New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-19
GERMANS DIARY TELLS
OF BATTLES TERRORS
Notes Found on Body of Bavarian Describing His
Feelings Before, During and After
the Battle.

to the left two PAGES, stepping over the
body Of my comrade.
Another shell shrieks by and an
other, still another. There is no end
to Il. And to think ! am forced 70
stand there. What is my gun for,
wonder. As each she'll explodes our
captain shouts, "Close your ranks
and we all move to the left, stumbling
ever bodies.
One man seems TO have stepped into
a hole, only his body is above ground.
and he is half leaning over, with
funny. sickly look. He must be
scared see, There is no hole. but
10th his legs have been shot away.
God, what a sight. | turn away, sick.
and my legs shake like leaves. Can't
they let US fight or else go on behind
the hill? Anywhere, away from this
SLAUGHTER house.
What's this in the plain in front Of
US? Red flowers seem 70 have sprung
suddenly. They move. disappear. jump
i'm the air Thousands gather around
the bushes. "The French" whispers our
corporal i'm front. The red caps seem
TO cover the plain. How did they get
there so quickly?
Now bees seem 10 hum all around us.
I can't see them, but hear them plainly.
The French are within rife range now
and spotting our men. The captain
passes in front Of US saying: The
first 20 turn his back will be shot HIS
revolver in his hand looks wicked and
the men stand firm.
can see over twenty Of my company
on the ground now. start TO count
them, but am interrupted every minute
by: "Close your ranks" One OF the
wounded is screaming loudly and our
corporal goes over 20 give him drink,
but falls right on top of the wounded
man, dead. Are we ever going to hght
German Ranks Melt.
u is getting worse; our ranks seem
TO melt, and | have closed the rank
until / am fifty feet away from where
| first stood
The man next 10 me now is mum
bling. All hear is: "oh, Blessed VNir-
gin!" He is praying. The Nir-
gin must have heard him, for a shout
runs down the line and mounted Of
icer rushes By crying: Your turn
now, hurrah. forward"
I'd 90 our guns. Down come the bay
onets. It's charge. Across the road,
and reach the plain. / forget the ach-
ing joints, wounded comrade and leg
less man. All ! see are the red caps a
few hundred yards away. They are
kneeling and shooting. Thousands Of
them. They run a few steps forward,
kneel, shoot and up again.
All around me, men OF my regiment
are falling Some without a word. 9th
ers with a shout or "A moan. One | re-
member. screamed Mamma" as he
pitched TO his knees. Just then our
captains horse went over him and
trampled him.
IL seems we will never reach those
red caps. They are still kneeling and
shooting. / stumble and fall; my face
in the dust. Up again and forward.
Suddenly the kneeling line of red
cans rises together. The shooting
stops. and with lowered bayonets they
rush at Us. On my right and left my
comrades stop. The officers curse, and
one strikes me with the fiat of his
sword: Forward! Forward"
Falls and Feigns Death.
But the strength seems 20 have left
me. The men all around me are turn
ing. The one in front has just thrown
his gun 10 the ground and is running
back, mis- hands waving In the air like a
madman. Another throws his gun away
and in d minute all have done the same.
We are all running toward the hill.
falling over the wounded. trampling
the dead. look over my shoulder. two
red caps are ten feet behind ME, bay
vnets lowered.
Not IN the back! They must not
STRIKE me in the back, | turn. The
bayoueta Craze b. ne and the red caps
saoE- Surrender"
! stumble and fall The French rush
% ana / As like one dead until night
t.ii-. am forgotten and saved.
vaig sil night and find my regi-
me.t. Cniy coo csc left. The rest are
prisoners OF dead When will ny turn
come?
Note. The dboVs rotsy to~re foprd o.
October Is. Hs turn come .Do doys after.