The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-25

Smuqolers and Fuolthes Run
caniIet on Holland.
Many Shot, but csrmans Hssltate to
Flre Over Line for Fear Of Neu-
tralIty vlolatlon-Lacerated
In Wire Maze.

Bergen-op-Z oom, Holland. - Dutch
soldiers under arms stand at intervals
along the Dutch-Belgian frontier near
here, keen observers of the movements
Of the Germans In devastated Belgium.
The Dutchmon, themselves not at war.
live through at least some Of the ex-
element of actual fighting, for in the
stiffness reigning over the peaceful
agricultural districts about here they
can hear from time to time the roar OF
cannon from the direction of Zee
brugge Also they are often witnesses
of the chase by German troops OF
young Belgians making dash for the
frontier in an effort to get to Holland
and thence across the channel to Flan-
ders to join the Belgian army in
Flanders.
The German sentries just over the
river separating the two countries
never cease their vigilant lookout for
these young fellows and have taken
many precautions to prevent their
crossing the line. Bushes have been
cut down and obstacles in the way of
q Clcd1 tlCW VI thO AdhdcNoP0 h~'O
been removed. Barbed wire entangle-
ments have been erected for many
yards.
Yet the young Belgians dare every
thing. They crawl beneath the wire
in the night and with luck manage in
many cases to get through at the ex-
pense of torn clothing and flesh. Then,
| however, there is the open space be-
fore the frontier to pass. This is close
| ly guarded by German landsturm
troops, but the Belgians often try to
cover it in a desperate dash under the
fire of the sentries. Many of them
succeed, for the Germans take good
care not to fire in the direction of the
frontier, as they would thus run the
risk of shooting the Dutch sentinels on
the other side of the line and in this
way committing breach of neutrality
Once within Dutch territory the Bel
gian youths are free. AS they are not
yet soldiers, they cannot be interned
and most of them make their way to
port for shipment across the channel
The Dutch troops on other parts Of
the frontier have to keep sharp look
out for smugglers of contraband from
their own territory into Germany
These smugglers, because of the ricf
profits in case Of success, are daring
and risky and do not hesitate to use
violence against their own country
men.
Gasoline and horses are the mos
profitable to the smugglers. The for
mer brings at least treble its forme
price. Sound horses of any age fetcl
extraordinary prices from the Gel
mans, anything up to $500 being PAL,
for draft horses.
All roads leading to the frontier ar
closed to traffic. Directly on the boz
der line at wide intervals stand singh
sentries with their loaded rifles restin
beneath their arms. About 200 yard
farther back is a second line of sent
nels and behind these some distanc
in the rear are pickets of dozen mer
each with a noncommissioned officer
The smugglers naturally keep t
side paths or go across country. l
case they should be seen by the picl
cts they are at once arrested and thei
, loads confiscated.
Often. however, at night they su,
coed in passing through the gaps b.
tween the pickets. Then their pro.
ress becomes more difficult and thei
. presence is often discovered by til
forward lines of sentries, who fire
the Smugglers, as sometimes happen
make a dash to reach the Germa
: lines. Occasionally the chase is livel
and gives rise to a rapid fusillad
which in many cases proves fatal I
the Smugglers