Present:
President of the Court, SCHWEINITZ.
Secretary, LIPS.
NEUFCHÂTEL, _February 19th, 1915_.
In the matter for inquiry concerning the events in Dinant there
appeared as witness Captain Reserve Ermisch, who stated:
As to Person: My name is Karl Traugott Hubert Ludwig Ermisch. I am 37
years old; Protestant; engineer (with diploma), director of mines, now
Captain of Reserve, 1st Field Pioneer Company.
As to Case: On August 23rd, 1914, I was with the 3rd Company of the
Pioneer Battalion No. 12, and present when the pontoons of the Corps
Bridging Train, at first brought down to Dinant, were obliged to turn
back. We then made a detour into the valley road which leads to Les
Rivages; from there I was sent out to reconnoitre the place for the
bridge. In Les Rivages all was peaceful. Neither French nor German
soldiers were to be seen. When I had been there about one hour, my
company arrived with the bridging waggons and other German soldiers.
These rounded up the civilian population standing near as hostages.
In the meantime, I commenced with the construction of the bridge.
Somewhere about 4 or 5 o'clock we suddenly received a tolerably heavy
fire, which was directed straight towards us at the bridge-head. We
were forced to conceal ourselves under the cover of the bridge. I
noticed plainly that the firing came from the slopes to the right and
left of the flanking valley, and particularly from a red house not far
from the Bayard Rock, which stands near the north of Les Rivages. In
consequence, the hostages were shot by direction of a senior Grenadier
officer.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: ERMISCH.
The witness was thereupon sworn.
Signed: SCHWEINITZ. Signed: LIPS.