The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-09-22

cumSJanceS.
-@rne prevalence of the Belgian prac-
tice of sniping from the houses was
perhaps indicated by the warning OF
the German officer who acted as guard
for five American correspondents, in
Guiding myself, who were being taken
as prisoners from Beaumont to Aachen
in an army train. We were advised to
lie down on the floor of the car as the
Belgian Shippers would shoot at US from
the houses. But there was no firing.
"This, of course, is not brief for
the German army; it is an account OF
German conduct as it appeared to an
impartial observer who had the rather
extraordinary opportunity of travelling
for days with the German columns,
over a distance of more than hum
dred miles through dozen important
cities and towns.
Sometimes l was near enough to
the front to see the white artillery
smoke squirt into clouds along the
horizon and hear the double detona-
lions which came from artillery at
short range. At other times tra1led
behind through the desolate waste
which a victorious army leaves be-
hind 1t.
Pay All and Tip Well.
ION the contrary, witnessed nu-
merous cases of the most careful cour-
tesy on the part of German soldiers
In Brussels they not only paid their
cafe bills, but tipped generously.
Along the road, when a German officer
or soldier entered Belgian house for
food or shelter, it was not with de-
mand but a request. In spite OF the
confusion and errors which arose from
a strange tongue there was almost no
friction of any sort.
THE German soldiers were punctll-
iously considerate and polite to WON
en- and children, apologizing for the
discomfort they were causing. Upon
leaving house where they have been
| given shelter, have seen. them shake
| hands with the concierge, peasant
| woman, or in some cases with the
gentlewoman of Belgian villa, as
| pleasantly as if they were bidding
adieu to their hostess at weekend
house party.
$50 many instances of this sort are
at hand that a recital of them would
be tedious.
Naturally inclined to be gruff with
their soldiers, the German officers al
ways gave the French prisoners
pleasant word, and treated them with
every consideration. Not single ex
ception to this civility toward prison
ers has come to my attention.
"A French lieutenant and two Eng
lish officers travelled with us in TIT
prison train from Beaumont t.
Aachen, hating journey which tool
over thirty-six hours The train wa
crowded with German wounded ant
French and English prisoners, AM
there was nothing to eat or drink
except few fragments of rye bread
hard as stone, and little liqui
compound of chicory, which in Be
GUM masquerades under the name G
coffee. Since there was not enoug
even of this disheartening fare to
around, German officers went withou
food so that the prisoners might be fec
Aid Owners of Cafe.
an a little cafe in Beaumont, col
cierge and madame had fed befor
the approach of the soldiers and abal
doned their business. Two officeI
found them in hiding, brought thel
back, and in a day they had taken
more money than in any preViou
week in their career.
, These incidents could be indetinlt
ly prolonged, but they would only Q
fer additional support to point thu
: think l have already established
the universal kindness of Germa
: soldiers as 1 have observed them.
81 have seen perhaps half doze
: cases of drunkenness in obserV1r
, nearly 100000 soldiers, and the:
, few were only good-naturediy mau
/ lin. In Beaumont while was deta1nt
for "a hours in the small cafe pr
Y viously mentioned, with an arm'
t guard at the door, although specific:
: ly told that was not an ordina
: prisoner, a. staggering petty officer
i some sort, lunged toward me al
: showed me the sharp convincing ed
/ of his sword insisting that l run n
p hand across 1t.
: Warned to Avoid Drinking.
|, German discipline and Germs
s training seem to have put into t
German soldier an exemplary behavi
which is nothing less than remarkab
, Before 1 fell asleep on the floor of t
n Beaumont cafe, with two German
=, diers' guns slanting almost over n
l. 1 heard the petty officer who was
e charge of us, giving instructions
If the guards, which included the sta
o ment that any one of us who stir
8 outside the door should be shot. Tn
Ie he counseled them, almost in faith
d, ly way to drink only moderately, st
Ie ing that if they became drunk
n would recommend sentence of
Of years in the penitentiary.
:"If the conduct of the German
Of der errs at all it is on the side o.
lie too complete subordination. 1t is
m possible for any one who has sc
much of the German system to
Sc lieve in the tales of deliberate der
III dations and unsoldierly conduct