| PAGE |
| Preface | [1] |
| |
| Introduction | [9] |
| |
| Intellectual Life in Belgium | [12] |
| Prohibition of Newspapers and Verbal Communication—The |
| German Censorship—Authorized German Newspapers—Authorized |
| Dutch Newspapers—Newspapers |
| introduced Surreptitiously—Secret Propagation of News—Secret |
| Newspapers—German Placards—Regulations as to |
| Correspondence—Railway Journeys. |
| |
| CHAPTER I |
| The Violation of Neutrality | [27] |
| |
| A. The Preliminaries | [27] |
| The Belgians' Distrust of Germany lulled—German |
| Duplicity on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of August, 1914—The |
| Ultimatum—The Speech of the Chancellor in the Reichstag. |
| |
| B. Justification of the Entry into Belgium | [31] |
| |
| C. German Accusations against Belgium | [36] |
| Necessity of influencing Neutrals—Absurdity of the First |
| Accusations—A Change of Tactics—The Revelations of the |
| N.A.Z.—1. The Report of M. le Baron Griendl, some time |
| Belgian Minister in Berlin—2. The Reports of Generals |
| Ducarne and Jungbluth—The Attitude of the Belgians |
| toward the German Falsifications—Neutral Opinion—The |
| Falsification of M. de l'Escaille's Letter. |
| |
| D. The Declaration of War and the first Hostilities | [50] |
| The three successive Proposals of Wilhelm II to Belgium—Hostilities |
| preceding the Declaration of War—The |
| Pacific Character of Belgium—German Espionage in |
| Belgium—The Mentality of the German Soldiers at the |
| beginning of the Campaign—Letters from German |
| Prisoners of War—German Lies respecting the Occupation |
| of Liége—The sudden attack upon France is checked—The |
| Disinterested Behaviour of Belgium. |
| |
| CHAPTER II |
| Violations of the Hague Convention | [63] |
| |
| A. The "Reprisals against Francs-tireurs" | [63] |
| Murders Committed by the Germans from the Outset—Were |
| there any "Francs-tireurs?"—The Obsession of |
| the "Francs-tireurs" in the German Army—The Obsession |
| of the "Francs-tireurs" in the Literature of the |
| War—The Obsession of the "Francs-tireurs" in Literature |
| and Art—Responsibility of the Leaders—Animosity |
| toward the Clergy—Animosity toward Churches—Intentional |
| Insufficiency of Preliminary Inquiries—A |
| "Show" Inquiry—Mentality of an Officer charged with |
| the Repression of "Francs-tireurs"—Drunkenness in the |
| German Army—Cruelties necessary according to German |
| Theories—Terrorization: "Reprisals" as a "Preventive" |
| Incendiary Material—The two great Periods of Massacre—Protective |
| Inscriptions—Accusations against the Belgian |
| Government—Treatment of Civil Prisoners—The Return |
| of Civil Prisoners—German Admission of the Innocence |
| of the Civil Prisoners. |
| |
| B. The "Belgian Atrocities" | [98] |
| The Pretended Cruelty of Belgian Civilians toward the |
| German Army—Some Accusations—The Pretended |
| Massacres of German Civilians—Preventive and Repressive |
| Measures taken by the Belgian Authorities. |
| |
| C. Violations of the Hague Convention | [111] |
| Military Employment of Belgians by the Germans—Measures |
| of Coercion taken by the Germans—Living |
| Shields—A German Admission—Belgians placed before the |
| Troops at Charleroi—Belgians placed before the Troops at |
| Lebbeke, Tirlemont, Mons—Belgian Women placed before |
| the Troops at Anseremme—Belgians forcibly detained at |
| Ostend and Middelkerke—Bombardment of the Cathedral |
| at Malines—The Pretended Observation-post on Notre-Dame |
| of Antwerp—German Observation-posts admitted |
| by the Germans—Pillage—Thefts of Stamps—Illegal |
| Taxation—Fines for Telegraphic Interruptions—Fines |
| for Attacks by "Francs-tireurs"—Hostages—Contributions |
| and Requisitions—Contributions demanded from the |
| Cities—Exactions of a Non-commissioned Officer—Requisitions |
| of Raw Materials and Machinery—Conclusions—The |
| Famine in Belgium—The Flight of the Belgians—The |
| Causes of the Famine—Creation of Temporary |
| Shelters—The National Relief Committee—Belgium's |
| Gratitude to America. |
| |
| CHAPTER III |
| The German Mind, Self-depicted | [179] |
| |
| A. Pride | [179] |
| Some Manifestations of Pride and the Spirit of Boasting—1. |
| Militarism—Might comes before Right—2. Disdain |
| of Others—Some Inept Proclamations, etc.—Lies Concerning |
| the Situation in Belgium—Lies concerning |
| "Francs-tireurs"—3. Cynicism—Photographs and Picture-postcards—Alfred |
| Heymel on the Battle of Charleroi—Surrender |
| of the Critical Spirit. Refusal to Examine the |
| Accusations of Cruelty—The Abolition of Free Discussion |
| in Germany—German Credulity—Voluntary Blindness of |
| the "Intellectuals"—The Manifesto of the "Ninety-three"—The |
| Manifesto of the 3,125 Professors—The |
| Protestant Pastors—The Catholic Priests and Rabbis. |
| |
| B. Untruthfulness | [217] |
| 1. A Few Lies—Written Lies—A French Dirigible |
| Captured by the Germans—The Transportation of the |
| German Dead—Some Lying Placards—M. Max's Denial—How |
| the Officers Lie to their Men—2. Perseverance in |
| Falsehood—The German treatment of Mgr. Merrier—3. |
| The Organization of Propaganda—(a) Propagandist |
| Bureaux Operating in Germany—(b) Propagandist Matter |
| issued by the Publishing Houses—(c) Propagandist |
| Bureaux operating Abroad—Sincerity of the Censored |
| Newspapers—Persecution of Uncensored Newspapers—(d) |
| Various Propaganda—4. The Violation of Engagements—The |
| Independence of Belgium—The Promise |
| to respect the Patriotism of the Belgians—The Forced |
| Striking of the Flag—The Belgian Colours forbidden |
| in the Provinces—Prohibition of the Belgian Colours |
| in Brussels—The "Te Deum" on the Patron Saints' Day |
| of the King—The Portraits of the Royal Family—Obligation |
| to Employ the German Language—The Belgian |
| Army is our Enemy!—The "Brabançonne" Prohibited—The |
| National Anniversary of July 21st—The Anniversary |
| of the 4th August—School Inspection by the Germans. |
| |
| C. Incitements to Disunion | [282] |
| Incitements to Disloyalty—The Walloons incited against |
| the Flemings—Inciting the People against the Belgian |
| Government—Inciting the Belgians against the English. |
| |
| D. A Few Details of the Administration of Belgium | [295] |
| (a) Present Prosperity in Belgium—Assertions of the |
| German Authorities—The Parasitical Exploitation of |
| Belgium admitted by Germany—The Tenfold Tax on |
| Absentees—Railway Traffic in Belgium—Trouble with the |
| Artisans of Luttre—Traffic suppressed at Malines—(b) |
| The Germans' Talent for Organization—Conflict between |
| Authorities—Supression of the Bureau of Free Assessment—The |
| Belgian Red Cross Committee Suppressed—(c) |
| The Belgian Attitude toward the Germans—(d) Behaviour |
| of the German Administration—The Appeal to |
| Informers—German Espionage—Agents-Provocateurs or |
| "Traps." |
| |
| E. Ferocity | [333] |
| 1. Aggravations—Treatment inflicted upon Belgian Ladies—Filthy |
| Amusements—2. Physical Tortures—The Fate |
| of the Valkenaers Family—3. Moral Tortures—Moral |
| Torture before Execution. |
| |
| Index | [361] |