The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-06

were tlalHeu on Ine enemy. IOWaru
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, Il realization of
which caused our retreat to become u
rOut. The numbers who dropped ex-
! hausted constantly increased. 1t was
impossible to render them any assist
ance, for there We're 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 detachnents had long since
cast aside all unnecessary impede
menta.
In this way we proceeded until we
reached forest which was filled with
fugitives Many of these had stretched
as protection from the rain. There
they lay, men. women and children
and old men, some in unspeakabIe mis-
| cry. This fusitives' camp was spread
over the forests to the edge of the
road and as we passed we could see
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 We're
tortured by hunger. The enemy's
shrapnel continued to accompany us.
Scarcely had we passed through the
forest when shrapnel burst in it, AS
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 forbidding
them the road, as their advance him
dered troop movements. The fugitives.
therefore, We're 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 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 I'M |
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 b. |
cavalry.
We belonged to the rear guards,
which explained why We were unable
to flnd anything to eat. There was ab- /
solutely nothing to the village where
we were now quartered. After half
an hour with our hunger still unap-
peasel we resumed our march. After
we had marched about three kilome-
tiers we arrived at spot which had
formerly been hivouac. 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 ravenous appetites. Moth
ing mattered how our StOlnachs We're
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 fertilizer we would have to retire
before there would be respite. The
SURROUNDINGS indicated to
us that we We're not returning over the
road which we had :.aversed when, as
victorS, we marched to the Marne
With this and similar thoughts, hour
after hour passed. Some of us ran
along, others actually walked in their
sleep. Our boots We're filled with wa
ter yet 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 sigh of relief, for
we were at last free of hostile artii-
lery fire. After marching about five
more hours, we Joined company Of
Infantry which fortunately had saved
its field kitchen. It was not quite
dark when we reached the village.
Here We were billeted in order to
get as much rest as possible. But we
all knew that we could rest only as
long as the rear guard was able to
keep back the enemy. We were placed
In the village school. Because Of the
Of provisions we were al
lowed to use our timed supplies. bat
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 down with our
hunger still unsatisf1ed.