The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-12-28
LILLE NSSIvC
ORGY P|CTU RED
BY YANK WRITER
Pretty Maidens Lead in 0scuIa-
ton as Correspondents
Enter City.
PEOPLE ARE MAD WITH Joy
u~siIrious Women Surround Newspa'
per Men, Among First to Enter
Freed City, and Smother Them
With kisses-Meant as an
Outburst of Gratitude
to British.
BY GEORGE J. G We.

to British.
BY GEORGE 7. EYE.
American Headquarters, British
Eront.-In the early morning we set
out Over the south route into Lille by
way Of MerviIle, Estairs and La Bas-
see. There was a heavy mist that
would have prevented any distant
view. but luckily we pressed on. We
came across some balloon observers
who had descended because they could
zee nothing.
Artillery was moving forward, an
encouraging sign. Racing ,Dn yer the
fine cobblestone La Bassee road We
slowed up through a little village and
saw q brigade headquarters In the
methodic military act OF movings
"We're going On to Loos,'' a major
said He had heard nothing Of Lille
beyond a report that Britt sh patrols
had established themselv,s IS beyond
the city.
willing 70 Take Any Chance.
Our map showed Loos to be a sub
urb Immediately connected with Lille,
and we hurried on In great expecta-
tion. A military order forhidding en-
try by troops would not apply to corr
respondents. We were rous ed enough
to declare we would swim canals and
walk miles for the chance to pene-
trate frances fifth metropolis even II
we had to dodge enemy outI,osts.
The British engineers alre ady had a
pontoon bridge across the canal mt
Haubuordin, and at indiscreet speed
~ clattered over It. There were some
shouting. crying people Of Harbour
din who wanted to Chamber q board the
car, but we wouldn't stop.
BY following street car tracks we
reached Loos In q few minutes and
had the nrst taste Of what " as to fol-
low. W. slowed down to inquire d.
rections, and q mob seemed to rise
magically In the street. Poop lie fought
to reach rs and then climbed over the
back and sides Of the car to embrace
and kiss us, crying continually "Hur-
rah for the English I" to which we
could only respond in French, "Good
dayl Good dayr
Boys Lead klssIng SOUND.
Some little boys managed ii squirm
into the back Of the car. and, stand
ing on our typewriters, gas masks and
uneaten lunch, tried for a monopoly Of
the kissing for a minute until we
pushed them out. Our hands were
seixed and kissed.
The Tommy driving us was half
pulled from his seat by a historical
old lady who cuddled him ais IL he
were I baby and cried: my de Ear Eng
iish boy" He had to wipe her tears
nom his face when she released him.
And the I'll was kissed.
Please. please. We must hurry into
Lille. Which way, pleaser"
One tragically happy girl, whom I
had 70 seize by the shoulders to keep
her away from me, finally pointed up
the road and said: straight away.
There are no boches in Lille. They
have gone"
she was still talking when the driver
f~rantically twisted his klaxon and we
began to pillow through the jam, which
had collected far ahead OF us.
! We finally backed onto a circuitous
rad which led up to the Port des
Poetes. the southern gate to Lille.
Here we were to leave the British
captain, also the driver and car. and
ekercise . civilian privilege Of en-
tering the city.
Lille had had no notice Of German
evacuation beyond the terrific explo.
sions 1t six o'clock that morning when
the bridges were blown up. Many SOL
diers had been moved from their bill.
lets IN Lille homes. However, lt had
been the experience Of four years to
have the city alternately filled with
Germans then suddenly emlptied.
When the explosions had brought the
people into the streets they were i'm
pressed by the complete disappear
ance Of the enemy. About nine O'Clock
. brave soul went into the headquar-
ters of the kommandantur in the large
building ct the prefecture of police
and found Il vacated.
Dritlsh Flyers Over City.
British airplanes began to DIV low
over the city, but not a British Tom
my was IN sight.
After tense minutes Of anxious wait
Ing three things happened. CT arles
Delasolle. Jr., q French aviator and
. of the mayor Of Lille, aew oyer
froo Dunkirk and lighted on the
Champs de Mars. Two corresponl Tents
Of tie Petit Parisien and lie Matin of
Paris trudged. after a long walk,
Through the Armentieres gate into
AAue. adellett and ! entered the Port
~ POetes. Who was first prob ABLY
win never be settled, nor is It at all
lmportant that 1t should be settled, ..
1ept 70 the entrants.
g We were beaten by a few minutes,
w1lch We dispute, we know we had
~ only parade, q procession that
went through the heart Of the city,
covered ) mile, lasted an hour and In.