little books of proclamations, but can reproduce a translation of a
characteristic one that appeared on October 5. The italics are mine.

BRUSSELS: October 5, 1914.

During the evening of September 25 the railway line and the
telegraph wires were destroyed on the line Lovenjoul-Vertryck. In
consequence of this, these two places have had to render an account
of this, and had to give hostages on the morning of September 30.
In future, the localities nearest to the place where similar acts
take place _will be punished without pity--it matters little
whether the inhabitants are guilty or not_. For this purpose
hostages have been taken from all localities near the railway line
thus menaced, and at the first attempt to destroy either the
railway line or telephone or telegraph, _the hostages will be
immediately shot_. Further, all the troops charged with the duty of
guarding the railway have been ordered _to shoot any person with a
suspicious manner_ who approaches the line or telegraph or
telephone wires.

VON DER GOLST.

And Von der Golst was recalled from Brussels later on because he was too
lenient!

There is no reparation the Germans can ever make for iniquities of this
kind--and they cannot deny these things as they have others, for they
stand condemned out of their own mouths. Their own proclamations are
quite enough evidence to judge them on.