The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-10-22

was wonderfully accurate and rapid
The Teutons would concentrate theiI
entire fire on one battery ana when
that was out OF action would turn to
another
When the. British retired before tile
German onset. ne remained in the
trenches so as to get pictures Of the
charging Germans at close quarters
He snapped pictures until the Ger
mans were within hundred yards Oh
the abandoned trenches and then ran
for life. He said the storms OF bullets
was so thick he was afraid the Ksnsas
undertaken would never get the job Of
burying him. He says the British be,
haved with the greatest gallantry and
retired in perfect order, but thes
would have been wiped out II they had
remained.
~9t.& Fed by French.
That night hes bivouacked with a
French line regiment, the men giving
him food and a blanket The next
morning he was arrested for the tenth
time and taken before the general
commanding the division and stripped
and searched and sent to Amiehs I'M
der guard with orders to leave Instant.
ly for England.
At the train for Boulogne was pull
ing out, packed 10 the doors with refu
gees, he noticed a flrstclsss compart'
ment marked reserved" and occu'
pied only by a young woman.
The train was moving, but Thomp
son took a running jump and diyed
through an open window into the lap
OF the astonished woman. She was
considerably startled until he ex
planned he was an American 81.
The woman, who was young and
good looking, proved to be Russian
OF high family leaving Parts for St
Petersburg.
The government had given her the
compartment, but she had lost heI
maid and all her money. Thompson
told her the Scotland Yard detectives
would search him when the train
reached BouIogne, and asked her Il
she would conceal his films on hen
person. .~.
Paid In Cigar Coupons.
She consented, but asked for the
danger she was mourning to be paid
5000. He had only $50. SO he paid hei
the balance in cigar coupons, which
he explained was American war cur
rency. She seemed quite satisfied
Thompson said he paid her almost
enough coupons to get briar pipe.
At Boulogne, he was arrested
stripped, and searched, but nothing
was found He was permitted to con
tinue to London, where he went to the
countess hotel and recovered his neg
atives. An hour later he was on thu
way to the continent again. ..
He landed at Ostend and managed
to get train as far as Malines. Their
he started to walk 20 miles to Brus
sells, carrying huge camera, and over
coat, field glasses. revolver and SO'
films.
When he was ten miles from thu
highway a dozen uhlans suddenl.
spurred out from q wood and coveret
him with their pistols. He pulled al
American flag out Of his pocket ant
shouted "Hoch der Kaiser" and "Au
Weidersehen," which was all the Ger
man he knew.
Upon being examined by the Ger
man officers he explained that his Ca
madam credentials were merely blinC
to get through the lines Of the allies
and that he really represented a syn
dicate Of German newspapers in Nil
waukee, whereupon he was releases
and sent into Brussels in q motor car
Taken az Spy.
Next day q German officer saw hin
chatting with an English girl in from
of a cafe and ordered his arrest as I
spy. Thompson said; "All right, In
used to being arrested, but just wal
until get your picture"
The officer was so furious h
smashed the camera with his sword.
The Germans destroyed all the film
and ordered him to leave the city in al
hour or be shot He left and wakes
so miles from Brussels to Ostend
where l met him in the consulate. HI
said he had been there over night, wa
tired of the quiet life and wanted h
see some excitement. So l broagh
him with me in our car to Antwerp.
The last l saw of him he was wiring
ing the hand of the chief Of the gen
eral staff and asking permission =
take pictures from Belgian aero
plane. They might as well give hin
permission, because he will do II any