D. App. 24.
Malines, November 19th, 1914.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present:
President, Stempel.
Secretary, Stemper.
There appears on citation as witness Musketeer Franz Bongartz, who is examined as follows:
As to Person: My name is Franz Bongartz, aged 41; musketeer, 1st Company, 2nd Landsturm Battalion Neuss, at present in Malines.
As to Case: On the evening of August 25th we came back from an engagement near Bueken, and formed up at the station. Suddenly, as if by command, shots were fired upon us from all sides from the surrounding houses, as I clearly saw. Whole volleys were discharged at us. I saw how we were being shot at from a restaurant there. We brought out from this restaurant a few women and one man, who were taken to the town hall. On the way there we were shot at from the houses. On the following day, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, I was shot in the knee. A German sentry showed me his rifle which, as I convinced myself, was hit by small shot. I saw clearly that civilians fired from the houses; the shot I received in the knee was fired from a cellar by a civilian.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Franz Bongartz.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness, he was duly sworn.