Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-05
By William Philip simms.
United Press staff correspondent. }

NOulleu IrtSb StitII correspondent
Paris, Jan. ll.-(By mail The
mystery of the fall of Maubeuge has at
last been cleared up, after seventeen
months Of rumors and doubts. Instead
of the surrender of the French fortress
having been due to treason, as intimat
ed 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 q
French officer, a member of the stat
of General Fournier, Military Governor
! of Maubeuge, who has reached this
country after escaping from a German
prison, where he was sent with the 9th
er 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 ap-
proaches to the place on August q,
working 5000 laborers with $4,000 ter
ritorials. They dug 13 miles of trenches
around the city, showing great fore
though, as at that time trench fightir
had not begun. They strung one mil
lion square yards Of barbed wire on a
million aid a half stages and stationed
so mobile batteries Of artillery at
strategic points, as well as many dunn.
my batteries to fool the enemy
"The city was invested towards the
end of August by $4,000 Germans
against our 10000 territorials. The
Germans were commanded by General
Won Zwehl in the presence Of the
kaiser's nephew, Prince Leopold, OF
Prussia For nine days a furious bat
tie ragged, all the German heavy artil.
lery being brought up from Liege and
Namur, including the 305 milimeter ap'
420 milimeter howitzers. Ceaselessly
shells rained on the forts day and night
causing reign of terror, for in addi-
tion to the city's residents there were
10000 refugees, mostly women, chill
dren and old people from the north
quartered in the town.
"The German shell fire was directed
by aeroplanes and spies who had been
on the job for years, living in Man
beuge and ostensibly engaged in bust.
ness there. One by one the 80 batteries
were picked off. The arsenal was fire.
by a German shell and 1000 French
shells exploded inside at one time. Peo.
pie all over the city were knocked
down by the force of the explosion. The
water, gas, electricity, telephones and
telegraph were instantly cut off and the
city, including the hospitals, vas burn
ing.
"Outside the city, in thi trenches,
the troops fought on withoJr relief as
we were prevented from reaching them
by q curtain of artillery fire We made
four sorties, once charging to within
200 yards Of the German mortars.
1.-THE city wrecked and on fire. our
ammunition exploded and means Of re.
sistance dwindled General Fournier sur.
rendered on September 8, when the Ger.
mans began hurling 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 IL defended
only by territorials. They believed
they were attacking a big garrison of
aetives. In recognition Of the brave
defense of the citadel, Won Zwehl told
Fournier to keep his sword. Fournier
refused because the other Officers were
not granted the same courtesy. He
said:
" Whatever their lot is, I viii share
it; What is good enough for them is
good enough for me.
" General Fournier was sent TO the
military nrison at Torgu. in silesia. He
is heartbroken man, but prond. He
held out against Tremendous odds, sus.