The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-26
BY HERBERT TEMPLE.

LONDON, Aug. ga war cores
pondent who had the good fortune to
be at the scene of fighting near Char
leroi and visited Namur where the
Germans gained signal victory, has
given a graphic account of the battle
scenes:
Il left Charleroi on the last train,
just after the German cannodade be-
gan. Right along the line to Nivelle
the train passed the skirmishing lines
in the wheat feds on both Sides
west of Brussels, the station master,
running down the platform, stopped
the train with a red flag and informed
US that the Germans had already &C.
cupied the town.
This proved to have been an error,
however. There was a large body of
French in the town unknown to the
little detachment of deaths head Hus-
sars' (Germans) who had ridden in to
take possession. These Germans be-
ing taken for English cavalry men,
were cheered by the populace as they
rode toward the railroad station. Sud
cenly they came upon the French, and
were cut to pieces.
Warns Women.
At the beginning of the lombard
ment an officer said:
81 was standing at the railroad sta
ton, which was crowded with refu-
gees fighting to get aboard trains that
would carry them from the danger
zone. Suddenly there was deep rum
BILE. Then we heard the scream Of
SHE'LL Almost Immediately there was
crash as the shrapnel dropped upon
the roof of the station. The people
were thrown into panic. At once the
sound of German artillery grew, and
shells began dropping everywhere. 1
jumped upon the locomotive of a train
and l understand it was the last to
leave the city.
The roads leading into Charleroi
were filled with men, women and chill
dren seeking refuge in the city. Turn
back, turn back!' we called to them"
The correspondent said that a large
force of British troops were at Mons,
where they were making themselves
perfectly at home. Mons is surround
ed by canals on every side, except the
south where the green woods stretch
away into distance. All the bridges
over these canals that had not been
blown up with dynamite were COM
handed by rapid fire guns which had
been planted behind barbados.
The correspondent left Mons, going
in the direction of Peruwelz and Bla-
ton, about fifteen miles northwest of
Mons.
After much delay" says the Jour
nalist, I'VE got started again, passing
many dead bodies on the way.
Fight East Of Mons.
"a German force had taken up a po-
sition near Journal, 20 miles north
east of Mons, opposite Lille, on Satur-
day morning. They put their mitrail.
| leuses in action at once, firing upon
the defenses of the Pont De Morl. The
first attack of the Germans was re-
pulsed, but they were able to advance
afterward.'
! The newspaper man then made his
way to Lille, which was crowded with
fugitives, and wild rumors. From there
he started toward Valenciennes, with
; the idea of working his way back to
I Charleroi. He was successful in reach
! ing that point, and all along the
French frontier, he heard reports OF
the German advance. At Valenciennes
one troop train after another was ar
irving, Allied with French and English
soldiers.
! II boarded a troop train, and reach
ed Chimay, just over the line in Bel
GUM, Sunday night" continues the
adventuresome correspondent. "Chi
may is AZ miles southeast of Valen
ciennes, and 25 miles southwest OF
! Charleroi. From there 1 went to Phil
! ippeville. in the very heart of the al
lied army. All Sunday night, between
Chimay and Philippeville, could heal
the roar of the big guns
! Desperate Fighting.
| Before the Charleroi railway sta
ton, on the banks of canal, the
Germans fought for two hours to get
control of the bridge. The waters Of
the canal were crimson with blood
and the narrow channel was chokeC
with bodies. Once they had captured
this bridge, the Germans gained
ground all along the line, occupying
: the villages of Marchiennes, Lands
and Montignies, and the country near
ly as far as Walcourt. (Walcourt is or
the railway, II miles due south from
Charleroi)
I'm the German bombardment, the
Kaiser's gunners had directed theil
fire against the northern part of the
city, the French concentrating the1l
salvoes against the southern part.
THE French soldiers advanced ir
the teeth of whitening fire, which