Evening journal., 1914-08-25
PICTURES SUFFERING
IN THE LIEGE WAR ZONE

to within is miles of Biege only to
be arrested by a Dutch patrol. L
was taken before the major command
ing, who told me that ! could not go
into Belgium. He was deaf 10 all
protests and finally gave me my
choice of leaving for Maastricht or
being jailed. l came to Maastricht
The little cathedral in Maastricht
has been transformed into a tempor-
airy hospital The doctor in attend
ance told me stories of the heroism of
the wounded German soldiers who
have been brought there and are be-
ing cared for in a makeshift fashion
because of the limited medical stores
Obtainable. One instance was typical.
A German soldier, hardly more than
boy, was brought in fearfully
wounded. For two days he lay un-
conscious. Then. just before ne died,
glimmer of consciousness returned.
He tried TO raise himself. failed. then
raised his hand weakly in salute and
whispered in a voice audible only to
the nurse at his side:
Herr Lieutenant. I report myself"
The whisper in German was his
last word AS he ended the brief
sentence his form shook cOnvulsively
and then stiffened The boy had
fought his last battle.
Another, young officer, fingered
for days with a shrapnel hole in his
side the size of baseball. His own
condition did not seem to trouble him
but he constantly importune the doc
tor to help his comrades who were
suffering in cots nearby. Always his
whispers were of coming triumph OF
/ the German arms. There was no re-
gret that he was wounded unto death
/ but regrets that he could not hope to
go back to the firing line.
Outside aid is badly needed here.
/ The Hollanders are doing their best
to relieve the suffering of the refugees
and of the sick and wounded. But
medical stores arc scarce. There is
very little food The suffering In the
refugee camps where mothers are
separated from their husbands; chill
dren from their mothers and none
has knowledge of the fate of these
missing loved ones, taxes all who es-
say to comfort
The Dutch Red Cross is utilizing
its every resource to give needed aid
But the task is too much for the or
ganization and up to the present no
outside aid has arrived.
From the hills south of Masstricht
the German troops are visible through
a field glass. The ruins of many vii
lagos can be discerned between the
Belgian frontier line and the general
direction of Liege. These villages
we're the scenes of terrible retributiOn
by the Germans who, cnraged over
reports of alleged atrocities by the
residents toward wounded German
soldiers and because townspeople fired
on them, simply wiped the towns out
of existence.
When / was arrested and taken be-
fore the major ! protested that as an
American neutral. representing hun
dreds of American newspapers, | haC
duty to perform and should be per
mitted to proceed across the frontier
into Belgium. The major shook his
head
"Your train leaves at o'clock
You have fifteen minutes to catch i
or you you will go to prison" h
said you can't stay here and | cal
listen to no arguments. / am sorry
but / a mcompelled to do my duty
Excuse my poor English"
NOte.-Karl II. Won Wiegand
United Press STAFF Correspondent
whose story was received from Mas
FRIGHT, Holland. yesterday afternoon
was the first American newspape
man to penetrate within the fightin
zone about Liege.