Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-26
Mr.. and MRS. NORTON
VISIT THE TRENCHES
QUEEN OF GELGIUM SECURES
PASSPORTS FOR AMERICANS
TO VISIT BATTLE LINES.
BEITiSB MOURN Loss OF KITrHNER
French and Russian Soldiers Are
Great Fighters. Interesting
Letters to Follow.
Edith r. Norton.)

(Edith F. Ncrton.)
| l had hoped earlier than this, to
send Manchester friends a detaile'
account OF our two months visit to
the Belgian front and to France; but
although some prior obligations had
to be fulfilled, now they are out OF
the way and I shall give my best
thought to writing a full and com
plete history of those, to us, most
memorable two months. If perhaps
l presume too much on knowledge OF
conditions as they are over here,
or if on the other hand I sometimes
explain some detail too painstaking'
ly, I shall be forgiven, l am sure; as
it is hard for me to know just
what knowledge of conditions as they
exist over here, may be presupposed,
and what must be impaired. This
series of articles will be mailed by
my husband in America, upon his
return in July, as however innocent
they might, and will be, of any lnfor-
nation of military value, as yet the
very rigidity of Censor regulations,
would, / am sure, prohibit the
being passed by the authorities. They
have even prohibited the sending
through the mails of picture post
cards, I had two photos of myself
and husband returned ta me
by the Censor. They were addressed
to my mother!) Also in this series
Of articles, l shall intersperse any
news OF timely interest.cr anything
current in War news that might in
terest friends on that side.
Just now, things are taking pref
ty much their usual course over here.
The two things that have shocked the
British public most. have Of course
been the great north Sea fight, and
the loss Of Lord Kitchner. It is hard
to get a right perspective on the
great naval duel, but the British con-
sider it is victory for themselv-
es, although at first it was an
nounced as all but a grievous de-
feat. Now they are shouting angry
things at the Admiralty, for letting
them believe for matter of twen-
ty-four hours, that it was at least
a partial defeat. And then to have
Colonel Churchill, who is always re-
tuning from France and the front, at
some crucial nom ent in Parliamen-
tary affairs, dropping an Evolutionary
bomb, then sailing back to the front;
to have him come out as the mouth
piece of the Admiralty, in explana-
tion of the pessimistic tone Of their
first report, this was to the British
the last straw. They haven't for
gotten some of his previous sxplana-
uons
The loss of Lord Kitchner was a
real blow to England He was felt
to be so strong and safe; and de-
spite the attacks that have been
made upon him from time and time,
he kept his place in the affections
and the confidence of the mass Of
the people. Th fill of Gen. Town
sends garrison at Kut, was also a
blow to England, and to her pres
tige in the East. The Russians seem
to be of all the Allies. the armies
who are doing most heroically, un-
less 1t be the gallant French at
Verdun.
While travelling in day long jour
neys throuhout France, on the occa-
sion of our last visit there, for the
railway schedules in France are
new ell altered for the war, and
four hours journey will consume
twelve; we met many interesting Of
ficers and soldiers. We encounter
ed one officer just on his way from
Verdun to Boulogne, to spend his
congo there with a friend. ellis wife
was at Lille, which place is occupied
by Germans, and he has not seen
her Or heard of her since the begin
ming of the wary He had marvellous
pictures which he had himself taken
of the fighting at Verdun. He
showed us one large group of men
with their great gun. All killed now,
he said, only remain. He told us
such tales of dreadful carnage and
sonl sickening slaughter, that our
very souls revolted.
In the same carriage on that same
trip, was an officer just returning
to the front. His farewell to his
wife and child I shall never forget.
They donotmasrd lshrdlu etaoin hrdlu
They do not mask their feelings these
children of another race as do we
colder peoples. They kissed and
clung to each other, the three, with
every tender endearing word and ca
ress, while in our corner Of the car
riage We fairly sobbed They knew.
as did we, that he was most probably
going forth to die. When he left
at, last. he gravely saluted us, aud
thanked us for our concern and SYM
pathy.
But to begin at the last of Feb
ruary, when We were told We might
visit the front. I shall never forge
when Nine. Vandervelde called me
to her office to tell me that the, per-
was granted us. Her hus-
band is the Belgian Minister Of State,
and I suppose before the worlds
eve. their greatest statesman. Nine.
had met Us and had
showed great friendliness toward
our effort to aid soul and body Of
the Belgian soldier It was she WHO
had volunteered to secured for us
this permission to visit the front