[12] An article on "Flemings and Walloons" in K.Z. for 13th March (noon edition), declares that Belgium knew nothing of chauvinism, nor even, adds the writer, of nationalism.
[13] These lies die hard. Herren Koester and Noske, in the introduction of their book, Kreigsfahrten durch Belgiën und Nordfrankreich, literally state: "The German troops entered Belgium on the 6th of August; on the following day the fortress of Liége had been taken by assault."
CHAPTER II
VIOLATIONS OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION
A.—The "Reprisals against Francs-tireurs."
Under the pretext that France was making ready to attack her, Germany hastened to invade Belgium and Luxemburg. But France was not preparing to invade the Rhine provinces of Prussia, and this pretended threat of aggression was merely a trick, intended to frighten Parliament, and to obtain a vote approving the actions of the Ministry and giving it carte blanche. The manœuvre completely succeeded; the Government received a unanimous vote, in spite of the Chancellor's admission: "We are committing an injustice, and we are violating the law of nations; but when one is driven into a corner as we are, all means are good."
We discovered immediately, alas! what these words meant. Hardly had the German soldiers crossed the frontier, when they began to burn and massacre.
Murders committed by the Germans from the outset.
On the very day of the invasion—the 4th August—a motor-car carrying four German officers arrived at Herve, and then pulled up. One of the officers demanded information of a youth of sixteen, one Dechêne; the latter did not understand, or perhaps refused to reply (which was his right, and even his duty towards his country); we do not know, but in any case the officer shot him with his revolver.