n took place. Parts of Louvain were
burning. Civilians met with arms are killed. The manifesto of the Chief
General speaks of bestial cruelties committed on wounded and makes the
magistrates responsible for the provocation and for providing people
with arms.

The German Army protests against the news spread out by enemies about
the cruelty of German warfare. The German troops had to take severe
measures sometimes when provoked, the population making treacherous
attacks upon them and bestial atrocities against the wounded. The
responsibility for the recourse of warfare falls entirely upon the
authorities of the occupied territories who gave arms to the civil
population and stirred them up to take part in the war wherever the
population was not hostile. The German troops never did harm people or
property. The German soldier is not an incendiary nor pillager. He only
fights against a hostile army. The news published in foreign papers
about the Germans chasing the population means the characterizing
immorality of the authors.

* * * * *

Official Communication of the German General Staff.

BERLIN, Aug. 30, 1914.

The City of Loewen (Louvain) had surrendered and was given over to us by
the Belgian authorities. On Monday, Aug. 24, some of our troops were
shipped there and intercourse with the inhabitants was developing in a
quite friendly manner.

On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 25, our troops, hearing about an imminent
Belgian sortie from Antwerp, left in that direction, the Commanding
General ahead in a motor car, leaving behind only a Colonel with
soldiers to protect railroad, (landsturm battalion "neuss.")

As the rest of the Commanding General's staff, with the horses, was
going to follow, and collected on the market place, suddenly rifle fire
opened from all the surrounding houses, all the horses being killed and
five officers wounded, one of them seriously.

Simultaneously fire opened at about ten different places in town, also
on some of our troops, just arrived and waiting on the square in front
of the station, and on incoming military trains. A designed co-operation
with the Belgian sortie from Antwerp established beyond doubt. Two
priests caught in handing out ammunition to the people were shot at once
in front of the station.

Street fights lasted till Wednesday, the 26th, in the afternoon,
(twenty-four hours,) when stronger forces, arrived in the meantime,
succeeded