Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-29
THE DAY OF WRATH
rr-rrr rr4r
A STORY OF 1914
BY Louis Tracy

'''' hSShSu IL WOulu ne SOnetnlnB TO re-
member
The first and last Of these Items we're
correct inasmuCh MS they represented events
ana definite orders affecting the immediate
heIshpofhood. Otherwise, the budget con-
sisted of ever more daring flights Of Teu-
tonic imagination, the CresCendO swelling by
distance. Liege was so far from having
tallen that the Seventh Division deprived
OF the support of the Ninth and Tenth Divi-
sions, had been beaten back disastrously
from the shallow trenches in front of the
outer girdle OF forts. The Tenth was about
TO share the same fate and the Ninth after
being delayed nearly three days by the
glorious resistance offered by the Belgians
at Wise, was destined to fare likewise But
rumor to the instant capture" of Iiege
was not rife among the lower ranks alone
Of the German army. The commander-in-
chief actually telegraphed the news to tho
All-Highest at AK; when the All-Highest
discovered the truth the commander-in-
chief decided that he had better blow his
brains out, and did
The fact was that the overwhelming
horde Of invaders could not be kept out Of
the city of Liege by the hastily mobill2ed
Belgian army; but the heroic governor,
General Leman, held the ring OF forts intact
until they were pulverized by tho heavy
ordnance of which Dalroy had seen two
specimens during tho journey to Cologne.
Many days were destined to elapse before
the last OF the strongholds, Fort Loncin,
crumbled into ruins by the explosion of its
own magazine; and until that was achieved
the mighty army OF Germany dared not
advance another klOmeter to the west.
When the Bavaran corporal had gone
through every part of the house and out
buildings, and satisfied himself that the only
stores left were some potatoes and half
bag Of -four. he Informed the miller that he
and his squad would be billeted there that
evening,
L. =. Al.
wine is all right 80 Wen bring Joint which
we 'glanted' this morning BE decent about
the wine, and your folks can have a cut
in, too"
Possibly he meant 10 be civil, and there
was chance that the night might pass
without incident Wise itself was certainly
quiet save for the unceasing stream Of
troops making for the pontoon bridge. The
fighting seemed to have shifted to the west
and southwest, and Joos put an unerring
finger on the situation when he said pithily,
'Liege Is making a deuce Of row after
being taken"
How many forts are there around the
city?" inquired DalrCy,
Twelve, big and little. Pontisse and Bar
chon cover the Meuse on this side, and
Fleron and Evegnee bar the direct road
from AK Unless / am greatly in error,
monsieur, the German wolf is breaking his
teeth on some Of them at this minute
Iiege itself was ten miles Distant Pom
tisse the nearest fort though on the left
bank of the river, barely six. The evening
was still, there being only a slight breeze
from the southwest which brought the loud
thunder of the guns and the craclIe Of rife
fire. 1t was the voice Of Belgium proclaim
ing to the high gods that she was worthy
of life
The Bavarians came with their "joint,"
a noble piece Of beef hacked off a whole
side looted from butchers shop Madame
cfP
pounds. and put it in the oven. The girls
peeled potatoes and prepared cabbages. In
half an hour the kitchen had an appetizing
smell of food being cooked, the men were
smoking, and casual visitor would never
have resolved the gathering into its con-
stituent elements Of irreconcllabe national
hatreds
The corporal even tried to make amends
for having damaged the door. He examined
the broken latch TITS a small matter" he
a trffe and, in any case, you will sleep all
the better that we are here"
Though somewhat maudlin with liquor,
he was very much afraid of the girl from
Berlin" He could not sum her up, but
meant to behave himself; while his men, Of
course, followed his lead unquestioningly.
Dalroy kept in the background. He
listened, but said hardly anything. The turn
of fortunes wheel was distinctly favorable
II the night ended as il had begun there was
"a
10 the Dutch frontier next morning, since
he had ascertained definitely that Holland
was secure for the time and was impartially
interning all combatants, either Germans or
Belgians who crossed the border. At this
time he was inclined to abandon his own
project Of striving to steal through the Ger
man lines. He was somewhat weary, too,
after the unusual labor Of carrying heavy
sacks of grain and -four down steep ladders
or lowering them by a pulley, Thus, he
dozed OF In a corner, but was aroused sud
denly by the entry Of the commissariat Of
fcer and three subalterns. With, them came
an orderly who dumped a laden basket and
a case OF champagne on the floor.
The corporal and his satellites sprang to
attention.
The fat man took the salute and glanced
around the kitchen. Then he shifted
oVhatl roast beef?" he said Then men
fare better than the officers, II would seem.
Be on youW
'sHerr Major, we are herein billeted."
suffered the corporal
'Be OF. ! tell you, and take these Belgian
swine with you make my quarters here
tonight"