Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-03-18
CHAPTER XIV.
,atlons In a BeIoIan City.

CHAPTER XIV.
Observations In a Belgian City.
One night shortly before I left this
city, our airmen raided the place.
didn't venture out Of the house at the
time, but the next night I thought I
would 60 out and see what damage
had been done.
When it became dark I left the
house accordingly and mixed with the
crowd, which consisted largely Of Ger
mans. I went from one place to an
other to see what our "straffing" had
accomplished. Naturally avoided
speaking to anyone. If man or
woman appeared about to speak to me,
| Just turned my head and looked or
walked away in some other direction.
I must have been taken for an un-
social sort Of individual. a good many
times, and If I had encountered the
same person twice I suppose my con-
duct might have aroused suspicion.
I had irst-class observation Of the
damage that was really done by our
bombs. One bomb had landed very
near the main railroad station and If
it had been only thirty yards nearer
would have completely demolished 1t.
AS the station was undoubtedly our
..irman's objective I was very much
impressed with the accuracy Of his
aim. 1t Is by no means an easy thing
to hit building from the air when
you are going at anywhere from fifty
to one hundred miles an hour and are
being shot at from beneath from
dozen different angles-unless, of
course, you are taking one Of those
desperate chances and flying so low
that you cannot very well miss your
mark and the Huns can't very well
miss you either!
walked by the station and mingled
with the crowds which stood In the
entrances. They paid no more at
tention to me than they did to real Bel
glans, and the fact that the lights
were all out in this city at night made
it impossible anyway for anyone to
get as good look at me as If 1t had
been light.
During the time that I was In this
city I suppose wandered from one
end Of it to the other. In one place,
where the German staff had its head
quarters, q huge German flag hung
from the window, and I think would
have given ten years Of my life to
have stolen it. Even If I could have
pulled 1t down, however, 1t would have
been impossible for me to have con-
cealed 1t. and to have carried 1t away
with me rs a souvenir, therefore would
have been out of the question.
As I went along the street one night
a lady standing on the corner stopped
me and spoke to me~My first impulse,
Of course, was to answer her, explain
ing that could not understand, but
stopped myself in time, pointed to my
ears and mouth and shook my head,
indicating that I was deaf and dumb,
and she nodded understandingly and
walked on. Incidents of that kind were
not unusual, and I was always in fear
that the time would come when some
inquisitive ard suspicious German
would encounter me and not be so
easily satisfied.
There are many things that saw In
this city which, for various reasons, 1t
is impossible for me to relate until
after the war is over. Some of them,
l think, will create more surprise than
the incidents ! am free to reveal now.
It used to amuse me as went along
the streets of this town, looking In
the shop windows with German sol.
dlers at my side looking at the same
things, to think how close I was to
them and they had no way Of knowing.
was quite convinced that If I were
discovered my fate would have been
death because not only had the
forged passport on me, but had been
80 many days behind the German lines
utter I had escaped that they couldn't
safely let me live with the informa.
ton possessed.
One night I walked boldly across q
park. I heard footsteps behind me and
turning round saw two German sol.
liers. I slowed up trifle to let them
get ahead Of me. 1t was rather dark
and got chance to see what won.
derful uniform the German military
authorities have picked out. The sol.
diers had not gone more than few
feet ahead Of me when they disap
peared in the darkness like one OF
those melting pictures on the moving
picture screen.
ASH wandered through the streets
frequently glanced in the cafe win
dow as I passed. German officers
were usually dining there. but they
didn't conduct themselves with any
thing like the light-heartedness which
characterizes the allied officers ir
London and Paris. / was rather sur
Drised ut this because in this part ol
Belgium they were much freer thar
they would have been in Berlin
where, I understand, food is compar
atively scarce and the restriction
are very strict.
AS l have said, my own condition II
this city was In some respects worse
than 1t had been when was making
my way through the open country
While I had place to sleep and m!
clothes were no longer constantly
soaking, my opportunities for getting
food were considerably less than the!
lad been. Nearly all the time ! wal
half famished, and I decided that
would get out Of there at once, since
was entirely through with Huyliger
My physical condition was great!
improved. While the lack Of .foot
showed itself on me, I had regainet
some Of my strength, my wounds
were healed, and my ankle wa
stronger, and although my knees wer'
still considerably enlarged, I felt tina
was In better shape than had beer
1T any time since my leap from tn
train, and I was ready to 60 througl
whatever was In store for me.
,s, s,s & = CHAPTER XVI. Il II.
l1Leavs for the Frontier.