THEIR CONFESSIONS (Continuation)
Cirey, August 24th.
In der Nacht sind unglaubliche Sachen passiert: Laden ausgepliin-
dert, Geld gestohlen, Begewaltigungen. Einfach haarstrdubend !...
In the night, incredible things have taken place: shops plundered,
money stolen, violences... Simply to make your hair stand on end.
(From an officer's diary.)
Dinant, August 25th.
Die Belgier haben in Dinant an der Maas auf unser Regiment
geschossen aus den Hausern. Es wurde erschossen was sich sehen liess
bz. aus den Fenstern gestUrzt, ob Weib oder Mann. Die Leichen lagen
Meter hoch auf den Strassen...
The Belgians, at Dinant on the Meuse, fired on our regiment from
inside the houses. We shot everyone we could see; or we threw them
out of the windows, women as well as men. The bodies lay three feet
high in the streets.
(From a soldier's diary.)
August 26th.
Das wunderschdne Dorf Gue d'Hossus soll ganz unschuldig in
Flammen aufgegangen sein. Ein Radfahrer soil gestUrzt seirt und
dabei sein Gewehr losgegangen; gleich ist auf ihn geschossen worden.
Man hat mdnnliche Einwohner einfac-h in die Flamrnen geworfenl
Solche Scheusslichkeiten kommen hoffentlich nicht wieder vor.
In Leppes sind etwa 200 Manner erschossen worden. D-ort war ein
Exempel am Platze; dass auch Unschuldige lit ten war unvermeidlich;
ebenso ist aber eine Prufung des Schuldverdachtes erforderlich auf
dass dieses wahhlose Niederknallen von Mdnnern unterbunden wird...
The charming village of the Gu6-d'Hossus, has apparently, though
innocent, been destroyed by fire. It seems that a cyclist fell down,
which made his gun go off of itself. He was immediately shot at. The male
inhabitants were simply thrown into the flames. Let us hope that such
horrors will not take place again. At Leppes, about 200 men were shot.
There, an example was necessary; it was unavoidable that some'
innocents should suffer; but a proof of all suspicions of guilt ought to
be required, so that such an undiscriminate shooting of all men might
be controlled.
(Diary of an officer of the 178th regiment of infantry,
12th saxonarmy corps.)
Laval-Morancy, August 28th.
Anscheinend Ruhetag. Fassen aller Lebensmittel, Brot, Marmelade,
Wein, Zigarren. Schlachten Gdnse, Hihner; spiele Klavier; plUndere
feste...
Apparently a day of rest. Confiscation of all provisions: bread, jam,
wine, cigars. Killed geese, chickens, etc. Played piano, plundered fast!...
(Diary of a soldier.)