Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06
AeropIanes, as Scouts, Direct
the March of the Teu-
tonic H0rdes.
FRENCH SLAUGHTER THEM,
BUT OTHERS PRESS ON
Efficiency of Kaiser's Military Sys.
tenn Telling, Despite the Ex-
haustion of Soldiers.
BY v. sIosTEEN.

Special Cablegram TO The Star.
BOULOGNE, September 81 have seen
and marveled at the torrent Of human
fighting machines which has poured into
this unhappy country. I have watched
that most wonderful sight, the German
army on march. l have witnessed the
still more remarkable spectacle the Ger
man troops going into action.
For. equipped with my credentials as
citizen of a neutral country, have been
able to move with comparative freedom
in the southern regions of Belgium and
the northern provinces of France.
1t was after the occupation of Brussels
and the still later fighting at Mons that
found myself resting in a French village
through which the German invaders We're
passing. The retreating French had torn
up the railways. and, while German engi-
neers We're repairing them with all posi-
BILE speed, troops marched along the high
roads, carrying their impedimenta with
them.
The hum of a motor high up In the air
was the first intimation of their APPROACH.
The villagers rushed out and gazed sky
ward. A Taube aeroplane was lowering
above US at no very great distance, and
soon we saw others. 1t was quite evi.
dent that they were spying out the land
thoroughly to the marching Germans
While We watched one Taube machine
crumpled up and fell headlong to the
ground Both its occupants were pitched
out in nlidair and dropped a sheer 500
feet to death. But how utterly insignif
icant that tragedy incident seemed. Two
German dead. Two German families
plunged into mourning. But the Ger
man hosts marched on, and the destruc-
ton of these human atoms of a mighty
whole was of no military consequence.
Headed By Cyclists.
Round bend of the road came the
vanguard. consisting of big contingent
OF military cyclists with rifles swung over
their shoulders. Knowing the way clear
for them, they rode right through the
village at a slow pace. Close behind
came a regiment of cavalry, then field
artillery. The horses were almost worn
out and the drivers thrashed them until
they maintained the pace that suited the
requirements of forced march. More
cavalry and corps of various descrip-
lions followed and then the infantry.
The road was wide, and they marched
eight abreast. There seemed no end to
them. Such typical German faces and
figures. These men were short, rather
than tall, but stalwart in form and with
round heads and closely cropped hair.
the gray-green uniforms were covered.
The rate of march was more than four
miles hour. probably mile in
thirteen minutes. Considering the weight
of equipment, to which must be added
the rife. this speed is a marvel: it was
their physical strength being taxed to
the utmost
Some corps Were singing sentimental
German volkslieder But many men were
staggering, barely holding places in
their ranks. There is no room in the
German army for weaklings. They re-
ceiVe scant mercy from comrades or
superiors. The non-commissioned off,
GERS are relentlessly stern in the MAIN
tenance of march discipline They pass
ed along. cursing, with vigorous bru-
'ahty that seemed to overawe them 1
saw young soldier, who looked like a
youth of twenty, receive several blows
from a non-commissioned officer be-
cause fatigue caused him to fall a little
hehind his rank, and thus disarrange
the marching machine.