Tombstone epitaph., 1918-08-25

;hs buttons of their uniforms and their weapons indicated 10 us 10 which side they had belonged.
 In some cases. there were not even these vestiges. Only a little heap of ashes within the ruins of house. was nll that was left of whole families for whole streets. During the search most of us behaved as II we had not taken part in the terrible events of the last hour. as If we had not seen ihe hor. TOTS of this encounter and as if we had forgotten entirely the danger We had just escaped.
 AS 10 honoring the dead. something which had been taught us by our rnolh- CTS from infancy. or fear whic. inc average person feels toward body. there was no sign. My pen would halk " tried to recall the expressions. fo de>crihe the acts soldiers as well as Of. hc"rs committed to determine The na- tionality or sex of the ce;u In the meantime. the battle between our troops and rhe French h.d reached a climax. oug troops had suffered great losses hN now our rurn caiae
 The German artillery shellet, as we crossed the eueiuys position with great fury. Our artillery succeeded in si!sncinc the enemy'S ha iterieS and we tried to take his high positions by storm
 When we were wi'i;in zoo meters of 'hr ene;ny's Jefen>..s the French ma chit'e guns were turned upon us and We were driven back with enormous losses
 Ten minutes later we s,orned a se'ofri time and had 10 retire again with great losses. We again formed for a'tack within the shelter of our trenches. hu' ihe fighting spirit was gone. f:ui we dared nn' lose courage. altig,uct the viciiins of our useless srorminc attacks covered the field and we were able to look al our dead com fud.-> sii nrou, us
 1i'- artillery started ap again; re- cni"rceineuI> arrived; aT:er half an hour. VIC s;urln.d a ;h!rd time. ovs.s 'he hu1.ic> q; oCr fa'iea comrades. As We halted about 70 meters from the ens'9.yS trcnch hc withdrew his en- tiT- first line. S"on after We saw the Germans advance sk"n- Ihe whole line. The reason for th:> GI.Aj.Sted retreat was eNplain'~! inter when VIC learned that Ike main IsarI of He French army had retired some time t..f.r.. The heavy toll of life a'nou: our comrades was taken in 2 mere rear-cuart action.
 During the next hour inc enemy abandoned al the heights of the Meu--s. As We res.cloG Iii. crest of these heights. we could easily over look fhe roads over which the French had retreats-i. They were departing in ciose formation. in ionc columns our company and others received orders to assemble and soon we pursued tie fleeing enemy. ft wa,, o-r work "a r.- fiair roads wh.ci; Lad aeen destroyed so that they would te paSsatle for our armies, d task that was harder in the hrrniT- midday sun. owing to th. fact that the dcnd and wnunds-d had first to ne disposed of
 The dead bodies were seized by two ilt'4a 'll' lA tal' tat tIIIfE dt 'he feet. and thrown mo the ditch. CnrT-ses were handled oxactIy as was ;i l-':irG io he used r7l building q bridge. Legs and arms were tossed likewise into the ditch. Dead horses and dam aged batteries had to ne removed We wer. not strong enough io remove dead horses. We managed ic capture q horse ..-,, xt him tn tine carcasses. Co-USes hanging in the trees were left there. No one cared anything about them.
 Capte.ns and knapsacas Of the dead were searched for food and drink and whatever we found was eaten with the greatest relish.
 French soldiers wno had died of sunsirOse covered the road Others crnwled io right and left of the road and waited there for relief or death. We did not dare 10 help them. The order was 10 advance and We had to march en and on. The captain told us we had to pursue inc fleeing enemy with all our strength and much dis content vas manifest on receipt of this order.
 After being on our feet day and nigh:. staying like harbaria taking no time to eat or rest. we continued 10 receive commands to maintain the pur- suit with all haste. The captain un- ders;Ocd how We felt and tried to ;acify us by friendly conversation.
 TO be Continued