The Raymer enterprise., 1914-10-22


occupation. On Saturday and Sun
day a heroic effort was made to
save the city from the consequences
OF a fresh German visitation. The
fight around Melle on Saturday turned
to the advantage OF the defenders, as
did that on Sunday The combatants
we're within 100 yards of one an.
others positions. Hundreds of wound
ed were lying unaided and uncared for
In the immediate front of the two OF
posing armies. The Germans rife
fire during the night had been con.
tinuous. They fired on every one ap.
preaching their lines. and did not dis.
criminate between combatants and
noncombatants.
Retreat Decided On.
IT was a critical moment. There
was not much time for reflection. and
after careful review of the situation
general retreat was decided upon.
The Germans appeared to be in great
strength, but the defending force was
holding on undismayed by the fury of
the German infantry assaults, sup
ported by heavy artillery.
There were no trains from Ghent
towards the coast towns, but vehicles
OF every description, from dogcarts
to ramshackls h9-se wagons, were
reqnisitioned, and the inhabitants of
Ghent fled with some show of confu.
sion from the enemy approaching
their gates. BY midnight the last
citizen who could scrape together
money to hire a vehicle of any kind,
the last soldier, and a large proportion
OF the wounded had quilted the city,
taking the road TO Bruges and Os-
tend.
The streets of the city We're ST.
lent and deserted, and the Hotel de
Poste, which had been used as a resi-
dence by the headquarters staff and
the correspondents, was practically
empty.
Red Cross Nurses Brave.
There are i2 wounded in the ho-
tel attended by two nurses OF the Bel
gian Red Cross society, who bravely
refused to quit their charges. even
when the doctors and stretcher bear
ers abandoned their posts and van
ished from Ghent The wounded were
in a feverish state OF excitement.
Somehow, the news OF the evacuation
reached their ears, and they implored
the nurses to have them transported
elsewhere. for not one OF them rel.
ished the idea Of falling wounded into
the hands Of the Germans.
"lt was In vain We sought aid from
the city authorities, who were more
or less distracted at the prospect OF
fresh German incursion. They
frankly said they had no aid to give
and no doubt they were right.
Fears for Brother.
"At 6 a. m. the wounded were still
in the hotel, fretting at the long de-
lay No vehicle. not even dog cart,
was obtainable, and Germans might
appear at any moment.
"One of the nurses. Mile. Baerde-
maker, whose brother was severely
wounded and was lying in the hotel,
had bravely faced the ordeal Of the
long night vigil, but now she began
to show some signs of the emotion
that was racking her sisterly heart.
when things looked the blackest,
Mr.. Van Hee, the American viee-con-
sui, brought his automobile to the ho-
tel door. He was on his way to Brus,
sells, and had called for friend who
was to accompany him.
Mr.. Van Hee is big.hearted, SYM
pathetic American. and when he heard
of the plight of the wounded, his eyes
filled with tears.
Bother Brussels and official mis-
sions, he said. 1 will never leave
these poor boys TO be taken pris-
oners by the Germans
He was as good as bis word. In a
few minutes the wounded had been
brought down and the consular car
made several trips to the railway sta
tien. Every man was taken away
from the hotel and placed on board a
military train which was In readiness
70 leave for ostend.
Saves More Wounded.
Afterwards Mr.. Van Iee took his
automobile to the military hospital
and carried off six wounded soldiers
whose wounds precluded them from
walking. They had been carried on
stretchers.
Many of the wounded left behind
in the military hospital who were
able to walk had earlier In the morn
ing made brave attempt to save
themselves.
Some hobbled forth painfully, sup
porting tottering limbs with the aid
OF improvised crutches. Others were
helped along by the kindly arm of a
lad or q woman who had come for
ward Ia answer to the appeal for aid.
It was walk OF over half mile On
a paved road from the hospital to the
railway station.
"One train filed with wounded did
get away from the city before the
entry Of the Germans, but a second,
l.. I'll i.