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GERMAN ATROCITIES AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION BY J. H. MORGAN, M.A., OF THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW, PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON; LATE HOME OFFICE COMMISSIONER WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Mentem mortalia tangunt NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 681 FIFTH AVENUE
GERMAN ATROCITIES AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION BY J. H. MORGAN, M.A., OF THE INNER TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW, PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON; LATE HOME OFFICE COMMISSIONER WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Mentem mortalia tangunt NEW YORK E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 681 FIFTH AVENUE
Copyright , 1916, BY E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY Printed in the U.S.A. TO M. ARMAND MOLLARD MINISTRE PLENIPOTENTIAIRE, MEMBER OF “ LA COMMISSION INSTITUÉE EN VUE DE CONSTATER LES ACTES COMMIS PAR L’ENNEMI EN VIOLATION DU DROIT DES GENS, ” THIS WORK IS DEDICATED IN RECOGNITION OF HIS COURTESY AND COLLABORATION IN THE PURSUIT OF A COMMON TASK....
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PREFATORY NOTE
PREFATORY NOTE
Professor Morgan desires to express his obligations to the Russian Embassy, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, the French Ministry of War, and the General Headquarters Staff of the British Expeditionary Force for the assistance which they have given him. For the opinions expressed in Part IV. of the Introductory Chapter Professor Morgan is alone responsible. The whole of the documents given in the “Documentary Chapter” of this book (except the Memorandum from the German White Book which has be
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I THE BRITISH ENQUIRY
I THE BRITISH ENQUIRY
The second chapter of this book has already appeared in the pages of the June issue of the Nineteenth Century and After . At the time of its appearance numerous suggestions were made—notably by the Morning Post and the Daily Chronicle —that it should be republished in a cheaper and more accessible form. A similar suggestion has come to us from the Ministry of War in Paris, reinforced by the intimation that the review containing the article was not obtainable owing to its having immediately gone
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II THE GERMAN CASE—A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GERMAN WHITE BOOK
II THE GERMAN CASE—A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GERMAN WHITE BOOK
On May 10th—some five days before the publication of the Bryce Report—the German Government drew up a voluminous White Book purporting to be a Report on Offences against International Law in the conduct of the war by the Belgians. It may be described as a kind of intelligent anticipation of the case they might have to meet; the actual case, as presented in the Bryce Report, they have never attempted to meet, and to this day that report has never been answered. The German White Book—of which no t
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III GERMAN CREDIBILITY—A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE
III GERMAN CREDIBILITY—A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE
I have allowed the German White Book to speak for itself. It is a well-known rule of law that a party is “estopped” from denying his own admissions, and the incriminating character of these admissions is, as we have seen, conclusive against the German Government. Had I desired, I could have reinforced it by other evidence, also emanating from German sources, in the shape of Proclamations and diaries (of which I have seen some hundreds at the Ministry of War in Paris), which amply corroborate the
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IV THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE QUESTION OF RETRIBUTION
IV THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE QUESTION OF RETRIBUTION
Many years ago the most distinguished of the modern school of French historians wrote a remarkable essay on the subject of “Diplomacy and Progress.” 67 He knew Europe as few had known it; he had spent his life in its chancelleries and its archives, and his wisdom was only equalled by his knowledge, for he had studied not only books but men. In that essay he speculated as to the effect of the progress of mechanical invention in the arts of war upon the prospects of European peace, and he confesse
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Methods of Enquiry.
Methods of Enquiry.
My method of inquiry was twofold—I availed myself of both oral evidence and written evidence. As regards the former, the evidence taken at the base hospitals was wholly of this character. The method which I adopted in taking it was as follows: I made it a rule to explain to the soldier or officer at the outset that the inquiry was an official one, and that he must be prepared to put his name to any testimony he might elect to give. I allowed the soldier to tell his story in his own way and in hi
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Outrages upon Combatants in the Field.
Outrages upon Combatants in the Field.
Lord Bryce’s Committee, with that scrupulous fairness which so honourably distinguishes their Report, have stated that: “We have no evidence to show whether and in what cases orders proceeded from the officer in command to give no quarter, but there are some instances in which persons obviously desiring to surrender were nevertheless killed.” This is putting the case with extreme moderation, as the evidence at the disposal of the Committee, showing, as it did, that such barbarities were frequent
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Treatment of Civil Population.
Treatment of Civil Population.
The subject-matter of the inquiry may be classified according as it relates to: (1) ill-treatment of the civil population, and (2) breaches of the laws of war in the field. As regards the first it is not too much to say that the Germans pay little respect to life and none to property. I say nothing of the monstrous policy of vicarious responsibility laid down by them in the Proclamations as to the treatment of hostages which I forwarded to the Committee and which I left to the Committee to exami
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Outrages upon Women—The German Occupation of Bailleul.
Outrages upon Women—The German Occupation of Bailleul.
When life is held so cheap, it is not surprising that honour and property are not held more dear. Outrages upon the honour of women by German soldiers have been so frequent that it is impossible to escape the conviction that they have been condoned and indeed encouraged by German officers. As regards this matter I have made a most minute study of the German occupation of Bailleul. This place was occupied by a regiment of German Hussars in October for a period of eight days. During the whole of t
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Private Property.
Private Property.
As regards private property, respect for it among the German troops simply does not exist. By the universal testimony of every British officer and soldier whom I have interrogated the progress of German troops is like a plague of locusts over the land. What they cannot carry off they destroy. Furniture is thrown into the street, pictures are riddled with bullets or pierced by sword cuts, municipal registers burnt, the contents of shops scattered over the floor, drawers rifled, live stock slaught
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Observations on a Tour of the Marne and the Aisne.
Observations on a Tour of the Marne and the Aisne.
My investigations, in the company of a French Staff Officer, in the towns and villages of our line of march in that part of France which lies north-east of Paris revealed a similar spirit of pillage and wantonness. Coulommiers, a small town, was so thoroughly pillaged that the damage, so I was informed by the Maire, has been assessed at 400,000 francs, a statement which bore out the evidence previously given me by our own men as to the spectacle of wholesale looting which they encountered when t
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Bestiality of German Officers and Men.
Bestiality of German Officers and Men.
Before I leave the subject of the treatment of private property by the German troops, I should like to draw the attention of the reader to some unpleasant facts which throw a baneful light on the temper of German officers and men. If one thing is more clearly established than another by my inquiries among the officers of our Staff and divisional commands, it is that châteaux or private houses used as the head-quarters of German officers were frequently found to have been left in a state of besti
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Conclusion.
Conclusion.
I should say that in the above summary I have confined myself to the result of the inquiries I made at General Head-quarters and in the area of our occupation, and have not attempted to summarise the evidence I had previously taken from the British officers and soldiers at the base, as the latter may be left to speak for itself in the depositions already published by the Committee. The object of the summary is to show how far independent inquiries on the spot go to confirm it. The testimony of o
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(1)
(1)
Private R. R——, 1st Royal Scots:—At Ypres, on November 11th (the day I was wounded), the Germans had made an attack on the trenches in front of us—we were back in the dug-outs. We went up to support and drove them back. In the trench were about a dozen Germans, our men having retired towards us. The Germans were kneeling with one hand up to let us see that they had surrendered; so we thought it was all right, and we turned our attention to firing at those who were retiring. One of the officers o
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(2)
(2)
Private W. M——, 1st Wilts, — Company:—(1) On the Aisne, between September 14th and 22nd, I was in B Company and going to A Company for a wounded man. I am a bandsman and have acted as stretcher-bearer. The Germans came out of a wood with a white flag. The captain (Captain R——) of — Company gave the order to cease fire—the Company was in the trenches. Captain R—— went forward alone towards the Germans, and the German officer then shot Captain R—— with his revolver and the rest of the Germans open
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Private J. S——, Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion:—On a Sunday at end of October or beginning of November, just outside Bailleul, near Nieppe, we rested for three hours, having just come out of billets. The Germans had only just left—the chalk-marks of the different regiments were still on the doors. There were a lot of refugees outside an estaminet , among them a mother and two daughters. One daughter looked scared to death, her eyes staring out of her head. She was a girl of about twenty-three, who
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Captain C—— W——, Bedfords, 2nd Battalion:—At Bailleul, I saw a great deal of evidence of wanton destruction—mirrors broken and furniture smashed. A German cavalry regiment had done it. I was in three different billets there, and in all three the same thing had happened....
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Private S——, K. O. Scottish Borderers:—At Ypres, about a month ago, I was in the trenches and one of our men went out of the trenches to get a drink of water (from a spring about seven yards away). He was wounded in the leg, and an officer (Lieutenant S——, of B Company) sent over for the stretcher-bearers, who were at head-quarters about 300 yards from the support trenches. They were carrying this fellow away when one of the stretcher-bearers was “sniped” from about 300 yards. There was no firin
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(6)
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Private J. C——, Scottish Fusiliers, 1st Battalion:—At Locre, near Bailleul, I was billeted in the church there at the beginning of December. The church had not been shelled, but had been looted and the crucifixes had been smashed, and all the images and things of value appeared to have been torn away....
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(7)
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Corporal J. D. B—— (at that time Bombardier in the 49th Battery R.F.A.) now of the 40th Brigade Ammunition Column R.F.A.:—On August 23rd at Mons, we got the order to advance up a hill with our battery. We got a section of guns in action in a ploughed field, and then we had a sergeant hit with a gunshot wound in the back (it was Sergeant T——, of the 49th Battery R.F.A.). Sergeant R——, of the 49th, asked me to take Sergeant T—— to an ambulance. I took him through a wood, and on the outside of the
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(8)
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Private S——, C Company, 1st King’s R.R.:—It was on September 11th, I can never forget that date, it was after we left the Marne, and a day or two before the Aisne, we were engaged with the enemy at a distance of about 1,200 yards. They put up a white flag in their centre and waved it from side to side. We stopped firing, whereupon they fired heavily from their right flank. A second time they put up the white flag, this time on the right flank; but we took no notice of this and kept on firing....
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R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish, — Co.:—About the end of November, near Neuve Chapelle, there was a heavy attack, and we retired to get reinforcements, and left Sergeant G—— wounded in the leg in the trenches; when I last saw him he was binding up his wound. About 300 yards back we got reinforcements, and as we were advancing we saw three Germans bayoneting Sergeant G——....
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R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish, at Mt. Kemmel:—On Monday I was sent to get water from a pump in the yard of a house about 50 yards behind the line, a farm-house, and in the kitchen I saw seven men and three women, a poor class of people, lying on the ground bayoneted. The house had been looted and everything smashed....
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W. F——, Sapper, 17th R.E.:—About September 7th, near Lagny, we arrived at the village; stopped there for four hours while our artillery were in action. We had a house pointed out to us by the villagers; there was a broken motor bicycle outside, and in the room against the wall we found one of our despatch riders with an officer’s sword sticking through him. Our sergeant and our section officer told us that the villagers said that he came one night, having lost his way, and knocked at the door of
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Private M——, 1st Gordons, — Co.:—On October 24th, at La Bassée, the Germans broke through our lines, and as we retreated I was hit in the hip with a shell. The Germans crossed over our trenches and charged till they met our reserves and were driven back. I saw Private E—— (of Portsmouth) of my Company lying wounded in the hip. As they passed, some stepped on top of me, some jumped over me, while others as they passed E—— kicked him and stamped on his face. When he was brought into the dressing-s
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(13)
J. G——, Lance-Corporal, King’s Own, 1st Batt.:—At the end of November, the second day after we arrived at Nieppe, two of us entered an estaminet and found the landlady crying; she told us that about thirteen Germans violated her daughter and shot her husband against a wall in front of her eyes. She said there were a lot of other cases in Nieppe....
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J. A——, Private, 1st Camerons:—It was about October 23rd, at St. Jean (Ypres). We retired, owing to shortage of ammunition, and left two wounded in the trench. When we came back one of them was lying about 20 yards behind the trenches stripped stark naked. We had left him behind covered with a waterproof cloak. When darkness set in, on retiring, I waited behind to carry in one of the wounded. I lost the road and walked into the German lines with my comrade on my back. I was seized and my hands t
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J. W. D——, Private, 1st Batt. Cheshires:—On November 14th, at Ypres, the Germans broke in our trenches and as we tried to get out most of us were shot. As they retreated, after being driven back from the communication trenches, at about 4.45 on the Saturday (November 14th), I was lying wounded in the leg at the bottom of the trench unable to rise and a German officer stooped down and shot me in the thigh. I saw the same thing done by other Germans to other men of my company....
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(16)
(16)
C. R. A——, Private, 10th King’s Liverpool Scottish:—At Kemmel (I think), a place between Ypres and Armentières, not far from Locre—Kemmel is just close to the trenches, and about the size of Appleby—I, with two or three others, was out looking for vegetables for the officers (I was sent for because I speak French), and we were looking to see if any one remained in the house. While doing this I came across the R.F.A., who took us to their head-quarters and supplied us with vegetables, etc. Furthe
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Private C——, York L. I., 2nd Batt.:— (1) About November 17th or 20th, near Ypres, I was with the machine gun which was put out of action; I then went into my own company’s trenches. As it was getting dark, the advance was made and we were up to the wire entanglements; we were driven back by superior numbers. Having gained our own trench, the roll was called and about seventeen were missing out of our Co., Corpl. R—— being amongst them. Under cover of darkness our reinforcements came up and we ad
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(18)
(18)
Corporal D——, Loyal North Lancs., 1st Batt.:—At Ypres, end of November, I was in the trenches, and I saw two of our men, who had been sent out as snipers, hit, and the Germans motioned to them to come into their trenches (which were about 80 yards from ours); they began to crawl in, and as they got on the parapet of the trench the Germans shot them....
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(19)
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J. A——, Private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Batt.:—About the beginning of December we were billeted in the outskirts of Armentières, and were allowed out between twelve and three. We passed a man standing at his door, and he asked us if we had any bully beef—we said no, but we offered him a packet of cigarettes. We stood at the door talking and his wife and children came to the door. The woman looked bad—very delicate looking. He then told us that nine Germans had stopped in the hous
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(20)
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Private K——, 1st Loyal North Lancs.:—On Monday night we attacked them and took two trenches. Everything was quiet till the next morning except for sniping. At about 8.30 they advanced upon us, and the officer of —— Company, seeing the men were overpowered, put up the white flag, and the men put their hands up to surrender. The Germans advanced, and when they got up to the trenches, they shot them each in their trenches as they stood. I saw this. I was on the left flank....
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(21)
(21)
Sergeant C——, 1st Glosters:—Last Wednesday morning, near La Bassée, I was in the trench, and I saw a wounded man of No. A Co. (who had had to retire from their trenches on our right, having been enfiladed during the night) crawling on all fours to get back. When the Germans saw him they turned a machine gun on him and killed him. About end of November, near Ypres, a Belgian farmer (a kind of peasant), who spoke a little English (I can speak some French; I have a French conversation book with me)
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(22)
(22)
Sergeant G——, 2nd Devons:— (1) At Estaires, about five weeks ago (latter part of November), we were billeted there, and I and another sergeant went into a café. The proprietor, who spoke quite good English, said that his daughter had been outraged by a party of Germans while they were occupying. They forced the daughter out into a linhey (an outhouse) at the back and there outraged her. (2) At Laventie, about a week later, we halted; and I was speaking to a Frenchwoman who spoke English. She tol
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(23)
(23)
Private C——, A.S.C., 7th Div., Supply Column:—At Westoutre, near Poperinghe, we were billeted about two months ago at a priest’s house. He spoke English, and told me that his father was shot by the Germans against the church-yard railings because he refused to give up the stores of which he had charge for the Belgian refugees. He told us that the Germans had practised a lot of outrages on the women....
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(24)
Lance-Corporal L——, R.E., 55th Co.:—Near Ypres, about October 22nd or 23rd, our section was ordered to assist the Highland Light Infantry, Queen’s and Worcesters in a drive through a wood. We passed a cottage on our right where fighting was going on. As we returned I saw two of our soldiers in a doorway carrying a wounded man. When they got out of the doorway one of the two soldiers was shot in the back by a German at a distance of about 80 yards. All firing had ceased—it was a deliberate aim. O
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(25)
Private S——, 1st Northampton:—On the day after General F—— was killed (he was an artillery general), on the Monday, we advanced 14 miles, about, and bivouacked in a field. From our bivouac, about one mile distant, there was a little farm. We went to the farm to fill our water bottles, and a woman told us that her two daughters (whom we also saw) had been outraged the previous night by twelve or fourteen Germans. The woman spoke English quite well—at least, well enough for me to understand—very d
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(26)
Captain F——, 2nd Batt. Coldstreams:— (1) On the Rentel ridge, near Ypres, and south of Sonnen, I have seen repeated cases of deliberate firing on stretcher-bearers which admitted of no doubt. (2) On the Aisne, on a Monday (either September 13th or 14th) at Soupir, there was a bad case of trickery with the white flag. The Germans advanced from a farm-house with white flags at the end of their rifles, and on our men rushing forward, despite the warning of their officers, to take prisoners, they we
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(27)
(27)
Private L——, in the 1st Cornwall L.I.:—On September 9th (Wednesday) at Montreuil, I was wounded and being carried by two of ours, when about a quarter-mile from the firing-line I and other wounded were being brought down an exposed slope; the moment we appeared a machine-gun about 400 yards distant opened fire on us—several wounded hit....
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(28)
(28)
Private W——, in the 1st Camerons:—On the Aisne, September 14th, I was told by Sergeant Major C—— of Camerons that Captain H—— (commanding our Company) was lying in a field having his wounds dressed by one of our own bandsmen acting as stretcher-bearer. Captain H—— and stretcher-bearer were shot by a German officer. The Sergeant-Major (who had been taken prisoner by the Germans) saw this happen. [ Note. —This story was fully corroborated, without variation, by several other Camerons whom I met in
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(29)
(29)
Private W—— (the same):—We were advancing, Black Watch on our right, Scots Guards on our left. Germans put up white flag and we advanced to take prisoners. At thirty yards they opened their ranks, and machine-guns concealed behind fired upon us, the Germans in front also firing their rifles....
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(30)
(30)
Private S——, 1st Batt. Glosters:—On August 26th, first day of retreat from Fevrel, we were leaving the trenches, B. Co. covering us on the left. It was just where Captain S—— was shot. Private L——, who had been shot twice, was bayoneted when lying on the ground by two Germans. I and the whole Company saw it....
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(31)
(31)
Private B——, West Yorks:—On September 20th, 300 Germans ran up with a German officer and white flag, surrendering. About a thousand Germans followed and captured our Company of about 220. They bayoneted Sergeant-Major A—— after surrender of the Company, and shot majority of the Company. I was only three yards from Sergeant-Major when it happened. I fell over a hedge into a stone quarry and escaped. Here it was that Major I—— was killed. Later the Durhams came up and we got off....
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(32)
(32)
Private (Lance-Corporal) C——, 1st East Lancs:—About September 6th, Château de Perense, near Jouasse, Seine et Marne, about 700 Germans, coming out of a wood, dropped their rifles and held up their hands; whistle sounded “cease fire.” Two Companies sent up to accept surrender, and when within about ten yards the Germans ran back to the wood and their troops in wood opened fire on the two companies ( i.e. on about 450 men)....
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(33)
(33)
Private C—— (the same):—Passed through a village recently occupied by drunken Germans. Women raving. Saw two women with bruised faces and black eyes. Lieut. M—— said they had attempted to resist outrage by Germans....
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(34)
(34)
Private M——, Notts and Derby:—On September 20th (Sunday) in trenches on Aisne, seventy Germans came up with white flag; we let them come up and then went out to take them. They then opened fire just as their reinforcements came up, and killed many men of the West Yorks, Notts and Derby, and Durhams....
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(35)
The same:—On the Monday morning we went out to find our wounded and discovered an English soldier with ten or fourteen bayonet wounds—there had been no bayonet fighting with the Germans....
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(36)
(36)
Private H——, 2nd Batt. Duke of Wellington’s:—On September 8th and 9th, at Nogent-sur-le-Marne, advancing through the Forest of Crecy, heard on all sides stories of women outraged. I was told by Mme. S—— (Veuve) an elderly lady, who was the widow of an Englishman and spoke English, that an officer had outraged her servant in the house. The servant stood by crying as Mme. S—— told the story. Mme. S—— gave me her address—here it is in my pocket-book:—4 rue de Lafaulette, Nogent-sur-le-Marne....
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(37)
J. B——, Despatch Rider, Signal Co. 1st Div. R.E.:—About September 16th, near Paissy. At a distance of about 300 yards we saw through our glasses one of our despatch-riders (A—— of Signal Co., R.E.), shot while riding his motor-cycle; he fell off, and while lying on ground was speared by three Uhlans, one after the other. Uhlans attempted to burn him with his own petrol, but made off when they saw us coming. We found his body half-burned when we reached it....
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Sergeant D——, 1st Cornwalls:—About September 9th, near 6 p.m., Battle of the Aisne, I was with a platoon with orders to remain behind and delay German advance. We couldn’t see any Germans, and we therefore had done no firing for quite an hour. Our ambulance was out picking up wounded. My platoon was marching back to rejoin our Company; we were carrying our rifles. R.A.M.C. were picking up Lieut. E—— when they were fired on from the woods at a distance of about 300 yards, a regular fusillade. Lie
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(39, 40 and 41)
(39, 40 and 41)
Statements taken down, after cross-examination by a Staff Officer at General Headquarters, as to incidents in the neighbourhood at Ypres: (1) Private B. S——, 1st Black Watch, says that he saw Germans bayonet our wounded as they lay on the ground. He was wounded in the leg himself, but, seeing this, he managed to get away. Afterwards he was with German wounded, who told him that they had been ordered to kill all English prisoners. (2) Private W. W——, 1st Black Watch, says that he was in a reserve
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(42 and 43)
(42 and 43)
Summary of Statements taken by a Captain in the Sherwood Foresters: (1) The undermentioned privates state that on October 20th, 1914, they saw German soldiers killing our wounded, and can swear to the same. [There follow three names of privates in the 2nd Sherwood Foresters.] (2) The men mentioned below make the following statement: that on November 1st, 1914, two German soldiers were seen both delivering blows on our wounded with rifle-butts, and shooting them. [There follow names of four priva
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(44)
(44)
Statement made by a private in the Loyal North Lancs.: On or about December 21st, I think near Neuve Chapelle, we were ordered up to the trenches occupied by the Gurkhas. We got over them and lined a ditch—some of ours wounded there. We charged, and they started with hand bombs. On our right was Captain Smart, shot in the head. We had to retire; an hour and a half later we advanced again, and here I found one of our wounded with his throat cut (he had been shot previously). I heard of others wit
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(45)
(45)
A Brigadier-General of the British Cavalry Corps: On September 6th, the day before we got to Rebais, we passed a lonely farm where we found a shepherd with the top of his head blown off by a rifle-shot. He had been asked by the Germans for bread, and, on failing to produce any, had been shot....
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(46)
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Statement by Major ——, O.C. of a Cavalry Field Ambulance:—On October 17th, at Moorslede, north-east of Ypres, the Germans were reported as having strangled a young baker in this place. The inhabitants stated that he had been taken by the Germans to bake for them, and that he attempted to escape. The enemy caught him and stuffed a woollen scarf he was wearing down his throat, causing suffocation. One of my officers, Lieut. P——, viewed the body in the convent next day, and found the scarf stuffed
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(47)
Private R. McK——, 2nd Royal Irish:—On the advance from the Marne to the Aisne in September, we passed through a village and saw a baby propped up at the window like a doll. About six of us went into the house, with a sergeant, and found the child dead—bayoneted. We found a tottering kind of old man, a middle-aged woman, and a youth, all bayoneted. In another village our interpreter pointed out to us two girls who were crying; he told us they had been ravished....
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Driver B——, R.F.A.:—Somewhere between Chantilly and Villers-Cotterets, about the end of August, just after we started advancing, we were marching through a village, and the villagers called us into a house and showed us the body of a middle-aged man, with both arms cut off by a sword, pointed to him and said “Allemands.” They told our R.A.M.C. men in French that he had been killed when trying to protect his daughter. In the next village, before we got to the Aisne, the villagers showed us the de
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Private F. W. M——, Leicesters:—I think it was in October, after we had left the Aisne and were on the march. About a week before we got to Armentières, we went through a small village, halted, and I and a man named C——, of my company, were searching a hedge for wood, and came across a baby with a single vest on it, as if it had been taken straight from bed, and nearly cut in half, as if by a sabre....
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Private G. R——, Bedfords:—Somewhere between October 14th and 17th, at a village about fifteen miles from Ypres, a boy was brought in from a farm-house, the people having sent in for surgical assistance for a boy who was wounded. I saw him brought in by some of our men to an estaminet—he had five sabre-cuts. His sister told us that the Uhlans had chased him round the farm because he had cried out something to them. He looked as if he would not live. One of our R.A.M.C. bound up his wounds....
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Private W. D——, Hampshires:—About seven weeks ago, when the Germans tried hard to break through, we were about two hours from a place which we call the Château, where the Germans pitched shells every day, especially at a big tower place which is there. Our platoons were in the trenches in the order left to right of 5, 6, 7, 8, and then came C Company in their trenches. The wounded left with the dead in the C trench were half buried by its having been blown in. The Germans enfiladed the wounded,
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Private B——, Royal West Kents:—Early in September, in the advance from Coulommiers, I saw two British cavalrymen lying dead on the ground, their arms stretched out like a cross and their hands pinned by Uhlan lances....
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Private J. C——, Scots Guards:—Last Monday night, the other side the canal bank at a place I think they call “Karuchi,” the Manchesters were surrounded. We were in support and advanced to their help.... We re-took the trenches. In the second trench, when we got there, we found many Manchesters who had been shot first and then bayoneted, as they lay wounded, by the Germans when capturing the trench....
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Private P——, Cornwalls:—In the early part of September in our advance, in all the villages the Germans had smashed everything for mere sport—the place stank with the dead bodies of pigs and chickens which they had killed and left in the road. We found scent-bottles thrown all over the road—mirrors smashed and furniture—lovely furniture—thrown into the street, and pictures cut....
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Private W. T——, Welsh Regiment:—On the retreat from Mons in August we came upon a woman tied to a tree. She was quite dead. Her throat was cut. I believe she had been outraged.... The time was about 5 p.m. It was quite light. I should say the woman’s age was between eighteen and twenty-two. The men cut her down. I saw them do it. I do not know what became of the body as we had to go on. I expect it was Uhlans who had done this....
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Corps Expéditionnaire anglais, 5ᵉ Division d’Infanterie, 7ᵉ Groupe de Gendarmerie. Objet: Actes repréhensibles commis par des soldats allemands. Rapport du Capitaine Pigeanne, Commandant le détachement de Gendarmerie attaché à la 5ᵉ Division d’Infanterie anglaise, sur des actes repréhensibles commis par des soldats de l’armée allemande. Serches, le 14 septembre, 1914. Le 10 septembre courant, en parcourant avec quelques gendarmes de mon détachement, en exécution de l’Art. 109 du Service de la Ge
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II DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF BAILLEUL93 République Française VILLE DE BAILLEUL, COMMISSARIAT DE POLICE
II DOCUMENTS RELATIVE TO THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF BAILLEUL93 République Française VILLE DE BAILLEUL, COMMISSARIAT DE POLICE
L’an 1914, le 16 octobre à 16 heures Nous Thévenin.... Informé par les agents de notre service que les soldats allemands auraient tué trois individus non combattants au lieu dit Nouveau Monde, commune de Bailleul, nous avons ouvert une enquête et entendons: Marie H——, 37 ans, épouse C——, demeurant à V—— Rue, Commune de Bailleul, entendue, déclare:—Le jeudi matin, 8 courant, vers 7 heures je me trouvais au passage à niveau du Nouveau Monde, quand j’ai vu passer trois civils accompagnés par six so
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III EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE MURDER OF ELEVEN CIVILIANS AT DOULIEU Gendarmerie Nationale
III EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE MURDER OF ELEVEN CIVILIANS AT DOULIEU Gendarmerie Nationale
Cejourd’hui, 29 Novembre 1914. Déclarations de Monsieur Rohart Jules, âgé de 65 ans, Maire de la commune de Doulieu qui a déclaré:—Lors de l’invasion de la commune de Doulieu par l’ennemi, je suis toujours resté sur les lieux. J’ai connaissance et j’ai constaté tout ce qui a été commis sur mon territoire par les Allemands. J’ai d’abord appris que 11 individus civils français avaient été fusillés dans un champ à proximité de la rue du Calvaire au lieu dit “l’Espérance.” Ces hommes, qui n’avaient
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IV DEPOSITION OF A SURVIVOR OF THE MASSACRE OF TAMINES Traduction de la déclaration faite en flamand par V—— A—— F——, mineur à Tamines Parquet du Tribunal de 1re Instance d’Ypres Pro Justicia
IV DEPOSITION OF A SURVIVOR OF THE MASSACRE OF TAMINES Traduction de la déclaration faite en flamand par V—— A—— F——, mineur à Tamines Parquet du Tribunal de 1re Instance d’Ypres Pro Justicia
L’an 1914, le 1 octobre, devant nous, Alphonse Verschaeve, procureur du Roi à Ypres, a comparu, dans notre cabinet, sur invitation de notre part, le nommé V—— A—— F——, 28 ans, mineur domicilié à Tamines, actuellement réfugié à Reninghe, lequel nous a fait sous la foi du serment en langue flamande la déclaration suivante: Le samedi, 22 août, dans le courant de l’après-midi, les Allemands, au nombre de 200, me semble-t-il, sont entrés dans la commune de Tamines. Immédiatement ils obligèrent tous l
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V FIVE GERMAN DIARIES
V FIVE GERMAN DIARIES
( a ) Extract from the Diary of a German Soldier forwarded by the Extraordinary Commission of Enquiry instituted by the Russian Government. “When the offensive becomes difficult we gather together the Russian prisoners and hunt them before us towards their compatriots, while we attack the latter at the same time. In this way our losses are sensibly diminished. “We cannot but make prisoners. Each Russian soldier when made prisoner will now be sent in front of our lines in order to be shot by his
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VI
VI
DOCUMENTS SELECTED FROM THE REPORTS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSION OF INQUIRY APPOINTED BY HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA A Sister of Mercy, wearing the sign of the Red Cross, was seized by German and Austrian troops on April 20th, 1915, at the station of Radzivilishki and shut up in a cart-shed. “On the fourth day several officers visited her in the cart-shed and demanded information from her as to the positions of the Russian troops. They then beat her with swords and pricked her body with
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VII THE GERMAN WHITE BOOK
VII THE GERMAN WHITE BOOK
Immediately after the outbreak of the present war there arose in Belgium a violent struggle by the people against the German troops which forms a flagrant violation of international law and has had the most serious consequences to the Belgian country and people. This struggle of a population which was under the dominion of the wildest passions continued to rage throughout the whole of the advance of the German army through Belgium. As the Belgian army fell back before the German troops after obs
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VIII MASSACRE OF BRITISH PRISONERS BY GERMAN SOLDIERS AT HAISNES ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1915
VIII MASSACRE OF BRITISH PRISONERS BY GERMAN SOLDIERS AT HAISNES ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1915
I, Captain J. E. A——, 8th Batt. —— Highlanders, make oath and say as follows:— (1) I command C Co. of the 8th Batt. —— Highlanders. My company took part in the attack on September 25th, 1915. Between 5 and 6 p.m. on that day we were attacked and compelled to retire from an advanced position about Haisnes. We moved into Pekin Trench, and later to Fosse Alley. The battalion commenced to reorganise there. (2) Just before 8 p.m. 2nd Lieut. G. T. G——, of my battalion, reported to me that Sergeant D.
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IX REPORTS RELATIVE TO THE USE OF INCENDIARY BULLETS BY GERMAN TROOPS96
IX REPORTS RELATIVE TO THE USE OF INCENDIARY BULLETS BY GERMAN TROOPS96
To: The Commanding Officer, 2nd Batt. The —— Regiment. From: 2nd Lieut. L. E. S——, B Co., 2nd —— Regiment. 18/6/1915. Sir ,—I have the honour to report as follows: During the action on 15th to 16th instant my platoon occupied the right of the old German trench running from —— to —— between 7.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m., 15th instant. Seventy-five yards to my front I saw six or seven men lying down in the grass. One of them attracted my attention immediately as he appeared to be smoking or to have lit
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X
X
DEPOSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE EMPLOYMENT BY THE GERMAN TROOPS OF RUSSIAN PRISONERS ON THE WESTERN FRONT 97 ( a ) Statement of a German Prisoner (Translation) Captured in Northern France. I, the undersigned Stephan Grzegoroski, a recruit in the 6th Co. (5th Section) 2nd Batt. No. 143 Infantry Regiment, XV. German Army Corps, hereby declare on oath that in the course of the month of October, I have frequently seen Russian prisoners of war in Russian uniform employed upon the construction of the thir
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A FRESH EXAMINATION OF GERMAN WAR METHODS99
A FRESH EXAMINATION OF GERMAN WAR METHODS99
Professor Morgan, whose bright little book, called “Sketches From the Front,” has given to us some of the most fresh and vivid pictures of the actualities of warfare in France, presents in the present volume the evidence he has been busy in collecting regarding the behaviour of the German troops in the western theatre of war. Some of this has already been made known to the public by what he published in the Nineteenth Century and After in June, 1915, and also by the depositions which he obtained
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