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

The same evening we were trans
ported Ia automobiles and on the eve
ming Of August 20. 1914, We reached
our detachment. which was about 81
miles from the Belgian city or Neuve
Chateau. The regiment TO which ! be-
iongod did not take part In any opern-
lions after The fail OF Llege, but was
transported 10 This part Of Belgium.
Now ! learn for the first time how
heavy was the loss Ia NY company In
the Ilege fighting. We lost 1877 men In
dead and wounded.
This Night We slept Ia mn open field
Al FIVE o'clock the next morning we
marched again until four O'Clock In
the afternoon. when we were given
rest
II was about ten o'clock In the eve
ming when We received orders to adj
vance. We were all ready 10 proceed
when another order came for US 10 re-
main az our blvounc overnight Dur
Ing the night We heard laundering OF
cannon which became more violent.
The battle OF Neuve Chateau. which
had continued from August - to Au-
guAt "a. 1914 had begun.
AZ four o'clock on the morning OF
August p We resumed our march. AT
Ncuve Chateau the French army had
encountered the Fourth German army.
First there was, as always. minor out
post aud patrol lighting. by and by
larger masses OF troops participated
aud as We took our part Ia the battle
on the evening OF August -. the Tight
had developed into one OF the most
saaguinary OF the world war
When We arrived the French oecu-
pied almost threeq quarters OF the town.
The artillery had set the main part OF |
Neuse Chateau on lire aud only the /
beautiful residence section in the west
srn part OF the city escaped Mt. that
time. An night long the house-to-
house fighting continued. but when at
noon Of August % the city was in Ger
man hands the enormous cost to the
Germans could finally be determined.
Residences, cellars, streets and side
walks were heaped with dead and
wounded. The houses were la ruins
empty shells. In which hardly anything
remained unchanged that was OF any
real value. Thousands became beg
gars In one terrible night. Women and
children. soldiers and citizens were ~
Ing where the pitilesS shells and bui-
let's had hurled them from life into
deaths dark void. True lmpartiaiity
reigncd IN the killing There was a
Belgian woman lying next TO Beiglan
baby which she had borne from house
~ street. Close by lay a man OF un-
certain years before an empty house.
Both his legs were burned TO the
knees. His wife lny on his breast and
sobbed so plsifully that her grief could
not be endured. Most OF the dead
we're entirely OF partly burned The
tries Of agony Of the animals lighting /
ncincratipn ~es' mixed with the ,
fsoans and sobblug of the wounded.
But no one had time 20 bother with !
hem. The French were making am I
,ther stand outside the city Ia an open I
ield. As the enemy vacated the town !
he Germans made an error which cost !
hem hundreds Of likes. They had oe- \
'upied the entire town SO quickly that ,
he German artillery which shelied q {
art Of the city ma not know OF The '
.hauge IN the situation aud threw
bell, into The ranks Of the infantry II
finally our soldiers we're compelled 20 4
i've W some OF their gains hy the 4
PRESSURE Of our own as well as the v
Trench IRE. but regained this ground
fterwards. Strangely enough. the I,
residence sestion previously mentioned 4
'ad not suffered seriously All the n
Iouses flew the Red Cross and were 4
sef as temporary hospitals.
Here II was reported that Beigians Il
,utllated German soldiers Whether Ii
bis we're true. or onls ramor, slmllar e
o others Being constantly started hy Il
sorsEaD soldiers. | cannot say, but o
10 know that on August "a. after the G
french had retired. II was made o
nown through an army order that II
;eunan soldiers had been murdered z
here. and that the German army could 4
lot leave the scene OF these outrages I
Without frat avenging the victims. o
y was ordered by the commander Il
4 the army to level the remainder OF Il
he city and to show no mercy As we v
ook q short rest from our pursuit OF v
he enemy and looked backward clouds b
Il smoke 70 the eastward showed that o.