Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-10
SIDELIGHTS
--ON-
European War

| Rotterdam.-Much of the news of
the war gets into the German press
in the form of letters which officers
and privates at the front send to their
families. Written by men who des-
cribe what they actually see and feel,
some strange mixtures of sensations
experienced and actuality encountered
establishments of strong appeal and
wide human interest. One of these ap-
pears in the koelnische Zeitung of
September 16.
From a wild French forest, on the
anniversary of the battle of Sedan
(Sept- p the best greetings. During
the last two days we have again been
at the extreme front, after we had
been given a chance to rest up and get
enough to eat. Our position is a dam
gerous one, being well advanced into
the French lines, and we are Obliged
to fight off many attacks on the part
OF an enemy much superior in num-
bers.
Yesterday we fought from early
morning till late in the night, opposing
Alpine chasseurs and negroes, whose
courage it would be foolish to uues-
ton. The woods here are very ex-
tended and cover a ground which is
much broken up. They are so dense
that very often you do not see the
enemy until you are within so, even
30, PAGES of him, and quite frequently
we get so close to the blacks that we
can look into their eyes
I'VE are greatly indebted to the.
color of our uniform. The French are
constantly at a disadvantage because
of their red pants and blue coats. The
Alpine Chasseurs are fine fellows, and
in German uniforms they would make
a good appearance. In the French
hotel porter uniform nobody looks
smart. The chasseurs wear red or
blue knee breeches, ribbon-puttees,
long blue cutaways, and a blue cap.
Prisoners without arms make an ap-
pearance of utter neglect. There are
prisoners taken every day, because the
ordin-Ty French soldier is only too
ready to throw away his arms, make
hands up and shout Pardon
at is now one in the afternoon, and
so far we have not been disturbed. The
dead are buried, and now we are ly-
ing under the trees enjoying a spell of
quiet and the peace of the forest. I
have just finished reading the newspa-
pers to my worthless, and most of them
are taking a little noon nap. Every
thing about us is peaceful. The forest
is fragrant with the smell of foliage
and pine needles, and the sky laughs
in a wonderful blue. 1t is hard to be-
lieve that this is a scene en- which
men are butchered-the scene of what
I saw yesterday. But the dull thud and
thunder of artillery in the distance re-
minds me of this
Two days later the letter is contin-
ued:
1--WE are out of our position. Yes
terday we began another advance and
attack on the enemy's position. We
are still in the forest and so far as 1
can judge from the map there are sew
eral kilometers of it yet, part brush, 1
part high growth.
This is dangerous work for US. be- !
cause the alternating strips of high |
trees and new wood make il easy for !
our opponents to get the best of us. |
The greatest caution is necessary and |
our advance is a matter of taking one .
foot of ground after another. We
Just advance 200 meters and then down .
for cover Bullets begin to chirp
the air, but of the enemy moth !
ing is seen.
"Nhen the trees are big enough
fairly good cover is offered by them.
Directly the fire opens the battle line
nalts and falls fiat to the ground, ev-
cry man waiting and looking for
target. There is no shooting done
here with the German rifles except
1ne has somebody on the sight But
often there is nothing to be done but
70 advance again, and TO brighten the
fellows with our 'hurrahs' Along the
ines travel stentorian fix bayonets,'
hen comes the command, march,
march,. and the line springs to its
'eet. plunges forward and a nerve
.acking 'hurrah' smashes through the
'oods. The enemy's fire begins YER
table rain of lead. Some fall but on
ward crashes the German line.
"As soon as we reach the position or
he enemy his fire ceases and all take
o flight. Our bullets follow them, and
hen many a "red-ant' lies on the floor ,
# the forest. But our bullets do not ,
ind a mark Iong-the enemy has dis ,
.ppeared: we are after him, only to {
meet another terrific hail of lead.
again we fall 10 the ground for cover, ;
md this timsI felt blow--a bullet bad ;
truck my cooking utensil. owe my ]
lfe to the quick fall to the ground z
or another second and l would have z
ever risen again. Another bullet hits
he ground Just beside me-but never {
mind that. Up and at the-at the very
ide OF the fellows. 7
.4ya soon reach our goal-a trench :