The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-10-10
PART w.
Copyright. 1914, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoc lation.l

PART Nv,
Copyright. i9iA. BY the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoelation.l
At Namur Major G---. was
assigned 10 take charge OF tho force
Strengthening defcnses outside the
works proper on the line between
Namur and nouvignea. French
forces for miles Ia every direction
were hastily intronching
II was evident that Il was ex.
pected that stand would be made
was assigned Co assist the mill
tary cooks serving the engineering
officers mess OF that corps Of zap.
pers.
Necessarily could see but liz.
tie,
ANY effort 20 move far In either
direction was dangerous. Civilians
were not permitted
Several times carried food
from the field Kitchens making an
cr-and and an excuse TO tee how
the works were advancing. by pre-.
tense that took food q my OF.
ficer
Twice also | was hrusquely or.
dcred TO the rear
My cooking. however. and my
service upon tho major had made
him my friend and he ordered that
/ be permitted TO remain.
other officers who were with
him also ate OF my dishes. and
were my friends
On the fourth night contrived
20 send as complete records of my
observations In and around Namur
as was possible.
or the means used I must keep
silence. as II is a secret % the
service and not for me 20 disclose.
We we're located just outside OF
Profondeville. ono OF the river re-
sorts near Namur, and deep works
were being thrown up there.
Two batteries were masked Gun.
ningly Ia the amusement park.
The intrenchins operations con.
tinued feverishiy for three more
days and az daybrcak on August Fl
there was a stir.
I heard sharp orders for a rear
movement given and Imagined the
German army was advancing TO AZ.
tempt 10 force the crossing OF the
Mense and Sembre
Presently ! heard officers ours
Ing bitterly.
The order for a general retire
mcnt 10 a new position had come.
All the work OF intrenching vas
wasted.
by a trick known 10 our serv.
Ice so simple as 10 be iaughable. !
sent word OF the order within an
hour OF the time II was given
and kept In touch with the German
troops for 20 hours.
The officers In my majors msss
made great sport with me oil the
time.
They laughed % my stupidity.
ard mako Jokes ss my expense.
That made me the moro satisfied
whom ! sent msssspss.
u would be 90 laugh " could
tell how II was done.
Really the French cent my mes
saoes themselves without aus
peetinn.
II was extreme danger to me-
but worth II.
From what heard the French
officers were disappointed AZ the
order 70 retire and there was much
abuse OF the English and calling OF
towards.
The British. learned. insisted
upon the retirement. This merely
showed the temper OF the officers.
They boosted largely Of
stopping the Germans and
chasing them back 10 Berlin. I
am not . military man, a.
though In my time ! have sssn
much Of the soIdiery and my
opinion 10 that the French
troops DO not compare with
ours Of Germany.
or their engineers I have great
admiration and many OF the Off
GERS were good-although dissi.
pated.
Also they we're easily discour.
aged and the orders to retire
seemed to affec, them much as a
defeat would have done.
Many--fndeed most OF those
saw--neyer had been under fire.
and another bad thing 1t seemed
to me was that the soldiers were
lazy about digging and impressed
civilians TO handle the shovel.
For what my opinion IN worth II
was excellent Judgment for the
allies to decline battle.
The Belgian forces. numbering
perhaps $1,000 inside the Namur
defenses could defend them as
we'll. perhaps. as could 100000 men.
II would be impossible TO hold the
new works against German artil-
lery.
knew that our officers pos
sessed Information that would en-
able them TO co6entrate fire and
| knew also that our guns out
ranged the Belgians.
| heard afterwards that the new
works thrown up with 10 much
labor we're demolished In the first
days bombardment.
(contlnued Monday
tt. 0~.~I.1 d.