Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-09-26
DRIVEN TO ATROCITIES, GERMAN
COMMANDER Tells CORRESPONDENT

morning edition Of Deutsche Kreiger
Zeitung was being printed and distrib-
uted to the passing men. II Conttined
nothing but accounts of German vic
tories, Of which never had heard. but
it seemed greatly 10 cheer the men.
Field kitchens with smoke pouring
from their stoyepipe tunnels rumbled
down the lines. serving steaming soup
and coffee to the marching men, who
held out tin cups and had them filled
without once breaking step.
Covered Wagons Hide Machine Guns.
There were wagons filled with army
cobblers, sitting cross-legged on the
floor who were mending soldiers
shoes just as IL they were back in
their little shops i'm the fatherland.
Other wagons. to all appearances ordi-
nary two wheeled farm carts, hid IN
der their arched canvas covers nine
machine guns which could instantly
be brought into action.
The medical corps was as magniti-
cent as businesslke. Ii was as per
great city hospital.
Men on bicycles with a coil of in
sulated wire slung between them
strung a field telephone from tree to
tree so the general commanding could
converse with any part of the 80 miles
long column.
The whole army never sleeps.
When half is resting the other half
is advancing The soldiers are treat
ed as If they were valuable machines
which must be speeded up to the high
est possible efficiency Therefore. they
are well fed, well shod, well clothed,
and worked as a negro teamster works
mules.
Only men who are well cared for
can march 35 miles day week in and
week out. Only once did | see man
mistreated. A sentry on duty in front
of the general headquarters failed to
salute an officer with sufficient prompt
ness, whereupon the officer dashed him
again and again across the face with
a riding whip. Though welts rose
with every blow, the soldier stood
rigidly at attention and never quiv-
cred
Finally Reaches Won eoehn.
1t was considerably past midday and
we were within a few miles of the
French frontier when we saw a guidon.
which signifies the presence of the
head of the army, planted at the en-
trance of a splendid old chateau. As
we passed through the iron gates and
whirled up the stately tree-lined drive
and drew up in front of the terrace a
dozen officers in staff uniform came
running out to meet us. For a few
minutes il felt as if we we're being
welcomed at a country house in Ameri-
ca instead OF at the headquarters of
the German army in the field. So
perfect was the field telephone service
that the staff had been able to keep in
touch with our progress along the
lines and were waiting dinner for us.
After dinner We grouped ourselves
on the terrace In the self-conscious
attitude people always assume when
having their pictures taken, and
Thompson made some photographs.
They probably are the only ones of
this war, at least of a German general
and an American war correspondent
who was not under arrest.
Then we gathered about the table,
on which was spread staff map of
the war area. and got down to serious
business. The general began by as
serting that the stories OF atrocities
perpetrated on Belgian noncombatants
were a tissue OF lies.
Look at these officers about YOU"
he said. They are gentlemen like
yourself. Look at the soldiers march
ing past in the road out there. Most
of them are fathers of families. Sure
ly you don't believe they would do the
things they have been accused Of
Explains Aerschot Crimes.
Three days ago, general" I said.
81 was in Aerschot. The whole town
now is but CHASTITY, blackened, blood
stained ruin"
When we entered Aerschot the son
of the burgomaster came into the
room, drew revolver, and assassinat-
ed my chief Of staff" the general said.
What followed was only retribution.
The townspeople only got what they
deserved"
But why wreak your vengeance on
women and children ."
None has been killed" the general
asserted positively.
81 am sorry to contradict you, gen.
eral." | asserted with equal positive
ness, but | have myself seen their
mutilated bodies. So has Mr.. Ginson.
secretary of the American legation
at Brussels. who was present during
the destruction of Louvain.'
"Of course, there always is danger
of women and children being killed
during street fighting" said General
Won Boehn, IF they insist on coming
into the street 1t is unfortunate, but
IL Is war"