The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-10-09

Rotterdam, September 19.-[Cor-
respOndence of The Associated
Pressl-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
describe what they actually see and
feel, some strange mixtures OF SEN
sations experienced and actuality en-
countered result documents OF
strong appeal and wide human in
terest. One Of these appears in The
Koelnische Zeitung of September
10Th.
From a wild French forest. on
the anniversary of the battle OF Sc
dan (September p the best greet.
ings. 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 dangerous
one, being well advanced into the
French lines, and we are obliged 10
fight of many attacks on the part
OF an enemy much superior in num-
bers..
Credit For chasseurs.
Yesterday we fought from early
morning till late in the night, oppos-
ing Alpine chasseurs and negroes,
whose courage IL would be foolish to
question. The woods here are very
extended 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 fifty,
even thirty. PAGES of him. and quite
frequently we get so close TO the
blacks that we can look INTO their
eyes
we are greatly indebted to the
color OF our uniform. The French
are constantly at disadvantage be-
cause of their red pants and blue
coats. The Alpine Chasseurs are
fine fellows, and In German uni.
forms they would make q good ap-
pearance. In the French hotel por-
ter uniform nobody looks smart
The chasseurs. wear red or blue knee
breeches. ribbon.puttees. long blue
cutaway, and a blue cap. Prisoners
without arms make an appearance
of utter neglect. There are prison
ers taken every day. because the or
binary French soldier Is only too
ready to throw away his arms, make
hands up and shout pardon
Dead Are All Buried
1T is now one In the afternoon,
and so far we have not been dis
turbed. The dead are buried, and
now we are lying under the trees
enjoying a spell OF quiet and the
peace of the forest. have Just fin
ished reading the newspapers to my
worthless, and most OF them are, TAX
ing a little noon nap. Everything
about us is peaceful. The foresesis
fragrant with the smell of foliage
and pine needles. and the sky laughs
In a wonderful blue. II Is hard to
believe that this 10 scene on which
men are butchered-the scene of
what I saw yesterday. But the dull
thud and thunder of artillery In the
distance reminds me OF this
Two days later the letter is con-
tinued: . n
I'VE are out OF our position. Yes
terday we began another advance
and attack on the enemy's positions.
We are still In the forest and SO
far as / can Judge from the map
there are several kilometers OF II
yet, part brush. part high growth.
Very Dangerous Territory.
This Is dangerous territory for
us. because the alternating strips OF
high trees and new wood make It
easy for our opponents to get the
best OF US. The greatest caution Is
necessary and our advance Is a mat
ter OF taking one foot OF ground
after another. We Just advance 200
meters and then down for cover.
Bullets begin to chirp through the
air. But of the enemy nothing Is
seen.
when the trees are big enough
fairly good cover Is offered by them.
Directly the fire opens the battle
line halts and falls fiat to the
ground, every man waiting and look
ing for a target. There is no shoot
ing done here with the German
rifles except one has somebody on
the sight. But often there Is moth
ing to be done but to advance
again, and to brighten the fellows
with our 'hurrahs.' Along the lines
travel stentorian Fix Bayonets,
then comes the command March
March and the line springs to its
feet. plunges forward and nerve
raking 'hurrah' smashes through the
woods. The enemy's fire begins a
yeritable hail OF lead. Some ran.
but onward crashes the German
line
Enemy Takes Flight -
AS soon as we reach the position
OF the enemy his fire ceases, and all
take to flight. Our bullets follow
them and then many q .Red-pant'
lies on the floor Of the forest But