, and children were actually pushed into the front
of the German position outside Mons. The witness speaks of 16 to 20
women, about a dozen children, and half a dozen men being there.

Seven or eight women and five or six very young children were utilized
in this way by some Uhlans between Landrecies and Guise.

A Belgian soldier saw an incident of this character during the retreat
from Namur.

At the battle of Malines 60 or 80 Belgian civilians, among whom were
some women, were driven before the German troops. Another witness saw a
similar incident near Malines, but a much larger number of civilians was
involved, and a priest was in front with a white flag.

In another instance, related by a Belgian soldier, the civilians were
tied by the wrists in groups.

At Eppeghem, where the Germans were driven back by the Belgian sortie
from Antwerp, civilians were used as a cover for the German retreat.

Near Malines, early in September, about 10 children, roped together,
were driven in front of a German force.

At Londerzeel 30 or 40 civilians, men, women, and children, were placed
at the head of a German column.

One witness from Termonde was made to stand in front of the Germans,
together with others, all with their hands above their heads. Those who
allowed their hands to drop were at once prodded with the bayonet.
Again, at Termonde, about Sept. 10, a number of civilians were shot by
the Belgian soldiers, who were compelled to fire at the Germans, taking
the risk of killing their own countrymen.

At Tournai 400 Belgian civilians, men, women, and children, were placed
in front of the Germans, who then engaged the French.

The operations outside Antwerp were not free from incidents of this
character. Near Willebroeck some civilians, including a number of
children, a woman, and one old man, were driven in front of the German
troops. German officers were present, and one woman who refused to
advance was stabbed twice with the bayonet, and a little child who ran
up to her as she fell had half its head blown away by a shot from a
rifle.

Other incidents of the same kind are reported from Nazareth and Ypres.
The British troops were compelled to fire, in some cases at the risk of
killing civilians.

At Ypres the Germans drove women in front of them by pricking them with
bayonets. The wounds were afterward seen by the witness.

(d) Looting, Burning, and Destruction of Property.

There is an overwhelming mass of evid