New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-13
(c) The Use of Civilians as
Screens.

We have before us a considerable
body of evidence with reference 10 the
practice of the Germans of using civil
ians and sometimes military prisoners
as screens from behind which they
could fire upon the Belgian troops in
the hope that the Belgians would not
return the fire for fear of killing or
wounding their own fellow countrymen.
Outside Fort Fl6ron, near Liege, men
and children were marched in front OF
the Germans 10 prevent the Belgian
soldiers from firing.
The progress Of the Germans through
Mons was marked by many incidents OF
this character. Thus, on the 22d of
August, half dozen Belgian golfers
returning from work were marching IN
front of some German troops who were
pursuing the English, and, in the opln-
ion of the witnesses, they must have
been placed there intentionally. An
English officer describes how he caused
n barricade to be erected IN main
thoroughfare leading out OF Mons,
when the Germans, in order 10 reach
crossroad in the rear, fetched cIVlllan
out of the houses on each side OF the
main road and compelled them to hold
up white flags and act as cover.
Another British officer who saw TINS
incident is convinced that the Germans
were acting deliberately for the pur-
pose of protecting themselves from the
fire of the British troops. Apart from
this protection, the Germans could not
have advanced, as the street was
straight and commanded by the British
rifle fire at a range of 700 or 500 yards.
Several British soldiers also speak to
this incident, and their story is con-
firmed by a Flemish witness in side
street.
On the oath Of August men. women
and children were actually pushed into
the front of the German position out
side Mons. The witness speaks of six
teen to twenty women and about
dozen children and half a dozen men
being there.
Women Soldiers Shields.
At the battle Of Malines, sixty or
eighty Belgian civilians, among whom
were some women, were driven before
the German troops. Another witness
saw similar incident near Malines,
but much larger number of civilians
was involved, and priest was IN front
with white flag.
At Eppeghem, where the Germans
we're driven back by the Belgian sortie
from Antwerp. civilians were used as
cover for the German retreat.
Near Malines, early in September,
about ten children. roped together, were
driven in front of German force.
At Londerzel. thirty or forty civil
ians, men, women and children. were
placed at the head Of German col
umn.
One witness from Termonde was
made TO stand in front of the Germans,
- 9TH oil rtrts h.r,
hands above their heads. Those who
allowed their hands TO drop were at
once prodded with the bayOnct. Again
at Termonde. about September 10th.
number OF civilians were shot by the
Belgian soldiers, who were compelled 10
fire at the Germans, taking the risk of
killing their own countrymen.
At Journal, 400 Belgian civilians,
men, women and children. were placed
in front Of the Germans, who then en-
gagged the French.
The operations outside Antwerp were
not free from incidents of this charac-
ter Near Willebroeck some civilians,
including a number of children, 4 wo-
man and one old man, were driven in
front Of the German troops. German
officers were present, and one woman
who refused 70 advance was stabbed
twice WIN tne Dhyonel, ana llttle
child who ran up TO her as she fell had
half its head blown away by shot
from rife.
Other incidents of the same kind are
reported from Nazareth and Ypres The
British troops were compelled 10 fire,
in some cases at the risk of killing
civilians.
At Ypres the Germans drove women
in front of them by picking them with
bayonets. The wounds were afterward
seen nv the witness