New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-25
GEES GERMAN ARMY
IN OPERATION ON FIELD
Correspondent Says Huge Guns Are Surprise OF war
Watches Them Fired-Heroic French Driven from
Fort with Smoke Tubes No Tents Carried

blended with the hillsides that nothing
out of the ordinary was apparent, III
striking contrast TO the exposed posi-,
ton of the forts at the recently VISITED
fortress Of Liege, which advertised
their presence from the skyline of the
encompassing hills and fairly invited
bombardment.
The country as far as the frontier
town Of Core seemed bathed in abso-
lutte peace. No. troops were seen, rare
w were automobiles of the general
staff encountered, and men and women
were working in the fields and vine
wards as if war were million miles
AWAY. instead of only next door. Be
vond Gore, however, the road leading
southwest through Chambley, st. Be
mott Vigneuillas to st. Mihlel was crowd
ed with long columns OF wagons ana
automobile trucks bearing reserve am
munition, provisions and supplies TO
the front or returning empty for new
loads to the unnamed railroad base IN
the rear.
Strikingly good march discipline was
observed, part of the road being always
left free for the passage Of stan au-
tomobiles or marching troops. Lie
seemed most comfortable Tor the drivers
and escorts. as the army IN advance
had been long enough in position ana
its railroad base was so near tnaJ sup
plvinq il involved none of the sleepless
nights and days and almost superhu-
man exertions falling TO the lot OF the
train in the flying march OF the German
armies toward Paris.
Come on Wars Heel Prints.
A few miles beyond Gore the French
frontier was passed, and from TINS
point on the countryside, with its de-
serted farms, rotting shocks OF wheat
and uncut fields of grain, trampled
down by infantry and SCARED with
trenches, excavations for batteries and
pits caused by exploding shells, showed
wars devastating heel prints.
Main army headquarters, the resi-
dence and working quarters Of com
handing general whose name may not
vet be mentioned were in Chateau
Chamblev, fine French country
house. In the chateau the command
ing general made war as comfortably
as in his own home. Telegraph wires
led TO il from various directions,
small headquarters guard lounged on
the grass under the trees, dozen
automobiles and motorcycles were at
hand and grOoms were leading about
the chargers Of the general and mis-
staff
AT st. Benoit, FIVE miles further on,
q subordinate headquarters was en-
countered, again in chateau belong
ing to rich French resident. The
Continental soldier leaves tents 10 the
American army and quarters himself
whenever possible comfortably in
houses. wasting no energy in trans
porting and setting up tented cities
for officers and soldiers. No matter
how fast or how far a German army
moves. a completely equipped tele
graph Office is ready for the army COM
mander i've minutes after headquarters
have been established.
AT St Benoit some 800 French pris-
oners were seen waiting outside head
quarters. They were all fine young
fellows, in striking contrast 10 the
elderly reseryist type which predomi-
mates in the German prison camps.
They were evidently elite troops OF the
line. and were treated almost with
difference by their guards, a detaCh-
mont OF bearded Landwehr men from
South Germany.
French Made Heroic Stand.
They we're the survivors of the gar
rison Of the Roman Camp fort, who
had nut up such a desperate and spirit
ed defence as to win the whole hearted
admiration and respect Of the German
officers and men. Their armored tur-
rets and cemented bastions, although
constructed after the best rules of
Fabrication of few years ago, had
been battered about their ears in an
unexpectedly short time by German
and Austrian siege artillery.
Their guns had been silenced and
trenches we're pushed up by an over