Under date of Antwerp, Sunday, September 20, 1914, the London _Standard_
published the following story from a correspondent:
“When the German troops under General von Boehn entered Aerschot the
burgomaster awaited the Germans at the entrance to the town, and to
General von Boehn made offers of hospitality.
“The General was gracious enough, and said that so long as everybody in
the place showed the quietest demeanor the town and the lives of those
in it were safe; if not, the reprisals would be pitiless. The
burgomaster offered the hospitality of his own house to the General and
his officers, and this was also accepted.
“General von Boehn, with his chief of staff and another officer, took
up their quarters under the roof of the mayor. At night the General and
his officers dined with the family, consisting of the burgomaster and
his wife and their son and daughter.
“The meal progressed with every sign of geniality, and the conduct of
the officers was perfectly respectful and normal, but toward the end of
the dinner they drank very freely. By the time everybody had retired the
three Germans were all very much the worse for drink.
“In the early hours of the morning the members of the household were
roused by a shriek from the room occupied by the daughter. The son
rushed in and found his sister struggling in the arms of the chief of
staff.
“The young man, aroused to a frenzy, attacked the scoundrel. There was a
fierce struggle, which ended in the son shooting the chief of staff.
“The tragedy was witnessed by most of the household, but the shot did
not arouse the General and the other officer, drunkenly asleep in their
beds. The terrified household had to wait until morning for the
dénouement of the tragedy.
“The next morning the body of the chief of staff was discovered by the
officer. The General was terribly cold in his wrath.
“‘The price must be paid,’ he said.
“The burgomaster, his son and two men-servants were put against the wall
and shot.
“The carnage in the streets, with burning, hacking and stabbing,
followed.”