Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-13

N~NhN'sANN NaNasA 80 DhNV
temporarily. After the main body had
crossed the bridge was blown up, leaving
the two outpost companies to get across
as best they could by boats or swimming
Most Of them managed TO reach the main
body again.
1.-THE main body raced from the town
and fell back through open country being
kept moving all night. When daylight
arrived IL was apparent from higher
ground that Mons had been practically
blown away by the German artillery.
"All throughout the morning we con-
tlnued to fight a rear guard action. but
the steady march in retreat did not stop
until 6 o'clock in the evening. when we
found ourselves we'll out OF range OF the
German artillery. In quiet valley where
all the troops we're ordered to rest and
eat As they had been without food since
the previous mornings breakfast. II was
rather amusing TO see the soldiers going
into the turnip fields and eating turnlps
as though they were apples.
AT s o'clock all lights were extln-
guished the soldiers were ordered to make
no noise and the pickets pushed long
distance backward. Long before dawn the
troops were hastily started agaln and con-
tinued the retirement.
by noon the enemy was again heard
from and a large detachment was assigned
the. task OF fighting to protect our rear.
Aerial Duel witnessed.
During the afternoon. both the Ger
man and British armies watched duel
In the air between French and German
aeroplanes. The Frenchman was wonder
fully clever and succeeded In maneuver-
Ink himself TO tho upper position, which
ne gained after fifteen minutes OF reck-
less effort Then the Frenchman began
blazing away at the German with a re-
volver. Finally he hlt him and the
wounded German attempted to glide down
into his own lines. The glide. however,
ended in the British lines near my de-
taehment. the West Kent Infantry. We
found the aviator dead when We reached
the machine, We buried him and burned
the aeroplane.
AT dusk a halt was made for food, and
as the German had fallen behind. the
English spent quiet night. AT dawn.
however we found the Germans close al
our heels and several regiments were or
dered to prepare entertainments. This Is
tedious and tiresome work. especially In
the heat and without proper food, but We
put up Notifications which were sufficient
TO protect us somewhat from the artil-
lery fire.
1T was not long before the German
gunners found the range and began tear
ing up these rough Notifications. concen-
trating their fire on the British batteries,
one OF which was completely demolished.
Another found itself without ak men.
Both these disasters bore testimony to the
excellent craftsmanship OF the German
gunners,
Guns spiked.
AS II became evident that we must
leave these guns behind and continue the
retreat an officer was seen going around
putting the guns out OF action so tnat they
would be OF no use 10 the Germans. HIS
action required cool bravery. because the
Germans having found the rangA contin-
ued firing directly at these batteries.
Things rapidly got hotter and the COM
manding officer ordered a double quick re-
treat We were not long In DOING the
racing movement 20 save our own skins.
The writer was struck al this time
BY Maxim bullet For moment l
thought my head had been blown off. but
recovered and kept on running until 1
reached trench where / had an oppor-
tunity TO bandage the wound 1 rushed
off to the ambulances. but found the doc
tors so busy with men worse off than L
that went back to my place IN the line. -