Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-09-24

hSkuV AfaEhlIAEN, !
was susceptible or Investigation / have
found either that the outrage was d
figment of the Belgian mind or that
it was more than half excused by cir
cumstancss.
The prevalence of the Belgian prac-
tice or sniping from the houses was
perhaps indicated by the warning OF
the German officer who acted as guard
fer Ave American correspondents. In.
Guiding myself, who were being taken
as prisoners from Beaumont TO Aachen
In an army train. We were advised to
lie down on the floor OF the car az the
Belgian snipers would shoot at US from
the houses. But there was no firing.
This. OF course, is not brief for
the German army; II Ia an account OF
German conduct as it appeared to an
impartial observer who had the rather
extraordinary opportunity OF travelling
for days with the German columns.
over distance OF more than q hun
dred miles through dozen important
cities and towns.
Sometimes I was near enough to-
the front to see the white artillery
smoke squirt into clouds along the
horizon and hear tho double detona-
tons which came from artillery at
short range. AT other times trailed
behind through the desoiate waste
which victorious army leaves be-.
hind it
Pay All and Tlp Well.
"on the contrary. I witnessed nu-
merous cases of the most careful cour-
tesy on the part of German soldiers.
| In Brussels they not only paid their
| cafe bills, but tipped generously.
Along the road. when German officer
iaor soldier entered Belgian house for
food or shelter, it was not with 3 de-
| niand but request. In spite OF the
confusion and errors which arose from
| q strange tongue there was almost no
friction of any sort.
The German soldiers were pnnctil-
iously considerable and polite to WON.
en- and children. apologizing for the
discomfort they we're causing. Upon
leaving a house where they have been
given shelter. have seen them shake
hands with the concierge, peasant
| woman, or in some cases with the
gentIewoman OF a Belgian villa. a.
| pleasantly rs II they were bidding
1 adieu to their hostess at q weekend
house party.
80 many instances OF this sort are
at hand that a recital Of them would
be tedious.
Naturally inclined to be gruH with
their soldiers, the German officers al
ways gave the French prisoners a
pleasant word, and treated them with
| every consideration. Not a single ex-
ception to this ciyility toward prison
i ers has come to my attention.
/ "A French lieutenant and two Eng.
fish officers travelled with us In the
prison train from Beaumont to
Aachen, a hating journey which took
over thirty-siE hours. The train was
crowded with German wounded and
French and English prisoners, and
/
except few fragments of rye bread
hard az a stone, and o little liquid
compound of chicory, which In Bel
GUM masquerades under the name oil
coffee. Since there was not enough
even OF this disheartening fare TO &c
around, German officers went without
food so that the prisoners might be fed
Aid Owners of Cafe.
IN a little cafe i'm Beaumont, con
cierge and madame had fed before
the approach of the soldiers and aban
doned their business. Two officers
found them ia hiding, brought then
back, and In day they had taken In
more money. than in any previou:
} week in their career.
These incidents could be indefinite
Iy prolonged, but they would only of
fer additional support to point tha
, think l have already established
the universal kindness OF German
r soldiers as have observed them,
, 81 have seen perhaps half dozer
cases OF drunkenness I'm observing
. nearly 100000 soldiers. and thes,
. few we're only good-naturedly maud
lin. In Beaumont while was detained
for "a hours in the small cafe pre-
= viously mentioned, with an arme'
t guard at the door. although specifical
: ~ told that was not an ordinar!
= prisoner, staggering petty officer o
I some sort, lunged toward me ant
= showed me the sharp convincing edg'
of his sword, insisting that run m!
. hand across It.
Warned to Avoid Drinking.
, German discipline and German
: training seem to have put into thu
German soldier an exemplary behayio
which is nothing less than remarkable
= Before Eel! asleep on the floor Of tn,
1