New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-02
ENGLISH WOMAN
ON GERMAN LINES
Officers Wife Spends Day
in Bruges Disguised
as Peasant.

On the Belgian Frontier, Nov. l.
vivacious English lady, wife of an
officer bearing a famous name, re-
turned to-day over the border into
Holland after an adventurous days
tour behind the German lines.
~ made up my No.. to see for my
self what was going on" she said. Il
was warned if ! went out in my usual
clothes should be seized as spy,
50 disguised myself as Flemish
peasant woman, with the assistance Of
the national costume Of earrings and
headdress. all complete down TO the
very shoes. | stained my face brown
with connection Of strong coffee,
borrowed a pair of spectacles and \
market basket. and set off across the
country on foot. | reached Bruges
safely enough, and with nothing un-
toward to mark my journey. Bruges
/ know we'll enough IN ordinary times,
but as the city was when ] entered
it should not have recognized IT, It
was q city Of supreme sadness, gloom,
desoIation and pain.
There were wounded Germans every
wher, wandering about the streets
aimle, sly, apparently uncared for.
Motor cars, vans, all manner OF We
hicles being used 10 hurry the wounded
through and out of the town 10 "A hos
pital Organization seemed TO be all
at skies and sevens and large numbers
OF the less severe cases were left TO
take care of themselves. The town
was placarded with notices forbidding
any civil person IN possession OF any
kind Of firearms and ordering all
householders 20 be indoors and all
lights out by o'clock. The revelry
that has marked the conduct of the
German soldiers in other towns IN
their occupation was totally absent
here. the soldiers moving in and out in
constant procession.
"All looked anxious, tired and ha-
raised as though some dark fate which
they could not understand was hang
ing over them. No hilarious gather
ings were at the cafes, no drinking, no
uproars but everything was strangely,
almost uncanniy quiet. The military
commandant evidently noticed this and
it worried him. He ordered the regi-
mental band 20 form up in Petit Place
and play lively music. The band began
playing dolorous jigs with absolutely
no jig to them. Finally the command
ant stamped and ground his teeth. and
sent out an order that If the band
could do no better than that it had
better stop. So it stopped.
"On my way out of town ] met a Ger
man soldier with his arm and hand
dreadfully shattered. His bandages
had slipped, and he was trying vainly
10 replace them. ] helped him re-
dress his nasty wounds and rebandaged
them with pocket bandage | happened
10 have with me- The soldier fumbled
in his pocket and at last produced
crumpled iive-franc note, which he Of
fcred me. | refused il.
"'Why do YOU refuse good money for
a good action, madam he said.
"'Because ! am an Englishwoman,'
/ replied, and Englishwomen do not
take payment for good deeds, however
small or great they may be-
"T cannot believe you are English,
he said, but you are an angel. Angels
have no nationality. May | kiss your
hand"
Il held out my hand, he bent low and
kissed il. There were tears in his
eyes, and | rather wish now | had ac-
cepted that five-franc note TO keep as
a souvenir of Purssian gratitude"
On her way out Of the city she fol-
lowed the line OF the cdhdl lol IlIHt,
and saw string of barge. moving out,
all filled with marines, guns and am
munition. The men, she said, ali
looked splendidly tit and well trained,
and the retreat-fOr such It undoubt-
eddy was went on smoothly and rap
idly for miles. The roads were moving
pictures of supplies, ammunition and
ambulance vehicles. all journeying in
the direction of Brussels. Everything
was orderly. everything well and
cleanlv done. all Of which is significant
of new move on the front Of the NOV