Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-01-15
PICTURESQUE
ARE UNIFORMS
OF BELG|ANS
Al Main Headquarters Of Belgian Army at
Furnes Can be Had Most CoI0rfuI
Glimpse Of Trappings OF War Than May
be Had Among the Allies.

Correspondence ~ the Associated Pre~-.l
~turneS. West Flanders. Jan. I5.-From
the main headquarters NJ the Belgian army
IN the Hotel d. Vile here. one gets per
hap~ the most c~olorful glimpse 1T the trap
ping 1T war that may IT, had anywhere
among the allies. II T. i picturesquene-s
lacking IN Lhaki-clad England.
In front IT the Hotel a. Vile u TIE
square where the rulers III three at the
allied powers met their generals several
weeks ago. Here the most modern war ve-
Liclc l~o~tle~ the most primitiy when armor-
"a ear locks wheels with \ ape covered
mule drawn cart of the French African
soldier. The square J. packed with every
description u conveyance. Before the
door 81 headquarters T. Il lin. Ut war
stained automobiles still showing traces ~
their ari~tocratic past. III the middle III
the square motorbu~-e- converted INTO
kitchens and commI~~ariat wagons. are
surrounded by 4 hungry mob ~ soldiers.
The uniforms arr bcwildering III their va
rrty. The most conspicuous l. the red
trou>crrd French lnfantrymen. Some
French cavalrymen are present with their
helmets di,porting IT, long horse tail. but
with the bright metal covered by dull leaih-
tr. Belgian guides IA their sr-en with red
trimmings add "a the color. while the anitc
note j. struck by the Belgium artillery III
their American army blue.
But the most picturesque effect II pro
yiied by the French and Pcig1an African
troops. MANY thousands III whom have
marched through Furne- this week. Their
~oiiicrr~. IN high .antled saddles. are monnt-
~ "a beautiful horses. They wear long
blue, red -lInde caPc~ which float behind
them ~ they gallop along. with everything
except the background for \ desert PIE
ture. The soldiers wear \ more sober col
ored cape. with q turtan like hood. Their
blue bolero Jackets are trimmed IN gold
and they wear baggy cor1 Iroy trousers.
These Africans seem a. di>trnStful III
their white allies transport ~ ~ his
food and for hours the little hooded carts
each drawn by three small nnkempt
mules threaded their way through the
square. Behind the carts came trains of
pack mules loaded with ammunition and
cntrenchine tools. aud locking like 4
pro>prctors outfit in the Rocky Noun
tain>.
The square j. a scene Of constant bus
tie and activity. staff officers come and
60. the Belgian war minister rushe> in
Tor u few moments conference with the
King ana ms stan. and away again in his
military ear. Cavalry regiments with
sleek horses. rested nov after their ter
rible retreat from Antwerp line M for
Inspection. while a cvcliSt corps ia from
n scouting forav clean and repair their
trenches. Unattached units PLAY about
waiting for orders or food. Suddenly a
pig stray> into the square and after 4
race around and underneath some arm.
ored ears he H. captured and disappears
INTO u house Just ol the square. where
SEINE soldiers are CHARTERED. He makes
his next appearance III u portable field
Kitchen captured from the Germans and
now standing before 4 ninth century
church in which a thousand Soidirry
have slept the night before in straw COW
ering the stone tagging.
These are the actual fighting men On
almost constant duty. Yet the KEYNOTE l.
gaictv.
When = group of their officers gather
abu0t the dining table In the quaint old
hotel. with the date 1913 carved in IL
|oakcn beams war il the supreme topir.
but it, grimneSs l. relieved ~ Jokes and
laughter. In a moment Of silence the