The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-05
HEAVILY BOMBARDED
BY BIGGEST GUNS
Battle Ragged for Nine Days and Nights;
Attackers Far 0utnumbered Besieged;
No GrOunls FOR Rumors Of
Treason in Citadel
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SINE.

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Jan. l1.-(By MaiD The
mystery of the fall OF Maubeuge has
at last been cleared up, after seven
teen months of rumors and doubts.
Instead of the surrender of the
French fortress having been due to
treason, as intimated by German
sources, the defense of the citadel is
said to have been one of the brilliant
actions of the war
In an exclusive interview with 4
French officer. member-of The staff
of General Fournier, military COVER
nor Of Maubeugc, who has reached this
country after escaping from German
prison, where he was sent with. the
other officers of the garrison, the
whole story in detail was made
known.
"Maubeuge was not another Metz
he said. "but a new Belfort. General
Fournier began fortifying the APP
proaches to the place on August 2.
working G,000 laborers with 25,004
territorials. They dug Nl3 miles of
trenches around the city, showing
great forethought, as at that time
trench fighting had not begun. They
strung one million square yards OF
barbed wire on a million and half
stakes and stationed fifty mobile bat
teries Of artillery at strategic points.
as well as many dummy batteries tc
fool the enemy.
"The city was invested towards the
end of August by $1,000 Germans
against our 10000 territorials. The
Germans we're commanded by General
Won Zwhel in the presence OF the
kaisers nephew, Prince Leopold oi
Prussia. For nine days a furious bat
tie ragged. all the German heavy artil-
lery being brought up from Liega
and Namur, including the S05 iniN-
meter and 42O milimeter howitzers.
Ceaselessly shells raiued on the forts
day and night, causing a reign of ter
ror, for in addition to the city's resi-
dents there were 10000 refugees,
mostly women, children and old peo-
pie from tho north Quartered in the
town.
"The German shell fire was direct
ed by aeroplanes and spies who had
been on the job for years, living u
Maubeuge and ostensibly engaged in
business there. One by one the fifty
batteries were picked off. The arse
nal was fired by German shell and
1000 French shells exploded inside
at one time. People all over the city
were knocked down by the force OF
the explosion. The water gas, cleo
tricity. telephones and telegraph
we're instantly cut off and the city,
including the hospitals, was burning.
"Out side the city, in the trenches,
the troops fought on without RELIEF
as we we're prevented from reaching
them by curtain of artillury fire We
made four sorties, once charging to
within 200 yards Of the German NOR
tars.
"The city, wrecked and on fire our
ammunition exploded and means OF
resistance dwindled, General Fournier
surrendered on September & when the
Germans began hurting shells into the
quarter packed with refugees TO
fight on would have meant but one
thing: the slaughter Of women and
babies.
"When the Germans entered they
were astonished to find i defended
only by territorials. They believed
they we're attacking big garrison Of
actives. In recognition Of the brave
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