ters of the town were set on fire, the Church
of St. Pierre, a marvelous example of Gothic art; the buildings of the
University, including the Library with more than 70,000 volumes, of
which a large number were ancient manuscripts, the collections belonging
to the University; nearly all the scientific institutions, and nearly
all the houses of the town were _deliberately_ burned. They are now
nothing more than heaps of ashes. Their destruction has been a loss to
the whole civilized world.

Numbers of absolutely innocent women and children lost their lives in
the fire which was started by order of the German military officials. Of
those who were saved, several thousand, including women enfeebled by
age, and children in arms, are today wandering homeless over the roads,
without food or clothing. They are not to blame for anything, unless it
is because they belong to a nation which has refused to purchase peace
at the price of dishonor. That can be the only crime accounted to them
and it is for that they have lost all their possessions upon the earth.

From the declaration made by the Imperial German Chancellor it may be
seen that the German Government is conscious of its wrongdoing. As one
of the guarantors of Belgium's neutrality, it wanted to force Belgium to
relinquish its neutrality for Germany's benefit. Because Belgium would
not consent to this injustice and because Germany could not reproach her
with anything else, Germany invaded and covered with blood and ruin a
small peaceful country of hard-working and honest people, a country
which it had promised to protect.

This attack upon her neutrality is the first violation for which Belgium
asks judgment from the universal conscience.

The entire Belgo-German question today is dominated by the fact of this
violation of the neutrality of Belgium. Therefore, there is not a single
shot fired by a German soldier in Belgium, which is not manifestly and
avowedly belying most sacred things: the keeping of a solemn pledge, and
the right for an honest nation that never wanted war, nor showed
aggressive dispositions, to be allowed to live its peaceful and neutral
life.

Such is the Belgian case. Humanity will judge it.

* * * * *

Belgo-British Plot Alleged by Germany

Statement Issued by German Embassy at Washington, Oct. 13.

The German Ambassador drew special attention today to the telegram which
came from German headquarters.