The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-10-08
WRECKAGE- -STRENN BATTLEFIELDS
LOOK AS IF SWEPT BY CYCLONE
BY C. w, WILLIAMS.

was permitted to pass several days In
the zone Of military activity" on Gre
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 pledge to say
nothing concerning the movement of
the troops or of certain points visited,
l am permitted now to send a report
OF a part of my experiences.
We crossed the entire battlefield of
the Marne, passed directly behind the
lines of the battle on the Aisne, ac-
cidentally getting under fire for an
entire afternoon and lunching In a ho-
tel to the orchestra of bursting shells,
one end of the building being blown
away during the bombardment.
We witnessed a battle between an
p armored French monoplane and
German battery, and also had the ex-
perience of being accused of being
German spies by two men wearing the
English uniform, who, on failing to ac-
count for their own German accent.
were speedily taken away under guard
with their numbers up" as the French
commandant expressed what awaited
them.
Llkens Battle to Cyclone.
On account of our exceptional Gre
dentials we were able to see more
actual war than many correspond
ents, who, when they learned that
permits to get to the front were 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
Marne, we found the battle had fol-
lowed much the same tactics as a 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
every 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 a deserted village and were
stopped by sentry, who acknowl-
edged our credentials, but warned us
II 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 a hill where the road dipped
down a valley into the town we were
in direct line with the German fire,
as great holes in the ground and fall
en- trees testified.
1t is wonder our big motor car
was not an immediate mark. On the
way we noticed a church steeple shot
completely off 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
lull in the bombardment, but the ST.
lent, deserted place lulled all sense of
danger.
y. Shell 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.
"It begins again." our conductor said
simply.
AS the speech ended we heard q
loud boom and the sound Of falling
masonry as the shell struck the faI
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 ol
furniture hanging grotesquely from
scraps Of masonry.
All my life l had wondered what
would be the sensation If / ever was
under fire-would / be afraid? TC
my intense relief suddenly became
fatalistic. l was under fire with
vengeance, but instead of being afraic
l kept saying to myself:
Being afraid won't help matters
besides, nothing will happen If W.
Just keep close to the walls and away
from the middle of the streets"
Aecusers Taken as Spies.
On the way me wet two men IN
English uniforms, who later de
nounced us as spies. We hailed then
and they replied that they had beer
cut off from their regiment and were
now fighting with the French. JUS
as luncheon was announced eight sol
diers filed into the hotel, arrested vi
and marched us before the command
ant who saw that our papers were
all right, but suggested that on &C
count of the dangerous position W.
leave as soon as possible: We asked
permission to finish our luncheon.
It was lucky that we were arrested
then-before the accusation that w
were spies--for when that question
arose there was no doubt in the mine
Of the commandant concerning us, 81
our accusers' charge merely reacte'
upon themselves.
Part Of Hotel Wrecked.
During the episode OF arrest ther'
was another lull in the bombardment
which began again as we were seate'