Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-09-23

AosAAAS Jul OIL I0TLuAu VIC.
tories Of which never had heard, but
It seemed greatly to cheer the men.
Field kitchens with smoke pouring
from their stovepipe tunnels rumbled
down the lines, serving steaming soup
and coffee to the marching men, who
held out tin cups and had .them filled
without once breaking step.
Covered Wagons Hide Machine Guns.
There were wagons filled with army
cobblers, sitting cross-legged On the
floor, who were mending soldiers
shoes just as il they were back in
their little shops in the fatherland.
Other wagons, to all appearances ordi-
nary two wheeled farm carts. hid un-
der their arched canvas covers nine
machine guns which could instantly
be brought into action.
The medical corps was as magnlf-
cent as businesslike. 1t was as per-
fectly equipped and as efficient as .
great city hospital.
Men on bicycles with . coil of in
sulated wire slung between them
strung a field telephone from tree to
tree so the general, commanding could
converse with any part OF the so miles
long column.
The whole army never sleeps.
When half is resting the other half
10 advancing. The soldiers are treat
ed as II they were valuable machines
which must be speeded up to the high.
est possible efficiency. Therefore, they
are well fed, we'll shod., we'll clothed,
and worked a = negro teamster works
mules. .4 S4s55i
Only men who are well cared for
can march IS miles . day week in and
week out. Only once dbl see Z man
;mistreated. "A sentry on duty in front
of the general headquarters failed to
salute an officer with sufficient prompt
ness, w%hereupon the ofncer dashed him
again and again across the face with
. riding whip. Though welts rose
with every blow. the soldier stood.
rigidly at attention and never quiv-
cred.
FINALLY Reaches Won Boehn.
It was considerably past midday and
We ere within few miles of the
French frontier when we saw a guidon,
which signiaes the presence Of the
head OF: the army, planted at the en-
trance Of q splendid old chateau. AS
we passed through the iron gates and
whirled up the stately tree-lined drive
and drew up in front of the terrace
dozen officers intsstan uniform came
running out to meet u.s. For q few
minutes It felt as II we were. being
welcomed at q country house inAmeri-
ca instead OF at the headquarters OF!
the German army in the field. So.
perfect was the field telephone service
that the stan had been able to keep in
touch with ouF progress along the
lines and were waiting dinner for us.
After dinnert We grouped ourselves
on the terrace in the selt-conscious
attitude people always assume when
having their pictures taken, and
Thompson made some photographs.
They probably are the only ones OF
this war. at least of a German general
and an American var correspondent
who was not under arrest.
Then we gathered about, the table,
on which al spread q stan map of.
the war area, and got 1downsto serious
business. The general began by as
sorting that the stories OF atrocities
5perpetrated on Belgian noncomhatants
were a%tissue of lies.
Look at these officers about you.",
he said. They are gentlemen like
yourself. Look at the soldiers, march.
ing past in the road out there. Most
of them are fathers Of families Sure
" yol don't believe they would dosths
things I they have been accused of
Explains Asrsehots Crimes
Three days ago. general" 7 said.
II was I'm Aerschot. The whole town
tnow4is but 8 CHASTITY, blackened. blood.
stained ruin.,
When we entered Aerschot the son
OF the burgomaster came, into the
room. drew = revolver. and ~assassinat,
ed my chief Of star" the general said.
What followed was only retribution.
The t~ownspeople only got what they
deserved
But why wreak your vengeance on
women and children" II
None has been killed. the general
asserted positively.
II am sorry to contradict you, gem
eral,"".:I asserted with equal positive
ness "but have myself seen their
mutilated bodies. So has Mr.. Ginson.
secretary of the American legation
at Brussels, who was present during
the destruction OF Louvain."
"Of course, there always is danger
of women and children being killed
during street fghting,ss said General
Won Boehn. If they insist on coming
into the street. It is unfortunate, but
1t Is war"
Data startles General.
But how about a woman's body I
saw, with her hands and feet cut OF?
How, about a white-haired nan and his
son whom l helped bury outside Semp-
stad. who had been killed merely be-
Cause %retreating Belgian had shot q
German soldier outside their house?,
There were % bayonet wounds on the
old mans face. Icounted them. How
about the little girl two years old who
was shot while in her mothers arms
by a uhlan, and whose funeral l at
tendedat Beystopdenberg? How about
the old man who was hung fromsthe
rafters In his house by his hands and
roasted to death by 2 bonfire being
built under him?
The general seemed somewhat
in . zigzag course to a spot nea Soils