New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-13
New York Writer De.
scribes His Experience
Under CrOssfre.
SAND FLUNG IN FACE
BY FALLING MISSILES
Arthur Ruhl Arrives in London
from Antwerp. Having Seen
Enough of War.
BY Cab,e 20 The Tribune.

London, Oct. 12.-Arthur RUM at
rived in London tonight, having left
Antwerp Just as the Geranms were get
ting into the city. He had some thrill
ing experiences during the lombard
ment, being under Are several times,
especially when he accompanied Brit
ish surgeon into the zone between the
inner and middle forts on Thursday
where they we're caught between cross
fires.
"1've seen all the war I want to wit
ness" said Mr.. Ruhl. "Like most other
people, I've read the hsckneyed express
sion that shells whistle through the
air. but know now that they whistle
louder than they do in any DOOR
Through the courtesy of British sur
geon, was given the opportunity 20
enter the zone of combat in his auto
mobile. We could see no Germans nor
could we see shells. but we could hear
them coming through the air after 'he
distant boom Of guns. My head began
TO feel hot and took of my hat. a
moment after had uncovered my head
a badly timed shrapnel shell from the
Belgian forts at our backs broke above
opr heads like a terrific thunderclap.
and a piece OF the shell shot past, two
wards from our heads. ] then put on
nv hat. which, Of course, wouldn't
have helped much il any shrapnel came
closer, but felt more comfortable
after that with it on. We had gone
only a short distance when German
shell hit the road fifty feet in front Of
Us and burst. Then one landed closer.
II hit the ground so near to US that the
sand WAS thrown into our faces. Even
the surgeon decided It was getting UNI
plea SAINT When he took me back TO
town and We were about TO separate
German she'll came screaming through
the air. / darted into another street
lust about the time it crashed INTO
some houses
Mr. Ruhl confirmed the statement
that the Germans before the lombard
ment had requested plans Of the city
streets. so they would not destroy ca
tbedrals and monuments. such plans
he said. were taken TO Brussels by
Hugh Gibson. Of the American Legation
there. who was in Antwerp when the
Germans made the request.
at must be said in the Germans IA
vor that they tried to protect monu-
ments and cathedrals," Mr.. Ruhl added.
"They also had ample opportunity to
kill hundreds of refugees II they so
desired. for they could at one time
have destroyed the bridge on which
they were fleeing from the city Inc
German artillery fire was most sklltul,
according to statements OF the Allies.
II was felt in Antwerp that as soon as
the plan Of the city reached Brussels
the bombardment would begin. 1t start
cd at midnight on Wednesday, Many
Belgian soldiers began the evacuation
on Tuesday. ! didn't do any sleeping
ON Wednesday night, although early
THURSDAY morning there was lull, but
it began again in earnest and kept up
until Thursday night, when again
there was lull Of two hours about
supper time.
"That night my side Of the hotel was
nearer TO the German fire than the side
ON which James Hare had a room, so |
took a mattress and went into Hare's
room. During the night | could hear
soldiers passing and officers saying,
Put the best foot forward. men, By
Friday morning all the refugees had
/ left the city. ! was in Hare's room
when heard a terrific explosion, which
knocked out all the glass in the win
dows of the hotel, and as rushed to a
window to look out | saw the pontoon
bridge blown to pieces by the Belgian
troops. got out just before the Ger
mans came into the city, leaving on q
refugee boat"
After landing at Doel. Ruhl, Hare
and others finally reached the Holland
border at 1 o'clock on Sunday morning
and got to Flushing. Ruhl eventually
went TO Ostend. Speaking about refu
gees he said;
The roads into Holland were choket
with them, but they were not depressed
In fact, they seemed cheerful and &C
copied their fate with good grace. i
was indeed a motley assembly, for
there were horses, cows, goats anC
birds in the professions of fleeing Bel
gians. There was some difficulty II
obtaining food, but ii was inspiring th'
way in which Holland was caring TO
the refugees"
Mr.. Ruhl saw no more OF the "Jacl
Johnsons,' as the German shells ar,
sometimes called. officers told him thu
Germans got the exact range by mean
Of balloons, and after that il was i'm
possible 10 withstand the artillery fire