Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-07-12


duced the city to ashes.
The French had made stand out
side the city and resisted to the ut
most, but they were outnumbered. L
was simply impossible to resist tn.
pressure OF the German war machine
When the German columns, with fxet
bay0ncts attacked 10 the accompanl
ment OF their blood .curdllng yells
which, like their steel. penetrated 10
the bone, they resembled In every re
spect American Indians going into nc.
lion. Ringing themselves with blood
curdiing yells upon their enemies.
After three-hour fight many French
men gave themselves up AZ prisoners.
With uplIfted hands they sought
mercy.
AT last, on the night OF August 20
and "a. the enemys ranks were thrown
into confusion and they retired slowly.
was In the first detachment which
pursued them. 70 the right and left
OF the road In the field and bitches.
were dead and wounded.
The red pantaioons of the French
showed brightly on the ground. The
field gray OF the Germans could hardly
be discerned.
The distance between us and the re-
treating French became greater. our
soldiers became happier over the out
come OF The battle and seemed to for
get their past hardships. The corpses
which filled the roads and bitches were
forgotten amid the Jokes and songs
on every side. The men were alreadv
accustomed to the horrors of war to
such an extent that they unconcerned-
~ walked over the corpses. not even
considering II necessary TO make a
slight detour.
Al noon we matted and were served
with dinner from the field Kitchens.
We were surely hungry enough and
our canned soup was eaten with the
utmost relish. Many soldiers set their
dishes ON the bodies OF dead horses
lying about and ate rs gayly az II |
they were at home az their own tables. |
The few human corpses near our camp |
failed TO disturb u.s. Only water was
lacking, and after the dinner our thirst
became very acute. even torturous.
We soon marched on. under burn
Ing midday sun. the dust OF the high
way lying thick on our uniforms and
skin. Now. no more cheerfulness was
evident anywhere. Our thirst became
more unbearable and we grew weaker
from minute 10 minute. Many In our
ranks fell. unable 20 20 further. Moth
Ing remained for our commander ex-
sept 70 halt as he did not wish to ex-
hnust US all. AS result OF this halt
Ne We're left considerably In the rear
md lost our place among those pursu-
NIX the French.
About four O'Clock we finally saw
before us village In the certain ex-
recitation OF getting water there we
luckened our pace. Fugitiyes and
'mp,y munition columns passed us.
,mong them there was farm wagon
lpon which were several civilian pris-
ners. apparently franc-tireurs. A
'atholic priest was among them. He.
Ike the others. had his hands tied be-
iud him with a rope. To our curious
uestions rs 10 what he had done. we
gere told that he had melted the
armers TO poison the water In the
illage.
Soon we reached the village and atth
ri well az which we might have salts +
ed our thirst we found a sentinel :
osted. He drove us away with 4
'nrning that the water was poisoned. h
Disappointed aud terribly embit- 4
red. the soldiers cursed and CRASHED 4
heir teeth. They hurried on TO the n
ext well. but everywhere sentinels I /
,rbade our taking refreshment. v
In an open space in the center OF 4
le village was a big well from which II
here came water clear as crystal that
implied into big trough. Five sol 4
lers stood guard here 10 see that no II
ne drank | was just about TO pro- II
Fed With my comrades when large II
art Vf my company threw themselves II
Ike men possessed onto the well, The II
yards were completely overcome and. II
reedy as animals, all the men drank. II
hey quenched their thirst, but not ii
ne became Ill. The priest, as we II
armed later. WAS punished because, II
lie officers said, the water In every L
lllage had been poisoned. and we
ere told that only By happy chance
ad the lives Of our soldiers been
pared. The God Of the Germans had | e.