The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-05-23

as large hostile columns approached
We retired some distance without FIR
ing a shot. The artillery took a posi-
don behind a village and began she'll
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
q cavalry officer that the enemy were
approaching from all sides. We quick
" left the village. The artillery re-
--------
mained and the cavalry detachments
occupied a 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 q serious
reminder to us that the enemy kept
which caused our retreat to become a
rout. The numbers who dropped ex-
hausted constantly increased. 1t was
impossible to render them any assist
ance, for there were no more wagons.
Many soldiers used their last atom
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
equipment thrown away by the sol
diers. Our detachments had long since
cast aside all unnecessary impedi-
menta.
In this way we proceeded until we
reached 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
through. They looked at us with weary
and saddened eyes. The children
begged for bread but we had none
for ourselves, even though we were
tortured by hunger. The enemys
shrapnel continued to accompany u.s.
Scarcely had We passed through the
forest when shrapnel burst in 1t. AS
consequence camp of fugitives, now
exposed to trench fire, was abandoned
and its numbers sought safety In the
open fields. Many tried to accompany
us until the order came forbidding
them the road, as their advance him
dered troop movements. The fugitives,
therefore, were forced into the rain
soaked fields.
Toward evening we reached a vii
lage which had previously been sacked
and here we found some rest. The
mayor and two citizens Of this village
had been seized by the Germans and
taken away under cavalry escort. Just
why this had been done we were I'M
able to find out. We did know, how
ever, that almost every town was
obliged to give hostages. Most Of the
| Suttic NcIc thhcu uiOuS anu ioi D.
herds were transported to the rear b!
cavalry.
We belonged to the rear guards
which explained why we were unable
to find anything to eat. There was alb
solutely nothing to the village wher,
we were now Quartered. After hal
an hour with our hunger still unap
peased we resumed our march. Afte
we had marched about three kilome
tiers we arrived at a spot which ha'
formerly been a bivouac. Advancin
armies had camped here perhaps eigh
days before. Bread, which had beel
plentiful then, lay strewn around on tn
ground. In spite Of its water-soake'
condition It had been gathered up AM
eaten with raYenous apnetites- MOLD