Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-11-05
WRECKAGE- STREWN BATTLEF|ELDS
LOOK AS IF SWEPT BY CYCLONE
BY c. W. WILLIAMS.

The zone of military activity" on ere
dentials obtained at the personal re
quest Of Ambassador Herrick, that we
might describe the destruction caused
BY the Germans in unfortified towns
Although have given a pledge to say
nothing concerning the movement OF
the troops or of certain points visited
i am permitted now to send a report
Of part of my experiences.
We crossed the entire battlefield of
the Marine, passed directly behind the
lines Of the battle on the Aisne, &C
eidentally getting under fire for an
entire afternoon and lunching in no
eel to the orchestra OF bursting shells,
one end Of the building being blown
away during the bombardment.
We witnessed a battle between an
armored French monoplane and a
German battery, and also had the ex-
peTience of being accused OF being
German spies by two men wearing the
English uniform. who, on failing to &C.
count for their own German accent.
were speedily taken away under guard
with their numbers up" as the French
commandant expressed what awaited
them.
Likens Battle to Cyclone.
On account of our exceptional ere
dentials we were able to see more
actual war than many correspond
ents, who, when they learned that
permits to get to the front we're not
forthcoming, went anyway, usually
falling into the hands of the military
authorities. Getting arrested has
been the chief business. of the war
correspondents In this war; even our
accidental view OF the fighting being
sufficient to cause our speedy return
to Paris under parole.
Going over the battlefield of the
Marine, we found the battle had fol-
lowed much the same tactics as cy-
clone, in that in some places nothing,
not even the haystacks, had been dis
turbed, while In others. everything,
the villages. roads and fields. had been
utterly devastated by shells.
We talked with the inhabitants of
svery village and always heard the
same story-that during occupation
the Germans had offered little trouble
TO the civilians and had confined their
activities to looting and wasting the
provisions; also that when retreating
they had destroyed all the food they
were unable to carry.
Fire Baptism In Church.
Our baptism of fire appropriately
came while we were in church At
noon of the second day we motored
into q deserted village and were
stopped by sentry, who acknowl-
edged our credentials, but warned US
ar we intended to proceed to beware
OF bullets. But there was no hostile
sound to alarm US.
AS we drove carelessly over the
brow of hill where the road dipped
down valley into the town we we're
In direct line with the German fire,
~ great holes in the ground and fall
en- trees testified.
It Is a wonder our big motor car
was not an immediate mark. On the
way we noticed church steeple shot
completely of SO, after finding an inn,
where the proprietor came from the
cellar and offered to guard our car
and prepare luncheon, we decided first
TO examine the church The inn-keep-
er explained that we had come during
q lull in the bombardment, but the ST.
tent. deserted place lulled all sense of
danger
She'll Hits Sanctuary.
The .verger showed us over the
church and we were walking through
the ruined nave when suddenly we
heard a sound like the shrill whistling
of the wind.
st begins again." our conductor said
simply
AS the speech ended we heard a
loud boom and the sound of falling
masonry as the she'll struck the far
end of the building.
We hurried to the hotel, the shells
screaming overhead. We saw the build
Ings tumbling into ruins, glass fall
ing like fine powder. and remnants OF
furniture hanging grotesquely from
scraps of masonry.
All my life had wondered what |
would be the sensation II / ever was !
under fire-would / be afraid? To |
my intense relief l suddenly became
fatalistic. was under fire with
but instead of being afraid
lont coUiop In rnvGplf,
Being afraid won't help matters;
besides, nothing will happen il we
Just keep close to the walls and away
rom the middle Of the streets"
Aecusers Taken as Spies.
On the way me wet two men in
English uniforms, who later de-
us as spies. We hailed them
md they replied that they had been
tut off from their regiment and were
low lighting with the French. Just
Is luncheon was announced eight SOL
liers filed into the hotel, arrested US
md marched us before the command
int, who saw that our papers were
III right, but suggested that on ac-
count of the dangerous position we
cave as soon as possible. We asked
to finish our luncheon.
1t was lucky that we we're arrested +
hen-before the accusation that we