Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-20
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Berlin. Jan. 31.-William Scheuer-
mann, one Of the best known OF the
German war correspondents, has TO-
Gently visited Dixmude. which has be-
come famous through the heavy fight
ing around it in October and Noven-
Der, resulting finally in its capture
by the Germans He writes as follows:
The enemy gree:s any and every
movement along the road to Di1nude
with q prodieious rapid fire. For more
than a mile this road runs parallel TO
the French trenches. 400 yards distant
In order to present as unfavorabie
targets as possible we broke Up our
party into long chain, with intervals
of some twenty PAGES between each
two men. Often too when the rapid fire
grew too hot we had to go forward by
jumping from one tree 10 the next, al
though these were not large and had
been mostly shot of by the artillery.
They afforded little protection. and, be-
sides, the numerous branches strewn
in the road were great hincrance
to our progress. Each of US looked back
frequently to see if his rear man was
still unhurt Thus We approached
Dixmude, till we finally gathered in a
bunch for a moment near the ruined
railway station; for here was the most
dangerous point in our journey. The
crossing is peculiarly exposed TO the
French FIRE At their intrenchmeuts
the French have set up a number Of
rifles exactly tried out and aimed for
this bit Of ground. and they fire these
whenever any living thing shows itself
here.
Everyone of US saw to il that he got
over this uncanny bit of ground as fast
as possible. One after the other we
skipped across the e:nbankment like
squirrels, more bent upon making good
speed than BY cutting a digaified fig
ure We got across safely and soon
had the protection Of the ruined walls
Of the houses.
"Dixmude presents picture Of de-
struction such as I had not regarded
possible. Notwithstanding all that
have seen in this war. No house here
has escaped. and many quarters Of the
town are heaps Of ruins in which it
is no longer possible to distinguish
where the streets had been. The large
market square is strewn with shells.
and in order to reach the point where
the beautiful town hall and the parish
church OF ST. Nicholas used to stand,
one has to pick ones way among deep
holes gouged into the pavement by the
heavy shells. The church is still 10 be
recognized from an arch in the wall
and piece of the apse. But inside the
debris lies as high as a mans head.
'Dixmude is dead. the grave OF an
old culture more touching than any
ci-y If the antique world uNearthed
after thousands of years; for here one
s,--s everywhere mementoes OF men
stii, living whose household goods are
scattered in the streets. and whose
most precious belongings, half-charred.
are rotting away in the rain.
Il got some idea Of the loss from an
examination Of the archives which
discovered half buried among the ruins
of the Town hall. Manuscripts on fine
old hand made paper and Parchment
reaching far back into the Middle Ages
lay there. singed. torn and thrown
topsy by exploding shells being
ruined by the rain. There was cores
pondence from tie beginning Of the fif-
teenth century. carried on in German
between a merchant in Calais and the
city government Of Dixmude. There
lay the minutes and other documents
of the city government from the time
when the Hanseatic League was ip
the high tide Of prosperity, financial
accounts reaching back. into the four
teenth century. manuscripts Of human
;stic learning. scientific treasures Of an
important and fascinating character.
But gladly az one would have lost ones
self With these discoveries, this was
mahifestiy not the moment to become
absorbed in them: for the .enemy's fire
was directed without Interruption at
the market square and the former
Town hall. and at any moment these
;ottering walls might fall. -
40 human being was at first to be
seen In the ruined streets. And yet
there was much lite in the .city-but
underground. Hundreds Of eyes were
watching us while we were wandering
about , At times a. sentinel would
emerge suddenly from tumble of
timhcrs and stones to warn us not to
cross. certain streets. for there are
stretches of. ground In this des6lated
tewns that are swept by. the -enemy's
rifles 20 necessarily and with such q