Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-08-09

cavalry had arrived and driven the
Boches out. The Germans were ex-
pected either to return or begin bonn
bardment at any moment and all the
inhabitants who sported cellars were
hiding in them. The rest were trying
to get out of town with their belong
ings as best they could.
On reaching our objective we made
straight for the Hotel de Vile, where
we were admitted and after short
wait taken to the burgomaster. We
questioned him as to news, for we had
been instructed to pick up any infor-
nation he might have as to conditions.
But we did not get much. for he could
not get about because Of the Germans,
who had made 1t a policy to terrorize
the people of the town.
We had just got into the car and
were about to start when the burgo-
master himself came running out. He
ordered us to leave the car there and
said he would direct us where to so.
He insisted that we go on foot, but
could not understand when he tried
to explain why.
We soon saw the probable reason
for the burgomaster's refusal to ride
in the car. All around for about a
mile the roads were heavily mined and
small red flags on iron slaves were
stuck between the cobblestones. as
warnings not to put in much time
around those places. Also, there were
notices stuck up all around warning
people of the mines and forbiddlng
heavy carts to pass. When we got
Off the road breathed again!
After a great deal Of questioning we
finally reached our destination and
made our report to the local command
ant. We told him all we could and liz
turn received various information
from him. We were then taken over
to the hotel. Here we read few
Paris newspapers, that were several
weeks old. until about eight. when we
had dinner, and fine dinner II was,
too.
After we had eaten all we could, and
wished for more room In the hold, we
went out into the garden and yarned
a while with some gendarmes, and
then went to bed. We had big room
on the third floor front. We had just
turned in, and were all set for good
nights rest, when there was an eXplo-
sion of a different kind from any
had heard before, and we and the bed
rocked about, like canoe in the wake
of stern.wheeler.
/ There We're seven more explosions,
and then they stopped, though we
could hear the rattle of II machine gun
at some distance away. Bartel said IL
must be the forts, and after some arsu-
ment / agreed with him. He said that
/ the Germans must have tried an adj
/ vance under cover of bombardment
/ and that rs soon ms the forts got into
action the Germans breezed. We were
not worried much, so we did not &c,
out of bed.
A few minutes later we heard foot
steps on the roof, and then a woman
In window across the street, asking
gendarme whether 1t was safe TO 20
back to bed. Then | got up and took
look into the street. There were lot
of people standing around talking. but
il was not interesting enough 10 keeT
tired man up, so into the hay.
1t seemed about the middle OF the
night when Bartel called me. but he
said II was time TO get out and get &c
work. We found he had made poor
guess, for when we were half dressed
he looked ut his watch and IL was only
quarter past seven, but we decided
TO stay up, since we were that fan
along. and then go down and cruise fol
breakfast.
When we got downstairs and fount
some of the hotel people 1t took then
long time 10 get 1t through our heads
that there had been some real excite