Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-12-03
AMID SHRAPNEL FIRE WRITER SEES
FIERCE CONFLICT ON THE USER RIVER
By EDGAR ANsEL MowReR.


xhan week have been at the head
quarters of the Belgian army behind
the line of the River User from Nieu-
port to Dixmude. have seen how
the remnants of the army from Ant
Eerp retreating on tho way to Ostend
were sent to northern France to rest
and reorganize and how the rest of
the Belgian forces, being asked to hold
the lines 40 hours, have actually held
u Tor six days. thus preventing siege
Of Dunkirk and saving the French
coast from invasion.
Stick to Antwerp to Last.
Contrary 10 what was at first report
cd. the Belgian army left Antwerp only
after all the forts except four had been
destroyed, and these four the defend
ers blew up as they hastily evacuated
1he town, the heroic Belgian, General
dc Guisel remaining to the last. What
part OF the retreating Belgians en-
tered Holland and are held by Dutch
authorities is not known here.
II Is certain that the others never
would have escaped the Germans but
1Dr the heroic stand made by a mixed
force Of English, Belgians and French
marines in the village of Nellie, south
west Of Client, wherein two Belgian
Easiments-the Sixth volunteers and
tho Ninth Of the line particularly dis
finguished themselves.
Walks From punkirk to France.
reached Fumes October 10, hav-
ing walked from Dunkirk, crossed
. bridge, reached village street and
after two turnings emerged on the
quaint old market place of Fumes, the
home and present seat of the general
headquarters Of the Belgian army.
went at once to the headquarters In
the town hall, made known my iden-
a1ty and secured pass.
Standing before the headquarters
was an automobile containing three
British soldiers. approached and
asked the nearest one where the Ger
mans were. He looked at me with
establishment and before replying or
letting me explain who was and why
4 had come, he exclaimed: Good
Lord! Have they let you come this
TAR? Well, since you are here, it can
do no harm to tell you where they
are" He drew a map from his pocket.
Here they are" he said. laying
finger on the village of Middlekirke.
Our line extends from Newport to
Dixmrde. The Belglans are intrench-
ing themselves all along the line"
Starts Out for Newport.
I thanked the soldiers and set out to
walk to Newport. On the outskirts
Of Fumes passed regiment of Bel
gfans starting for Dixmude. | turned
to the left in the direction of Newport,
but at the village of Wulpun was
turned back by an overpolite Belgian
sergeant.
That night | heard terrible can
ncnading, and Saturday morning, Oc-
tOber II, learned that the battle OF
the User had begun. This battle.
which has not yet come to an end, It.
self is only part of the greater bat
tie Of which 1t is likely to be the
center. Small though 1t is in the num-
Der of troops engaged, the battle of
the User presents three distinct
phases, according to the nature OF the
ground.
About eight miles east of Fumes lies
the town Of Dixmude, where the attack
began. The Belgians here had been
-. ...-e 1.a~d ~, mn Fran oh N, q riuo tn
fantry. these marines forming the first
line II defense. 400 yards beyond the
town and on the right bank Of the |
User. The Germans attacked with |
great violence about nine o'clock FRI |
day evening. Marines who figured In |
the battle estimate their opponents
strength at 10000. The attack contin-
ned until daybreak on Saturday, when |
the marines, ably assisted by French |
and Belgian batteries placed behind
the town, drove back the onslaught |
viii considerable loss.
Reaches the Belgian Trenches.
When reached the Belgian bat |
feries and trenches about eleven a. m.
the former were keeping up |
4 steady fire. Some of the Belgians
lying In the trenches which had been
The second line of defense tried to de-
esr me from continuing farther, as
me shrapnel fire was rather heavy at
mis- point, but | proceeded until
reached about one kilometer (six-
zenith of mile) on this side Of the
lown. A Belgian lieutenant previous
b had given me permission to go one
kilometer beyond the town to po-
sision which, as learned later, would
have put me exactly between the op-
posing forces and in full line with
he rifle FIRE.
Escapes ShrapneI Of Germans.
/ turned aside and approached
church in the midst OF small village.
All the morning the booming of the
AR away German cannon had been
audible. but 1t seemed without impor-
ance. Now had my first experience
# being under fire. AS was about to
inter the church, intending to mount
INTO the belfry, heard an unnerving
Ehir. of a somewhat lower pitch than
hat produced by projectnes from the
3elgian guns. 1t grew louder, louder
md loader. | felt as IL devils fly
$50 In0tr;n1 about huuk |