El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-26

next to Germany all these years, and
since 1914 had been living on the edge
of an abyss. If they had taken any
other attitude it would have been I'M
natural and surprising. But never
theless the other allied officials
seemed to agree with me that II there
ever could be even a possibility OF
working out a fairly satisfactory and
permanent peace We must know eN-
actly what was going on IN Germany
as well as in our own lands
Figuring that it might be safer for
two to tackle the stunt instead OF one,
particularly II we fell into German
hands under such circumstances as
might cause them to be disposed to
treat Us as spies, invited a well
known American magazine editor 10
90 along with me. he agreed to go
If I would guarantee to get him into
Germany, which did on his promise
that he would attempt anything that
seemed at all feasible.
Our task was rather more difficult
than that which confronted spies dur
! ing the war They at least had SYM
l&ly or one side OF the border while
we ran the chance Of facing either q
French firing squad or a German one
/ The war was not over and military
I commanders in the field have been
known to act somewhat summarily in
such matters.
We Are Off for the Rhine.
3
tackle the Rhine first. 50 one night
We took a train out Of Paris FOR Bel
fort. Belfort, by the way. played a
very important part in this war indi-
rectiy We found on reaching Ger
many that nearly all Germany mill
tary authorities and leaders agreed
that. II Bismarck had taken Belfort in
1871 az the time when he took the
other two great frontier tortresses OF
Strasbourg and Metz, Germany would
have won this war in a hurry. They
say that possession OF Belforr would
have made it unnecessary for them TO
invade Belgium and that they could
have driven through 70 Paris from
Alsace in a short time
Belfort was the only one OF the
great French fortresses Whlcn helI
out against the Germans IN 1911 anu
partly out of respect Tor the heroic
fight put up by the defenders OF that
strategic point the Germans claim
| that they allowed France 10 keep the
city. In commemoration Of the won
derful prowess OF the Belfort garrl-
son, Louis Bartholdi, who designed
the statue Of Liberty, carved an enor-
nous lion out of the high cliff which
rises abruptly above one side OF the
city.
from Belfort we walked across
Alsace to Bloodlesheim on the Rhine
There was an island about 80 YARDS
! from the near Ehore-a sand bar In
reality-and We thought we might be
able 10 make from that point on
dark night The next evening seemed
especially made for our purpose The
sky was overcast with heavy clouds
1 and ii rained intermittently. Not a
star was visible. The whole shore
line was shrouded in almost impene-
| trable darkness.
Evadins the sentrIes.
We evaded the seutries and reached
the edge OF the river. As we waded
cautiously into the icy. water. the
SHARPNESS Of its cold almost dis
suaded us from proceedine further
We were in for It, however. and we
] might never get another opportunity
of the kind Besides, we had the
! sentry line behind US and II seemed
as safe TO go forward as to 20 hack.
We reached the bar without naishap,
crossed Il and stood at last on the
edge Of the swift current Stripped
to our underwear with our shoes
I dangling about our necks, Ike .Cacsa-
and Cassius we stood.
"Darest thou swim 70 vopder
point?" I said. although It was So dark
there was no point visible
looked at my lean. hungry. angu-
lar companion standing there hero
ically in his underwear. his teeth
chattering. and shivering- Jrst +hen
a long white beam from q French
searchlight shot out its finger Of
luminance and started sWeepino the
heard me. so I shouted in his ear.
'Cassius. darest thou swim to yonder
point2"
mol" said he, without a moments
hesitation. and upon my Sord. ac-
! coutered as we were in our Under
wear we got back TO the east hanl,
from that sand bar as though we We're
running to a fire.
In Searchlight's Glare.
Some careless and inconsiderats
person on the shore we had just LET
started to plav a searchlight on tn
water. In a little while other light
above and below began feeling ou
the river with their luminous finger'
Fortunately for US, We got bae