BELGIAN COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13491, 21 September 1914, Page 3

BELGIAN COMMISSION'S REPORT.

AUTHENTICATED CASES OF ATROCITIES. (Received September 21, 9,40 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. • The Belgian Commission's third report states that, between six thousand and eight thousand inhabitants of Louvain were confined for a whole night m the Riding School, the space being so small that all had to stand. Several women lost their reason, and a number of children died -m y. their mother's arms. .'.■... i The Germans completely burned Vise,, except the religious establishments. They shot several citizens'. _ The . evidence emphasised the improbability of the rising: of- disarmed populations. Witnesses declared that the first' shots were fired by intoxicated Germans^ at their own officers. It. was, notorious that m the same period the Germans killed one another m a camp at Tesch. (Received September 21, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. The Belgian Commission's third report continues:-^ . • '. A number of places , situated m the triangle Vilvorde - Maljnes - Louvain 1 , were plundered and. partially destroyed, and tlie inhabitants shot without trial. Women who were unable to. escape were exposed to the brutal instincts of the Germans'. *\ Allowing' for isolate^ cases, of hostility there was : nothing to justify the shooting, burning and pillaging of nearly the ivhole of Belgium. No provocation is proved at Vise, Maisade, Louvain, Wavre, or Termonde. The Germans alleged that the Belgium Government had distributed arms to the inhabitants ; that Catholic clergy had preached a sort of holy war; that the women were as ferocious, as the men; but these statements were a .tissue of falsehoods. Burgomasters everywhere warned ' the inhabitants against acts of violence.

The true motives of the atrocities were to terrorise and demoralise the people m accordance 'with the inhuman theories of the. German military writers.

The Commission is using pnly facts supported by trustworthy evidence.