The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-07-05

order was still surpassed by the ar
rangement in large room, which APP
parently had been inhabited by a
young woman. We were almost
ashamed to enter the sanctuary. To
our establishment we saw hanging on
the wall opposite the door picture
burned I'm wood and under 1t German
verse: "Honor the women. they weave
braid of heavenly roses in their
earthly life" (Schiller). The owner
apparently was young bride, for In
the wardrobe was a trousseau, tied
with neat blue ribbons, carefully nut
away. All the wardrobe drawers lay
open. Nothing was touched here.
When we visited the same place TIE
next morning, impelled by some i'm
pulse, we found everything in that
house destroyed. Barbarans 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 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
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 a Jew and spoke German.
When he Gained down 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,
81 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
frank-tireurs." Such were our instruc-
lions. In reality nothing was seen Of
frank tireurs, but by this method the
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 their
enemies.
The next day we were obliged to
march to Chalons-sur-Marne. This
was one Of the hardest days we ever
had. From the very beginning, as we
began our journey. the sun blazed
down upon us. 1t is about 80 kilOme.
tiers from Suippes to Chalons-sur-
Marne. This distance would not have
been so bad. despite the heat; we had
already made longer marches; but the
beautiful road from Suippes to Chai
ons goes with unendlng monotony with.
out so much as a curve or a bend to
the right or left. As far as we could
see 1t stretched before us like long
white snake.
Many soldiers tainted or were strick-
en- with sunstroke. They were picked
up by the infirmary 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 IL 1t
was halted, and permitted to stretch
it's weary limbs on the ground for
brief rest. And so 1t crept along like
snail. Only, instead of having a
snail's shell on its back, there was O
leaden burden.
The monotony Of the march was
broken when we reached the enor.
nous camp at Chalons. This Is one
OF the largest OF Vne fTenCn ARMY
camps. We saw Chalons from the dis
lance. AS we halted about an hour
later outside the city I'm 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 to
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 peid
war contribution and therefore no
one was permitted in the city.
We heard the dull sounds Of the
cannon I'm the distance and suspected
that our rest would be brief. The
rolling of gunfire continued to grow
stronger. We did not know then that
a fight had begun which was destined
to,become fatal to the Germans.
The first days battle Of the Marne