The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-09-25
Tells OF THRILLS IN THICK OF
FIGHTING NEAR WEERDE, BELGIUM

From every window OF the three
stored chateau opposite us lean muz-
zles of mltrailleuses poured out their
hail of death.
| have seen fighting on four CONT |
nents, but never have l witnessed so
deadly fire as that which wiped out |
the head of the Belgian columns as a
sponge wipes out figures on q slate. |
The Germans had prepared the trap
and the Belgians had stumbled into it.
Three minutes later the big bat
teries came tearing on dead run
6elalans Flee for Lives.
Then things began to happen with
bewildering rapidity. Back through
the hedges, across the bitches, over
roadways came the Belgian infantry,
crouching, STOPPING, and running for
their lives,
Bullets began to smash the tiles
above us.
This is no place for two innocent
little American boys Thompson re-
marked, shouldering his camera
And, besides, II we don't hurry we
won't get back to town in time for
dinner"
By the time we reached the gyound
we found the Belgian infantry was
over a mile in our rear, and that to
reach our car we had to cross nearly q
mile Of open field.
We had not gotten a quarter way
across the field when the German ar
tillery which the Belgians had con-
fidently asserted was silenced opened
on the retiring infantry with shrap-
mel.
When we we're half way across the
field two Belgian soldiers popped up
from a trench with leveled rifles and
shouted
Halt! Hands upi"
1t was a fine place to be held up
and cross-questioned, with German
shells making as much racket as fire.
works on Fourth of July evening.
The invitation extended by the SOL
diers being very urgent however, az
they positively would not take no for
an answer, we advanced with hands
! above our heads, wondering whether
we would get a Belgian bullet In front
or a German shell in the back.
Hurried to Safety.
As we came near enough to them
20 recognize us one Of the soldiers ex-
claimed: "oh, 1t is the Americana" an
II that explained any madness, and
suggested politely that we had better
make for the shelter of a row of cot
tages in the rear. We agreed enthusi-
astically with him and started to run
again.
The shrapnel now was bursting a
dozen to the minute, and as all three
of us were thirsty decided 1t was
an excellent Idea to see II we could
get into the wine cellar of the nearest
farmhouse.
AS we approached, two sentries
came running up.
Keep away from that housed" they
shouted THE man who lives there
is crazy. He is upstairs with rife.
shooting at every one he Sees"
Make Dash fs: Car.
We had no choice but to make a
dash for the car. AS we came in sight
of the machine a shell burst within
thirty feet of it, demolishing the en-
tire front OF the house in front OF
which 1t was standing.
A Red Cross flag over convent
evidently was not proving the safe
guard we had supposed. | hope moth
ing happened to those nuns. They
were very sweet, kindly, and were
caring for a number of little children
l suppose actually did not take mora
than three seconds to crank the car,
but 1t seemed like three hours.
Darkness had now fallen. A tor
rental rain had set in; the mud was
ankle deep, and the road back to Ma
lines was In possession of the Ger
mans, SO we were compelled to make a
detour through the deserted country
side In the inky blackness.
Run Without Lights.
In order not to attract the German
fire We had to run without lights on
road slippery as glass. 1t was long
after midnight when, cold, hungry and
soaked to the skin, we called the pass
word to the sentry at the entrance to
the inner Notifications and came limp
ing into Antwerp.
Notwithstanding the fact the Bel
CLANS have retired a considerable dis
lance all along the line, the general
staff inform me that the Belgian Of
fensive movement has accomplished
its object and that the ninth German
army, which was well on its way to
France, has been recalled to REINFORCE
the troops holding the line of COM
munications.
The wounded were brought into this
city in the early hours OF the morn
ing. The chasseurs and carabineers
met with important losses. 1t was a
lively day for every one concerned,
and there we're a few minutes when
| though would never see the Statue
of Liberty again.
"~~~-~~~-~~~~~~~~-~-~> - ~~o~O~~~~~~~
| nrOnppnaH tgiy,n 49,