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Show GERMAN STAFF TELLS OF DESTRUCTION OF LOUVAIN "crlln.-Following Is at. olllclnl com-munlcntlon com-munlcntlon of tho Oerman general staff regarding the destruction of Lou-vain: Lou-vain: "Tho city of Uuvaln had surrendered surren-dered and was given over to ub by tho ilclglan authorities. On Mondaj, Aug. -I. somo of our troops wero shipped there and Intercourse with tho Inhabitants Inhabi-tants was developing quite friendly. "On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 25, our troops, hearing ubout an Imminent Ilclglan Ilcl-glan sortlo from Antwerp, left In that direction, tho commanding general ahead In a motor car, leaving behind only a colonel with soldiers to protect tho railroad (landsturm battalion 'Neuss'). Civilians Open Fire. "As tho rest of tho commanding genoral's stafT, with tho horses, was going to follow and had collected on tho market place, rltlo nro suddenly opened from all tho surrounding houses, r.ll tho horses being killed and II vo otllcers wounded, one of thorn se-riouBly. se-riouBly. "Simultaneously lire opened nt about ten different places In town, also on some of our troops Just arrived ar-rived and waiting on tho squaro In front of tho Btatlon, and on Incoming military trains. That It was a designed de-signed co-operation with tho Holglan sortlo from Antwerp was established beyond a doubt. "Two priests who wero caught handing hand-ing out ammunition to tho peoplo were shot at once in front of tho station. Fight Lasts 24 Hours. "Tho street light lasted till Wcdncs-day, Wcdncs-day, tho 2Cth, In tho afternoon (twenty-four hours), when stronger forces, which nrrlved In tho meantime, mean-time, succeeded In getting tho upper hand. Tho town and northern suburb wero burning nt different places, and by this tlmo probably have burned down altogether. "On tho part of tho Holglan government govern-ment a general rising of tho population popula-tion against tho enemy had been organized or-ganized for a long time; depots of arms wero found, whero to each gun was attached tho name of tho citizen to bo armed. "A spontaneous rising of tho peoplo peo-plo has been recognized at tho request of tho smaller states nt Tho lingua conference as being within tho lnw of nations, as far as weapons aro carried openly and tho laws of civilized wnr-faro wnr-faro aro being observed; but such rising wns only admitted In ordor to light tho attacking cnomy. Treachery of Belgians. "In tho case of Louvalu tho town nlready hnd surrendered and tho population pop-ulation renounced, without any resist-mice, resist-mice, tho town being occupied by our troops. "Nevertheless tho population attacked at-tacked us on nil sides and poured murderous mur-derous firo Into the occupying forcos and uowly nrrMng troops, which camo In trains nnd automobiles. "Theroforo thoro can bo no question of means of defenso allowed by tho law of nations, neither of a warlike guetnpens (ambush), but only of a treacherous attempt of tho civil population popu-lation all nlong tho line, nnd nil tho more to bo condemned as It was apparently appar-ently planned long boforehnnd with a BlmultnneouB nttnek from Antwerp, as arms w ero not carried openly, as worn-on worn-on and young girls took part In the light nnd blinded our wounded, sticking stick-ing their eyes out. German Acts Justified. "Tho barbarous attitude of tho Del-glan Del-glan population In nil parts occupied by our troops has not only Justified our sovorest measures but forced them on us for tho sako of self-preservation. "Wo ourselves regret deeply thnt during theso fights tho town of Lou-vain Lou-vain hns boon destroyed to a great extent. Needless to say that theso consequences aro not Intentional on our part, but cannot bo nvolded In this In famous frnnc-tlreur wur being led against us. Blame Belgian Government. "Whoovor knows tho good natured character of our troops cannot seriously serious-ly protend thnt thoy aro Inclined to needless or frivolous destruction "Tho entlro responsibility for theso ovents rests with tho Holglan government, govern-ment, which, with criminal frivolity has given to tho nelglnn peoplo In structlotiH contrary to tho law of nations na-tions nnd Incited their roBlstnnco, and which, In splto of our repeated warn lugs, ovon after tho fall of Luottlch (Llego), has dono nothing to Induce thorn to ft peaceful nttltude." |