The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1914-10-16
Oxford Men Relate Adventures
In Belgium While Germans
Were Ravaging II.
SAW VILLAGES DESTROYED
Reached Louvaln In Time to Witness
the Burning and LootlHs Of That
Beautiful City by the Troops
of the Kaiser.
BY HERBERT TEMPLE,
European Manager Of the information
al NAua gArulnA

London.-Two Oxford university
students have arrived In London, af-
ter most exciting trip through the
war zone. They passed through the
German lines several times. and were
in Brussels. Aix-la-C hapelle, Louvain,
Liege and elsewhere. One Of them,
A. ]. Dave, told this story:
Il was accompanied by another Ok
ford undergraduate, and we left Lon
don for Ostend. arriving In Brussels
on August 10. A week later we start
ed out on what proved the most ad-
venturous time we ever had. 1t Is
probably due to the fact that we have
q good knowledge Of French and Ger
man that we managed to get home at
all.
"On leaving the city we walked
along the road towards Louvain. Ev-
erywhere we were challenged by Ger.
man sentries, and met streams of ref
ugees coming into the city carrying all
their belongings in bags. AS we went
along the evening sky was lit up by
burning buildings. Straight ahead Of
us was Louvain, by this time in flames.
In fact, all round US there could be
seen flames
I'VE turned off that night towards
Malines, our idea being to get north,
through the German lines. We stayed
the night at Seventeen, and on our
arrival there were 40 Germans to be
seen, but In an hours time we were
awakened by the ruMble of wagons Of
the German commissariat, and the
landlord came and searched US for
arms. On finding we had none, he
allowed us to remain. In the morn
ing we found the place had been peace
fully occupied by German troops We
left that place and struck north to
Steenocken, on the road to Malines.
Saw cortenbere Destroyed.
Here on the cross roads we met a
party Of German officers who refused
to allow US to go further north We
then turned back on the road towards
Louvain. AS we approached Corten-
berg we heard firing, and at the sta
ton we were challenged by German
sentries who searched US. Luckily for
us we had taken the precaution to de-
stroy our English passports, our check
books, and everything that might dis
close the fact that we were English.
men.
las we were being searched some
German officers came over and took
US on with them through the village
In the main street firing was going on,
and We heard that four or FIVE uhlans
had been shot as they passed through,
and this troop had been dispatched to
destroy the village as punishment
For their terrible purpose the Ger
mans had brought with them carloads
OF straw, and with these they set fife
to the houses. We were made to walk
up the main street holding our hands
while two German soldiers were told
off to cover US with with their revol
vers. This was In the afternoon. and
from three to six o'clock we had to
stand at the end of the street while
the firing went on. It was terrible
spectacle, and our first glimpse Of the
horrors Of war, for we saw five civil
ians as they left their burning houses
ruthlessly shot down by the German
soldiers. Soon the whole street was
In flames. The German soldiers, how
ever, spared women and children and
marched them on one side before they
fired the village,
PerIlous Trip In the Dark.
1--WE made the best of bad job
and produced flask of brandy which
had with me, while the Germans
looted a cafe and brought out cognac
Then they allowed us to go on towards
Louvain. By this time 1t was dark
and we were In danger not only OIL
being shot by sentries, but also by
inhabitants, who might take us fol
Germans. We walked on through Q
wood and struck small village called
veltham. Although we went to sew
eral cafes We could not obtain any
thing to eat = nd no one would give III
shelter, so we went to the village
priest Poor man, he could do moth
ing for us; his place was already full
Of refugees, and. he advised US to &c
into the woods. However, we con
trived to get little chocolate ant
with loaf Of bread which we hat
brought with US. we managed to max,
scratch meal. after which we LAY
down in a barn.
Sleep was quite, out OF the question
for the place was overrun with rats
In the morning we continued our wa!
through the village and two little Bel
gian girls came out and gave US som,
bread and butter. for which we were
very grateful
"Just outside Of Louvain we me
troop Of Germans and they allowed
US to go on, although they told vi
there was considerable danger as tn,
inhabitants were "still firing" Mel