The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-09-26
GERMAN STAFF TELLS OF
DESTRUCTION OF LOUvAlM

Berlin.-Following is an official com
munication of the German general
staff regarding the destruction of Lou
vain:
The city of Louvain had surren-
dered and was given over to us by the
Belgian authorities On Monday, Aug.
"a. some of our troops were shipped
there and intercYurse with the inhabi-
tants was developing quite friendly.
''On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. %, our
troops, hearing about an imminent Bel
gian sortie from Antwerp, left in that
direction, the commanding general
ahead in motor car, leaving behind
only colonel with soldiers to protect
the railroad Qandsturm battalion
'NeussJ.
Civilians Open Fire.
'As the rest .of the commanding
generals staff, with the horses, was
going to follow and had collected on
the market place, rifle fire suddenly
opened from all the surrounding
houses. all the horses being killed and
five officers wounded. one of them Sc
riously.
nv DfShNN'
about ten different places in town,
also on some of our troops lust ar
rived and waiting on the square IN
front of the station. and On incoming
military trains, That it was de-
signed cooperation with the Belgian
sortie from Antwerp was established
beyond a doubt.
Two priests who were caught hand
.ing out ammunition to the people were
shot at once in front of the station,
Fight Lasts "a Hours.
"The street fight lasted till Wednes-
day, the 2Gth. in the afternoon
twenty-four hours), when stronger
forces which arrived in the mean
time succeeded in getting the upper
hand The town and northern suburb
were burning a. different places, ana
by this time probably have burned
down altogether.
"On the part of the Belgian govern
ment general rising of the popula-
ton against the enemy had been or
ganized for a long time; depots OF
arms we're found, where to each gun
was attached the name of the citizen
to be armed.
"A spontaneous rising OF the peo
/ pie has been recognized at the request
| OF the smaller states at The Hague
conference as being within the law OF
nations, as far as weapons are carried
| openly and the laws of civilized war
fare are being observed; but such
rising was only admitted in order to
| fight the attacking enemy.
Treachery Of Beisians.
In the case of Louvain the town
already had surrendered and 1hc pop
| ulation renounced, without any resist
ance, the town being occupied by our
troops.
Nevertheless the population at
| tackled US on all sides and poured mur
derous fire into the occupying forces
and newly arriving troops, which came
in trains and automobiles.
Therefore there can be no question
| of means of defense allowed by the
| law of nations, neither of warlike
| suetapens tambush), but only of a
treacherous attempt of the civil popu-
| lation all along the line. and all the
| more to be condemned as it was appar
| entity planned long beforehand with
| simultaneous attack from Antwerp, as
arms were not carried openly, as WON
| ell and young girls took part in the
| fight and blinded our wounded, stick
| ing their eyes out.
German Acts Justified.
The barbarous attitude of the Bel
| gian population in all parts occupied
| by our troops has not only justified
| our severest measures but forced them
on us for the sake of selfpreservation.
We ourselves regret deeply that
! during these fights the town of Lou.
vain has been destroyed to a great
extent Needless to say that these
consequences are not Intentional on
our part, but cannot be avoided in
/ this in famous franc-tireur war being
| led against us.
Blame Belgian Cover ment.
Whoever knows the good natured
| character of our troops cannot serious
ly pretend that they are inclined to
needless or frivolous destruction.
The entire responsibility for these
events rests with the Belgian govern.
ment, which, with criminal frivolity,
| has given to the Belgian people in.
structions contrary to the law of ma.
| tions and melted their resistance, and
| which, In spite of our repeated warn.
| ings, even after the fall OF Luettch
! Liege), has done nothing to induce
! them to a peaceful attitude