of the Netherlands.
feud between the patrcisns supported
bv the new Duke, and the citizens when
resulted In the massacre OF seventeen OF
tho mobiles by the citizens In the town NAH
the predecessor OF tho building now re-
ported destroyed-the massacre resulting
in reprisals which crushed the cltlzcns
and caused their surrender
II was this civil war within IN" city
which retarded Louvain and allowed
Brussels to take her place Ms the I'M
portant city OF Braoant Her business
largely lost TO Brussels, Louva'n took on
the character OF a seat Of learning with
the founding in 1929 OF the University OF
Louva,n This university the greatest in
Belgium, has now about 1000 students
I'm it's four colleges In the sixteenth
century the number OF students ran as
high az 5000
The modern city had about $4,000 In
habtants. II In surrounded by walls
built in the fourteenth century, the ram
parts Of recent years being used for
promenades The town has no modern
fortifications,