LOUVAIN, _November 16th, 1914_.
STATIONSSTRASSE, 118.
Court of the General Belgian Government.
Present:
President, STEMPEL.
Secretary, STEMPER.
On citation there appears as witness Corporal Erwin Bastian, who is
examined as follows:
As to Person: My name is Erwin Bastian, aged 28, at present engaged at
the Commandant's office at Louvain.
As to Case: On August 22nd I came here with 1st Lieutenant Thelemann,
and was billeted upon a wine merchant, W. Philipper, opposite the
infantry barracks, with two more comrades. Up to August 25th the
relations between the local inhabitants and the soldiers were
throughout good, so that the men went partly without arms. On this
evening we retired to rest about 8.30; half an hour later we heard
isolated shots in the street. From what seemed to me the unusual
sound of these shots, I believe I can say with certainty that the
shots did not emanate from our weapons. We dressed ourselves at once.
From the window of my quarters I noticed several horses, especially
officers' horses, galloping through the streets riderless and coming
from Tirlemont. I also saw baggage horses without riders galloping
past, presumably from the baggage column, which was then stationed in
the market square here. Later we went to the infantry barracks, and
there reported ourselves. When the shooting increased, we made our way
out under the command of a non-commissioned officer to the Tirlemont
street, but soon returned again to barracks. Our section had not been
firing. On the way I saw dead horses lying in the street. Riderless
horses also galloped past us. In the barracks we occupied the windows.
From there I saw the flashes of different shots; according to the
illumination they caused, they had been fired from the surrounding
houses, perhaps at the height of the roof in the direction of the
street. I heard the bullets from these shots fall in the street; I had
the impression that they came from small bore rifles. It was dark in
the street; there was no light; the electric lighting, which on the
previous day was in order, had been destroyed during the night.
Read over, approved, signed.
Signed: ERWIN BASTIAN.
After the importance of the oath had been pointed out to the witness,
he was duly sworn.
Signed: STEMPEL. Signed: STEMPER.