The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-03-20


g1ass-done skyiight. This house WAS
new . very pretty rim. and It vas ~
~ woA tat ws lsft whso W dlA. Xoa
could not even Ind 4 splinter of tie
big round table. The neat time 1t
under glass skylight in Dixmude. I
want lad with live eye for Zepps-
Inns on guard outside.
Something about the branch head
quarters ruins made m think Of break.
fast, which we had forgotten, 10 back
to the hotel. Then we started back to
our lines. We were ordered to keep
to the main road all the way back, or
We would be shot ON sight, and to re-
port to headquarters Immediately ON
our return. thought II the sight Of
me was 20 distasteful to anybody,
would not take the chance of offend
ing, being anxious to be polite in SUCH
cases. So we stuck to the main road.
Fritz did not give US any trouble and
we were back by five. with all hands
out to greet rs when we hove in sight,
and q regular prodigal son welcome ON
tap, for we were later than they had
expected US, and they had made up
their minds that some accident had
happened.
While was around Dixmude, saw
many living men and women and chill
dren who had been mutilated by the
Germans, but most of them were wom-
en- and children. Almost every one
of the mutilated men was too old for
military service. The others had been
killed. guess.
But the Belgians were not the only
ones who had suffered from German
kultur.- Many French wounded were
tortured by the Huns. and we were
constantly finding the mutilated bodies
Of our troops. 1t was thought that the
Germans often mutilated dead body
as an example to the living.
The Germans had absolutely no re-
spect whatever for the Red Cross. For
instance. they captured a wagon load
ed with forty French wounded. and
shot every one Of them. saw the
dead bodies.
When the Germans came to Dix
nude they got all the men and women
and children and made them march
before them with their hands In the
air. Those who did not were knocked
down. After q while some Of them saw
what they were going to get, and being
~ game sports a. ever heard Of. tried
to hght. They were finished on at
once, Of course.
The former burgomaster had been
shot and finished of with an Ak,
though he had not resisted, because he
wanted to save the lives Of his citi-
Gems. They told me Of one case. In DIX
nude. where a man came out Of his
house, trying to carry his father. q
man of eighty, to the square, where
they were ordered to report. The old
man could not raise his hands. 30 they
dragged his son away from him.
knocked the old man in the head with
an AZ, and left him there to die. Those
who were spared were made to dig the
graves for the others.
There was q doctor there In DIX
nude. who certainly deserves . mill.
tary cross II any man ever did. He
was called from his house by the Ger.
mans at 80 one morning. He left his
wife who had had q baby two days
before, In the house. He was taken tc
the square, lined up against 4 wal.
with three other big men of the town.
Then he saw his wife and baby beinS
carried to the square on q mattress By
lowed to kiss his wife good-by, anf
they granted him permission. AZ hl
stepped away. there was 4 rattle ant
the other men went West. They sho.
him. too, but though he was riddiet
with bullets he lived. somehow. ant
begged the German oflcer to let hin
accompany his wife to the prise,
where they were taking her. This wai
granted too. but on the way. thsy
heard the sound Of firing. The soldier
yelled. "Die Franzosenr" and dropped
the mattress and ran. But It was only
some Of their own butchers at work.
Doctor Laurent carried his wife and
baby to an old aqueduct that was beina
rebuilt BY the creek. There they uvet
for three days and three nights, ON thu
few herbs and the water that Doctor
Laurent sneaked out and got at night
Doctor Laurent says that when the
Germans killed and crucifisd the civil
ians at Dixmude.. they frst robbed
them Of their watches, pocketbooks
rings and other things. There was .
Madame Tilmans there. who had hat
three thousand francs stolen from he
and was misused bssides.
These were just q very few Of thu
things that happened at just one place
where the Germans got to work viii
their ''kultur." So you can picture tn.
Belgians agreeing on q German peace
while there II q Belgian alive to argue
about It They will remember the Ger
mans long time, think. But they
need not worry: there are q lot of M
who Vill not forget. either.