The Truth about Louvain.
To the Editor of the Westminster Gazette.
Sir,—In all British fairness some prominence might be given to the very narrow escape Brussels had from the terrible fate of Louvain, as described in the Daily Telegraph by its capable correspondent, Mr. Gerald Morgan. He states that, «accompanied by Richard Harding Davis», he was «permitted by the Germans to follow» their Army. A battle near Waterloo was expected, but it did not come off. Mr. Morgan and his friend returned to Brussels, and—I quote his exact words, as given in the Pall Mall Gazette—he «found the town on the verge of a turmoil. This was owing to General von Jarodzky's stupidity, and very nearly involved the town in the same rate which afterwards overwhelmed Louvain. He was left in the city with a brigade of 5.000 men. He moved 3.000 of these suddenly outside the city, and then as suddenly became alarmed for the safety of the remainder amongst so large a hostile population. He therefore marched the 3.000 camped outside hastily back again. It was reported that the Germans had been completely defeated in a great battle fought at Waterloo, and were fleeing in confusion. The inhabitants of Brussels wished to take up arms and finish off Jarodzky and any survivors, but fortunately the error was discovered in time». Now, this is exactly what the German generals declare to have happened at Louvain. We know as a certainty that a small German force was actually defeated outside Malines, and actually fled into Louvain on the very evening it was burned and devastated. The Germans allege that the townsfolk immediately started «to finish off the survivors», firing from the windows and house-tops. This insane act would rouse the devil in any soldiery, and may explain how, after a twenty-four hours' struggle, the unhappy town was a heap of ruins. Lord Roberts, the justest and gentlest of conquerors, most properly ordered widespread farm-burning in South Africa for the same offence. If you shoot without blame a soldier who tries to shoot you in the front, should you do less to an armed civilian who shoots you in the back?—Yours, etc.,
A LIBERAL Ex-M. P.
(Westminster Gazette, September 5th 1914.)
TRADUCTION.
Or, c'est exactement cela que les généraux allemands déclarent s'être passé à Louvain. Nous savons de façon certaine qu'une petite troupe allemande fut effectivement défaite en dehors de Malines, et qu'elle s'enfuit dans Louvain le soir même où la ville fut brûlée et dévastée. Les Allemands affirment que la population de la ville se mit immédiatement à «en finir avec les survivants», et qu'on tira des fenêtres et des toits. Cet acte de folie mettrait le diable au corps de toute troupe de soldats, et cela expliquerait comment, après un combat de vingt-quatre heures, la malheureuse ville n'était plus qu'un amas de ruines. Lord Roberts, le plus équitable et le plus doux des conquérants, ordonna à très juste titre l'incendie de nombreuses fermes en Afrique australe, pour le même délit. Si vous abattez à coups de fusil un soldat qui tente de vous tuer loyalement par devant, feriez-vous moins au civil armé qui vous tire un coup de fusil par derrière?
Votre, etc.
Un ancien membre libéral du Parlement.
On voit immédiatement que tout l'intérêt de l'affiche allemande s'effondre si le premier mot de la citation est inexact: Lorsque la population...
Or, le feuillet 3 du Bureau des deutschen Handelstages, Berlin, reçu par plusieurs maisons de commerce bruxelloises (voir plus loin, p. 43), reproduit aussi l'extrait de Frankfurter Zeitung; mais au lieu de dire: «Lorsque la population urbaine...», le feuillet de propagande dit: «Si la population de Louvain...», ce qui est conforme au texte anglais. Accès de sincérité digne d'être signalé pour son caractère exceptionnel.