introduction

a few words by way of introduction.

i had wished to publish this book a long time ago, because i think it my duty to submit to the opinion of the public the things which i witnessed in the unfortunate land of the belgians, and where i was present at such important events as an impartial spectator. i call myself an impartial spectator, for if this book be anti-german, it should not be forgotten that the facts give it that tendency.

that the book was not published sooner is because i could not foresee more than others how terribly long the war would last; and i should have preferred to wait till the end in order to insert several reports which i know are being kept in the occupied part, in order to acquaint the whole world with the full truth about the behaviour of the germans. as long as the germans keep the upper hand in belgium, such a publication cannot take place without danger to several persons.

but because the german libels go on accusing the belgian people of horrible francs-tireurs acts, i have thought that i ought not to wait any longer before giving my evidence to the public.

this book does not attempt to give more than evidence of the truth. it does not claim to have14 literary distinction; i have not even tried to give it that stamp. by relating various events successively witnessed, which have no mutual connection, this would be very difficult.

my stories are not exaggerated or touched up, but are true to reality. that is the reason why the german authorities have driven me away from belgium, and tried to get hold of me to punish me. on that side they are afraid that the truth be known.

a long time after i had left belgium i got hold of the black list, in which i am mentioned twice over among eighty-seven other persons; once as hokveld-journalist and again as mokveld-correspondent. the list was published by me in de tijd of june 2nd, 1915.

that i was "wanted" is proved by the fact that two persons have had the greatest trouble because they were mistaken for the mokveld-correspondent of de tijd. my colleague kemper passed a fortnight in prison in brussels, accused of having written various articles in de tijd, which were written by me, and i relate, in the chapter "round about bilsen," what mr. van wersch, another netherlander, suffered for the same reason.

but although the germans are afraid to let the truth be known, there is no reason why i should withhold my evidence. on the contrary, i will try to do everything i can to make public opinion do justice to the unfortunate belgians, trodden down and insulted, falsely and vilely libelled by their oppressors, and accused of offences of which they never were guilty.