The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-07
GERMANS RAZE
CIVILIAN TOWNS
Villages BOmbarded and Bel
gians Slain in Cellars
With Gas Shells.
OFFICIAL ORDER FOUND
Troops Arc Told to Have No
Consideration for People ,
in Evacuation.
OFFICIAL ORDER FOUND

WASHINGTON. Nov. 6.--German forces
in their retreat from Belgium are bonn
harding defeno-sess towns. using espe-
cially gas siells, and devastating the
countryside, s<sordng to an eyewitness
account mad; public to-day by the Bel
gian Legation.
Tho Belgian Government has been
informed" said the statement, by a re-
liable eyewitness who follows closely the
operations at the Belgian front that at
the very moment that the German Gov
ernment has announced her protest
against inhuman acts, and while Ger
many offers to stop aerial bombardment
in the interest of the civil population of
the occupied territory. the Germans have
bombarded the villages and towns which
they were obliged to abandon during
their retreat. They have used especially
gas shells for this purpose.
'Jndescribably heartrending scenes
have occurred. the unfortunate popula-
tion having no gas masks or means OF
protection against these death spreading
fumes. A Belgian soldier entering
wyngheme. his home town, found his
wife dying and his little daughter dead.
victims OF the poison gas, and his home
heap of ruins. The country all around
Ghent, the rich and beautiful cultivated
fields and pastures, the picturesque vii
lagos of Hansbeke. Landeghem, Nevele,
Laethem. st. Martin. Tronchiennes, pre-
sent a horrible sight OF devastation and
havoc, Not church was spared from
destruction.
Among the civilian population hiding
In the cellars there have been a great
many deaths from gas twenty-seven in
the village of Hansbeke alone. por-
tion of the population who had fed from
their homes during the fighting and
bombardment found on their return mere
ruins and debris. Trees had been cut
down, houses ransacked. furniture
smashed to pieces. fields devastated.
From these facts one may appreciate
how hypocriticaI are the humanitarian
propositions and protestations of the
German Government"
The legation also made public a cap
tured order OF a Bavarian division com.
mander as further evidence that the Ger.
mans are robbing and looung Belgium
| The order says:
HeBTettaDle rs Is tne situation or the
Belgian populace. the question of sup.
| plies for our troops, heavily engaged al
the front, must remain for us OF para.
| mount Importance. FSr this reason the
last draft horse. the last vehicle must
be requisitioned and used to the greatest
advantage.
Commanders OF the various units and
| men must take Into account that the at.
titude OF the population toward us ha.
been completely modified. Since the sit
| uation has been altered one must moi
expect to find in the Belgians the same
docllity that has characterized then
through the past years OF our warfare
They must be considered strictly as the
population OF an enemy state with which
we are at war. Therefore 1t Is partlcu
| larly forbidden to assist the civiliar
population in any way; military inter,
ests alone should be considered. The
products OF the country must be utilized
solely In our own interest"