lamp was to be placed in
each window. On the claim that German soldiers had been killed by
citizens, the burgomaster and several of the city officials were secured
as hostages. A stern proclamation was issued threatening with immediate
execution every citizen found with a weapon in his possession or house.
Every house from which a shot was fired would be burned.

This was on August 22, 1914. By the evening of that day the German army
had passed through Louvain, estimated to the number of 50,000 men. Only
the 3,000 garrison remained in the city. Outwardly, the citizens resumed
their usual daily affairs as if with a sense of relief, but whispers
dropped now and then revealed an abiding terror beneath. Some time
during the next day or two the anticipated calamity fell upon Louvain.
The Germans without any proof insisted that sniping was going on, and
the military authorities seized this pretext to put into force their
threatened reprisal. The torch was thrown into convicted houses. Larger
groups of citizens were led to execution. Thereupon the "brute" passion
dormant in soldiers broke the bonds of discipline. Flames burst forth
everywhere. Beneath the lurid glow cast upon the sky above Louvain whole
streets stood out in blackened ruin, and those architectural treasures
of the Halles and the University, with its famous library, were
destroyed beyond hope of repair. Only the walls of St. Peter's Church,
containing many priceless paintings, remained.

Meanwhile, on the morning of August 20, 1914, the German army had swept
away the comparatively small Belgian rear-guard force before Brussels,
and advanced upon the capital. On the previous 17th the King of the
Belgians removed his Government to Antwerp. The diplomatic corps
followed. Mr. Brand Whitlock, the American Minister, however, remained.
In his capacity as a neutral he had assisted stranded Germans in
Brussels from hasty official and mob peril. He stayed to perform a
similar service for the Belgians and Allies. His success in these
efforts won for him German respect and the gratitude of the whole
Belgian nation.

A lingering plan for defending Brussels by throwing up barricades and
constructing wire entanglements, to be manned by the Civic Guard, was
abandoned in the face of wiser counsel. It would merely have resulted in
a bombardment, with needless destruction of life and property. Brussels
was defenseless.

In flight before the German host, refugees of all classe