davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
British Can Tell
Of Routed Enemy

When we got back TO the hotel we
found Sir Francis waiting for US
with a glowing telegram and an
equally glowing face. 1t was the
most enthusiastic message yet re-
oeived from the British War Office.
which has been very restrained in
its daily bulletins. For the first
time that day it spoke with little
punch, speaking of the routed
enemy" and their being vigorously
pressed" We tumbled through a
hasty bath and got down to dinner
in short order.
The Cabinet was going through
the latest kilograms from the va
rious fields Of action. They even had
some from Serbia and were decided
" cheered up, a big change from the
logged determination with which
they were facing bad news the last
time | was in Antwerp.
Saturday morning the colonel and
] were called at s o'clock, and at 7
we got away in a pouring rain over
the same road to Lierre that we had
travelled the day before.
We found things moving rapidly
ut headquarters in Lierre. Messen-
gers were pouring in and orders 60
ing out with twice the activity Of
the day before. The movement had
teen under way for two hours when
we got there, and the guns were
booming all around. After learning
as much as we could of the DISPOSE
ton OF the troops we went out and
stocked up with bread, cheese and
mineral water, and started forth 70
sec what we could Of the operations.
We took along a young officer from
headquarters TO show US the road.
We soon saw that he did not know
the roads and could not even read a
map, and had TO take over that work
ourselves. Colonel Fairholme and |
went in my motor with the headduar-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
King in the Field
Before Daybreak

Before we left Lierre, the King
came in from the field for look at
the mornings kilograms. He had
been out since long before daybreak,
and was covered with rain and mud.
lie shook himself vigorously, spray
ing everybody with raindrops, and
then stopped to speak to us before
going in for cup Of coffee and a
look at the news.
From Malines we made back along
The northern side of the canal, in an
endeavor to find the headquarters
of the tn division. We went
through little village where all the
inhabitants were standing in the
road listening to the cannonading,
and spun out upon an empty and sus-
piciously silent country road. a lit
lie way out we found couple of
dead horses which the thrifty peas
ants had already got out and skinned.
I didn't like the looks of it, and in
minute the colonel agreed that he
thought it did not look like a road
behind the lines, but our little staff
officer was cocksure that he knew
Just what he was talking about. and
ordered the chauffeur to go ahead.
Then we heard three sharp toots on
the horn of the car behind-the sig
nal to stop and wait. And it came
pulling up alongside with an inquiry
as TO what we meant by "barging"
along this sort of a road which like
y as not would land us straight in
size the enemy's lines. There was
spirited discussion as to whether we
should go ahead or 60 back and
strike over through Rymenam, when
we heard a shell burst over the road
about half a mile ahead, and then
saw motor filled with Belgian sol
diers coming bacl, toward us full tilt.
The colonel stopped them and
learned that they had been out on a
reconnaissance with n motor cyclist
to locate the German lines, which
were found to be just beyond where
the shell had burst, killing the motor
cyclist. II would have been a little
too ignominious for US TO have gone
bowling straight into the lines and
set taken prisoners. We turned
around and left that road to return
lao more that way. We got about
half way up to Rymenam when we
met some Belgian officers in motor,
who told us that battery Of the big
French howitzers, which had just
gone into action for the first time,
were in a wood near H. We
turned around once more, and made
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Headquarters as
Orderly as a Bank

The headquarters was established
n a little roadside inn about half a
mile outside the town. and was as
orderly as d bank. Officers sat at
the various instruments and took
notes of the different reports as they
came in. Reports were discussed
quickly, but quietly, and orders sent
cut promptly but without confusion.
The maps were kept up to the min
ute by changing the little flags to
show the positions of the different
troops right at the minute. There
was telephone communication with
the forts, and several times they
were ordered to pour fire into a GER
tam spot to cover an advance or "A
retreat OF parts of the Belgian
forces, and, at other times, TO cease
firing, so as TO let Belgian troops
cross or occupy the exact spot they
had been bombarding. 1t was a
wonderful sight TO watch, and IL was
aard to realize that this was merely
a highly scientific business of killing
human beings on a large scale. II
was so businesslike and without
animus, that to any one not knowing
the language or conditions it might
lave passed as a busy day in war
Office commissary when ordering sup
plies and giving orders for ship
won't
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

toon bridge placed on canal boa.
and schooners dashed together an
moored from one side of the nv,
to the other. Any time they Ii,
the Belgians can cut the string az
there is no way of getting into IA,
city from that side. There was /.
tremendous wind blowing and Ii,
rain fell in torrents-short shower
from the time We left Antwer
until we came sailing into tow
here.
The bridge at Termonde had bee,
blown UP by the Germans On
evacuating the place after hayin,
destroyed the entire town, so thes
was no thought of returning thr
way. | knew there could be nch.
ing doing the direct way throue
Malines, so decided on a long swr,
around the circle by way Of Chez.
as the only practicable way. ",
found Belgian troops all the way !,
Client, and had no trouble beyor,
giving the password which ! had.
About ten kilometres this side d.
Client we came to Melle, a villsg.
which had been destroyed, and an.
other where a number of houses hX
been burned. A nice looking young
chap told US that there had been al
fight there the day before and TIA.
the Germans had set fire TO he
place as they retreated-just from
cussedness, so far as he could SCI.
There, and at another place along
the road, peasants told US that ties
had been made 10 march ir trout
of the German troops when thsy
marched against the Belgians. Il
don't like to believe that there 81
any truth in that story, but it CONES
from every direction and the peopA
tell it in a most convincing way.
We found no Germans until vel
were this side OF Assche and the,
our adventures were evidently 81
an end. As we came in We cog
hear heavy cannonading from ts|
direction OF Yilvorde and Hofstsd'
and knew that the fight was sd
going on. They had been hearin5
it in town for a couple Of days.
The family at the legation hal
been somewhat anxious, but ha'
learned through me Germans ths'
we we're all evidently from
somebody who got through nj
Ines. hGd 10 sit right down sn'
tell the story Of my life from one
end to the other.
never got over the idea In Ant
werp of the incongruity Of goins
out onto the field all day and 'lgnt
ing big battle, or, rather, watching
it fought, and then sailing comt0f
ably home to a big modern hotel Z
a motor and dressing for dInns
I don't think there has ever oee'a
war quite like this before.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Little Belgian
Captures a Kitchen

Just outside the headquarters was
one of the fine German kitchen
wagons with two fine Norman horses
which had pulled it al the way from
Germany. 1t had been stationed in
the grounds Of a chateau not far
away, and three men of its crew were
lard at work getting meal when a
little Belgian soldier with two
weeks growth of beard waltzed into
the garden, shot one of the men dead
and captured the other two. He dis
armed them, put ropes around their
necks and drove the kitchen to head
quarters in triumph. He was proud
az Punch of his exploit, and, for that
matter, so was everybody else around
he place.
In a field of turnips Il couple of
hundred yards away from the head
quarters were the howitZers.
We were introduced to the officers
commanding the battery, and watched
their work for nearly two hours.
One of the officers was Count Guy
G'Oultremont, adjutant of the court,
whom ] had known in Brussels. He
vas brown as n berry, had lost a lot
of superfluous flesh, and was really
fine looking man. He had been in
Namur, and had got away with the
Belgian troops who went out the
back door into France and came
home by ship.
After we had watched a little
while. an aeroplane came circling
around, evidently to spot the place
where these deadly cannon were. 1t
cruised around for some time in vain,
hut finally crossed straight overhead.
AS soon as we were located, tho ma
chino darted away TO spread the
ncws so that tho big German guns
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

rrent of Belgian infantry and lancers
ind large armored motor and two
uitrailleuses- We were told that the
,Belgians had taken and retaken
Sempst three Zines during the day,
and while neither side occupied the
town at that precise moment they
were both advancing on it, and that
it might be rather warm for esdi-
nary motors They finally agn5ed
70 let us talk TO the commanding
officer, who turned out to be none
other than Colonel Cumont, the
owner of the building occupied by
the legation
He was up on railway embank-
raent, lying ON his stomach between
the rails watching some German
patrols through a pair Of big field
glasses, and when we hailed him
rolled gracefully over the side and
cams down to talk to Us. He had
been out on the track most Of the
time for three days, and was rather
disreputable looking person, but ap-
Iarently glad Of a chance to talk
with some one from the outside
world
He said he thought we would have
time to get through before the row
began, and in any event he would
warn his men so that If we came
scuttling back we would be given the
right Of way to safety.
We passed several Belgian patrols
along the way and finally got into
the town, which showed clear evil
cences of fighting; some Of the
houses were burned to the ground,
and all that were standing had their
doors and windows smashed, furni-
trre broken and strewn about the
floors with broken bottles and dishes,
mattresses and goodness knows what
else, and above al arose that ter
rible smell Of burnt flesh.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
1917, by international.

could be trained on us and silence
the battery; but the Belgians were
;ohnny-at-the-rat-hole again, and ne
was winged by rife fire from a
crowd of soldiers who were resting
near headquarters. They killed the
observer and wounded the pilot him
self, to say nothing Of poking hole
in the oil tank The machine vol
planed to earth a few hundred yards
from where we were, and the pilot
was made prisoner. The machine
was hauled back TO the village and
shipped on the first outgoing train
tC Antwerp as a trophy.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

advancing TO an enveloping move
ment and all the surrounding coun-
try was to be covered with Belgian
troops in an endeavor to deal a
smashing blow to the Germans and
compel them to bring back more
troops from the front in France.
Colonel Fairholme asked me TO ac-
company him to the front next morn
ing, and ] accepted with an alacrity
that startled him.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
8
III e

in the mouth about the situation in
general and wanted TO talk about 1t.
he colonel told him of the bulletins
that had been published in Antwerp
IS to the progress of the campaign,
end as this went on he cheered up
yisibly minute by minute-whether
IS a result of the good news or the
champagne, ! don't know.
The colonel was called away after
time to talk TO Lord Kitchener
over the telephone. Kitchener keeps
himself informed directly as TO the
progress of operations and the
knowledge that he may drop in over
the telephone at any minute gives his
cfficers very comforting feeling
that they are not forgotten.
Finally, after dark, Colonel Du
Cane and Captain Ferguson came in
and we got under way. 1t was too
late to go forward with hopes Of
seeing anything, but it was evident
that things would be as hot as ever
the next day and that could not
hope TO get my charges back to
Prussels.
We had retreated inside the Hotel
&c Vile during a particularly heavy
downpour Of rain, when in came the
King, who had spent the whole day
in the field with the troops. He was
Grenched TO the skin, but came brisk
" up the steps, talking seriously
with his aid-de-camp. He stopped
and spoke with us all and took Colo
mel Du Cane into his study and had
a few minutes talk with him by way
OF farewell. The King shows up
finely in the present situation and all
the foreign military attaches are en-
thusiastic about his ability. He is
in supreme command of the army
and no detail is too insignificant for
his attention.
We got the password and made
hack for Antwerp in the dark, leav-
ing Colonel Du Cane and Captain
Ferguson to spend the night at
Lierre. We were in bad luck and got
stopped at every railroad crossing
along the way. Troop and supply
trains were pouring down toward the
front and Red Cross trains were
bringing back the wounded in large
numbers. Both sides must have suf-
fered heavily during the day, and
there may be several days more of
this sort Of fighting before there is
q lull.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Ar1nored Car
Brings First Check

We we're nearly through the town
when we were hailed by a detach-
uaent Of about twenty Belgians, who
mad got through and occupied the
grounds Of villa on the edge Of the
village We stopped the car and l
got out and went ahead, they re-
naming with levened rifles, in their
Usual hospitable manner.
When I got TO within twenty feet
of them we heard the whirr Of ma
chine gun-which the Belgian SOL
diers call a cinem1-and a German
armored car poked its nose around
the corner for a look-see- It was
firing high 70 draw a return fire and
locate any Belgians there might be
IN the town, but they all scurried
behind cover, closely followed by me.
They were taking no chances, how
ever, and called 70 me TO stay in tho
middle Of the road. Without vast
irg any time in formality l made
dear ny Identity, and on being
shown through breach in the wall
n disagrecable looking body Of Ger
man infantry and lancers about a
half-mile away approaching through
z field, / decided that we were on
the wrong road and made back for
the motor.
told my passengers what was up,
and that NO had 70 go back to
Malines II. &c Woeste, however,
was all for going through on the
valid plea that he had no clean linen
ard did not want 10 spend another
night out Of Brussels. Nevertheless,
so turned around and started back,
cnly 70 rush into the big Belgian ar
more1 car which Colonel Curnont,
hearing firing, had sent down 10
rescue Us and cover our retreat.
This car stayed in the village for a
few minutes to meet the German
car, fired few shots at it, and then
csme back TO the outpo5ts.
We then tried getting out toward
lie Test from Malines, but soon
came 20 a point where the road was
inundated. and had 20 turn back for
The third time. II was then getting
pretty late in the afternoon, and
even VI. dc Woeste had 10 admit that
We had best come back 70 ANTWERP
rather than try 10 make a round
about Journey 20 Brussels after dark
All the way back into ANTWERP
wc met Belgian forces advancing u
the attack. They are getting Il
know the flag better every day, and
We were greeted with waving hand,
md cheers everywhere we went.
When We got back % Antwerp
soon learned that it would be out Of
the question 10 get back 10 Brusseli
the next day, or perhaps even The
day after that. The Belgians wer,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

for II by way of Malines. We
Found the headquarters of the til
Division, and went in and watched
the news come in over the field tele
phone and telegraph, and by mes
sengers on motorcycles, bicycles and
horses straight from the field.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

STAYED and talked while the nasty
things popped. His majesty and
climbed to a dignitied position on
pile Of rubbish, whence we could
get good view up and down the
road. and see the French guns which
were in action again.
The King was much interested IN
all the news from Brussels, how the
people were behaving, what the
Germans were doing, whether there
were crowds on the streets, and how
the town felt about the perform
ances Of the army.
/ He realized what has happened to
his little country, and made me
realize it for the first time. He
said that France was having hard
time, but added that perhaps sixth
of her territory was invaded and
occupied, but that every bit OF his
country had been ravaged and dew
astated with the exception OF the
little bit by the sea coast and Ant
werp itself, which was getting
pretty rough treatment, in order to
put it in shape to defend itself. He
spoke with a great deal of feeling.
And no wonder!
/ Just then a crowd of priests, with
Red Cross brassards on their arms.
came down the road on their way to
the battlefield to gather up the
wounded. With his usual shyness
the King withdrew a few steps to
seek shelter behind motor that was
standing near by. AS we talked we
edged back a little, forcing him to
come forward, so that he was in
plain sight Of the priests, who
promptly broke out in a hearty
"Vive le Roi"
He blushed and waved his hand
at them, and, after they had passed
I by, shook hands with US and fol
lowed them on foot out onto the
field.
In modern warfare Kings place
is supposed to be in perfectly safe
spot, well back Of the firing line,
but he does not play the game that
way. Every day since the war
began. he has gone straight out into
the thick of il, with the shells burst
ing all around and even within
range of hostile rifle fire. 1t is a
dangerous thing for him To Go, but
il does the troops good, and puts
heart into them for the desperate
fighting they are called upon to do.
They are all splendidly devoted TO
him.
After luncheon we went back
through Malines again, through the
railroad yards, humping over the
tracks. and away toward Muysen
and Rymenam to see the other bat
teries.
We were bowling along the road,
looking for the battery, when there
was the most enormous noise which
tore the earth asunder and the uni
verse trembled. | looked around TO
the left, and there not more than a
hundred feet away were those three
husky French guns which had just
gone off right over our heads! We
had found them all right, but /
should prefer to find them in some
other way next time.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Rumor Begins
Siege of Antwerp

BRUSSELS, Sept. is, i9I+.-s
day has brought a long string Of car
ers, and between times we took sa'S
wing looks at the passing tr0OF
which have been pouring INTO 'os'
steadily yesterday and to-day ~
body has established to my satisl'
ton whence they come or wni'ne
they are going. This morna
Baron Won der Lancken came IN sn'
asked me to testify as to what "
had seen at Louvain. OF couls
what we saw had no bearing on ",
original cause Of the trouble Sr'
there is no reason for me 70 pu''
nv way into the controversy DC
sides, I can't do it without o'u'"
from Washington.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25

BRUSSELS, Sept. II. l9i@'-ins
morning | spent digging my We
out from under a landslide OF oe's.
work which has been pillng up !"
nv desk until / could hardy -
over it. | now have it out OF "
way and can breathe again ife'
fer the moment. -,
Miss T, an American OWN. .
n school here, was in late this ai'
noon to complain Of the behavior
a couple of officers and gen"s. -
who did her the honor of calling up:
ner. They came swaggerlns
asked whether a certain German
had attended the school and den''a,
ed her portrait. On being rsiu'e !.
thew became nasty and finally
overawed the two women who W"
there alone that they found ~
SNAPSHOTS and handed over a coup
of them. Then they demanaeu
most card with picture o. ~
school. wrote a message to ire
and tried to compel the two w0n
sign it. They fatty refused anu,
A rage. the elder German tore " u
card, threw it at Miss T-I|
down the photographs and s'a%
out Of the house, slamming tho
The minister is going over ~
the military authorities in the ~
ing and make some remarks ~
they will not forget in a hurl1' 81
Puppies ought to be horsewhlpp|
,copyr,sh, 1911. Doubleday. Page III
by Otis =. wood) ~
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-20
VETERANS ARE
VERY POPULAR
Fans Would Like to See a
Ball Game With Teams
of Old Timers.

The return of Hans Wagner to base
ball may mean more than just little
sentiment Before two years have
passed it may become a common thing
for baseball fans TO be roofing again
for favorites long since passed into
the minors or retirement
1t isn't idle in the least to suggest
that with war taking the youth of
the country. old timers in baseball
ranks may be cavorting on big league
diamonds
Kitty Bransfield might again be-
come a regular first baseman- Miller
Higgins might still have some Sec
ond basing left. Stranger things than
Dave Altizer in a big league uniform
again have been heard of. Artie Hof-
man still has a lot of baseball left.
HOnus LObert may become a regular
third sacker again Veteran outfield-
ers by dozens are roaming around the
country or warming spots on big
league benches There are countless
pitchers of class whose ages are over
the draft limit It wouldn't be star
thing to find them again battling on
The diamond.
1t would be worth the price of ad-
mission to any ones ball park to
watch a game between the following
lineups:
Frank IsbeII first base: Germany
short stop; John McGraw, third base;
Matty Mcintyre. left field; Sam
Crawford center field: Eddie
Hahn. right field; Nick .Altrock. Clark
Griffith and Christy Mathewson,
pitchers; Louis Criger. catch
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-20
GEORGE S|5LER
HAS 4 BUM Dat.
st. Louis Brown Is Said to
Have Been Using an
Illegal Club.

New York. June 2O-What is said
to be the real cause OF George Sisters
protracted batting slump was made
public today by a man supposed to be
close TO the focal american league
team It is said that Sisler had been
using an armor clad bat which is
illegal. and that his batting average
slumped when forced to discard the
stick
According TO the story Sisler
strolled up to the plate in the open
ing game of the recent series in st.
Louis against the Yankees Leslie
Nunamaker. catcher for the Yankees.
noticed a few metal knobs at the end
Of the bat. Nunamaker asked Sisler
what kind of a bat he was using. and
requested that he be allowed 70 take
a look at it
''Oh, it's just an ordinary bat"
Sisler is said to have replied 1t
isn't worth looking at"
But let me see il" insisted the
catcher Il want to look at that row
Of tacks at the end"
They're not tacks. they're nails"
answered Sisler, according to the
story. This is my favorite bat and
fixed it after breaking il in batting
practice. There is nothing wrong
with it"
When Nunamaker forced the issue
and insisted on examining the bat
Sisler raced back to the bench and
ton is said to be under way