The Washington herald., 1914-12-20

HOW WOMAN FELT
in REAL BATTLE
Shell Bursts Only One Hun
dred Yards Away from
Her.
FLANDERS LAST EFFORT
Futile Effort to Rescue Aged Mans
Property Took Gallant Girl Into
Zone of Fire.
FLANDERS LAST EFFORT
Especial CGble Letter.)

LOhC VI H.
I Especial Osble Lette) ..'.
London. Dec. Is-Miss A. Christitch, a
woman who was recently under fire al
- the battle in Flanders, writes thus of her
experiences for the Daily Express:
To be within sound OF cannon shot is
awe inspiring. to see the shells flying is
I, thrilling, but to be within touch OF the
missiles, which may at any moment end
ones existence is quite the most eerie
sensation that can be experienced
II was at Nieuport one day last week
that another woman and myself had our
baptism of fire. We had motored from
La Panne TO fetch the luggage of an aged
British resident who had escaped during
the first days of the bombardment Ieav-
ing everything behind. On learning at La
Panne that there was a luIl in the can
nonade my friend and resolved to make
a dash to the doomed town and rescue
what we could OF the old mans property.
We made our route through Furnes,
and thence proceeded along the road to-
ward Nieuport. Here and there We saw
a group Of soldiers around a camp fire
. and a steaming caldron. which reassured
US as to what We had already been told
that hunger is not among the many Ills
which must be endured in the trenches.
Under Fire.
AS we motored along We heard the
booming of guns, but our first realization
of the fact that We were actually at
the front was when we beheld a gun be-
hind a mound of earth, and a soldier be-
side it making ready to fire. We sped
past in our car and the next minute there
was a loud report. The gun had been
fired over our heads, its missile directed
. at the German trenches.
, As we neared Nieuport the sound Of
the enemy's artillery became more dis
tinct for ii was a windy day, and the
military on duty outside Nieuport assured
us that, but for the wind, we should hear
such laundering of incessant gun fire
from both sides that II would suffice to
make us return to safety. We were deaf
TO their advice, however, and although
they were satisfied that our papers were
all in order it was with reluctance that
they allowed US to proceed to our destina-
ton.
must explain here that the town of
Nieuport itself was not being bombarded
that day, and II was the knowledge Of
this fact that had brought us thither.
What was actually happening was that
the enemy's guns were firing eastward
over the town toward the French
trenches.
Took Great Risks.
We reminded the sergeant at the out
post station of this fact and explained to
him the necessity of the mission which |
We had taken.
You run some risk, ladies'" he said, |
for the Bosches aim SC badly that one |
can not be sure. However. c'est comme |
> vOus voulez-as you like"'
1t would be diIficult to gauge our pre-
Cise sentiments at this juncture. We GER |
tainly could not wish that German marks |
manship should improve and yet: But |
il was no use juggling with our con- |
science: we stepped boldly out of the
rar and walked into the town, deter
mined to take our risk of stray shots.
Clean. industrious. Goquettish little
Nieuport as we had known it in happier
days had become an abomination of desc
lation. Facing US stood the once beauti- |
full church with its roof torn of and its
walls riven. We had a glimpse OF a
shattered altar through the clefts as We
hurried through the sheIl-plowed streets,
picking our way among stones, earth
mounds, pieces of shrapnel, and sinister
looking cavities-sites of recent explo-
siOns.
shattered Houses Tragic.
The houses which were still erect were
more tragic than those that had been
demolished. Shattered and shivering
fragments Of glass still adhered to the
window sashes, rafting dismally in the
blast One dwelling in particular made
a deep impression on us because of the
peaceful past it conjured up. Lace cur
tains futtered through the empty win
dow frame. and the leaves of an open
music folio on the piano turned back
ward and forward at each gust that
swept through the deserted house. A
lfe-size portrait of a sweet-faced old
lady lay scratched and torn on the pave
ment.
This was but one of the many empty
dwellings which We saw, all bearing
evidence of the sudden exodus before the
sGerman onslaught.
In silent depression We went on. There
was not a human being in sight of whom
TO inquire our way to the house We
sought. but suddenly a door creaked
slowly open and an old man in his shirt
sleeves, with a clock in his hand, peered
out at us. He was obviously busy with
repairs. and had not abandoned his trade
even now. for in the little shop behind
him stood A row of clocks awaiting their
turn.
She'll Burts Nearby.
We were about to speak to him when
q terrific report, followed by an explosion
sounded almost in our immediate neigh
borhood. A shell had burst in the air
about a hundred yards away. and piece
,
into the canal within fifteen yards from
where we stood.
Beyond the canal, in the open space in
front Of us, we saw frey globes waited
on dense clouds of smoke toward the
French trenches, and their buzz through
the air sounded more fiendish to our ears
even than the thunder of the firing. We
shuddered as we thought Of the havoc
they would wreak among the devoted
guardians of Belgium's last foot of in
dependent soil.
AS the firing became more insistent,
we sought in vain for shelter, but no
point in this unhappy and tortured town
afforded protection. It was folly to pro- ,
Ceed, especially as our destination was .
remote and lay in the direction of the ;
harbor so much coveted by the enemy.l :
We regained our car sadder and wiser as
to conditions Of war.
On our return journey toward La
Panne we had the startling experience !
Of being arrested. A horseman galloped ]
behind shouting Stop or fire"
We stopped. and found ourselves in h
stantly surrounded by a group OF cavalry r
and infantry. summary account of
our business did not suffice, but after
producing our papers and private letters E
from high French officials It was decided Il
that conformation with superior au- .
Nlorities might he SHARED ms q