Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-25
WAR SCRIBE MEETS
THRILLS AT FRONT
Irwin 5. Cobb Tells Of Many Inter
esting Experiences with War
ring European Armies.
CAME NEAR LOSING HIS LIFE

CAME NEAR bO01nt MO LII
That the European war will last
for long time-perhaps one or two
years more--is the opinion Of Irwin
s. Cobb. famous war correspondent,
who came to Omaha for the first
time yesterday, 10 deliver q talk last
evening at the Auditorium.
Mr.. Cobb Is strictly neutral He says
he relates what he saw during his three
months trim through England. Belgium,
France ana Germany. He believes that
n the allies should close in On Germany
there win he a fight 20 the last man.
The war has brought Frenchmen to-
Eether in q new national spirit.
Every man IN France today is a
soldier. so to speak," declared the cor
respondent. He IL not saying much about
Russia, but expects 70 so there during
the early. summer.
shares Soldiers Fate.
Correspondent Cobb n q humorist, but
ne can be Intensely serious and he has
viewed thls European war with consider
able seriousness. He has shafed a
soldiers fate in the trenches, has trailed
Nnc GtFiNan HNAuI AuI llMilE tAAAA1A haA AIRN
was up IN an observation balloon, Yves
nearly shot, went footsore and hungry.
taken all sorts Of chances. ana. a. Fred
eriok Palmer would say, He knows
how to keep silent in various languages"
Hotwithsta nding his strenuous cam
paiEn with a typewriter in Europe Mr..
Cobb retains his ernbonpoint and hearty
smile He seems TO enjoy work. lie Is
he has n lot of work awaiting him.
One OF the most thrilling experiences
Mr.. Cobb had IN Europe was while trail
Ing the German army with four other
correspondents In southern Belgium. II
was near Binohe The Germans we're
driving the allies back. The correspond
ents walked until they were weary. but
their enthusiasm overcame exhausted
nature. on certain day a long train of
auto trucks were being taken in light A
sympathetic soldier on ono Of tho autos
eapied the tired correspondents trudging
along. Cobb and his associates had
walked thirty miles the day before. Cobb
says his feet were tender and sore. The
soldier invited the pedestrians 20 Jump
Into his auto truck and have a ride. which
Cobb and his friends did. A little mon
NNtA 10 swami III OAu Va hla UutUu 1neHQ
observed the actions OF the cefroapond-
enfs and called back TO the driver to
make them get off The driver replied
that they were American correspondents.
The sergeant grew more inastent that
the Americans should get Oft. Tho
driver touched Cobb on the shoulder as a
sign that he had better jump off. The
auto was Just going down q stsep hill
('0hh'e feet MA aaA ~ -.
would not jump while making the descent.
Cartridge Does Not Explode.
At the bottom Of the hill when Cobb
had alighted tho little sergeant, thinking
Cobb had been deliberately defiant. jab-
bed an automatic against the correspond
ent's solar ploxs region. The sergeant
pulled the trigger. but the cartridge did
not explode. which pleased Cobb. Cobb
erabbed the gun to ward off what no be-
heyed was impending death.
A. this juncture Hansen, enc of the
party OF Correspondents. in n nonchaIent
manner, said In perfect English 70 the
little sergeant. THE driver told us we
might ride on the auto"
Cobb knew that Hansen was a German
scholar and could speak the language
nusntiy. Cobb said 20 Hansen:
Hansen, II you ever spoke perfect
German in your life. speak It now or /
may never hear you"
Cobb had an interesting experience IN a
German observation balloon over the
plateau In front Of Laon. along the Aisne.
He was up with a German lieutenant and
witnessed battle which spread out like
vast relief map. He says II was an
impressive sight. He could command a
view Of the opposing forces and saw grim
wer from an elevated single.
While up In this ohservaxson balloon a
French flyer made an attack on cobbs
= aerial party, The German lieutenant
trained his balloon cannon upon the
French airship and chased II away. Cobb
took some photographs OF the French
aerial flyer
HLieutenant. ] will have some OF these
phefcgraphs ready IN about week. Shall
send you some and how shall address
them asked the correspondent.
The lieutenant gave the address OF his
mother. a baroness. explaining: II may
not be here in week I may be Rone
somewhere. ! am The, third man In threo
weeks In this balloon. Two others were
killed. Tho average life OF a war bal
loon operator is six days" was the grim
reply OF she aerial lieutonent
Cobb talked along with the lieutenant
who was a fine companion. well educated
polite. quick IN action. fearless
When We so into this kind Of service
We say sood-by 20 ali OF relatives
and friends Only single men go In these
oaiionA You send tlse photographs 70
my mother and maybe viii sec them
some day-mayhe 1 viii see them" con-
tinped cobb's aerial companion, as they
talked above the dln Of battle. Then Cobb
looked into the distant space and OBJ
served the French flyer fading from view.
Ar, Cobb saw the effects OF the e.
centimeter guns and was on the firing
hne along the Aisne. He bears witness
10 the wonderful bravery OF the BEL
clans In their honr Of. national GRIEF =