Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-02
CHAPTER VI-tContlnueD

NTEANWHlLE the unforeseen resistance
lNl offered to the invaders along the line Of
the Meuse and neiEhhOrhoud Of IiCEo was
throwing tho German military machine ont
Of gear. In this initial stage of the cam
paign the best organized army in the
world" was like n powerful locomotive en-
gine fitted with every mechanical device for
rapid advance but devoid OF either brakes
or reversing gear As the seventh and
Tenth Divisions rccniled from the forts Of
| l.icge in something akin to disastrous de-
feat congestion and confusion spread back
ward to the advanced base at AK. Hos
pital trains from the front compelled other
trains laden with reserves and munitions to
remain i'm sidngs. The roads became
blocked Brigadcs Of infantry and cav
airy long lines Of guns and wagons, were
halted during many hours. Frantic statf
officers in powerful cars were alternately
urging columns to advance and demand
ing a clear passage to the rear ana inc
headquarters stan No rcgimcntal COM
mandant dared think and act for HIM
self He was merely a cog in the machine,
and the machine had broken down. Actu-
ally, the defenders Of LiCge held up the
Kaiser's egons only few days, but II Is
no figure of speech TO say that when GEN
eral Lcman dropped stupeiied by an eN-
plOsiou in Fort LOnCn he had established
n double claim to immortality. Not only
had he shattered the proud German legend
of inyinCiblity In the field, hut ne had
al a AT
egy with I.ieEe and lcman out OF the
yay. il would seem to the student OF war
that the Invaders must have reached ParlS
early in September. They made tremeh-
dous strides later In the effort to MAINTAIN
their timetable but they could never over
take the days lost in the valley OF the
| Meuse.
What tiny pawn was Jan Maertz in this
game of giants, How little could he real
ize that his very existence depended on the
shock of opposing empires
The communications officer at the cross
roads had not moment 10 spare Tor many
an hour after Jams execution was deferred
AT last, about nightfall, when the Ninth
Division got into motion again, he snatched
a slight breathing space. Remembering tho
nrisoner he detailed "A corporal ana four
men TO march him TO Wise and mako the
necessary inquiries at Joss's mill
For Maertz's benefit he gave the cor
moral precise instructions
"rf this fellows story is proved true,
and Won find the man and the woman he
savs he brought from Aachen, return here
with the three Of them and full investiga-
lion will be made If no such man and
yonan have arrived at the mill, and the
prisoner Is shown TO he liar shoot nm
out OF hand cn
Guards stretching his legs while his
chauffeur was reflllng the petrol tank over
heard the loud-vOced order, and took
sudden and keen interest in the proceedings
zone moment" he said imperatively'
",ybot's this about a man and woman
brought from Aacheh! WI" "ioNA'' '"''"'
And when?'
,rbe other explained, laying stress, OF
oonrse on the fractured skulls OF two Of his
"Hi you"" cried the guardsman to
Maertz. describe these two
nal n "A
literally a railway employe but his recol-
isctIon Of Irene's appearance was ialrly
exact Moreover he was quite reasonably
irritated and alarmed by the trouble they
had caused. Then the lamp and saoots were
nroduced and the questioner swore mlghllly.
81 cave This matter entirely In my hands
ba advised his confrere. 1t IS most I'M
nortant that these people should be captured,
and this is the very fellow 10 40 H. ~
nromise him his life, and the satety OF MS
friends, and pay him wen 'Eto uS pa tbat
gain. II he helps me to get hold OF that
precious pair. You see, we shall nave no
55iIc,,Ity An catching and Identifying him
again n need be. Personally pelleNe ne
ts teIIing the absolute TRUTH and is no
more responsible for the killing OF your men
'i'Ii i.,tenant Karl Won Halwig's compari-
son erred only in It's sheer inadequacy. The
communications officers responsibility was
oreat He had failed 10 control his under
lings He was pllhu anu uSoi @ " t@ueu @ %
cesses What matter how they treated the
,,retched Belgans II the road was kept
cIaar9 IL was nothing 20 him that an old
,yonan should he murdered and girl
ontraged SO long as he kept his squad
intact. -. q. , q,
$50 now you know all about II, monsieur"
oorcIuded Maertz when l met you In the
ravine l thought you were escaping, and
lei out at you. God be praised, you got
the better OF me
''yVas the stan officers name Won Hal;
wir7' inquired Dairoy. =
aName OF q pipe. that's it monsieurl