New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-25
HOT STERN CHASE ENDS
IN CAPTURE OF GERMANS
Chauffeur Unwilngy Pressed Into the Service by the
French Proves Unrecognzed Hero in New
Form of Warfare

OF Du5seldorf, her FORMER owner -
know from the name plate still on the
carl, can be proud of her. In five min
utes | could see the Germans in front
of me with the naked eye. From
mans head they grew to a mans size,
and then things began to happen.
Through the narrow main and only
street OF = we pounded, the speed
indicator registering forty-fve miles,
and as the few half burned farms
rushed by US, the black faces of Atrl-
can troopers appeared cautiously at
doors and windows, while threatening
guns were lowered as the tricolored
bands painted on our steel box flashed
by. At times, as cutters were crossed
the wheels, rising in the air, fell back
with a crash, while springs groaned
and creaked, and the men behind cling
ing 10 the sides were jerked bodily 10
the floor The lieutenant sat on the
floor of the car, the box Of hand
grenades between his legs, arms
clasped lovingly around it, and ] re
membered wondering at the courage or
the man, Liverpool clerk, used to dull
office routine. rising to a heroic level
at the first emergency.
Germans 500 Yards Ahead.
Immediately out of the village we
saw the Germans 500 yards in front, just
at the crest of the hill, which we
climbed after them without changing
the gear They were going their limit
evidently, while we still had another
five-mile increase in our motor, and J
gave il out. The Mercedes leaped for
ward Just as the German mitrallleuse
spoke Two or three light shocks
against the sloping armored front and
we veered over to the side Of the road,
nearly going into the ditch as the
wheels skidded over the mud.
Our Maxims were useless TO US, and
no one thought of using rifles at such
n gait Our only hope lay in overtak-
ing the car ahead and praying that the
tires, our only exposed parts, would
hold.
Faster" yelled the lieutenant.
ignored him, getting already out
Of the Mercedes all she had in her
with the load she was carrying, and
anyway we were now within 100 yards
of the German, and her quick firer
was beating a tattoo against the steel
shield in front of me.
What a somersault should one OF our
tires get hit! Throughout the whole
chase this thought of tires, | remem-
Der, reigned supreme in my MIND.
Nothing else seemed to endanger US.
The slit before my eyes, through which
the road appeared, had been so mar
rowed by one of the "Tommies" that
nv head must lay right against the
steel, and the hail of shots against the
outer wall vibrated back into every
muscle.
Seventy-fve yards more sixty
forty, and the German swerved from
side to side, intent on keeping US be-
hind him. SO close our tires were safe,
the firing angle being too great for the
mitrailleuses in front, and as TO our
selves nothing but q shell could pene-
trate the half-inch steel plate, and the
bullets glanced upward harmlessly
from the slOping front.
Bending close to me, eyes glued TO
the slit, the lieutenant spoke. Now
the time. When you see my arm ny
past. put on the brakes hard. Stop as
short as you know how, for the fellow
in front is going to stop shorter still.
Now | could feel the three behind
me bending over the Golfer where those
vicious black things lay on their wad-
ding. A smell of burning finder came
to my nostrils along with a warning
cry of Look sharp" from the lieu
tenant. And so, more through IN
tuition, felt his arm fash over my
head, my whole weight was thrown on
brake and clutch pedals, while the
motor. released, turned crafty.
The three grenades, dragging their
short fuses, timed at five seconds
sailed true to their goal, over and IN
front of the onrushing Germans. | was
too busy Strengthening my own car,
which. skidding from behind, leaped
across the full width of the road at
nearly a right angle, to notice exactly
what occurred in front, but when we
brought up hard against a pile OF
crushed stone, which Providence had
miraculously placed between US and
the ditch. the German car, not ten rect
away, was Just ending a "whirl OF
death" act and landing on its SIDE, potn
front wheels smashed from under II.
Inst then our other car came up, too
late. with its 34-horsepower. Gut OF
the tangle we pulled five men: one
the driver, his breast crushed by the
steering wheel, was dead. Among the
four others were broken arms and
collar bones. .L.;-
BandageG and congratulated on their
brave efforts against us, the Germans,
two officers OF the Landwehr and tneir
men, were still ignorant Of what nad
mt them out of the race. Their sorrow
AT not having first thought of this new
mode of automobile warfare was IN
tense. ;,,oa quay
the pile of junk, the mitrailleuses were we're
hammered into shapeless masses! ana
a match applied. The vanqu,sh!e.d
armored car ended in a blaze, while Is
former occupants returned wiz. .hn
prisoners. An hour later we met tne
ptber cars. Not all, for two were miss
inc Prisoners or destroyed, no one
knew. Ours had been the only success
" Tomorrow we'll have better luck,
ss;d the lieutenant, hopefully. TO
which answered: mot If | know II;
Il To- MA