The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-10-18
CHAPTER I.

I am Q German soldier. Naturally
u tie time when the war started We
"a not know that there wsuld BE- such
. war - 10 being waged today.
Daily we soldiers were told that
yance and Russia wanted to attack
- and that the kaiser was doing sv-
Gythins possible for our protection.
Already on July 20 We were armed to
tAs teeth and prepared to march away.
During these preparations. which
ahowed - all that war had to come.
- men Of my company deserted.
The government published. during
this time, bulletins almost hourly to
prepare the people for the war, q
Subterfuge that succeeded perfectly.
Consequently two days before war was
declared, the people were overwhelm-
ingiy for war. but they were certain
that 1t was only to BE- between Ger
many and France.
OF the Intervention Of Belgium,
Russia, England and Italy, the coun-
try had n little thought - It did Of
any participation Of the United States.
AL thought only Of the promenade to
Paris, which, to the disappointment Of
the people, and also, surely to the
disappointment Of the autocracy. has
been longer drawn out than had been
wished for.
In these days Of uncertainty the
soldiers, contrary to the cruel treat
ment which they had experienced be-
tore, were treated literally with great
quantities Of supplies. delicacies and
A.. - <h~< s,.n.< ~ thA aolNaara ~Aro
% drunk continuously that they were
anabls to realize the ssriousness OF
ehe situation.
And yet the majority Of the SOL
aiefs could not be enthused over the
var. They cheered and were snthu-
Aastic because they know 1t was the
srdsrs. On July 81. 1914. one day BE-
eore the declaration Of war, We left,
after being brought to war strength.
opr our garrison at Hains-am-Rheine.
Where the enemy toward which We
Were to point our bayonets was We
lad not the slightest idea. All We did
know was that We had to be trans
ported somewhere to protect the bor-
0W.
There were stirring times ~ W
started out. Tens Of thousands Of
people threw flowers at - and all
wanted to shake hands. All-even
soldlerscefied Many embraced their
wives o. young brides. The bands
paayed farewell songs and people
laughed aud cried all at the same
time. Strangsrs embraced and kissed
each other. "A veEitable witch's holi-
Aay" Of emotion was loosened and en-
ruled the populacs IKE storm. No
enc, not even the strongest, could ~
slst its powers. Yet even this was
surpassed BY the lsavetakins at the
Aspot, where last farewells had to b.
eaid. This scene will never leave mel
How desperately many women clung
% their men Many had to be forcibly
eomoved.
But this was at last done and then
We were placed In cattle cars. Night
came and We had no lights. The train
went slowly toward the Rhine. It
went smoothly enough. Our company,
which had had days Of great excite
0ent, welcomed the rsst that the jour.
neg afforded. Most Of the soldiers
dept with their knapGacks - pillows.
Others looked dreamily Into the fu-
tnre. Still others secretly pulled pic
euFes from their bseastpoekets and only
q vsry few killed time By discusslo0
and comment - thslF possible 6sgt-
uat1on.
sWhsee are W golAgr Tea
vAeeo1 No one 0sW. Then aftef
~odle0 hosrs, tAs t1ala stopped. We
were IN Duroa. WAT WeFe ~ tAoee
1WS We a ~ meW. n G0eoss
~n1v GAsuepo1 tAolR dDo110ssu - -
N1ss1saA