The Secretary
Yes, Mr. Burgomaster. All the arms have been stored there; I drew up a list myself and gave the receipts.... But let me introduce my old friend Jean Gilson, who’s been wounded at Aerschot. He was in hospital at Winkel when the Germans entered the town yesterday; he managed to escape last night.
The Burgomaster
(Shaking hands with Gilson.) So you were at Aerschot?
Jean Gilson
Yes, I was a sergeant in the battalion of carabineers which covered the retreat.
The Burgomaster
Was it much of a fight?
Jean Gilson
Yes. Two-thirds of the battalion were killed or wounded. There are always three of them to one of us; and we had no guns. We held our ground as long as we could; then we were obliged to fall back.