Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-02-17
BY c. LEROY BALDRlDGE.

BY c. LEROY BALDRlDGE.
,@ Correspondent Chicago Post) ~
>, Amsterdam.-The, German occupa
ton Of Antwerp had already become
q matter of routine when i arrived
from Rosendaal. In five days the new
city government had adapted itself
perfectly to the burgomaster's offices
and was working smoothly. 1t had
even instituted q regular motor bus
service to Brussels. But finding a
certain cheese merchant who owned
& wobbly- kneed animal. too hopeless
to be requisitioned, and who said he
didn't care where he went with It, !
chose to- go that way. y, !,
We found q war-swept road to the
capital; on either side rich growing
fields plowed with trenches; tattered
remnants Of villages and scattered
graves. The way was jammed with
homeless people carrying their belong
ings in carts, wheelbarrows. baby
buggies--ev fleeing. e.; IS +, y 4.
at Brussels, through the courtesy OF
Brand Whitlock and the kommandan-
tur, a certain amount Of bluff and phe-
nomenal luck, obtained a pass to
travel anywhere within the German
lines in Belgium. Moreover 1t worked
for three weeks, 55 I +, E.3.-
Tries TO Go Through Lines to Paris.
Thus armed, l decided to attempt
the impossible, and go through to
Paris, in which was encouraged by
French Red Gross nurse who was
taken prisoner when the city surren-
idered, and who had similar ambi-
ton. VI But not even my freshly
stamped papers, would tempt any cab
man or chauffeur; to start with US.
There was nothing for. it but to walk.
During two days we saw little Of
war except occasional sentries and
speeding military automobiles Of that
famous greenish-gray which blends SO
well with distance Peasants were al
ready replanting crops on tor- OF
trenches and gathering beets, stolidly
taking it all as matter Of course.
: Nine. Lottin, the French nurse, had
been named by my Brussels landlord
"le Grenadier;;" and she was. We
made As kilometers day. But at Ma
muir she found an opportunity of reach
ing Paris through Holland, SO pro-
ceeded along the Mouse to Dinant,
1townEof terrible memories. .s@ ., S$i
This seems the most terribly pic
turesque city in Belgium. It's Jagged
walls and falling chimneys rise up
iopelessly from heaps Of debris in the
midst Of all that majestic natural
grandeur along the two banks Of the
river. There is the Grotto where 800
women, and children crouched in the
darkness while the battle ebbed back
and forth above them for two days;
and the sidewalk near the water
where hundrt DIS Of civilians were said
to have been lined up end shot.
Gets Lift In 4 Supply Wagon.
From Dinant a military supply
wagon gave me lift to Givet, France
But here for the first time my pass
was not sufficient, 1nd I narrowly es-
capped arrest. Il -, Z 4 - I:
Walking by way Of Florennes I ar.
rived at Thuin. On high ground near
the clock tower l stood by a Belgian
trench, with the country spread out
mn,aplike all around, while an eye-wit-
ness explained graphically about the
siege: how the Germans came down
under continuous fire, where they
built q bridge; how the allies were
forced back from point to point and
the climax of bayonet charges on
the hills behind. And he told me how
in the midst Of the fight \ French Of
lficer turned mad and ran frothing at
the mouth about the street, terrifying
the few people who had remained hid
in cellars. I advised my guide to
practice up on his English to Ebe
ready for the curious American tour
lists of q few years hence. For none
WIN miss Thuin. : IA 4; .rt.S';tS
q $At the Hotel de, Vile a newsboy
was crying his papers. Thinking these
were newspapers he carried under
his arm, bought one. 1t was an Off
cial death list, and sold at a penny.
I, BY this time my heavy United States
army shoes were worn thin. Again I
tried to rent some Lind Of vehicle, but
not one remained in the city. Finally,
however. was offered a bicycle for
100 francs, which the owner had taken
to pieces and hid from the Germans.
So, secreting ourselves that night In
a basement room, we reconstructed
this machine. t.r...... g.
Z Stopped at Maubeuge. 44.1..t. =
: At Maubeuge, France, soldier who
could talk English was kind enough
to explain that, though he had or
ders to shoot on sight any civilian rid
ing a bicycle, he would be gentle
and merely arrest me. Fortunately,
the officer In charge had been in the
Philippines for 20 years and consid-
cred himself almost an American. But
1 must return to Brussels, he said, and
after much difficulty procured a pass
for me init fahrrad." ! decided to
take the long way back. II :S'3ss:
One noon ! stopped at little "es-
.taminet." 4 1t was half: demolished and
had been rechristened, for over the
door was newly painted sign: "Cafe
de la Battaille de Quatre Bras"
Within, several soldiers were drink
ing. But one sat alone. holding the
inn-keeper's little girl in his lap. He
,stroked her hair and sobbed, declaring
~~~-~~-N-~N-~~~~--~
MEET AFTER 30 YEARS; WE'D