As to Person: My name is Fritz Gruber. I am 35 years old; Protestant;
non-commissioned officer, 1st Infantry Munitions Column, X. Army Corps;
implement-smith in a machine factory in Hanover.
As to Case: On the second day of our march through Belgium we passed
through Louveigné. The place was already burnt down. We halted here,
and orders were given to water the horses. As we were waiting for the
command to make ready, a shot was suddenly fired at us from a house
in the street on our right, and after this a number of other shots
followed from other points. I was standing by the last waggon in
front of the supplementary convoy, so pretty nearly at the end of the
column. We forced our way in the direction of the shots into the garden
belonging to the house, and here caught two civilians, one of whom
had his hand in his pocket full of cartridges. He was hidden in some
bushes, and tried to escape on our approach; the other was standing
close beside him.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: FRITZ GRUBER.
The witness was sworn.