New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-31

cession in the darkness. a cuirassicr
with head bent upon his chest STUN
bled forward leading horse too weak
and tired 10 bear MIN. Many other
men were leading poor beasts in this
way. and infantry soldiers. some with
bandagcd heads. clunC TO the back Of
carts and wagons and seemed asleep
as they shuffcd by.
The light from the roadside lamps
cleaned upon blanched faces and
glazed eyes and flashed into cayerns Of
canvas covered carts where twisted
men lay huddled on straw. but not a
groan came from the carts. Every one
knew il was retreat. The carts carry
ing the quick and dead rumbled by in
long convoy; the dropping heads Of the
soldiers turned neither 10 the right nor
loft for any greeting with friends.
There was a hugCer-muggcr OF uni
forms. Of provision carts. with ambu-
lanccs; il was a part of the wreckage
and was the tag Of war and to the on
locker. unconsciously inclined TO OK
aggerate the importance Of the things
close at hand and visible. il seemed
terrible in its significance and an omi-
nous reminder OF 1870
Boys lake Fathers Places.
Really, this was an inevitable part
Of serious battle. not necessarily a
retreat from great disaster. But more
pitiful even than this were the scenes
which followed As / turned back into
the town ! saw thousands Of boys who
had been called 10 the colors and had
been brought up from the country to
be sent forward 70 the second lines Of
defence They were the reseryists of
the 1914 class. and many Of them were
shouting and singing. though here and
there white-faced boy tried TO hide
his tears as women from the crowd
ran forward 10 embrace him. These
lads were keeping up their valor by
noisy demonstrations, but | have seen
the death carts pass, and | could not
bear TO look into the faces of those
little ones who are following their
fathers TO the guns.
Early the next morning there was d
thrill Of anxiety in Amiens. Reports
had come through that the railway line
had been cut between Boulogne and
Abbeville. There had been mysterious
movements Of regiments from the town
barracks. They had moved out of
AmienS and there was strange
quietude in the streets. Hardly man
in uniform was 20 be seen in places
which had been filled with soldiers the
day before. Only few people realized
the actual significance of this. How
could they know that it was part OF
the great plan TO secure the safety OF
France? How could they realize tina.
the town itself would be saved from
possible rcmbardment by this with
drswai Q. the troops TO positions which
would draw the Germans into the
opep?
The lighting on the Cambria lie Cha
teau line seems TO have been more des-
peIate even than the terrible actions
at Mons. 1t was when the British
troops had 10 swing around TO a more
SoUtherly line to guard the roads "a
Paris that the enemy attacked IN pro-
digiouS numbers, and their immense
superiority in machine guns did ter.
rible work among the officers and men;
but on all sides from French officer.
there is immense praise for the mag
niiicent conduct of our troops, and ir
spite OF all alarmist statements | AL
convinced from what ! have heard thai
they have retired intact, keeping theii
lines together. Having their division,
broken and cut Off, the list OF casu
alties must be very great, but If | car
believe the evidence Of my own eyes u
such towns as Rouen, where the Rec
Cross hospitals are concentrated. the'
are not heavy enough 70 suggest any
thing like a great and irretrievable dis
. y