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

mainesl and the cavalry detachment
occupied Il position while the cannci
were trained OH the enemy. Toward
noon shrapnel shells again began
bursting over our heads. hut they ex-
ploded too high in the air to do us any
damage. Yet this served as Il serious
reminder to us that the enemy kept
right on our heels. realization of
which caused our retreat to become q
rout. The numbers who dropped ex-
hausted constantly increased. 1t was
impossible to render them any assist
ance, for there were 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 boots or
the wheels of any vehicle that might
pass. The road was strewn with
equipment thrown away by the sol
dicrs. Our detaclnents had long since
cast aside all unnecessary impedi
menta.
AL SAihS way we ljieCctueu uIltli W.
reached a forest which was filed with
fugitives. Many of these had stretched
some sort of cloth from tree to tree
rs protection from the rain. There
they lay, men, women and children
and Old men. some in unspeakable mis-
cry. This fugitives' 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. The: looked at us with weary
and saddened eyes. The children
begged for bread. but we had none
for ourselves, even though we were
tortured by hunger. The eneny's
shrapnel continued to accompany us.
Scarcely had we passed through the
forest when shrapnel burst in 1t. AS a
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, were 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 feen seized by the Germans and
taken away under cavalry escort. Just
why this had been done we We're 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 by
cavalry.
We belonged to the rear guards,
which explained why we were unable
to find anything to eat. There was alb
sOlutely nothing to the village where
we We're now quartered. After half
an hour with our hunger still unap-
peased we resumed orr m:irch. After
we had marched about three kilome-
tiers we arrived Mt 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 it's water soaked
condition it had been gathered up and
eaten with ravenOus appetiteS. Moth
ing mattered how our stomachs were
filled If only our hunger might be ap-
peased.
Night now came. yet no sleep nor
rest was in sight. No one knew how
much farther we would have to retire
before there would be respite. The
unfamiliar surroundings Indicated to
us that we were not returning over the
road which we had traversed when, as
victOrS, we marched to the Marine.
With this and similar thoughts, hour
after hour passed. Some of us ran
along. others actually walked in their
sleep. Our boots were filed 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
SuVlu 1HSS IoI UllS SOtutitHS
which they opened to let us pass
through. after which they closed
ranks. We gave sigh of relief. TO:
we were at last free of hostile artil-
lery fire. After marching about five
more hours. we join, company OF
infantry which or:i.',;tely had saved
Its field kitchen. 1t 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 rs
long as the rear guard was able to
keep back the enemy We were placed
in the village school. Because of the
shortage Of provisions we We're al.
lowed to use our timed supplies, but
none of us had any left. This consist
ed of come meat and harltack. It had
long since been eaten up and so we
were compelled to lie down with our
hunger still unsatisfied.
CHAPTER xl.