Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-11-11
AMID SHRAPNEL FIRE WRITER SEES
FIERCE CONFLICT ON THE USER RIVER

cOQuu-
Entering the church, found It full
Of straw. the place evidently having
been used as & dormitory for soldiers,
but nothing had been touched, though
chairs were scattered everywhere. Az
ter mounting a rickety ladder long
time in the dark | reached the very
tip OF the steeple above the bell
Sees Battle From Steeple.
Looking through my spyglasses over
the fiat country in the direction of the
town, | was able TO distinguish the
very spots and buildings beyond which
the Belgian shells were bursting.
Flames were leaping high. but owing
to row of trees screening the Ger
man batteries l was unable to see
what was burning At that time the
town itself was intact.
To the left stretched the poplar Dor
dered User. l could see men shell
tered in trenches along the roadside
trenches so cut as to provide skel-
eton covering, upon which was heaped
straw making a watertight roof. In
front, about six hundred yards dis
tant, a regiment was drawn up, but |
was unable to learn the reason why
In company with an English CORE
spondent, at that time the only other
CO. respondent with the Belgians, saw
the battle of Newport at close range.
Long before we reached the village of
Newport Baines we saw part of the
naval squadron lying just of the coast
occasionally firing at some unseen
mark and heard field artillery boom
ing ahead.
Hear Batteries In the Dunes.
We heard the Belgian batteries fir
ing in the dunes on our right toward
Newport and only when we reached
the south pier at the mouth of the
User could we obtain any idea of the
general situation, the lines at this
point being held by the Sixth and
Seventh Belgian infantry The day
was cloudy and the wind was driving
the mist of rain inland Accordingly.
we sought a high. deserted building
that stood nearest the river. When
we finally stuck cur heads through the
skylight, by the aid 1T our glasses we
saw an unforgettable sight
At our feet lay the railroad station
at the mouth of the River User. which
stretched away right to the town of
Newport. then bent southwark and
was hidden from view by the building
in which we were. Behind the river.
hidden in grove of scrubby trees
growing on the dunes, were three Bel
gian batteries of four guns each, which
we're firing necessarily straight across
before us. The shells we're striking
beyond the village of Lombaertzyde.
Thirteen Warships in Sight.
To the left, beyond Lombaertzyde,
was the village of Westende, which
the Germans had retaken that morn.
Ing. Still farther away the church
spire of Middlekerque was family yisi-
BILE. Lombaertzyde seemed quiet, but
German shells bursting over IL pres
entity located the Belgian trenches be
fore us and a few soldiers came run
ming over the dunes.
But it was on the left that the spec
tacle was most impressive There, ly-
ing out from the coast at varying dis
tances. were 10 vessels of war. There
were two cruisers, one of which fired
occasionally from about three miles;
the other lay silent somewhat farther
from the coast and south of eight de-
stroyers, four French and four Eng
lish and three monitors
Great Flashes Bare Batteries.
For long time we watched the Ger
man shells bursting over Lombaert.
zyde The Belgian shrapnel and the
shells of the monitors were directed
against Westende. I saw the Belgian
batteries lying on our side of the User,
but. though their thunder made our
building tremble. we were able 10 lo-
cate the batteries ouly by the terrific
flashes amid the tres through an
occasional rift in the smoke, So well
were they concealed thai the Germans
must have been unable to locate them.
since the only shells which fell in our
direction seemed to be aimed at the
lighthouse. which the Germans prob
ably imagined to be a wireless station.
Each time a message was sent more
shells came whirling toward the light
house. Many fell into the river.
Tells English Officers Bravery.
We were joined in our skylight by
a Belgian captain who asked us for
the loan OF our glasses and when
he had seen all that he desired he
told US the story of the English lieu
tenant who had landed that morn
ing. the particulars of which he had
Just learned. This officer came ashore
from the monitor Severn with 20 men
and three machine guns TO prevent
the Belgian retreat.
Reaching Newport, he saw that in
losing Groote Bamberghe farm that
morning the Belgians had weakened
their position. Accordingly, he start
ed with his 20 men across the bullet.
swept area right to the Belgian
trenches. The men who we're there
say he walked as calmly as II on a
tour of inspection, calling orders to
his men and signaling with his hands.
In vain the Belgian officers shouted
that the position was already occupied
by the Germans Either ne did not
hear or be was determined 10 accom-
plish the task at all costs.
Destiny broods and is silent over
matters OF this kind. When so yards
from the coveted goal the young Gu