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WITH THE FOURTH ARMY 169
The whole German nation has during the past months dis-
played a fortitude and greatness the like of which has not
been seen in our or any other time.
On my return " home " my friends Bchr, Eichstedt and
Tschammer were still sitting up talking. I settled down beside
them. We were just discussing the events and news of the day,
when a cavalry captain entered and told us that the inhabit-
ants of two villages about twelve kilometres away had fired
on the soldiers, although the village had been in German hands
for six weeks. The order had therefore been given that all
the men of one village and all men, women and children of
the other should be arrested and taken to Vouziers. The
distinction made was probably due to the shots in the first
village having been aimed at aviators and in the second at
troops. Half a company of Landsturm infantry, accompanied
by a squadron, likewise of Landsturm, were therefore at
I a.m. to proceed to the spot. The latter were to occupy all
street exits and prevent any attempt at flight. Meanwhile
every house was to be searched by the infantry and all in-
habitants arrested. On arrival in the town they were to be
court-martialled and the guilty ones shot. Such is the severe
rule of war. There is no quarter, no salvation. Of course
pity is felt for the wretched people, for what could they gain
by firing a few paltry shots against a whole army ? Is it
possible that they believed in the mad rumours that the
bridges of the German engineers had been built to assure the
German retreat, and that the fortune of war had lately turned
completely round ? Whence could such news come ? Ob-
viously only from the civil population itself. Those who
spread such rumours incur a heavy responsibility towards
their countrymen for the lives they have risked, and gain
nothing in return.
I wondered what would happen to the wretched creatures.
The very next day I had an opportunity of seeing them in
the dock. They were all old people, peasants and their women
folk. The latter wept and looked surprised, the men showed
an indifferent demeanour. The war had already taken from
them everything, life had no longer any charms. During the
few days that the trial lasted they wanted for nothing—once
I saw the prisoners sitting round large tables in a yard, eating
their dinner. My heart urged me to intercede for them and to
appeal to charity and pity, but my reason told me that one
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