Published by Belgian Commission of Inquiry on Sept. 10 to Complete Its
Report of Aug. 31.
Of the two reports, dated August 28 and 31, which the Commission has had
the honor of addressing to you, the former recounted more particularly
the events which occurred at Aerschot and in the neighboring district,
while the latter dealt with the destruction of the town of Louvain by
the German troops. In order to complete its report of Aug. 31, the
Commission thinks it its duty to record that after the burning of
Louvain the houses which remained standing, the inhabitants of which had
been forced to flee, were pillaged under the eyes of German officers. On
Sept. 2 the Germans were seen setting fire to four houses.
The "Chastisement" of Louvain.
Another fact which emphasizes the ruthless character of the treatment to
which the peaceable population of Louvain was subjected has also been
established. On Aug. 28 a crowd of 6,000 to 8,000 persons, men, women
and children, of every age and condition, was conducted under the escort
of a detachment of the 162nd Regiment of German infantry to the riding
school of the town, where they spent the whole night. The place of
confinement was so small in proportion to the number of the occupants
that all had to remain standing, and so great were their sufferings that
in the course of this tragic night several women lost their reason and
children of tender years died in their mothers' arms.
Pages:
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547