Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-25
BELGIANS KILLED
FOR REFUSING TO
GIVE UP WEAPONS
German Novelist Hoecker,
Now a Landwehr CAPTAIN.
Describes the Narrowing
Scene and Says There's
Much Sniping.

A letter written from the field bv Psri
oskar Hoecker. one of the leading G...
man novelsts, who is serving ss a cor.
tain Of the Landwehr in Belgium, gives
a vivid description Of the searching and
shooting of Belgian civilians at Hoecke,,,
own order, when they were found 10 bo
in possession of weapons. The le,tsr
which appears In the Berlin I,oksl.A,.
seiger of August 81, reads, in part a.
follows:
"our assignment is heavy and srievo,.
We are not yet to get into the first line
we do not even know where the FIRST I,ps
is-we are not yet to fight with hon.
orable foes in the field. But we are IN
clear the territory of the Meuse Of
snipers. Each day shots are fired from
cover upon our troops as they pass, espe.
cially upon small groups, couriers cyols
officers and the military motors So a.
last 1t Ia a question of dealing sharply
clear and energetic proclamation has
warned the inhabitants of all Belgian
territory so far occupied by us to deliver
over to us all weapons. ammunition and
explosives in the next few hours.
SOLDIERS GIVE CHASE.
mo house in these parts is without a
German flag. Just as we open the sats
young fellow makes break for tina
nearby woods. I give chase, but the
white thorn bushes, high as a mans
shoulders. make pursuit impossible.
"A woman appears in answer to our
shout. Is she alone In the house? Alone7
No; she has a daughter of Is years with
her. No one else? Hesitatingly she adds
yes, her husband Is at home, too. Wa
must search the house from top to bot
tom.
"a last word Of warning: You know.
Monsieur, that every civilian who Is still
found in possession of weapons must be
shot forthwith They answered: wa
have no weapons"
MY men divide into groups and search
cellar, living rooms, barn and stable,
and ransack the garden
"'Who was the fellow who ESCAPED
Just as we came in, Monsieur?' I ask.
Have you, in this last moment, a con-
fession to make to me7'
THE old man clasps his hands: NO,
Monsieur officer, as a man of 70 years
l swear to you-'
THEY FIND A SNIPER.
And then the horrible happens A
guardsman and a sergeant drag a young
fellow out of the house. They have
found him hiding in the straw on the
ground floor. He had a Belgian gun in
his hands, loaded with five cartridges.
From the attic window he may have
aimed that gun at many an honest Ger
mans head or chest. The young fellow
had been forced to raise his hands He
stands there trembling, pale as cheese.
Who Is this young fellow7' 1 ask the
old man.
"All three have fallen upon their knees. is
as thunderbolt might have struck
them. and are raising loud lamentations. ,
The woman screams: s.,
"'He is my SON, For Gods sake, you
do not mean to take his life?' ...-t
"And the 15-year-old girl is bowling so
that our hearts almost break with pity
for her. The delinquent tries to break
away. but is caught by our men.
''I am obliged perforce to bring up
into my mind the picture of the poor
Germans on patrol, riding out. true to
duty, in the night. around whose heads
the bullets of treacherous snlpers
whizzed must perforce conjure UP In
my mind the bright eyes and handsome
figures of our good German boys-in or
der to keep my nerve In the face of all
this misery and lamentation and to obey
strict orders.
"'He will be shot. Three men for
ward"