The citizen., 1918-09-19
CHAPTER VIII. sM
on Runner Service.

One night a man named Bartel and
I were detailed for runner service and
were instructed TO go TO Dixmude and
deliver certain dispatches TO a man
whom I will call the burgomaster and
report 10 the branch stan headquar-
ters that had been secretly located In
another part OF town. We were TO
travel In an automobile and keep a
sharp watch as we went. for Dixmude
was being contested hotiy at that time
and German patrols were In the neigh
borhood. No one knew exactly where
they would break out next.
so we started out from the third
line trenches. but very shortly one OF
our outposts stopped us. Bartel car
ried the dispatches and drove the car
too. so IL was up to me TO explain
things TO the sentries. They were
convinced after bit OF arguing. Just
as we were leaving a message came
over the phone from our commander.
telling them 20 hold US when We came.
II was lucky they stopped us. for 9th
erwise we would have been out OF
reach by the time his message came.
The commander told me. over the tele-
phone, that II French flag flew over
the town the coast would be clear; II
Belgian, that our forces were either
In control or were about 10 take over
the place but that Germans patrols
were near. After this we started
again.
When we had passed the last post
We kept-R- sharp- lookaut- -for-he tag
on the pole OF the old FISH market. fof
by this we would get our bearings
and perhaps. II II should be a German
nag. a timely warning. But after We
were down the road bit and had got
clear we saw Belgian flag whipping
around In good. strong breeze. But
while that showed that our troops or
the British were about 10 take over
the place II also indicated that the
Germans were somewhere near by.
Which was not so cheerful.
AS we went through the suburbs
along the canal which runs on the
edge OF the town we found that all
the houses were battered up. We
tried 10 hail several heads that stuck
themselves out OF the spaces between
buildings and stuck themselves back
Just as quickly. but We could not get
an answer. Finally we got hold of
q man who came out from a little
cafe.
He told us that the Germans had
been through the town and had shot
Il up considerably. killing and wound
ing q few Inhabitants, but that shortly
sftervard a small force Of Belgian
cavalry had arrived and driven the
Boches cut. The Germans were ex-
pected either TO return or begin bonn
bardment at any moment and all the
inhabitants who sported cellars were
hiding In them. The rest were trying
20 get out of town with their belong
ings as best they could.
On reaching our objective we made
straight for the Hotel de VILE. where
we were admitted and after short
walt taken 10 the burgomaster. We
questioned him as TO news. for We had
been instructed 10 pick up any infor-
nation he might have as TO conditions.
But we did not get much, for he could
not get about because OF the Germans.
who had made II a policy TO terrorize
the people OF the town.
We had just got into the car and
were about 10 start when the burgo-
master himself came running out He
ordered us TO leave the car there and
said he would direct US where 20 20.
He insisted that we go on foot, but l
could not understand when he tried
20 explain why.
We soon saw the probable reason
for the bureomasters refusal to- ride