Present:
President of the Court, Schweinitz.
Secretary of the Court, Lips.
There appeared as witness Sergeant-Major Peschke, who made the following statement:
As to Person: My name is Karl Friedrich August Peschke. I am 33 years old; Protestant; a merchant of table-glass; at present Sergeant-Major of the 6th (Foot) Artillery Munitions Column.
As to Case: From the 22nd-23rd August 1914 we lay at Yschippe; our waggons had been driven to the western exit of the place. I had myself at first found quarters in the village, and found my hosts there apparently friendly. But after I had learnt that already on the preceding day shooting had taken place, I determined to pass the night in bivouac. There we came under fire about 11.45 p.m. from the direction of Corbion, at a distance of some 500-600 metres to the west of us. I at once ordered the watch to seek shelter and reply vigorously to the fire, which then in a short time ceased. After about a quarter of an hour the firing recommenced, and, indeed, more actively than before. When I myself with four men advanced towards our assailants they fled in the direction of Corbion. When we reached the hedge from behind which firing had taken place our assailants were already from 100-200 metres away. I recognised unmistakably that these persons were civilians, and not soldiers.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Peschke.
The witness was sworn.
Signed: Schweinitz. Signed: Lips.
App. 32.
Report of Senior Staff-Surgeon Kaiser, Surgeon-in-Chief, Field Hospital No. 2, XII. Army Corps.