EXTRACT from the Report of the 3rd Field Pioneer Company.
_August 23rd, 1914._
The patrols were heavily fired on from the houses and from the other
bank.
The company advanced with the pontoon waggons on the steep, narrow
road into Dinant behind Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108 and Infantry
Regiment No. 182.
There was firing from the houses, although one could see little of the
enemy. The company took part in searching the houses for civilians;
some were arrested with arms in their hands and subsequently shot. The
infantry had considerable losses here.
The order came to evacuate the town as it was to be first bombarded by
our artillery.
The company, with Grenadier Regiment No. 101, reached the Meuse at Les
Rivages. The village appeared to be quite peaceful; nevertheless, a
number of inhabitants were arrested by the Grenadiers for security. The
rifle-fire of the enemy on the left bank was only very weak. The houses
over there burst into flames, one after another, as a result of our
artillery fire. The crossing began at once with a half-column corps,
Pontoon train, Train Battalion No. 12, which had been assigned to the
company; the building of the bridge was at once begun, and at first
proceeded rapidly.
Suddenly we received heavy rifle-fire from the houses on the right
bank. The firing was briskly answered by the Grenadiers who were
waiting in dense masses to cross. The houses were set on fire. On the
afternoon of August 24th the bridge was finished. In the meantime, it
frequently happened that firing came from the heights, and even from
the cellar of a burnt-out house. In such cases, civilians caught with
arms in their hands were shot.