[Sidenote: 33]
The Committee had before them a considerable body of evidence with
reference to the practice of the Germans of using civilians and
sometimes military prisoners as screens from behind which they
could fire upon the Belgian troops, in the hope that the Belgians
would not return the fire for fear of killing or wounding their own
fellow-countrymen.
[Sidenote: 31]
The use of women and even children as a screen for the protection
of the German troops is referred to.... From the number of troops
concerned, it must have been commanded or acquiesced in by officers,
and in some cases the presence and connivance of officers is proved.
[Sidenote: 23]
_Termonde._--Two hundred civilians were utilised as a screen by the
German troops.
[Sidenote: 24]
_Binnenstraat._--The civilians were utilised on Saturday, the 26th
September, as a screen.
[Sidenote: 33]
_Mons._--On August 24th men, women and children were actually pushed
into the front of the German position outside Mons. The witness speaks
of 16 to 20 women, about a dozen children and half a dozen men being
there.
[Sidenote: 34]
At _Tournai_ 400 Belgian civilians--men, women and children--were
placed in front of the Germans, who then engaged the French.
[Sidenote: 34]
At _Ypres_ the Germans drove women in front of them by pricking them
with bayonets. The wounds were afterwards seen by the witness.
[Sidenote: 34]
At _Londerzeel_ 30 or 40 civilians--men, women and children--were
placed at the head of a German column.
One witness from _Termonde_ was made to stand in front of the Germans,
together with others, all with their hands above their heads. Those who
allowed their hands to drop were at once prodded with the bayonet.