WAR- CHRONICLE

18
chaplain taken prisoner and treated as a common malefactor; are
among the incidents brought to light.
With the greatest indignation the Imperial German Government
publishes this treatment of German soldiers, German hospital staff
and orderlies, in defiance of all principles of humanity and justice;
and solemnly protests against the shocking violation of a contract
entered into and endorsed by all civilized nations of the world.
Berlin, October 10 th , 1914.
Of the numerous legal reports, which unfortunately more than
verify the incidents recorded, we give the following :
German Wounded, Robbed, Mutilated and Murdered.
Court Martial examination of Grenadier Peter Hànseler,
of the Reserve Guards Brigade.
Held in camp, wood east of Mississippi farme, September
7 th , 1914, 6 p.m.
Early in the morning of September 5 th , the section of Lieut. Schiitze
of the second company was ordered to go forward and take possession
of the railway bridge across the Meurthe, north of Eehainviller.
The section lined up on the East bank of the Meurthe from which
the bridge and West bank of the river could be held under fire.
I was on the extreme right of the section with orders to watch the
hill and country opposite. At the command to retreat I landed in
a swamp and got stuck there. When I managed to get out, my
section had disappeared and the French had already crossed the
Meurthe cutting off my retreat. I pretended to be dead so as not
to be taken prisoner and in the hope of finding some way of joining
my company. While lying thus I observed the following: the
French kicked our Mien men and if they showed signs of life by
screaming or moaning, shots followed. I also received a kick, but
remained perfectly still after what I had seen and heard, and to
this circumstance I practically owe mj life. When darkness came
on, 1 looked about for my wounded comrades and came to the
conclusion from their positions they must be dead, while in the
morning many of them had been only slightly wounded. In the dark.
I succeeded in creeping back to my company.
Court-Martial examination of FranzMevissen of the 7 th regiment
of mounted riflemen.
Held at Mersch on the inarch from Luxemburg jto Diekirch,,
September 11 th , 1914.
Present: Wagner, Justice of the Court-Martial.
Boetech. Secretary of the Court-Martial.
Mevissen of the 4 th squadron of the mounted sharp shooter regiment
No. 7 presents himself and having his attention called to the
significance of the oath, proceeds :