davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
BELGIANS ALLEGED
BLACK ATROCITIES
Report of the Findings of the Belgian Commis-
sion of Inquiry Is Presented to President
Wilson,

Washington, Sept. ia resume of the
findings of the Belgian commission of in
quiry. appointed by the King of the Bel
CLANS to investigate the alleged atrocities
committed by German troops by the Bel
gian legation here was made public to-
day after the report had been presented
to President Wilson.
The findings were grouped under the
heading of "The Atrocities at Linsmeau
and Orsmael." The Massacre of Aer-
schot' and THE Destruction Of Louvain"
The summary in part follows:
German cavalry occupying the village
of Linsmeau We're attacked b some Bel
gian troops and two gendarmes. A Ger
man officer was killed by the gian
soldiers during the fight and was buried.
None of the civilians had taken part in the
fight; nevertheless, the village was in
vaded at dusk on August 10 by strong
force of German cavalry, artillery and
machine guns In spite of the formal as
surances given by the burgOmaster that
none Of the civilians had taken part in
the figl/ two farms and six outlying
houses We're destroyed by gun fire and re-
huced to ashes All the male population
was then compelled to come forward and
hand over whatever arms they possessed.
No recently discharged firea rms were
found. Nevertheless. the inVaers divided
these peasants into three groups. Those
In one group were bound and II Of them
placed in ditch. whore they We're after
wards found dead. their skulls fractured
by the butts of rifles.
During the night of August 10 Ger
man cavalry entered Velm in great
numbers. The inhabitants were asleep.
without provocation the Germans fired
on Mr.. Deglimme's house. They burn
ed his barns, hay corn stacks, imple-
ments cattle and his farm yard They
carried off Nine. Deglimme half naked
10 place two miles away. She was
then released and as she fled was fired
upon without being hit, however. Her
husband was carried to n point in an
other direction and fired upon; he Is
dying.
"Farmer JEFF Dkerckx OF Neerhespen
Is an eye witness to the following
atrocities committed by German cavalry
at Orsmael and Neerhespen on August
9th, 11th and 18th. An old man had
his arm cut i'm three longitudinal
slices: he was then hanged head down
ward and burned alive. Young girls
were raped and little children outraged
ut Orsmael and mutilations too hor-
ylble to describe, were inflicted on
other inhabitants, Prisoners were
hanged, while others were tied to tele-
graph posts and shot.
After an engagement at Haelen Com
mandant Van Damme was SO severely
s~qslpdsds sl,afi 10 was alying prone ta
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
ADDISON COUNTY
MIDDLEBURY.

D'''' 'es "a'e mas returned
''oi' Nu',a"u' "Hefe she has been the
suee' VI 'ht MISSES flZaheth and Helen
De'i'in'i's'- NJ l"ilNck managing editor
VI 'h' HeHISt'r' Is taxing few days
vacation al the famous Bread Loaf Inn
IN iHp'on-Mrs' w A Atwell and SON
f'o''is' nave returned IRON Brandon after
spehoihE rev Gays AT their former
hoihe'-bu"ih nm mas returned TO
Lincoln aiter visit here to his
sister Mrs l.. /" Lawrence - Fordyce
Moore and FAMILY are moving from the
Professor Howard house on South street
to the Mrs o. F. Moore house on South
Pleasant street-Three new members
were received into the Congregational
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

his back. He was murdered by German
infantry firing their revolvers into his
mouth.
NURSES FIRED UPON.
Numerous wounded and unarmed
soldiers were i'll treated or killed by Ger
man troops and in different places doctors
and nurses and ambulances We're fired
upon.
AT times the Germans went into the
battle with a Belgian flag.
while digging trenches and with the
white flag hoisted Belgian soldiers were
set upon by Germans and shot
Another time near a fort at Loncin.
group OF German infantry hoisted the
white flag and when the Belgian soldiers
approached them to take them prisoners
they We're fired upon at close range.
"Aerschot, a town of 5000 inhabitants,
was invested by the Germans on the
morning OF August 10. No Belgian troops
remained behind. In the evening, claim
ing that a superior German officer had
been shot by the son of the burgomaster.
or according to another version of their
story, that a conspiracy had been hatched
against the German commandant by the
burgomaster and his family, the Germans
at a time. There they grouped them In
lines of four men, made them run ahead
of them and fired upon them, killing them
| afterward with their bayonets, More
than 20 men We're found thus massacred.
PILLAGED ENTIRE TOWN.
"They pillaged the whole town, The
| following morning they took one man
out Of every three whom they had ar
rested the previous evening and, leading
them outside the city, shot them. Among
these We're the burgomaster of tho town.
Mr.. Tielemans, his 15-year-old son and
his brother.
"Then they compelled the remaining
villagers to dig holes to bury their VIC
Tins
For three whole days they continued
to pillage and set fire to everything In
their way
about 100 inhabitants of Aerschot are
supposed to have thus pershed.
'"rhe LARGEST part OF the city is de-
stroyed
1T must be borne in mind that the
civil population Of Aerschot had been
repeatedly warned by their burgo-
master not to offer any resistance
THE witness mentions the names
of Is persons who to his knowledge
were massacred at Aerschot.
BANKS LOOTED.
THE German army penetrated into
Louvain, after having set fire TO the
-ICoutfnued.one;pnSe nSe. -foux,s - i.S
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
FORMER AMBASSADOR SAYS FEW DAYS.
DELAY MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED WAR
DECLARES TALES
OF BRUTALITY BY
GERMANS A MYTH

New York, Sept, 16-An Associated
Press staff correspondent of American
birth and antocedcnts. who was sent from
the New York Office and was caught in
Brussels at the time or the German in
vasion held as a prisoner for several days
and finally escaped to Holland, has sent
by mail a story of his experiences, which
in part Is as follows:
THE night before the Germans entered
Brussels, when the Belgian civil guards
and refugees began pouring into the city
from the direction of Louvain, they
brought stories OF unspeakable German
atrocities, maltreatment OF old men and
children and the violation of women
THE Belgian capital reeled with apprc-
henslon. Within an hour the gaiety. the
vivacity ana hrillancy Of the city went
out like a - ken arc light.
TN less team "a hours the Belgian citi-
zens were chatting comfortably with the
German invaders and the allegation of
German brutality and demoniacal torture
dissolved into one of the myths which
have accompanied all wars.
NOT one OFFENSIVE ACT.
Neither in BRUSSELS nor in its
[,
far as I know, committed by a German
soldier. In city of over half million
people. invaded by "A hostile army OF
perhaps quarter of a million soldiers no
act sufficiently hagrant to demand
or to awaken protest came
to my attention.
The frightful reports that had pre-
ceded the German army INTO Brussels
I.l tL /.
and the impaling of children on lanccs
just outside Louvain. Investigation not
only failed to substantiate these rumors
but could not even discover any one in
the immediate vicinity who credited
them.
IL marched for days with the German
columns, often only one day behind the
fighting. l interviewed an average Of
twenty persons in each of a dozen towns
and found only one instance of a non
combatant who had been killed without
a justihable provocation.
Neutrality-suspicious. the lower part
IF the city--had been virtually destroyed
~ "A cross fire from French and Ger
nan ARTILLERY.
NO OUTRAGE AT AACHEN
Unto the town Of Sabre-Sur- Sambre
3l French were killed and more than
hundred wounded were brought in a sin
Ile day. Auguste BariauX, burgomaster.
7aid that he knew of no cases OF Ger
man Cruelties
Robert j. Thompson, American consul
at Aachen visited Liege during and
after the capture of the forts II Is the
opinion of MIR, Thompson that no out
age was committed by Germans there
There are, of course, reported out
ages beyond investigation either on ac-
'ount Of their vagueness or because it
: impossible to weight the provocat ton
l Is known, for instance, that 1l2 natives
we're Killed in Renouchamp, not far from
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

the two fortresses for which the Aus
trians and their German allies are
heading and have begun an advance
TO sever communications between
Galcia and Budapest
Meantime the Russian General Rem
nenkampff who, according to Russian
reports. invaded east Prussia to com
pei the Germans to Withdraw troons
from the west and thus relieve nres-
sure on the allies is having soma AZ.
ficulty in extricating his army IRON, a
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
HOughtOn Will Case.

st. Adams, Sept l6-Thirteen witnesses
We're examined to-day in the contested
VIII case OF Roland H. Stubs and others
VS.. Francis j. Houghton's estate. which
was begun before Judge Xed s Stanton
In Franklin county court Monday after
noon. MI the testimony was directed
toward bringing out the mental capacity
OF Mr.. Houghton. and the witnesses in
GUIDED as on Tuesday, several prominent
business men of the city Those who
were on the stand were: |. r Beeman.
who was testifyinG when court adjourn
ed Tuesday afternoon, Edward =.
Stevens, c. II. Morton, Bruce r. Corliss
cashier of the Welden National bank.
Cyrus G. Newton. George NJ. Gotta. John
Stevens, John Patneaude, Selden c.
Greene, Col. Edward A. Chittenden,
Emile F. Barrette. Michael F. Sullivan.
y. f. L'Ecuyer and Mrs. Claudia Bushey.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

has been accompanied by Governor
Stewart OF Middlebury.
The features Of the day were three
rottinF events, each a race.
BIG STOCK PARADE.
The parade of exhibition horses an
cattle was pronounced the largest an
best cavalcade or stock ever shown OF
the track Of a New England fair grour
and there was u nigh class vaudevf1l,
performance. There were a16 ribbon win,
mnF cattle aud 124 prize winning horse.
In the parade.
The grandstands were filed to their
capacity and a more enthusiastic fai,
gathering is seldom seen.
1t required four heats to nnish the pos
pace stake and named race.
Doctor q" a bay gelding, entered by
&. II. Rowe of Athol. Mass, showed m
poorly in the first heat Of the 2;25 paco
stake but gained her feet in the .,c-
ceedinE thre" heats and came in a WIN.
Continued on page four).
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
RECORD CROWD AT
STATE FAIR FOR
THE SECOND DAY
Numbers 22OOO with 1000 Automobiles Cover.
nor Fletcher Ex-Governor MCCULLOUGH and
Charles W. Gates Are Present-Big Parade
Of Horses and Stock

White Rivo~ Tho 1arg-
90, p5ml4 ylelo Muno) : "9 ~ Ia's
Of -, vermont State fair was recorded
to-day. Twenty-Five thousand people
passed the gates. Fifteen hundred auto
mobiles were packed in the two on
closures within the grounds and fully
700 autos were stored without tho
grounds. Hundreds of people came By
team. Every train was filed to its
capacity.
1t was Governors day His Excel
lency, Governor Allen NJ Fletcher. ex-
Governor John G. Mccullough and Guber-
material Candidate Charles W. Gates
were present and witnessed the features
presented on the track II was Governor
McCullough's birthday. Bonn on Septem-
ber IS, 1885, he was this day 70 years old
He came over from Bennington In an
automobile with Gen. i. l.. Bates and
William ". Bradford of that town An
nually sine Tie State fair vas organ
ized, Governor Mccullough has been n
visitor and every year but thi. year he
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
HAPPENINGS IN w.:
NEWS BY COUNTIES

returned TO his home In Agawan. Nass
Monday mornins.-Mr and Mrs. Ezra
X Fuller and children Of SprinefaId
Mass are in town to visit at the hom.
of Mr.. and Mrs. Felix L. Libertv
semuel Sheldon, Jr., Clayton Buttolph
and his sister, Miss Grace Buttolph. have
gone TO New York city, making the trim
by automobile Mable Burton
Rutland Is visiting at the honN of Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Il. Cheney Richard
fradette has gone to Brattleboo where
ne VIII spend a week. k.--George Delnhia
has gone 10 New Haven Junction FOR q
10 days stay.-The Middlebury branch
OF the Vermont Marble company ia shu,
down Tor few days during which tim,
some repairs are to be made. The min
cipal ono Is the putting in of n new bulk
head and general repairing of the water
wheel-Miss Laila A. MCNen who has
been In Europe for a few weeks, has re-
turned and resumed her duties at the
MiddlehurY College library Monday
market day. eggs brought from 2S to 40
cents and butter from IS to 30 cents
Mortimer Wilcox. telegraph operator and
cashier at the G. f. Marshall store. is
having his annual vaction. which he is
spending at Lake Dunmore.
Mrs, Fred Dwire and daughter have re-
turned from Burlington. where they have
been visiting her mother Mrs. Pauline r.
Bryant-Word has been received that DIR.
q. II Spller the optcan, died recently
in hospital at Hanover. y. H.. death
resulting from an operation for appen-
dicitis, Herman Lortie and mother, Mrs
NJ Lorte, have returned to Brooklyn. n.
Y, after several weeks with Mrs NJ E
Grant Bradford Elmer. who has beer
visiting in town, has returned to Proctor
Miss Arda Pierce has gone to Sudb '
where she has a position as teacher
Boy Scouts held their first mo. %
Monday evening Miss Frances Pipor ~.
secured position as teacher in the pub
lie schools at swanton Mrs, Charles
Egbert Starr has arrived in town. She
was in Nice, France. She sailed from
Coefkuucd eon Dn~> v-oN
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

Ardennes; German soldiers say that they
were killed because they fired upon them
from the roofs and windows of the
houses.
THE German version Of the de-
struction of Louvaine with its cath
edral and it's university is that the
inhabitants under the direction of the
burgomaster established themselyes
in the church where they also install
led a machine gun. They greeted the
Germans with a deadly fire.
SHIPPING BY BELGIANS.
THE most authoritative German
denial of German offences comes from
Major-General Thaddeus Won Jarotz-
sky, military governor of Brussels.
who informed me that in numerous
cases, he had been received with a
pretense Of friendliness by Belgian
civilians, who later fired upon the
German soldiers from windows and
from between the roof tiles after a
declaration of surrender by the bur
Eomaster and a proclamation warming
the citizens against any show OF re-
sistance.
ON such violations of the rules of
war The general said he punished the
Offenders by burning down the house.
from which the shots were fired. I
nave actual knowledge of the sniping
by Belgian civilians at Manage and
other towns and even the Belgiaps
adnlt that in few instances they
haV" been guilty Of this.
This. of course, is not a brief for the
German army; it is an account Of Ger
man conduct as it appeared to an i'm
partial observer.
COURTESY OF GERMANS
witnessed numerous cases of the
most careful courtesy on the mart OF
the German soldiers. In Brussels they
not only paid their cafe bills. but tin
ped generously. Along the road. when
n German officer or soldier entered n
I'elgian house for food or shelter If
was not with demand but request.
The German soldiers were puncti-
lously considerate and polite to women
and children.
so many instances of this sort are
at hand that 4 recital Of them would
be tedious. have seen German sol
dierS helping Belgian women with
their houSework and playing with the
children. Not a single exception of
German incivility toward prisoners has
come to my attention.
y have seen perhaps half a dozen cases
of drunkenness in observing nearly a mil
lion soldiers and these few were only good
naturedly maudlin.
German discipline and German train
ing seem to have bred into the German
soldier an exemplary behavior which iS
nothing less than remarkable.
IF the conduct OF the German soldier
'rrs at ALL 1t is on the side OF a too COM
pIete subordinatlon 1t is Impossible for
any one who has seen much of tch Ger
man system to believe in the tales of de-
liherate and unsoldierly conduct"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

Detroit. Sept. 16.-Three new world 5
records were established at the Michi-
gan state fair races to-day when the
Ihiladelph'a Gelding, r. H. Breat. won
the sixth and deciding heat Of the 2:o4
pace Rreat beat Peter Stevens in a
furious drive in the final mile. the time.
2;o3h, being new sixth heat mark. The
race also was the fastest six heat race
ever paced. averaging 2OSa. and Breats
time 20S'4 is the best ever made in a
race by four-year-old geldlng.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
DEsPONDENT MAN
HANGS HIMSELF.

Johnson, Sept. 1.-THE body of Smith
Hebb. about 70 years old. was found
hanging this morning in his carriage
house between II and IL o'clock by a
neighbor, Joseph Muzzey Nr Hebb had
been Respondent on account Of I'll health
He leaves a wife. Their only child was
buried about a year ago For the past
two years Mr.. Hebb had delivered ex-
press
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
Sir Maurice De Bunsen of Eng
land Declares Austria and
Russia Were Near Agree
ment Concerning Servia
When Kaiser Started Con-
t---Prelininaries Of Big
Battle to Come.

Sir Maurice De Bunsen recently British ambassador
Vienna, in report dealing with the rupture of diplomatic
ations with Austria declares that Austria and Russia had
about reached agreement the AustroSean dispute
when the matter became Of discussion between Germany
and Russia and July 81 Germany sent umatum to ST.
Petersburg and Paris following this quickly with decar-
ton of war the two countries
"a few days delay, says the ambassador might in all
probability have saved Europe from of the greatest
calamtes in history
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
GETS 500 DAMAGES

Rutland, Sept 16-Damages of 800
were given Walter Lane in Rutland coun-
ty court to-day against Harry Loomts.
both of Castleton. The controversy in
volved an incompleted contract for draw
ing logs
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
Fall with Staging.

Rutland, Sept. 16.-Joseph c. Holmes
and Joseph Emery We're injured yester-
DAY when they fell with staging on
the rear of a stable, being thrown 20
feet to the ground Mr. Holmes suffered
a fractured knee cap. striking on n
block OF marble Mr.. Emery was not SER
iously hurt.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17
LOSSES ARE ENORMOUS.

Neither side has attempted to make any
estimate of the losses in killed. wound
cd and captured during the battle Of the
Marne but they must have been enormous
and will doubtless be a blow TO all the
countries concerned when they are dis
closed
Many German prisoners have falleln
into the hands of the British and so great
a number of prisoners and stragglers have
been taken by the French thar the minis
ter of war refuses to make an estimate
for fear OF being accused of exaggeration
The losses in captured all can stand. but
1t Is the number Of dead and wounded
scattered throughout the field from the
Marne to the Aisne that 1t is feared Will
be staggering.
Firemen from Paris have been sent out
to carry out sanitary measures on the
battlefield and motor cars with doctors
have = London and Paris to search for
wounded.
The losses in Galicia and Poland
whore fighting has been going on in
cessantly for more than three weeks
are even greater than those in France
and, according to official reports. the
Russians are still following the Aus
trian ana German forces in the hope
of striking another blow before they
can reform.
GERMANS PLAN BOLD STROKE
ono report from Petrograd says that
tho Russians ,have served commander
ttons~ becween Cfacow.. and PrzemysS
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

Steamships carrying food to Great
Britain are guarded by a lane of war
ships stretching across ocean, 900
miles apart and in direct wireless
communication. under a system plan
ned seven years ago.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

less have been stlffened despite the fact
that many troops have been sent to the
eastern frontier.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-09-17

Coatfnucd >on pase tuoN =
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-19

fuses to be alarmed. I want you to
sleep in the after house. Isn't there a
storeroom where you could put Il cot?"
Yes" l agreed, and I'll do it. OF
course, if you are uneasy. but really
think"-
Never mind what you really think
I haven't slept for three nights. and
I'm showing it" She made Il motion
to rise, and helped her up. She was
a tall woman. and before knew il she
had put both her hands on my Shout
ders
You are poor butler and an indif
ferent sailor, | believe" she said, but
you are rather dear. Thank you"
She left me. alternately uplifted and
sheepish. But that night took blan-
ket and a pillow into the Storeroom
and spread my six feet OF length along
the greatest diameter of by pan
try.
And that night also. between six and
seven bells. with the storm subsidized
and only moderate sea. Schwartz. the
second mate. went overboard-went
without cry. without a sound
Singleton. relieving him at O'Clock.
found his cap lying near starboard,
just forward OF the after house. The
helmsman and the two men in the
lookout reported no sound OF n strug
gle. The lookout had seen the light OF
his cigar on the forecastle head ut six
bells Is o'clock. At seven bells he had
walked back TO the helmsman and com
mented cheerfully on the break in the
weather. That was the last seen OF
him.
With the disappearance OF Schwartz
the Ella was short handed. | believe
Captain Richardson made an attempt
TO secure me 10 take the place OF
Burns. now moved up into Schwartz's
position. But the attempt met with a
surly refusal from Turner
The crew was plainly nervous and
irritable Sailors are simple minded
men. as rule Their mental process
rs are elemental. They began to NUT
ter that the devil ship OF the Turner
line was at her tricks again
That afternoon. going into the fore