The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-10-10


taken from the kitchen. I walked up
stairs now with more confidence. feel
ing tolerably assured that the soldiers
hadn't been after me Mt all. but had
been merely collecting metal and
other materials which they expected
an elaborate dwelling house like the
one In which was concealed to yield.
Later heard that the Germans have
taken practically every ounce Of brass.
copper and wool they could lay their
hands on In Belgium. Even the brass
out OF pianos has been ruthlessly re-
moved. the serious damage done to
valuable property by the removal Of
only an Insignificant proportion Of
metal never being taken into consld-
Grafton. learned. too. that all dogs
over fourteen inches high had been
seized by the Germans. This furnished
lots Of speculation among the Belglans
as to- what use the Germans were put
ting the animals to, the general Inn
preston apparently being that they
were being used for food!
This, however. seemed much less
likely TO me than that they were being
employed us dispatch dogs In the
trenches. the same as we use them on
our side of the line. They might pos
sibly kill the dogs and use their skins
for leather and their cnrcnsses for tal-
low. but I feel quite sure that the
Huns are by no means SO short Of food
that they have to eat dogs yet awhile.
Indeed. want to repeat here what
have mentioned before; II anyone has
the idea that this war can be won by
starving the Huns. he hasn't the slight
est idea how well provided the Ger.
mans are In that respect. They have
considered their food needs In connec'
ton with their resources for several
years to come and they have gone ai
, II in such q methodicnl, systematic
way. taking into consideration every
possible contingency. that provided
, there Is not an absolute crop failure
there isn't the slightest doubt In my
mind that they can last for years. and
the worst OF II Is they are very cock
sure about It themselves.
It is true that the German soldieri
want peace. As watched then
. through. the keyhole In the door
) thought how unfavorably they com
pared with our men. They marches
along the street without laughter. with
out joking. without singing. 1t wa
quite apparent that the war IL tellin
on them. don't believe saw q singl
German soldier who didn't look as
;. he hal lost his best friend-and b
U probably had.
At the same time there IL big dii
= ference-certalnly a difference OF se,
= eral years-between wishing the wa
u was over and giving up. and l don
: believe the German rQnk and file an
o more than their leaders have the sligh
i est idea at this time Of giving up
II all.
y But to return 10 my experienc
while concealed in the house. Afte
Ell the visit of the soldiers, which lei
I. the house In q wretched condition.
n decided that would continue my jou
ney towards the frontier. particular
a. ! had gotten all could out Of Hu!
\ Tiger. or rather he had gotten al
was going to get out Of me.
During my concenlment In the hour
I Ind made various sorties into Ii
! city at night. and I was beginning
! feel more comfortable even when Ge
: man soldiers were about. Throua
the keyhole had studied vel
: closely the gait of the Belgians. Il
sl0venly droop that characterized mo
Of them. and their general appearance
: and felt that In my own dirty and III
shaven condition ! must have iooks
!, as much like the average poor Belgia
as man could. The only thing tn,
was against me was my height. W,
: several inches taller than even Il
tallest Belgians. I had often thougl
; that red hdir would have gone goe
with my name, but now, Of course.
: was mighty glad that I wns not
endowed. for red-haired Belgians q
about as rare as German charity.
There are many. no tIcubt. who vi
wonder why did not get more he
than did ut this time. It Is easi
answered. When a man Is In hour
fear Of his life and the country Is ~
|
Of spies. as Belgium certainly was.
Is not going to help just anyone tn
comes along seeking aid. One Of Il
Germans most successful ways of ira
ping the Belglans has been to pose
an English or French prisoner who h'
escaped. appeal to them for aid, Imp
cate as many as possible. ard thu
turn the whole German police for
loose on them. AZ look back I
those days ! think It remarkable tn
ID I received as much help as did. b
when people are starving under d
conditions now forced upon those U
10 fortunate people. II Ii q great ten pt
Al ton to surrender these escaped pr
AZ oners to German authorities and I
ceive the handsome rewards offer
10 <np thav,s-nr (cp allan uvioS II xv