There appeared as witness Major von Polentz, of the above-named place, who declared:
As to Person: My name is Fredrich von Polentz. I am 42 years of age; Protestant; Major in the 3rd Foot Guards Regiment.
As to Case: In the latter half of August, as I marched through Belgium in command of the battalion of the 2nd Reserve Guard Regiment, I frequently saw the Belgian civil population take an active part in hostilities against our troops; in particular, they fired upon us. I draw attention to the fact that this happened in Birdontige, near Stavelot, as well as in Evelette, south of Andenne. The most serious case, however, occurred in Andenne (between Liège and Namur).
After we had marched in here, the bells from the church-tower suddenly began to ring out a signal at about 6.30 in the evening. Thereupon iron shutters were let down in all the houses; the inhabitants, who until then had been standing in the streets, vanished; and from different sides firing began on my troops, especially from the cellars and from openings in the roofs which the inhabitants had made by removing the tiles. Also, from many houses boiling water was poured over our men. In consequence, some bitter street-fighting ensued between the civil population and my troops, who had given no cause for this treacherous attack. That these measures were well prepared, and carried out by the whole population of the town of Andenne and its suburbs, is proved by the fact that 100—one hundred—of my men were hurt by scalding alone.
Also the marching column of troops following me was attacked by the civil population of Andenne, as well as those sections of the marching column preceding me, who were fired upon.
In Lenze, north of Namur, I was met by the priest of the place, who at first assured me in a friendly manner, on his word of honour, that no hostilities of any sort need be expected from the people in his parish. In spite of this, shots from six or eight houses were heard fifteen minutes later. These shots could only have come from the civil population, as the regular enemy troops had long since been pressed back.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: von Polentz.
The witnesses were thereupon sworn as above.
Signed: Wagner. Signed: Pfitzner.