The German terror in France

144 FROM THE FRONTIER TO ST. M1H1EL
the body and stabbed it with their lances, while
one of them clove the head with his sabre. A
young officer shot down M. Somen, the ex-mayor,
with his revolver, when the victim was just shutting
his barn door. M. Michel, the mayor's assessor,
and M. (Edouard) Bernard tried to see to him, and
for this they were taken, bound, to Ludelange, and
shot there the following day.
" Next day, Aug. 22nd, there was an engagement
between the invaders and some French
troops. The enemy was at first compelled to
retire, but soon returned in force and occupied the
village once more. Six men (mentioned by name)
and two Italians were then massacred in their
homes or in the public streets. One of them—
Thiéry—was only eighteen years old, and his
mother, who was present at the execution, was on
her knees, imploring mercy for him, while he was
being shot.
" During these two days of slaughter almost all
the houses were burnt down, not only at Audunle-Romain,
but in the neighbouring commune of
Malavillers as well. At Audun there were about
400 houses, and hardly a dozen of them are left."
There were even worse outrages at /amy, 70
another village near the frontier, but further south,
on the road to Verdun from Metz :—
70 Five 178-184.
[Map 4]