Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-15
Two Adventurous Youths Cir
: Gle Around in Belgian
War Zone.
TELL OF DESTRUCTION
OF VILLAGES BY FIRES
Hotel de Vile at Louvain Not De-
stroyed-Cathedral Damaged.
Account of Perilous Trip.
corres,oudepee Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence of The Star
LONDON, September Two Oxfore
University students have just arrived II
London after an exciting trip through
the war zone. They passed through thu
German lines several times and were II
Brussels. Aix-la-Chapelle, Louvain, Liegt
and elsewhere. One of them, A. ]. Dave
told this story:
Il was accompanied by another Oxfort
undergraduate, and We left London {
fortnight ago for Ostend, arriving II
Brussels Wednesday, August 19.
Next morning we awoke to find al
Geographic communication had been shu
off since $50. The post ONCE and rail
way station had been shut up and wer,
being guarded by Germans. For weei
We had to stay in Brussels. There wer'
good many English people in the city
including big party of British Rex
Cross surgeons and nurses.
las the week went on food began t.
get scarce, and Tuesday we found it i'm
possible to obtain anything to eat excep
beefsteak. There was no such thing a.
bread, neither was there any milk In tn,
city. Although we had one-hundred-fran,
Belgian notes, no one would change them
We decided Wednesday, August %, tina
We must get out of Brussels by hook o.
crook.
Through German Lines.
THE method by which We got clear o,
the city and the German lines am moi
at liberty to disclose until after the
war. We left all our luggage and bough,
'knapsacks. Wednesday evening we start.
ed out on what proved the most adven.
turous time we ever had. It is probably
due to the fact that we have q goo6
knowledge of French and German that
we managed to get home at all
'On leaving the city we walked along
the road toward Louvain. EVERYWHERE
we were challenged by German sentries
and met streams of refugees coming into
the city carrying all their belongings ir
bags. As we went along the evening sky
was lighted up by burning buildings
this time in flames. In fact, all around
us there could be seen flames.
I'VE turned off that night toward
m ,hanns ,s our idea being to get north
the night at Seventeen, and on our
arrival there were no Germans to be
seen. but in an hours time we were
awakened by the rumble of wagons
Of the German commissariat, and the
landlord came and searched US for
arms. On finding we had none he al
lowed us to remain. In the morning
we. found the place had been peace
fully occupied by German troops We
left that place and struck north to
Steenocken, on the road to Malines.
Here on the crossroads we met a
party of German officers who refused
to allow US to go farther north. We
then turned back on the road toward
Louyain. As we approached Cortenberg
We heard firing, and at the station we
were challenged by German sentries.
who searched US. Inckily for US we
had taken the precaution to destroy
our English passports. our checkbooks
ana everything that might disclose
the fact that we were Englishmen.
Destroy Village.
AS We were being searched some
German officers came over and took
US on with them through the village.
In the main street firing was going on
and we heard that four or five Chlans
had been shot as they passed through
and this troop had been dispatched tc
destroy the village as q punishment
For their terrible purpose the Ger.
mans had brought with them carloads
OF straw, and with this they set fire
TO the houses. We were made to wall
up the main street holding our hands
while two German soldiers were told
off to cover US with their reviewers
This was in the afternoon, and from
to o'clock We had to stand at tn,
end Of the street while the firing wen
on. 1t was terrible spectacle ant
our first glimpse of the horrors o
war. for we saw five civilians as the,
iett their burning houses ruthlessl,
shot down by the German soldiers
There We were made to stand ant
look on while the houses were beinj
set on fire. and soon the whole stree
was IN flames. The German soldiers
however. spared women and children
and marched them on one side befor
they fired the village.
We made the best of a bad job, ant
I produced a flask of brandy which
hsld unit u, H.
a cafe and brought out Cognac. The,
they allowed US to go on toward Lou
vain. BY this time it was dark and "
were in danger not only of being sho
by sentries. but also by the inhabi
tants, who might take US for Germans
We walked on through wood an
struck a small village called veltham
a adi,5s we went to several cafes W
no one would give US shelter. SO W
went to the village priest. Poor mar
he could do nothing for US; his plac
was already full of refugees, and h
advised us to go into the woods How
ever, we contrived to get q little choc
olate and with loaf of bread, whic
we had brought with US, we manage
TO make a scratch meal, after whic
we lay down in barn.
Sleep was quite out of the question
The place was overrun with rats, an
we did not enjoy their presence. In tn
morning we continued our way throug
the village, and two little BeIgia
girls came out and gave us some brea
and butter, for which we were yer
grateful.
I'VE got back on the road to Louvai
and stumbled upon q German encamr
ment. We picked up a pack of playin
cards and cap from the dead body {
Belgian soldier. There were man
dead horses and few dead soldier
hereabouts. They were German horse
Scenes in Louvaid
Just outside of Louvain We met
troop of Germans and they allowed ,
to go on, although they told US thel
was considerable danger. as the II
habitants were still firing Neith<
of US will ever forget the spectac
Louvain presented as we walked U
the principal street. The whole tow
had apparently capitulated to the Ge
mans. although occasionally we heal
the sound of firing. But 1t was d,
sultory firing, and the greater part
the town was in flames.
Houses were falling, telegraph an
telephone poles were tumbling in
the streets. and the picture of desols
tion was complete, while German so