[28] Is there any need to remark that it is no more “treacherous” than it is lawful to shoot from the bows of a tree than from a window or from the bottom of a trench? On the contrary, the rest of the narrative will moreover prove it, it is as courageous as it is dangerous.
[29] «[Von der Wut der Soldaten kann man sich ein Bild machen, wenn man die zerstörten] Dörfer sieht. Kein Hans ist mehr ganz. Alles essbare wird von einzelnen Soldaten requiriert. Mehrere Haufen Menschen sah man, die standrechtlich erschossen wurden. Kleine Schweinchen liefen umher und suchten ihre Mutter. Hunde lagen an der Kette und hatten nichts zu fressen und zu saufen und über ihnen brannten die Häuser.
«Neben der gerechten Wut der Soldaten schreitet aber auch purer Vandalismus. In ganz leeren Dörfer setzen sie den roten Hahn ganz willkürlich auf die Häuser. Mir tun [die] Leute leit. [Wenn] sie auch unfaire Waffen gebrauchen, so verteidigen sie doch nur ihr Vaterland. Die Grausamkeiten die verübt wurden und noch werden von seiten der Bürger werden wüst gerächt.
«Verstümmelungen der Verwundeten sind an Tagesordnung.»
[30] The pamphlet entitled «Appel aux nations civilisées» which the German government spread abroad, says: «Il n’est pas vrai que nous fassions la guerre au mépris du droit des gens. Nos soldats ne commettent ni actes d’indiscipline ni cruautés.» This is the text of our translation. The German text published under the title «An die Kulturwelt» says: «Es ist nicht wahr dass unsre Kriegsführung die Gesetze des Völkerrechts missachtet. Sie kennt keine zuchtlose Grausamkeit». There is, as will be seen, a nuance between these two versions, both equally official. The German version seems to admit as legitimate «die zuchtmässige Grausamkeit» “cruelty exercised on service”.
Transcriber’s Notes
- Langewiller -- Langeviller
- Regt. -- Regt
- p. 5 “;” inserted.
- p. 6 “prisonners” changed to “prisoners”.
- p. 6 “Ecole” changed to “École”.
- p. 6 “document” changed to “documents”.
- p. 8 “telephoningto” changed to “telephoning to”.
- p. 8 “Stabe” changed to “Stäben” (footnote).
- p. 8 “eingestürtz” changed to “eingestürzt” (footnote).
- p. 9 “Art. I” changed to “Art. 1”.
- p. 9 “customes” changed to “customs”.
- p. 9 “ inserted.
- p. 10 “«” inserted.
- p. 10 “and” changed to “und” (footnote).
- p. 11 “»” inserted.
- p. 11 “,” changed to “.”.
- p. 11 “23” changed to “23rd”.
- p. 11 “gestürtz” changed to “gestürzt” (footnote).
- p. 12 First paragraph’s style changed from blockquote to normal text.
- p. 12 “surrunder” changed to “surrender”.
- p. 12 “troups” changed to “troops”.
- p. 12 “regt” changed to “Regt”.
- p. 12 “embarass” changed to “embarrass”.
- p. 12 “Aublick” changed to “Anblick” (footnote).
- p. 12 “umherliegender” changed to “umherliegenden” (footnote).
- p. 12 “Schadel halbweggerissen” changed to “Schädel halb weggerissen” (footnote).
- p. 12 “Schluppwinkeln” changed to “Schlupfwinkeln” (footnote).
- p. 12 “losen” changed to “lösen” (footnote).
- p. 12 “entzetzlichen” changed to “entsetzlichen” (footnote).
- p. 12 “immitten” changed to “inmitten” (footnote).
- p. 14 “Liége” changed to “Liège”.
- p. 14 “troups” changed to “troops”.
- p. 14 “Andennes” changed to “Andenne” (footnote).
- p. 15 “they” changed to “the”.
- p. 15 “Pionniere” changed to “Pioniere” (footnote).
- p. 16 “christian” changed to “Christian”.
- p. 18 “Halte!” changed to “Halt!”.
- p. 18 “(” replaced by “,”.
- p. 19 “.” removed (before “doubted”).
- p. 20 “.” removed (after “7th”).
- p. 21 “Erfahrungsgemäss” changed to “erfahrungsgemäss”.
- p. 21 “entiered” changed to “entered”.
- p. 21 “«” inserted (footnote).
- p. 21 “sofor” changed to “sofort” (footnote).
- p. 22 “.” changed to “:”.
- p. 22 “)” removed.
- p. 22 “besetz” changed to “besetzt” (footnote).
- p. 23 “.” removed (footnote).
- p. 23 “gestört” changed to “zerstört” (footnote).
- p. 24 “Plate 11” changed to “Plate 10”.
- p. 24 “Pionniere” changed to “Pioniere” (footnote).
- p. 24 “in” changed to “ein” (footnote).
- p. 26 “o” changed to “of”.
- p. 26 “Régt” changed to “Regt”.
- p. 26 “1ts” changed to “1st”.
- p. 26 “preceeding” changed to “preceding”.
- p. 28 “whe” changed to “who”.
- p. 28 “Vaulx-les-Palameix” changed to “Vaux-lès-Palameix”.
- p. 28 “,” inserted after “away”.
- p. 28 “ inserted.
- p. 29 “Oberlieutenant” changed to “Oberleutnant”.
- p. 29 “Regiments Kommandeur” changed to “Regiments-Kommandeur”.
- p. 29 “pirees” changed to “pieces”.
- p. 29 “In” changed to “Im” (footnote).
- p. 29 “ein” removed (footnote).
- p. 29 “eingeschossen” changed to “angeschossen” (footnote).
- p. 31 “a” changed to “at”.
- p. 31 “FUR” changed to “FÜR”.
- p. 31 “is” inserted (footnote).
- p. 33 “in a heap” changed to “on a heap”.
- p. 34 “Kompagnie Führer” changed to “Kompagnie-Führer”.
- p. 34 “ inserted.
- p. 38 “megalomaniaes” changed to “megalomaniacs”.
- p. 38 “,” inserted.
- p. 38 “chivalvy” changed to “chivalry”.
- p. 39 “.” changed to “:”.
- p. 39 “german” changed to “German” (footnote).
- p. 40 “reprensatatives” changed to “representatives”.