The Kingdom of serbia : report upon the atrocities committed by the Austro-Hungarian Army during the first invasion of Serbia

182 AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN ATROCITIES

uniformed, but armed men of the enemy country, whether encountered singly or in groups, should be made prisoners. They are to be unconditionally executed.” !

The Austro-Hungarian General Staff, like all the rest of the world, was well aware that your soldiers of the Third Levy and a good half of those of the Second Levy have never been uniformed. The directions given in these instructions” are therefore an undisguised summons to massacre these soldiers, a summons which was obeyed to the letter by the troops.

Further on, in speaking of the hostages, we find the following : «In traversing a village, they are to be brought, if possible to a passage en queue (sic) and they are to be summarily executed, if even a single shot is fired at the troops in that locality.” (In direct contradiction to the Hague Convention of 1907.)

““ Both officers and men will keep a strict watch on every inhabitant, and not tolerate that he should put his hand in his pocket which probably conceals a weapon. They will, generally speaking, observe an attitude of extreme severity and harshness.

“The ringing of bells is absolutely prohibited and the bells will be taken down. As a rule, every belfry will be occupied by a patrol.”

Who does not remember the incessant recriminations of the Germans that the French were occupying the belfries for military purposes? Are

1 Zunichst dulde ich nicht, dass nicht uniformierte, aber bewafinete Leute des Feindeslandes, werden sie nun in Gruppen oder einzeln angetroffen gefangen werden ; sie sind unbedingt niederzumachen.