The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-07-25

as yet intact with all the rooms locked.
1t was evident that woman's hand
had worked In this house, for every
thing was neat and coy. But all this
order was still surpassed by the ar
rangement In large room. which APP
parently had been inhabited by q
young woman. We were almost
ashamed to enter the sanctuary. To
our establishment we saw hanging on
the wall opposite the door picture
burned in wood and under 1t German
verse: Honor the women. they weave
braid of heavenly roses In their
earthly life." (Schiller). The owner
apparently was a young bride, for In
the wardrobe was trousseau, tied
with neat blue ribbons. carefully put
away. All the wardrobe drawers lay
open. Nothing was touched here.
When we visited the same place the
next morning, impelled by some inn
pulse, we found everything In that
house destroyed. Barbarians had gone
through this home, and with bitter
ruthlessness had devastated every
thing, with every evidence of having
utterly cast off the ethics and stand
ards of civilized races.
The entire trousseau had been torn
from the drawers aud thrown partly
on the floor. Pictures, photographs.
mirrors, everything was In pieces. The
three of us who had entered the room
clenched our fists with impotent wrath.
We received orders to remain in
Suippes until further notice and the
next day witnessed the return of many
fugitives. They came in great throngs
from the direction Of Chalons-sur-
Marine. They found instead of the
peaceful homes they had left wretch
ed and deserted ruin. A furniture
dealer returned to his store, as we
stood In front Of his house. He broke
down when he viewed the remains of
his enterprise. Everything had been
taken away. We approached the man.
He was Jew and spoke German.
When he Gained down a little he told
us that his store had contained mer-
chandise worth more than 5000 francs.
"Had the soldiers only taken what
they needed for themselves" he said
II would be satisfied. for did not ex-
pect anything else. But never would
have believed of the Germans that
they would have destroyed everything
Not even q cup and saucer were
left in thiONman's house. He had a
wife and FIVE children. but had no Idea
Of what had become Of them. And
there were many more like him.
The following night. remaining in
Suippes. We were again obliged to camp
In the open because 1t swarmed with
ank-tireurs." Such were our instruc'
tons. In reality nothing was seen OF
frank -tireurs. but by this method this
enmity toward the people living In the
towns along our line Of march was
maintained. The Germans practiced
the theory that the soldiers fight bet
ter and are more amenable to dis
cipline when filled with hatred OF theil
enemies.
The next day We were Obliged tC
march to Chalons-surMarne. This
was one Of the hardest days we eveI
had. From the very beginning. as we
began our Journey. the sun blazet
down upon us. 1t Is about IS kilome
tiers from Sulppes to ChalOns-sur
Marne. This distance would not have
been 80 bad. despite the heat: We had
already made longer marches; but the
beautiful road from Suippes to Chal
ons goes with intending monot0ny with
out 40 much a. q curve or bend Il
the right or left. A far ~ we could
sec II stretched before Us like q Ions
white snake.
Many soldiers tainted or were strick
en- with eunstroke. They were picked
| up by the innrInary columns which fol
lowed. That the troops who had trav
ersed this road before US had Jared
worse was evident from the many dead
Germans who lay along the road. The
commander feared that he could not
get the machine In motion again II II
was halted. and permitted to stretch
Its weary limbs on the ground for q
brief rest. And no II crept along like
a snail. Only, instead Of having O
snail's shell on its back. there was a
leaden burden.
The monotony Of the march was
broken when we reached the enor
nous camp ut Chalons. This Is one
Of the largest Of the French army
camps. We saw Chalons from the dis
lance. As We halted about an hour
later outside the city In an orchard
without single exception every man
fell to the ground exhausted. The field
kitchens were soon brought up. but the
men were too tired to eat. We did eat
later and then wanted to go to town tc
purchase some articles, particularly
tobacco, which we missed most. No
body was allowed to leave camp. We
were told that entering the city was
strictly forbidden. Chalons had paid
q war contribution and therefore nc
one was permitted In the city.
We heard the dull sounds Of the
cannon In the distance and suspected
ewsk