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was determined by the German Commission of Enquiry. This of course can be read in the German White Book on the Belgian Atrocities. We looked long at the Burgermeister’s house, M. Tielmann, – a small corner house. The Balcony covering the two middle windows is shared by the two rooms. [See Plate 5]
    The lad, a boy of 15, is supposed to have come out of his room onto the balcony in the dusk and seeing the Captain in the glare of the candlelight dressing for supper in his room, shot him through the open French windows. The shot was like a signal and immediately the soldiers in the Square below were attacked from the windows and roofs of the Square. Three or four houses in the Square are ruined or have broken windows. To my mind the weak point in this story is that there are two bullet holes in the first window (see black dots) which would indicate that he had been shot from the opposite house in the little Square. When I pointed this out to the Herr Xxx he was for a moment non-plussed, then said quickly that the original glass panes of the second window had been taken away for evidence before the Commission and new ones put in! Before that he had stated that the lad shot through the open window. The next day I got the book and pointed out to my Baron the inexactness of his statements and he, after a while, agreed with me. I did not like the man.
    It was extraordinary how little destruction there was. We went to another part of the town and on the further side of the river there was an outlying part destroyed. Altogether it is said about a tenth part of the town. I saw a number of children coming out of school and these looked pretty well. A quaint little town. A tram was running. The rain began again and the wind was furious. We had to get back to the Inn, wet through and frozen. For the first time in my life I took a half glass of gin in boiling water and thereby I believe I saved myself from severe cold and lumbago. Then I begged to be allowed to dry myself by the kitchen fire which was conceded and the kindly womenfolk let me sit by the stove while they got us a meal. And such a good meal it was – for the men a big beefsteak, for us all a grand omelet of six eggs and delicious vegetables. I watched them cook it and they talked to me a little the while – asked me with curiosity if I was the Officer’s mother? I did not dare ask much of what Aerschot had gone through, nor of present affairs. When our meal was over so was the storm. Our clothes were dried and we left by the afternoon train. At the Brussels station we fell in again with von Moltke and I was glad to take a cab to the Astoria. My Baron sat with me during my supper at which the sad-looking waiter officiated.
    Still no definite answer from Berlin and the time was passing quickly.
    Wednesday, June 14th This morning we confidently expected news from Berlin. My Baron was very anxious to go and forwarded my request in every way possible because he was so very anxious to see his young wife. He had told me of their meeting in the Alps and of their marriage immediately followed by the outbreak of war – so that in less than six weeks they were separated and except for a few days had not since met. He was evidently very anxious about her and deeply in love. She is an Austrian. They have two little children. But the reply had not come and so I wanted to go to Dinant. However the weather was so appalling, cold, wet and rough that after my experience at Aerschot I was really afraid. I regret now that I did not persevere, but indeed I felt very ill.
    We fixed to see a Communal Kitchen. Captain Bruhn’s Department had arranged this for me, and I had asked to see one in the poorer part of town. A member of his office was sent with me, a gentleman in plain clothes, somewhat Jewish looking and rather stupid. My Baron told me he was the brother of the richest man in Germany! He did not speak English well – but it was deemed unwise for an officer in