He had spoken quietly, but there was a new note of strain in his voice.  The burden of the King of the Belgians is a double one.  To the horror of war has been added the unnecessary violation and death of noncombatants.

The King then referred to the German advance through Belgian territory.

“Thousands of civilians have been killed without reason.  The execution of noncombatants is not war, and no excuse can be made for it.  Such deeds cannot be called war.”

“But if the townspeople fired on the Germans?” I asked.

“All weapons had been deposited in the hands of the town authorities.  It is unlikely that any organised attack by civilians could have been made.  However, if in individual cases shots were fired at the German soldiers, this may always be condoned in a country suffering invasion.  During an occupation it would be different, naturally.  No excuse can be offered for such an action in occupied territory.”

“Various Belgian officers have told me of seeing crowds of men, women and children driven ahead of the German Army to protect the troops.  This is so incredible that I must ask whether it has any foundation of truth.”

“It is quite true.  It is a barbarous and inhuman system of protecting the German advance.  When the Belgian soldiers fired on the enemy they killed their own people.  Again and again innocent civilians of both sexes were sacrificed to protect the invading army during attacks.  A terrible slaughter!”

His Majesty made no effort to conceal his great grief and indignation.  And again, as before, there seemed to be nothing to say.

“Even now,” I said, “when the Belgians return the Grerman artillery fire they are bombarding their own towns.”

“That is true, of course; but what can we do?  And the civilian population is very brave.  They fear invasion, but they no longer pay any attention to bombs.  They work in the fields quite calmly, with shells dropping about.  They must work or starve.”

He then spoke of the morale of the troops, which is excellent, and of his sympathy for their situation.

“Their families are in Belgium,” he said.  “Many of them have heard nothing for months.  But they are wonderful.  They are fighting for life and to regain their families, their homes and their country.  Christmas was very sad for them.”

“In the event of the German Army’s retiring from Belgium, do you believe, as many do, that there will be more destruction of cities?  Brussels, for instance?”

“I think not.”

I referred to my last visit to Belgium, when Brussels was the capital; and to the contrast now, when La Panne a small seaside resort hardly more than a village, contains the court, the residence of the King and Queen, and of the various members of his household.  It seemed to me unlikely that La Panne would be attacked, as the Queen of the Belgians is a Bavarian.

“Do you think La Panne will be bombarded?” I asked.