St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-07-20

manned and the cavalry detaehments
occupied a position while the cannon
were trained on the enemy. Toward
noon %shrapnel shells again began
bursting over our heads, but they ex-
ploded too high in the air to do us any
damage. Yet this served as a serious
reminder to US that the enemy kept
right on our heels. a realization of
which caused our retreat to become a
rout The numbers who dropped ex-
hausted constantly increased. 1t was
impossible to render them any assist
ance, for there were no more wagons.
Many soldiers used their last atom
of strength to drag themselves to the
side of the road. Others fell where
they were marching to be crushed soon
afterward under the horses hoofs or
the wheels of any vehicle that might
pass. The road was streWn with
equipment thrown away by the sol
diers. Our ~detachments had long since
cast aside all unnecessary impedi-
menta.
In this way we proceeded until we
reached a forest which was filled with
fugitives. Many Of these had stretched
some sort of cloth from tree to tree
as a protection from the rain. There
they lay, men, women and children
and old men, some in ~unspeakable mis-
cry. This fugitiVes' camp was spread
over the forests to the edge Of the
road and 40 uyo pasSod ua aorJd 500
the burrows woven into their faces by
the terrible sufferings they had been
through. They looked at us with weary
and saddened eyes. The children
begged for bread, but we had none
for ourselves, even though we were
tortured by hunger. The enemy's
shrapnel continued to accompany us.
Scarcely had w passed through the
forest when shrapnel burst In 1t. AS q
consequence a camp Of fugitives, now
exposed to trench fire, was abandoned
and its numbers sought safety In the
open fields. Many tried to accompany
us until the order came f%orbidding
them the road, as their advance him
dered troop movements. The fugittves.
therefore, were forced into the rain
soaked fields.
Toward evening we reached a VII
lage which had previously been sacked
and here we found some rest. The
mayor and wi citizens of this village
had been seized by the Germans and
taken away under cavalry escort. Just
why this had been done we were IN
able to find out. We did know, how
ever, that almost every town was
obliged to give hostages. Most of the
cattle were taken along and large
herds were transported to the rear by
cavalry.
We belonged to the rear guards,
which explained why we were unable
to find anything to eat. There was alb
solutely nothing to the village where
we were 10Y quaftered. After half
an hour with our hunger still unap-
peased we resumed our march. After
we had marched about three kilome-
tiers we arrived at a spot which had
formerly been a bivouae. Advancing
armies had camped here perhaps eight
days before. Bread, which had been
plentiful then, lay strewn around on the
ground. In spite of its water-soaked
condition it had been gathered up and
eaten with appetites. Moth
ing mattered how our stomachs were
filed if only our hunger might be ap-
peased.
Night now came. yet no sleep nor
rest was in sight. No one knew how
much farther we would have to retire
before there would be a respite. The
unfamiliar surroundings indicated to
us that we were not returning over the
road which we had traversed when, as
vlctors, we marched to the Marine.
With this and similar thoughts, hour
after hour passed. Some of US ran
along, others actually walked in their
sleep. Our boots were filed with wa
ter, vet we had to keep on. Thus the
night passed.
The next morning troops OF the
main army were placed in the rear
guard. They formed long columns
which they opened to let us pass
through, after which they closed
ranks. We gave a sigh of relief. for
we were at last free Of hostile artil-
Iery fire. After marching about Ave
more hours, we joined a company OF
infantry which fortunately had saved
Its field kitchen. It was not quite
dark Wien we reached the village.
Here we were bilIeted in order to
get as much rest as possible. But we
all knew that we eoald rest only as
long as the rear guard was able to
keep back the enemy. We were placed 1
in the village school. Because Of the
shortage of provisions we were al
to use our timed supplies, but /
none Of US had any left. This consist
ed of some meat and bareback. It had
long since been eaten up and so we
were compelled TO lie dewn with u
hunger still unsatisfied.
CHAPTER H.