Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-26


through Chambley. St Benoit vigneuiues
to 81 Mihiel was crowded with long COLI
umns OF wagons and automobile trucks
bearing reserve ammunition. provisions
and supplies 10 the front or returning
empty for new loads 70 the unnamed
railroad bsse In the rear.
Good Discipline MarAtaIned.
Strikingly good march discipline was
observed. part OF the road being always
left free for the passage OF staff auto
mobiles or marching troops. Life seemed
most comfortable for the drivers and g.
corts. as the army In advance had been
long enough In position and It's railroad
base was so near that supplying II In
volved none OF the sieeplcss nights and
days and almost superhuman excrtions
falling to the lot OF the train in the fly
ing march OF the German armies toward
Paris.
4 few miles beyond Core the French
frontier was passed and from this point
on The countrywide with its deserted
farms. rottlng shocks OF wheat and I'M
cut fields OF grain. trsmpled down by
infsntry and Scared with trenches, ex-
cavatlons for batteries and pits caused
by exploding shells. showed wars de-
vestating heelprints.
Makes War Com fortabie.
Main army headquarters. the residence
and working quarters OF q commanding
general, whose name may not be men
toned. were in Chateau Chambley. a fine
French country house. In the chateau.
the commanding general made war as
comfortable as In his own home Tele-
graph wires led to Il from various di-
rections, a small headquarters guard
lounged on the grass under tho trees,
dozen automobiles and motorcycles
were at hand and grooms were leading
about the chargers of the general and his
staff. At 81. Benoit. five miles further
on. subordinate headquarters was en-
countered, again In n chateau belonging
10 a rich French resident,
The continental soldier leaves tents to
the American army and quarters him
self whenever possible comfortably IN
houses. wasting no energy In transport
lng and setting up tented cities for Of
ficers and soldiers. No matter how fast
or how far a German army moves a
completely equipped telegraph office lie
ready for tho army commander five min.
utes after headquarters have been es-
tablshed.
Treated Almost with Difference.
At st. Benoit, party of some 800
French prisoners was encountered. wait
ing outside headquarters. They we're all
fine, young fellows, IN striking contrast
20 the elderly reservists type. which pre-
dominates In the German prison camps
They were evidently elite troops OF the
line and were treated almost with de-
ference by their guards, a detachment
OF bearded landwehc men from South
Germany. They were the survivors OF
the garrison OF the Roman camp fort.
spirited defense as 10 win the whole-
hearted admiration and respect Of the
German officers and men.
Their armored turrets and cemented
bastions, although constructed after the
best rules OF fertilization OF few years
ago, had been battered ebout their ears
Ia an Unexpectedly shdyt time by Ger
man and Austrian sicge artillery. Their
guns had been silen2ed and trenches
were pushed up by an overwhelming
force Of pioneers and Infantry 20 within
! five yards OF their works before they
retreated from the advanced intrench-
ments 10 the classmates OF the fort
Refuse 20 Yield.
Here they maintained a stout resist.
anoe and refused every summons to sur
render. Hand grenades were brought up
bound to a backing OF boards and OK.
| ploded against the openings into the case
mates. filling these with showers OF stee
7 IL.
dead angle OF the classmates. whore tn,
fire OF the defenders could not roacl
them, directed smoke tubes and stink
pots against the apertures In the citadel
filling the rooms with suffocating smoke
and gases.
'fIave you had enough?" they wer,
asked after the first smoke treatment
No" was the defiant answer.
Fort Ia Taken.
The treatment was repeated a secon,
and third time. the response TO the de
mand for surrender each time growing
weaker until finally tho defenders wer
no longer able 20 raise their rifles an,
the fort was taken. When the survivor
OF the plucky garrison were able to marc
out revived by the fresh air. they foun
their late opponents presenting arms be
fore them in recognition OF their gnlIan
stand. They were granted the most hon
orable terms OF surrender. their officer
were allowed 20 retain their swords an
on their march toward an honorable car
tivity they were everywhere greeted wit
expressions OF respect and admiration
Headquarters guard here was compose
, OF a company OF infantry. The company
field Kitchen. the soup boiler and owe
ON wheels which the German army COZ
led from the Russians and which IN
soldiers faeetiously and affectionatel
, call their 'ghoulIsh cannon had tins
day. the captain stated fod s50 men. so
dieTs Of his own and passing companle
headquarters attaches wounded and n
detachment OF French prisoners.
Field Kitchen Ranks High.
Experienced Officers stiil rank the fiel
; kitchen with the sturdy legs OF tine Il
fantry. the German heavy artillery an
the aviation corps as four OF the mo
= Important factors In the sRewing mae
by the German army.
Beyond ST. Bsnost aud Lorraine a RAM
% wooded hilIs. running north aud soui
along the east bank Of the fAIeuse. risi
In steeply tarrsced slopes several hui
dred feet from the frontier plain, int
; posing a natural rampant between &c
, many and the French line OF fortress
beyond the Mouse The French had fort