South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-25
KNE " NO
FEAR IN ADVANCE
AGAINST ENEMIES
Eyewitness Tells of Battle
Near Fereux Where KaiSer'S
Troops. Were Moved Down
Like Grass.
BY FRANKLIN r. MERRICI<.

PARIS. Aug 25.-An idea Of the
enormous losses of the Germans in
the great battle in southwestern Bel
gium and of the bravery of the
kaiser's soldiers IS given in the story
Of returned traveller who witnessed
part of the lighting along the Sambre
river, southwest OF Charleroi.
II was near F'ereux in a region COW
cred with dense woods while the
fighting was taking place" said the
narrator today. Il could hear the
sound OF cannon away TO the east and
knew that big battle was raglnS-
From my place in the forest L sud
denly saw the advance guard of Ger
man army approaching along a road
which skirted the trees.
There seemed to be an endless pro-
ceSSiOn of soldirs, all dressed in a uni
form of gray. Rank after rank pass
ed by and L thought that the end
would never come.
There was no hesitation. The
men swung forward with quick steps
and l saw officers galloping along the
lines urging them forward
Suddenly there was a fresh SOUND
of battle, this time in front of me and
1 knew thS6 the French artillery had
opened upon the advance guard OF the
NTGIlndnS- Il HlONGQ C1A0lAO0SAy AOA " oA u
TO a point where 1 could get a view
of the battle scene. Ii was a view
which scared itself into my memory.
The French guns were hurting a
hurricane OF steel and flame into the
German ranks, but the soldiers pushed
forward with their battle shouts on
their lips. straight into that pit of de-
struction rushed the advancing troops.
Men fell on every hand. 1t seemed
that whole platoons melted away.
over the bodies OF the dead and
wounded pushed the rear ranks of the
invading army, rushing with fixed
bayonets upon the smoking muZzles
of the French artillery. 1t was
superb picture of gallantry.
Near ErquelinneS L saw German
aeroplane brought down. The mill
itary aviator was flying high in the
air, taking a reconnaissance of the
allies positions. The specially con-
structed, designed to attack aircraft,
were turned upon the aeroplane but
the aviator continued his work Sud
denly L saw the machine lurch,
splinters flew, and then the shattered
machine began to drop. 1t had been
smashed by cartridge"
A few human interest" stories
have also filtered through the battle
zone. A telegram from Bourges to-
Gay says:
The Germans were prepared Tor
every eventuality. When the French
troops entered villages the officials
generally pretended to welcome them
as saviors. French flags we're pro-
duced and placed in position on trees
and buildings, but the French officers
ultimately found that this was a ruse
10 reveal the location of the French
forces.
I'm one village the burgOmaster
gave over his official quarters for the
installation Of a French military field
telephone. Later he found that the
line had been tapped so that the Ger
mans could secure the information
which went over the wires.
AT another place the schoolmaster
climbed 70 the belfry cf the village
church, while German artillery was
bombarding the French invaders, and
corrected the errors In range of the
TeutOnic gunners by moving the
hands OF the clock.
From Dieuze comes grewsome
story OF a grim jest played by a mil
itary band. After storming the
trenches at the point of the bayonet
French soldiers, weary from their
CORY work. were resting upon their
arms SuCo only the opening bars OF
ChOpin's funeral march came 10 their
ears from the slopes Of a distant hill.
Immediately afterwards the sound Of
music was Crowned out by a burst OF
artillery as the German cannons
masked battery began bombarding
the French lines"