The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-08-15

town, once lively country settlement.
was now as calm as q graveyard. In
this town, which had a population be-
fore the war of 1900 souls, more than
40 had been killed and many others
crippled. Food was very high with lit
tie to be had.
There was no enthusiasm for the war
manifest anywhere. The people were
downhearted, stunned.
It was the same In other cities. The
longing for peace was universal yet no
one talked Of peace or expressed the
desire for It.
One word spoken. which displeased
the autocratic government, merited the
severest punishment. That is how 1t Is
to be explained that the German peo-
pie cannot force the Hohcnzollerns into
peace because the government with
assistance of the military, smothered
every expression of peace with blood,
even at that early date.
The present Prussian government
will slaughter any German citizen to
further Its own interests in the same
way that It attacked the innocent pop
ulation Of Belgium without regard.
With a clean conscience and clean
hands!
"Gott strafe England. Err list strafe
es!"
Going through the streets this was
heard right and left as a comment and
reply.
To me, fresh from the front, this
kind of greeting was unknown.
Presently learned the reason Of
this modern form Of salutation. The
hatred within the German nation was
not so great toward France and Rus
STA.
The people quietly accepted the enor-
nous sacrifices which the war demand
ed from them in course Of time.
But the government, which even
then, foresaw the unfavorable course
the var was taking, conceived the idea
of setting England up as the arch
enemy which intended to destroy Ger.
many entirely.
The German war machine made use
Of the blockade which England drew
around Germany to such an extent,
playing upon child murder, so-called,
that the people developed an ever-in-
creasing hatred toward England.
The French language was no longer
spoken anywhere. A large part Of the
German people formerly used the
French word "adieu," as a farewell ex-
preston but that was stopped. Care
had to be taken in the use of this word
/. to avoid arrest on q charge of high
treason.
I thought about these things as l
neared my temporary destination. I
was sufficiently acquainted with the
border so that when arrived in Kali
denkirchen was able to reach it with
out asking any questions. The spot
which had selected for crossing lay
In a forest. After march OF two
hours l arrived near the border. It
was soon dark and decided to reniuin
In the woods over night.
The next morning at daylight l yea.
tured on and without being seen by the
guards crossed into Dutch territory.
With a sigh of relief arrived at the
next town, Ven in Holland.
Everywhere was received in q
friendly manner. I observed that the
Dutch people hated the German people
as much as did.
After passing several months In
Holland. where tens of thousands more
German deserters lived, I made mp my
mind to move farther away than that
from Germany for the arms of the Ger
man government are long and its spies
are everywhere in most cases con-
scienceless criminals.
Some Of my Dutch friends made me
acquainted with sailors and these con
scented to sniuggle me to America or
their ship. When the ship departed
was placed in the coal bunkors md ar
| rived after IA days in New York. s;ift
| and well.
The first thing that struck me or ar
irving In the United States WAS thu
! wide latitude permitted German prona
| ganda.
Most Of the German papers pub
Mshed here were body and 'soEl FOR til