Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-16
SPENDS DAY IN TRENCHES
WITH BELGIAN SOLDIERS
Civilian Has Unique Experience, and
Sees Some of Wars CHASTITY
Horrors.
BATTLE SCENES REVOLVING
Dead Bodies Unearthed by German
Shells and Scattered About Field.
Kaiser's Fallen Troopers Yield Up
Their Boots to Shoeless Defenders.

nf COUNT MOURHK DE BEAUFORT.
BELGIUM, November Ill have
had unique experience for civil
Ian. spending day In tho trenches
with the Belgian troops. reached
the front with an officer of the Bel
gian field artillery. Here are my i'm
pressions of the war at close quart
ers:
About 4. NJ, We reached a small
farm, where tho horses OF a battery
were sheltered. We proceeded on foot
TO tho guns III the vicinity Of the VIII
lage of Saint George. There I was in
trouuced to German shrapnel.
The German aim was bad; one pro-
tectile after another whizzed over our
heads, and others exploded or more Of
ten Embedded themselves in the mud
200 feet behind our position. Though
our position was within three miles Of
the German advanced lines, II seemed
hard to realize We were part and par
eel Of this gigantic world struggle.
The bursting shrapnel with it's dead
y charge, reminded me more OF fes-
tive fireworks than death and destruc-
ton.
About s A. At, an observer for our
battery requested, over the telephone,
to be temporarily relieved. and when
ono of the younger officers was sent
ahead. I got permission to accompany
him. The rIfefire had ceased, we reached
tHS (nidNlTS tTdncneS WneFe the OBJ
server had spont the night without
any mishaps
On tho way we passed great num-
bers OF stretcher- bearers with their
sad loads. When gradually dawn
broke, war In all It's horrors was grad
ually revealed before my eyes. Close
by US sat u Belgian soldier bravcly
trying to bandage what had onco boon
his left hand. with ribbon held be-
tween his teeth and right hand. Two
nurses from All English ambulance
were bandaging the head OF a man who
had been frightfully liberated by
shrapnel.
BODIES ARE UHEARTHED
ny HEAVY GERMAN SHELLS
Tho most revolving sight was num-
Der of unburicd doad. The day before
several Belsians and Germans had
been buried behind the trenches. Dur
Ing the night the heavy German shells
had dug holes and unearthed many
bodies. ] saw here n head and there
leg or an arm-rarely whole body
1t was simply CHASTITY.
corporal, not more than nineteen,
crawled up to the officer and said:
Pardon. mon lieutenant, several
men most respectfully ask whether
they have another pair of Shoes
most OF ours are in very bad condi-
tion?"
The lieutenant exclaimed:
"Saprsti, jansen? DO tho men think
am carrying boots about in my KNAPP
sackY
'Ah. mon lieutenant" quietly re.
piled the corporal. there are plenty OF
good boots over there" and he pointed
over the trenches. We saw at q dis
lance of 800 feet In front Of the
trenches f1fty or sixty dead Germans
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders
II can't give them permission &c
leave the trenches. you know" he told
the corporal. but if they want any
more chances Of risking their necks
we'll" and he turned back to the men
The corporal understood. y few
minutes later one man got up slowl!
and carefully peeped over the trenches
then he took his rifle and on all four.
crawled over and down the other 10
slung the rifle over his shoulders. and
still OH his stomach. advanced. Be.
fore no had gone halfway three OF his
comrades followed In the same care.
full manner. Before long q dozen mer
were in front. They reached the Ger,
mans. most of whom were lying face
downward; quickly they We're turned
over and their boots unstrapped. Then
instead Of returning with their booty
the Belsians sat down among the dea6
and proceeded to take their own shoes
Off and tried those Of the Germans on
We could see the shoes dying around
and hear them laugh and Joke. II was
the most absurd, yet ahe most dramatic
scene imaginable. -Four dead German,