Omaha daily bee., 1914-08-18

the fight OF wednesday. All over the
field there are other similar graves some
OF Germans. some OF Belgians, some OF
their horses.
When reached the place this after
] noon, peasants with long mattocks and
spades we're turning UP the soil For two
fun days they have been at the work of
burial They were sick at heart. Their
corn Is ripe for cutting in the battle
| field, but little OF II will be harvested
The paths in their turnip fields are sod
den with the blood OF men and of horses
Field of HaeIen.
The battle ground should be called
Haelen. rather than Diest for Il was in
and through and behind the little village
of Haelen that the deadly test OF strength
took place. The result has been already
stated. The Germans lost three -fifths of
their force OF 1900 men, Two thousand
were killed, 5000 wounded and 800 taken
prisoners
So far as numbers go, the fight was
small considering the enormous armies
in the field; but there is ample evidence
that It was fierce out of all proportion
to its size The battle-ground Is roughly
three miles. long. Near one end Is
Haeien which was held Tuesday morning
by Belgian troops On Tuesday after.
| noon. II was attacked by large body
of Uhlans, artillery and infantry and
entered late In the evening. r'@r -
| Begin Firing. p:
Traces OF the fighting in the village and
It's SURROUNDINGS are only too clear. The
Belgian troops retired at night across a
railway track and road through some
open fields slopins toward the village, 10
position in the woods about mile and
a half distant. There they placed their |
big guns and began firing at the enemy. !
The Belgians showed good msrksman-
ship and in very little time. they forced !
the Germans to the alternative OF return
ibg or attacking again. The invaders
choose the latter course and came into
open country by three routes, one over a
little bridge along the road, another TO
the left behind the road and the third
TO the right in the shelter of woods and
low lying lane.
over the bridge they came in solid
column as though on parade. Suddenly
the Belgian machine guns, masked In
the wood. burst into life and the sotid
ranks OF the Germans were cut down
by the hail Of bullets as corn falls to the
scythe.
Charge OF UhIRns. -srI
One hundred Uhlans, who were in the
vanguard along one OF the roads, charged
forward daringly. but seventeen Belgians
came out of their oonceRlment and held
the hundred in check. Today that spot Is
Uttered with the derelict helmets and
lanees OF the fighting men. Those Ger
mans that survived the machine gun fire
charged too. and the fields all about the
Belgian position show by their covering
OF impedlments that the onslaught pressed
we'll up to the defenders guns and 20 the
trenches in the turnip fields, where the
Eelgian soldiers lay.
on the Germans left the mitrailleuses
/ Quick fire shell guns) got work In and
behind the houses on the outskirts OF the
village Five OF those houses were
burned TO the ground In a shed nearby
I found peasant weeping beside the
bodies OF his dead COWS,
The German shooting appears not 10
have been accurate enough 20 cover the
advance OF the infantry. The German
lances seem to have bent in the 'ancers'
hand One lance. from which I took
black and white pennon, was bent like
bow, as n It's owner had been shot and. In
falling from his horse, leaned his full
weight upon the weapon as the point
struck the ground
Letter from q Dead Soldier.
picked up on the field today a letter
which am endeavoring TO have identified
and sent TO the girl, somewhere, for whom
II Is intended. II was apparently written
on the eve OF the battle and carried by
a soldier who hoped that Il would. per
hRps reach It's destination after his
death. The translation runs:
Sweetheart Fate In thiS present war
has treated us no more cruelty then Il
has many others. II / have not lived TO
create for you the happiness OF which
both our hearts dreamed, Remember, my
sole wish Is now that you should be
happy, y''~
Forget me and create for yourself a
happy home that may restore to you some
OF the greater pleasures OF life. For my
self. shall have died happy IN the
thought OF your love Ny last thought
has been for you and for those l leave
at home. Accept this last kiss from him
who loved you"
The signature TO this letter. which was
stained and soiled. was. 30 far as l could
.deciphsr n. "Betienn.' on the back Is
postscript saying; II my photographs
should cause you unhappiness, send them