The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-11-12
AMID SHRAPNEL FIRE WRITER Sees
FIERCE CONFLICT ON THE USER RIVER

entering the CHURCH. ipuHG X Euh
OF straw. the place evidently having
been used as a dormitory for so;4iers.
but nothing had been touched. though
chairs we're scattered everywhere. Al.
ter mounting a rickety ladder q long
time In the dark I reached the very
tip OF the steeple above the bell.
Gees Battle From stsspIs.
Looking through my spyglasses over
the nat country in the direction OF the
town. was able 70 distinguish the
very spots and buildings beyond which
the Belgian shells were bursting
Flames were leaping high. but owing
to a row of trees screening the Ger
man batteries | was unable to see
what was burning At that time tho
town itsalf was intact
To the left stretched the poplar Dor
dered User. could see men sheI-
tered in trenches along the roadside
trenches so cut a. TO provide . skel
eton covering. upon which was heaped
straw making a wAtertiEht roof. In
front, about six hundred yards dis
tant, q regiment was drawn up. but
was unable TO learn the reason why.
In company with an English CORE
spondent. at that time the only other
correspondent with the Belgiana. saw
the battle OF Nieuport At close range.
Long before we reached the village OF
Newport Baines We saw part OF tho
naval squadron lying just on the coast
occasionally frinE AZ some unseen
mark and heard field artillery boom
ing ahead.
Hear Batteries In the Dunes.
We heard the Belgian batteries FIR
ing in the dunes on our right toward
Nieuport and only when We reached
the south pier at the mouth OF tho
User could We obtain any idea OF tbs
general situation, the lines at this
point being held by the Sixth and
Seventh Belgian infantry, The day
was cloudy and the wind was driving
the mist OF rain inland. Accordingly.
we sought high, deserted building
| that stood nearest the river When
we finally stuck our heads through the
skylight. by the aid OF our glasses We
saw an unforgettable sight
At our feet lay the railroad station
at the mouth OF the River User. which
stretched away right to the town Of
Nieuport. then bent southwark and
was hidden from view by the building
in which We were Behind the river.
hidden in a grove OF serubby trees
growing on the dunes, were three Bel
Eian batteries Of four guns each. which
were frinR necessarily straight across
before us. The ahells were striking
beyond the village OF Lombaertzyde.
Thirteen WArships In Sight
To the left. beyond LombEertEyde.
was the village OF Westende. which
the Germans had retAken that morn.
ing stiil farther away the church
spirc OF Middlekerque was family visit
BILE LombaertEyde seemed quiet. but
German shells bursting over Il pres.
entity located the Belgian trenches be-
fore US and few soldiers came run
ming over the dunes.
But IL waA on the left that the spec.
tacle was most impressive There. ~
ing out from the coast at varying dis.
tances, were 10 vessels OF war. There
were two cruisers. one OF which fred
occasionally from about three miles.
the other lay silent somewhat farther
from the coast and south OF eight de-
stroyers. four French and four Eng.
llsh and three monitors.
Great Flashes Bare Batteries.
} For a long time We watched the Ger.
man shells bursting over Iombaert'
zyde. The Belgian shrapnel and the
shells OF the monitors we're directed
against Westende. | saw the Belgian
batteries lying on our side OF the User,
but. though their thunder made our
building tremble, we were able TO 10
cate the batteries only by the terrific
flashes amid the trees through an
occasional rift In the smoke. So we'll
were they concealed that the Germans
must have been unable to locate them
since the only shells which fell In our
. direction seemed to be aimed az tbs
D lighthouse, which the Germans prob
! ably imagined to be a wireless station
D Each time a message was sent more
p shells came whirllng toward the light
5 house Many fell into the river.
t Tells English oHesr's Bravery.
] We were Joined In our skylight By
!. a Belgian captain who asked US fol
. the loan Of our glasses and when
= he had seen all that he desired -s
9 told US the story OF the English lieu
, tenant who had landed that morn
q ing. the particulars Of which he had
, just learned This ofiicer came ashore
b from the monitor severn with 20 men
and three machine guns TO prevent
the Belgian retreat
q Reaching Newport, he saw that ia
!. losing Groote Bamberghe farm thai
e morning the Belgians had weakened
a their position Accordingly. he start
/. ed with his 20 men across the bullet
o swept area right to the Belgian
o trenches The men who were theirs
/ say he walked as calmly as " on a
Z tour Of inspection. calling orders Il
q bis men and signaling with his hands
g IN vain the Belgian officers shouted
r that the position was already occupied
l. by the Germans Either he did moi