Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1914 — DINANT BURNED, RESIDENTS SLAIN BY THE GERMANS? [ARTICLE]

DINANT BURNED, RESIDENTS SLAIN BY THE GERMANS?

Kaiser’s Troops Wreak Anger on Belgians—Fired on Invaders. WOMEN HELD IN CONVENTS Teutons Lock Females Up and Then Slay Men— Charged That Noncombatants Shot at Soldiers.

London, Sept 8. —An Ostend dispatch to the Reuter Telegram company says: The Germans, by shell, fire and incendiarism, have destroyed the town of Din ant, 15 miles south of Namur. Hundreds of male inhabitants were shot, including one party of 100 prominent citizens, who were executed together in the Place d'Armes. Cosfine Women in Convents. ‘The Germans alleged that the civilians had fired shots into Dinant from the heights. W hile the shooting and burning were going on the women residents of the city were confined in the convents. Among those shot were M. Hummers, the wealthy manager of a large weaving factory, and M. Poncelot, son Of a former senator. The latter Was killed in the presence of his wife aihh children. Slay Bank Cashier and Sons. “Germans appeared at a branch of the National balk, where they demanded the cash in the safe. The manager, M. Wasseire, refused to hand it over, whereupon he‘, together with his two sons, were shot. “There is no evidence, so far as is known, that the alleged shooting from the heights resulted in the killing of any Germans.” Dinant Centuries Old. Dinant, which h a d_ a population of

about eight thousand, dated back TO the sixth century. The town was picturesquely situated beneath limestone cliffs near the River Meuse. The cliffs were Surmounted by the walls of an old fortress, much decayed through neglect, reared to defend the town against approach by the river. Dinant frequently has been the scene of warfare. In 1466 Duke Philip the Good besieged the town with 30,000 men, and when it surrendered permitted his men to pillage it for three days and set it on fire. Drowned 800 In Meuse. Bound in twos, 800 of the inhabl*. tants were drowned in the Meuse, while Philip, although ill, witnessed the executions from the litter on which he was to the river bank. Afterward even the walls of the buildings were leveled so that not a vestige of the town should remain. The town was rebuilt by Charles the Bold, Philip’s son, but it again was sacked and burned In 1554 by the French. The principal building of historic interest was the church of Notye Dame, built in the thirteenth centuiry. The town was the center of manufactories of metallic wares, glass, paper and leather.