Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-10

CONTINUED from Last Issue)

| 11elemanS. WIDOW OF the mayor OF
Aerschot:
Here are the facts as l saw them,
when the Germans seized Aeschot.
I About o'clock in the morning of
| August 10, | was unable to go to
church with my children because bull
lets were falling in the streets; we
installed ourselves in drawing-room
facing the Grand place Getty Hall
| squared. Toward o'clock, Belgian
soldiers appeared from one of the
side streets, their faces covered with
blood, supporting one another. 1
opened the window and inquired
what was happening. We are re-
treating, the Germans are pursuing
u.s. they cried. A few minutes later,
the Grand place was covered with
German troops, seeing which my son
lowered the shade; they immediate
ly fred into the window; a bullet
richochetted and wounded him in the
leg.
About 10 o'clock, the German
commander ordered my husband to
the city hall; when he arrived, they
called him a "Schweinhund,' and,
with the greatest brutality, exacted
the lowering of the national flag; he
was then obliged to translate into
German the posters that had been
placarded in town, requiring the sur
render of firearms and advising the
population to keep quiet.
! Meanwhile, officers visited me,
asking me for hospitality; there
were three of them, general (Sten-
ger, commanding the Eighth infan-
try brigade) and two aides; they
were conducted to apartments; their
rooms faced the Grand place; they
could watch the troops resting there.
Shortly after they went out; the
chambermaid called me to see the
condition in which they had left their
rooms; the worst burglar could not
have upset the furniture as the Ger
mans had done; not single drawer
had escaped inspection, not paper
had remained intact. The explana-
ton of this conduct was given to me
later on. The general asked me the
name of the Belgian colonel that
had received the evening before, in
sisted on learning to which branch of
the service he belonged, etc. / re-
piled: L don't know his name any
more than l do yours; | don't know
whence he came or where he was go
ing, any more than l know your des-
tination.'
THE German army continued to
pass by. They were arresting all
! men. About A o'clock my husband
came in. so far, so good, but
am uneasy he said to me. He took
some cigars to give to the sentinels
guarding the house. The position
of the doorway to the street through
the garden enabled us to catch sight
of the general on the balcony. l re-
marked to my husband that what he
was doing might displease the au-
thorities. AS l re-entered the house,
l glanced into the Grand place and
saw distinctly two columns of smoke,
| followed by number of rifle shots.
My courtyard was Immediately in
| vaded by horses and soldiers, who
were firing in the air like lunatics.
My husband, my children, the serv-
ants and myself, had only time to
rush into a cellar, hustled by SOL
diers, who took refuge in our house,
firing the while. After few moments
of indescribable anguish, one of
shouting The general is dead; |
want the mayor The general had
been struck by a German bullet as
he stood on the balcony. My hus-
band said to me: This will be seri-
Gus for me- l grasped his hand and
said: 'Courage!' The captain turned
my husband over to the soldiers, who
showed him about and dragged him
away. l threw myself before the
captain, saying:
"'Sir, you can see that neither my
husband nor my son has fired, since
they are unarmed.'
THAT makes no difference, Ma
dame, he is responsible
my son induced us to move to
another cellar; a half hour later he
said to me: Mother, l hear them
looking for US We'll, then, let us
go up; let us bravely meet our fate.
"The same captain was there.
Madame, | must take your SON he
took my son, fifteen years old! And
as my son walked with difficulty
owing to his wound, he kicked him
along; l closed my eyes in order not
to see; l felt myself dying with pain.
It was atrocious. believe he had had
nv son taken to his father in the
city hall.
Left Alone
THE captains rage was not yet
appeased; he returned for me and
forced me to accompany him from
the cellars to the attics, claiming
that the soldiers had been fired on.
He was able to see that the rooms
we're empty and the windows smut;
During this inspection, he confined
To threaten us with his Browning.
NV daughter placed herself between
ms But this was not sufficient to
make him realize his cowardlce:
When we reached the vestloule l
said to him: What is to become OF
us?' He answered celdly: You VIII
be shot together with your daughter
} and YOUR servants Meanwhile, the
soldiers were bending their bayonets
. and showing the frightened servants
how we'll they could prick one. AS
the captain was leaving us, soldier
approached me and said: Go into
the Grand place, no harm Will oetall
the women I went back to get a
ooo+ n hat. everything had already