The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-07

Editor tribune
Thinking it might interest your
readers / send the following informa-
ton regarding the Belgian situa-
ton. 1t is from Julius Mingauw, (pro-
| nounced Meen-you) and communicate
ed to the Van Wassenhove Bros, who
reside on Lemp ranch. four miles
southeast of Caldwell. Mr.. Mingauw,
who was in this country when the war
| began, and the first invasion was made
| in Belgium, and who had been, for
several months, here on the ranch
with his friends, was a corporal in
the Belgian army and belonged to
the class of 1912. He is very intelli
| gent young man, learning the English
language with marvellous rapidity. He
made many friends while here. and all
felt sad when he decided that duty
called him to the "Fatherland." AS
he babe US good bye and hastily de-
parted, we wondered if he would ever
reach Belgium. or if we should ever
again hear from him. But he sent
messages from the time he left here,
coming from Seattle, back through
Caldwell, across the continent, and
embarking from eastern coast for the
sea voyage. His long letter telling
of conditions at the front, was GLADLY
welcomed by his fellow count yinen
here, and also by other friends. A
number of near neighbors going to
speaking of the classes of 1912-1ol3,
he said: where are they? Some dead,
some captured. some have lost an
arm or leg and are unable to go
to service.
'Of one hundred and thirty, l now
meet but seven. The classes of 1914
1915 have not yet been called, but
there are many volunteers from those.
When the Germans invaded, it was
run or fght.-Some, who didn't want
to, or couldn't leave, were left be-
hind German lines. In their fourteen
days flight from Liege to the Aisne,
they lost many men. There were some
dreadful encounters in taking towns.
To the Belgians it was a big trip;
tired, broken and discouraged, they
decided that if they had to die. they
would die on their own ground in
their own Fatherland. They accord
ingly entrenched in the lower bank of
a railroad grade, seven feet in height,
then closed and locked all thing and
water outlets, and with men at head
gates awaited German arrival" 1t
was certinly a great work, to be so
hastily planned, and much as we la
ment war with all of its causes, we
can but admire the spirit of these sold
iers defending their country and
homes. when the Germans arriv-
ed the water was turned on, and many
thousand fell; they were either drown
ed or fell victims to Belgian bullets, as
they attempted to cross the railroad
embankment. Sure. some of their
own men fell, and they were three
days without food, and their only
drinking water stained with human
blood The country is yet under
water but the wagon roads construct
ed of rock, are now uncovered and
the places that were blown out to
check German advance are repaired.
This work being done at night, as is
also the fighting by infantry; they
resting in day time, while flying ma
chimes and artillery are busy. The
soldiers are now in trenches several
miles in length, and extending through
number of towns; in these towns
many houses are damaged, one town
about the size of Nampa, being en-
tirely destroyed-onlyo one church wall
standing. These trenches are about
600 yards from the enemy. In the
daytime they lie under dirt in caves;
cannot converse because of the noise
of cannon, rapid-fire guns and shells
singing as they pass above them. The
men and dogs of artillery rest at night
When writing. he said he was having
four days rest. They travelled four
hours in rain and darkness, traversing
distance which ordinarily could be
covered in three hours. The night
previous they were digging trenches
until about 3 o'clock a. M. and work
ing hard, | tell your They were dig
ging about quarter of mile from
Yesterday morning, while sleeping
she'll fell FIVE yards from us; dirt
flew all over us. A good thing it die
not explode: there would have beer
about twenty soldiers gone, and yor
would have heard from Julius nc
more. All awake from jar, laughed
because it didn't explode and lie dowr
again to rest. No news, or saw nc
one from home place" His only
sister was in Brussels when the wa
broke out. and he has never hearC
from her. He said the water SmelleC
bad and the wagon roads were cover
ed with foam, white, like snow. caused
from impurities in water. He sent
message to neighbors, promised t.
send a paper to his friends here t.
save him writing so much. and t,
keep them informed. Said he coul,
do this from in front of lines. an,
promised to write once a month
Closed by saying: my heart has bee
throbbing for eight months to b
here, and l have not felt bit of fea
in my heart. Be good, and try to Xix
the country where you are"
Written by a Reader,