The Washington times., 1915-05-30
Berlin Denies German
Atrocities in Belgium
Imperial Government, in Long Detailed Reply, Print
ed in the "White Book" Places Blame on Bel
gan Civilians for Acts of Invading Troops.

AMSTERDAM, May So.-The German
has Just issued a White
Book in reply to charges Of extreme
and unwarranted cruelty to civilians
in Belgium, made against German
troops in two official reports.
The first Of these reports was made
public in Washington September 18,
1914, by a commission sent to the
United States by the Belgian govern
ment.
The second report is that of the
British commission, headed by Wis
count Bryce, made public simultan-
eously in London and Washington on
the 12th of the present month.
In its White Book the German gov
ernment says:
"As the Belgium army, after stub
born fights. retreated before the Ger
ulation in all parts OF the country
not yet occupied by Germans en-
deavored by all means to delay the
German advance.
which already had been occupied by
German troops, to hurt and weaken
the German army through cowardly
attacks:
ton Of every rank, age. and sex with
the greatest fury and rage took part
in the fights against the German
troops is proved by whelming
material founded on official and in
many cases sworn testimony.
Charge Priest Bore Arms.
according to material in hand. the
Belgian civilian population in numer-
Gus places in the provinces OF Liege,
Luxembourg. Namur. Henegau. Bra
bant. East and West Flanders fought
against German troops. and the fight
was particularly terrible in character
at Aerschot, Ardenne Dinant. and
Liege Of which special reports have
been received by the German war de-
partment from special military COM
missions appointed to .look into vio-
lations Of the rules Of war.
shots were fred at the German
troops from houses. gardens, roofs,
these fights means were used which
certainly would never have been used
by regular troops, and there were
therefore many wounds from shot
guns and scalds from hot tar and boil
ing water
"Old men. women. and children. even
when suspected. weere spared as far as
II was in any way possible. and al
diers was tried to the utmost by these
vicious attacks, they often in a most
self-sacrificing manner cared for these
people in everv manner. rendering pro-
lection to the helpless, sharing their
bread with them and nursing the weak
and suffering.
THAT the Belgian government must
take the blame for this violation Of In
ternational rights by the people Of Bel
GUM is beyond any doubt.
1T certainly would have been very
easy for it. through its newspapers and
| through such officials as mayors. TO
| give its soldiers and any members OF
the civil guard the necessary instruc-
tions so as to control the passions OF
the population. which had been purpose
ly reused. The Belgian government
must therefore take full responsibility
for the dreadful bloodshed which took
place in Belgium.
The tncontestable fact that. from tn,
very beginning. the German troops ir
| Belgium were forced in the interest OF
self-preservation to fight against the
| population may easily be proved BY
| looking into the matter through a com
mission from any part OF the world.
German Army Defended.
"At Aerschot the fight between Ger
man troops and the Belgian civil popu
Iation was not caused. as has been sale
in England. by the fact that German
officers violated the honor Of tn,
mayors daughter. but because the loca
population carried out a well-plannet
attack against the commander-in-ch chic
and assassinated him from behind.
AT Dinant the people who fell victim
to German arms were not innocent
peaceful citizens, but murderers, VIII
cowardly attacked the German soldier
and forced the troops into a fight whicl
resulted in the destruction Of the city
AT Lege the fight with the civilian