St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-06-29

S&AoyCu. LOHS trains OF IugtCFe
passed us continually. These peopl,
were as q rule those who had ESCAPED
when the French army retreated ant
we're returning now to find theil
homes destroyed by the rough hand Of
war.
After a long march. interrupted ONLY
OF halts and short bivouacs, we ap
preached the large Belgian-French Dor
der town OF Sugny. located on the Bel
gian side of the border. It was about
noon, and as the. thunder of cannon
constantly grew stronger, which indi.
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 a big
barn. Most Of the soldiers refused to
eat from the field kitchens, and reQui-
sitioned eggs. chickens, geese and
young pigs. Soon everybody was
cooking. I 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 noncommissiened officers and
men were h%elplessly 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 a dull pocket knife.
He had tortured the poor beast almost
to death when the animal was merci-
fully killed by a bullet. 4 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
nc 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. 1t was
therefore not surprising that the pop
ulatton suffered want and hunger. /
often shared my bread with these suf-
people. With two comrades,
one day, I gave my portion Of meat.
vegetables and preserves and also a
bag Of onions to O woman with eight
children. Because the iron was miss
ing In u blood. we three were lei
fenced to extra watch duty for a week
for the offense Of displaying q love Of
Our leader, Lieutenant of Reserve
Elm, declared that such a thing as pity
was insanity. He said IL the
had eight children that was her bust
ness. Then he concluded by saying
with great emphasis: "In war every
body looks out for themselves, even
II everything around him perishes."
Another soldier was sentenced to
serve II 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-
officers. To the question as to
where he was going, he replied that he
was on his way to assist a poor family
which had actually suffered hunger.
The lieutenant at once ordered him TO
the bread to his company. Then
he ragged and ragged at the soldier, call
him fool, idiot. H~ottentot, etc. But
the soldier nevertheless did not obey
and when the lieutenant Numbered a
second command TO halt, the soldier
around and threw the bread
the lieutenant's feet. Then he
said quietly, Il do not wish anybody
any harm, but If you and your auto
cratic family, and the whole German
had to endure what the poor
Belgians are obliged to suffer, it would
De a bitter but just lesson"
This man was sentenced to serve IA
lays for talking back to his superior
officer. 1t surprised us all that he vas
ct off so easily.
But bitterness in the ranks grew
md at last the many hard punishments
hat were pronounced created so much
feeling that the soldiers refused to tie
my of their comrades.
We left Sugny the next morning and
me hour later crossed the Franeo-Rel-
yfan border. Here again we were or
Jc.od n rive +bpna ohaorc a ua did
when our troops first crossed Germany
nto Belgium. At noon We arrived at
We remained in the
until evening and were per-
to go about without restric-
ions. In the afternoon nine men of
NY company were arrested for assault
ng q woman but were soon released.
At this time there IA a great scar
OF tobacco among III soldiers and
knew that a mark or nor was paid
or q cigarette whenever I'M was of
.ered for sale. Here, In Vftter-Au-
Court there was but n government
stall. / have seen how men
we're forced by noncommissioned Off
,ers at the point of guns to give up
heir entire supply of tobacco for
worthless requisition papers. These
gentlemen later sold their tobacco
half a mark for small packets.
Toward evening we marched off and
the howitzers to a new posi-
ion, from where the enemy's defenses
IN the Meuse could be bombarded.
After q short march VI encountered
md fought a French army northeast
Donchery. Only the enemy's a
guard was on our side Of the Meuse.
70 It was given the duty Of covering
crossing of the main body of the