The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-04
Aviator and
From Germany
Trace Road Map Of Country
by Walking at Night to
Escape Foe-Finally Reach
Holland and Freedom.

AMI lie went on his way. we arrived
at the city. Sad to say. 1t was not
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 o. m. and lay
down Oh the edge of wood. A very
critical morning. peasant came and
cnt wood at three yards from US.
will never understand how 1t happened
that he did not see us. We changed
our hiding pace as soon as the peasant
left and were more tranquil until the
evening y rainy, snowy day"
Had Narrow Escape.
Reservat told me that n small boy
was with the peasant who cut the
wood aud that once the peasant looked
directly at the place where the two
Frenchmen were hidden. saying some
thing in German. Then he picked UP
his bundle of wood and with the child
went away. The diary continues:
March 21.-Departed at a. m.
along the same road. Upon arriving
at the first village we noticed that
again we were 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 of to-
ward the unknown, trusting In our
good star.
I'VE passed through several villages
and arrived, without knowing It. at the
gates OF LimDurg. Crossed part of the
city without incident apart from meet
ing several worlimcn and found our
selves on the correct route, In the di-
rection of Bonn.
March 22.- Departure at $50 p. m.
Fine weather. Marched without incl
dent until morning. We have stop
ped in a wood of small pines, for II
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 yet daylight
/ when we stopped. We tried to warm
ourselves by running up and down the
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.-Depa-ture at Sis p. m.
Good march. Lost our way about 2
a. m, bur found II 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 an abandoned stone quar-
ry. where we found little hut. We
entered. barricaded the doors and have
passed a most exciting day. Are wor-
ried 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 2G.-We tool: our departure
]
rain. We are wet to the skin and have
difficulty in walking We got lost
about 3 a. m. but managed finally to
stop near the point we had decided
upon III advance. We are sheltered I'm
large wood of pines. but have been
on the watch all day, because we are
near a 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 p. m. We
! pass the city of Dunn After a little
troEble we find our correct road. We
1 follow II half the night. then, not to
/ change our custom, we got lost.
Comrade Wants to Give Up.
"My comrade is again about to give
/ up in despair. being completely demor-
allied and fatigued and having blis-
tered foot.
/ March 23.-We set out at 8 p. m.
/ We dnd our route, not without trouble,
and take the direction OF the frontier.
We stop at p III. and rest. hidden.
unit! II p m. the following night.
March eO.-Departure at IL 80 p. M.
Bad weather, rain and wind. We are
happy to be able to drink rain water.
We take the right road and arrive near
our goal About a. III. 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 out and dirty
| from head to foot"
The two soldiers we're well received
at the frontier village and rested three
days with a family of Belgian refugees.
/ Then they went to Rotterdam, where
/ they rested for a month. Crossing to
England, they finally reached France Oh
/ June G. Both men were still very tired
and were granted long period Of re-
Y nose Inv tha Ernuph war Iapa rtmpuf