The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-11-12
BY EDGAR ANsEL MowRgR.


than q week have been at the head |
quarters Of the Belgian army behind
the line OF the River Yser from Nieu-
port to DixmGde | have seen how
the remnants OF the army from Ant.
werp retreating on the way 10 oatend
were sent to northern France 10 rest
and reorganize and how the rest OF
the Belgian forces. being asked 10 hold
the lines ~ houra, have actually held
Il for six days. thus preventing a siege
OF Dunkirk and saving the French
coast from invasion.
stick to Antwerp TO Last
Contrary TO what wAasat FIRST report.
cd, the Belgian army left Antwerp only
after all the forts except four had been
destroyed, and these four the defend
ers blew up a. they hastily evacuated
the town, the heroic Belgian. General
de Guisel remaining TO the last What
part of the retreating BelgtAns en-
tered Holland and are held by Dutch
authorities is not known here.
IL 10 certain that the others never
would have escaped the Germans but
for the heroic stand made by a mixed
force OF English, BelgianH and French
marines IN the village OF Nellie, south
west OF Client, wherein two Belgian
regiments--the Sixth volunteers and
the Ninth OF the particularly dis
tinguished themselves.
Walks From Dunklrk TO France.
I reached Fnrnes October &c, hAv.
ing walked from Dunkirk, crossed
q bridge. reached a village street and
after two turningS emerged on the
quaint old market place Of Furnes. the
home and present seat OF the general
headquarters OF the Belgian army. !
went At once 10 the headquarters In
the town hall, made known my iden-
tity and secured a pass.
Standing before the headquarters
was an automobile containing three
British soldiers. approached and
asked the nearest one where the Ger.
mans were He looked at me with
Astonishment and before replying or
letting me explain who was and why
had come, no exclaimed; Good
Lord Have they let you come this
tar? Well. since you are here, st can
DO no harm TO tell you where they
arc" He drew a map from his pocket
Here they are" he said. laying a
hnger on the village OF Middlekirke
Our line extends from Newport TO
Dixmnde. The Belgians are intrench'
ing themselves all along the line"
starts Out for NteUpoTt.
/ thanked the soldiers and set out "a
walk TO Nieuport On the outskirts
ps Furnes passed q regiment OF Sel
Eians starting for Dixmude. turned
10 the lefV In the direction Of Newport
but at the village of wulpun wal
turned back by an overpolite Belgian
sergeant
That night I heard a terrible can
aonAding. and Saturday morning 90
tober II. learned that the battle o.
The User had begun. This battle
which has not yet como 20 an end. II
self IL only a part Of the greater bat
tie OF which Il IL likely to be tbs
center Small though Il II in the mum
Der OF troops engaged, the battle o
the User presents three distinc
phases. according 10 the nature OF thu
ground.
About eight miles east Of Fumes liei
the town Of DiImude, where the attacl
began The Belgians here had beef
REINFORCED by 5000 French marine in
Iantry. these marines forming the flrs
line OF defense, 400 yards beyond tn
town and on the right bank OF tn
User The Germans attacked viii
great violence about nine o'clock Frt
day evening Marines who figured Il
the battle estimate their opponents
strength at 10000. The attack contir
ued until dAybreak on Saturday. Whe
The marines. ably assisted by Frenc
and Belgian batteries placed benin
the town, drove back the Onslaught
with considerable loss.
J. Reaches the Belgian Trenches.
When reached the Belgian ba
tsriss and trenches about eleven q. II
Saturday the former we're keeOinE u
. steady FIRE. Some OF the Belgian
lying in the trenches which had bee
- the second line OF defense tried TO s.
ter me from continuing farther. q
the shrApnel IRE was rather heavy 1
this point. but proceeded until
reached about one kilometer EST
tenth Of a milel on this side Of III
town. A Belgian lieutenant previou
Iy had given rs permission 10 go on
kiiometsr beyond the town TO q p
sitIon which. as I learned later. woul
have put me exactly between the o
posing forces and ia full line Wit
the rido IRE.
Escapes Shrspnsi Of Germans.
turned aside and approached
ehSreh In the midst Of a small yillag
All the morning the booming Of u
far away German cannon had bee
audible, but II seemed without impo
lance Now ! had my first eKpsriens
OF being under IRE, As was about
enter the church. intending 10 m0ur
into the Selfry heard an uoaervin
Shir. Of = somewhat lover pitch tha
that produced b. projeetiies from n
y Belgian guns. II grew louder. loud'
\ "a tysa.r I faff - ~ n Aawfg'R n