Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-05
BRITISH SOLDIERS SEE
VISION OF ANGELS
Garments, Hover in Midair
Over German Lines.
VISITATION is ON AUGUST %
From That Eventful Day Germans
aEssRegaHt2: Retsaa4+-Eforts to PF6Ea
Story Imaginary Combatted by
Those Who Were Witnesses.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.
LONDON, September 4.-Quite a lot
Of discussion has been going on over
the alleged vision" OF angels seen by
British soldiers at the time of the re-
treat from Mona
The story goes that this apparition
appeared at a critical moment of that
eventful day. August IS. From that
time the Germans retreated. The evil
dence OF the vision" has come from
various sources.
Arthur Machem. well-known au-
thor. says the whole story originated
from an imaginary incident which he
lad himself conceived and published as
fiction in London paper shortly after
the battle of Mons. He now quotes In
little book entitled THE Bowmen
ard Other Legends" some extracts con-
tanned In advance proofs of an article
by Miss Phyllis Campbell. which is ap-
pearinG in the August issue Of The
Occult Review"
Miss Campbell was a nurse in France
when the war broke out, and tended a
wounded English soldier who said he
wanted n holy picture" He said he
wanted picture or medal of st. George,
because he had seen him on white
horse, leading the British at Vitry-le-
Francois when the allies turned
Other soldiers corroborated this
statement, but Mr.. Machcm's incredul-
ity Is not shaken because Miss Camp
bell fails from start to finish to give
a single name OF the many from Mons
n u ha
golden armor."
Now new witness comes forward in
the person of a lance corporal who is
AZ present in the hospital. but still
there is no name given. as the gallant
soldier is forbidden to divulge his
identity
CORPORAL GIVES ACCOUNT
OF WONDERFUL. VISION
He says that half of his battalion
was on the edge of wood resting
when an officer came up and asked
them if they had seen anything start
Eng. He passed on from one party of
ten men to the other and asked the
same question. They thought at first
surprise attack by the Germans was
what he meant. Later. however, tho Of
fccr invited them to look at the sky.
This is the corporal's account Of what
he saw:
I'm the midair there was n strange
light which seemed to be quite dis
tinctly outlined and was not n reflection
of the moon, nor were there any clouds
In the neiGhborhood. The light became
brighter and l could see quite distinct
ly three shapes one In the center hav-
ing what looked like outspread wings;
the other two were not so large, but
were quite plainly distinct from the
center one.
They appeared to have a long, loose
hanging garment of n golden tint, and
they wero above the German line fac
Ing us. We stood watching for about
three quarters OF an hour. All tho men
with me saw them. and other men came
up from other groups. who also told us
that they had seen the same thing.
IT am not believer in such things,
but have not the slightest doubt that
we really did soc what now tell you"
Tho corporal concludes with the
statement that he has seen fifteen
years service and that as his soldier
ing days are over forever, he has mo
desire to make a fool OF himself by
telling a terradiddle tale merely to
pcase any one"