The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-09-27

the Germans so badly needed had been
taken from the kitchen. / walked up
stairs now with more confidence, feel
ing tolerably assured that the soldiers
hadn't been after me at all, but had
been merely collecting metal and
other materials which they expected
an elaborate dwelling house like the
one In which was concealed to yield.
Later l heard that the Germans have
taken practically every ounce Of brass,
copper and wool they could lay their
hands on in Belgium. Even the brass
out of pianos has been ruthlessly re-
moved, the serious damage done to
valuable property by the removal of
only an insignificant proportion Of
metal never being taken into consid-
Grafton. ! learned, too, that all dogs
over fourteen inches high had been
seized by the Germans. This furnished
lots Of speculation among the Belgians
as to what use the Germans were put
ting the animals to. the general Inn
preston apparently being that they
were being used for foodl
This, however, seemed much less
likely to me than that they were being
employed as dispatch dogs in the
trenches, the same as We use them on
our side Of the line. They might pos
sibly kill the dogs and use their skins
for leather and their carcasses for tai
low. but 1 feel quite sure that the
Huns are by no means so short Of food
that they have to eat dogs yet awhile.
Indeed, want to repeat here what
I have mentioned before; Ii anyone has
the idea that this war can be won by
starving the Huns, he hasn't the slight
est idea how well provided the Ger
mans are in that respect. They have
considered their food needs in connec-
ton with their resources for several
years to come and they have gone ut
it in such methodlcal, systematic
way, taking into consideration every
possible contingency, that provided
there is not an absolute crop failure
there isn't the slightest doubt in my
mind that they can last for years, and
the worst Of 1t is they are very cock
sure about 1t themselves.
It Is true that the German soldier!
want peace. AS l watched then
through the keyhole in the door
: thought how unfavorably they com
pared with our men. They marches
along the street without laughter. with
out joking, without singing. 1t wa
= quite apparent that the war is tellin
u on them. don't believe l saw singl
German soldier who didn't look as
he had lost his best friend-and b
probably had.
At the same time there is big dit
ference-certainly difference of sew
eral years-between wishing the wa
was over and giving up, and l don
: believe the German rank and file an.
more than their leaders have the slight
est Idea at this time Of giving up a
u all.
But to return to my experience
while concealed In the house. Aftel
4 the visit of the soldiers, which lief
:, the house in a wretched condition,
o decided that I would continue my jour
ney towards the frontier, particular.
as had gotten all l could out of Huy
Tiger, or rather he had gotten all h,
WIS SOluS 10 get out OF me.
During my cOncealment in the hous
l had made various sorties into tn
city at night, and / was beginning t
feel more comfortable even when Ger
man soldiers were about. Through
the keyhole 1 had studied YER
slovenly droop that characterized mos
of them, and their general appearance
and felt that in my own dirty and un
shaven condition / must have locke
. as much like the average poor Belgia
as a man could. The only thing tina
was against me was my height. l wa
: several inches taller than even til
tallest Belgians. | had often though
that red hair would have gone goo
with my name. but now. of course,
: was mighty glad that l was not S
endowed, for red-haired Belgians ar
about as rare as German charity.
There are many, no doubt, who wi
wonder why i did not get more hel
than | did at this time. 1t is easil
answered. When a man is In hourl
fear of his life and the country is flu
Of spies, as Belgium certainly was,
Is not going TO help just anyone thu
comes along seeking aid. One of II
Germans most successful ways of ira
ping the Belgians has been to pose {
an English or French prisoner who b,
escaped, appeal to them for aid, impl
cate as many as possible. and the
turn the whole German police for,
loose on them. AS / look back {
those days I think it remarkable TIL
I'd l received as much help as / did, b
when people are starving under II
conditions now forced upon those u
70 fortunate people, it is great tempt
I, ton to surrender these escaped pri
III oners to German authorities and +
ceive the handsome rewards offer,
ly for them-or for alien spies. as WI
IN classed at that time.