Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-03-05
BY c. LEROY BALpR,peE.
CORRESPONDENT Chicago Post1

Amsterdam.-The German occupa
ton OF Antwerp had already become
a matter of routine when arrived
from Rosendaal. In five days the new
city government had adapted itself
perfectly to the burgomaster's offices
and was working smoothly. 1t had
even instituted regular motor bus
service to Brussels. But finding a
certain cheese merchant who owned
a wobbly-kneed animal, too hopeless
to be requisitioned, and who said he
didn't care where he went with it,
chose to go that way.
We found a war-swept road to the
capital; on either side rich growing
nelds plowed with trenches; tattered
remnants of villages and scattered
graves. The way was jammed with
homeless people carrying their belong
ings In carts, wheelbarrows. baby
buggies-ever fleeing.
At Brussels, through the courtesy of
Brand Whitlock and the kommandan-
tur, certain amount of bluff and phe-
nomenal luck, / obtained a pass to
travel anywhere within the German
lines in Belgium. Moreover it worked
for three weeks.
Tries to Go Through Lines to Paris.
Thus armed, l decided to attempt
the impossible. and 60 through to
Paris, in which was encouraged by a
French Red Cross nurse who was
taken prisoner when the city surren-
dered, and who had similar ambi-
ton. But not even my freshly
stamped papers would tempt any cab
man or chauffeur to start with us.
There was nothing for it but to walk
During two days we saw little of
war except occasional sentries and
speeding military automobiles of that
famous greenish-gray which blends so
well with distance. Peasants were al
ready replanting crops on tor of
trenches and gathering beets, stolidly
taking 1t all as a matter of course
Nine. Lottin, the French nurse, had
been named by my Brussels landlord
lie Grenadier;" and she was. We
made As kilometers day. But at Ma
muir she found an opportunity of reach
ing Paris through Holland. so l pro-
ceeded along the Mouse to Dinant,
town of terrible memories.
This seems the most terribly pic
turesque city in Belgium. Its jagged
walls and falling chimneys rise up
hopelessly from heaps of debris in the
midst Of all that majestic natural
grandeur along the two banks Of the
river. There Is the Grotto where 500
women and children crouched In the
darkness while the battle ebbed back
and forth above them for two days;
and the sidewalk near the water
where hundr DIS of civilians were said
to haye been lined up End shot
Gets Lift In q Supply Wagon.
From Dinant a military supply
wagon gave me lift to Givet, France
But here for the first time my pass
was not sufficient, and l narrowly es.
capped arrest.
Walking by way of Florennes l ar
rived at Thuin. On high ground near
the clock tower l stood by Belgian
trench. with the country spread out
maplike all around, while an eye-wit.
ness explained graphically about the
siege; how the Germans came down
under continuous fire. where they
built a bridge; how the allies were
forced back from point to point and
the climax of bayonet charges on
the hills behind. And he told me how
in the midst of the fight French Of
ficer turned mad and ran frothing at
the mouth about the street, terrifying
the few people who had remained hid
in cellars. I advised my guide to
practice up on his English to be
ready for the curious American, tour
lists of few years hence. For none
will miss Th1in.
At the Hotel de Vile a newsboy
was crying his papers. Thinking these
were newspapers he carried under
his arm, bought one. It was an off,
cial death list, and sold at a penny.
BY this time my heavy United States
army shoes were worn thin. Again
tried to rent some lind Of vehicle. but |
not one remained in the city. Finally, |
however, I was offered a bicycle for |
100 francs, which the owner had taken |
to pieces and hid from the Germans. |
So, secreting ourselves that night in
q basement room, we reconstructed |
this machine.
Stopped at Maubeuge.
At Maubeuge. France. a soldier who |
could talk English was kind enough |
to explain that. though he had or
ders to shoot on sight any civilian rid
ing a bicycle, he would be gentle
and merely arrest me. Fortunately, |
the oficer in charge had been in the
for 20 years and consid.
cred himself almost an American. But
I must return to Brussels, he said. and
after much difficulty procured a pass
for me init fahrrad." l decided to
take the long way back.
One noon l stopped at a little "es-
taminet." II was half demolished and
had been rechristened. for over the
door was a newly painted sign: Cafe
de la Battaille de Quatre Bras"
Within. several soldiers were drink
Ing. But one sat alone, holding the
little girl in his lap. He
stroked her hair and sobbed, declaring
MEET AFTER 40 YEARS; WE'D |
Schooldav Erienda BE- |