The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-25
Hr :. ALExAnpga PoWElL.

rBy Cable TO The Chicago TrihGne-l
Headquarters in the Field OF the
ninth Imperial Army. Chateau Laferes
near Renaix, Belgium Three weeks
ago the government of Beiginn Esr
Quegted me 10 place before the Ameri-
can people list OF specific and au-
fhentfcated atrocities committed by
the German armies upon Belgian non
eoinDat&nfs.
Today General Won Bcehn. coma
handing the Ninth Imperial field
army. acting mouthpiece or the Ger.
man general stan, has asked me to
place before the American people the
German version OF the incidents I'm
question.
correspondent In the present var who
has motored for an entire day through
the ranks OF the advancing German
army, who has dined as q guest OF the
German army commander and his
staff, and who has had the progress
OF the army on the march arrested In
order 10 obtain photographs OF the
German troops.
This unuguai experience came about
ia d curious and roundabout way.
invited by General Ven 6oehn.
After an encounter In the streets of
Client last Tuesday between Ger
man military automobile and Bel
gian armored car, I'm which two Ger
man soldiers were wounded, American
Vice Consul Van Hee persuaded the
burgomaster to accompany him Inn
mediately to the headquarters OF Gem
eral Won Boehn to explain the circum-
stances and ask that the city should
not be held responsible for the unfor-
tunate AFFAIR.
In the course OF the conversation
with Mr.. Van Hee General Won Boehn
remarked that copies OF papers con-
tanning articles written by Alexander
Powell criticizing the German treat
ment OF the Belgian civil population
had come to his attention and said he
regretted he could not have an oppor-
tunity to talk with Powell and give
him the German version.
Mr.. Van Hee said by a fortunate
coincidence happened to be In Client,
whereupon the general asked him 70
bring me out to dinner the following
day, and issued safe conduct through
the German lines.
Though nothing was said about q
photographer. | took with me Pho
tographer Donald Thompson. AS there
was some doubt regarding the pro
priety OF taking Belgian driver into
the German lines, drove the car
myself.
In Midst Of kaIser's Men.
Half mile ont OF Sottehem our
road debouched into the great high
way which leads through Lille to
Paris. We suddenly found ourselves
In the midst or the German army. II
was sight never to be forgotten
Far as the eye could see stretched
solid columns Of marching men. press
ing westward, ever westward.
The army was advancing in three
mighty columns along three parallel
roads. These dense masses Of NOV
| ing men vi their elusive blue gray
uniforms looked for all the world like
| three monstrous serpents crawling
across the countryside.
/ American flags which fiuttered from
our windshield proved passport II
themselves and as we approached this
close locked ranks they parted to le
us through.
For five solid hours, travelling al
ways at express train speed, we mo
tored between the walls of the march
ing men. In time the constant shuttle
of boots and the rhythmic swing D
gray-elad arms and shoulders grew
maddening and l became obsesse,
with the fear that | would send tn,
car blowing into the human wedg'
on either side.
Miles Of German Soldiers.
It seemed that the ranks neve
would end. and as far as we were con
cerned they never did, for we neve
saw or heard the end of that might,
column.
We passed regiment after regiment
brigade after brigade OF infantry. AM
/ AANEA AAEAA A4Sr0AEH AnAAAEt GuAt a.
siers. iield batteries. more infantry
more field guns. ambulances. the
siege guns. each drawn by 30 horses
engineers. telephone corps. pontool
wagons. aFmored motor cars. NOR
uhlans. the sunlight cleaning on thei
forest OF lances. more infantry ii
spiked helmets. all sweeping by a
irresistible as q mighty river. wit
their faces turned toward France
This was the Ninth field army an
composed the very flower of the en-
pire. including the magnificent troop
Of the imperial guard II was frs
and last fighting army. The me
we're all young They struck me q
being keen as razors and "a hard q
naIls. The horses we're magnifcen
They could not have been better. Til
aeEd guns Of the Imperial guard wes
almost twice the size Of any used b
cur army