Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-08-09

II was evident that q wOman's han
had worked In this house, for every
thing was neat and coy. But all thI
order was still surpassed by the al
rangement In large room, which ap
parently had been inhabited by
young woman. We were almos
ashamed to enter the sanctuary. Tt
our establishment we saw hanging or
the wall opposite the door q picture
burned In wood and under 1t German
verse: Honor the women, they weave
a braid of heavenly roses In their
earthly life" (Schilier). The owner
apparently was young bride, for in
the wardrobe was q 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. impelIed 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 or the ethics and stand
ards OF civilized races.
The entire trousseau had been torn
from the drawers and 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
fugitiyes. 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 a Jew and spoke German.
When he Gained down a little he told
us that his store had contained mer- I
chandise worth more than 5000 francs.
Had the soldiers only taken what
they needed for themselyes,Y 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 a cup and saucer were
left In this mans house. He had
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
Such we're our instruc-
ions. In reality nothing was seen of
but by this method the
snmity toward the people living in the
owns along our line of march was
The Germans practiced
he theory that the soldiers fight bet
err and are more amenable to dis
ipllne when filed with hatred of their
The next day we were obliged to
march to Chalons-sur-Marne This
Tas one of the hardest days we ever
ad. From the very beginning, as we
egan our journey, the sun blazed
own upon us. 1t is about 80 kilome-
ers from Sulppes to Chalons-sur-
cen so bad. despite the heat: we had
lready made longer marches; but the n
eautiful road from Suippes to Chal-
rs goes with amending monotony with ~,
ut so much as curve or a bend to
ie right or left. AS far as we could
se IL stretched before us like a long
hite snake.
Many soldiers tainted or were strick- m
/ with sunstroke. They were picked r.
, by the infirmary columns which fol-
we'd That the troops who had trav- N,
sed this road before us had Jared ds
Drse was evident from the many dead n.
srmans who lay along the road The Oh
mmander feared that he could not
t the machine In motion again II 1t en-
rs halted. and permitted to stretch no
weary limbs on the ground for a
lief rest. And SO 1t crept along like CO
snail. Only. instead of having a
airs shell on its back, there was a
,den burden. Az
The monotony of the march was
oxen when we reached the enor- ac
'us camp at Chalons. This Is one Ar
the largest of the French army nm
nps. We saw Chalons from the dis du
ice. AS we halted about an hour
er outside the city In an orchard, NJ,
thout a single exception every man
TO the ground exhausted. The field 70,
chens were soon brought up, but the
n were too tired to eat. We did eat ba
er and then wanted to go to town TO co,
rchase some articles, particularly .
acco. which we missed most. No 90,
ly was allowed TO leave camp. We o.
re told that entering the city was .
city forbidden. Chalons had paid .
var contribution and therefore no =,
was permitted IN the city
We heard the dull sounds Of the
non in the distance and suspected {
t our rest would be brief The 49,,
ing OF gunfire continued to grow ~, ~
luror We ifJ NOT Epntv than bo4 49,