The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
AN INCIDENT OF
THE WORLD'SWAR
II Happened TO a Reporter
By r. A. Mitchell

When the great European war broke
out | was reporter on an American
newspaper. Young and fun OF yigor,
found 1t impossible 10 content myself
picking up unimportant items when
great armies were 10 conflict ] beg
ged 10 be sent either 10 France or TO
Germany as war correspondent
There were persons at hand who were
better able than 10 write descriptions
OF battles. but | was chosen because
the proprietor OF the paper, having
been n soldier In the Spanish American
war. knew the dangers | would likely
encounter and that young fellow OF
twenty-five was better able to face
them than an older man.
Everybody knows now. what no one
knew then. that newspaper correspond
ents would not be allowed at the front.
| found II out when I arrived and de
termIned. since could not give battle
pictures TO send my paper scenes In
the wake OF war.
/ found II easier TO penetrate ter
rtory occupied by the allies than by
the Germans. 80 | took the direction
OF lesser opposition. on the same prin.
ciple that water flows. | entered Bel
GUM ut time when the Germans
were hammering Mt the Liege forts. IL
was not long. however. before the al
lied retreat began. and for my purpose
OF writing up scenes OF the country
over which the tide OF battle had
passed | followed the armies south.
ward This put me In the rear OF the
Germans.
II viii be remembered that where
the Germans passed through n certain
district given up 10 the growing OF
grapes md the manufacture Of wine
they helped themselves 10 the stock on
hand. came one evening upon one OF
these vineyards where the grape was
grown. turned into wine and stored In
cellars. The place had not only been
fought over. but had suffered from the
occupation OF an army corps. When
| arrived the troops had just left and |
there was not person on the place |
IL was evening. and though | confess |
| shuddered ut the desolation about |
me. took n melancholy interest in ex
ploring the premises
Singular II WAS and impressive TO
walk through large rooms. In some OF
which were the wine watts and some OF
which had been used for bottlng. each
apartment being devoted 10 separate
purpose. The premises looked as n a
hurricane had passed over them There
were vast rents In the roofs and the
walls. while In the interior shells had
been exploded. knocking the winemak.
ing apparatus to pieces.
Coming to stairway leading below
the main noor. | went down and found
myself In wine cellar. Judging by
the empty bottles scattered about ev- 4
sight reminded me OF the scene OF an
orgy the morning after It had taken l
place and the banquet room deserted I
by the reyelers Z
There was n sad fascination In wan {
dering through these cellars. passing {
from one 10 the other They were {
dark. but found plenty OF partly Q
light passed through several cellars, '
in all Of which the bottles had been
emptled. then entered one In which s
were only casks | turned the faucet {
OF one on the lowest row and found II o
empty Then trying one on higher :
tier the red wine gushed forth. Evil G
IDENTIFY the stock had been only partly n
drained s.
Penetrating n narrow passage NJ the .
farther end OF the room. | descended
several steps and came to an iron door y
While examining II heard voices on y
the other side. They were not the :
voices OF men, but OF women. "
II struck me az once that whoever 81
the persons were they had shut them N
selves In there TO escape the fighting
that had rolled over the place With o
the reportorial instinct strong In me. u
desired TO interview them. | knocked u
on the door u
In an instant the talking ceased and =
all was still knocked again. and re- =
reiving no reply called out in tolerable :,
French:
The soldiers have gone; there is no :,
danger"
l heard nothing Tor a few moments: a,
hen sweet feminine voice, evidently =,
near the door. asked >,
who are your O.
"A citizen Hn American" a,
HAS the battle ceasedg" -
Yes. and the troops have moved on
Are you sure there are no Germans n,
IN the piaceF" =.
Il have seen none g.
I could hear that those behind the :,
ioOr were debating but not what they q.
aid. Presently some one tried to move "
! bolt on the farther side Of the door mr.
Ind after some effort succeeded Then A,
he door was slowly swung open. N
Directly before me was a young girl m
about eighteen. Farther on were sew. IN
rial middle aged women. an old man h
md a number Of children. The older n
mes showed the effects Of having pass "
q through narrowing experience. but
he children only looked curious az 10 70
what would happen next On seeing II
man IN citizens dress all appeared a