Arizona republican., 1914-09-17
Formal Notice is Given the
World That United States
Cannot Take Part in Con-
troversies Between War
ring European Nations
MUST WATT UNTIL
THE WAR ENDS
Belgian Commission is Re
ceived at White House
With Formal Ceremony
and Charges Listened to
Carefully
ASSOCIATED PRESS D1spArcH1

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Fornal
notice was given the world by the
president that the United States at
TINS time cannot pass judgment upon
or take any part in the controversies
between the warning European ma
. tons over the alleged Violations of
rules of civilized warfare and human
ity. He said the settlement of these
questions will have to wait until the
end of the war, which he prayed
/ might be very soon. This announce-
ment was made to the Belgian COM
missions and also in a message to
Franee, both of whom protested
against the use of dum-dum bullets,
alleged to have been used by the
other.
The Belgian commission was receiv-
/ ed at the White House with formal
ceremony. The president, accompa-
MED by his military aide and sew
eral high officials of the government,
greeted the visitors in the East-room
and listened with grave attention to
their address, setting forth in detail
charges that the German soldiery in
vaded their land, had killed and tor
tured men, women and children, de-
stroyed art treasures and sacked cities
President Wilson read the prepared re-
ply:
1T would be unwise and it would
be premature" he said, for a single
government, and it would even be
inconsistent with the neutral position
I of any nation which. like this, has no
part in the contest. to form or ex-
press final judgment
A resume of the findings of the Bel
gian commission of inquiry, appointed
by the king of Belgium to Investigate
the alleged atrocities committed by
the German troops, by the Belgian
| legation here was made public after
! the report had been presented to the
president. The findings are grouped
under the heading of Atrocities at
Linsmeau. Orsmael." The Massacre
Of Aerschot," and The Destruction
of Louvain." summary, in part,
follows:
During the night of August 10 the
German cavalry entered Velm in great
numbers; the inhabitants were asleep.
Without provocation, the Germans
fired on Mr. Deglimmeqs house and
broke into it. They destroyed the
furniture and looted valuables They
burned the barn, hay, corn stacks and
implements and killed the cattle in his
farm yard. They carried off Mrs.
IDeglimmeq half naked to a place two
miles away She was then released
and as she fled she was fired upon
without being hit, however, and her
husband was carried to a point in
ianOther direction and firedA upon. He
lis dying.
Farmer Jeff Dkerck of Meerhespen
was an eyewitness of the following
atrocities committed by the German
cavalry at Orsmael and Neerhespor
on August 10, II and 12: The ole
man had his arm cut in three longl-
tudinal slices, and he was then hanged
head downward and burned alive
Young girls were raped, little chill
dren were outraged at Orsmael, ant
mutilations too horrible to describe
were inflicted on other inhabitants
Prisoners were hanged, while others
were tied to telegraph poles and shot
After the engagement at Haelen Com
mandant Won Dammeso was severely
wounded while he was lying prone OF
his back He was murdered by tn
German infantry firing revolvers INT
his mouth
The summary follows "The Ger
man cavalry occupying the village o
I.insmeau was attacked by some Bel
gian troops and two gendarmes =
: German officer was killed by tn
Belgian soldiers during the fight, ant
; subsequently buried at the reques
| | of the Belgian officer in command
None of the civilians had taken par