Evening star., 1898-10-08
a large object travelling along road at =

Some dozen rounds were fired before OnE
of the cars was struck. Even then the
she'll only succeeded in tearing away a por
| ton of the upper screen and killing a few
| of the occupants. The car swerved badly
| from the shock. but did not overturn, anG
| it's forward progress was in no way af
fected
'1diotsr' shreked the kaiser. Select E
definite point, aim low, and fire salvos by
wCrd of command"
| The artillerists quickly grasped his mean
\ irg. The first volley was not successful be
cause the officer in charge of the operation:
gave the word too soon. But, at the sec
ond attempt, four shells hit one of tn,
motors vitally. smashing 1t bodily from the
bcgey truck, and bringing its two cars K
| hopeless ruin.
Ha, that is better! Now we have them.
The emperor was 50 excited that hi
| lcaped from his charger, and himself as
sisted in laying one of the guns upon the
next car, the whole line being brought to
| standstill, while the French troops rushed
to the task of clearing the stricken motor
frcm the roadway.
Wilhelm didn't know that vansittart was
fully prepared for this emergency.
With wild scream and demoniac energy
the shells from eighteen French guns, sta
toned on the opposing slope, tore through
the German battery, now thoroughly en-
hladed. Two guns were wrenched from
their carriages, gunners were crushed into
shapeless atoms on all sides. and the en-
peror himself had a miraculous escape, his
pickelhaube being knocked off by the WIND
from a passing shell.
Undaunted he cried out, Never mind. my
lads we will soon silence them" and he
yelled instructions for every available gur
to open fire on the French batteries, while
additional artillery was to be hurried to
the front
Had he been told at that moment that
LIE Breton's brigade was one of six then
tearing wildly through the German posi-
ticn from the south and west. while Beau
marchais had completed his flank march
and was on the point of driving the Uhlan
pickets in dismay before him from the west
it is possible that this latest scion Of the
line of Hohenzollern would have sought
immediate death on the battlefield.
AS it was, the whirl and confusion OF
everts, the eager haste of the dispositions
to combat the present danger, shut out
from him all knowledge of proceedings else
where.
The Frenchmen worked like fiends to re-
move the debris Of the smashed motor. In
this task they were practically unhindered.
as the nearest German infantry had been
brushed far from the place by the passage
of the preceding cars.
Soon they had the road sufficiently clear
ed, the two cars were showed off into a
field. and the line Of motors again resumed
progress for the German guns were so
hammered by the French artillery that it
was impossible to secure efficient fire for
the main purpose in hand-namely, the
stoppage of the French advance.
In a fury Of despair the kaiser felt that
his guns, devotedy served Though they
We're. could not perform the task he requir
ed of them. The arrival of a small regi-
ment of staff officers from all parts of the
German position. reporting disaster after
disaster, revealed to him the full extent Of
the fearful conflict raging around Very
between the German main body and the
bulk of the French forces.
Up to this time. so awfully sudden had
been the development of events he had
/ card nothing of the main attack.
Riding back to the reverse side of the
plateau, Wilhelm at last became aware
of the magnitude of the disaster which had
befallen him.
Along every highway darted the huge
motors. paralyZing all opposition, crump-
ling up brigades ard divisions into terrified
hordes, smitirg with unfettered violence
the helpless opponents, and utterly dislo-
eating the whole army, for artillery, cav
airy, infantry and commissariat were piled
together in shapeless masses.
As he galloped on like one in a dream he
suddenly saw ten of the French motors
halt. and commence firing shells at a body
of German troops drawn up near a planta-
ton, at too great distance from the road
way for practical rifle fire.
''Mercifui heaven groaned the stricken
kaiser, reigning in Lis charger and covering
his face with his left hand. They even
carry cannon! Is he man or fiend?'
Gen. Won Gossler, who rode him,
now dared to say what every man on the
staff thought when they first learned the
true position of affairs.
but rapid retreat to the north. We can
still save many of our men by blocking
the roads and blowing up bridges, when
these devices of the devil cannot follow
US"
His broken-hearted chief murmured:
Tear up the roads, Destroy the bridges,
Yes! Now We kr ow why the French did
nothing to hinder our march. Yet how
could | have foreseen all that has hap
Iened?'
Your majesty" urged Won Gossler. may
give orders for a general retreat?"
His persistence stirred Wilhelm from mis-
stupor of grief
Retreat" he, cried. Orders: Look,
man, What orders are necessary? Who
viii listen? Who will obey?'
The sight SO unnerved the emperor that
he bowed his head and cried repea tedly.
My poor lads. my poor lads" while un-
checked tears streamed from his eyes.
Yet, your majesty persisted the other
we may do something. Let us al least
try"
As if ia answer to this desparing utter
ance came the sound of sustained firing
from the north and west.
iiea ImarchaiS' division was speeding
along the only possible lines of retreat
The kaiser saw them and made reply
TO Won Gossler. He looked behind to see
FreI ch cavalry division ride furiously
into the valley from the south, intent upon
completing the ruthless work so fearfully
cut out for them by the motors, from
which, too, long lines of infantry, fresh as
though drawn up for parade inspe c.ion,
were beginning to emerge.
Then he answered.
Forcing out the words with desperate
ca'mness, he said:
Yes. Won Gosser. we can do something
We can stop useless butchery. Go with a
flag of truce to Vansittart. Tell him 1
will meet him in the village herev'
CHAPTER Xxx.