The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-01

order he received was hard to make
out and that he had lost his presence
of mind and threw in the switch.
thereby killing thousands on the bridge
and leaving many other thousands to
the mercy of the enemy.
Before there was time for moro i'm
pressions our entire unit was ordered
to Vitry to be assembled in front of
the cathedral. With sigh of relief
we hurried away. for the French ar
tillery began once more to send shells
with much accuracy over the e. re,
countryside. Wounded men from other
sdetachments whom we passed on the
road told us that the French had al
ready crossed the Marine in several
different places. Everyone among us
voiced the same opinion. We had al
ready sustained great losses on Bel
gian soil and each day brought new
sacrifices Our lines became thinner
and thinner. Many companies were
entirely destroyed and all units suf
fered heavily. These companies whose
forces had been reduced to a minimum
and with the survivors half starved
were opposed by an army well
equipped with supplies and arms. The
enemy constantly brought up fresh
troops while our forces became fewer
from hour to hour. We realized that
It was impossible to make stand
here. We We're constantly learning
from soldiers Of other contingents that
their losses in men and materials were
enormous.
thought Of the God of the Ger
mans. Had he forsaken them?
thought IT SO loud that the others
could hear.
Yes said another, whom the
Lord wishes to punish is first stricken
with blindness. Probably he thought
of Belgium, Donchery, Sommepy and
Suipnes, and still many other places
and let us run into this perdition like
flying fiends."
We reached Vitry. Here the misery
seemed to be still greater than ever
before, for in the entire town there
was not a single house that was not
overcrowded with wounded. In the
midst Of all this misery robbery -four
ished. All residences had been emp
tied of their furnishings and every
thing was thrown into the streets to
make room for the wounded
The sanitary squads went over the
town and took everything Of any value.
The nlunition and railroad columns
followed the same practice. They had
plenty Of room for plumber. This was
amply proven by numerous seizures
afterward Of parcels put in the mail,
which contained gold rings, watches
precious stones. etc. The business OF
the marauders fiourished here in Vitry
The soldiers in the supply columns en-
co,ntercd very little actual danger
they had an easy time as compared
with soldiers fighting at the front.
We soon reached the cathedral and
reported to Lieutenant Elm. He also
had defended his fatherland at safe
distance and here in the city, freshly
shaved and in immaculate attire he
looked very presentable.
The contrast was vivid as he stood
before US who were torn, dirty and GOV.
cred with blood, with unkenpt hair
with boards grown and caked with
mud and dirt
We were obliged to wait so we sal
down and looked around us. The
church was full Of wounded; many
died under the hands Of the doctors
They We're carried out to make room
for others. The dead were carried to
one side, where whole rows Of corpscs
lay. We counted more than sixty.
On our way to Vitry we had begged
some bread. but we We're still hungry
and our field kitchens were nowhere II
sight. The crews of our field kitchens
as well rs our forage officers and non
commissioned officers prefer to defend
their fatherland many kilometers be
hind the battle fronts. They did moi
care about US as long as they were
not obliged to go within range Of the
artillery fire. Comradeship has Its
limitations with them.
Other field kitchens were near BY
They had prepared more food than
their companies needed. Many fol-
whom they had cooked will never eat
again. We were invited to come and
get whatever we wanted.
We had scarcely finished eating
when we had to march on. Presently
we were joined by more members 81
our company. Our captain appeared
One of our officers reported to him the
number missing. He stepped in front
of the company and said cheerfully
"Good morning, men," although it was
seven o'clock in the evening. A growl
was the only response. We were then
ordered to 60 to the wagons standing
at the north side of the town, where
each man was to supply himself with
cartridges and three hand grenades
We gathered at the wagons at 9:30
o'clock and each man took 500 car
tridges. his three grenades and matches
" iis,iiS tHCA. VII Tie way ~ TIE Wig
Ons we saw everywhere formations be
ing hastily organized from stray sol
diers and we received the impression
of some great activity in preparation.
The rain had begun to fall In tor.
rents. AS we took our places we saw
the streets filled with troops wearing
special uniforms to protect them
against the weather These uniforms
consisted Of a suit Of weatherprOof
clothing. a cap, such baggage as must
be taken on march, tent cloth. tent
sticks, dishes and, with the pioneers