New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-06
New York Woman Stands
on Plateau Amid Burst
ing Shells.
WITNESSES DUEL
BETWEEN AIRSHlPS
Arrives In London to Arrange
for Hospital Unit at New
British Base.
tpy CahIo 10 The Tribune.l

London. Nov. 5.-How Mrs. Barton
French, tho New York and Newport so
ciety leader, who since war started mas
been in charge of one of the American
hospitals in France, stood all alone on
the banks of the Aisne and, with shehs
bursting all about her, watched tho hr-
tillery duel between the British ana
Germans, was told by herself Tor the
first time to-day.
Mrs. French, who Is sister-'n-ih"
of Elsie French Vanderbilt, has just
arrived in London to arrange for send
ing hospital unit TO the new BRUSH
base in Northern France, and is stop
ping at the Ritz. Mrs. French also
criticised the administration for not
protesting against the activities OF
Count Won Bernstorf.
81 received letter from a friend to-
day." she said, "who wrote that he had
invited twenty-four persons to meet
Ambassador Bernstorf at dinner In
Newport and had received twenty-four
destinations. All the news | get from
America on the subject is to the effect
that all the best people in New York
simply refuse to have anything TO do
with Ambassador Bernstorif, as any
body who knows the rudiments OF di-
plomacy knows he has committed blum
ders. to use the kindest expression,
which should cost him his job instant.
ly. His utterances on the subject Of
the Germans invading Canada is only
one of his offences against diplomatic
decency.'
Mrs. French went to the front on
behalf Of the American Ambulance As
sociations Of Paris to make report on
the field and base hospitals.
at was my good fortune 70 drive
several staff officers to the lines in my
car, and as result ! happened to see
small slice of the battle Of the
Aisne," she said. 'The officers were
anxious 20 watch the artillery opera
tions, so ! took them to a point, which
! am not at liberty to mention, on the
heights overlooking the Aisne, where
battery was engaged with the Ger
mans across the river. The officers
apologe tically informed me they would
have 10 leave me, "a they were going
forward under fire, so | remained be
hind with the chauffeur. | could hear
heavy guns booming near at hand and
finally curiosity overcame my oistrac-
ton; so, leaving the car hidden in the
woods. started across the fields in the
direction Of the firing. Soon / could
see shells bursting in the air and all
OF & sudden the whole scene of the
the high plateau on which ! was stand
ing.
"Guns were below me and to my Left,
and the Germans were hidden on the
opposite bank. but tiny putfs now and
then rising above the trees showed me
about where they were. IL was so eX-
citing the thought never occurred TO
me that was in danger, and even when
shrapnel burst a few hundred fee.
away | was 50 engrossed in the spec
tacle my own peril seemed wholly I'M
important Afterward ] learned that
the Germans could easily have hit me
if they had wanted to. They never
tried to, however, whether from an
un-Teutonic sense of ohivalry or be-
cause il wasn't worth wasting shells on
one person | cannot say. Shells which
exploded in my neighborhood were
simply those badly aimed at the bat
terry.
After had been standing there for
what seemed a long time my chauffeur
came up and begged me to retire TO a
safer spot. | had started back, when
we suddenly saw a Taube above the
German lines. and instantly afterward
/ heard the firing of anti-aircraft guns
| from our side of the battle line. We
| stood there. the chauffeur and |, gazing
! breathlessly upward, and beheld IA mon
/ oplane set out after the invader. Then
we witnessed that most thrilling of all
conflicts, a duel in the air. As ! stood
! looking up at the two machines circling
above each other / realized for the
| first time, think. what n terrible bust
ness war was There was something
indescribably sinister and vicious about
| the movements OF those two graceful
craft, each seeking to destroy the other
! shuddered with the horror Of il, yet
even then no feeling of personal fear
came to me. can't explain why, ex-
cept that one is so enthralled by these
/ things one seems TO forget ones self
After that I had enough"