The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-18
War IN A Diary
English School Girl Records
Events ON Frontier.
Says Prussian Fighters Were
Like Theater Soldiers.

London, Aug. ia remarkable
chronological story of the stirring
events on the frontier is presented by
the diary of Miss Lydia Evans. an
English school girl Of II attending
the convent school at WOnren. near
Wise, in Belgium. Following are ex-
cerpts from the diary:
August 2-All the people are FUR
nishing cows. calves, horses and hay.
which they are obliged to send
to the Belgian army at Liege. The
first Prussian troops came into the
village today.
August sNMore troops arriving.
The Prussians slept in our convent.
some in the park and others in beds
in the recreation rooms. The rev.
erend mother put everything at their
disposal. They acted nicely, but gave
the impression that II they were re-
fused they would take more. We all
body got the alarm to dress half an
hour afterwards. We came down and
found the place full of Germans. who
were exceedingly polite. They are
magnificent. The meanest soldier is
perfectly equipped, everything is per-
fectly new and they have splendid
horses. They are like theater SOL
diers they are so perfect. They were
awfully nice when 1 talked to them
August Between Monday and
Tuesday there was a terrible fight be-
| tween the Germans and the Be1gians
at Wise because the Belgians would
not let the Germans pass to Liege.
The Belgians blew up several bridges.
! August 5-The German soldiers
were here all day, but they were very
polite. They always bow and salute.
We hear a terrific noise at Wise as OF
a bombardment. wounded man
was brought to the convent.
1 "AngnSf "A curato near here has
been shot. The Germans are very
nice il you give them what they want,
but If they are refused the pistol
comes out. Old Mother Theresa was
at the door when some soldiers asked
her for a kettle. She refused and one
| nearly shot her.
I august IA most fearful noise
was heard at 2 o'clock. They say a
fort was blown up. A German aero
plane passed ever here yesterday. The
There are seven wounded here and
others have been taken to AK La
! Chapelle.
| August S.-Two women. and two
men have arrived from Liege. Those
poor persons witnessed awful sights
when they crossed the field covered
with dead. We have heard that Der.
neau is burned and that women ani
! children have been hung. The Ger
mans are furious at having lost such
l
| the French.
| August 9.-Aeroplanes passed righ
over us and seemed to drop something
white. The soldiers are going abOu
in bands destT Dying and laying waste
| every house an0 garden. They set
house on fire near the convent. There
are 400, 600 soldiers between here and
Nieulane.
august 10.-There was a terrific
crash at the door and four German
nffiO0rC in q <<uA. >l-~,~
and asked for wine. We had a fear
full fright. After dinner an Officer
| came and asked us where the curat,
was. Miss Mcmahon had to lead hin
to the rector'S house with a revolver
pointed at her back and all the wa,
| houses on either side are burning Thu
nuns asked the German officers il the,
would spare the convent. AS soon a.
they had gone the nuns woke us I'll
and we started fleeing by the bacl
road"