New-York tribune., 1915-12-13

against the dixie are the houses Of the
dixie guards. Most Of these have been
pounded to pieces by shells, and | saw
two in which the families of the guards
still live. As we passed, one girl of
fifteen years was throwing food from
her apron to a flock of chickens. She
called into the house, and her mother
came TO the door 70 join her in staring
at US.
1t is not strange TO them to be liv-
ing there right in the firing line,
where the German shells fell every
hour of the twenty-sour, but they could
not understand what we are doing in
the danger zone. a little further along
dozen COWS. wearing brown canvas
coats for protection against the cold
lights, grazed on the escarpment OF
the dixie The mitrailleuse near by set
up it's ra-ta-ta-ta. The COWS looked
momentarily toward the gun and re-
turned stolidly to their grazing.
War Simpliiies the Life.
We crossed the fields again for
luncheon az the headquarters of the
colonel commanding that sector. Life
becomes very simple affair in the
army which has gone through what
the Belgian army has experienced in
the last sixteen months. We sat five
at the table. There was the colonel
and his staff, our guide from the Gen
eral staff and we two correspondents.
, The telephone switchboard was in one
orner Of the room and every other
minute the staff left the table to an
/ swer the telephone. We were not far
behind the first line, and the windows
ratified nd the dishes shook from the
force Of the German bombardment and
! the Belgian guns replying.
, In the midst of the luncheon the
staff returned from the telephone with
word that shells were falling around
the house where the girl and the
chickens lived. "They have escaped
many times" said the colonel. They
will esCapc again" lie beamed on u.
"You had a close thing this morning -
"That morning he had driven bravely
( into Y in an automobile. Y IS
on the road main road TO DiXmude.
| Wrecks Of half a score Of houses now
mark its site. A. We scurried for the
protection Of its ruins she'll fell in
their midst. and Just at the moment
when we got out Of the automobile an
other she'll burst and a piece Of IT
whined over our heads.
German Guns Rake Road.
AN auto on the road from Dixmude,
said our guide "The Germans are try
ing 10 reach IT," Even as he spoke a
gray military car shot by on the Dix
nude road. with another she'll scream
/ ing after IL. Two Of Us walked forward
/ TO the main thoroughtare, and while
we stood talking there was scream,
a plunk. a crash and huge clots OF
black mud shot up over the wall IN
front Of u.s. The Belgian soldiers
leaned against a house behind us. The
Germans amused themselves by con-
tinuing to shell Y, and we climbed
into the auto and left rapidly.
The soldiers remained supporting the
wall ! asked the colonel at luncheon
il Y often was shelled.
Every day" he said. Smelling Y
has become a habit with the Germans
and habit with the Belgian soldiers.
They lean against the walls and count
the bricks as they fall. Soon there will
be no more walls to knock over, and the
Belgian soldiers at - will perish
Trom ennui. for then their only occupa-
tion will be scraping black mud from
boots and clothes and gazing over the
fat land.
The Belgians have ceased TO dis
cuss how long the war will last for the
Belgian army has become an army
without illusions. It fights. II does
not talk. II gives no heed TO the old
/ wives tales Of the German shortage OF
food. Of munitions and Of men. II
laughs at the idea OF revolution IN
Germany.
The Bclgians are sure Germany mus
/ be beaten in the field. Are they ready
/ for another winter campaign HuI'
]