The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-24


United Press staff correspondent,
whose story was received from Mas
tricht, Holland this afternoon, was
the first American newspaperman to
penetrate within the fighting zone
about Liege.]
[By Karl n. VonWelgand, United
Prsss STAR correspondent.]
MAAsTRIcHT, Holland, (via The
Hasue) Aug. 24.-Thls city, the gate
way to the Belgian theatre OF war,
presents scenes o. suffering and mis-
cry seldom seen. Across the neutral
frontier have come hundreds Of ref
uaees without money, without food
and with only the clothes that they
stand In. Refugee camps have been
established by the Dutch Red Cross
and feeble efforts are being made to
relieve the suffering Of mon and wom-
Belgian homes before the German ad-
vance. Several hospitals have been
lmprovised. Here the sick and wound
ed are being treated. Meanwhile the
roads toward Belgium have been bar
rIcaded and the Dutch troops have
been massed to see that neutrality Of
the nation 10 not Violated.
passsd through Dutch territory
N m American correspondent intend.
Ing to enter Belgium and visit various
Belgian villages near Liese In order
to make first hand Investigation Of
alleged barbarities inflicted on irhab-
itants by German troops. A. ! entered
Maastricht, the distant boom Of the
guns Of Liege showed that the fort.
resses were still holding out In the
face Of tremendous fire Of the Ger.
man siege guns.
The condition Of refugees here
was pItifuI In the extreme. Some had
seen their houses demolished 40 the
battles sursed around them. Others
had been driven from their homes
and their houses burned for military
reasons or because they had failed to
obey the command Of officers In com.
mand.
! managed to get through the
lines to within eighteen miles OF
Liege only to be arrested by Dutch
patrol. / was taken before the major
comm handing, who told me that could
not 90 into Belgium. He was deaf to
all protests and finally gave me my
choice Of leaving for Maastricht or
beInq Jailed. came to Maastr'cht.
The little cathedral In MaastrIcht
has been transformed Into tempor-
ary hospital. The doctor In attend
ance told me stories Of the herotsm
Of the wounded German soldiers who
have been brought there and are be-
ina cared for In makeshIft fashion
because Of limited medical stores OBJ
tainabIe. One Instance was typical.
A German soldier, hardly more than
boy, was brought In, fearfuIly
wounded. For two days he lay un-
conscious. Then just before he died, a
oIimmer of consciousness returned.
He tried to raise himself, then raised
his hand weakly in salute and whs-
pered in a voice audible only to the
nurse at his side: "Herr lieutenant, !
report myself"
The whisper In German was his
last word. As he ended the brief
sentence, his FORM ohoOk CCnVulSivCly
and then stiffened. The boy had
fought his last battle.
Another, young officer, fingered
for days with a shrapnel hole In his
side the size Of baseball. His own
condition did not trouble him, but he
constantly lmportuned the doctor to
help his comrades who were suffering
In cots near by. Always his whispers
were Of the coming triumph Of the
German arms. There was no regret
that he was wounded to death, but
reqret that he could not hope to go
back on the firing line. Aid is bad
Iy needed here. The Holanders are
doinq their best to relieve the Wffer.
ing of the refugees and of sick and
wounded, but medical stores are
scarce. There Is very little food.
The suffering In the refugee camps
where mothers are separated from
their husbands, children from their
mothers and none has knowledge OF
the fate Of these missing loved ones,
taxes all who vainly essay to comfort.
The Dutch Red Cross is utilizing its