File No. 763.72/1039
The Consul at Aix-la-Chapelle ( Thompson ) to the Secretary of State
Aix-la-Chapelle , September 17, 1914.
[Received October 3.]
No 820]
Dear Mr. Bryan : Events have developed so rapidly since August 3 and so continuously, that one no more finds time to write of them before they seem trivial and ancient in comparison with the more recent occurrences.
I wish to report to the Department, however, my efforts and their results towards assisting representatives of the American press in [Page 800] getting over important statements to their respective papers and the people of the United States.
On August 29 John T. McCutcheon and James O’Donnell Bennett of the Chicago Tribune, Irving. S. Cobb of the Saturday Evening Post and Philadelphia Public Ledger, Roger Lewis of the Associated Press, and Harry Hansen of the Chicago Daily News came upon the consulate having been conducted by the German military authorities to Aix-la-Chapelle from the battle fields along the Belgian-French frontier. The commanding officer here declined to issue them passes to go into Holland or to return to Belgium but placed no restrictions on their passing further into Germany in the direction of Cologne and Berlin. They elected to remain in Aix-la-Chapelle from which point they could get mail articles to their publishers through the nearby frontier town of Vaals, Holland.
Their experiences and observations with and in the rear of the Germany army in Belgium from Brussels to Beaumont and from there to Aix-la-Chapelle, covered a period of ten days and will before this be published in their respective papers.
On arriving in Aix-la-Chapelle where the English papers were to be seen they were surprised to note the innumerable reports on the atrocities and brutalities committed by the German soldiers in the territory which they had just traversed.
These gentlemen at once prepared a joint statement which I advised them I would use my best efforts to have forwarded by the German wireless system near Potsdam to the Western Union Telegraph Company in New York for transmission to their several papers. The statement of these unprejudiced and keenly observant men is enclosed in this despatch. It seems to me that it is most important that the American people have as much of the truth as it is possible to convey to them on the one most terrifying feature of this great war. Nor were these well-known American journalists so much concerned by their sense of duty to their papers as they were moved by a sense of fairness to their fellow countrymen who were entitled at least to a clearer picture of things than they were receiving from an interested source controlling the sole means of communication between Germany and America. Hence I had their statement telegraphed to Berlin for submission to the German Reichskanzler for forwarding by wireless telegraphy to America.
It is observed that various appeals are being made to America to break its neutrality and join the opponents of Germany on account of the alleged inhuman conduct of the German military, its cruelty and drunkenness. I am here on the frontier where the Belgian reprisals began and am to some extent personally familiar with the circumstances leading to the commencement of their acts. In a broad sense it may be said that the German, and lastly the German soldier, does not get drunk. In support of the military law against supplying, soldiers with alcoholic drinks the Kaiser has issued a decree fixing a vigorous penalty for soldiers drinking intoxicants or for persons giving intoxicants to soldiers. There has been a terrific cry in Germany against the unexpected participation of the Belgian populace in the war.
On requesting a pass from the garrison commander at Aachen then General von Korpf, to send a messenger into a nearby Belgian village to investigate the shooting of a British subject, this gentleman [Page 801] related to me under great mental distress instance after instance of German officers and soldiers being shot or killed While at rest by farmers, even by young girls, shooting them while passing them a glass of milk or water. He gave me these details in order to impress me with the danger of sending a messenger into those districts, Baelen-Dolhain, at that time, August 17, and his inability to guarantee protection for my messenger.
The reprisals made by the German military have undoubtedly been extreme and beyond recorded precedent, but I am convinced that when the facts are well brought out they will expose causes which, under the circumstances, may have extenuated, if not as the Germans claim, justified their conduct.
In Liége I spent the night as guest at the Düsseldorfer Hospital, a temporary war hospital opened August 17 in the main university building there by three prominent ladies of Düsseldorf. The hospital was attacked on the 20th of August three days after it was opened and thirteen days after the entry of the German troops in Liége. According to my examination the building was subject to rifle volleys from two sides, the effect of the bullets showing in the walls and broken windows; as a result of this attack thirteen men, principally Russian, English, and Belgian students were caught and shot in the university square and twenty buildings from whence the shooting came, destroyed.
I hope to be able, if time permits, to investigate the charges of murder of Sleeping, wounded and defenseless German soldiers made against the Belgian villagers and farmers just over the frontier between here and Liége.
I am sending you from time to time some illustrated German papers.
You will pardon this semipersonal letter. I can write more freely in this manner.
With great respect and regards,
[Enclosure-Telegram]
September 3, 1914.
Western Union,
New York, for:
Associated Press, New York (Lewis),
Ledger, Philadelphia (Cobb),
News, Chicago (Hansen),
Tribune, Chicago (Bennett, McCutcheon).
In spirit fairness we unite in declaring German atrocities groundless as far as we were able to observe. After spending two weeks with German Army accompanying troops upward hundred miles we unable report single instance unprovoked reprisal. Also unable confirm rumors mistreatment prisoners or non-combatants. With German columns Landen, Louvain, Brussels, Nivelles, Binche, Buissière, Hautes-Wihériess, Merbes-le-Château, Soire-sur-Sambre, Beaumont, without substantiating single case wanton brutality.
Numerous investigated rumors proved groundless. Everywhere have seen Germans paying for purchases, respecting property rights of individuals, according civilians consideration.
After battle Buissière found Belgian women, children moving Comfortably about, day after Germans captured town.
In Merbes-le-Château we found one citizen killed but unable confirm lack provocation.
[Page 802]Refugees with tales atrocities unable supply direct [testimony].
Belgian burgomaster Solre-sur-Sambre voluntarily discounted reports cruelty in surrounding country.
Discipline German soldiers excellent as observed. No drunkenness.
To truth these statements we pledge professional personal word. Please repeat back last three words care American Consul, Vials, Holland.
Roger Lewis, Associated
Press
Irvin S. Cobb, Saturday
Evening Post and Philadelphia Public Ledger
Harry Hansen, Chicago
Daily News
O’Donnel Bennett,
John T. Mccutcheon,
Chicago Tribune