The Nevada County picayune., 1918-10-03
CHAPTER X.

position gradually grew stronger, but without effect. Some houses caught fire Enemy cavalry patrols in strong force appeared and disappeared again. Everything became quiet. Within ten matters again became lively, as large hostile columns approached. We retired some distance without fir ing a shot. The artillery took a posi- tion behind village and began she'll ing the approaching enemy. A cavalry patrol galloped across an open field. the horses covered with foam. We heard the commander of the patrol tell a cavalry officer that the enemy were approaching from all sides. We quick ly left the village. The artillery re- mained and the cavalry detachments 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 serious reminder to us that the enemy kept right on our heels, a realization of which caused our retreat to become rout. The numbers who dropped ex- hausted constantly increased. It 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 forest which was filled with fueitlyes. Many of these had stretched some sort of cloth from tree to tree as protection from the rain. There they lay, men, women and children and old men. some in unspeakable mls- cry. This fugitiyes camp was spread over the forests to the edge of the road and as We passed We could see the furroWS woven into their faces by the terrible suiferings 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 enemys shrapnel continued to accompany us. Scarcely had we passed through the forest when shrapnel burst in 1t. AS a consequence camp of fugitiyes, 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 forbidding them the road, as their advance hin dered troop movements. The fugitives, therefore, were forced into the rain- soaked fields.
 Toward evening we reached a vil- lage which had previously been sacked and here we found some rest. The mayor and two citizens of this village had been seized by the Germans and taken away under cavalry escort Just why this had been done we were un- 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 ab- sQlutely nothing to the village where We were now duartered. After half an hour with our hunger still unap- peased we resumed our march After We had marched about three kilome- ters we arrived at spot which had formerly been q bivOuac. 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 rayenous appetites. Moth ing mattered how our stomachs were filled if only our hunger might be ap- peased.
 (T0 BE CoNTINUED.)