The Press., 1915-05-05
By F. A. MITcHEL

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 When the great European war broke
 out I was a reporter on an American
 newspaper Young and full of, yigor,
 found 1t impossible to content myself
 picking up unimportant items when
 great armies were In conflict. l beg
 ged to be sent either to France or to
 Germany as a war correspondent.
 There were persons at hand who were
 better able than to write descriptions
 of battles, but I was chosen because
 the proprietor of the paper, having
 been a soldier in the Spanish American
 war, knew the dangers 1 would likely
 encounter and that young fellow of
 twenty-two was better able to face
 them than an older man.
 Everybody knows now, what no one
 knew then. that newspaper correspond
 ents would not be allowed at the front.
 I found It out when I arrived and de
 termined, since I could not give battle pictures. to send my paper scenes in the wake of war.
 I found 1t easier to penetrate ter ritory occupied by the allies than by the Germans, so I took the direction of lesser opposition, on the same prin- ciple that water flows. I entered Bel gium at a time when the Germans were hammering at the Liege forts. It N hnfnrn qI- He'd retreat began, and for my purpose of writing up scenes of the country over which the tide of battle had passed I followed the armies south ward. This put me in the rear of the Germans
 It will be remembered that where the Germans passed through a certain district given up to the growing Of grapes and the manufacture of wine they helped themselves to the stock on hand. came one evening upon one of these vineyards where the grape was grown, turned into wine and stored in cellars. The place had not only been fought over. but had suffered from the occupation of an army corps. When arrived the troops had just left and there was not a person on the place. It was evening. and. though I confess shuddered at the desolation about me, I took a melancholy interest in ex- ploring the premises.
 Singular it was and impressive to walk through large rooms. in some of which were the wine yats and some of which had been used for bottling. each apartment being devoted to a separate purpose. The premises looked as if hurricane had passed over them. There were vast rents in the roofs and the walls, while in the interior shells had been exploded, knocking the winemak- ing apparatus to pieces.
 Coming to a stairway leading below the main floor. went down and found myself in a wine cellar. Judging by the empty bottles scattered about. ev- cry drop of wine had been drunk. The sight reminded me of the scene of an orgy the morning after it had taken place and the banquet room deserted by the revelers.
 There was a sad fascination in wan dering through these cellars, passing from one to the other. They were dark. but I found plenty of partly burned candles lying about to give me light. passed through several cellars, in all of which the bottles had been emptied, then entered one in which were only casks. I turned the faucet of one on the lowest row and found it empty. Then trying one on a higher tier the red wine gushed forth. Xvi dently the stock had been only partly drained.
 Penetrating a narrow passage at the farther end of the room, descended While examining it heard voices on the other side. They were not the voices of men, but of women.
 It struck me at once that whoever the persons were they had shut them selves in there to escape the fighting that had rolled over the place. With the reportorial instinct strong in me, desired to interview them. I knocked on the door,
 Tn an instant the talking ceased and all was still. I knocked again, and re- ceivtng no reply called out in tolerable French:
 ''The soldiers have gone; there is no danger" -..5- edsheard nothing for few moments; then a sweet feminine voice, evidently near the door, asked: "Who are youY'
 "A citizen, an American"
 Has the battle ceased?"
 ttYes, and the troops have moved on."
 "Are you sure there are no Germans on the placer"
 T have seen none"
 I could hear that those behind the door were debating, but not what they said. Presently some one tried to move bolt on the farther side of the door and after some effort succeeded Then the door was slowly swung open.
 Directly before me was a young girl ebout eighteen. Farther on were sev- eral middle aged women, an old man and number of children. The older ones showed the effects of having pass ed through haUvwing experience. but the children only looked curious as to | what would happen next. On seeing I a man in citizens dress all appeared | to be relieved, but they had suffered so much that they felt no great confidence.
 q think" I said, "that you have nothing to fear, though you will find the place ruin."
 "Ah, monsieur" said the girl, i've are lucky to escape with our lives"
 Come" l said; you all doubtless need food and to breathe the fresh air"
 They left the subcellar in which they had been perfectly safe from bursting shells. While passing through the rooms that had contained their now