Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-10-01
GERMAN STAFF TELLS OF
DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN

Berlin.-Following is an official COM
munication of the German general
staff regarding the destruction of Lou
vain:
The city of Louvain had surren-
dered and was given over TO US by the
Belgian authorities. On Monday, Aug.
q, some of our troops were shipped
there and intercourse with the inhabi-
tants was developing quite friendly.
"On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. %, our
troops, hearing about an imminent Bel
gian sortie from Antwerp, left in that
direction, the commanding general
ahead in motor car, leaving behind
only colonel with soldiers to protect
the railroad Qandsturm battalion
'Neuss0.
Civilians Open Fire.
AS the rest of the commanding
generals staff, with the horses, was
going to follow and had collected on
the market place, rife fire suddenly
opened from all the surrounding
houses, all the horses being killed and
five officers wounded, one of them Sc
riously.
simultaneously fire opened at
about ten different places in town,
also on some of our troops just ar
rived and waiting on the square in
front Of the station, and on incoming
military trains. That it was a de-
signed cooperation with the Belgian
sortie from Antwerp was established
beyond doubt.
Two priests who we're caught hand
ing out ammunition to the people were
shot at once in front of the station.
Fight Lasts % Hours.
THE street fight lasted till Wednes-
day, the 26th, in the Afternoon
(twenty-four hours, when stronger
forces, which arrived In the mean
time, succeeded in getting the upper
hand. The town and northern suburb
were burning at different places, and
by this time probably have burned
down altogether.
"On the part of the Belgian govern
ment a general rising Of the popula-
ion against the enemy had been or
gained for a long time; depots of
arms were found, where to each gun
was attached the name of the citizen
to be armed.
"A spontaneous rising of the pe0-
pie has been recognized at the request
of the smaller states at The Hague
conference as being within the law Of
nations, as far as weapons are carried
openly and the laws of civilized war
fare are being observed; lat such
rising was only admitted in order to
fight the attacking enemy.
Treachery of Beigians.
In the case of Louvain the town
already had surrendered and the pop
ulation renounced, without any resist
ance, the town being occupied by our
troops.
Nevertheless sthe' population at
tackled US on all sides and poured MIR
derous fire into the occupying forces
and newly arriving troops, which came
in trains and automobiles.
Therefore there can be no question
of means of defense allowed by the
law of nations, neither of a warlike
guetapens (ambush), but only of a
treacherous attempt of the civil popu-
lation all along the line, and all the
more to be condemned as 1t was appar-
emily planned long beforehand with a
simultaneous attack from Antwerp, as
arms were not carried openly, as wom-
en- and young girls took part in the
fight and blinded our wounded, stick
ing their eyes out.
German Acts Justified.
"The barbarous attitude of the Bel.
gian population in all parts occupied
by our troops has not only justified
our severest measures but forced them
on us for the sake of self-preservation.
I'VE ourselves regret deeply that
during these fights the town of Lou
vain has been destroyed to a great
extent Needless to say that these
consequences are not intentional on
our part, but cannot be avoided in
this in famous franc-tireur war being
led against US.
Blame Belgian Government.
Whoever knows the good natured
character of our troops cannot serious
ly pretend that they are inclined to
needless or frivolous destruction
"The entire responsibility for these
events rests with the Belgian govern
ment, which, with criminal frivoIity,
has given 10 the Belgian people in
structions contrary to the law of ma
tons and melted their resistance, and
which, in spite of our repeated warn
ings, even after the fall of Luettich
tLiege), has done nothing to induce
them to a peaceful attitude"