Not one of the
hundreds of houses were spared. Everything was plundered and
burned. Hardly had we passed through this large village before
the next village was burned, and so it went on continuously.
On the 16th August, 1914, the large village of Barchon was
burned down. On the same day we crossed the bridge over the
Meuse at 11:50 in the morning. We then arrived at the town of
Wandre. Here the houses were spared, but everything was
examined. At last we were out of the town and everything went
in ruins. In one house a whole collection of weapons was
found. The inhabitants without exception were shot. This
shooting was heart-breaking, as they all knelt down and
prayed, but that was no ground for mercy. A few shots rang out
and they fell back into the green grass and slept for ever."
["Die Einwohner wurden samt und sonders herausgeholt und
erschossen: aber dieses Erschiessen war direkt herzzerreisend
wie sie alle knieben und beteten, aber dies half kein
Erbarmen. Ein paar Schuesse krackten und die fielen ruecklings
in das gruene Gras und erschliefen fuer immer.
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