The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-02-13
An Eyewitness of German "Kultu"
as Practiced in Belgium

~ drunkards, visited on women whom
they met in the streets"
1t Is to be regretted that the testi-
mony can not be printed in full, but
the following colloquy between Sena-
tor Nelson and Mr. Squires Is indica.
tive of his general observations:
Senator Nelson--And they crucitied
children?
Mr.. Squfres-I have had places
pointed out to be by fathers who had
been crzed by the sight of their chill
dren hanging on door bells the night
before. One man took me up to q
door and showed me the nail points
iii the door where his little baby had
been nailed the night before because
the baby got in the way of the Ger
man guard Of four or five men and In
some way hindered their passage; one
of the men snatched up the baby and
held 1t up against the door. probably
In their drunkenness, nailed 1t UP
against the door. and 1t was dead In
Ave minutes, l suppose.
Senator King-You did not see the
child?
Mr.. Squres-No. The child was
rot permitted to remain there moro
than a minute or two after the SOL
diers went on ! know it Is very dit
ficult to believe these stories. gentle-
men, and that Is one reason why
hesitate to tell them--because I am
met by the perfectly respectful ques-
tioning attitude Of Senator King-it
that Is your name, sir; but I have
seen all that l have told you myself.
Senator Nelson--Are there many Of
those towns and villages In Belgium
that have been RACED to the ground?
Mr.. Squires-Not 80 many COM
pletely RACED. Many Of them have
been partially RACED, notably Louvain
Louvaln was destroyed to a degree
for an offense committed, ! am told.
by the daughter Of the mayor OF the
city, who was entertaining the flrst
incoming general officers OF the Ger
man army that were occupying LOU
vain. verified this as far as posi-
BILE when the events were only few
days old by speaking with some who
were present
1t seems the incoming generals
were being entertained by the burgo-
master In his home. He called upon
his daughter to bring In some cigars
and light wine for the guests. While
she was bringing In the cigars and
wine one of the officers offered her
an insult, which she did not note at
the time or make any reference to.
but during the evening word Of 1t
woman, whereupon. with less consid-
Grafton than he should have had for
his fathers guest. he went In and shot
the man dead in the presence Of the
other German officers. Whereupon
they left the office of the mayor. and
the next day the section Of the town
where the mayors office was, and
where the family resided, was burn
ed-about one third of the city. In
Guiding the university and the town
hall. The handsome section Of Lou
vain was destroyed that day. There
has been no other explanation given
for the destruction; 1t was the PEN
atty for the offense committed against
those visiting German officers.
Senator Nelson-My recollection II
that they afterwad killed the woman
in the case.
Mr.. Squires--I do not know.
1t would be we'll IL the testimony
of Mr.. Squires and others could be
stamped in bold character on the
walls of the conference room in Par
Is. We might then hope for the con-
summation of a peace based upon the
immutable laws OF justice and secur-
ity.