The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-09-11
4LOUVA|N PEOPLE BURNED ALIVE;
SLAUGHTERED LINED THE STREETS"

Chicago.-The Tribune prints the
following special cable from Rotter-
dam:
H. w. Rutgers, manager of the Lou
vain water works, who escaped from
the city with his wife and two chill
dren, te1s Of old and young being
burned alive by the Germans, OF
streets lined with slaughtered people,
and of cellars OF houses filled with
trembling innocent people who were
awakened Tuesday night by Wholesale
murder and destruction.
The Dutch press Is filled with awful
details of the great crime and an over
whelming wave of reaction against
Germany has been created. The Tele-
graf says:
Neutral or not, a protest must be
made to the civilized people against
the destruction Of high culture by the
German soldiers. Even II 1t is true
that shots were fired at the German
troops by inhabitants Of the town, the
devastation OF the oldest and noblest
university town is a revelation of bar
barlty, for through this destruction not
only were the inhabitants and the de-
Tending Belgians punished, but injury
was inflicted on the whole of civilized
humanity 1t is a wound that can
never be healed"
Sees Germany's Name Shamed.
Does the German empire realize
that by its deeds 1t is bringing eternal
shame on the great name Of Germany?
It Is to be hoped that the rubbish
heaps OF ruined cathedrals, houses,
universities and museums will be re-
stored, but the history OF this unhappy
town shall not be forgotten. The stain
which now defaces the escutcheon of
glorious Germanla shall never be
wiped out"
Story Of Another Eyewitness
A Dutch resident OF Louvain who
was q salesman In a bicycle store
says: AT midday on Tuesday there
was q fearful uproar In the streets
while we we're at dinner. The crackle
OF musketry was soon followed by the
roar of artillery. Hearing shrieks In
the streets l rushed to the window and
saw several houses In flames. Soldiers
we're smashing shop windows and loot
ing in all directions. One had an arm
full OF groceries and others stocked up
with boxes of cigars. AS the people
rushed into the streets from their
burning houses they were shot down
like rabbits"
The Dutchman told how he had hid
den with his employers in the cellar.
The shooting became more brisk after
nightfall. Presently they found their
own house blazing and had to choose
between making a dash for their lives
or roasting
Bodies Thick In the Streets.
They had escaped by representing
themselves as Germans, and knowl-
edge of the German language enabled
them to carry out the impersonation.
They were conducted to the railway
station by German soldiers. The sales
man continues:
Our walk through the streets to the
railway station was like a walk
through hell. The beautiful town was
sea of flames. Bodies of the dead
lay thick in the streets. Dreadful
cries came from many houses. We
reached the railway station at $50
o'clock in the morning The soldiers
we're still going about the streets with
lighted brands and explosives in their
hands, setting alight any buildings
that remained intact In the parks they
had already begun to bury the dead.
In many cases in the shallow graves
in the large park each body was Wis
ible.
Citizens Lined Up and Shot.
"At the railway station were so citi-
zens, men and women, who had been
brought from houses from which sol
diers swore shots had been fired. They
were lined up in the streets, protest
ing with tears In their eyes that they
were innocent. Then came a firing
squad, and volley followed volley. and
the so fell dead where they stood"
This incident was confirmed by
Dutch journalist, who says that 500
citizens were ranged at the station,
and tenth part were ordered shot.
Sacked by Germans.
London.-The Morning Posts corre-
spondent at Terneuzed, Holland, tells
OF the burning of Louvain and charges
that many residents of that historic
Belgian city were killed.
"Louvain," he says, was sacked
Wednesday night by Germans. The
greater part of the population was
massacred, including women, children
and clergy. Their nationality did not
save one English and one American
clergyman. All the noble public build
ings, including the town hall, library
and university were destroyed.
THAT is the tale Of horror disclosed
at Malines by fleeing refugees and con-
flrmed by the correspondent and by
escaped notables from the destroyed
city. The atrocity seems incredible,
but 1t is believed here.