WHO ARE THE HUNS?

CHAPTER XXI.
229
A Few Remarks upon the French and Belgian
•"Books of Atrocities," and Similar Things. General
Observations in Connection with the German Investigations.
I. I have procured the French so-called "Bool® of Atrocities"
in the original, as well as most of the works of a similar
tendency.
Les Atrocités Allemandes en France. Rapport présenté à
M. le président du conseil par la commission instituée en vue de
constater les actes commis par l'ennemi en violation du droit des
gens {Décret du 23 sept. 1914). Prix 5 centimes.
This official document is printed in blood-red ink. It is
with increasing astonishment and growing indignation that I
Iiave read this report of Monsieur Georges Payelles, I. président
de la cour des comptes, of Monsieur Armand Mollard, ministre
•plénipotentiare; of Monsieur Georges Maringer, conseiller d'état
and of Monsieur Edmond Paillot, conseiller à la cour de cassation,
dated Paris, December 17th, 1914.
Never before in my life have I read anything more superficial
or pretentious. Without furnishing the slightest proof,
one ghastly story after another is retailed here. Every act of
violence is supposed to be established, and the entire blame,
without judgment and without .discrimination, is simply shoved
upon the shoulders of the German soldiers. The statements
of women, of demoiselle A or madame X, play a certain part.
Ancient yarns, such as that of the chateau de Baye, already
refuted by the sworn testimony of French witnesses, are rewarmed
and served up in this book. The Commission has made tremendous
discoveries at this place, since the names of "I. K. Hoheit,"
and "Major von Ledebour" and "Graf Valdersee," and "Exzellenz,"
were found there. So the "Matin" has deemed the
aforementioned worthy of being pilloried (pictorially Au Pilori)
along with the Kaiser, the Crown Prince and others. The
execution of every franc-tireur is depicted in the blackest and
most frightful colors as simple murder. And, of course, it goes