The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-12-18
GERMAN OFFICER TELLS THRILLING
TALE Of SOLDIERS EXPERIENCES
Describes Sharp Engagement in Streets of Suburb of Lille When
the Germans Marched Suddenly Into the Midst of a French
Observation-Disclosures T%riumphs in Moment of Panic
Spirit Of Men Under Fire Calm, Determined.

in the following letter by Reinhard
Weer, a lieutenant, from a recent
number of the Frankfurter Zeitung:
We have been at it four weeks
now. Dejectedly we used to ride forth
day after day in the cold, r%ain-damp
morning, the garrison of the fortress
Of Namur, for field service drill. We
heard distant thunder of cannon, no
knew whence. In the afternoons
there was inside service, firing exer-
cises, instruction of subordinate Of
ficers, instruction Of volunteers. They
were from the highest forms in the
schools, students, doctors, merchants.
artists-it was a question of making
all these into soldiers and good field
artillerymen. Rain, rain. rain, and
autumn cold. Occasional alarms.
Military demonstrations in the streets
of Namur and it's suburbs-the popu-
lation, carrying on talk of an uprising,
must be put down. Calmer days; in
side service. Visits to the forts and
castles in the neighborhood. Plans
for hunting and-conviviality. And the
hours seem far Away, when we might
be called to warlike deeds.
1--WE began to resign ourselves to
the thought that we must spend the
whole autumn and winter as garrison
of the fortress in Namur.
"But-thank God.-it came out
otherwise. One day came an alarm, a
command to march, as part of a mixed
brigade. An excursion On horseback
is being made for the safety Of the
railroad line westward and southwest
ward from Brussels, and to drive
away the hostile wheelmen, horsemen,
and shsrpshooters who have ap-
peared there. For this expedition
three battalions Of infantry, n
squadron of uhlans, two batteries Of
field artillery, two pioneer companies.
Leader Major General X.
Keeping the Country in Order.
1.-TWO weeks on the Belgian high
ways, back and forth between Braine-
le-Comte, Soignies, Enghien, Welle,
J Ath, Journal. On the railroad there
accompanied us an armored train,
manned by pioneers, that brought US
ammunition and provisions. We passed
all the battleields: Quatre-Bras, Belle
Alliance, Bouvines. We were in touch
with the enemy, but as yet there was
no fighting. One night We were close
by Alost, ready to hurry to the aid Of
the troops fighting there, but attack
remained forbidden.
cat Enghien we were quartered in
the castle of the Duke of Arenberg;
at Ath in the town house of the prin-
cess of Looz and Corswaren; then
again. day and night. in the open
field, beside ones horse, or near the
roar of a howitzer battery, the she'll
ing of a windmill from which signals
were being given, or Of a hostile air
man. Our uhlans began to have their
first little skirmishes with sharpshoot-
ers and wheelmen. There were at
tacks by the enemy upon our armored
train, with the aid of locomotives
running wild, and injuries to the line.
At Leuze two guns Of our battery of
howitzers we're within a hairs breadth
Of being destroyed at the crossing OF
a street and a railway line, by ex'
press engines which came rushing in
without a driver.
But still no battles for US field ar
tillerymen. Detachment X our corps
called itself, after our general. a lead
er Of very praiseworthy qualities
There was not a man whom he did
not greet in friendly fashion when in
the morning, IN the earliest twilight
his auto drove along the marching
column. The call of greeting: Good
morning. comrades and Good morn
ing, general was for us no empty
formality. Our military assignment
was altered daily. Yesterday an ex
petition on horseback against wheel
men and horsemen; today part Of a di
vision Of cavalry; tomorrow PLACED
under an army corps; the next da!
the zeal support of a fighting brigade
J And only one thing remained Away
the same: The burning wish to b.
finally right at it and to take GU
part.
I'VE saw Journals many-towere
romantic silhouette for the first tim
in a wonderful evening glow, form
firing position-across from us on tn
other side of the city English al
tillery, in the city itself Belgian IL
{ fantry. Tournai-this name, like
trumpet tone and clash Of arms
seemed to be of warlike import-bu
without a fight we moved into tn
city On the next day. We had on
minds made up to a threatening. no
= tile reception on the part of the POI
ulation-and were received in 9
friendly a way as never before. Tw
chrysanthemums were reached up
me. on my horse. We had a good r
ception, also. in Ath, which we passe
several tines The general told lat'
that they had named us there II
bridage douce. A title of honor whie
we wanted to maintain for ourselv'
wherever the course of events mig