Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-09-20
Aviator and
From Germany
Trace Road Map Of Country
by Walking at Night to
Escape FOe-Finally Reach
Holland and Freedom.

Limburg, and we could not make out
the name of the place. We continued
our march toward the northwest and
finally found our correct road at Schul-
bertz A very dark night, with little
rain. We stopped at 5 a. m and lay
down on the edge of wood i very
critical morning. a peasant came and
cut wood at three yards from us.
will never understand how it happened
that he did not see us. We changed
our hiding place as soon as the peasant
| left and We're more tranquil until the
| evening. A rainy. snowy day"
Had Narrow Escape.
Reservat told me that small boy
was with the peasant who cut the
wood and that once the peasant looked
directly at the place where the two
Frenchmen We're hidden, saying some
/ thing in German. Then he picked up
his bundle of wood and with the child
went away. The diary continues:
March 81. Departed at 8 a. m.
| along the same road. Upon arriving
at the first village we noticed thas
again we We're wandering We looked
| at our map, but unfortunately it was
/ not very detailed, for this region was
| entirely left out of our itinerary, which
had been made to leave from Giessen.
| We tried vainly to find the right road.
Useless effort. So again we set off to-
| ward the unknown, trusting in our
| good star.
"We passed through several villages
and arrived, without knowing it, at the
| gates of Limburg Crossed part of the
! city without incident apart from meet
ing several workmen and found our
selves on the correct route, in the di-
rection of Bonn
"March 22.-Departure at $50 D. m.
| Fine weather. Marched without Incl
| dent until morning. We have STOP
| ped in wood of small pines, for it
| is the best of hiding places, especial
| ly as since we left the prison camp
we have not been discovered 1t is
very cold, and it was not vet daylight
| when we stopped. We tried to warm
ourselves by running up and down the
| road. We were almost caught by a
civilian, whom we did not hear COM
| ing. 1t took only one jump for us to
penetrate into our wood. and we are
resting TRANQUILITY in our hiding place
Reach Heights of Rhine.
March 24.-Departure at s:15 p. IN,
| Good march. Lost our way about =
a. M, but found it again on the banks
Of the Rhine. Following the Rhine.
we arrived at BeuL We decided to
hide on the heights that overlook the
Rhine. Were disillusioned by the
woods we found there. Finally we
discovered al abandoned stone quar-
ry, where we found a little hut. We
entered, barricaded the doors and have
passed most exciting day Are wor-
r1ed because of the children who have
been playing around all day. and who
seem to find it very strange that the
hut is closed up.
Before dark we came out of our
hiding place and watched the sun set
from the banks Of the Rhine just like
tourists
"March 26.-We took our departure
in very bad weather. snow and an icy
rain. We are wet to the skin and have
difficulty in walking. We got lost
about a. m, but managed finally to
stop near the point we had decided
upon in advance. We are sheltered in
large wood of pines, but have been
on the watch all day. because we are
near large city. Are still wet to the
skin. for it is impossible to dry our
selves. A very hard and very cold
day.
March 27.-En route at s pm. We
pass the city OF Dunn. After little
trouble we find our correct road. We
follow 1t half the night. then, not to
change Our custom. we got lost.
Comrade Wants to Give Up.
"My comrade is again about to give
mp in despair. being completely demor-
allied and "a atigued and having blis-
tered foot.
March 2S.-We set out at s p. m.
We find our route, not without trouble
and take the direction of the frontier.
we stop at y. IN. and rest hidden,
until IL p. M, the following night.
March 2a,-~Departure at Il 80 p. IN.
Bad weather, rain and wind. We are
happy to be able to drink rain water.
We take the righ. road and arrive near
our goal. About 2 3. IN. the sky became
light. We find the polar star. which
leads us to freedom. Cutting across the
fields we march for about eight kilo-
meters, and when the sun rises we
find ourselves in Holland. free and
saved! We are tired ont and dirty
from head to foot"
The two soldiers were we'll received
at the frontier village and rested three
days with family of Belgian refugees.
Then they went to Rotterdam, where
they rested for month Crossing to
England, they finally reached France on
June 6. Both men were still very tired
and were granted a long period of re-
OOSo hv the French war doDa rtmQpt