The chronicle=news., 1914-09-10

.
whose suspicions against all newspa-
per men had been aroused by par
ty of three correspondents picked up.
the previous day who reported them
selves to be Americans although two
Of them were Belgians. The trio
were taken to Beaumont Jail. The
party Included Gerbauld Stevens and
Hennebard and the negro chauffeur.
All were arrested for photogra 9hing
and travelling in an automobile
which unlawfully carried Red Cross
flag. ta 10 ,.t-i
The American party was allowed
to spend the night on the stone floor
of Belgian school house, which had
been converted into barracks for the
German troops. The correspondents
were courteously treated by the sold
iers who after the days thirtysmilc
march sang and danced and other
wise entertained themselves royalty.
until. midnight. The next day the
Americans were kept waiting in the
house square In the center Of q
group which, included Prince August
Wilhelm, the third son of the En-
peror. and other high military au-
thorities. After being repeatedly
told they were not prisoners. the
Americans were locked up with the
other three correspondents arrested
the day before. Stevens had already,
been sentenced to be shot as an En-
glish spy.
The Jail was filthy and one side
was stacked with tons Of German
high explosives. a rather uncomfort-
able situation in view of the fact that
other prisoners were constantly
lighting cigarettes under cover Of
their straw bedding.
After a short Incarceration the
Americans, through the kindness of
s German lieutenant, were removed
to small cafe adjoining the prison
to which later they were followed by
the other three suspects, who were
the cause Of their detention.
For two nights they slept on the
floor under heavy guard and still
they were told that they were not
prisoners, but warned that they
would be shot If they moved one step
from the house. After they had CIV
en thefr word OF honor that they
would not attempt to escape. their
guard was doubled. No food was
supplied the prisoners, their only
| sustenance being bottle of wine.
During their imprisonment the Amer
leans received an alarming visit
from an intoxicated German officer
who called them English spies and
| insisted on giving convincing DEM
ionstrations of the sharpness of his
sword wheR-he heard English spok-i
en-.
Finally one night the Americans
were taken with hundred French
prisoners to a train. the destination
Of which was unknown. They fwere
asked politely enough by the Ger
man officers to- walk aloagsidk the
prisoners to act as guards. Al the
}same time the officers said IN an
aside to the German guard, Keep
your eyes on those Americana. II
ithey move or step from the Kinks,
shoot them" a. Gs
l The train carrying besides the
prisoners several cars. of wounded
German soldiers, arrived at AK La
Chappelie after two days slow
journey. All eight OF the cores
pondents were packed into a single
second-class compartment without
food or drink, and at the mercy of
Belgian snipers, who frequently fired
from houses as the train passed. The
party arrived at, AK La Chappelle,
fcarefulIy guarded, and was forbidden
to leave the city. ~
The surveillance Of the military
guard relaxed when the authorities
discovered that the American corres-