Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-06-11


part by artillery fire. A fine highway
runs through the heart of the village,
and it was along this highway that the
invading army passed. The houses on
either side of the road and Immediately
| confronting it have all been destroyed
while the houses back of them are in
| tact Gunfire from a distance makes
no such fine distinctions. The houses
along the street were set on fire by
hand.
The old church of the village of
Faremont is still standing. There Is
shell hole in its tower, and more
breaches in the wall below.
From Faremont l passed through
Favresses, Blesme and Maurupt-le-M Mon
toy. There is little left of any one of
these places to give it the right to be
called village. At Blesme there are
some curious contrasts. The lowly
homes of the villagers all were de-
stroyed. but close to them an old and
beautiful chateau stands unframed
amidst its trees
| As II by Miracle.
At MISUNDERSTANDING the lombard.
ment caused heavy damage to the vii.
| lage church and churchyard. In the
latter, where the shells had fallen
| thick. there is stone cross bearing
upon it's marble front representa-.
ton of Saint Veronica's handkerchief,
upon which, according to the Catholic
| belief, was imprinted the face Of the
Christ. In curious workmanship, upon
| the marble handkerchief in this Gene
terry, the face of the Savior was inlaid.
Almost alone, this cross and this Christ
stand uninjured in this shell-shattered
acre of God.
Frequently stress has been laid upon
the escape from injury by shell fire Of
representations of the Savior and the
Virgin, his mother. i know, however,
that these escapes are only accidental,
and while it may be pleasant for the
faithful to believe that immunity came
to the things they hold sacred, it is
only the part of truth to say that
have seen the same destruction Wis
tied upon crucifix and on shrine that
fell upon other images and other sane
tuaries of which Christians take less
account.
At Vaubecourt such walls as still
rear themselves from the ruins are
shaken daily and nightly by the thun.
der OF pounding guns. At least one.
half of the Vaubecourt villagers have
returned to their blasted dwellings
ready again to take up life where their
forefathers lived for centuries. These
villagers give no heed to the trembling
of the earth under their feet. The can.
non shot does not disturb their
dreams. He'll came here last fall.
There was terrific fighting at Vaube.
court and in the country all about it
and there is still terrific fighting near
at hand. The village has been bat
tered from its foundations by shell and
shot. When the time comes for an
swering the question of responsibility
1t is probable that no fine interroga
tions will be raised as to whether this
place was swept from the face of the
earth by bombardment or deliberate
incendiarism. Here, the question viii
concern itself with the right of the in
vader to put to death summarily three
French soldiers whom they found IL
the village.
Were Shot as Spies.
The cure. of Vaubecourt, a prizes
who stayed loyalty at his post, toSt
me that the French soldiers were il
uniform and In advance of the enemy
lines and that therefore they could no
have been spies. The Germans, how
ever, have said that these soldier
were spies and 1t was on this groun,
they shot them.
The priest of Vaubecourt has gath
cred a part of his flock together ono
more. He is pAbbe Perrenot. He wa
) sentenced to- be shot by the order O
; the commanding officer of the invad
ing army. He added that this office
was a good deal of a brute but tina
his immediate junior in command wa
soldier and gentleman. The JUNO,
he said, secured his release. So on
hears the stories and so one may O
may not pass judgment as he will
AS things are, however, the villag
of Vaubecourt as village Of home
and houses is no more, but the peopl
( are coming back TO- find the, May SUI
Fshining on the ruins and showing fort
!, 1.-THE ravages Of storm that has passe
on little way and which now yexe
priest and villager only with its noise
, Much more has been heard in Anne,
lea Of the destruction of the village
. Of Belgium than of those of France.
, had no conception. of the ruin that ha
been wrought bys artillery and by fir
Yin this part Of the French republi
which lies under the shadow Of the A,
gonne forest and not only With
!. sound but within range Of some of th
heavy guns as they play hourly toda
: along the banks of the Aisne, tn
Mouse and the Orne. l visited doze,
places other than those of which
: have written and the story OF the desc
lation virtually is the same. It is 4
hard sight to look upon and har
: story to write. I turn from the las
blackened picture while. the roar q
the distant guns reminds me tina
these scenes elsewhere, If fate SO Wills
may be re-enacted in all their horro,
6ossy Has Twins.
Hibbing, Minn.-M. CARRIER, cattl