The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-01-22
Count de Beaufort Describes
Trip Along the Battle Line
in West Flanders.
HIGH PRAISE FOR BELGIANs
courteous and HospitabIe and Will Do
Anything for the EngIish-com-
fort In the Notwithstanding
Reply in Kind to Belgian
Fire.
BY COUNT M. DE BEAUFORT.
International News Service,

ing with his men from a week in the
trenches along the User was asked by
bne of his colleagues, whom he met
bn the road from Newport to Furnes.
how things were going in front. "Oh,"
be replied, "all right, but it isn't ex-
betty picnic, you know" That is ex-
Actly the answer l felt like giving
Today when ! returned from a few
lays gypsying in West Flanders. 1t
difficult to know where to start in
relating my impressions. 1t seems as
j for four days l have sat in a huge
Hoving picture theater and watched
me film after another being reeled off,
J the same time listening to an ex-
8emeIy eloquent lecturer.
YHow and why was able to wander
bm village to trench, and from
knch to village, or whatever is left
them, is story which, perhaps,
Nth many others, viii be told later.
tier the war. They are courteous.
oen-hearted, hospitable lot, these Bel
ians, and anybody who seems to be
English, either in appearance or ac-
lent, can have anything they own
All, England" I hear from all sides,
'why they have certainly stood by US
yes Anglais sons, chic" ("chic" in this
ense of the word refers to character,
lot to appearance).
The most interesting place in the
Re along the User these days has
IN the village of Styuvekenskerke
lies on the left bank of the User.
main road from Dixmude to Per
runs about half a mile to the
It of it. and the railroad about an.
half mile farther. Both lines
held by the Belgians. On Tuesday
rning some of our advanced patrols
tured close to the village, and not
ing any life there, went in. The
Emans had retired to the other side
The river Promptly the village was
Fetaken'' by the Belgians. But of
that use is practically RACED village
hyhow? 1t would have taken a great
lumber of extra men to guard it at
fght against surprise attacks, so the
hcer in charge retired at sunset into
rs own lines along the railroad.
Enjoy Temporary Armistice.
On Wednesday morning the Ger
were occupying the village again |
NJ the day, but this afternoon the |
1elgians might have had their tea |
pere but for the sudden interruption
business of the only patisserie. The |
English sign, "Tea served at all hours"
Jas still intact We took it down, and |
&nd now it is heading the entrance
b one of the sleeping trenches a mile
=ack. At certain points around this |
fllage the advance lines are not fur
per than 1,200 feet from each other. |
'nd have seen soldiers on both sides |
Palk about unconcerned without a
hot being fired on either side. But |
4 the distance, one hears from time |
p time the roar of the guns.
My wanderings landed me near a |
fnely Belgian field gun, one of the |
F5's," in the neighborhood of Per
Use. ! knew the officer in charge, |
pd was promptly invited to stay, and |
IKE pot luck, an invitation which.
eedless to say, l accepted. Somehow
Pc seems to be always hungry, yet
Pc eats more and oftener than at
Py other time. His underground !
yelling had been made quite habit
PIE. He insisted that I should take
e 'fauteuil" in the shape of the only
phon present, while he balanced |
nself on one-legged piano stool.
Dur meal was simple enough, bat
ntiful. Dry biscuits, sardines, ap-
es and cold coffee. Fires of any
r., either inside or outside, are strict.
forbidden in the lines. A smoking
'lmney is asking for shrapnel. Quite
amusing incident took place here.
Pc lieutenant told me during lunch
Pn that every time he fired a shot.
e Germans answered him in kind; IL
Il sent shrapnel. they promptly
"a ,snrapnel back; when he fired
4, she'll whistled back. After
'lcneoAhe illustrated his story, and
ueedf Germans seemed to be ia
loY oo9 HE fired shrapnel
HI a>,aa .do WIZ !, occFn''r sfew minutes
fer sS'SI's' H,n( sebJl whistled
Pck over our heads. A
] asked for the commahdant, and
tpected to find him also in one of the
Foreground dwellings, but was
rected to one of the houses on the
tskirts of the village. His offices
sere? asked, looking at the remains
wnat had been a little villa. Ger
niy' monsieur. Follow me-" said the
Pile soldier.
Ruins Everywhere.
on all sides we we're surrounded by
ackened bricks and burnt wood, fall.
vans and broken furniture. Finally
e arrival naa -. u !,