n different bodies of troops
and marched in the direction of Herent. Seventy-seven inhabitants of
Louvain, including a number of people of good position, (the names of
several are given,) were thus taken to Herent.

"We found the village of Herent in flames, so much so that we
had to quicken up to prevent ourselves from being suffocated
and burned up by the flames in the middle of the road.
Half-burned corpses of civilians were lying in front of the
houses. During a halt soldiers stole cattle and slaughtered
them where they stood. Firing started on our left. We were
told it was the civilians firing, and that we were going to be
shot. The truth is that it was the Germans themselves who were
firing to frighten us. There was not a single civilian in the
neighborhood. Shortly afterward we proceeded on our march to
Malines. We were insulted and threatened.... The officers were
worse than the men. We got to Campenhout about 7 P.M., and
were locked into the church with all the male population of
the village. Some priests had joined our numbers. We had had
nothing to eat or drink since the evening of the day before. A
few compassionate soldiers gave us water to drink, but no
official took the trouble to see that we were fed."

Next day, Thursday, the 27th, a safe conduct to return to Louvain was
given, but the prisoners had hardly started, when they were stopped and
taken before a Brigade General and handed to another escort. Some were
grossly ill-treated. They were accused of being soldiers out of uniform,
and were told they could not go to Louvain, "as the town was going to be
razed to the ground." Other prisoners were added, even women and
children, until there were more than 200. They were then taken toward
Malines, released, and told to go to that town together, and that those
who separated would be fired on. Other witnesses corroborate the events
described by the witness.

A woman employed by an old gentleman living in the Rue de la Station
tells the story of her master's death:

"We had supper as usual about 8, but two German officers, (who
were staying in the house,) did not come in to supper that
evening. My master went to bed at 8:15, and so did his son.
The servants went to bed at 9:30. Soon after I got to my
bedroom I saw out of my room flames from some burning house
near by. I roused my master and