Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-10

LII
alone, of the law of nations in all those
places which were already in posses
sion of the German troops, more par
| ticularly in Aerschot, Andenne and
lLouvaip. But also in places not yet oc-
cupied by the German troops, especially
| in Dinant and it's environments, was
i the peoples war not allowable, because
/ the Belgian government mad mad sum
cient time for organizing the peoples
war in accordance with international
| law.
1.-The Belgian government since years
| has counted on being drawn into the
warlike events in case of Franco
German war; the preparations for its
mobilization can be proven to have set
! in at least a week before the invasion
! of the German army. The government
/ was, therefore, perfectly in a position
| to supply the civilian population, as
| far as their employment in possible
| fighting was intended, with military
emblems and to appoint responsible
leaders for them. The Belgian govern
ment in a communication addressed 10
the German government through the
medium of a neutral power has assert
ed that it had taken corresponding
measures. In stating this the Belgian
government only proves That 1t couid
have fulfilled the aforementioned
conditions; but such measures were, at
any rate. not put into practice IN the
territories passed by the German
troops.
Not only were, thus, the premises
lacking which are provided by interna-
tional law also for the unorganlzed
peoples war, but this war was also
conducted in manner Whlcn alone
would have suf.iced to place Its par
ticipants outside the laws of war. For
the Belgian franctireurS made it a rule
not to carry their weapons openly, nor
did they respect any of the laws and
customs of war.
| .Irrefutable evidence proves that in
a large number of cases the German
troops at their entry We're received
with a semblance of friendliness by the
Belgian civilian population, only TO be
attacked. with arms, at. nighttaJi or at
other opportune moments. Such cases
particularly happened at Blegny, Es-
neux, Grand Rosiere, BleVre, IouVS,
ers-devant- Orval, Sainte-Marie, Les
BulTes, Yschfpre, Acoz, Aerschot, An
d.enne and Louvain. All OF these attachs
evidently violate the provision of interna-
tional law that arms should be carried
openly.
Violation of Wars Customs.
But what the Belgian civilians are
especially to be charged with is the
unheard-of violation of the customs of
war In different places, e. g., near
Liege, Herve and Brussels. in Aerschot,
Dinant and Louvain, German soldiers
have been foully assassinated. although
article &c, section l b, of the Hague
Regulations of Warfare on Land Tor
bids to kill or wound treacherousiy
individuals belonging to the hostile
nation or army" Moreover, the Bel
gian population has d1sre garded the
sign of the Red Cross, and thus Offend
ed against article of the Geneva
convention of July 6, 1906. Thus, Bel
from
shooting under cover of this sign at
the German troops and from attacking
hospitals with wounded soldiers and
the sanitary staff, while in the eXecu-
ton of their duty.
.Finallv it has been established be-
yond doubt that Belgian clvlilans
plundered, killed and even shocklngiy
mutiated German wounded soldiers,
in which atrocities even women ana
children took part. Thus the eyes were
gouged out of the German wounded
soldiers, their ears, noses, finger joints
were cut off, or they were emasculated
or disemboweled. In other cases, Ger
man soldiers were poisoned or strung
up on trees; hot liquid was poured over
them, or they were otherwise burned
so that they died under terrible tor
lures. All these bestialities of the Bel.
gian population are an outrage not
spect and care for the sick and
wounded of the enemy, but also to the
primary principles of the laws of war
and humanity.
'Under these circumstances the Bel
gian civilian population, which took
part in the fight, can, as a matter of
course, lay no claim to treatment
such as is due to belligerents. 1t was,
on the contrary, absolutely necessary
in the interest of the self-preservatlon
of the German army to take the Sc
verest measures against these franc
tireurs. Therefore, persons who by
fighting opposed the German troops
had to be killed. prisoners could not
cordance with the laws of war, but
only as assassins, in accordance with
the customs of war. In all this, how
ever, the formalities of jurisdiction
were observed as far as military ne
cessity permitted; the prisoners, when
ever circumstances allowed Of. such a
course, were shot only after due eX-
animation or after adjudication by a
ourt-martial. Old men, women and
children, even when under grave sus-
picion, were spared to the largest pos
sible degree; more than that, the Ger
man soldiers, although their patience
was put to a most severe test by the
treacherous attacks, often cared Tor
such persons in manner which can
only be termed as self-sacrificing, taxi
ing helpless persons who were in peril
under their protection, sharing their
bread with them or giving the weak
and SICK IN cnafSe
Blame Placed on Government.
There can be no doubt that it is to
great extent the fault of the Belgian
government that the Belgian popula-
ton conducted itself toward the Ger
man army against all international
law. For leaving aside that a govern
ment is under all circumstances an
swerable for such acts as represent the
general expression of the peoples will,
the Belgian government has at least to
bear the grave reproach that, although
it could have prevented that franc
tireur war, it did not do so. 1t would
certainly have been an easy matter for
the government to give the requisite
instructions, to it's organs such as
mayors, soldiers and the "garde
civique' in order to restrain the pas
sionate excitement which had been
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