Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-07
AUTOS JOIN GUNS
IN GRIM SYMPHONY
ON BATTLEFIELDS
aradise Slain Warriors
Lot, Belief of Sengalese,
Idol of the French Troops.
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD

| SOhSSONS, oct. 7.
For five days photographer and myself
have sat in this little town waiting We
are at the battle front because we STUN
bled on It. 1 did not know that I was
at the front until informed by French
"We'll go back" we explained. I'VE
don't want to go to the front"
But you are at the front now" the
officers explained. You can't go back
now. You will have to stay here until the
tactical situation has changed"
And here we must stay, pledged not to
reveal the name of the town or any de-
tails of the fighting. Day after day, hour
after hour, automobiles have been passing
the little house where I live, en- route to
one quarter Of the battlfeld or another
They carry soldiers to the front and bring
back dead and wounded. They transport
supplies. food and ammunition.
And above ALL this noise and distraction
the pitiless, persistent roar of cannon con-
tinues, always, without intermisson
when the facts are known about this
battle" said an officer to me, at will go
down in history as the most terrific and
costly artillery duel that human beings
have ever fought"
The scenes about here almost defy de-
scriptlon priest has just led four men,
caught pilfering from dead bodies on the
battlefield, to the place where they are
to be shot A huge German a magnif-
cent specimen of manhood, who came into
the French lines as spy because his
officers were desperately in need of in
formation as to the position of French
troops. has just been arrested. How he
ever expected to get his information back
to his chiefs 1 cannot ina gine. As 1
looked al him l realized how much more
brave a spy must be than an ordinary
soldier. 1 think he must have resigl,ei
German lines, because. when he was held
up alta street corner, he looked over the
heads of his captors as If he were only
an onlooker.
Hell cuddle up at the foot OF a stone
wall pretty SOON" said soldier.
The little boys of the town fight bat
ties themselves, using chestnuts as am
munition. They throw the big nuts with
all of their strength. and | have seen
them throw stones in their excitement.
One little fellow fought with his scalp
laid open. The war game has hypnotized
them. Their idols are the black Senga-
lese troops. They know that a Sengalese
would rather die in battle than in bed
because he believes that the best corner
OF heaven is saved for the men who are
killed in action. The French officers
agree with the boys in their liking.
II wish l could believe about heaven
as they do" one said to me.
Stumbling on the front is really no
fun. 1t makes every one angry, although
you see nothing. But the officers tell
you that you are going to run away and
tell the Germans what you have seen. l
don't know any Germans at II over
here. The officers told me there was a
military movement and | saw trOOps mOy-
ing. But II l did get hold of German
who would listen to me all l could tell
him would be that l had see some sol
diers, and I'm sure that the Germans
know by this time that there are such
things as French and English soldiers.