Late in the afternoon of August 19th, 1914, I arrived with my machine-gun section, on a special mission, in this little town of Aerschot, by the northern exit. About 350 yards from the market-place I heard a few isolated shots, which I took to be exploding ammunition. But I soon found I was mistaken, as I encountered some returning cavalry patrols and their waggons, belonging to the 3rd Infantry Division, trying to beat a hasty retreat. After having succeeded in stopping our own firing, I myself saw shots fired from the houses, whereupon I ordered our machine-guns to be directed on the house fronts to the left. I was told that shots had been fired from a house on the right. As I commanded the guns to be turned round in order to open fire, a medical officer told me that there were wounded in the house. At my instigation a search was made, and five men were found in the house. I did not allow this house to be fired on.
Captain Folz, at present attached to the General Staff in Berlin, is supposed to be able to give more direct information concerning the death of Colonel Stenger.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: Schleusener.
The witness was hereupon legally sworn.
Signed: Jüngst, President of the Military Court.
Signed: Appel, Secretary of the Military Court.
A. App. 5.
Present:
President of the Military Court, Bernhards.
Clerk of the Military Court, Hofmann.
Darmstadt, January 12th, 1915.
There appeared as witness at the inquiry concerning the detailed circumstances of the attack of the civil population in Aerschot, Captain Folz. After he had been acquainted with the subject-matter of the inquiry, and his attention had been drawn to the importance of the oath, he made the following statement: