MALINES, _November 19th, 1914_.
Court of the General-Government of Belgium.
Present:
President, STEMPEL.
Secretary, STEMPER.
On citation there appears the witness mentioned below, who, after the
object of the examination has been made known, was examined as follows:
As to Person: My name is Frederic Messelke, aged 42; corporal, 2nd
Landsturm Battalion Neuss, 1st Company, at present in Malines.
As to Case: On August 25th I marched with my company in close order
through Louvain to the station there. In the preceding action the
Belgians had been pressed back. On our return the town was quiet, nor
did we hear any shots on our return march. The troops in Louvain did
not mistake us for Belgian troops trying to enter the town. Above the
station I saw suddenly, at about 8 o'clock p.m., a blaze of light as of
a rocket. On the appearance of this light we were suddenly fired upon
from every quarter. At the command of our Feldwebelleutnant we fired on
the houses. The shooting continued for some time. I immediately told my
comrades that the signal light mentioned above was evidently a rocket.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: FRITZ MESSELKE.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to him, the
witness was duly sworn.
Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER.