Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-12-21
CHAPTER TX.
The Fate Of a Spy,

village OF Boesinghe. This village is
on the bank of the canal, but Ii Is u
mighty unhealthy place to visit, as 1t
Is In full view of part Of the German
lines. Our plan was to go as close TO
the village as we dared and then leave
the car and try to get through on foot
IL was almost as dangerous as 1t would
be to go through Ypres, but we figured
that here we would at least have q
lighting chance.
We left the car under some trees
about half n mile from the village and
set out on foot. We hadn't been going
ten minutes when sentry stopped us
again and Informed us that the road
was closed aud we would have to go
back. Tile officer explained things to
him and told him that II was abso-
lutely imperative that we get through
and that this was the only way 1t
could be done. The sentry said that
he was very sorry. but he had strict
orders from the assistant provost mar
shall and he dared not let US pass.
There was nothing left for US to do
but to turn back.
We went straight to headquarters,
and the officer explained that 1t was
impossible for us to get through. He
ordered me to report to him the next
morning and we would try again. The
next day they were bombarding just
as heavily, and the city was still burn
ing. so all had to do was to stand by
and hold myself In readiness all day
long
We saw a very exciting incident that
day. There was big ammunition col
waiting there. all ready loaded, until
sent for. 1t had been there several
weeks then. and the chaps who belong
ed to II were having the softest time
they ever had In their lives.
About 2 o'clock In the afternoon l
was standing on q corner near this
column when | saw one Of the police
go up and speak to a chap who was
walking around 1t with a notebook In
his hand. They talked for few mo-
ments. and then policeman sauntered
down to where | was standing and
came up and spoke to me.
Go down to the guard room," he said,
and have the corporal fall In two men
and bring them up here as quick as
God will let him That fellow there by
the column is getting all kinds OF iDfor-
nation and putting 1t In his book. Now.
hurry, but take your time until you get
out OF sight Of this place. I'll look
after him until the guard comes"
| was naturally all excited. but | did
as he said. and ii wasn't many minutes
before we were on our way back at the
double. Our man was still there. but
the minute he saw us he got started
Our policeman pulled his revolver and
fred after him lie didn't stop for a
second, but he pulled couple OF guns
himself and every few seconds would
send n shot back AT us as he ran.
Fellows were Joining In the chase oil
the time. and It was getting interest
Ing The end came very suddenly when
two of our chaps with rifles appeared
In the road ahead OF the fugitive and
ordered him to halt. He cred on them
for an answer. so they raised their RI
Ges and brought him down.
q
German lie had on German service
dress under the British uniform he was
wearing The little book our police
man referred to certainly was gold
mine OF Information He had the name.
location and strength OF every unit in
our vicinity and also the location of
good many OF our batteries, lie was a
brave fellow. all right. and he played
the game clear to the end
The next day ! reported myself as
usual for the trip to PotiJze. and wc
decided to make the try again. Even
as we got near Ypres the lire seemed
to slacken, and we rushed straight
through without mishap.
II Ypres had been In bad condition
before this don't know how 1t would
be described now! In the center OF the
town there was scarcely building left
standing All the towers but one had
been knocked on the famous Cloth
lall. and the whole place had been
Quilted by fire. The cathedral was all
down except half OF the tower and the
inside OF that was still burning
The streets were Uttered with bodies
OF every description. and broken wag-
ons. ambuianccs. water carts, etc. lay
every where The roads were almost
obllterated. and we were riding over
broken bricks and mortar. The shells
were still coming over. but they were
no worse than what we had run
through before, so we did not mind
them very much, We found the road
the other side Of Ypres about as usual,
Sc we got up to PotiJze without any
more excitement
Potijze Is very tiny place which
has seen some hard lighting from time
to time There was really very little
left OF the place itself. but our trenches
ran Just outside the village. and we had
dugouts all around there. On our ar
rival my officer told me TO turn the car
around and then TO get into one OF the
dugouts and wait for him. did as he
told mt, and for some reason or other
left the engine running. ! shut the
throttle clear down. so she WAS Just
barely ticking over
looked around and found q dugOut
not twenty yards away and went in