New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-13
LOuvain and District.

The events spoken 70 as having oc-
Cured in and around Louvaln between
August 10 and % deserve close attcn-
ton.
For six days the Germans were in
peaceful occupation of the city. No
houses were set on fire no citizens
killed. There was a certain amount OF
looting Of empty houses, but otherwise
discipline was effectively maintained.
The condition of Louvain during these
days was one OF relative peace and
quietude, presenting striking CON
,rast TO the previous and contcmpo-
raneous conduct of the German army
elsewhere.
On the evening Of August 25 sud
den change takes place. The Germans,
on that day repulsed by the Belglans,
had reiterated TO and reOccupled Lou
vain. Immediately the devastation OF
that city and the holocaust OF Its pop
ulation commence.
The deposItIons which relate 10 Lou
vain are numerous and are believed by
the committee 20 present true and
fairly complete picture of the events of
August % and 26 and subsequent days.
We find no grounds for thinking that
the inhabitants fired upon the German
army on the evening Of August -.
Eye-witnesses worthy Of crcdence de-
tail exactly when, where and how the
firing commenced. Such firing was by
Germans on Germans. No impartial
tribunal could, i'm our opinion, come TO
any other conclusion.
Methods Of Incendiaries.
on the evening Of the 18th firing
could be heard in the direction Of
Hcrent. some three kilometres from
Louvain. An alarm was sounded IN the
city. There were disorder and couiu-
sion, and at . O'Clock horses attached
10 baggage wagons stampedcd IN the
street and rife ire commenced. Tins
was in the Rue de la Station and came
from the German police guard twenty
one in number who, seeing the troops
arrive in disorder, thought it was the
enemy. Then the corps OF incendlarleS
got TO work. They had broad belts, with
the words "Gott nit uns,' and their
equipment consisted OF a hatchet, a
syringe. a small shovel and q revolver
Fires blazed up IN the direction OF the
Law Courts, ST. Martins Barracks, and
later in the Place de la Station. Mean
while an incessant fusillade was kept
up on the windows of the houses. In
their efforts to escape the flames the
inhabitants climbed the walls. My
mother and servants" says witness,
had to DO the same, and took refuge
at Monsieur AS, whose cellars are
vaulted and afforded a better protec-
ton than mine. a little later we with
drew TO Monsieur As stables. where
about thirty people who had got there
by climbing the walls were 10 be found.
Some Of these poor Wrefchcs had 20
climb twenty walls. \ ring came ~ the
bell. We opened the door. Several CIVIL
ians flung themselves under the porch.
Tie Germans were firing upon them
from the street. Every moment aew fires
were lighting up, accompanied by eN-
plosions IL the middle Of the night !
heard a knock at the outer door OF the
stable which led into little street,
and heard a woman's voice crying Tor
help. | opened the door. and Just as
was going TO let her IN rifle shot
fred from the street by German sol
die rang out and the woman fell dead
at my feet. About 9 o'clock IN the
morning things got quieter and we took
the opportunity of yenturng into the
street. 4 German who was carrying
silver pyX and a number OF boxes OF
cigars told US we were 20 20 20 the sta
ton. where trains would be waiting Tor
us. When we got 20 the Place De la
Station We saw in the square seven or
eight dead bodies of murdered civilians.
Not a single house in the place was
standing. A whole row OF houses be
hind the station al Blauwput was
burned. After being driven hitler and
thither intermInably by officers, who
treated US roughly and lnsulted us
throughout, We were divided The
prisoners were then distributed be-
tween different bodies of troops and
marched IN the direction Of Hercnt.
Scvcuty-Seven inhabitants Of LouValn,
including a number OF people OF good
position lthe names Of several are
given, were thus taken TO Herent. w e
found the village Of Herent IN names,
so much so that we had TO quicken up
20 prevent ourselves from beng suno-
Gated and burned up by the flames n
the middle OF the road. Half burned
corpscs Of civilians were lying m front
Of the houses. During halt soldiers
stole cattle and slaughtered them where
they stood. Firing started on our lcit
We were told 10 was The civilians hr-
ing and that we were going 10 be shot.
The truth is that Il was the Germans
themselves who were firing 20 irlghten
US. There was not single civilian N
the neichborhood. Shortly aftcrward
We proceeded on our march TO Mahnes.
We were insultcd and threatened.
The officers were worse than
the men. We got to Campenhout about
7 n. m, and were locked INTO the church
with all the male population Of the VII
lage. Some priests had joined our
numbers. We had had nothing to eat
or drink since the evening OF the day
before. A few compassionate soldiers
gaya no ua,er IN rink. hut no official