Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-08-16
DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVEL IN
WAR ZONE.

que. 1t was not the mere sight OF
the soldiers everywhere. or close to
the track the many units Of the tenn
porary hospitals, giving US passing
glimpses Of the wounded within: but
the rather the constant view Of .
once peaceful country side given al
together over to trenches, barbed wire
entanglements, and other preparations
for defense. Calais and Dunkerque,
within the war zone, have become the
outer lines Of defense. and for hum
dreds of miles all along the coast the
trenches are dug. the wire entangle-
ments are laid, and sentries guard ev-
cry railway crossing, every bridge and
every mile or so Of road. 1t gave u
to see what in realty Belgium and
northern France have so largely be-
come-one great armed camp.
We reached Dunkerque late In the
afternoon, and were to leave in an
hour to continue our way to La Panne.
The array of detectives. who met VI.
escorted us to the special Office Of
the police, and there we were exam
lined and re-examined. They suspect
ed us. but could ind nothing to con-
firm their suspicious, but still they
were not satisfied. Finally they told
MS that they could not permit US to
continue on our way that night, that
they would first have to consult with
the Belgian authorities, 80 we had bet
| ter go to a hotel and await further
word from them. So we made the best
of q bad bargain, and betook ourselves
from the presence Of our inquisitors.
must say, we had almost begun to-
suspicion ourselves.s after such .
gruelling as we had undergone.
A subsequent visit to the Belgian
headquarters and an interview with
. French oflicial finally cleared the
air for US, and the next day we were
permitted to depart ~ peace. This il
related to show the .extreme dificul-
ty of all civilian travel at the front
these days. spies ere continually
creeping through. and each day pre-
cautions are redoutled. With the
authorities it is not enough that ones
papers should be beyond reproach. but
these same authorities feel that they
should be made to comprehend ones
motives for travelling; q thing dim
cult to impart sometimes. Especially
were they nonplussed, at a lady's de-
string to endure all the fatighles and
discomforts, and downright hardness.
of travel In the war zone, 1t didn't
look quite right to them, some way.
Also the sight Of all our luggage was
a puzzler to them. But on our de-
parture the French major gallantly
conducted us to ourx.trair. At the
sight OF the slusfage however he
smiled, and I, heard him SAY, "Just
like an American" However, although
we; feltta little apolegetic ourselves for
the luggageawe knew it contained ma
ny things Of comfort for our boys, and
the warm things we carried for our
selves, we were later in the snow and
cold of the sea side, to be most CRATE
full for.
But our days stay in Dunkerque, we
found most interesting. First OF all,
we had only to remember that the Ger
mans at a distance Of over twenty
miles, had bombarded this little city
several times, and might do it again II
they chose. We stopped in hotel,
where almost every window was stop
ped with paper, due to missing
pcncs from the bombardment. Near
to us was the once beautiful cathedral.
now mass Of ruins as the result OF
two shells which exploded In the in
terror. AS we passed along the street
we noticed that every few houses bore
an Inscription announcing to passer,
by that they might run into thil
house. and find refuge in the wine
cellars, or vaults, il q bombardment
should suddenly commence.
! And we stood in the streets t
watch whole regiment passing by
on a forced march, men wiping the
perspiration from their brows, al
though it was bitterly cold day. some
few straggle-s falling out altogether
but the others pressing on, whittier VI
could not know. nor did they.
At four thirty Of the second day VI
continued our journey to the Belgian
front. Our trip by rail, was made II
a train filled with soldiers, who were
returning from their conges passed il
England and France. We we're tn.
only civilian travellers, and again were
the objects of the keenest curiosity
The connecting compartments OF thu
railway carriages have small diamond
shaped windows between, and we were
much amused at seeing at regular in
tervals, the eyes Of different soldier!
glued to this little window; however
when they saw that they were OBJ
served, they quickly dropped from
sight.
We reached La Panne in the earl!
dusk. We left Adinkerque, which wa!
as far as the train carried US. abou
six o'clock and made the rest Of tn,
short journey to La Panne in horse
car. can't tell you how we wer,
stared at during that short trip. Ou1
little car was crowded with soldiers
but while they were curious they wer,
also friendly, and in the cheerful cam
araderie that prevailed, we made SOM
acquaintances that we were again tt
encounter at La Panne.
AS is doubtless we'll known, L,
Panne is the little sea side war cap
itOl of uncOnouered Beleium the tin,