Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-11-12
saw MEAUX BATTLE
English Correspondent Describes
the Recent Fighting.
Graphic Picture Of the Artillery Con.
fiict, the Wrecked Village and Asr.
oplsnes Cruising About over
1 ,a5n.t 1t ALL r., . aM y. ..
BY FRANKLIN p. MERRiCK,
International News Service staff Cor

: iUNSTRattoHAI NEWS toeCSlCe StaV NoT
. * ,-s.l .-.tt respondent. q. s-avs .,
Partisan English correspondent
who has just returned TO Paris gives
a lively description OF the fighting at
, Meaux, which is on the Alarne 81
miles east of Paris. He was an eye.
witness OF part of the conflict which
centered around Meaux, where the
German lines finally gave way aud
fell hack. .a co..
II came upon the battle at MeanS
with startling suddenness," said the
correspondent. My motor car had
just topped little rise overhangins
the town when it was stretched out
/, like panorama before my eyes. For
some time | had been hearing the
growl OF the artillery and knew that
he allied forces were in action
against the Germans. stopped my
automobile unon the crest and looked
upon thrilling scenes
Behind a piece OF thicket | could
see troops and far distant along the
range Of hills were several batteries
of artillery. In the foreground was
4 cluster OF cottages surrounded by
fields. In the fields we're number
ut hay stacks. some, OF which had
been set on fire. In another field
number OF frightened horses were
salloping about. Opposite the Ger
man guns, about five or six miles dis
tant. ! should judge. were several
batteries OF French artillery.
The day was clear and the clouds
Of white smoke which rolled upward
drifted lazily in the upper currents
Far overhead and distinct against the
sun cruised the inevitable German
aeroplane.
II could see shrapnel bursting In
the air with little clouds OF squirting
black smoke, for the Germans charge
their shells with powder which gives
off black smoke so that they can
ascertain where the shrapnel are fall
Ing. Il could see showers OF dirt
spraying upward where shells rio
ochetted C. the ground.
German shells were falling in the
fields just beyond Meaux. We could
see, long twisting snake-like line OF
new earth, where the French had
thrown up entertainments. 49,.
u. Il pushed onward into the town.
How changed it was from the peace
full, sleepy little French village OF
week before. 1t was desolate and
empty Houses had been burned or
wrecked by shells. The bridge was
blown into shapeless mass. The
streets were like avenues In a city OF
the dead But soon I saw that the
town had not been deserted, for when
the chasseurs came Gathering through
with the iron-shod hoofs OF their
h. .es-ring.ng pCcc.s the .cohhless .>,cny
shutter was cautiously opened and
heads peeped forth to see whether
the troops were French, English or
German.
Looking upward, saw several
more aeroplanes, but could not tell
whether they were French or Ger
man. could see shells bursting be-
meath the machines and marveled
how the gunners could tell whether
they were firing upon friend or foe.
I Curious scenes attend every battle,
but one OF the most unusual that |
witnessed was in Meaux. A shell fell
In the street and tore up great hole,
Dirt and stones rained upon all the
buildings in the neighborhood I
passed by Immediately afterward and
when some one opened shutter to
look out l caught glimpse of a
woman sitting within the room darn.
Ing, as though nothing was happen.
Ing. On all sides of her battle ragged;
she alone seemed to be calm. ,.r
u tried to get into the fields flank
Ing Marne to see what was happening
where the infantry and cavalry were
believed to be engaged, but an old
man warned me back. Hell Itself
seems to have turned loose he said.
81 turned and made off toward
Paris and as I again passed over the
hill tops the sound Of the cannonade
was in my ears and the geyses OF
earth from bursting shells"
= o.,