New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-24
Mime. Picard, Tribune Cor
respondent, Approaches
Scene of Fighting.
SHE is TURNED BACK
BY ENGLISH OFFICER
Interviews Leaders and Finds
That Allies Are Cheered by
Constant Advance:
By NINE. JEAN ALcIDE PICARD.

are now lonely and peaceful. Beautiful
woods alternate with cultivated fields,
showing hardly any trace Of trampiing'
The roads are still good and hard, de-
spite the rain and the continuous pas
sage of cavalry, artillery and long con-
voys Of heavily loaded provision
wagons.
. Only here and there does one notice
along the roadside q broken wagon,
cannon carriage, a bicycle wheel or
German aeroplane, half burnt, extend
ing its wings as II in a desperate ehort
to Ry. All trace Of fighting has been
removed with astonishing promptness.
Not so fast, however, does the hunted
look disappear from the faces and eyes
of witnesses. Old men and women re-
late events Of recent date, when they
had the Germans for ten days.
Here, madame, they weren't so bad
as in other places. They only took
everything-food, clothes, money. We
had nothing to eat-no bread or meat
or milk for the children. They paid
cents for q chicken rabbit and came
back later to ask for all our money. IL
you said you had none they would put
a pistol under your nose"
Hear Cannonade.
As we walked on we began to hear
the cannonade, which became louder
and didn't cease throughout the day or
night. We reached a hOspitable house
in a town that was filled with English
and French troops, and had supper with
a captain of hussars, fine, strong
man, level headed and fair minded, who
was going to the extreme left on
suecial mission. He had just left the
field of operations, and seemed to have
brought something of the fighting at
mosphere and the spirit Of our SOL
diers-his face set, with intent look,
determined and calmly certain OF the
happy outcome.
Iasked him for news from the front.
While his motor was being put in or
der he gave a few details. He had
seen it all. He was at Liege on August
4. and fought in many Of the Belgian
battles.
"The hardest part of the war" he
said. twas the battle of the Marine.
We pursued the retreating enemy
Now we advance slowly, but still we
advance. We feel them give way. The
enemy is strongly fortified in quarries,
hence it is not battle, but regular
siege. Both sides fight hard and OBJ
stinately. We gain slowly under a
continuous cannonade.
German Methods.
"The German system of sprinklinG
shells methodically along the whole
line without special aim is a frightful
waste of ammunition, but sure way
of destroying everything within their
range. In such a way they are de-
stroying Scissors. There very fe"
houses are left standing"
He told us that he considers that
among German officers there is one
gentleman in hundred; the others are
brutes.
"On Sunday" said my informant,
"the enemy fought iercely, ever charg-
ing with bayonets. Whoever knows Of
their aversion to cold steel under
stands the effort they made. l saw
a young lieutenant charging at the
head Of a squadron. His men sud-
denly fed. He tried to bring them
back, swearing savagely. Failing, he
charged alone. One Of my laneers
brought him down.
eyes, generally they fight well, but
with such deceitful methods! We can
distinguish between Germans a1d Eng.
| lish only by their headgear. When
soiled and smoky the battle gray
khakis are much alike.
Yesterday a detachment Of Germans
came forward wearing English caps.
Our men didn't fire and were massa-
cred, Others tried to surprise the out
post, answering in French and English
to the sentinels call. That time the
ruse didn't succeed.
an Belgium, by driving priests,
women and children before them when
attacking, they gained ground several
times. During the moment of hesita-
tion on our part they would fire on our
soldiers.
"And such thieves as they are! Even
on officers we captured, and in their
sacks, we found rings, watches, pins,
bracelets, money, lingerie and laces,
plundered in towns through which they
passed.
"Still, the situation must begin to be
critical in Germany. Several men had
letters from their wives, asking for
money"
Approaches Battle.
The next morning we started for
ward, still accompanied by the sound
of dreadful firing, which soon added to
our trepidation. We stopped frequent
lv TO show our permits. Three kilo-
metres from the front we met an Eng
lish colonel, courteous but discreet. He
talked very pleasantly.
Eyes" he said, "all Is going well, but
il is hard to dislodge the enemy. The
soldiers are in splendid spirits and
have plenty of food and ammunition"
"But how did you come so far?" he
asks, and | tell him ! have permission
to 90 as far as possible.
"Yes, madam, but this is already fur
Their than is possible. You must go
hack. Our orders are strict. No one
is allowed near the firing line. The
field operations belong to soldiers only
He gives me permit to ride back
from name of place censored) on q
military train. Accordingly, | turn
Lnsi, di.anbointed. vet having been in