Murder

Despite their other crimes, the Germans had generally observed the rules of war in their treatment of captured U.S. and British fighting men. But last week even that record was blotched by the coldblooded murder of scores of U.S. soldiers.

It was in Belgium, in a sector where the Allies had stood for nearly three months. On Sunday a column of 15 to 20 Nazi Tiger tanks, spearheading the new German drive, cut off a U.S. First Army unit which had only light weapons to defend itself. The Americans were quickly overcome; 143 were herded into a field with a few others the Germans had captured earlier. The Germans took away the prisoners' watches and any other possessions they fancied.

A German officer gave an order to a tankman, who opened fire on the Americans with a pistol. Another German in an armored car methodically sprayed the hapless captives with a Schmeisser submachine gun. Some fell to the ground, dead or wounded. A few fell, shamming dead. After the submachine gun was silent, German noncoms walked among the fallen Americans, systematically shooting all who moved or moaned.

For an hour the survivors hugged the ground, not daring to look around. Gradually the German tanks rumbled off, and when a furtive glance showed only one left, every American who could run or stagger made for the woods near by. Fewer than a score reached Allied positions.

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