Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-06
CHAPTER x.

| Inc enemyS SneHlnH TO reduce our
position gradually grew stronger, but
without effect. Some houses caught
Gre. Enemy cavalry patrols in strong
force appeared and disappeared again.
Everything became quiet. Within ten
minutes matters again became lively.
as large hostile columns approached.
We retired some distance without fir
ing shot. The artillery took posi-
ton behind village and began shell
ing the approaching enemy. A cavalry
patrol galloped across an open field,
the horses covered with foam. We
heard the commander of the patrol tell
d cavalry officer that the enemy were
approaching from all sides. We quick
ly left the village. The artillery re-
rnaIned and the cavalry detachments
Occupied position while the cannon
were trained on the enemy Toward
noon shrapnel shells again began
bursting over our heads, but they ex-
ploded too high in the air to do us any
damage. Yet this served as a serious
reminder TO us that the enemy kept
right on our heels, n realization of
which caused our retreat to become q
rout. The numbers who dropped ex-
hausted constantly increased. 1t was
Impossible to render them any assist
ance, for there were no more wagons.
OF strength to drag themselves to the
side of the road. Others fell where
they were marching to be crushed soon
afterward under the horses hoofs or
the wheels of any vehicle that might
pass. The road was strewn with
thrown away by the sol
dlers. Our attachments had long since
cast aside all unnecessary impede
menta.
In this way we proceeded until we
reached n forest which was filed with
fugitlves. Many of these had stretched
some sort OF cloth from tree to tree
as a protection from the rain. There
they lay, men, women and children
and old men. some In unspeakable mis-
cry. This fugitives' camp was spread |
over the forests TO the edge of the |
road and as we passed we could see |
the burrows woven into their faces by |
the terrible sufferings they had been
They looked at us with weary
and saddened eyes. The children /
begged for bread. but we had none
Tor ourselves, even though we were
.ortured by hunger. The enemy's
continued TO accompany us.
had we passed through the
'orest when shrapnel burst In 1t. As
camp of fugitives, now
exposed to trench fire, was abandoned
md its numbers sought safety in the
'pen fields. Many tried to accompany
Is until the order came forbidding
hem the road, as their advance him
Tered troop movements. The fugitiyes.
therefore,, were forced into the rain
oaked fields.
Toward evening we reached a viii
age which had previously been sacked
md here we found some rest. The
mayor aud two citizens of this village
lad been seized by the Germans and
AIKEN away under cavalry escort. Just
Why this had been done we were I'M
bile 10 find out. We did know. how
yer, that almost every town was
bllged 20 give hostages Most of the
attic we're taken along and large.
ierds were transported to the rear by
avalry.
We belonged TO the rear guards,
which explained why we were unable
o find anything 70 eat. There was alb
oluteiy nothing to the village where
re were now quartered. After half
n hour with our hunger still unap-
eased we resumed our march. After
fe had marched about three kilome-
ers we arrived Mt a spot which had
ormerly been blvouac. Advancing
rmies had camped here perhaps eight
avs before. Bread. which had been
lenuful then, lay strewn around on the
round. In spite OF its water-soaked
It had been gathered up and
aten with ravenous appetites. Moth
lg mattered how our stomachs were
lied IL only our hunger might be APP
eased.
Cro BE coNTINuED)