The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-29

| died at once, nor WAS there eNel al
| opportunity to learn how many OF the
six bullets found their mark. All day
| went around like man In trance,
reproaching myself bitterly for having
acted the part Of executioner. For a
long time I could not bear to speak
about it to my comrades, for l felt
guilty. and yet what could we soldiers
do other than execute the orders given
us1
In the evening we went into camp
in an open field. pitching tents. and the
next day continued our march.
The country through which we
passed was uninteresting and offered
nothing in the way Of variety. The
few tiny villages through which we
passed had all been abandoned. and
tho poor-looking houses mostly de-
stroyed. Long trains Of fugitives
passed US continually. These people
|; were as rule those who had escaped
when the French army retreated and
were returning now to find their
homes destroyed by the rough hand of
war.
After a long march. interrupted only
by halts and short bivouacs, We APP
preached the large Belgian-French bor-
der town Of Sugny. located on the Bel
gian side of the border. 1t was about
noon. and as the thunder Of cannon
constantly grew stronger, which fndi-
Gated that a new battle was develop
ing, we hoped to be able to remain In
the town overnight. About one o'clock
we entered and were billeted in big
barn. Most Of the soldiers refused to-
eat from the field kitchens, and requi-
sitfOned eggs, chickens, geese and
young pigs. Soon everybody was
cooking. am sorry to say that most.
of those who foraged had refused to
pay for what they had taken.
Several soldiers now arrived with
barrels Of wine and also many bottles.
which were instantly opened and emp
tied. The obvious resulted, and soon
many nOncommissiOned officers and
men were helplessly drunk. The owner
of our barn had possessed three large
hogs. One of the drunken noncom-
missioned officers tried to kill one Of
these hogs with dull pocket knife.
He had tortured the poor beast almost
to death when the animal was merci-
fully killed by bullet. A few min-
utes afterward the officer went to
sleep. This was only an example and
not the worst, for the inhabitants OF
the town had to endure much from
our men who had become drunk. There
were open and secret rObberies OF
gardens, stables and houses here and
no restrictions whatever were put on
the soldiers. There was no improve
ment in their general conduct. despite
many complaints. One family report
ed that the French had treated them
very well, but that our highly trained
soldiers plundered and stole. It was
therefore not surprising that the pop
ulation suffered want and hunger.
often shared my bread with these suf-
fering people. With two comrades,
one day, gave my portion Of meat.
vegetables and preserves and also
bag Of onions to q woman with eight
children. Because the iron was miss
ing in our blood, we three were SEN
fenced to extra watch duty for week
for the offense of displaying a love OF
humanity.
Our leader, Lieutenant of Reserve
Elm, declared that such thing as pity
was insanity. He said If the woman
had eight children that was her bust
ness. Then he concluded by saying
with great emphasis: I'm war every
body looks out for themselves, even
If everything around him perishes."
Another soldier was sentenced to
serve IA days at hard labor. He was
bringing bread to a hungry family and
had six small loaves in his arms. which
he had gathered from among the SOL
diers. The same lieutenant met him,
accompanied by several noncommis-
stoned officers. To the question as to
where he was going. he replied that ne
was on his way to assist poor family
which had actually suffered hunger.
The lieutenant at once ordered him to
return the bread to his company. Then
he ragged and ragged at the soldier. call
ing him fool, idiot, Hottentot, etc. But
the soldier nevertheless did not obey
and when the lieutenant Numbered
second command to halt, the soldier
turned around and threw the bread
before the leutenant's feet. Then he
said quietly. II do not wish anybody
any harm, but IL you and your auto
cratic family, and the whole German
nation had to endure what the poor
Belgians are obliged to suffer. it would
be bitter but just lesson"
This man was sentenced to serve IA
days for talking back to his superior
officer. 1t surprised us all that he was
let off so easily.
But bitterness in the ranks grew.
and at last the many hard punishments
that were pronounced created so much
feeling that the soldiers refused to tie
any Of their comrades.
We left Sugny the next morning and
one hour later crossed the Franco-Rel-
gian border. Here again we were or
dered to give three cheers as we did