El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-02
OUT BY Tunnel
FROM BELGIUM
Electric Wire Used By Ger
mans to Guard Border
Often Kills Many.

Often Kills Many.
London, Eng, June "A Belgian
journalist named Egbert Hans, until
recently serving with the Belgian
army, narrstes the following story Of
the electric cable which the Germans
have fixed along the Dutch frontier to
prevent the Belgians from escaping into
Holland:
During the first few days only dogs
and cats were struck, and one could
hear their howls and cries q minute be-
iore they died The first human Vlcllm
was a young Belgian who had heard
king Albert's call and wanted to go
through Holland TO join the Belgian
army The second victim we hearo or
was a poacher who brought letters INTO
Holland He knew every men OF the
country. as they all do, and thought he
could defy the electric cables
Others were killed, but the traffic
coIr1nued. mostly after dark. and many
a time shadows moved through the ST.
lent streets of Sluis at night; they were
those who had succeeded and were now
in safety From them we learned how
things were in Belgium
WOman's Escape.
One morning very early found a
young woman sitting on one Of the
Dutch steps in Sluis- She looked worn
JUL DuL neT race wore LlaL happy HA-
preston which told me at once that she
was one Of those who had crossed. 4
rev hours later I met her arm in arm
with q young man whom knew was
an escaped Belgian soldier. met them
again and again. and the young woman
I0ld me the name OF her town, how
things were going there and how she
got into Holland
Clara Vermel was the young wonl-
ans name She was an inhabitant OF
Oostkerke- In the beginning OF the
war her husband had been called to the
colors She heard from him three times,
then his letters ceased. and for months
she had lived alone. hoping that her
husband was still alive.
One day Clara Nermel was brOoding
over her misfOrtunes when the door
opened and in walked Limping Victor
cripple who was employed BY the
Germans TO do errands and had often TO
90 into Holland
Husband Heard From.
q Clara he said, I have seen Robert
He is at Sluis. just over the border. But
don't ask any more risk TOO much
She heard the door bang and was
again alone Robert alivei Robert at
Sluis. only a few miles awsy2 Then
she fell on her knees before the Holy
Virgin in the corner and prayed
Then shadow crept over her face
Sluis is in HOllandi The electric ca
bles- They meant death for those who
came near them.
But she would go. She would face
death for him Her father tried 10 dis
suade her. but finally gave in
Led By Old POacher.
There is only one man. Clara, he
said, who can help you If you really
want to get to Sluis, and that man is
inch Of soil for miles and miles round
and miles into Holland Let US 90 and
see him, or rather you go alone: that
would be safer. You know where he
lives
So you want TO get to sluis to see
your husband, who was a soldier said
Flor, when Clara called at his hut But
do you know what It means, young
woman Do you know how many have
been killed by that devilish wire2 Yes,
they always live a few seconds after
they are executed" as those devils call
il. and many a time have heard q soft
crying which always means that one
more has been killed
The Midnight Trek
1T was about midnight when tbs
poacher and Clara left the hut
This is the time that the guard
is changed, and those old Landsturms
are always late he had said. caution
ing her not 70 make any noise
Near the little River Mendel run
ming half a mile distant, the poacher
knew a kind of tunnel This tunnel
had been made years ago TO deliver
water to a factory, standing Just
across the border near Sluis- The
little tunnel had long been dry, but
Flor. the pOacher. knew that il was
still open all the way and still came
out into Holland he said
Cat Killed By Cable.
The cable is only a few yards
distant from u.s. whispered the
poacher TO Clara We must keep to
the right, as We will soon turn nth
the path and leave the cable A cat
rushed past Clara was frightened A
few seconds after the poacher stopped
her. Listen; that cat has been killed.
and she heard the complaining cry
ing which always followed contact
with the wire by man or animal.
The pOacher had now found the
bridge he was looking for Now
about a hundred yards farther he
said. He searched the grass and the
Tushes near the water until his foot
sunk deep in a hole Soon he found
the opening. Come, young woman. he
commanded They both disappeared IN
the earth
In Holland at Last.
The tunnel was not high enough
TO stand up in. so they had 10 crawl |
Clara thought IL would never come to
an end She had never been in such
darkness She banged her head, hurt I
her feet, but thought only Of her hus-
band. At last she heard the poachef
say Here We are This is Holland.
But be quiet for another hour, for / !
want TO 20 back You follow this
little river about five minutes. You
viii then come on a road which will |
bring you into Sluis after 20 minutes
walk And your soldier will be Sleep
ing under one ~ the ronrnr FIa-c