Barbarous German Outrages.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 27 August 1914, Page 8

Barbarous German Outrages.

OFFICIAL {"OMMISSfOX'S REPORT FROII r.Ei.oior. 1 ■PEASANTS CIXIWED TO DEATH. 2 OTHERS llOimililA- MUTILATED. Received -20, n.30 p.m. London, August :M> (morning). The Press liureau publishes Belgium's t protest, against (,'cnnan barbarism, based on the report of a committee of enquiry, including Chief Justice Vanise ghem nnil judges and university professors. There were details of scores of eases of murder of civilians and wounded soldier*. The evidence of reliable eve-witnesse? told that old peasants at Linsmeau had their skulls broken with tiie butts ol

At Orsmnol several inhabitants wer< horribly mutilated. _ , The Germans shot a score of prominent citizens at Aei'schot, and burnt the town, avenging the gallant defence t>\ the Belgian troops. The Press 'Bureau, commenting on the atrocities in the villages, eavs it appeal's that the dcli'licratc intention was the terrorising of the people and making it unnecessary to leave troops to protect the communications. fiOYF.RNM.KNT MESSAGES. Wellington, Last Night. The. High. Commissioner's cablegram to the -Premier to-night contains the following.— London, .August 25 (550 p.m.). Official: The Belgian Minister lias issued a startling statement containing a long list of outrages committed by Herman troops, and vouched for by the committee of enquiry. Belgian troops, in resisting an attack by Herman cavalry, killed a German officer. No civilian took part, yet the village of Linsnieati was invaded by Herman artillery, cavalry and machineguns, and notwithstanding the assurances of the Burgomaster, and notwithstanding that uo recently-fired guns were found, houses were burned. -Pcasj ants were divided into groups, and were afterwards found in ditches with their ! skulls fractured by rille-buUs. J (Herman cavalry entered Velme while Uhe inhabitant-) were asleep, fired the j houses, and looted Cliem. They seized ' undressed women, shooting their hus- , hands. j An old mnti was hanged headlong and ! burnt alive. 'Children were outraged, land wounded, soldiers were hanged. I A Belgian commander. Van Damme, j and several wounded, were foully murjdei'ed, the German infantry iiring in j their mouth!). I ■ The report includes man .' similar out- ! rages.