New-York tribune., 1914-09-25

Ger was examining uS -
most polite and patient, and At lasIi
after a prolonged argument, announced
that the prisoners must be taken 10 tuS
general, who could do rs nc liked with
them.
That was the last we saw OF the
party for some time, but by the forI-
unes of war we were again to encouh-
ter them, to our sorrow. The tact tnut
they had cameras and the tGct that
both were natives of countries theh Ht
war with Germany made their cases
rather hopeless. Also, the fact that
they carried the same passes that we
had made the latter seem less potent
We forged ahead Of the baggage
train, plodded through the large town
Of Morlaaweil7 and passed the great
pyramids that mark the coal mines o,
Southern Belgium. Ahead Of US there
was considerable artillery firing, but
we could not tell where it was.
On the day before 4 force OF English
cavalry had been defeated near Bray,
couple Of miles to our right, and the
coal mining town Of Peronne. barely
mile away. had been the scene Of hot
fight, in which the English lost. Mos.
Of the town was destroyed.
We heard from refugees that the
Germans had marched the priest and
some Of the citizens ahead Of them, to
keep the citizens from sniping, but
had no confirmation Of the report.
or toward Charleroi, to our left,
considerable fight was waging.
Cobb's Feet Blistered.
Cobb is an alert, active man who
weighs over 200 pounds. He was an
excellent walker, but, unfortunately, he
wore rubber soled shoes, which soon
blistered his feet frightfully. AS we
approached the town of Blnche he was
walking as though upon eggs, every
step on agony Of pain. Bennett wa.
also suffering from the days walk Of
twenty miles, and other members Of
the party were more or less DISABLED
by the unusual eXerton.
A few automobiles belonging to head,
quarters were in the grand place AT
Binche when our party moved slowly,
limpingly into it. OF TO one side stood
the best hotel Of the town, Lion Dur,
and into this we made our way.
The general and his staff we're eating
in the dining hall Young officers, who
were passing in and out, looked AZ us
with interest, and it soon was evident
that our presence had been communl-
Gated to the general.
| can imagine the messenger report
ing that a crowd of strange LOOKING
men had arrived, that they were eltner
English or Americans and that they
seemed to be travelling on foot, with
out any baggage. By no stretch OF the
imagination could anybody have been
impressed by our appearance atter
twenty mile walk through the dust
kicked up by cavalry and motor trucks
If We had been reported as suspicious
characters. the description would not
have been a wholly bad one.
Presently a young officer came out
and asked who we were. We produced
our passes and he disappeared TO show
them to the general. In few moments
he returned and said they were all
right.
No Rooms in the Lion dor.
The rooms of the Lion dor being
occupied by officers, Lewis went out on
scouting expedition, and found that
there were some rooms in little care
and restaurant further along on the
main street. Thr rooms, two OF them
fairly good. and three of them. close,
dark and ill-smelling, had the merit OF
not being too attractive; otherwise We
might run the risk Of being diSp0S'
sessed by some tired officers. Inc
landlord was fat and talkatlve BEL
gian. SO far as | could tel our party
were the only occupants OF the hotel'
To those who were suffering the Sc
vcrest effects from the long walk that
humble little hotel must have seemed
a heaven, although it looked like hos
pitaI after the Cripples had begun to
doctor their va.ious wounds OF travel.
Cobb's feet we're raw and had been
bleeding; those Of some of the others
we're painfully blistered.
II looked as though the party could
not proceed without vehicle OF some
kind to carry the worst sufferers, ana
vigorous campaign was At once begun.
I'm the meantime. we had heard that
there was a swimming tank III the VII
lage, and Cobb and |, led by Belgian
boy, made our way toward IT.
instead Of being nearby, it was near
|, = mile away, off on the edge OF the
straggling town, and when we finally
,eac6ed il. Cobb limping badly, 1t was
found to be closed. A citizen rushed
off and soon returned with the owner
and we we're led down flight OF DARK
stairs. where, in a dirty garden, there
was tank of stagnant water, covered
with scum and dead insects.
II was awful. We threw up our
hands in horror and turned TO go up
the dark stairs, when two German
officers were seen to be descending
They carried towels, and SIgnalied TO
them that the tank was Impossible.
The officers glared at US IN amaze
ment One graspcd his revolver and
cried out sternly: What are you
doing down here? You are England
ers,"
Had to Show Passes Again.
hasty explanation was made; We
were obliged to show our passes and
passports to the officer who seemed
d posed to be most suspicious, and
gftcr painful suspense he seemed to
be satisfied that we were all right.
81 took you for Englishmen," he ex-
plained apologctcally.
"Td be willing to be one for an
hour" said Cobb, "if could get 8
good bath
"If YOU had been Englishmen,' re.
sponded the officer. smiling, "it would
have gone hard with you He tapped
his pistol Significantly.
We returned to the hotel. The town
was filed with soldiers, entering from
different roads. There we're squadronS
of lancers and Uhlans, long columns
Of dusty infantry, and a great deal OF
artillery. It was evident that they had
been operating Off to our right and
we're being hurried on to new positions.
The Grand Palace was jammed with
huge motor vans, Red Cross cars, staff
automobiles and soldiers. Rivers Of
troops were flowing in from side
streets and were disappearing down
pt hpr gtTpptc.