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170 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
cannot and must not interfere in the decisions of military
authorities, who are guided by law. I could but harden my
heart and let it grow as cold as ice. It may be asked what
happened to them in the end, whether they were tied to trees
and shot. I lost trace of them for the moment. But a couple
of days later I asked one of my friends about their fate.
" They were all released through lack of evidence," he said.
" Those who had fired from the villages had clearly fled when
our Landsturm arrived. The suspects have all returned to
their homes."
It must not be thought that the German court-martials
treat such cases lightly or hastily, as if human life in a con-
quered country had no value. No, the court is utterly in-
corruptible and carries out its task with the most scrupulous
thoroughness. Just as mitigating circumstances are when
possible adduced in favour of a German soldier who—which
is very rare—has assaulted a woman and therefore been con-
demned to death, it is sought in the same way to save the
country’s own children when they are accused of crime. The
court-martials of the German " barbarians " are in the highest
degree conscientious and humane.
The last day in September was set aside for rest, that is to
say, for short walks and excursions. One of the latter was
made to the churchyard, where eighteen German soldiers had
been buried the previous day in a common grave, which was
still open. Dressed in uniforms, greatcoats and caps, the dead
are laid in rows alongside one another, with thin layers of
earth in between. The reason why this grave has not been
filled in is probably that there is still room for more dead.
The German warriors who have been resting since 1871
amongst the French crosses have now indeed got company
from their own land. On a new grave I read the inscription :
" Hier ruM in Gott Ltiit. Hans Greiner, Inf. Reg. 29. Schlaf
wohl, tapfrer Kamerad." (Here rests in God Lieut. Hans
Greiner, Inf. Reg. 29. Sleep in peace, brave comrade.)
And on another :
" Hier ruht in Gott Hauptmann Parsohen,
Res. Feld Art. 16. Er starb för König und Vaterland." (Here
rests in God Capt. Parsohen, Res. Field Art. 16. He died for
King and Country.) A third grave bore underneath the name
and regiment the words, "Auf Wiedersehen !
" To one of the
German graves a French rosary had found its way and hung
on the cross over the dead soldier’s helmet and two bunches
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