Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-12


fetal Press Bureau issued tonight the
following descriptive account by ar
eye witness with Field Marshal
French's headquarters supplementins
the narrative of yesterday of the
movements of the British force and
he French armies in immediate touch
with 1t:
ION the ninth of october in spite of
the perfection of their arrangements
for ranging and observation there has
been much waste of ammunition by
the Germans. For instance, within an
area of two acres on our size of the
Aisne there are more than 100 craters
made by their hight explosive shells.
This shower of projectiles, which
must have cost some 1000 POUNDS
ls5000) did absolutely no damage for
the locality never happened to be &C.
cupied while it was being lombard
ed. 1t also incidentally illustrates one
weak point of indirect fire when I'M
accompanied by observation.
Another example of prodigality of
ammunition is the continued shelling
of Rheims This is still carried on at
intervals, and on the sixth, resulted
in the death of an entire family of
eight people. On the seventh Il of the
habitants were hit.
ION the other hand concealment of
their own guns, as of all their troops,
has been most carefully practiced by
the Germans and they construct al
tentative entertainments, so that when
one position is made too hot another
can be taken up without loss of time.
Ever since the South African war,
the desirability of rendering troops
as invisible as possible has been gem
orally recognized in all armies, and
this war has thrown much light on
the matter. 1t appears that at long
ranges the uniform matters little, the
blue coat and red trousers of the
French infantry and cavalry not being
any more conspicuous than the clothes
of our own men or Of the Germansc.
But at medium ranges, the red trous-
ers of our allies show up very clear
~. When the infantry are lying down,
however, their kepis are not so cas-
fly seen as our own fiat-topped forage
caps.
From Interrogation of prisoners, 1t
has been ascertained that at medium
ranges both French and British off,
GERS are very easily distinguishable
from their men and that selected
marksmen provided with field glasses,
are specially told off from each pla-
toon of German infantry to pick off
officers. The French officer is betrayed
by the greater visible length of his
red trousers and by his accoutrements.
while the British officer is given away
by his sword, his open jacket with low
collar and tie. his sam brown belt and
absence of pack. Even such trifiing
differences as the color or cut of the
breeches are said to be noticeable.
The Germans certainly DO employ
snipers and some of them have been
found on church towers, up trees and
killing two of our officers and wound
ing two more before he was account
ed for. Some of our prisoners report
that their officers have been ordered
to remove their distinguishing shout
der straps, but this may be in order
not to convey information to the enc
my as to the units to which they be-
long. At any rate, to judge from the
officers already captured, the order
has not been carried out.
THE following notification to his
troops by one of the French army
commanders bears upon the methods
Of German warfare:
"'The Germans have forced some
prisoners of war to remain in their
trenches. When the French advanced
under the impression that the trench
90 were in possession of their own
side, they are fired on at close range.
That this has actually been done is
fully confirmed, with illuminating de-
tails as to German methods of war
iE the Goth century by an entry in
captured field notebook. 1t runs thus:
Sixteenth September-At dawn she'll
ing began. We retired with prisoners.
My two prisoners worked hard at dig
ging trenches. At midday / got an
order to rejoin at village with them.
/ was very glad, as I had been ordered
to shoot them as soon as the enemy
advanced. Thank God it was not nee
essary.'
"On the other hand, an example is
given of an order which prescribes
only legal and suitable precautions,
except as regards the shooting of
hostages for self protection in the enc
my's country. 1t was issued some time
ago.
ok La Chapelle, tenth August 1914
To protect ourselves from the extremely
hostile attitude of the Belgian popula-
tion II is necessary to take very rigorous
and energetic measures against non-com-
batants who take part in the struggle.
For this purpose no firearms or explos-
ives must be retained by them. 1t is
therefore ordered that before locality is
occupied detachment of prisoners will
march In ahead OF the column and warn
the people through the mayor and local
clergy to deliver up all arms. ammuni-
ton and explosives. After they, have
handed over their arms the inhabitants
will be collected outside the locality and
the houses and gardens will be searched.
II any arms are found the hostages will
be executed and the place set on fire.
When the inhabitants are summoned to
surrender their arms they will be inform
d'oS the penalties to which they expose
themselves by noncompliance. The arms
will be destroyed and the explosives
thrown into the water.
"VoN QUASI.
/ Commanding TX A. c.
Another German order of the second