The Washington herald., 1914-08-17
TIRED FIGHTERS
DROP LIKEDEAD
Strange Gases Of Physical
Collapse Are Noticed
by Surgeon.
GERMANS FIRE AT LEGS
Kaiser's Men Have Been Told to Aim
Low and Belgian Casualties
Are Not Heavy.
GERMANS FIRE AT LEGS

London, Aug. ls-A medical CORES
pondent Of the London Times In Brus-
sells sends this dispatch:
Il have had an opportunity during the
last few days OF visiting several Of the
great Brussels hospitals and ambulances
and Of seeing some OF the wounded who
have been sent down from the front.
Two facts have struck me very forci-
bly,. First, a very large number Of the
Belgian soldiers are wounded only In
the legs. and. secondly, many soldiers
seem to have collapsed through sheer
exhaustion.
an peace time one sees and heard little
or nothing Of this extreme exhaustion
because. Of course. in peace time the
almost superphysical Is not demanded.
but war brings new conditions.
Day and Might.
Some of these Belgian soldiers were
at work and on the march during the
stupendous days OF Wednesday and
Thursday of last week. practically with
out a moments respite. They went lit
orally I'll they dropped. Only with ac-
tual loss Of consciousness was duty re-
linQuished. -.
"As a medical man this remarkable
state of affairs interested me enormously.
That force OF will to fight and struggle
until the last gap Of exhaustion one sees
often, of course, and q heat stroke In
hot climates Is commonplace, but this
type Of exhaustion Is, by itself, the inal
triumph OF brave spirits.
The victims present a very alarming
appearance when first met. They seem
to be almost dead. They are limp and
pale and cold After q time. however,
strength begins to return and recovery
Is usually not protracted
In every case the men who had
been knocked out In this manner ex-
pressed the keenest desire to return
at once to the ranks. They seemed
even to hold themselves In some con-
tempt Many OF them have already
had their wish. ..
The fact that so many Of the
Belgian wounded had been shot in
the legs aroused considerable surprise
at .hrst IN medical circles. II soon
became clear that this was not merely
matter OF chance.
Ordered To Aim Low.
When the German prisoners be-
gan to come in and were interro-
gated, the explanation was forthcom-
ing. It trapspired that orders had
been given to FIRE lew. no doubt in
the belief that a man hit in the leg
must be Immediately placed hors de
combat While there may be some
thing In this theory. 1t remains a
fact that a flesh wound in the thigh
or calf tends to heal quickly and
that many OF those wounded are al
ready on the high road to recovery.
The Germans wounded, on the other
hand. have been hit for the most part
about the body.
The Belgian doctors are splendid
and are working magnificently. Two
schools have been converted into am
balances. and saw an operating the
ater. beautifully equipped and ar
ranged. which had been made out OF q
classroom in twelve hours. Only the
blackboard remained to indicate the
original purpose of the room.
''UnhappIly the surgical work at
LIege was greatly hindered by lack OF
chloroform. which could not be OBJ
tained in suficient quantity at the
moment when II was most required.
and this through no fault OF the med
Ical authorities"