Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-11-06
AMID SHRAPNEL FIRE WRITER SEES
FIERCE CONFLICT ON THE USER RIVER

fear of death. but the result Of tie
unearthly sound.
Entering the church, found 1t full |
of straw, the place evidently having
been used as a dormitory for soldiers,
but nothing had been touched, though |
chairs were scattered everywhere. At |
ter mounting a rickety ladder long |
time in the dark l reached the very /
tip OF the steeple above the bell
Sees Battle From steepIe.
Looking through my spyglasses over |
the fiat country in the direction of the |
town, was able to distinguish the |
very spots and buildings beyond which |
the Belgian shells were bursting. |
to a row of trees screening the Ger.
man batteries was unable to see
what was burning. At that time the
town itself was intact.
To the left stretched the poplar Dor
dered User. / could see men shell.
tered In trenches along the roadside
trenches SO cut as to provide skel-
eton covering, upon which was heaped
straw making q watertight roof. In
front, about six hundred yards dis
tant, regiment was drawn up, but ]
was unable to learn the reason why.
In company with an English CORE
spondent, at that time the only other
correspondent with the Belgians, saw
the battle of Newport at close range.
Long before we reached the village Of
Newport Baines we saw part of the
naval squadron lying just on the coast
occasionally firing at some unseen
mark and heard field artillery boom
ing ahead.
Hear Batteries in the Dunes.
We heard the Belgian batteries FIR
ing in the dunes on our right toward
Newport and only when we reached
the south pier at the mouth Of the
User could we obtain any idea of the
general situation, the lines at this
point being held by the Sixth and
Seventh Belgian infantry. The day
was cloudy and the wind was driving
the mist OF rain inland. Accordingly,
we sought a high, deserted building
that stood nearest the river. When
we finally stuck our heads through the
skylight, by the aid of our glasses we
saw an unforgettable sight.
At our feet lay the railroad station
at the mouth of the River User. which
stretched away right to the town of
Newport, then bent southwark and
J was hidden from view by the building
| in which we were. Behind the river,
hidden in a grove of scrubby trees
| growing on the dunes, we're three Bel.
gian batteries OF four guns each, which
were firing necessarily straight across
before US. The shells we're striking
beyond the village of Lombaertzyde.
Thirteen Warshlps In Sight.
To the left, beyond Lombaertzyde,
was the village OF Westende, which
the Germans had retaken that morn.
ing. Still farther away the church
spire Of MiddlekerQue was family visi-
BILE. Lombaertzyde seemed quiet, but
German shells bursting over 1t pres.
emily located the Belgian trenches be
fore us and a few soldiers came run.
ming over the dunes.
But 1t was ON the left that the spec.
tacle was most impressive. There, ly
ing out from the coast at varying dis
tances, were 13 vessels of war. There
we're two cruisers, one of which fired
occasionally from about three miles;
/
from the coast and south of eight de
stroyers, four French and four Eng
lish and three monitors.
Great Flashes Bare Batteries.
For long time we watched the Ger
J man shells bursting over Lombaert
zyde. The Belgian shrapnel and tbs
shells OF the monitors were directee
against Westende / saw the Belgian
batteries lying on our side of the User
but. though their thunder made ou
building tremble, we were able to 10
| cate the batteries only by the terrifi
flashes amid the trees through al
occasional rift in the smoke. So wei
were they concealed that the German
must have been unable to locate them
since the only shells which fell In on
. direction seemed to be aimed at tn
D lighthouse, which the Germans prot
8 ably imagined to be wireless station
, Each time a message was sent NOR
: shells came whirling toward the ligh
5 house. Many fell into the river.
t Tells English Officers Bravery.
l We were joined in our skylight b
: a Belgian captain who asked us TO
e the loan of our glasses and whe
= he had seen all that he desired h
e told us the story of the English liel
} tenant who had landed that morI
d ing. the particulars of which he ha
, Just learned. This officer came ashoT
b from the monitor Severn with 20 me
and three machine guns to prever
the Belgian retreat.
a Reaching Newport, he saw that
> losing Groote Bamberghe farm thu
e morning the Belgians had weakene
n their position. Accordingly, he star
r ed with his 20 men across the bulie
e swept area right to the Belgia
o trenches. The men who were thel
1t say he walked as calmly as II on
Y tour of inspection. calling orders
n his men and signaling with his hand
le In vain the Belgian officers shoutt
II that the position was already occupit
v by the Germans. Either he did n
4 hear or he was determined to accoI
pIish the task at all costs
a. Destiny brOods and is silent oyl
. matters of this kind. When SO yari