Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-08-08


naming battery of artillery had re-
duced the city to ashes.
The French had made a stand out
side the city and resisted to the ut
most, but they were outnumbered 1t
was simply impossible to resist the
pressure of the German war machine.
When the German columns, with fixed
bayonets, attacked to the accompani-
ment Of their blood-curdling yells
which, like their steel, penetrated to
the bone. they resembled in every re-
spect American Indians going into ac-
ton, fiinging themselves with blood
eurdling yells upon their enemies.
After three-hour fight many French
men gave themselves up as prisoners
With uplifted hands they sought
mercy.
At last, on the night of August %
and "a, the enemy's ranks were thrown
into confusion and they retired slowly
1 was in the first detachment which
pursued them. To the right and left
of the road, in the field and bitches,
were dead and wounded.
The red pantaloons of the French
showed brightly on the ground. The
field gray of the Germans could hardly
be discerned.
The distance between us and the re-
treating French became greater. Our
soldiers became happier over the out
come of the battle and seemed to for
get their past hardships. The corpses
which filed the roads and bitches were
forgotten amid the jokes and songs
on every side. The men were already
accustomed to the horrors of war to
such an extent that they unconcerned-
ly walked over the corpSes, not even
considering 1t necessary to make q
slight detour.
At noon we matted and We're served
with dinner from the field kitchens.
We were surely hungry enough and
our canned soup was eaten with the
utmost relish. Many soldiers set their
dishes on the bodies of dead horses
lying about and ate as gayly as If
they were at home at their own tables.
The few human cOrpses near our camp
failed to disturb US. Only water was
lacking, and after the dinner our thirst
became very acute. even torturous.
We soon marched on, under a burn
ing midday sun, the dust of the high
way lying thick on our uniforms and
skin. Now, no more cheerfulness was
evident anywhere. Our thirst became
more unbearable and we grew weaker
from minute to minute. Many in our
ranks fell, unable to go further. Moth
ing remained for our commander ex-
cept to halt, as he did not wish to ex-
haust US all. As a result of this halt
we were left considerably in the rear
and lost our place among those pursu-
ing the French.
About four o'clock we finally saw
before us village. In the certain ex-
pectation Of getting water there we
quickened our pace Fugitives and
empty munition columns passed us.
Among them there was farm wagon
upon which were several civilian pris-
oners, apparently franc-tireurs.
Catholic priest was among them He.
. like the others, had his hands tied be
hind him with a rope. To our curious
questions as to what he had done, we
were told that he had melted the
farmers to poison the water in the
village.
Soon we reached the village and atthe
6rst well at which we might have salts
fed our thirst we found sentinel
posted. He drove us away with
warning that the water was poisoned
Disappointed and terribly embit-
their teeth. They hurried on to the
next well, but everywhere sentineis
forbade our taking refreshment.
In an open space in the center Of
the village was big well from which
there came water clear as crystal that
emptied into a big trough Five SOL
diers stood guard here to see that no
one drank. 1 was just about to pro-
coed with my comrades when large
part tf my company threw themselves
like men possessed onto the we'll The
guards were completely overcome and,
greedy as animals, all the men drank
They quenched their thirst. but not
one became i'll. The priest, as we
learned later, was punished because.
the officers said. the water In every
village had been poisoned. and We
were told that only by a happy chance
had the lives of our soldiers been
spared The God Of the Germans hsd