Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

~ brigade of infantry trudged
along, the hot sunshine glanc-
i..s from the sloping rife barrels, upon
winch the stirred dust had settled.
III rear of the first detachment of in
;antry battalion of field artillery
rum5led along, the cannoneers walking
beside their guns and caisSons, to save
the wearied horses every ounce of
weight, for they had hauled the guns
inany weary miles. through fair wealth
cr and foul. over d span of weeks. More
infantry followed the guns, these SOL
diers, in turn. being followed by COM
PIGMENTS of engineer troops, mounted,
carrying pouches and accompanied by
pack trains loaded with boxes and
chests containing high explosives and
repair tools for the speedy repair of
roads Ambulances rolled at the tail
end OF the column. and reel carts spun
out glistening strand as the tele-
phone wires were paid out.
In front of the body of troops. which
WAS the reserve of the advance guard
went other smaller detachnents A
few hundred yards ahead the support
toiled along, the men marching at
strained to catch the first reverbera-
ton of Il shot which would tell of con-
tact with the enemy.
Widely scattered through the fields.
patrols and small detachments felt their
way. the i1anEinE parties prodding into
each clump OF brush or. from a hill
top. scanning the country for Il con-
cealed enemy before pushing ahead.
And III advance %: the entire force, a
group OF bve men, Il corporal and four
prIvates, formed the point" which
pIloted the WAY of AN army into the
eDenIy'S country.
The advance guard was so large that.
consistent with ,he size of the force a
general officer was in command Fol
low ed by his STAFF and aids, and riding
on horse. he keeuiy scanned the
country from side to side with an eve
TO possible defensive positions in case
of attack.
messenger on d motor cycle dashed
up from the rear and delivered an en-
Nelope TO one of the staff who noted the
time OF arrival. returned the covering
to the orderly as receipt. then passed
the opened message to the general
Inc general called for map and at
he rode his way. examined it. with ref
ence to the message in hand "Tht
cavalry is checked, he said, quietly
Send word to the advance party to eX.
poet the enemy about the hills of Brie.
slch. Tell the commander to talk to
whatever cavalry officers he may NEE
the information"
Another motor cycle messenger
dashed off with the message, and tn,
march proceeded.
\ few kfometers further on, tn,
point" making a turn in the road
came upon detachment of lancers
dlsnountea and resting under tn,
shade of some noble trees beside tn,
road. They were dirty and tired look
ing; the horses stood with dropping
heads and tails, as though hard worl
had been their lot for some time Will
more than one of the troopers wor
bandages which showed dull-red stain
and limited a story of their own. Tn
officer in command crossed the roa
and talked with the first officer of tn
advance guard to reach the detach
ment. He spoke hurriedly. and point
ed to the quiet hills and woods aheaC
indicating point after point.
A broad valley stretched away o
either side of the road. 1t was broke
in places by groves of trees. Quain
looking farmhouses. hedges, fields an
woods, but in places, too, a clear vie,
could be had for miles. and through tn
open spaces columns of rising dust toll
of parallel advancing columns, eac
covered by its own advance guart
steadily pushing ahead, while patrol
6lled the Intervening ground.
were encountered the advance con
tinued. They all showed signs of har
usage. while now and then the body