The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-23
Special Correspondence TO THE Sun.

LONDON, Dec. 12.-Charges of extreme
cruelty. violations Of the ordinary conven-
tons of war and of atrocities committed
on non-combatants are contained in the
forthcoming report OF Prof II. A. Reiss
head of the department Of science In Lau-
same University. who Investigated the
conduct of the Austrian army during its
retreat from Servia in August In behalf OF
the Swiss section OF the Geneva conven-
ton. DR.. Reiss. who is well known in
the United states. has communicated some
OF his findings to persons here and has
exhibited photographs which he took IN
substantlation OF his allegations. The
generality OF atrocity stories on both
sides have of late received scant atten-
ton. 1t is believed here. however. that
the character and results OF the inquiry
are such that Or. Rciss's conclusions
cannot be ignored by the Austrian Gov
eminent and that 1t may lead to action by
all the warning nations to insure humane
methods.
The atrocity charges against the Aus
TRANS were brought by prominent Servians
soon after the first Austrian invasion and
such emphasis was placed upon them that
DR.. Reiss was selected by the Swiss sec
ton to make an exhaustive examination
and to report formally as soon as possible.
His findings will support. in almost AL
particulars. the official report OF the Ser
Wan Government which was signed by
DR.. Arius Won Tieuowen, NJ. Jules Schmidt
NJ Janitche Crassojevitch and DR.. Svet
Nicolajevitch.
In his introduction to the report DR..
ReiSs declares that 1t was only the Ger
man and Magyar elements of the Aus
trian soldiery which were responsible and
that no proof could be found that the
Czechs or men of the other races compos-
ing the Austro-Hungarlan Empire had par
tcipated in OF been responsible for any
excuses.
slaughter of Non-Combatapts.
Among the allegations which DR.. Reiss
makes against the Austrians are that
they burned towns and villages and
slaughtered the inhabitants without prov
oca;ion, that they outraged women. de-
stroyed crops and farm buildings and
committed various acts for which there
was no military explanation or excuse
DR.. Reiss estimates that in August $500
non-Combatants of all ages and both
sexes were massacred in Servia, although
virtually none of them had done any
thing whatsoever to warrant any but the
most considerable conduct.
The Austrians in their retreat swept
over the Mafchva n,ain IN Sarvla, .na
DR.. Reiss charges that pestilence could
not have devastated the territory In more
thorough fashion. The towns and vii
lagos were utterly destroyed, the inhabi-
tants were tortured and then killed and
even the animals which could not be Of
service In the flight were slain OF
crops there Is scarcely a vestige left in a
large and fertile region.
one of the most terrible outrages OF
which DR.. Reiss asserts that he found In
disputable proof was the massacre OF fftv
men. women and children OF all ages in
the following manner
The fifty persons, ranging in age from
n few years to old men and women. were
fastened together by wires and then
driven into deep pit. The Magyar
soldiers who committed the deed opened
fire on the helpless mass OF humanity
and then, although many OF the fifty were
alive, covered the pit with earth and
tamped Il down. DR. Reiss had the pie
opened and took photographs OF what he
saw. lie found that many of the victims
had been buried alive and that a ma.
jority had not been dead when the mouth
of the pit was closed over
Another case Investigated. in regard TO
which DIR. Reiss presents proof in his re-
port, was that OF eighteen persons who