Part 5 (1/2)

The German Staff probably knew all about them long before the declaration of war. They themselves had, without doubt, discussed and recorded similar probabilities in case of war with other countries. It is a common practice in all army organisations to prepare against different contingencies. It is a question of military routine only.”

”There was no justification, then, for the violation of Belgian neutrality?” I inquired.

”None whatever! The German violation of Belgian neutrality was wrong,”

he said emphatically. ”On the fourth of August their own chancellor admitted it. Belgium had no thought of war. The Belgians are a peace-loving people, who had every reason to believe in the friends.h.i.+p of Germany.”

The next question was a difficult one. I inquired as to the behaviour of the Germans in the conquered territory; but the King made no sweeping condemnation of the German Army.

”Fearful things have been done, particularly during the invasion,” he said, weighing his words carefully; ”but it would be unfair to condemn the whole German Army. Some regiments have been most humane; but others behaved very badly. Have you seen the government report?”

I said I had not seen it, though I had heard that a careful investigation had been made.

”The government was very cautious,” His Majesty said. ”The investigation was absolutely impartial and as accurate as it could be made. Doubts were cast on all statements--even those of the most dependable witnesses--until they could be verified.”

”They were verified?”

”Yes; again and again.”

”By the victims themselves?”

”Not always. The victims of extreme cruelty do not live to tell of it; but German soldiers themselves have told the story. We have had here many hundreds of journals, taken from dead or imprisoned Germans, furnis.h.i.+ng elaborate details of most atrocious acts. The government is keeping these journals. They furnish powerful and incontrovertible testimony of what happened in Belgium when it was swept over by a brutal army. That was, of course, during the invasion--such things are not happening now so far as we know.”

He had spoken quietly, but there was a new note of strain in his voice. The burden of the King of the Belgians is a double one. To the horror of war has been added the unnecessary violation and death of noncombatants.

The King then referred to the German advance through Belgian territory.

”Thousands of civilians have been killed without reason. The execution of noncombatants is not war, and no excuse can be made for it. Such deeds cannot be called war.”

”But if the townspeople fired on the Germans?” I asked.

”All weapons had been deposited in the hands of the town authorities.

It is unlikely that any organised attack by civilians could have been made. However, if in individual cases shots were fired at the German soldiers, this may always be condoned in a country suffering invasion.

During an occupation it would be different, naturally. No excuse can be offered for such an action in occupied territory.”

”Various Belgian officers have told me of seeing crowds of men, women and children driven ahead of the German Army to protect the troops.

This is so incredible that I must ask whether it has any foundation of truth.”

”It is quite true. It is a barbarous and inhuman system of protecting the German advance. When the Belgian soldiers fired on the enemy they killed their own people. Again and again innocent civilians of both s.e.xes were sacrificed to protect the invading army during attacks. A terrible slaughter!”

His Majesty made no effort to conceal his great grief and indignation.

And again, as before, there seemed to be nothing to say.

”Even now,” I said, ”when the Belgians return the Grerman artillery fire they are bombarding their own towns.”

”That is true, of course; but what can we do? And the civilian population is very brave. They fear invasion, but they no longer pay any attention to bombs. They work in the fields quite calmly, with sh.e.l.ls dropping about. They must work or starve.”

He then spoke of the morale of the troops, which is excellent, and of his sympathy for their situation.

”Their families are in Belgium,” he said. ”Many of them have heard nothing for months. But they are wonderful. They are fighting for life and to regain their families, their homes and their country. Christmas was very sad for them.”