The Dermott news., 1918-06-13
CHAPTER l..

l am German soldier. Naturally
at the time when the war started we
did not know that there would be such
q war rs is being waged today.
=, Daily we soldiers were told that
Hrance and Russia wanted 10 attack
us and that the kaiser WAS doing ev-
.&rything possible for our protection.
Already on July 20 We were armed TO
the teeth and prepared to march away
During these preparations. which
showed us all that war had to come
is men Of my company deserted
The government published, during
this time. bulletins almost hourly To
prepare the people Tor the war,
suhterfuge that succeeded perfectly
Consequently two days before war was
declared. the people We're oyerwhelm-
ingly for war. but they We're certain
that il was only IL be between Ger
many and France.
or the intervention Of Belgium,
Russia. England and Italy, the coun-
try had rs little thought as II did OF
any participation of the United States.
All thought only OF the promenade 10
Paris. which. Ia the disappointment of
the people, aud also. surely 10 the
disappointment OF the autocracy. has
been longer drawn out than had been
~yhed for
In these days OF uncertainty the
soldiers contrary tn the cruel treat
ment which they had experienced be
fore. were treated literally with great
quantities of supplies, delicacies and
beer. so that most of the soldiers We're
- drunk continuously that they were
unable 10 realize the seriousness Of
the situation.
Aud yet the majority of the sol
diers could not be enthuSed over the
war. They chcered and We're enthu-
siastic because they knew ii MAS the
orders. On July II, 1914 one day be-
fore the declaration OF war. we left,
after being brought to war strength,
Tor our garrison ut MalnZ-am- Rheine.
Where the enemy toward which we
were 10 point our bayonets was we
had not the slightest idea. All we did
know was that we had to be trans
ported somewhere 10 protect the Dor
der.
There were stirring times as we
started out. Tens of thousands Of
people threw flowers at US and all
wanted To shake hands. All-eyen
soldiers--cried Many embraced their
y1yes or young brides. The bands
played farewell songs and people
laughed and cried all ut the same
yme. Strangers embraced and kissed
~. "a other. "A veritable witch's holi-
day" of emotion was loosened and en-
quilted the populace like storm. No
one. not even the strongest, could re-
sist its powers. Yet even this was
surpassed by the devastating at the
depot, where last farewells had to he
said. This scene will never leave me
How desperately many women chung
TO their men! Many had 10 be forcibly
removed.
But this was NJ last done aud then
we were placed In cattle ears. Night
came aud we had no lights The train
went slowly toward the Rhine. ii
went smoothly enough. our company.
which had had days Of great excite
ment. WetColh@u tn" rest thht thc 3"ht-
ney afforded Most of the soldiers
slept with their knapsaeks as pillows.
Others looked draumily into the fu'
ture. Still others secretly pulled pic
lures from their breastpecketS and only
q very few killed time by discussion
comment on their possible desti-
: Aion.
.where are We golng7" Yes.
, wherel No ole knew. Then after
endless hours, the train STOPPED. We
we're In Duren. What were we there
forf We did not know. The officers
only shrugged their shoulders at our
questions.