El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-05
GERMAN INJURED
HURRY T0FIGHT.
AS Soon as Able, They Re
turn to Trenches; Ameri-
can at the Front.


Of the New York Times, writing from
the German battle front in Flanders
says:
1 boarded a troop transport at Lon
guyon and crawled on through the
night to the front. 1t was reserve bat
talon of a Prussian infantry regiment
of the line, and a little research work
produced the interesting discovery that
it was composed of men who had been
wounded, were recovered, and going
back for the second time. They were
delighted to have an American in their
midst, and promptly made me an hon
orary member They had no idea where
they were going, but eagerly hoped
they would be back in the trenches by
evening""
Many of US" said sergeant, did
not need to come back because owing
to having received serious wounds the
first time we were excused from fur
Their military serViee-but they all came
back none the less. Here's one man
who had nine wounds, from bullets and
shell spIinters, and this one was shot
through the lungs, but you're all right
again, aren't you? and this one is go
ing back, although he has a wife and
six children at home"
It was an interesting revelation as to
the morale of the German reinforce
mentS
At o'clock in the morning, the troop
transport stopped for refreshments at
the French village Of X, and here a
funny phenomenon was witnessed. From
all sides. the shreWd inhabitants Of the
village came running, scores of them,
with bottles of wine. The laughing Ger
man soldiers got out and negotiating
over a picket fence, returned with the
refreshments while the inhabitants
made off with German coin 1 saw bot
ties of champagne change hands here
for the sum OF rs cents. In spite OF
the cheapness of wine, however, the
German soldier is well disciplined and
does not go the limit 1 have never
seen an intoxicated specimen afield.
Iron Discipline.
One of the soldiers told the following
story to illustrate the iron discipline
enforced in the kaiser's army in the
case of the inevitable black sheep: "A
French woman, who kept small taV-
ern. came to our commandant and COM
planned because a Bavarian soldier had
Wantonly turned the spigOt and allowed
a whole cask of red wine to run out on
the ground After an Investigation the
offender was found guilty and for pun
ishment tied to a tree for two hours.
To be tied fast by your head and legs
is the most dreaded punishment, be-
cause you are disgraced before all your
comrades"
From X I started out on foot tour,
and entered the Crosses Haupt- quar-
tier great headquarters) unchallenged,
by the back door. Journallstlcally II
was disappointing at first, for II was
SUNDAY morning and apparently Prus-
sian militarism keeps the Sabbath holy
There was no interviewing the Kaiser,
for he had gone way down east and
III n may mil
Falkenhayn. The courteous command
ant. Col. Won Hahnke, was not on the
Job Even the brilliant chief Of the
press division, Mai. Nikolai, was out Of
town when I called on the great gen
eral staff.
A Great Troop Movement
But there were compensauons, for at
a turn of the road / saw more I'M
pressive sight than even the motoring
kaiser mile of German cavalry COM
ing down the straight chausse, gray
horsemen as far as the eye could see
and more constantly coming over the
brow of the distant hill. with batteries
of field artillery sandWlched between,
while on the railroad track, parallellng
the highway, infantry and heavy artil-
lerv troop trains craWled past in end
less succession, as closely together as
subway trains during the rush hour at
home An allied aeroplane, towering
overhead, would have learned some
L had innOcently blundered into one
of the most important troop movements
of the war The inevitable company OF
cyclists rode at the head Of the long
column that was still passing when
went to bed. Next came an imposing
staff-then a mounted band blartng
away then a crack guard cavalry regt-
ment, proud standard flying. then cav
airy less elite here and there a pale
faced specialized trooper who looked
like a converted theological student.
Whole regiments came riding down the
pike singing "The Red, White, and
Black in unisOn-a stirring, marching
song, which for patriotic fervOr and
fighting spirit puts it all over" the
British its a long way to Tippe-
rary."f
French Disappointment.
It was a Roman holiday for the
French inhabitants of the town Of -,
who lined the roads en- masse quivering
thinking they were eyewitnessing a
great German retreat. Our French
soldiers will soon be here again" they
whispered to one another. But it
1snt a retreat-it was one Of those
mysterious strategic shifts" you read
about in the papers without really re-
alizing what it means till you see it
great masses being rushed from one
battlefield to another n the Icing line.
For weeks these same regiments had
been daily "decimated" "cut to pieces"
and otherwise badly mauled by English
war correspondents, but you would
ever have suspected it. Bearded
dragons and Uhlans were still able to
sit UP and smoke big Hamburg cigars
as they rode along, the horses looked
fresh, the guns of the batteries were
4