El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-12

= ONDON, ENG, May 12.-Viscount
Bryce, former British ambassador
- at Washington, and now chairman
OF a special government committee ap-
pointed TO investigate and report on
"outrages alleged to have been com
mitted by German troops during the
present war has submitted the report
Of the committee TO premier Asquith-
The document is considered as prob
ably the most severe arraignment thus
far made Of the German military sweep
across Belgium, mainly because Of the
position Of ViscOunt Bryce as a his
torian. and also because Of the care
with which the investigation was made.
the great number Of witnesses whose
testimony was examined and the mass
of evidence now submitted with the re-
port Of the committee.
Associated with lord Bryce on the
committee were Sir Frederick Pollock,
'4Sir Edward Clarke, Sir Alfred Hopkin-
the University Of Sheffield. Harold Cox.
and kenelm Z. Digby. The committee
was appointed by premier AsQuith on
Jan p last and was given broad in
structlons 10 investigate alleged out
RACES, the maltreatment Of civilians.
and breaches Of law and established
usagse Of war"
The most important findings Of the
committee are summed up in the fol-
lowing conclusion at the close Of the
report
TT will be seen that the committee
has come to q definite conclusion upon
each Of the heads under which the evil
dence has been classified:
, "Deltberate and Organized Massacre
Tt is proved
'First-That there were in many
parts Of Belgium deliberate and sys-
temaucally organized massacres Of the
civil population. accompanied by many
isolated murders and other oUtrages-
SecOnd-Ihat in the conduct Of the
genera lfvr TnnnranT civilians hnrh
men and women, were murdered IN
large numbers, women violated and
children murdered
Third-That lOOting, house burning,
and the wanton destruction OF property
were ordered and cOuntenanced by the
Officers Of the German army: that elab-
crate provision had been made for sys-
tematic incendiarism at the very out
break Of the war, and that the burning
and destruction were frequent where
no military necessity could be alleged,
being indeed part Of a system Of gen
-eral terroriZation-
-'Fourth-That the rules and usages
OF war were frequently broken, par
ucularly by the using Of civilians in
Guiding women and children, as q shield
1or advancing forces exposed to fire,
10 less degree by killing the wounded
and prisoners, and in the frequent
abuse OF the Red Cross and the white
flag.
Murder, Lust and PnIage."
Murder, lust and pillage prevailed
over many parts Of Belgium on a scale
unparalleled IN any war between civ
lhzed nations during the last three
centuries
our function is ended when we have
stated what the evidence esta blishes !
and We venture TO hope that as soon a.
the present war IS over. the nations /
or the world in council will consider
what means can be provided and sane
tons devised 10 prevent the recur-
renee Of such horrors as our generation
is now Witnessing"
The report states at the outset that
1900 witnesses have been examined. the
being taken by examiners
Of legal knowledge and experience. i
though without authority to administer
an oath The examiners were instruct
ed not TO lead" the witnesses and 10
seek 10 bring out the truth by cross
examination and otherwise. The com
mittee also submits extracts from q.
gunner Of diaries taken from the Ger
nan dead, Chiefly German soldiers and in !
some cases officers
Force Of Evidence Is Cumulative
We began the inquiry with doubts
a positive result would he OH
famed, says the report But the 1