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diff --git a/16363.txt b/16363.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e326e0b --- /dev/null +++ b/16363.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14870 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The New York Times Current History of the +European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: July 27, 2005 [EBook #16363] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, James LaTondre and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + [Transcriber: The original document contained a number of errors. + Obvious spelling mistakes have been corrected and a notation + included for each. There were three places with missing text that + have also been annotated. In addition, there were also a number of + inconsistencies in spelling (ex. Perceval Gibbon vs. Percival + Gibbon; Rennekampf vs. Rennenkampf) which have not been changed or + noted given the desire not to introduce unintentional errors.] + + +[Illustration: FIELD MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH +Commanding the British Forces in France and Belgium +(_From Painting by John St. Helier Lander._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. SIR HORACE SMITH-DORRIEN +One of the British Corps Commanders +(_From Painting by John St Helier Lander._)] + + + + +THE NEW YORK TIMES + +CURRENT HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN WAR + +JANUARY 23, 1915. + + + + +Sir John French's Own Story + +The Famous Dispatches of the British Commander in Chief to Lord +Kitchener, Secretary of State for War. + + + + +I. + +*First Report from the Front* + + +7th September, 1914. + +My lord: I have the honor to report the proceedings of the field force +under my command up to the time of rendering this dispatch. + +1. The transport of the troops from England both by sea and by rail was +effected in the best order and without a check. Each unit arrived at its +destination in this country well within the scheduled time. + +The concentration was practically complete on the evening of Friday, the +21st ultimo, and I was able to make dispositions to move the force +during Saturday, the 22d, to positions I considered most favorable from +which to commence operations which the French Commander in Chief, Gen. +Joffre, requested me to undertake in pursuance of his plans in +prosecution of the campaign. + +The line taken up extended along the line of the canal from Conde on the +west, through Mons and Binche on the east. This line was taken up as +follows: + +From Conde to Mons inclusive was assigned to the Second Corps, and to +the right of the Second Corps from Mons the First Corps was posted. The +Fifth Cavalry Brigade was placed at Binche. + +In the absence of my Third Army Corps I desired to keep the cavalry +division as much as possible as a reserve to act on my outer flank, or +move in support of any threatened part of the line. The forward +reconnoissance was intrusted to Brig. Gen. Sir Philip Chetwode with the +Fifth Cavalry Brigade, but I directed Gen. Allenby to send forward a few +squadrons to assist in this work. + +During the 22d and 23d these advanced squadrons did some excellent work, +some of them penetrating as far as Soignies, and several encounters took +place in which our troops showed to great advantage. + +2. At 6 A.M., on Aug. 23, I assembled the commanders of the First and +Second Corps and cavalry division at a point close to the position and +explained the general situation of the Allies, and what I understood to +be Gen. Joffre's plan. I discussed with them at some length the +immediate situation in front of us. + +From information I received from French Headquarters I understood that +little more than one, or at most two, of the enemy's army corps, with +perhaps one cavalry division, were in front of my position; and I was +aware of no attempted outflanking movement by the enemy. I was confirmed +in this opinion by the fact that my patrols encountered no undue +opposition in their reconnoitring operations. The observations of my +aeroplanes seemed also to bear out this estimate. + +About 3 P.M. on Sunday, the 23d, reports began coming in to the effect +that the enemy was commencing an attack on the Mons line, apparently in +some strength, but that the right of the position from Mons and Bray was +being particularly threatened. + +The commander of the First Corps had pushed his flank back to some high +ground south of Bray, and the Fifth Cavalry Brigade evacuated Binche, +moving slightly south; the enemy thereupon occupied Binche. + +The right of the Third Division, under Gen. Hamilton, was at Mons, which +formed a somewhat dangerous salient; and I directed the commander of the +Second Corps to be careful not to keep the troops on this salient too +long, but, if threatened seriously, to draw back the centre behind Mons. +This was done before dark. In the meantime, about 5 P.M., I received a +most unexpected message from Gen. Joffre by telegraph, telling me that +at least three German corps, viz., a reserve corps, the Fourth Corps and +the Ninth Corps, were moving on my position in front, and that the +Second Corps was engaged in a turning movement from the direction of +Tournay. He also informed me that the two reserve French divisions and +the Fifth French Army on my right were retiring, the Germans having on +the previous day gained possession of the passages of the Sambre +between Charleroi and Namur. + +3. In view of the possibility of my being driven from the Mons position, +I had previously [Transcriber: original 'previouly'] ordered a position +in rear to be reconnoitred. This position rested on the fortress of +Maubeuge on the right and extended west to Jenlain, southeast of +Valenciennes, on the left. The position was reported difficult to hold, +because standing crops and buildings made the siting of trenches very +difficult and limited the field of fire in many important localities. It +nevertheless afforded a few good artillery positions. + +When the news of the retirement of the French and the heavy German +threatening on my front reached me, I endeavored to confirm it by +aeroplane [Transcriber: original 'areoplane'] reconnoissance; and as a +result of this I determined to effect a retirement to the Maubeuge +position at daybreak on the 24th. + +A certain amount of fighting continued along the whole line throughout +the night and at daybreak on the 24th the Second Division from the +neighborhood of Harmignies made a powerful demonstration as if to retake +Binche. This was supported by the artillery of both the First and Second +Divisions, while the First Division took up a supporting position in the +neighborhood of Peissant. Under cover of this demonstration the Second +Corps retired on the line Dour-Quarouble-Frameries. The Third Division +on the right of the corps suffered considerable loss in this operation +from the enemy, who had retaken Mons. + +The Second Corps halted on this line, where they partially intrenched +themselves, enabling Sir Douglas Haig with the First Corps gradually to +withdraw to the new position; and he effected this without much further +loss, reaching the line Bavai-Maubeuge about 7 P.M. Toward midday the +enemy appeared to be directing his principal effort against our left. + +I had previously ordered Gen. Allenby with the cavalry to act vigorously +in advance of my left front and endeavor to take the pressure off. + +About 7:30 A.M. Gen. Allenby received a message from Sir Charles +Fergusson, commanding the Fifth Division, saying that he was very hard +pressed and in urgent need of support. On receipt of this message Gen. +Allenby drew in the cavalry and endeavored to bring direct support to +the Fifth Division. + +During the course of this operation Gen. De Lisle, of the Second Cavalry +Brigade, thought he saw a good opportunity to paralyze the further +advance of the enemy's infantry by making a mounted attack on his flank. +He formed up and advanced for this purpose, but was held up by wire +about 500 yards from his objective, and the Ninth Lancers and the +Eighteenth Hussars suffered severely in the retirement of the brigade. + +The Nineteenth Infantry Brigade, which had been guarding the line of +communications, was brought up by rail to Valenciennes on the 22d and +23d. On the morning of the 24th they were moved out to a position south +of Quarouble to support the left flank of the Second Corps. + +With the assistance of the cavalry Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien was enabled +to effect his retreat to a new position; although, having two corps of +the enemy on his front and one threatening his flank, he suffered great +losses in doing so. + +At nightfall the position was occupied by the Second Corps to the west +of Bavai, the First Corps to the right. The right was protected by the +fortress of Maubeuge, the left by the Nineteenth Brigade in position +between Jenlain and Bry, and the cavalry on the outer flank. + +4. The French were still retiring, and I had no support except such as +was afforded by the Fortress of Maubeuge; and the determined attempts of +the enemy to get round my left flank assured me that it was his +intention to hem me against that place and surround me. I felt that not +a moment must be lost in retiring to another position. + +I had every reason to believe that the enemy's forces were somewhat +exhausted and I knew that they had suffered heavy losses. I hoped, +therefore, that his pursuit would not be too vigorous to prevent me +effecting my object. + +The operation, however, was full of danger and difficulty, not only +owing to the very superior force in my front, but also to the exhaustion +of the troops. + +The retirement was recommenced in the early morning of the 25th to a +position in the neighborhood of Le Cateau, and rearguards were ordered +to be clear of the Maubeuge-Bavai-Eth Road by 5:30 A.M. + +Two cavalry brigades, with the divisional cavalry of the Second Corps, +covered the movement of the Second Corps. The remainder of the cavalry +division, with the Nineteenth Brigade, the whole under the command of +Gen. Allenby, covered the west flank. + +The Fourth Division commenced its detrainment at Le Cateau on Sunday, +the 23d, and by the morning of the 25th eleven battalions and a brigade +of artillery with divisional staff were available for service. + +I ordered Gen. Snow to move out to take up a position with his right +south of Solesmes, his left resting on the Cambrai-Le Cateau Road south +of La Chaprie. In this position the division rendered great help to the +effective retirement of the Second and First Corps to the new position. + +Although the troops had been ordered to occupy the Cambrai-Le +Cateau-Landrecies position, and the ground had, during the 25th, been +partially prepared and intrenched, I had grave doubts--owing to the +information I had received as to the accumulating strength of the enemy +against me--as to the wisdom of standing there to fight. + +Having regard to the continued retirement of the French on my right, my +exposed left flank, the tendency of the enemy's western corps (II.) to +envelop me, and, more than all, the exhausted condition of the troops, I +determined to make a great effort to continue the retreat till I could +put some substantial obstacle, such as the Somme or the Oise, between my +troops and the enemy, and afford the former some opportunity of rest and +reorganization. Orders were, therefore, sent to the corps commanders to +continue their retreat as soon as they possibly could toward the general +line Vermand-St. Quentin-Ribemont. + +The cavalry, under Gen. Allenby, were ordered to cover the retirement. + +Throughout the 25th and far into the evening, the First Corps continued +its march on Landrecies, following the road along the eastern border of +the Foret de Mormal, and arrived at Landrecies about 10 o'clock. I had +intended that the corps should come further west so as to fill up the +gap between Le Cateau and Landrecies, but the men were exhausted and +could not get further in without rest. + +The enemy, however, would not allow them this rest, and about 9:30 P.M. +a report was received that the Fourth Guards Brigade in Landrecies was +heavily attacked by troops of the Ninth German Army Corps, who were +coming through the forest on the north of the town. This brigade fought +most gallantly, and caused the enemy to suffer tremendous loss in +issuing from the forest into the narrow streets of the town. This loss +has been estimated from reliable sources at from 700 to 1,000. At the +same time information reached me from Sir Douglas Haig that his First +Division was also heavily engaged south and east of Maroilles. I sent +urgent messages to the commander of the two French reserve divisions on +my right to come up to the assistance of the First Corps, which they +eventually did. Partly owing to this assistance, but mainly to the +skillful manner in which Sir Douglas Haig extricated his corps from an +exceptionally difficult position in the darkness of the night, they were +able at dawn to resume their march south toward Wassigny on Guise. + +By about 6 P.M. the Second Corps had got into position with their right +on Le Cateau, their left in the neighborhood of Caudry, and the line of +defense was continued thence by the Fourth Division toward Seranvillers, +the left being thrown back. + +During the fighting on the 24th and 25th the cavalry became a good deal +scattered, but by the early morning of the 26th Gen, Allenby had +succeeded in concentrating two brigades to the south of Cambrai. + +The Fourth Division was placed under the orders of the general officer +commanding the Second Army Corps. + +On the 24th the French cavalry corps, consisting of three divisions +under Gen. Sordet, had been in billets north of Avesnes. On my way back +from Bavai, which was my "Poste de Commandement" during the fighting of +the 23d and 24th, I visited Gen. Sordet, and earnestly requested his +co-operation and support. He promised to obtain sanction from his army +commander to act on my left flank, but said that his horses were too +tired to move before the next day. Although he rendered me valuable +assistance later on in the course of the retirement, he was unable for +the reasons given to afford me any support on the most critical day of +all, viz., the 26th. + +At daybreak it became apparent that the enemy was throwing the bulk of +his strength against the left of the position occupied by the Second +Corps and the Fourth Division. + +At this time the guns of four German army corps were in position against +them, and Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien reported to me that he judged it +impossible to continue his retirement at daybreak (as ordered) in face +of such an attack. + +I sent him orders to use his utmost endeavors to break off the action +and retire at the earliest possible moment, as it was impossible for me +to send him any support, the First Corps being at the moment incapable +of movement. + +The French cavalry corps, under Gen. Sordet, was coming up on our left +rear early in the morning, and I sent an urgent message to him to do his +utmost to come up and support the retirement of my left flank; but owing +to the fatigue of his horses he found himself unable to intervene in any +way. + +There had been no time to intrench the position properly, but the troops +showed a magnificent front to the terrible fire which confronted them. + +The artillery, although outmatched by at least four to one, made a +splendid fight, and inflicted heavy losses on their opponents. + +[Illustration: Map 1.--Showing the early stages of the retreat from +Mons, Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.] + +At length it became apparent that, if complete annihilation was to be +avoided, a retirement must be attempted; and the order was given to +commence it about 3:30 P.M. The movement was covered with the most +devoted intrepidity and determination by the artillery, which had itself +suffered heavily, and the fine work done by the cavalry in the further +retreat from the position assisted materially in the final completion of +this most difficult and dangerous operation. + +Fortunately the enemy had himself suffered too heavily to engage in an +energetic pursuit. + +I cannot close the brief account of this glorious stand of the British +troops without putting on record my deep appreciation of the valuable +services rendered by Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. + +I say without hesitation that the saving of the left wing of the army +under my command on the morning of the 26th August could never have been +accomplished unless a commander of rare and unusual coolness, +intrepidity, and determination had been present to personally conduct +the operation. + +The retreat was continued far into the night of the 26th and through the +27th and 28th, on which date the troops halted on the line +Noyon-Chauny-La Fere, having then thrown off the weight of the enemy's +pursuit. + +On the 27th and 28th I was much indebted to Gen. Sordet and the French +cavalry division which he commands for materially assisting my +retirement and successfully driving back some of the enemy on Cambrai. + +Gen. D'Amade also, with the Sixty-first and Sixty-second French Reserve +Divisions, moved down from the neighborhood of Arras on the enemy's +right flank and took much pressure off the rear of the British forces. + +This closes the period covering the heavy fighting which commenced at +Mons on Sunday afternoon, 23d August, and which really constituted a +four days' battle. + +At this point, therefore, I propose to close the present dispatch. + +I deeply deplore the very serious losses which the British forces have +suffered in this great battle; but they were inevitable in view of the +fact that the British Army--only two days after a concentration by +rail--was called upon to withstand a vigorous attack of five German army +corps. + +It is impossible for me to speak too highly of the skill evinced by the +two general officers commanding army corps; the self-sacrificing and +devoted exertions of their staffs; the direction of the troops by +divisional, brigade, and regimental leaders; the command of the smaller +units by their officers; and the magnificent fighting spirit displayed +by non-commissioned officers and men. + +I wish particularly to bring to your Lordship's notice the admirable +work done by the Royal Flying Corps under Sir David Henderson. Their +skill, energy, and perseverance [Transcriber: original 'perseverence'] +have been beyond all praise. They have furnished me with the most +complete and accurate information, which has been of incalculable value +in the conduct of the operations. Fired at constantly both by friend and +foe, and not hesitating to fly in every kind of weather, they have +remained undaunted throughout. + +Further, by actually fighting in the air, they have succeeded in +destroying five of the enemy's machines. + +I wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude the incalculable assistance I +received from the General and Personal Staffs at Headquarters during +this trying period. + +Lieut. Gen. Sir Archibald Murray, Chief of the General Staff; Major Gen. +Wilson, Sub-Chief of the General Staff; and all under them have worked +day and night unceasingly with the utmost skill, self-sacrifice, and +devotion; and the same acknowledgment is due by me to Brig. Gen. Hon. W. +Lambton, my Military Secretary, and the personal Staff. + +In such operations as I have described the work of the Quartermaster +General is of an extremely onerous nature. Major Gen. Sir William +Robertson has met what appeared to be almost insuperable difficulties +with his characteristic energy, skill, and determination; and it is +largely owing to his exertions that the hardships and sufferings of the +troops--inseparable from such operations--were not much greater. + +[Illustration: Map. 2.--The retreat continued. From Compiegne, Sept. 1, +to the new position south of Meaux, Sept. 3 and 4.] + +[Illustration: Map 3.--Commencement of the battle of the Marne, Sept. 6 +(Sunday), morning. +Concentration of the Germans on a central point, and the position of the +British force when it resumed the offensive.] + +Major Gen. Sir Nevil Macready, the Adjutant General, has also been +confronted with most onerous and difficult tasks in connection with +disciplinary arrangements and the preparation of casualty lists. He has +been indefatigable in his exertions to meet the difficult situations +which arose. + +I have not yet been able to complete the list of officers whose names I +desire to bring to your Lordship's notice for services rendered during +the period under review; and, as I understand it is of importance that +this dispatch should no longer be delayed, I propose to forward this +list, separately, as soon as I can. I have the honor to be, + +Your Lordship's most obedient Servant, + +(Signed) J.D.P. FRENCH, +Field Marshal, +Commander in Chief, British Forces in the Field. + + + + +II. + +*The Battle of the Marne.* + + +17th September, 1914. + +My lord: In continuation of my dispatch of Sept. 7, I have the honor to +report the further progress of the operations of the forces under my +command from Aug. 28. + +On that evening the retirement of the force was followed closely by two +of the enemy's cavalry columns, moving southeast from St. Quentin. + +The retreat in this part of the field was being covered by the Third and +Fifth Cavalry Brigades. South of the Somme Gen. Gough, with the Third +Cavalry Brigade, threw back the Uhlans of the Guard with considerable +loss. + +Gen. Chetwode, with the Fifth Cavalry Brigade, encountered the eastern +column near Cerizy, moving south. The brigade attacked and routed the +column, the leading German regiment suffering very severe casualties +and being almost broken up. + +The Seventh French Army Corps was now in course of being railed up from +the south to the east of Amiens. On the 29th it nearly completed its +detrainment, and the French Sixth Army got into position on my left, its +right resting on Roye. + +The Fifth French Army was behind the line of the Oise, between La Fere +and Guise. + +The pursuit of the enemy was very vigorous; some five or six German +corps were on the Somme, facing the Fifth Army on the Oise. At least two +corps were advancing toward my front, and were crossing the Somme east +and west of Ham. Three or four more German corps were [Transcriber: +original 'wree'] opposing the Sixth French Army on my left. + +This was the situation at 1 o'clock on the 29th, when I received a visit +from Gen. Joffre at my headquarters. + +I strongly represented my position to the French Commander in Chief, who +was most kind, cordial, and sympathetic, as he has always been. He told +me that he had directed the Fifth French Army on the Oise to move +forward and attack the Germans on the Somme, with a view to checking +pursuit. He also told me of the formation of the Sixth French Army on my +left flank, composed of the Seventh Army Corps, four reserve divisions, +and Sordet's corps of cavalry. + +I finally arranged with Gen. Joffre to effect a further short retirement +toward the line Compiegne-Soissons, promising him, however, to do my +utmost to keep always within a day's march of him. + +In pursuance of this arrangement the British forces retired to a +position a few miles north of the line Compiegne-Soissons on the 29th. + +The right flank of the German Army was now reaching a point which +appeared seriously to endanger my line of communications with Havre. I +had already evacuated Amiens, into which place a German reserve division +was reported to have moved. + +[Illustration: Map 4.--Sept. 6 (Sunday), evening. First advance toward +the line of the Grand Morin.] + +Orders were given to change the base to St. Nazaire, and establish an +advance base at Le Mans. This operation was well carried out by the +Inspector General of Communications. + +In spite of a severe defeat inflicted upon the Guard Tenth and Guard +Reserve Corps of the German Army by the First and Third French Corps on +the right of the Fifth Army, it was not part of Gen. Joffre's plan to +pursue this advantage; and a general retirement to the line of the Marne +was ordered, to which the French forces in the more eastern theatre were +directed to conform. + +A new Army (the Ninth) had been formed from three corps in the south by +Gen. Joffre, and moved into the space between the right of the Fifth and +left of the Fourth Armies. + +While closely adhering to his strategic conception to draw the enemy on +at all points until a favorable situation was created from which to +assume the offensive, Gen. Joffre found it necessary to modify from day +to day the methods by which he sought to attain this object, owing to +the development of the enemy's plans and changes in the general +situation. + +In conformity with the movements of the French forces, my retirement +continued practically from day to day. Although we were not severely +pressed by the enemy, rearguard actions took place continually. + +On the 1st September, when retiring from the thickly wooded country to +the south of Compiegne, the First Cavalry Brigade was overtaken by some +German cavalry. They momentarily lost a horse artillery battery, and +several officers and men were killed and wounded. With the help, +however, of some detachments from the Third Corps operating on their +left, they not only recovered their own guns, but succeeded in capturing +twelve of the enemy's. + +Similarly, to the eastward, the First Corps, retiring south, also got +into some very difficult forest country, and a somewhat severe rearguard +action ensued at Villers-Cotterets, in which the Fourth Guards Brigade +suffered considerably. + +On Sept. 3 the British forces were in position south of the Marne +between Lagny and Signy-Signets. Up to this time I had been requested by +Gen. Joffre to defend the passages of the river as long as possible, and +to blow up the bridges in my front. After I had made the necessary +dispositions, and the destruction of the bridges had been effected, I +was asked by the French Commander in Chief to continue my retirement to +a point some twelve miles in rear of the position I then occupied, with +a view to taking up a second position behind the Seine. This retirement +was duly carried out. In the meantime the enemy had thrown bridges and +crossed the Marne in considerable force, and was threatening the Allies +all along the line of the British forces and the Fifth and Ninth French +Armies. Consequently several small outpost actions took place. + +On Saturday, Sept. 5, I met the French Commander in Chief at his +request, and he informed me of his intention to take the offensive +forthwith, as he considered conditions very favorable to success. + +Gen. Joffre announced to me his intention of wheeling up the left flank +of the Sixth Army, pivoting on the Marne and directing it to move on the +Ourcq; cross and attack the flank of the First German Army, which was +then moving in a southeasterly direction east of that river. + +He requested me to effect a change of front to my right--my left resting +on the Marne and my right on the Fifth Army--to fill the gap between +that army and the Sixth. I was then to advance against the enemy in my +front and join in the general offensive movement. + +These combined movements practically commenced on Sunday, Sept. 6, at +sunrise; and on that day it may be said that a great battle opened on a +front extending from Ermenonville, which was just in front of the left +flank of the Sixth French Army, through Lizy on the Marne, Mauperthuis, +which was about the British centre, Courtecon, which was on the left of +the Fifth French Army, to Esternay and Charleville, the left of the +Ninth Army under Gen. Foch, and so along the front of the Ninth, Fourth +and Third French Armies to a point north of the fortress of Verdun. + +[Illustration: Map 5.--Sept. 8. Battle of the Marne. +The great advance to the Petit Morin and the Marne, where important +captures were made by the British.] + +This battle, in so far as the Sixth French Army, the British Army, the +Fifth French Army, and the Ninth French Army were concerned, may be said +to have concluded on the evening of Sept. 10, by which time the Germans +had been driven back to the line Soissons-Rheims, with a loss of +thousands of prisoners, many guns, and enormous masses of transport. + +About Sept. 3 the enemy appears to have changed his plans and to have +determined to stop his advance south direct upon Paris, for on Sept. 4 +air reconnoissances showed that his main columns were moving in a +southeasterly direction generally east of a line drawn through Nanteuil +and Lizy on the Ourcq. + +On Sept. 5 several of these columns were observed to have crossed the +Marne, while German troops, which were observed moving southeast up the +left flank of the Ourcq on the 4th, were now reported to be halted and +facing that river. Heads of the enemy's columns were seen crossing at +Changis, La Ferte, Nogent, Chateau Thierry, and Mezy. + +Considerable German columns of all arms were seen to be converging on +Montmirail, while before sunset large bivouacs of the enemy were located +in the neighborhood of Coulommiers, south of Rebais, La Ferte-Gaucher, +and Dagny. + +I should conceive it to have been about noon on Sept. 6, after the +British forces had changed their front to the right and occupied the +line Jouy-Le Chatel-Faremoutiers-Villeneuve Le Comte, and the advance of +the Sixth French Army north of the Marne toward the Ourcq became +apparent, that the enemy realized the powerful threat that was being +made against the flank of his columns moving southeast, and began the +great retreat which opened the battle above referred to. + +On the evening of Sept. 6, therefore, the fronts and positions of the +opposing armies were roughly as follows: + + Allies. + + _Sixth French Army_.--Right on the Marne at Meux, left toward Betz. + + _British Forces._--On the line Dagny-Coulommiers-Maison. + + _Fifth French Army._--At Courtagon, right on Esternay. + + _Conneau's Cavalry Corps._--Between the right of the British and the + left of the French Fifth Army. + + Germans. + + _Fourth Reserve and Second Corps._--East of the Ourcq and facing + that river. + + _Ninth Cavalry Division._--West of Crecy. + + _Second Cavalry Division._--North of Coulommiers. + + _Fourth Corps._--Rebais. + + _Third and Seventh Corps._--Southwest of Montmirail. + +All these troops constituted the First German Army, which was directed +against the French Sixth Army on the Ourcq, and the British forces, and +the left of the Fifth French Army south of the Marne. + +The Second German Army (IX., X., X.R., and Guard) was moving against the +centre and right of the Fifth French Army and the Ninth French Army. + +On Sept. 7 both the Fifth and Sixth French Armies were heavily engaged +on our flank. The Second and Fourth Reserve German Corps on the Ourcq +vigorously opposed the advance of the French toward that river, but did +not prevent the Sixth Army from gaining some headway, the Germans +themselves suffering serious losses. The French Fifth Army threw the +enemy back to the line of the Petit Morin River after inflicting severe +losses upon them, especially about Montceaux, which was carried at the +point of the bayonet. + +The enemy retreated before our advance, covered by his Second and Ninth +and Guard Cavalry Divisions, which suffered severely. + +Our cavalry acted with great vigor, especially Gen. De Lisle's brigade, +with the Ninth Lancers and Eighteenth Hussars. + +On Sept. 8 the enemy continued his retreat northward, and our army was +successfully engaged during the day with strong rearguards of all arms +on the Petit Morin River, thereby materially assisting the progress of +the French armies on our right and left, against whom the enemy was +making his greatest efforts. On both sides the enemy was thrown back +with very heavy loss. The First Army Corps encountered stubborn +resistance at La Tretoire, (north of Rabais.) The enemy occupied a +strong position with infantry and guns on the northern bank of the Petit +Morin River; they were dislodged with considerable loss. Several machine +guns and many prisoners were captured, and upward of 200 German dead +were left on the ground. + +[Illustration: Map 6.--Sept. 9. Forcing the passage of the Marne. +This day the German retreat degenerated into a rout, and many captures +were made.] + +The forcing of the Petit Morin at this point was much assisted by the +cavalry and the First Division, which crossed higher up the stream. + +Later in the day a counter-attack by the enemy was well repulsed by the +First Army Corps, a great many prisoners and some guns again falling +into our hands. + +On this day (Sept. 8) the Second Army Corps encountered considerable +opposition, but drove back the enemy at all points with great loss, +making considerable captures. + +The Third Army Corps also drove back considerable bodies of the enemy's +infantry and made some captures. + +On Sept. 9 the First and Second Army Corps forced the passage of the +Marne and advanced some miles to the north of it. The Third Corps +encountered considerable opposition, as the bridge at La Ferte was +destroyed and the enemy held the town on the opposite bank in some +strength, and thence persistently obstructed the construction of a +bridge; so the passage was not effected until after nightfall. + +During the day's pursuit the enemy suffered heavy loss in killed and +wounded, some hundreds of prisoners fell into our hands and a battery of +eight machine guns was captured by the Second Division. + +On this day the Sixth French Army was heavily engaged west of the River +Ourcq. The enemy had largely increased his force opposing them; and very +heavy fighting ensued, in which the French were successful throughout. + +The left of the Fifth French Army reached the neighborhood of Chateau +Thierry after the most severe fighting, having driven the enemy +completely north of the river with great loss. + +The fighting of this army in the neighborhood of Montmirail was very +severe. + +The advance was resumed at daybreak on the 10th up to the line of the +Ourcq, opposed by strong rearguards of all arms. The First and Second +Corps, assisted by the cavalry divisions on the right, the Third and +Fifth Cavalry Brigades on the left, drove the enemy northward. Thirteen +guns, seven machine guns, about 2,000 prisoners, and quantities of +transport fell into our hands. The enemy left many dead on the field. On +this day the French Fifth and Sixth Armies had little opposition. + +As the First and Second German Armies were now in full retreat, this +evening marks the end of the battle which practically commenced on the +morning of the 6th inst.; and it is at this point in the operations that +I am concluding the present dispatch. + +Although I deeply regret [Transcriber: original 'regreat'] to have had +to report heavy losses in killed and wounded throughout these +operations, I do not think they have been excessive in view of the +magnitude of the great fight, the outlines of which I have only been +able very briefly to describe, and the demoralization and loss in killed +and wounded which are known to have been caused to the enemy by the +vigor and severity of the pursuit. + +In concluding this dispatch I must call your Lordship's special +attention to the fact that from Sunday, Aug. 23, up to the present date, +(Sept. 17,) from Mons back almost to the Seine, and from the Seine to +the Aisne, the army under my command has been ceaselessly engaged +without one single day's halt or rest of any kind. + +Since the date to which in this dispatch I have limited my report of the +operations, a great battle on the Aisne has been proceeding. A full +report of this battle will be made in an early further dispatch. + +[Illustration: Map 7--Sept. 10 (evening). End of the battle of the +Marne. +The Germans were driven over the Ourcq and retreated to the Aisne.] + +[Illustration: LIEUT. GEN. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG +Commanding one of Gen. French's Corps +(_From Painting by John St. Helier Lander._)] + +[Illustration: CROWN PRINCE WILHELM +(_Copyright, Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin +Photographic Co., N.Y._)] + +It will, however, be of interest to say here that, in spite of a very +determined resistance on the part of the enemy, who is holding in +strength and great tenacity a position peculiarly favorable to defense, +the battle which commenced on the evening of the 12th inst. has, so far, +forced the enemy back from his first position, secured the passage of +the river, and inflicted great loss upon him, including the capture of +over 2,000 prisoners and several guns. I have the honor to be your +Lordship's most obedient servant, + +(Signed.) J.D.P. FRENCH, +Field Marshal, +Commanding in Chief, the British forces in the field. + + + + +III. + +*The Battle of the Aisne.* + + +8th October, 1914. + +My Lord: I have the honor to report the operations in which the British +forces in France have been engaged since the evening of Sept. 10: + +1. In the early morning of the 11th the further pursuit of the enemy was +commenced, and the three corps crossed the Ourcq practically unopposed, +the cavalry reaching the line of the Aisne River, the Third and Fifth +Brigades south of Soissons, the First, Second and the Fourth on the high +ground at Couvrelles and Cerseuil. + +On the afternoon of the 12th, from the opposition encountered by the +Sixth French Army to the west of Soissons, by the Third Corps southeast +of that place, by the Second Corps south of Missy and Vailly, and +certain indications all along the line, I formed the opinion that the +enemy had, for the moment at any rate, arrested his retreat and was +preparing to dispute the passage of the Aisne with some vigor. + +South of Soissons the Germans were holding Mont de Paris against the +attack of the right of the French Sixth Army when the Third Corps +reached the neighborhood of Buzancy, southeast of that place. With the +assistance of the artillery of the Third Corps the French drove them +back across the river at Soissons, where they destroyed the bridges. + +The heavy artillery fire which was visible for several miles in a +westerly direction in the valley of the Aisne showed that the Sixth +French Army was meeting with strong opposition all along the line. + +On this day the cavalry under Gen. Allenby reached the neighborhood of +Braine and did good work in clearing the town and the high ground beyond +it of strong hostile detachments. The Queen's Bays are particularly +mentioned by the General as having assisted greatly in the success of +this operation. They were well supported by the Third Division, which on +this night bivouacked at Brenelle, south of the river. + +The Fifth Division approached Missy, but were unable to make headway. + +The First Army Corps reached the neighborhood of Vauxcere without much +opposition. + +In this manner the battle of the Aisne commenced. + +2. The Aisne Valley runs generally east and west, and consists of a +flat-bottomed depression of width varying from half a mile to two miles, +down which the river follows a winding course to the west, at some +points near the southern slopes of the valley and at others near the +northern. The high ground both on the north and south of the river is +approximately 400 feet above the bottom of the valley, and is very +similar in character, as are both slopes of the valley itself, which are +broken into numerous rounded spurs and re-entrants. The most prominent +of the former are the Chivre spur on the right bank and Sermoise spur on +the left. Near the latter place the general plateau, on the south is +divided by a subsidiary valley of much the same character, down which +the small River Vesle flows to the main stream near Sermoise. The slopes +of the plateau overlooking the Aisne on the north and south are of +varying steepness, and are covered with numerous patches of wood, which +also stretch upward and backward over the edge on to the top of the high +ground. There are several villages and small towns dotted about in the +valley itself and along its sides, the chief of which is the town of +Soissons. + +The Aisne is a sluggish stream of some 170 feet in breadth, but, being +15 feet deep in the centre, it is unfordable. Between Soissons on the +west and Villiers on the east (the part of the river attacked and +secured by the British forces) there are eleven road bridges across it. +On the north bank a narrow-gauge railway runs from Soissons to Vailly, +where it crosses the river and continues eastward along the south bank. +From Soissons to Sermoise a double line of railway runs along the south +bank, turning at the latter place up the Vesle Valley toward Bazoches. + +The position held by the enemy is a very strong one, either for delaying +action or for a defensive battle. One of its chief military +characteristics is that from the high ground on neither side can the top +of the plateau on the other side be seen, except for small stretches. +This is chiefly due to the woods on the edges of the slopes. Another +important point is that all the bridges are under direct or high-angle +artillery fire. + +The tract of country above described, which lies north of the Aisne, is +well adapted to concealment, and was so skillfully turned to account by +the enemy as to render it impossible to judge the real nature of his +opposition to our passage of the river or accurately to gauge his +strength; but I have every reason to conclude that strong rearguards of +at least three army corps were holding the passages on the early morning +of the 13th. + +3. On that morning I ordered the British forces to advance and make good +the Aisne. + +The First Corps and the cavalry advanced on the river. The First +Division was directed on Chamouille via the canal bridge at Bourg, and +the Second Division on Courtecon and Presles via Pont-Arcy, and on the +canal to the north of Braye via Chavonne. On the right the cavalry and +First Division met with slight opposition and found a passage by means +of the canal, which crosses the river by an aqueduct. The division was +therefore able to press on, supported by the cavalry division on its +outer flank, driving back the enemy in front of it. + +On the left the leading troops of the Second Division reached the river +by 9 o'clock. The Fifth Infantry Brigade were only enabled to cross, in +single file and under considerable shell fire, by means of the broken +girder of the bridge, which was not entirely submerged in the river. The +construction of a pontoon bridge was at once undertaken, and was +completed by 5 o'clock in the afternoon. + +On the extreme left the Fourth Guards Brigade met with severe opposition +at Chavonne, and it was only late in the afternoon that it was able to +establish a foothold on the northern bank of the river by ferrying one +battalion across in boats. + +By nightfall the First Division occupied the area of +Moulins-Paissy-Geny, with posts at the village of Vendresse. + +The Second Division bivouacked as a whole on the southern bank of the +river, leaving only the Fifth Brigade on the north bank to establish a +bridge-head. + +The Second Corps found all the bridges in front of them destroyed except +that of Conde, which was in possession of the enemy, and remained so +until the end of the battle. + +In the approach to Missy, where the Fifth Division eventually crossed, +there is some open ground which was swept by a heavy fire from the +opposite bank. The Thirteenth Brigade was therefore unable to advance; +but the Fourteenth, which was directed to the east of Venizel at a less +exposed point, was rafted across, and by night established itself with +its left at St. Marguerite. They were followed by the Fifteenth Brigade; +and later on both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth supported the Fourth +Division on their left in repelling a heavy counter-attack on the Third +Corps. + +On the morning of the 13th the Third Corps found the enemy had +established himself in strength on the Vregny plateau. The road bridge +at Venizel was repaired during the morning, and a reconnoissance was +made with a view to throwing a pontoon bridge at Soissons. + +The Twelfth Infantry Brigade crossed at Venizel, and was assembled at +Bucy le Long by 1 P.M., but the bridge was so far damaged that +artillery could only be man-handled across it. Meanwhile the +construction of a bridge was commenced close to the road bridge at +Venizel. + +At 2 P.M. the Twelfth Infantry Brigade attacked in the direction of +Chivres and Vregny with the object of securing the high ground east of +Chivres, as a necessary preliminary to a further advance northward. This +attack made good progress, but at 5:30 P.M. the enemy's artillery and +machine gun fire from the direction of Vregny became so severe that no +further advance could be made. The positions reached were held till +dark. + +The pontoon bridge at Venizel was completed at 5:30 P.M., when the Tenth +Infantry Brigade crossed the river and moved to Bucy le Long. + +The Nineteenth Infantry Brigade moved to Billy-sur-Aisne, and before +dark all the artillery of the division had crossed the river, with the +exception of the heavy battery and one brigade of field artillery. + +During the night the positions gained by the Twelfth Infantry Brigade to +the east of the stream running through Chivres were handed over to the +Fifth Division. + +The section of the bridging train allotted to the Third Corps began to +arrive in the neighborhood of Soissons late in the afternoon, when an +attempt to throw a heavy pontoon bridge at Soissons had to be abandoned, +owing to the fire of the enemy's heavy howitzers. + +In the evening the enemy retired at all points and intrenched himself on +the high ground about two miles north of the river, along which runs the +Chemin-des-Dames. Detachments of infantry, however, strongly intrenched +in commanding points down slopes of the various spurs, were left in +front of all three corps with powerful artillery in support of them. + +During the night of the 13th and on the 14th and following days the +field companies were incessantly at work night and day. Eight pontoon +bridges and one foot bridge were thrown across the river under +generally very heavy artillery fire, which was incessantly kept up on to +most of the crossings after completion. Three of the road bridges, i.e., +Venizel, Missy, and Vailly, and the railway bridge east of Vailly, were +temporarily repaired so as to take foot traffic, and the Villiers Bridge +made fit to carry weights up to six tons. + +Preparations were also made for the repair of the Missy, Vailly and +Bourg bridges so as to take mechanical transport. + +The weather was very wet and added to the difficulties by cutting up the +already indifferent approaches, entailing a large amount of work to +repair and improve. + +The operations of the field companies during this most trying time are +worthy of the best traditions of the Royal Engineers. + +4. On the evening of the 14th it was still impossible to decide whether +the enemy was only making a temporary halt, covered by rearguards, or +whether he intended to stand and defend the position. + +With a view to clearing up the situation I ordered a general advance. + +The action of the First Corps on this day under the direction and +command of Sir Douglas Haig was of so skillful, bold, and decisive a +character that he gained positions which alone have enabled me to +maintain my position for more than three weeks of very severe fighting +on the north bank of the river. + +The corps was directed to cross the line Moulins-Moussy by 7 A.M. + +On the right the General Officer commanding the First Division directed +the Second Infantry Brigade (which was in billets and bivouacked about +Moulins), and the Twenty-fifth Artillery Brigade (less one battery), +under Gen. Bulfin, to move forward before daybreak, in order to protect +the advance of the division sent up the valley to Vendresse. An +officer's patrol sent out by this brigade reported a considerable force +of the enemy near the factory north of Troyon, and the Brigadier +accordingly directed two regiments (the King's Royal Rifles and the +Royal Sussex Regiment) to move at 3 A.M. The Northamptonshire Regiment +was ordered to move at 4 A.M. to occupy the spur east of Troyon. The +remaining regiment of the brigade (the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment) +moved at 5:30 A.M. to the village of Vendresse. The factory was found to +be held in considerable strength by the enemy, and the Brigadier ordered +the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to support the King's Royal Rifles +and the Sussex Regiment. Even with this support the force was unable to +make headway, and on the arrival of the First Brigade the Coldstream +Guards were moved up to support the right of the leading brigade (the +Second), while the remainder of the First Brigade supported its left. + +[Illustration: Map 8.--Sept. 10 to 12. Showing the Germans' headlong +retreat to their intrenched positions beyond the Aisne.] + +About noon the situation was, roughly, that the whole of these two +brigades were extended along a line running east and west, north of the +line Troyon and south of the Chemin-des-Dames. A party of the Loyal +North Lancashire Regiment had seized and were holding the factory. The +enemy had a line of intrenchments north and east of the factory in +considerable strength, and every effort to advance against this line was +driven back by heavy shell and machine-gun fire. The morning was wet and +a heavy mist hung over the hills, so that the Twenty-fifth Artillery +Brigade and the divisional artillery were unable to render effective +support to the advanced troops until about 9 o'clock. + +By 10 o'clock the Third Infantry Brigade had reached a point one mile +south of Vendresse, and from there it was ordered to continue the line +of the First Brigade and to connect with and help the right of the +Second Division. A strong hostile column was found to be advancing, and +by a vigorous counterstroke with two of his battalions the Brigadier +checked the advance of this column and relieved the pressure on the +Second Division. From this period until late in the afternoon the +fighting consisted of a series of attacks and counter-attacks. The +counter-strokers by the enemy were delivered at first with great vigor, +but later on they decreased in strength, and all were driven off with +heavy loss. + +On the left the Sixth Infantry Brigade had been ordered to cross the +river and to pass through the line held during the preceding night by +the Fifth Infantry Brigade and occupy the Courtecon Ridge, while a +detached force, consisting of the Fourth Guards Brigade and the +Thirty-sixth Brigade Royal Field Artillery, under Brig. Gen. Perceval, +were ordered to proceed to a point east of the village of Ostel. + +The Sixth Infantry Brigade crossed the river at Pont-Arcy, moved up the +valley toward Braye, and at 9 A.M. had reached the line +Tilleul-La-Buvelle. On the line they came under heavy artillery and +rifle fire, and were unable to advance until supported by the +Thirty-fourth Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, and the Forty-fourth +Howitzer Brigade and the Heavy Artillery. + +The Fourth Guards Brigade crossed the river at 10 A.M. and met with very +heavy opposition. It had to pass through dense woods; field artillery +support was difficult to obtain; but one section of a field battery +pushed up to and within the firing line. At 1 P.M. the left of the +brigade was south of the Ostel Ridge. + +At this period of the action the enemy obtained a footing between the +First and Second Corps, and threatened to cut the communications of the +latter. + +Sir Douglas Haig was very hardly pressed and had no reserve in hand. I +placed the cavalry division at his disposal, part of which he skillfully +used to prolong and secure the left flank of the Guards Brigade. Some +heavy fighting ensued, which resulted in the enemy being driven back +with heavy loss. + +About 4 o'clock the weakening of the counter-attacks by the enemy and +other indications tended to show that his resistance was decreasing, and +a general advance was ordered by the army corps commander. Although +meeting with considerable opposition and coming under very heavy +artillery and rifle fire, the position of the corps at the end of the +day's operations extended from the Chemin-des-Dames on the right, +through Chivy, to Le Cour de Soupir, with the First Cavalry Brigade +extending to the Chavonne-Soissons road. + +[Illustration: Map 9.--Sept. 13 and 14. Passage of the Aisne, when +bridges were constructed under great difficulties.] + +On the right the corps was in close touch with the French Moroccan +troops of the Eighteenth Corps, which were intrenched in echelon to its +right rear. During the night they intrenched this position. + +Throughout the battle of the Aisne this advanced and commanding position +was maintained, and I cannot speak too highly of the valuable services +rendered by Sir Douglas Haig and the army corps under his command. Day +after day and night after night the enemy's infantry has been hurled +against him in violent counter-attack, which has never on any one +occasion succeeded, while the trenches all over his position have been +under continuous heavy artillery fire. + +The operations of the First Corps on this day resulted in the capture of +several hundred prisoners, some field pieces and machine guns. + +The casualties were very severe, one brigade alone losing three of its +four Colonels. + +The Third Division commenced a further advance, and had nearly reached +the plateau of Aizy when they were driven back by a powerful +counter-attack supported by heavy artillery. The division, however, fell +back in the best order, and finally intrenched itself about a mile north +of Vailly Bridge, effectively covering the passage. + +The Fourth and Fifth Divisions were unable to do more than maintain +their ground. + +5. On the morning of the 15th, after close examination of the position, +it became clear to me that the enemy was making a determined stand; and +this view was confirmed by reports which reached me from the French +armies fighting on my right and left, which clearly showed that a +strongly intrenched line of defense was being taken up from the north of +Compiegne, eastward and southeastward, along the whole Valley of the +Aisne up to and beyond Rheims. + +A few days previously the Fortress of Maubeuge fell, and a considerable +quantity of siege artillery was brought down from that place to +strengthen the enemy's position in front of us. + +During the 15th shells fell in our position which have been judged by +experts to be thrown by eight-inch siege guns with a range of 10,000 +yards. Throughout the whole course of the battle our troops have +suffered very heavily from this fire, although its effect latterly was +largely mitigated by more efficient and thorough intrenching, the +necessity for which I impressed strongly upon army corps commanders. In +order to assist them in this work all villages within the area of our +occupation were searched for heavy intrenching tools, a large number of +which were collected. + +In view of the peculiar formation of the ground on the north side of the +river between Missy and Soissons, and its extraordinary adaptability to +a force on the defensive, the Fifth Division found it impossible to +maintain its position on the southern edge of the Chivres Plateau, as +the enemy in possession of the Village of Vregny to the west was able to +bring a flank fire to bear upon it. The division had, therefore, to +retire to a line the left of which was at the village of Marguerite, and +thence ran by the north edge of Missy back to the river to the east of +that place. + +With great skill and tenacity Sir Charles Fergusson maintained this +position throughout the whole battle, although his trenches were +necessarily on lower ground than that occupied by the enemy on the +southern edge of the plateau, which was only 400 yards away. + +Gen. Hamilton with the Third Division vigorously attacked to the north, +and regained all the ground he had lost on the 15th, which throughout +the battle has formed a most powerful and effective bridge-head. + +6. On the 16th the Sixth Division came up into line. + +It had been my intention to direct the First Corps to attack and seize +the enemy's position on the Chemin-des-Dames, supporting it with this +new reinforcement. I hoped, from the position thus gained, to bring +effective fire to bear across the front of the Third Division, which, +by securing the advance of the latter, would also take the pressure off +the Fifth Division and the Third Corps. + +But any further advance of the First Corps would have dangerously +exposed my right flank. And, further, I learned from the French +Commander in Chief that he was strongly reinforcing the Sixth French +Army on my left, with the intention of bringing up the allied left to +attack the enemy's flank, and thus compel his retirement. I therefore +sent the Sixth Division to join the Third Corps, with orders to keep it +on the south side of the river, as it might be available in general +reserve. + +On the 17th, 18th, and 19th the whole of our line was heavily bombarded, +and the First Corps was constantly and heavily engaged. On the afternoon +of the 17th the right flank of the First Division was seriously +threatened. A counter-attack was made by the Northamptonshire Regiment +in combination with the Queen's, and one battalion of the Divisional +Reserve was moved up in support. The Northamptonshire Regiment, under +cover of mist, crept up to within a hundred yards of the enemy's +trenches and charged with the bayonet, driving them out of the trenches +and up the hill. A very strong force of hostile infantry was then +disclosed on the crest line. This new line was enfiladed by part of the +Queen's and the King's Royal Rifles, which wheeled to their left on the +extreme right of our infantry line, and were supported by a squadron of +cavalry on their outer flank. The enemy's attack was ultimately driven +back with heavy loss. + +On the 18th, during the night, the Gloucestershire Regiment advanced +from their position near Chivy, filled in the enemy's trenches, and +captured two Maxim guns. + +On the extreme right the Queen's were heavily attacked, but the enemy +was repulsed with great loss. About midnight the attack was renewed on +the First Division, supported by artillery fire, but was again +repulsed. + +Shortly after midnight an attack was made on the left of the Second +Division with considerable force, which was also thrown back. + +At about 1 P.M. on the 19th the Second Division drove back a heavy +infantry attack strongly supported by artillery fire. At dusk the attack +was renewed and again repulsed. + +On the 18th I discussed with the General Officer commanding the Second +Army Corps and his divisional commanders the possibility of driving the +enemy out of Conde, which lay between his two divisions, and seizing the +bridge, which has remained throughout in his possession. + +As, however, I found that the bridge was closely commanded from all +points on the south side, and that satisfactory arrangements were made +to prevent any issue from it by the enemy by day or night, I decided +that it was not necessary to incur the losses which an attack would +entail, as, in view of the position of the Second and Third Corps, the +enemy could make no use of Conde, and would be automatically forced out +of it by any advance which might become possible for us. + +7. On this day information reached me from Gen. Joffre that he had found +it necessary to make a new plan and to attack and envelop the German +right flank. + +It was now evident to me that the battle in which we had been engaged +since the 12th inst. must last some days longer, until the effect of +this new flank movement could be felt and a way opened to drive the +enemy from his positions. + +It thus became essential to establish some system of regular relief in +the trenches, and I have used the infantry of the Sixth Division for +this purpose with good results. The relieved brigades were brought back +alternately south of the river and, with the artillery of the Sixth +Division, formed a general reserve on which I could rely in case of +necessity. + +The cavalry has rendered most efficient and ready help in the trenches, +and have done all they possibly could to lighten the arduous and trying +task which has of necessity fallen to the lot of the infantry. + +On the evening of the 19th and throughout the 20th the enemy again +commenced to show considerable activity. On the former night a severe +counter-attack on the Third Division was repulsed with considerable +loss, and from early on Sunday morning various hostile attempts were +made on the trenches of the First Division. During the day the enemy +suffered another severe repulse in front of the Second Division, losing +heavily in the attempt. In the course of the afternoon the enemy made +desperate attempts against the trenches all along the front of the First +Corps, but with similar results. + +After dark the enemy again attacked the Second Division, only to be +again driven back. + +Our losses on these two days were considerable, but the number, as +obtained, of the enemy's killed and wounded vastly exceeded them. + +As the troops of the First Army Corps were much exhausted by this +continual fighting, I reinforced Sir Douglas Haig with a brigade from +the reserve, and called upon the First Cavalry Division to assist them. + +On the night of the 21st another violent counter-attack was repulsed by +the Third Division, the enemy losing heavily. + +On the 23d the four 6-inch howitzer batteries, which I had asked to be +sent from home, arrived. Two batteries were handed over to the Second +Corps and two to the First Corps. They were brought into action on the +24th with very good results. + +Our experiences in this campaign seem to point to the employment of more +heavy guns of a larger calibre in great battles which last for several +days, during which time powerful intrenching work on both sides can be +carried out. These batteries were used with considerable effect on the +24th and the following days. + +8. On the 23d the action of Gen. de Castelnau's army on the allied left +developed considerably, and apparently withdrew considerable forces of +the enemy away from the centre and east. I am not aware whether it was +due to this cause or not, but until the 26th it appeared as though the +enemy's opposition in our front was weakening. On that day, however, a +very marked renewal of activity commenced. A constant and vigorous +artillery bombardment was maintained all day, and the Germans in front +of the First Division were observed to be "sapping" up to our lines and +trying to establish new trenches. Renewed counter-attacks were delivered +and beaten off during the course of the day, and in the afternoon a +well-timed attack by the First Division stopped the enemy's intrenching +work. + +During the night of the 27th-28th the enemy again made the most +determined attempts to capture the trenches of the First Division, but +without the slightest success. + +Similar attacks were reported during these three days all along the line +of the allied front, and it is certain that the enemy then made one last +great effort to establish ascendency. He was, however, unsuccessful +everywhere, and is reported to have suffered heavy losses. The same +futile attempts were made all along our front up to the evening of the +28th, when they died away, and have not since been renewed. + +On former occasions I have brought to your Lordship's notice the +valuable services performed during this campaign by the Royal Artillery. + +Throughout the battle of the Aisne they have displayed the same skill, +endurance, and tenacity, and I deeply appreciate the work they have +done. + +Sir David Henderson and the Royal Flying Corps under his command have +again proved their incalculable value. Great strides have been made in +the development of the use of aircraft in the tactical sphere by +establishing effective communication between aircraft and units in +action. + +It is difficult to describe adequately and accurately the great strain +to which officers and men were subjected almost every hour of the day +and night throughout this battle. + +[Illustration: Map 10.--Sept. 15 to 28. This map shows the intrenched +positions of the Germans, many of which the Allies took with great loss +to the Germans.] + +I have described above the severe character of the artillery fire which +was directed from morning till night not only upon the trenches, but +over the whole surface of the ground occupied by our forces. It was not +until a few days before the position was evacuated that the heavy guns +were removed and the fire slackened. Attack and counter-attack occurred +at all hours of the night and day throughout the whole position, +demanding extreme vigilance, and permitting only a minimum of rest. + +The fact that between Sept. 12 to the date of this dispatch the total +numbers of killed, wounded, and missing reached the figures amounting to +561 officers, 12,980 men, proves the severity of the struggle. + +The tax on the endurance of the troops was further increased by the +heavy rain and cold which prevailed for some ten or twelve days of this +trying time. + +The battle of the Aisne has once more demonstrated the splendid spirit, +gallantry, and devotion which animates the officers and men of his +Majesty's forces. + +With reference to the last paragraph of my dispatch of Sept. 7, I append +the names of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men brought +forward for special mention by army corps commanders and heads of +departments for services rendered from the commencement of the campaign +up to the present date. + +I entirely agree with these recommendations and beg to submit them for +your Lordship's consideration. + +I further wish to bring forward the names of the following officers who +have rendered valuable service: Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and Lieut. +Gen. Sir Douglas Haig (commanding First and Second Corps, respectively) +I have already mentioned in the present and former dispatches for +particularly marked and distinguished service in critical situations. + +Since the commencement of the campaign they have carried out all my +orders [Transcriber: original 'orders.'] and instructions with the +utmost ability. + +Lieut. Gen. W.P. Pulteney took over the command of the Third Corps just +before the commencement of the battle of the Marne. Throughout the +subsequent operations he showed himself to be a most capable commander +in the field, and has rendered very valuable services. + +Major Gen. E.H.H. Allenby and Major Gen. H. De La P. Gough have proved +themselves to be cavalry leaders of a high order, and I am deeply +indebted to them. The undoubted moral superiority which our cavalry has +obtained over that of the enemy has been due to the skill with which +they have turned to the best account the qualities inherent in the +splendid troops they command. + +In my dispatch of the 7th September I mentioned the name of Brig. Gen. +Sir David Henderson and his valuable work in command of the Royal Flying +Corps; and I have once more to express my deep appreciation of the help +he has since rendered me. + +Lieut. Gen. Sir Archibald Murray has continued to render me invaluable +help as Chief of the Staff; and in his arduous and responsible duties he +has been ably assisted by Major Gen. Henry Wilson, Sub-Chief. + +Lieut. Gen. Sir Nevil Macready and Lieut. Gen. Sir William Robertson +have continued to perform excellent service as Adjutant General and +Quartermaster General, respectively. + +The Director of Army Signals, Lieut. Col. J.S. Fowler, has materially +assisted the operations by the skill and energy which he has displayed +in the working of the important department over which he presides. + +My Military Secretary, Brig. Gen. the Hon. W. Lambton, has performed his +arduous and difficult duties with much zeal and great efficiency. + +I am anxious also to bring to your Lordship's notice the following names +of officers of my personal staff, who throughout these arduous +operations have shown untiring zeal and energy in the performance of +their duties: + + _Aides de Camp._ + + Lieut. Col. Stanley Barry. + Lieut. Col. Lord Brooke. + Major Fitzgerald Watt. + + _Extra Aide de Camp._ + + Capt. the Hon. F.E. Guest. + + _Private Secretary._ + + Lieut. Col. Brindsley Fitzgerald. + +Major his Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G., joined my +staff as Aide de Camp on the 14th September. + +His Royal Highness's intimate knowledge of languages enabled me to +employ him with great advantage on confidential missions of some +importance, and his services have proved of considerable value. + +I cannot close this dispatch without informing your Lordship of the +valuable services rendered by the Chief of the French Military Mission +at my headquarters, Col. Victor Huguet of the French Artillery. He has +displayed tact and judgment of a high order in many difficult +situations, and has rendered conspicuous service to the allied cause. I +have the honor to be, your Lordship's most obedient servant, + +J.D.P. French, Field Marshal, +_Commanding in Chief the British Army in the Field._ + + + + +IV. + +*The Battle in Flanders.* + +[Official Abstract of Report for The Associated Press.] + + +LONDON, Nov. 29.--A report from Field Marshal Sir John French covering +the period of the battle in Flanders and the days immediately preceding +it, issued today by the Official Press Bureau, shows that this battle +was brought about, first, by the Allies' attempts to outflank the +Germans, who countered, and then by the Allies' plans to move to the +northeast to Ghent and Bruges, which also failed. After this the German +offensive began, with the French coast ports as the objective, but this +movement, like those of the Allies, met with failure. + +The Field Marshal, doubtless in response to the demands of the British +public, tells what the various units of the expeditionary force have +been doing--those that failed and were cut off and those who against +superior numbers held the trenches for a month. He gives it as his +opinion that the German losses have been thrice as great as those of the +Allies, and speaks optimistically of the future. + +The report covers in a general way the activities of the British troops +from Oct. 11 to Nov. 20. + +Summing up the situation in concluding his report, the Field Marshal +says: + +"As I close this dispatch, signs are in evidence that we are possibly in +the last stages of the battle from Ypres to Armentieres. For several +days past the artillery fire of the enemy has slackened considerably, +and his infantry attacks have practically ceased." + +Discussing the general military situation of the Allies, as it appears +to him at the time of writing, Sir John says: + +"It does not seem to be clearly understood that the operations in which +we have been engaged embrace nearly all of the central part of the +Continent of Europe, from the east to the west. The combined French, +Belgian, and British Armies in the west and the Russian Army in the east +are opposed to the united forces of Germany and Austria, acting as +combined armies between us. + +"Our enemies elected at the commencement of the war to throw the weight +of their forces against our armies in the west and to detach only a +comparatively weak force, composed of very few of the first line troops +and several corps of second and third line troops, to stem the Russian +advance until the western forces could be defeated and overwhelmed. +Their strength enabled them from the outset to throw greatly superior +forces against us in the west. This precludes the possibility of our +taking vigorous offensive action except when miscalculations and +mistakes are made by their commanders, opening up special opportunities +for successful attacks and pursuit. + +"The battle of the Marne was an example of this, as was also our advance +from St. Omer and Hazebrouck to the line of the River Lys at the +commencement of this battle. The role which our armies in the west have +consequently been called upon to fulfill has been to occupy strong +defensive positions, holding ground gained and inviting the enemy's +attack, and to throw back these attacks, causing the enemy heavy losses +in his retreat and following him up with powerful and successful +counter-attacks to complete his discomfiture. + +"The value and significance of operations of this nature since the +commencement of hostilities by the Allies' forces in the west lie in the +fact that at the moment when the eastern provinces of Germany are in +imminent danger of being overrun by the numerous and powerful armies of +Russia, nearly the whole active army of Germany is tied down to a line +of trenches extending from Verdun, on the Alsatian frontier, to the sea +at Nieuport, east of Dunkirk, a distance of 260 miles, where they are +held, with much reduced numbers and impaired morale, by the successful +action of our troops in the west. + +"I cannot speak too highly of the services rendered by the Royal +Artillery throughout the battle. In spite of the fact that the enemy +brought up in support of his attacks guns of great range and shell +power, our men have succeeded throughout in preventing the enemy from +establishing anything in the nature of superiority in artillery. The +skill, courage, and energy displayed by the commanders of the Royal +Artillery have been very marked. The Royal Engineers have been +indefatigable in their efforts to assist the infantry in field, +fortification, and trench work. + +"I deeply regret the heavy casualties which we have suffered, but the +nature of the fighting has been very desperate, and we have been +assailed by vastly superior numbers. I have every reason to know that +throughout the course of the battle we have placed at least three times +as many of the enemy hors de combat in dead, wounded and prisoners. + +"Throughout these operations Gen. Foch has strained his resources to the +utmost to afford me all the support he could. An expression of my warm +gratitude is also due to Gen. Dubail, commanding the Eighth French Army +Corps on my left, and to Gen. de Maud'huy, commanding the Tenth Army +Corps on my right." + +Discussing the details of the engagement from Ypres to Armentieres, +Field Marshal Sir John French explains that he was impressed early in +October with the necessity of giving the greatest possible support to +the northern flank of the Allies in the effort to outflank the Germans +and compel them to evacuate their positions. He says that the situation +on the Aisne warranted the withdrawal of British troops from positions +they held there, as the enemy had been weakened by continual attacks and +the fortifications of the Allies much improved. + +The Field Marshal made known his view to Gen. Joffre, who agreed with +it. The French General Staff arranged for the withdrawal of the British, +which began on Oct. 3 and was completed on Oct. 19, when the First Army +Corps, under Gen. Sir Douglas Haig detrained at St. Omer. + +The general plan, as arranged by Field Marshal French and Gen. Foch, +commanding the French troops to the north of Noyon, was that the English +should pivot on the French at Bethune, attacking the Germans on their +flank and forcing their way north. In the event that the British forced +the Germans out of their positions, making possible a forward movement +of the Allies, the French and British were to march east, with Lille as +the dividing line between the two armies, the English right being +directed on Lille. + +The battle which forms the chief feature of Gen. French's report really +began on Oct. 11, when Major Gen. Gough of the Second British Cavalry +Brigade, first came in contact with German cavalry in the woods along +the Bethune-Aire Canal. The English cavalry moved toward Hazebrouck, +clearing the way for two army corps, which advanced rapidly in a +northeasterly direction. For several days the progress of the British +was only slightly interrupted, except at La Bassee, a high position, +which Field Marshal French mentions as having stubbornly resisted. + +Field Marshal French says the Second Corps, under Gen. Smith-Dorrien, +was opposed by overpowering forces of Germans, but nevertheless advanced +until Oct. 18, when the German opposition compelled a reinforcement. Six +days later the Lahore Division of the Indian army was sent to support +the Second Corps. + +On Oct. 16 Sir Henry Rawlinson, who had covered the retreat of the +Belgian army from Antwerp with two divisions of English cavalry and two +divisions of French infantry, was stationed on the line east of Ypres +under orders to operate over a wide front and to keep possession of all +the ground held by the Allies until the First Army Corps could reach +Ypres. + +Gen. Rawlinson was opposed by superior forces and was unable to prevent +the Germans from getting large reinforcements. With four army corps +holding a much wider front than their size justified, Field Marshal +French says he faced a stubborn situation. The enemy was massed from the +Lys, and there was imperative need for a strengthened line. + +However, the Field Marshal decided to send the First Corps north of +Ypres to stop the reinforcements which might enable the Germans to flank +the Allies. The shattered Belgian army and the wearied French troops' +endeavors to check the German reinforcements were powerless, so the +British commander sent fresh troops to prevent the Germans from +executing movements which would have given them access to Channel ports. + +Sir Douglas Haig, with the First Army Corps, was sent Oct. 19 to capture +Bruges and drive the enemy back toward Ghent, if possible. Meantime the +Belgians intrenched themselves along the Ypres Canal. Sir John French +commends the valor of the Belgians, who, he says, exhausted by weeks of +constant fighting, maintained these positions gallantly. + +Because of the overwhelming numbers of the Germans opposing them, he +says he enjoined a defensive role upon the three army corps located +south of Ypres. While Gen. Haig made a slight advance, Sir John says it +was wonderful that he was able to advance at all, owing to the bad roads +and the overwhelming number of Germans, which made it impossible to +carry out the original plan of moving to Bruges. + +The fighting gradually developed into bayonet charges. Field Marshal +French says that Oct. 21 brought forth the hardest attack, made on the +First Corps at Ypres, in the checking of which the Worcestershire +Regiment displayed great gallantry. This day marked the most critical +period in the great battle, according to the Commander in Chief, who +says the recapture of the village of Gheluvelt through a rally of the +Worcestershires was fraught with much consequence to the Allies. + +After referring to some of the battles in which the Indian troops took +part, Field Marshal French says: + +"Since their arrival in this country and their occupation of the line +allotted to them I have been much impressed by the initiative and +resource displayed by the Indian troops. Some of the ruses they have +employed to deceive the enemy have been attended with the best results +and have doubtless kept the superior forces in front of them at bay. Our +Indian sappers and miners have long enjoyed a high reputation for skill +and resource. Without going into detail I can confidently assert that +throughout their work in this campaign they have fully justified that +reputation. + +"The General officer commanding the Indian army describes the conduct +and bearing of these troops in strange and new surroundings to have been +highly satisfactory, and I am enabled from my own observations to fully +corroborate this statement." + +Sir John French goes on to say that, while the whole line continued to +be heavily pressed, the Germans' efforts from Nov. 1 have been +concentrated upon breaking through the line held by the First British +and the Ninth French Corps and thus gaining possession of the town of +Ypres. Three Bavarian and one German corps, in addition to other troops, +were all directed against this northern line. + +About Nov. 10, after several units of these corps had been completely +shattered in futile attacks, the Field Marshal continues, a division of +the Prussian Guard, which had been operating in the vicinity of Arras, +was moved up to this area with great speed and secrecy. Documents found +on dead officers, the report says, proved that the Guard received the +German Emperor's special command to break through and succeed where +their comrades of the line had failed. They took the leading part in the +vigorous attacks made against the centre on the 11th and 12th, says +Field Marshal French, but, like their comrades, were repulsed with +enormous casualties. + +He pays high tribute to Sir Douglas Haig and his divisional and brigade +commanders, who, he says, "held the line with marvelous tenacity and +undaunted courage." The Field Marshal predicts that "their deeds during +these days of stress and trial will furnish some of the most brilliant +chapters which will be found in the military history of our time." + +High praise is also given the Third Cavalry Division under Major Gen. +Julian Byng, whose troops "were repeatedly called upon to restore +situations at critical points and fill gaps in the line caused by the +tremendous losses which occurred." + +The Commander in Chief makes special mention of Col. Gordon Chesney +Wilson of the Royal Horse Guards, Major the Hon. Hugh Dawnay of the +Second Life Guards, and Brig. Gen. FitzClarence of the Irish Guards, who +were killed, and of Brig. Gen. the Earl of Cavan, who "on many occasions +was conspicuous for the skill, coolness, and courage with which he led +his troops." + +Of the Flying Corps the report says: + +"Every day new methods of employing them, both strategically and +tactically, are discovered and put into practice." + +Concerning the Territorials who have been employed, the Field Marshal +says the conduct and bearing of these units under fire and the efficient +manner in which they have carried out the duties assigned to them "has +imbued me with the highest hope as to the value and the help of the +Territorial troops generally." + +[Illustration] + + + + +*Story of the "Eye-Witness"* + +*By Col. E.D. Swinton of the Intelligence Department of the British +General Staff.* + + _From the beginning of the war world-wide attention has been + attracted to the reports issued from time to time as coming from + "an eye-witness at British General Headquarters." At first these + reports were erroneously ascribed to Marshal French himself, and + resulted in much admiring comment on his vivid and graphic way of + reporting. Later it became known that they were the work of Col. + Swinton, who was attached to Gen. French's headquarters in the + capacity of "official observer."_ + + + + +I. + +*The Battle of the Aisne Begins* + +[By the "Official Observer," Col. E.D. Swinton.] + + +General Headquarters, +Sept. 18, 1914. + +Sept. 14, the Germans were making a determined resistance along the +River Aisne. Opposition, which it was at first thought might possibly be +of a rear-guard nature, not entailing material delay to our progress, +has developed and has proved to be more serious than was anticipated. + +The action, now being fought by the Germans along their line, may, it is +true, have been undertaken in order to gain time for some strategic +operation or move, and may not be their main stand. But, if this is so, +the fighting is naturally on a scale which as to extent of ground +covered and duration of resistance, makes it undistinguishable in its +progress from what is known as a "pitched battle," though the enemy +certainly showed signs of considerable disorganization during the +earlier days of their retirement phase. + +Whether it was originally intended by them to defend the position they +took up as strenuously as they have done, or whether the delay, gained +for them during the 12th and 13th by their artillery, has enabled them +to develop their resistance and force their line to an extent not +originally contemplated cannot yet be said. + +So far as we are concerned the action still being contested is the +battle of the Aisne. The foe we are fighting is just across the river +along the whole of our front to the east and west. The struggle is not +confined to the valley of that river, though it will probably bear its +name. + +The progress of our operations and the French armies nearest us for the +14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th will now be described: + +On Monday, the 14th, those of our troops which had on the previous day +crossed the Aisne, after driving in the German rear guards on that +evening, found portions of the enemy's forces in prepared defensive +positions on the right bank and could do little more than secure a +footing north of the river. This, however, they maintained in spite of +two counter-attacks delivered at dusk and 10 P.M., in which the fighting +was severe. + +During the 14th, strong reinforcements of our troops were passed to the +north bank, the troops crossing by ferry, by pontoon bridges, and by the +remains of permanent bridges. Close co-operation with the French forces +was maintained and the general progress made was good, although the +opposition was vigorous and the state of the roads, after the heavy +rains, made movements slow. One division alone failed to secure the +ground it expected to. + +The First Army Corps, after repulsing repeated attacks, captured 600 +prisoners and twelve guns. The cavalry also took a number of prisoners. +Many of the Germans taken belong to the reserve and Landwehr formations, +which fact appears to indicate that the enemy is compelled to draw on +other classes of soldiers to fill the gaps in his ranks. + +There was a heavy rain throughout the night of Sept. 14-15, and during +the 15th. The situation of the British forces underwent no essential +change. But it became more and more evident that the defensive +preparations made by the enemy were more extensive than was at first +apparent. + +In order to counterbalance these measures were taken by us to economize +our troops and to secure protection from the hostile artillery fire, +which was very fierce, and our men continued to improve their own +intrenchments. The Germans bombarded our lines nearly all day, using +heavy guns, brought, no doubt, from before Maubeuge, as well as those +with the corps. + +All their counter attacks, however, failed, although in some places they +were repeated six times. One made on the Fourth Guards Brigade was +repulsed with heavy slaughter. + +An attempt to advance slightly, made by part of our line, was +unsuccessful as regards gain of ground, but led to the withdrawal of +part of the enemy's infantry and artillery. + +Further counter attacks made during the night were beaten off. Rain came +on toward evening and continued intermittently until 9 A.M. on the 16th. +Besides adding to the discomfort of the soldiers holding the line, the +wet weather to some extent hampered the motor transport service, which +was also hindered by broken bridges. + +On Wednesday, the 16th, there was little change in the situation +opposite the British. The efforts made by the enemy were less active +than on the previous day, although their bombardment continued +throughout the morning and evening. Our artillery fire drove the +defenders off one of the salients of their position, but they returned +in the evening. Forty prisoners were taken by the Third Division. + +On Thursday, the 17th, the situation, still remained unchanged in its +essentials. The German heavy artillery fire was more active than on the +previous day. The only infantry attacks made by the enemy were on the +extreme right of our position, and, as had happened before, were +repulsed with heavy loss, chiefly, on this occasion, by our field +artillery. + +In order to convey some idea of the nature of the fighting it may be +said that along the greater part of our front the Germans have been +driven back from the forward slopes on the north of the river. Their +infantry are holding strong lines of trenches among and along the edge +of the numerous woods which crown the slopes. These trenches are +elaborately constructed and cleverly concealed. In many places there are +wire entanglements and lengths of rabbit fencing. + +Both woods and open are carefully aligned, so that they can be swept by +rifle fire and machine guns, which are invisible from our side of the +valley. The ground in front of the infantry trenches is also, as a rule, +under crossfire from the field artillery placed on neighboring features +and under high-angle fire from pieces placed well back behind the woods +on top of the plateau. + +A feature of this action, as of the previous fighting, is the use by the +enemy of their numerous heavy howitzers, with which they are able to +direct long-range fire all over the valley and right across it. Upon +these they evidently place great reliance. + +Where our men are holding the forked edges of the high ground on the +north side they are now strongly intrenched. They are well fed, and in +spite of the wet weather of the last week are cheerful and confident. + +The bombardment by both sides has been very heavy, and on Sunday, +Monday and Tuesday was practically continuous. Nevertheless, in spite of +the general din caused by the reports of the immense number of heavy +guns in action along our front on Wednesday, the arrival of the French +force acting against the German right flank was at once announced on the +east of our front, some miles away, by the continuous roar of their +quick-firing artillery, with which their attack was opened. + +So far as the British are concerned, the greater part of this week has +been passed in bombardment, in gaining ground by degrees, and in beating +back severe counter-attacks with heavy slaughter. Our casualties have +been severe, but it is probable that those of the enemy are heavier. + +The rain has caused a great drop in the temperature, and there is more +than a distinct feeling of Autumn in the air, especially in the early +mornings. + +On our right and left the French have been fighting fiercely and have +also been gradually gaining ground [Transcriber: original 'gronud']. One +village has already during this battle been captured and re-captured +twice by each side, and at the time of writing remains in the hands of +the Germans. + +The fighting has been at close quarters and of the most desperate +nature, and the streets of the village are filled with dead on both +sides. + +As an example of the spirit which is inspiring our allies, the following +translation of an ordre du jour, published on Sept. 9 after the battle +of Montmirail by the commander of the French Fifth Army, is given: + + Soldiers: Upon the memorable fields of Montmirail, of Vauchamps, of + Champaubert, which a century ago witnessed the victories of our + ancestors over Blucher's Prussians, your vigorous offensive has + triumphed over the resistance of the Germans. Held on his flanks, + his centre broken, the enemy is now retreating toward the east and + north by forced marches. The most renowned army corps of old + Prussia, the contingents of Westphalia, of Hanover, of Brandenburg, + have retired in haste before you. + + This first success is no more than the prelude. The enemy is + shaken, but not yet decisively beaten. You have still to undergo + severe hardships, to make long marches, to fight hard battles. + + May the image of our country, soiled by barbarians, always remain + before your eyes. Never was it more necessary to sacrifice all for + her. + + Saluting the heroes who have fallen in the fighting of the last few + days, my thoughts turn toward you, the victors in the next battle. + Forward, soldiers, for France! + + FRANCHET D'ESPEREY, + General Commanding the Fifth Army. + Montmirail, Sept. 9, 1914. + +The Germans are a formidable enemy, well trained, long prepared, and +brave. Their soldiers are carrying on the contest with skill and valor. +Nevertheless they are fighting to win anyhow, regardless of all the +rules of fair play, and there is evidence that they do not hesitate at +anything in order to gain victory. + +A large number of the tales of their misbehaviors are exaggeration and +some of the stringent precautions they have taken to guard themselves +against the inhabitants of the areas traversed are possibly justifiable +measures of war. But, at the same time, it has been definitely +established that they have committed atrocities on many occasions and +they have been guilty of brutal conduct. + +So many letters and statements of our wounded soldiers have been +published in our newspapers that the following epistle from a German +soldier of the Seventy-fourth Infantry Regiment, Tenth Corps, to his +wife may also be of interest: + +"My Dear Wife: I have just been living through days that defy +imagination. I should never have thought that men could stand it. Not a +second has passed but my life has been in danger, and yet not a hair of +my head has been hurt. + +"It was horrible! It was ghastly! but I have been saved for you and for +our happiness, and I take heart again, although I am still terribly +unnerved. God grant that I may see you again soon, and that this horror +may soon be over. + +"None of us can do any more; human strength is at an end. I will try to +tell you about it. On the 5th of September the enemy were reported to be +taking up a position near St. Prix, southeast of Paris. + +"The Tenth Corps, which had made an astonishingly rapid advance, of +course, was attacked on Sunday. Steep slopes led up to the heights, +which were held in considerable force. + +"With our weak detachments of the Seventy-fourth and Ninety-first +regiments we reached the crest and came under a terrible artillery fire +that mowed us down. However, we entered St. Prix. Hardly had we done so +than we were met with shell fire and a violent fusillade from the +enemy's infantry. + +"Our Colonel was badly wounded--he is the third we have had. Fourteen +men were killed around me. We got away in a lull without being hit. + +"The 7th, 8th, and 9th of September we were constantly under shell and +shrapnel fire and suffered terrible losses. I was in a house which was +hit several times. The fear of death, of agony, which is in every man's +heart, and naturally so, is a terrible feeling. + +"How often I have thought of you, my darling, and what I suffered in +that terrifying battle, which extended along a front of many miles near +Montmirail, you cannot possibly imagine. + +"Our heavy artillery was being used for the siege of Maubeuge. We wanted +it badly, as the enemy had theirs in force and kept up a furious +bombardment. For four days I was under artillery fire. It was like hell, +but a thousand times worse. + +"On the night of the 9th the order was given to retreat, as it would +have been madness to attempt to hold our position with our few men, and +we should have risked a terrible defeat the next day. The First and +Third Armies had not been able to attack with us, as we had advanced too +rapidly. Our morale was absolutely broken. In spite of unheard-of +sacrifices we had achieved nothing. + +"I cannot understand how our army, after fighting three great battles +and being terribly weakened, was sent against a position which the enemy +had prepared for three weeks, but naturally I know nothing of the +intentions of our Chiefs; they say nothing has been lost. + +"In a word, we retired toward Cormontreuil and Rheims by forced marches +by day and night. We hear that three armies are going to get into line, +intrench and rest, and then start afresh our victorious march on Paris. +It was not a defeat, only a strategic retreat. I have confidence in our +Chiefs that everything will be successful. + +"Our First Battalion, which has fought with unparalleled bravery, is +reduced from 1,200 to 194 men. These numbers speak for themselves." + +Among the minor happenings of interest is the following: + +During a counter-attack by the German Fifty-third Regiment on positions +of the Northampton and Queen's Regiments on Thursday, the 17th, a force +of some 400 of the enemy were allowed to approach right up to the trench +occupied by a platoon of the former regiment, owing to the fact that +they had held up their hands and made gestures that were interpreted as +signs that they wished to surrender. When they were actually on the +parapet of the trench held, by the Northamptons they opened fire on our +men at point-blank range. + +Unluckily for the enemy, however, flanking them and only some 400 yards +away, there happened to be a machine gun manned by a detachment of the +Queen's. This at once opened fire, cutting a lane through their mass, +and they fell back to their own trench with great loss. Shortly +afterward they were driven further back, with additional loss, by a +battalion of Guards which came up in support. + +An incident, which occurred some little time ago during our retirement, +is also worthy of record. On Aug. 28, during the battle fought by the +French along the Oise between La Fere and Guise, one of the French +commanders desired to make an air reconnoissance. It was found, however, +that no observers were available. + +Wishing to help our allies as much as possible a British officer +attached to this particular French army volunteered to go up with the +pilot to observe. He had never been in an aeroplane, but he made the +ascent and produced a valuable reconnoissance report. + +Incidentally he had a duel in the air at an altitude of 6,000 feet with +the observer of a German Taube monoplane which approached. He fired +several shots and drove off the hostile aeroplane. His action was much +appreciated by the French. + +In view of the many statements made in the press as to the use of +Zeppelins against us, it is interesting to note that the Royal Flying +Corps, who had been out on reconnoissance every day since their arrival +in France, have never seen a Zeppelin, though airships of a non-rigid +type have been seen on two occasions near Marne. + +Late one evening two such were observed over the German forces. An +aeroplane was dispatched against them, but in the darkness our pilots +were uncertain of the airship's nationality and did not attack. It was +afterward made clear that they could not have been French. + +A week later an officer, reconnoitring to the flank, saw an airship over +the German forces and opposite the French. It had no distinguishing mark +and was assumed to belong to the latter, though it is now known that it +also must have been a German craft. + +The orders of the Royal Flying Corps are to attack Zeppelins at once, +and there is some disappointment at the absence of those targets. + +The following special order has been issued today to the troops: + + "Special Order of the Day, + By Field Marshal Sir John French, + G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.M.G., + Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field. + + "September 17, 1914. + + "Once more I have to express my deep appreciation of the splendid + behavior of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the + army under my command throughout the great battle of the Aisne, + which has been in progress since the evening of the 12th inst., and + the battle of the Marne, which lasted from the morning of the 6th + to the evening of the 10th and finally ended in the precipitate + flight of the enemy. + + "When we were brought face to face with a position of extraordinary + strength, carefully intrenched and prepared for defense by an army + and staff which are thorough adepts in such work, throughout the + 13th and 14th, that position was most gallantly attacked by the + British forces and the passage of the Aisne effected. This is the + third day the troops have been gallantly holding the position they + have gained against most desperate counter-attacks and the hail of + heavy artillery. + + "I am unable to find adequately words in which to express the + admiration I feel for their magnificent conduct. + + "The French armies on our right and left are making good progress, + and I feel sure that we have only to hold on with tenacity to the + ground we have won for a very short time longer when the Allies + will be again in full pursuit of a beaten enemy. + + "The self-sacrificing devotion and splendid spirit of the British + army in France will carry all before it. + + "J.D.P. FRENCH, Field Marshall, + + "Commander in Chief of the British Army in the Field." + + + + +II. + +*The Slow Fight on the Aisne.* + +[Made Public Sept. 24.] + + +The enemy is still maintaining himself along the whole front, and, in +order to do so, is throwing into the fight detachments composed of units +from different formations, the active army, reserve, and Landwehr, as is +shown by the uniforms of the prisoners recently captured. + +Our progress, although slow on account of the strength of the defensive +positions against which we are pressing, has in certain directions been +continuous; but the present battle may well last for some days more +before a decision is reached, since it now approximates somewhat to +siege warfare. + +The Germans are making use of searchlights. This fact, coupled with +their great strength in heavy artillery, leads to the supposition that +they are employing material which may have been collected for the siege +of Paris. + +The nature of the general situation after the operations of the 18th, +19th, and 20th cannot better be summarized than as expressed recently +by a neighboring French commander to his corps: "Having repulsed +repeated and violent counter-attacks made by the enemy, we have a +feeling that we have been victorious." + +So far as the British are concerned, the course of events during these +three days can be described in a few words. During Friday, the 18th, +artillery fire was kept up intermittently by both sides during daylight. +At night the German centre attacked certain portions of our line, +supporting the advance of their infantry, as always, by a heavy +bombardment. But the strokes were not delivered with great vigor, and +ceased about 2 A.M. During the day's fighting an aircraft gun of the +Third Army Corps succeeded in bringing down a German aeroplane. + +News also was received that a body of French cavalry had demolished part +of the railway to the north, so cutting, at least temporarily, one line +of communication which is of particular importance to the enemy. + +On Saturday, the 19th, the bombardment was resumed by the Germans at an +early hour and continued intermittently under reply from our own guns. +Some of their infantry advanced from cover, apparently with the +intention of attacking, but on coming under fire they retired. Otherwise +the day was uneventful, except for the activity of the artillery, which +is a matter of normal routine rather than an event. + +Another hostile aeroplane was brought down by us, and one of our +aviators succeeded in dropping several bombs over the German line, one +incendiary bomb falling with considerable effect on a transport park +near La Fere. + +A buried store of the enemy's munitions of war was also found, not far +from the Aisne, ten wagon loads of live shell and two wagon loads of +cable being dug up. Traces were discovered of large quantities of stores +having been burned--all tending to show that as far back as the Aisne +the German retirement was hurried. + +There was a strong wind during the day, accompanied by a driving rain. +This militated against the aerial reconnoissance. + +On Sunday, the 20th, nothing of importance occurred until the afternoon, +when there was a break in the clouds and an interval of feeble sunshine, +which was hardly powerful enough to warm the soaking troops. The Germans +took advantage of this brief spell of fine weather to make several +counter-attacks against different points. These were all repulsed with +loss to the enemy, but the casualties incurred by us were by no means +light. + +In one section of our firing line the occupants of the trenches were +under the impression that they heard a military band in the enemy's +lines just before the attack developed. It is now known that the German +infantry started their advance with bands playing. + +The offensive against one or two points was renewed at dusk, with no +greater success. The brunt of the resistance has naturally fallen upon +the infantry. In spite of the fact that they have been drenched to the +skin for some days and their trenches have been deep in mud and water, +and in spite of the incessant night alarms and the almost continuous +bombardment to which they have been subjected, they have on every +occasion been ready for the enemy's infantry when the latter attempted +to assault, and they have beaten them back with great loss. Indeed, the +sight of the Pickelhauben [German spiked helmets] coming up has been a +positive relief after long, trying hours of inaction under shell fire. + +The object of the great proportion of artillery the Germans employ is to +beat down the resistance of their enemy by concentrated and prolonged +fire, to shatter their nerves with high explosives, before the infantry +attack is launched. They seem to have relied on doing this with us, but +they have not done so, though it has taken them several costly +experiments to discover this fact. + +From statements of prisoners it appears that they have been greatly +disappointed by the moral effect produced by their heavy guns, which, +despite the actual losses inflicted, has not been at all commensurate +with the colossal expenditure of ammunition, which has really been +wasted. By this it is not implied that their artillery fire is not good; +it is more than good--it is excellent. But the British soldier is a +difficult person to impress or depress, even by immense shells filled +with a high explosive which detonate with terrific violence and form +craters large enough to act as graves for five horses. + +The German howitzer shells are from 8 to 9 inches in calibre, and on +impact they send up columns of greasy black smoke. On account of this +they are irreverently dubbed "coal boxes," "black Marias," or "Jack +Johnsons" by the soldiers. Men who take things in this spirit are, it +seems, likely to throw out the calculations based on the loss of morale +so carefully framed by the German military philosophers. + +A considerable amount of information has been gleaned from prisoners. It +has been gathered that our bombardment on the 15th produced a great +impression. The opinion is also reported that our infantry make such +good use of ground that the German companies are decimated by our rifle +fire before the British soldier can be seen. + +From an official diary captured by the First Army Corps it appears that +one of the German corps contains an extraordinary mixture of units. If +the composition of the other corps is similar, it may be assumed that +the present efficiency of the enemy's forces is in no way comparable +with what it was when the war commenced. + +The losses in officers are noted as having been especially severe. A +brigade is stated to be commanded by a Major; some companies of food +guards by one-year volunteers; while after the battle of Montmirail one +regiment lost fifty-five out of sixty officers. The prisoners recently +captured appreciate the fact that the march on Paris has failed and that +their forces are retreating, but state that the object of this movement +is explained by the officers as being to withdraw into closer touch +with the supports, which have stayed too far in the rear. + +The officers are also endeavoring to encourage the troops by telling +them that they will be at home by Christmas. A large number of the men +believe that they are beaten. Following is an extract from one document: + +"With the English troops we have great difficulties. They have a queer +way of causing losses to the enemy. They make good trenches, in which +they wait patiently; they carefully measure the ranges for their rifle +fire, and they open a truly hellish fire on the unsuspecting cavalry. +This was the reason that we had such heavy losses. + +"According to our officers, the English striking forces are exhausted; +the English people really never wanted war." + +From another source: "The English are very brave and fight to the last +man. One of our companies has lost 130 men out of 240." + +The following letter, which refers to the fighting on the Aisne, has +been printed and circulated to the troops: + + LETTER FOUND ON GERMAN OFFICER OF SEVENTH RESERVE CORPS: + + Cerny, South of Laon, Sept 14, 1914. + + My Dear Parents: Our corps has the task of holding the heights + south of Cerny in all circumstances until the Fourteenth Corps on + our left flank can grip the enemy's flank. On our right are other + corps. We are fighting with the English Guards, Highlanders, and + Zouaves. The losses on both sides have been enormous. For the most + part this is due to the too brilliant French artillery. + + The English are marvelously trained in making use of ground. One + never sees them, and one is constantly under fire. The French + airmen perform wonderful feats. We cannot get rid of them. As soon + as an airman has flown over us, ten minutes later we get their + shrapnel fire in our positions. We have little artillery in our + corps; without it we cannot get forward. + + Three days ago our division took possession of these heights and + dug itself in. Two days ago, early in the morning, we were attacked + by an immensely superior English force, one brigade and two + battalions, and were turned out of our positions. The fellows took + five guns from us. It was a tremendous hand-to-hand fight. + + How I escaped myself I am not clear. I then had to bring up + supports on foot. My horse was wounded, and the others were too + far in the rear. Then came up the Guards Jager Battalion, Fourth + Jager, Sixth Regiment, Reserve Regiment Thirteen, and Landwehr + Regiments Thirteen and Sixteen, and with the help of the artillery + we drove the fellows out of the position again. Our machine guns + did excellent work; the English fell in heaps. + + In our battalion three Iron Crosses have been given, one to C.O., + one to Capt. ----, and one to Surgeon ----. [Names probably + deleted.] Let us hope that we shall be the lucky ones next time. + + During the first two days of the battle I had only one piece of + bread and no water. I spent the night in the rain without my + overcoat. The rest of my kit was on the horses which had been left + behind with the baggage and which cannot come up into the battle + because as soon as you put your nose up from behind cover the + bullets whistle. + + War is terrible. We are all hoping that a decisive battle will end + the war, as our troops already have got round Paris. If we beat the + English the French resistance will soon be broken. Russia will be + very quickly dealt with; of this there is no doubt. + + We received splendid help from the Austrian [Transcriber: original + 'Austrain'] heavy artillery at Maubeuge. They bombarded Fort + Cerfontaine in such a way that there was not ten meters a parapet + which did not show enormous craters made by the shells. The armored + turrets were found upside down. + + Yesterday evening, about 6, in the valley in which our reserves + stood there was such a terrible cannonade that we saw nothing of + the sky but a cloud of smoke. We had few casualties. + +Recently a pilot and observer of the Royal Flying Corps were forced by a +breakage in their aeroplane to descend in the enemy's lines. The pilot +managed to pancake his machine down to earth, and the two escaped into +some thick under-growth in the woods. + +The enemy came up and seized and smashed the machine, but did not search +for our men with much zeal. The latter lay hid till dark and then found +their way to the Aisne, across which they swam, reaching camp in safety, +but barefooted. + +Numerous floating bridges have been thrown across the Aisne and some of +the pontoon bridges have been repaired under fire. On the 20th, Lieut. +[name deleted] of the Third Signal Corps, Royal Engineers, was +unfortunately drowned while attempting to swim across the river with a +cable in order to open up fresh telegraphic communication on the north +side. + +Espionage is still carried on by the enemy to a considerable extent. +Recently the suspicions of some of the French troops were aroused by +coming across a farm from which the horses had been removed. After some +search they discovered a telephone which was connected by an underground +cable with the German lines, and the owner of the farm paid the penalty +in the usual way in war for his treachery. + +After some cases of village fighting which occurred earlier in the war +it was reported by some of our officers that the Germans had attempted +to approach to close quarters by forcing prisoners to march in front of +them. The Germans have recently repeated the same trick on a larger +scale against the French, as is shown by the copy of an order printed +below. It is therein referred to as a ruse, but, if that term can be +accepted, a distinctly illegal ruse. + +"During a recent night attack," the order reads, "the Germans drove a +column of French prisoners in front of them. This action is to be +brought to the notice of all our troops (1) in order to put them on +their guard against such a dastardly ruse; (2) in order that every +soldier may know how the Germans treat their prisoners. Our troops must +not forget if they allow themselves to be taken prisoners the Germans +will not fail to expose them to French bullets." + +Further evidence has now been collected of the misuse of the white flag +and other signs of surrender. During an action on the 17th, owing to +this, one officer was shot. During recent fighting, also, some German +ambulance wagons advanced in order to collect the wounded. An order to +cease firing was consequently given to our guns, which were firing on +this particular section of ground. The German battery commanders at once +took advantage of the lull in the action to climb up their observation +ladders and on to a haystack to locate our guns, which soon afterward +came under a far more accurate fire than any to which they had been +subjected up to that time. + +A British officer, who was captured by the Germans and has since +escaped, reports that while a prisoner he saw men who had been fighting +subsequently put on Red Cross brassards. + +That irregular use of the protection afforded by the Geneva Convention +is not uncommon is confirmed by the fact that on one occasion men in the +uniform of combatant units have been captured wearing a Red Cross +brassard hastily slipped over the arm. The excuse given has been that +they had been detailed after the fight to look after the wounded. + +It is reported by a cavalry officer that the driver of a motor car with +a machine gun mounted on it, which was captured, was wearing a Red +Cross. + +Full details of the actual damage done to the cathedral at Rheims will +doubtless have been cabled home, so that no description of it is +necessary. The Germans bombarded the cathedral twice with their heavy +artillery. + +One reason it caught alight so quickly was that on one side of it was +some scaffolding which had been erected for restoration work. Straw had +also been laid on the floor for the reception of the German wounded. It +is to the credit of the French that practically all the German wounded +were successfully extricated from the burning building. + +There was no justification on military grounds for this act of +vandalism, which seems to have been caused by exasperation born of +failure--a sign of impotence rather than strength. It is noteworthy that +a well-known hotel not far from the cathedral, which was kept by a +German, was not touched. + + + + +III. + +*Two September Days.* + +[Made Public Sept. 28.] + + +For four days there has been a comparative lull all along our front. +This has been accompanied [Transcriber: original 'acompanied'] by a +spell of fine weather, though the nights have been much colder. One +cannot have everything, however, and one evil result of the sunshine +has been the release of flies, which were torpid during the wet days. + +Advantage has been taken of the arrival of reinforcements to relieve by +fresh troops the men who have been on the firing line for some time. +Several units, therefore, have received their baptism of fire during the +week. + +Since the last letter left headquarters evidence has been received which +points to the fact that during the counter attacks on the night of Sept. +20 German detachments of infantry fired into each other. This was the +result of an attempt to carry out the dangerous expedient of a +converging advance in the dark. Opposite one portion of our position +considerable massing of hostile forces was observed before dark. Some +hours later a furious fusillade [Transcriber: original 'fusilade'] was +heard in front of our line, though no bullets came over our trenches. + +This narrative begins with Sept. 21 and covers only two days. There was +but little rain on Sept. 21 and the weather took a turn for the better, +which has been maintained. The action has been practically confined to +the artillery, our guns at one point shelling and driving the enemy, who +endeavored to construct a redoubt. + +The Germans expended a large number of heavy shells in a long range +bombardment of the village of Missy (Department of the Aisne). +Reconnoitring parties sent out during the night of Sept. 21-22 +discovered some deserted trenches. In them or in the woods over 100 dead +and wounded were picked up. A number of rifles, ammunition and equipment +were also found. There were other signs that portions of the enemy's +forces had withdrawn some distance. + +The weather was also fine on Sept. 22 with less wind, and it was one of +the most uneventful days we have passed since we reached the Aisne, that +is, uneventful for the British. There was less artillery work on either +side, the Germans giving the village of Paissy (Aisne) a taste of the +"Jack Johnsons." The spot thus honored is not far from the ridge where +there has been some of the most severe close fighting in which we have +taken part. All over this No Man's Land, between the lines, bodies of +German infantrymen were still lying in heaps where they had fallen at +different times. + +Espionage plays so large a part in the conduct of the war by the Germans +that it is difficult to avoid further reference to the subject. They +have evidently never forgotten the saying of Frederick the Great: "When +Marshall Soubise goes to war he is followed by a hundred cooks. When I +take the field I am preceded by a hundred spies." Indeed until about +twenty years ago there was a paragraph in their field service +regulations directing that the service of protection in the field, such +as outposts and advance guards, should always be supplemented by a +system of espionage. Although such instructions are no longer made +public the Germans, as is well known, still carry them into effect. + +Apart from the more elaborate arrangements which were made in peace time +for obtaining information by paid agents some of the methods which are +being employed for the collection or conveyance of intelligence are as +follows: + +Men in plain clothes signal the German lines from points in the hands of +the enemy by means of colored lights at nights and puffs of smoke from +chimneys in the day time. Pseudo laborers working in the fields between +the armies have been detected conveying information. Persons in plain +clothes have acted as advanced scouts to the German cavalry when +advancing. + +German officers or soldiers in plain clothes or French or British +uniforms have remained in localities evacuated by the Germans in order +to furnish them with intelligence. One spy of this kind was found by our +troops hidden in a church tower. His presence was only discovered +through the erratic movements of the hands of the church clock, which he +was using to signal his friends by an improvised semaphore code. Had +this man not been seized it is probable he would have signalled the time +of arrival and the exact position of the headquarters staff of the force +and a high explosive shell would then have mysteriously dropped on the +building. + +Women spies have also been caught. Secret agents have been found at rail +heads observing entrainments and detrainments. It is a simple matter for +spies to mix with refugees who are moving about to and from their homes, +and it is difficult for our troops, who speak neither French nor German, +to detect them. The French have also found it necessary to search +villages and casual wayfarers on the roads and to search for carrier +pigeons. + +Among the precautions taken by us against spying is the following notice +printed in French, posted up: + + "Motor cars and bicycles other than those; carrying soldiers in + uniform may not circulate on the roads. Inhabitants may not leave + the localities in which they reside between 6 P.M. and 6 A.M. + Inhabitants may not quit their homes after 8 P.M. No person may on + any pretext pass through the British lines without an authorization + countersigned by a British officer." + +Events have moved so quietly for the last two months that anything +connected with the mobilization of the British expeditionary force is +now ancient history. Nevertheless, the following extract from a German +order is evidence of the mystification of the army and a tribute to the +value of the secrecy which was so well and so loyally maintained in +England at the time: + + "Tenth Reserve Army Corps Headquarters, + + "Mont St. Guibert, Aug. 20, 1914. + + "Corps Order, Aug. 20. + + "The French troops in front of the Tenth Army Corps have retreated + south across the Sambre. Part of the Belgium army has been + withdrawn from Antwerp. It is reported that an English army has + disembarked at Calais and Boulogne, en route to Brussels." + + + + +IV. + +*Fighting in the Air.* + +[Made Public Sept. 29.] + + +Wednesday, Sept. 23, was a perfect Autumn day. It passed without +incident as regards major operations. Although the enemy concentrated +their heavy artillery upon the, plateau near Passy, nothing more than +inconvenience was caused. + +The welcome absence of wind gave our airmen a chance of which they took +full advantage by gathering much information. Unfortunately, one of our +aviators, who had been particularly active in annoying the enemy by +dropping bombs, was wounded in a duel in the air. + +Being alone on a single-seated monoplane, he was not able to use his +rifle, and while circling above a German two-seated machine in an +endeavor to get within pistol shot he was hit by the observer of the +German machine, who was armed with a rifle. He managed to fly back over +our lines, and by great good luck he descended close to a motor +ambulance, which at once conveyed him to a hospital. + +Against this may be set off the fact that another of our flyers exploded +a bomb among some led artillery horses, killing several and stampeding +the others. + +On Thursday, Sept. 21, the fine weather continued, as did the lull in +the action, the heavy German shells falling mostly near Pargnan, twelve +miles south-southeast of Laon. + +On both Wednesday and Thursday the weather was so fine that many flights +were made by the aviators, French, British, and German. These produced a +corresponding activity among the anti-aircraft guns. + +So still and clear was the atmosphere toward evening on Wednesday and +during the whole of Thursday that to those not especially on the lookout +the presence of aeroplanes high up above them was first made known by +the bursting of the projectiles aimed at them. The puffs of smoke from +the detonation shell hung in the air for minutes on end, like balls of +fleece cotton, before they slowly expanded and were dissipated. + +From the places mentioned as being the chief targets for the enemy's +heavy howitzers, it will be seen that the Germans are not inclined to +concentrate their fire systematically upon definite areas in which +their aviators think they have located our guns, or upon villages where +it is imagined our troops may be billeted. The result will be to give +work to local builders. + +The growing resemblance of this battle to siege warfare has already been +pointed out. The fact that the later actions of the Russo-Japanese war +assumed a similar character was thought by many to have been due to +exceptional causes, such as the narrowness of the theatre of operations +between the Chinese frontier on the west and the mountainous country of +Northern Korea on the east; the lack of roads, which limited the extent +of ground over which it was possible for the rival armies to manoeuvre, +and the fact that both forces were tied to one line of railroad. + +Such factors are not exerting any influence on the present battle. +Nevertheless, a similar situation has been produced, owing firstly to +the immense power of resistance possessed by an army which is amply +equipped with heavy artillery and has sufficient time to fortify itself, +and, secondly, to the vast size of the forces engaged, which at the +present time stretch more than half way across France. + +The extent of the country covered is so great as to render slow any +efforts to manoeuvre and march around to a flank in order to escape the +costly expedient of a frontal attack against heavily fortified +positions. + +To state that the methods of attack must approximate more closely to +those of siege warfare the greater the resemblance of the defenses to +those of a fortress is a platitude, but it is one which will bear +repetition if it in any way assists to make the present situation clear. + +There is no doubt that the position on the Aisne was not hastily +selected by the German Staff after the retreat had begun. From the +choice of ground, and the care with which the fields of fire had been +arranged to cover all possible avenues of approach, and from the amount +of work already carried out, it is clear that the contingency of having +to act on the defensive was not overlooked when the details of the +strategically offensive campaign were arranged. + + + + +V. + +*Technique of This Warfare.* + +[Made Public Oct. 9.] + + +Wednesday, Sept. 30, merely marked another day's progress in the gradual +development of the situation, and was distinguished by no activity +beyond slight attacks by the enemy. There was also artillery fire at +intervals. One of our airmen succeeded in dropping nine bombs, some of +which fell on the enemy's rolling stock collected on the railway near +Laon. Some of the enemy's front trenches were found empty at night; but +nothing much can be deduced from this fact, for they are frequently +evacuated in this way, no doubt to prevent the men in the back lines +firing on their comrades in front of them. + +Thursday, Oct. 1, was a most perfect Autumn day, and the most peaceful +that there has been since the two forces engaged on the Aisne. There was +only desultory gunfire as targets offered. During the night the enemy +made a few new trenches. A French aviator dropped one bomb on a railway +station and three bombs on troops massed near it. + +The weather on Friday, the 2d, was very misty in the early hours, and it +continued hazy until the late afternoon, becoming thicker again at +night. The Germans were driven out of a mill which they had occupied as +an advanced post, their guns and machine guns which supported it being +knocked out one by one by well-directed artillery fire from a flank. +During the night they made the usual two attacks on the customary spot +in our lines, and as on previous occasions were repulsed. Two of their +trenches were captured and filled in. Our loss was six men wounded. + +Up to Sept, 21 the air mileage made by our airmen since the beginning +of the war amounted to 87,000 miles, an average of 2,000 miles per day, +the total equaling nearly four times the circuit of the world. The total +time spent in the air was 1,400 hours. + +There are many points connected with the fighting methods of either side +that may be of interest. The following description was given by a +battalion commander who has been at the front since the commencement of +hostilities and has fought both in the open and behind intrenchments. It +must, however, be borne in mind that it only represents the experiences +of a particular unit. It deals with the tactics of the enemy's infantry: + + The important points to watch are the heads of valleys and ravines, + woods--especially those on the sides of hollow ground--and all dead + ground to the front and flanks. The German officers are skilled in + leading troops forward under cover, in closed bodies, but once the + latter are deployed and there is no longer direct personal + leadership the men will not face heavy fire. Sometimes the advance + is made in a series of lines, with the men well opened out at five + or six paces interval; at other times it is made in a line, with + the men almost shoulder to shoulder, followed in all cases by + supports in close formation. The latter either waver when the front + line is checked, or crowd on to it, moving forward under the orders + of their officers, and the mass forms a magnificent target. + Prisoners have described the fire of our troops as pinning them to + the ground, and this is certainly borne out by their action. + + When the Germans are not heavily intrenched no great losses are + incurred in advancing against them by the methods in which the + British Army has been instructed. For instance, in one attack over + fairly open ground against about an equal force of infantry + sheltered in a sunken road and in ditches we lost only 10 killed + and 60 wounded, while over 400 of the enemy surrendered after about + 50 had been killed. Each side had the support of a battery, but the + fight for superiority from infantry fire took place at about 700 + yards and lasted only half an hour. When the Germans were wavering + some of them put up the white flag, but others went on firing, and + our men continued to do the same. Eventually a large number of + white flags, improvised from handkerchiefs, pieces of shirt, white + biscuit bags, &c., were exhibited all along the line, and many men + hoisted their helmets on their rifles. + + In the fighting behind intrenchments the Germans endeavor to gain + ground by making advances in line at dusk or just before dawn, and + then digging themselves in, in the hope, no doubt, that they may + eventually get so near as to be able, as at manoeuvres, to reach + the hostile trenches in a single rush. They have never succeeded in + doing this against us. If by creeping up in dead ground they do + succeed in gaining ground by night, they are easily driven back by + fire in the morning. A few of the braver men sometimes remain + behind, at ranges of even 300 or 400 yards, and endeavor to inflict + losses by sniping. Sharpshooters, also, are often noticed in trees + or wriggling about until they get good cover. The remedy is to take + the initiative and detail men to deal with the enemy's + sharpshooters. + + A few night attacks have been made against us. Before one of them a + party crept up close to the British line and set alight a hayrick, + so that it should form a beacon on which the centre of the + attacking line marched. Generally, however, in the night and early + morning attacks, groups of forty or fifty men have come on, the + groups sometimes widely separated from one another and making every + endeavor to obtain any advantage from cover. Light balls and + searchlights have on some occasions been used. Latterly the attacks + have become more and more half-hearted. Against us the enemy has + never closed with the bayonet. The German trenches I have seen were + deep enough to shelter a man when firing standing, and had a step + down in rear for the supports to sit in. + + As regards our own men, there was at first considerable reluctance + to intrench, as has always been the case at the commencement of a + war. Now, however, having bought experience dearly, their defenses + are such that they can defy the German artillery fire. + + + + +VI. + +*Becomes an Artillery Duel*. + +[Made Public Oct. 10.] + + +Comparative calm on our front has continued through the fine and +considerably warmer weather. The last six days have been slightly misty +with clouds hanging low, so that conditions have not been very favorable +for aerial reconnoissance. + +In regard to the latter, it is astonishing how quickly the habit is +acquired, even by those who are not aviators, of thinking of the +weather in terms of its suitability for flying. There has been a bright +moon also, which has militated against night attacks. + +On Saturday, Oct. 3, practically nothing happened, except that each side +shelled the other. + +Toward evening on Sunday, Oct. 4, there was a similar absence of +activity. Opposite one portion of our line the enemy's bands played +patriotic airs, and the audiences which gathered gave a chance to our +waiting howitzers. + +Not only do their regimental bands perform occasionally, but with their +proverbial fondness for music the Germans have in some places +gramophones [Transcriber: original 'gramaphones'] in their trenches. + +On Monday, the 5th, there were three separate duels in the air between +French and German aviators, one of which was visible from our trenches. +Two of the struggles were, so far as could be seen, indecisive, but in +the third the French airmen were victorious, and brought down their +opponents, both of whom were killed by machine gun fire. The observer +was so burned as to be unrecognizable. + +During the day some men of the Landwehr were taken prisoners by us. They +were in very poor condition and wept copiously when captured. One, on +being asked what he was crying for, explained that though they had been +advised to surrender to the English, they believed that they would be +shot. + +On that evening our airmen had an unusual amount of attention paid to +them, both by the German aviators and their artillery of every +description. + +One of our infantry patrols discovered 150 dead Germans in a wood, one +and a half miles from our front. We sent a party out to bury them, but +it was fired upon and had to withdraw. + +On Tuesday, the 6th, the enemy's guns were active in the afternoon. It +is believed that the bombardment was due to anger because two of our +howitzer shells had detonated right in one of the enemy's trenches, +which was full of men. Three horses were killed by the German fire. + +Wednesday, the 7th, was uneventful. + +On Thursday, the 8th, the shelling by the enemy of a locality on our +front, which has so far been the scene of their greatest efforts, was +again continuous. Opposite one or two points the Germans have attempted +to gain ground by sapping in some places with the view of secretly +pushing forward machine guns in advance of their trenches, so that they +can suddenly sweep with crossfire the space between our line and theirs, +and so take any advance of ours on the flank. + +It is reported that at one point where the French were much annoyed by +the fire of a German machine gun, which was otherwise inaccessible, they +drove a mine gallery, 50 meters (about 164 feet) long, up to and under +the emplacement, and blew up the gun. The man who drove the gallery +belonged to a corps which was recruited in one of the coal-mining +districts of France. + +The German machine guns are mounted on low sledges, and are +inconspicuous and evidently easily moved. + +The fighting now consists mostly of shelling by the artillery of both +sides and in front a line of fire from the machine guns as an occasional +target offers. Our Maxims have been doing excellent work and have proved +most efficient weapons for the sort of fighting in which we are now +engaged. + +At times there are so many outbursts of their fire in different +directions that it is possible for an expert to tell by comparison which +of the guns have their springs adjusted and are well tuned up for the +day. The amount of practice that our officers are now getting in the use +of this weapon is proving most valuable in teaching them how to maintain +it at concert pitch as an instrument and how to derive the best tactical +results from its employment. + +Against us the Germans are not now expending so much gun ammunition as +they have been, but they continue to fire at insignificant targets. They +have the habit of suddenly dropping heavy shells without warning in +localities of villages far behind our front line, possibly on the chance +of catching some of our troops in bivouac or billets. They also fire a +few rounds at night. + +The artillery has up to now played so great a part in the war that a few +general remarks descriptive of the methods of its employment by the +enemy are justified. Their field artillery armament consists of +15-pounder quick-fire guns for horse and field batteries of divisions +and there are, in addition, with each corps three to six batteries of +4.3-inch field howitzers and about two batteries of 5.9-inch howitzers. +With an army there are some 8.2-inch heavy howitzers. + +The accuracy of their fire is apt at first to cause some alarm, more +especially as the guns are usually well concealed and the position and +the direction from which the fire is proceeding are difficult of +detection. But accurate as is their shooting, the German gunners have on +the whole had little luck, and during the past three weeks an +astonishingly small proportion of the number of shells fired by them +have been really effective. + +Quite the most striking feature of their handling of the artillery is +the speed with which they concentrate the fire upon any selected point. +They dispense to a great extent with the method of ranging known by us +as bracketing, especially when acting on the defensive, and direct their +fire by means of squared maps and the telephone. Thus, when the target +is found, its position on the map is telephoned to such batteries as it +is desired to employ against that particular square. + +In addition to the guns employed to fire on the targets as they are +picked up, others are told off to watch particular roads, and to deal +with any of the enemy using them. + +Both for the location of targets and the communication of the effect of +the fire, reliance is placed on observation from aeroplanes and balloons +and on information supplied by special observers and secret agents, who +are sent out ahead or left behind in the enemy's lines to communicate by +telephone or signal. These observers have been found in haystacks, +barns, and other buildings well in advance of the German lines. +Balloons of the so-called sausage pattern remain up in the air for long +periods for the purpose of discovering targets, and until our aviators +made their influence felt by chasing all hostile aeroplanes on sight the +latter were continually hovering over our troops in order to register +their positions and to note where the headquarters, reserves, gun teams, +&c., were located. + +If suitable targets are discovered the airman drops a smoke ball +directly over it or lets fall some strips of tinsel, which glitter in +the sun as they slowly descend to the earth. The range to the target is +apparently ascertained by those near the guns by a large telemeter, or +other range finder, which is kept trained on the aeroplane, so that when +the signal is made the distance to the target vertically below is at +once obtained. A few rounds are then fired, and the result is signalled +back by the aviator according to some prearranged code. + + + + +VII. + +*A Fight in the Clouds.* + +[Dated Oct. 13.] + + +From Friday the 9th of October until Monday the 12th so little occurred +that a narrative of the events can be given in a few words. There has +been the usual sporadic shelling of our trenches which has resulted in +but little harm, so well dug in are our men, and on the night of the +10th the Germans made yet a fresh assault, supported by artillery fire, +against the point which has all along attracted most of their attention. + +The attempt was again a costly failure toward which our guns were able +to contribute with great effect. + +Details have been received of an exciting encounter in midair. One of +our aviators on a fast scouting monoplane sighted a hostile machine. He +had two rifles, fixed one on either side of his engines, and at once +gave chase, but lost sight of his opponent among the clouds. Soon, +however, another machine hove into view which turned out to be a German +Otto biplane, a type of machine which is not nearly so fast as our +scouts. Our officer once again started a pursuit. He knew that owing to +the position of the propeller of the hostile machine he could not be +fired at when astern of his opponent. At sixty yards range he fired one +rifle without apparent result. Then as his pace was carrying him ahead +of his quarry he turned round, and, again coming to about the same +distance behind, emptied his magazine at the German. + +The latter began at once to descend as if either he or his machine were +hit, and shutting off his engine and volplaning to free his hands, the +pursuer recharged his magazine. Unfortunately it jammed, but he managed +to insert four cartridges and to fire them at his descending opponent, +who disappeared into a cloud bank with dramatic suddenness. When the +British officer emerged below the clouds he could see no sign of the +other. He, therefore, climbed to an altitude of some 7,000 feet and came +to the conclusion that the German must have come to earth in the French +lines. + +The French airmen, too, have been very successful during the last three +days, having dropped several bombs among the German cavalry and caused +considerable loss and disorder, and having by similar means silenced a +battery of field howitzers. + +The German anti-aircraft guns recently have been unusually active. From +their rate of fire they seem to be nearly automatic, but so far they +have not had much effect in reducing the air reconnoissances carried out +by us. + +A striking feature of our line--to use the conventional term which so +seldom expresses accurately the position taken up by an army--is that it +consists really of a series of trenches not all placed alongside each +other, but some more advanced than others, and many facing in different +directions. At one place they run east and west along one side of a +valley. At another almost north and south up some subsidiary valley. +Here they line the edge of woods, and there they are on the reverse +slope of a hill, or possibly along a sunken road, and at different +points both the German and the British trenches jut out like +promontories into what might be regarded as the opponents' territory. + +Though both sides have moved forward at certain points, and withdrawn at +others, no very important change has been effected in their +dispositions, in spite of the enemy's repeated counter attacks. These +have been directed principally against one portion of the position won +by us, but in spite of the lavish expenditure of life they have not so +far succeeded in driving us back. + +The situation of the works in the German front line as a whole has been +a matter of deliberate selection, for they have had the advantage of +previous reconnaissance, being first in the field. + +Behind the front they now have several lines prepared for a step-by-step +defense. Another point which might cause astonishment to a visitor to +our intrenchments is the evident indifference displayed to the provision +of an extended field of frontal rifle fire, which is generally accepted +as being one of the great requirements of a defensive position. It is +still desirable, if it can be obtained without the usually accompanying +drawback of exposure to the direct fire of hostile artillery, but +experience has shown that a short field of fire is sufficient to beat +back the infantry assaults of the enemy, and by giving up direct fire at +long or medium ranges and placing our trenches on the reverse slope of a +hill or behind the crest, it is in many places possible to gain shelter +from the frontal fire of the German guns, for the men are well trained +in musketry and under good fire control, and the dead ground beyond the +short range from their position has comparatively small terrors. + +Many of the front trenches of the Germans equally lack a distant field +of fire, but if lost they would be rendered untenable by us by the fact +that they would be exposed to a fire from the German guns in the rear +and to cross-rifle fire from neighboring works. + +The extent to which cross-fire of all kinds is employed is also +remarkable. Many localities and areas along the Aisne are not swept from +the works directly in front of them, but are rendered untenable by +rifle fire from neighboring features or by that of guns that are out of +sight. So much is this the case that among these hills and valleys it is +a difficult matter for troops to find out whence they are being shot at. + +There is a perpetual triangular duel. A's infantry can see nothing to +shoot at, but are under fire from B's guns. The action of B's guns then +brings upon them the attention of some of A's artillery waiting for a +target, the latter being in their turn assailed by other batteries. And +so it goes on. In a wooded country in spite of aeroplanes and balloons +smokeless powder has made the localization and identification of targets +a matter of supreme difficulty. + + + + +VIII. + +*The Men in the Trenches.* + +[Dated Oct. 13.] + + +On the firing line the men sleep and obtain shelter in dug-outs they +have hollowed or cut under the sides of the trenches. These refuges are +raised slightly above the bottom of the trench, so as to remain dry in +wet weather. The floor of the trench also is sloped for purposes of +draining. Some of the trenches are provided with overhead cover which +gives protection from the weather as well as from shrapnel balls and +splinters of shells. Considerable ingenuity has been exercised by the +men in naming these shelters. Among the favorite designations are the +"Hotel Cecil," the "Ritz Hotel," the "Billet-Doux Hotel," and the "Rue +Dormir." + +On the road barricades also are to be found boards bearing this notice: +"This way to the Prussians." + +Obstacles of every kind abound, and at night each side can hear the +enemy driving pickets for entanglements, digging _trous-de-loup_, or +working forward by sapping. In some places obstacles have been +constructed by both sides so close together that some wag suggested +that each side provide working parties to perform this fatigue duty +alternately, inasmuch as the work of the enemy is now almost +indistinguishable from ours, and serves the same purpose. + +Quarries and caves, to which allusion already has been made, provide +ample accommodation for whole battalions, and most comfortable are these +shelters which have been constructed in them. The northern slopes of the +Aisne Valley fortunately are very steep, and this to a great extent +protects us from the enemy's shells, many of which pass harmlessly over +our heads, to burst in the meadows along the river bank. + +At all points subject to shell fire access to the firing line from +behind is provided by communication trenches. These are now so good that +it is possible to cross in safety a fire-swept zone to the advance +trenches from billets in villages, bivouacs in quarries, or other places +where the headquarters of units happen to be. + +It already has been mentioned that according to information obtained +from the enemy fifteen Germans were killed by a bomb dropped upon the +ammunition wagon of a cavalry column. It was thought at the time that +this might have been the work of one of our airmen, who reported that he +had dropped a hand grenade on this convoy, and had then got a bird's-eye +view of the finest display of fireworks he had ever seen. From +corroborative evidence it now appears that this was the case; that the +grenade thrown by him probably was the cause of the destruction of a +small convoy carrying field-gun and howitzer ammunition, which now has +been found a total wreck. + +Along the road lie fourteen motor lorries, their iron skeletons twisted +and broken. Everything inflammable has been burned, as have the stripped +trees--some with split trunks--on either side of the road. Of the +drivers, nothing remains except tattered boots and charred scraps of +clothing, while the ground within a radius of fifty yards of the wagons +is littered with pieces of iron, split brass cartridge cases, which have +exploded, and some fixed-gun ammunition with live shells. + +If it were possible to reconstruct this incident, if it was, in fact, +brought about as supposed, the grenade from the aeroplane must have +detonated on the leading lorry, on one side of the road, and caused the +cartridges carried by it to explode. Three vehicles immediately in the +rear must then have been set on fire, with a similar result. Behind +these are groups of four and two vehicles so jammed together as to +suggest that they must have collided in desperate attempts to stop. On +the other side of the road, almost level with the leading wagon, are +found more vehicles, which probably were fired by the explosion of the +first. + +If this appalling destruction was due to one hand grenade, it is an +illustration of the potentialities of a small amount of high explosive +detonated in the right spot, while the nature of the place where the +disaster occurred, a narrow forest road between high trees, is a +testimony to the skill of the airmen. + +It is only fair to add that some French newspapers claim this damage to +the enemy was caused by the action of a detachment of their dragoons. + + + + +IX. + +*1,100 Dead in a Single Trench.* + +[Official Summary, Dated Oct. 27.] + + +The Official Bureau makes public today the story of an eye-witness, +supplementing the account issued on Oct. 24, and bringing the story of +the general course of operations in France up to Oct. 20. The arrival of +reinforcements, it says, enabled the British troops to assist in the +extension of the Allies' line where the Germans advanced from the +northeast and east, holding a front extending from Mont Descats, about +ten miles northeast of Hazebrouck, through Meteren, five miles south of +that point, and thence to Estaires, thirteen miles west of Lille, on the +River Lys. The statement continues: + +"South of the Lys the German line extended to three miles east of +Bethune to Vermelles. The Allies encountered resistance all along the +line on the 12th and 13th, when the enemy's right fell back hastily. +Bailleul, seventeen miles northwest by west of Lille, which had been +occupied by the foe for eight days, was abandoned without a shot being +fired. + +[Illustration: GEN. VON BUeLOW +Commanding One of the German Armies in the West +(_Copyright, Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin +Photographic Co., N.Y._)] + +[Illustration: CROWN PRINCE RUPPRECHT OF BAVARIA +(_Copyright, Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin +Photographic Co., N.Y._)] + +"On the 14th our left wing advanced, driving the enemy back, and on the +night of the 15th we were in possession of all the country on the left +bank of the Lys to a point five miles below Armentieres. The enemy +retired from that town on the 16th, and the river line, to within a +short distance of Frelinghien, fell into our hands. + +"The state of the crossings over the Lys indicated that no organized +scheme of defense had been executed, some of the bridges being in a +state of repair, others merely barricaded, while one was not even +defended or broken. + +"The resistance offered to our advance on the 15th was of a most +determined character. The fighting consisted of fiercely contested +encounters, infantry attacks on the villages being unavailing until our +howitzers reduced the houses to ruins. Other villages were taken and +retaken three times before they were finally secured. + +"The French cavalry here gave welcome support, and on the evening of the +16th the resistance was overcome, the enemy retiring five miles to the +eastward." + +Describing an incident of the fighting on this night, the narrative says +that the important crossing of the Lys at Warneton was strongly held by +the Germans with a barricade loopholed at the bottom to enable the men +to fire while lying down. + +"Our cavalry, with the artillery, blew the barricade to pieces and +scattered the defenders," the narrative continues. "Advancing +three-quarters of a mile our troops reached the square, when one of the +buildings appeared to leap skyward. A sheet of flame and a shower of +star shells at the same time made the place as light as day and enabled +the enemy, ensconced in surrounding houses, to pour a devastating fire +from rifles and machine guns. Our cavalry extricated themselves with the +loss of one officer wounded and nine men killed and wounded, but a party +of volunteers went back and carried off their wounded comrades from the +inferno. + +"During the 17th, 18th, and 19th of October our right encountered strong +opposition from the enemy about La Bassee, where they had established +themselves behind embankments. On the centre and the left we made better +progress, although the Germans were everywhere intrenched, and, in spite +of the bombardment, held some villages on the Lys. At the close of each +day a night counter stroke was delivered against one or another part of +our line, but they were all repulsed. + +"Tuesday, Oct. 20, a determined but unsuccessful attack was made against +virtually the whole of our line. At one point where one of our brigades +made a counter attack 1,100 German dead were found in a trench and forty +prisoners were taken." + +The narrative points out that the advance of the Allies has been +hindered by the weather and the nature of the ground, together with the +impossibility of knowing beforehand the reception that advance +detachments were likely to meet in approaching any village or town. "One +place may be evacuated hastily as untenable," the recital continues, +"while another in the same general line will continue to resist for a +considerable time. In some villages the inhabitants meet our cyclists +with kisses, while at the next one the roads will, in all probability, +have trenches cut across them and blocked with barricades and machine +guns. Under these circumstances an incautious advance is severely +punished, and it is impossible for large bodies of troops to push on +until the front has been thoroughly reconnoitred. This work requires the +highest qualities from our cavalry, our cyclists, and our advanced +guards. + +Armored motor cars equipped with machine guns are now playing a part in +the war, and have been most successful in dealing with small parties of +German mounted troops. In their employment our gallant allies, the +Belgians, who are now fighting with us and acquitting themselves nobly, +have shown themselves to be experts. They appear to regard Uhlan hunting +as a form of sport. The crews display the utmost dash and skill in this +form of warfare, often going out several miles ahead of their own +advanced troops and seldom failing to return loaded with spoils in the +shape of lancers' caps, busbies, helmets, lances, rifles, and other +trophies, which they distribute as souvenirs to the crowds in the market +places of the frontier towns. + +Although the struggle in the northern area naturally attracts more +attention than the one in the Aisne, the fighting in this region still +continues. Although there has been no alteration in the general +situation, the enemy has made certain changes in the positions of his +heavy artillery, with the result that one or two places which formerly +were safe are now subject to bombardment, while others which were +approachable only at night or by crawling on hands and knees now serve +as recreation grounds. At one point even a marquee tent has been +erected. + +A story from this quarter illustrates a new use for the craters made by +the explosions of the "Black Marias," the name given by the men to the +projectiles of the big German howitzers. An officer on patrol stumbled +in the dark on the German trenches. He turned and made for the British +lines, but the fire directed at him was so heavy that he had to throw +himself on the ground and crawl. There was no cover at hand, and his +chances looked desperate, when he saw close by an enormous hole in the +ground made by one of these large shells. Into this he scrambled and +remained there for a night and a day. When night again came he succeeded +in reaching our lines in safety. + +Official casualty lists of recent date which have been captured show +that the losses of the Germans continue to be heavy. One single list +shows that a company of German infantry had 139 men killed and wounded, +or more than half of its war establishment. Other companies suffered +almost as heavily. It further appears that the number of men reported +missing--that is, those who have fallen into the hands of the enemy or +who have become marauders--is much greater in the reserve battalions +than in the first line units. This is evidence of the inferior quality +of some of the reserves now being brought up to reinforce the enemy +field army, and it is all the more encouraging, since every day adds to +our first line strength. + +The arrival of the Indian contingents caused every one to realize that +while the enemy was filling his depleted ranks with immature levies, we +have large reserves of perfectly fresh and thoroughly trained troops to +draw upon. + + + + +X. + +*Nature of Fighting Changes.* + +[Dated Oct. 26.] + + +Before the narrative [Transcriber: original 'narative'] of the progress +of the fighting near the Franco-Belgian frontier subsequent to Oct. 20 +is continued a brief description will be given of the movement of a +certain fraction of our troops from its former line facing north, on the +east of Paris, to its present position facing east, in the northwest +corner of France, by which a portion of the British Army has been +enabled to join hands with the incoming and growing stream of +reinforcements. + +This is now an accomplished fact, as is generally known, and can +therefore be explained in some detail without detriment. Mention will +also be made of the gradual development up to Oct. 20 in the nature of +the operations in this quarter of the theatre of war, which has recently +come into such prominence. + +In its broad lines the transfer of strength by one combatant during the +course of a great battle which has just been accomplished is somewhat +remarkable. It can best be compared with the action of the Japanese +during the battle of Mukden, when Gen. Oku withdrew a portion of his +force from his front, moved it northward behind the line, and threw it +into the fight again near the extreme left of the Japanese armies. + +In general direction, though not in scope or possible results, owing to +the coast line being reached by the Allies, the parallel [Transcriber: +original 'parellel'] is complete. The Japanese force concerned, however, +was much smaller than ours and the distance covered by it was less than +that from the Aisne to the Franco-Belgian frontier. Gen. Oku's troops, +moreover, marched, whereas ours were moved by march, rail, and motor. + +What was implied in the actual withdrawal from contact with the enemy +along the Aisne will be appreciated when the conditions under which we +were then situated are recalled. + +In places the two lines were not one hundred yards apart, and for us no +movement was possible during daylight. In some of the trenches which +were under enfilade fire our men had to sit all day long close under the +traverses--as are called those mounds of earth which stretch like +partitions at intervals across a trench so as to give protection from +lateral fire. Even where there was cover, such as that afforded by +depressions or sunken roads, on the hillside below and behind our firing +line, any attempt to cross the intervening space was met by fierce +bursts of machine gun and shell fire. + +The men in the firing line were on duty for twenty-four hours at a time, +and brought rations and water with them when they came on duty, for none +could be sent up to them during the day. Even the wounded could not be +removed until dark. + +The preliminary retirement of the units was therefore carried out +gradually, under cover of darkness. That the Germans only once opened +fire on them while so engaged was due to the care with which the +operation was conducted, and also, probably, to the fact that the enemy +were so accustomed to the recurrence of the sounds made by the reliefs +of the men in the firing line and by the movement of the supply trains +below that they were misled as to what was actually taking place. + +What the operation amounted to on our part was the evacuation of the +trenches, under carefully made arrangements with the French who had to +take our place in the trenches; the retirement to the river below--in +many cases down a steep slope; the crossing of the river over the noisy +plank roadways of floating or repaired bridges, which were mostly +commanded by the enemy's guns--and the climb up to the top of the +plateau on the south side. + +The rest of the move was a complicated feat of transportation which cut +across some of the lines of communication of our allies; but it requires +no description here. In spite of the various difficulties, the whole +strategic operation of transferring the large number of troops from the +Aisne was carried out without loss and practically without a hitch. + +As regards the change in the nature of the fighting in which we have +recently been engaged, it has already been pointed out that the +operations had up till then been of a preparatory nature and that the +Germans were obviously seeking to delay us by advanced troops while +heavier forces were being got ready and brought up to the scene of +action. It was known that they were raising a new army, consisting of +corps formed of Ersatz, (supernumerary reserves), volunteers, and other +material which had not yet been drawn upon, and that part of it would in +all probability be sent to the western theatre, either to cover the +troops laying siege to Antwerp, in case that place should hold out, or, +in the event of the capture of the fortress, to act in conjunction with +the besieging force in a violent offensive movement toward the coast. + +After the fall of Antwerp and the release of the besieging troops there +was a gradual increase in the strength of the opposition met with by us. + +The resistance of the detachments--which beyond the right extreme of the +German fortified line near Bethune a fortnight ago consisted almost +entirely of cavalry--grew more and more determined as more infantry and +guns came into the front line, until Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the arrival +opposite us of a large portion of the new formations and a considerable +number of heavy guns enabled the enemy to assume the offensive +practically against the whole of our line at the same time that they +attacked the Belgians between us and the coast. + +The operations then really assumed a fresh complexion. + +Since that date, up to the 25th, apart from the operations on either +side of us, there has been plenty of action to chronicle on our +immediate front, where some of the heaviest fighting in which we have +yet been engaged has taken place, resulting in immense loss to the +Germans. + +On Wednesday, the 21st, the new German formations again pressed forward +in force vigorously all along our line. On our right, south of the Lys, +an attack on Violaines was repulsed with loss to the assailants. + +On the other hand, we were driven from some ground close by, to the +north, but regained it by a counter attack. + +Still further north the Germans gained and retained some points. + +Their total casualties to the southeast of Armentieres are estimated at +over 6,000. + +On the north of the Lys, in our centre, a fiercely contested action took +place near La Gheir, which village was captured in the morning by the +enemy and then retaken by us. In this direction the German casualties +were also extremely heavy. They came on with the greatest bravery, in +swarms, only to be swept away by our fire. One battalion of their 104th +Regiment was practically wiped out, some 400 dead being picked up by us +in our lines alone. + +Incidentally, by our counter attack, we took 130 prisoners and released +some forty of our own men who had been surrounded and captured, +including a subaltern of artillery who had been cut off while observing +from a point of vantage. + +It is agreeable to record that our men were very well treated by their +captors, who were Saxons, being placed in cellars for protection from +the bombardment of our own guns. + +On our left our troops advanced against the German 26th Reserve Corps +near Passchendaele, and were met by a determined counter offensive, +which was driven back with great loss. At night the Germans renewed +their efforts unsuccessfully in this quarter. + +At one point they tried a ruse which is no longer new. As they came up +in a solid line two deep they shouted out: "Don't fire; we are the +Coldstream Guards." + +But our men are getting used to tricks of this kind, and the only result +of this "slimness" was that they allowed the enemy's infantry to +approach, quite close before they swept them down with magazine fire. + +Apart from the 400 dead found near our lines in our centre, our patrols +afterwards discovered some 300 dead further out in front of our left, +killed by our artillery. + +Thursday, the 22d, saw a renewal of the pressure against us. We +succeeded, however, in holding our ground in nearly every quarter. + +South of the Lys the enemy attacked from La Bassee, and gained Violaines +and another point, but their effort against a third village was repulsed +by artillery fire alone, the French and British guns working together +very effectively. On the north of the river it was a day of minor +attacks against us, which were all beaten back. + +The Germans advanced in the evening against our centre and left, and +were again hurled back, though they gained some of our trenches in the +latter quarter. By this time the enemy had succeeded in bringing up +several heavy howitzers, and our casualties were considerable. + +On Friday, the 23d, all action south of the Lys on our right was +confined to that of the artillery, several of the hostile batteries +being silenced by our fire? In the centre their infantry again +endeavored to force their way forward, and were only repulsed after +determined fighting, leaving many dead on the ground and several +prisoners in our hands. North of the Lys attacks at different points +were repulsed. + +On our left the 23d was a bad day for the Germans. Advancing in our +turn, we drove them from some of the trenches out of which they had +turned us on the previous evening, captured 150 prisoners, and released +some of our men whom they had taken. + +As the Germans retreated our guns did great execution among them. + +They afterwards made five desperate assaults on our trenches, advancing +in mass and singing "Die Wacht am Rhein" as they came on. Each assault +was easily beaten back, our troops waiting until the enemy came to very +close range before they opened fire with rifles and Maxims, causing +terrible havoc in the solid masses. + +During the fighting in this quarter on the night of the 22d and on the +23d the German losses were again extremely heavy. We made over 600 +prisoners during that time and picked up 1,500 dead, killed on the +latter day alone. + +Much of the slaughter was due to the point blank magazine fire of our +men against the German assaults, while our field guns and howitzers, +working in perfect combination, did their share when the enemy were +repulsed. As they fell back they were subjected to a shower of shrapnel. +When they sought shelter in villages or buildings they were shattered +and driven out by high-explosive shells and then again caught by +shrapnel as they came into the open. + +The troops to suffer so severely were mostly of Twenty-third Corps, one +of their new formations. + +Certainly the way their advance was conducted showed a lack of training +and faults in leading which the almost superhuman bravery of the +soldiers could not counterbalance. It was a holocaust. + +The spectacle of these devoted men chanting a national song as they +marched on to certain death was inspiring. It was at the same time +pitiable. + +And if any proof were needed that untrained valor alone cannot gain the +day in modern war, the advance of the Twenty-third German Corps on Oct. +23 most assuredly furnished it. + +Besides doing its share of execution on the hostile infantry, our +artillery in this quarter brought down a German captive balloon. + +As some gauge of the rate at which the guns were firing at what was for +them an ideal target, it may be mentioned that one field battery +expended 1,800 rounds of ammunition during the day. + +On Saturday, the 24th, action on our right was once more confined to +that of artillery, except at night, when the Germans pressed on, only to +be repulsed. + +In the centre, near Armentieres, our troops withstood three separate +attempts of the enemy to push forward, our guns coming into play with +good effect. Against our left the German Twenty-seventh Corps made a +violent effort with no success. + +On Sunday, the 25th, it was our turn to take the offensive. This was +carried out by a portion of our left wing, which advanced, gained some +ground, and took two guns and eighty prisoners. It is believed that six +machine guns fell to the French. + +In the centre the fighting was severe, though generally indecisive in +result, and the troops in some places were engaged in hand-to-hand +combat. Toward evening we captured 200 prisoners. + +On the right action was again confined to that of the guns. + +Up to the night of the 25th, therefore, not only have we maintained our +position against the great effort on the part of the enemy to break +through to the west, or to force us back, which started on the 20th; we +have on our left passed to the offensive. + +These six days, as may be gathered, have been spent by us in repelling a +succession of desperate onslaughts. It is true that the efforts against +us have been made to a great extent by partially trained men, some of +whom appear to be suffering from lack of food. But it must not be +forgotten that these troops, which are in great force, have only +recently been brought into the field, and are therefore comparatively +fresh. They are fighting also with the utmost determination, in spite +of the fact that many of them are heartily sick of the war. + +The struggle has been of the most severe and sanguinary nature, and it +seems that success will favor that side which is possessed of most +endurance, or can bring up and fling fresh forces into the fray. Though +we have undoubtedly inflicted immense loss upon the enemy, they have so +far been able to fill up the gaps in their ranks and to return to the +charge, and we have suffered heavily ourselves. + +One feature of the tactics now employed has been the use of cavalry in +dismounted action, for on both sides many of the mounted troops are +fighting in the trenches alongside the infantry. + +Armored motor cars, armed with Maxims and light quick-firing guns, also +have recently played a useful part on our side, especially in helping to +eject the enemy lurking in villages and isolated buildings. Against such +parties the combined action of the quick-firer against the snipers in +buildings, and the Maxim against them when they are driven into the +open, is most efficacious. + + + + +XI. + +*The British Defense at Ypres.* + +[Dated Nov. 13.] + + +The diminution in the force of the German rush to the west has not +lasted long. The section of the front to the north of our forces was the +first to meet the recrudescence of violence in the shape of an attack in +the neighborhood of Dixmude and Bixschoote. + +Our turn came next. After eight days of comparative relaxation we were +under constant pressure from Tuesday, Nov. 3, to Tuesday, the 10th. The +next day saw a repetition of the great attempt of the Germans to break +through our lines to the French coast. + +What was realized might happen did happen. In spite of the immense +losses suffered by the enemy during the five-day attack against Ypres, +which lasted from Oct. 29 to the 2d of this month, the cessation of +their more violent efforts on the latter day did not signalize the +abandonment of the whole project, but merely the temporary +relinquishment of the main offensive until fresh troops had been massed +to carry on what was proving to be a costly and difficult operation. + +Meanwhile the interval was employed in endeavoring to wear out the +Allies by repeated local attacks of varying force and to shatter them by +a prolonged and concentrated bombardment. By the 11th, therefore, it +seems that they considered they had attained both objects, for on that +day they recommenced the desperate battle for the possession of Ypres +and its neighborhood. + +Though the struggle has not yet come to an end, this much can be said: +The Germans have gained some ground, but they have not captured Ypres. + +In repulsing the enemy so far we have suffered heavy casualties, but +battles of this fierce and prolonged nature cannot but be costly to both +sides. We have the satisfaction of knowing that we have foiled the enemy +in what appears to be at present his main object in the western theatre +of operations, and have inflicted immensely greater losses on him than +those we have suffered ourselves. + +To carry on the narrative for the three days of the 10th, 11th, and 12th +of November: + +Tuesday, the 10th, was uneventful for us. At some distance beyond our +left flank the enemy advanced in force against the French and were +repulsed. Directly on our left, however, along the greater part of the +front, shelling was less severe, and no infantry attacks took place. + +To the southeast of Ypres the enemy kept up a very heavy bombardment +against our line, as well as that of the French. On our left centre the +situation remained unchanged, both sides contenting themselves with +furious cannonading. In our centre the Germans retained their hold on +the small amount of ground which they had gained from us, but in doing +so incurred a heavy loss from our artillery and machine gun fire. + +Incidentally, one of the houses held by the enemy was so knocked about +by our fire that its defenders bolted. On their way to the rear they +were met by reinforcements under an officer who halted them, evidently +in an endeavor to persuade them to return. While the parley Was going on +one of our machine guns was quietly moved to a position of vantage, +whence it opened a most effective fire on the group. + +On our right one of the enemy's saps, which was being pushed toward our +line, was attacked by us. All the men in it were captured. + +Wednesday, the 11th, was another day of desperate fighting. As day broke +the Germans opened fire on our trenches to the north and south of the +road from Menin to Ypres. This was probably the most furious artillery +fire which they have yet employed against us. + +A few hours later they followed this by an infantry assault in force. +This attack was carried out by the First and Fourth brigades of the +Guard Corps, which, as we now know from prisoners, have been sent for to +make a supreme effort to capture Ypres, since that task had proved too +heavy for the infantry of the line. + +As the attackers surged forward they were met by our frontal fire, and +since they were moving diagonally across part of our front they were +also attacked on the flank by artillery, rifles, and machine guns. +Though their casualties before they reached our line must have been +enormous, such was their resolution and the momentum of the mass that in +spite of the splendid resistance of our troops they succeeded in +breaking through our line in three places near the road. They penetrated +some distance into the woods behind our trenches, but were +counter-attacked again, enfiladed by machine guns and driven back to +their line of trenches, a certain portion of which they succeeded in +holding, in spite of our efforts to expel them. + +What their total losses must have been during this advance may be gauged +to some extent from the fact that the number of dead left in the woods +behind our line alone amounted to 700. + +A simultaneous effort made to the south, a part of the same operation +although not carried out by the Guard Corps, failed entirely, for when +the attacking infantry massed in the woods close to our line, our guns +opened on them with such effect that they did not push the assault home. + +As generally happens in operations in wooded country, the fighting to a +great extent was carried on at close quarters. It was most desperate and +confused. Scattered bodies of the enemy who had penetrated into the +woods in the rear of our position could neither go backward nor forward, +and were nearly all killed or captured. + +The portion of the line to the southeast of Ypres held by us was heavily +shelled, but did not undergo any very serious infantry attack. That +occupied by the French, however, was both bombarded and fiercely +assaulted. On the rest of our front, save for the usual bombardment, all +was comparatively quiet. + +On the right one of our trenches was mined and then abandoned. As soon +as it was occupied by the enemy the charges were fired and several +Germans were blown to pieces. + +Thursday, Nov. 12, was marked by a partial lull in the fighting all +along our line. To the north a German force which had crossed the Yser +and intrenched on the left bank was annihilated by a night attack with +the bayonet, executed by the French. Slightly to the south the enemy was +forced back for three-quarters of a mile. Immediately on our left the +French were strongly attacked and driven back a short distance, our +extreme left having to conform to this movement. Our allies soon +recovered the ground they had lost, however, and this enabled us to +advance also. + +To the southeast of Ypres the enemy's snipers were very active. On our +centre and right the enemy's bombardment was maintained, but nothing +worthy of special note occurred. + +The fact that on this day the advance against our line in front of Ypres +was not pushed home after such an effort as that of Wednesday tends to +show that for the moment the attacking troops had had enough. + +Although the failure of this great attack by the Guard Corps to +accomplish their object cannot be described as a decisive event, it +possibly marks the culmination if not the close of the second stage in +the attempt to capture Ypres, arid it is not without significance. It +has also a dramatic interest of its own. Having once definitely failed +to achieve this object by means of the sheer weight of numbers, and +having done their best to wear us down, the Germans brought in fresh +picked troops to carry the Ypres salient by an assault from the north, +the south and the east. That the Guard Corps should have been selected +to act against the eastern edge of the salient may be taken as proof of +the necessity felt by the Germans to gain this point in the line. + +Their dogged perseverance in pursuance of their objective claims +whole-hearted admiration. The failure of one great attack, heralded as +it was by an impassioned appeal to the troops made in the presence of +the Emperor himself, but carried out by partially trained men, has been +only the signal for another desperate effort in which the place of honor +was assigned to the corps d'elite of the German Army. + +It must be admitted that the Guard Corps has retained that reputation +for courage and contempt of death which it earned in 1870, when Emperor +William I., after the battle of Gravelotte, wrote: "My Guard has found +its grave in front of St. Privat," and the swarms of men who came up +bravely to the British rifles in the woods around Ypres repeated the +tactics of forty-four years ago when their dense columns, toiling up the +slopes of St. Privat, melted away under the fire of the French. + +That the Germans are cunning fighters, and well up in all the tricks of +the trade, has frequently been pointed out. For instance, they often +succeed in ascertaining what regiment or brigade is opposed to them, and +because of their knowledge of English, they are able to employ the +information to some purpose. On a recent occasion, having by some means +discovered the name of the commander of the company holding the trench +they were attacking, they called him by name, asking if Captain ---- was +there. Fortunately the pronunciation of the spokesman was somewhat +defective, and their curiosity was rewarded by discovering that both the +officer in question and his men were very much there. + +There have been reports from so many different quarters of the enemy +having been seen wearing British and French uniforms that it is +impossible to doubt their truth. One absolutely authentic case occurred +during the fighting near Ypres. A man dressed in a uniform closely +resembling that of a British staff officer suddenly appeared near our +trenches and walked along the line. He asked if many casualties had been +suffered, stated that the situation was serious, and that a general +retirement had been ordered. A similar visit having been reported by +several men in different trenches, orders were issued that this strange +officer was to be detained if seen again. Unluckily he did not make +another appearance. + +The following remarks taken from the diary of a German soldier are +published not because there is reason to believe they are justified with +regard to the conduct of German officers but because of their interest +as a human document. Under date of Nov. 2 this German soldier wrote: + + Previous to noon we were sent out in a regular storm of bullets on + the order of the Major. These gentlemen, the officers, send their + men forward in a most ridiculous way. They themselves remain far + behind, safely under cover. Our leadership is really scandalous. + Enormous losses on our side are partly from the fire of our own + people, for our leaders neither know where the enemy lies nor where + our own troops are, so that we often are fired on by our own men. + It is a marvel to me that we have got on as far as we have done. + + Our Captain fell, as did also all our section leaders and a large + number of our men. Moreover, no purpose was served by this advance, + for we remained the rest of the day under cover; we could go + neither forward nor back, nor even shoot. + + The trench we had taken was not occupied by us. The English + naturally took it back at night. That was the sole result. Then + when the enemy had intrenched themselves another attack was made, + costing us many lives and fifty prisoners. It is simply ridiculous, + this leadership. If only I had known it before! My opinion of + German officers has changed. + + An Adjutant shouted to us from a trench far to the rear to cut down + a hedge in front of us. Bullets were whistling round from in front + and from behind. The gentleman himself, of course, remained behind. + + The Fourth Company has now no leaders but a couple of non-coms. + When will my turn come! I hope to goodness I shall get home again. + + In the trenches shells and shrapnel burst without ceasing. In the + evening we get a cup of rice and one-third of an apple per man. Let + us hope peace will soon come. Such a war is really too awful. The + English shoot like mad. If no reinforcements come up, especially + heavy artillery, we shall have a poor lookout and must retire. + + The first day I went quietly into the fight with an indifference + which astonished me. Today, for the first time, in advancing, when + my comrades on the right and left were falling, I felt rather + nervous. But I lost that feeling again soon. One becomes horribly + indifferent. + + I picked up a piece of bread by chance. Thank God! At least I have + something to eat. + + There are about 70,000 English who must be attacked from all four + sides and destroyed. However, they defend themselves obstinately. + + + + +XII. + +*Attacked by 750,000 Germans.* + +[Official Summary, Dated Dec. 3.] + + +Col. E.D. Swinton of the Intelligence Department of the General Staff of +the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium, in a narrative +dated Nov. 26, gives a general review of the development of the +situation of the force for six weeks preceding that date. + +There has recently been a lull in the active operations, he says. No +progress has been made by either side, and yet there has come about an +important modification comprising a readjustment in the scope of the +part played by the British Army as a whole. He explains the movement +from the River Aisne to the Belgian frontier to prolong the left flank +of the French Army, and says that in attempting this the British force +was compelled to assume responsibility for a very extended section of +the front. He points out, as did Field Marshal Sir John French, +Commander in Chief of the British forces, that the British held only +one-twelfth of the line, so that the greater share of the common task of +opposing the enemy fell and still falls to the French, while the +Belgians played an almost vital part. + +With the fall of Antwerp the Germans made every effort to push forward a +besieging force toward the west and hastened to bring up a new army +corps which had been hastily raised and trained, their object being to +drive the Allies out of Belgium and break through to Dunkirk and Calais. +Altogether they had a quarter of a million of fresh men. Eventually the +Germans had north of La Bassee about fourteen corps and eight cavalry +divisions, that is, "a force of three-quarters of a million of men with +which to attempt to drive the Allies into the sea. In addition, there +was immensely powerful armament and heavy siege artillery, which also +had been brought up from around Antwerp." + +The official eye-witness tells of the blows delivered by the Germans at +Nieuport, Dixmude, and Ypres, where "at first the Allies were greatly +outnumbered." For a whole month the British army around Ypres succeeded +in holding its ground against repeated onslaughts made by vastly +superior forces. The writer goes into details of the German attacks and +describes how they were frustrated by the Allies. + +The British force, says Col. Swinton, which consisted all along of the +same units, had "to withstand an almost continuous bombardment and to +meet one desperate assault after another, each carried out by fresh +units from the large numbers which the Germans were devoting to the +operation." Finally the French came to their assistance, and "never was +help more welcome; for by then our small local reserves had again and +again been thrown into the fight in the execution of counter-attacks, +and our men were exhausted by the incessant fighting." + +The British front now has been considerably shortened and in addition +has been reinforced, while a lull in the activity has enabled the +British to readjust their forces, strengthen their positions, and bring +up reserves. There has, therefore, "been a great general improvement in +the conditions under which we are carrying on the fight". Of the +fighting which preceded this reorganization the writer says it is due +solely to the resource, initiative, and endurance of the regimental +officers and men that success has lain with the British. He continues: + +"As the struggle swayed backward and forward through wood and hamlet, +the fighting assumed a most confused and desperate character. The units +became inextricably mixed, and in many cases, in order to strengthen +some threatened point or to fill a gap in the line, the officers had to +collect and throw into the fight what men they could, regardless of the +units to which they belonged. Our casualties have been severe; but we +have been fighting a battle, and a battle implies casualties, and, heavy +as they have been, it must be remembered that they have not been +suffered in vain. + +"The duty of the French, Belgians, and British in the western theatre of +operations has been to act as a containing force; in other words, to +hold on to and to keep occupied as many of the enemy as possible while +the Russians were attacking in the east. In this we have succeeded in +playing our part, and by our resistance have contributed materially +toward the success of the campaign. Moreover, our losses have not +impaired our fighting efficiency. The troops have required only a slight +respite in order to be able to continue the action with as much +determination as ever. They are physically fit and well fed and have +suffered merely from the fatigue which is inseparable from a protracted +struggle such as they have been through. The severest handling by the +enemy has never had more than a temporary effect on their spirits, +which they have soon recovered, owing to the years of discipline and +training to which the officers and men have been accustomed. + +"The value of such preparation is as noticeable on the side of the enemy +as on our own. The phenomenal losses suffered by the Germans' new +formations have been remarked, and they were in part due to their lack +of training. Moreover, though at the first onset these formations +advanced to the attack as gravely as their active corps, they have not +by any means, shown the same recuperative powers. The Twenty-seventh +Corps, for instance, which is a new formation composed principally of +men with from only seven to twelve weeks' training, has not yet +recovered from its first encounter with the British infantry around +Becelaere, to the northeast of Ypres, a month ago. On the other hand, +the Guards Corps, in spite of having suffered severely in Belgium, of +having been thrown headlong across the Oise River at Guise and of having +lost large numbers on the plains of Compiegne and on the banks of the +Aisne River, advanced against Ypres on the 11th of November as bravely +as they did on the 20th of August." + +The Allies, continues Col. Swinton, have made great sacrifices to defend +against tremendous odds a line that could only be maintained by making +these sacrifices; but the fact that the situation has been relieved is +no reason for assuming that the enemy has abandoned his intention of +pressing through to the sea. The writer points out that the Germans +continue to attack with great courage, but little abated by failure, +and, while they have not succeeded in gaining the Straits of Dover, they +have been enabled to consolidate their position on the western front and +retain all but a small portion of Belgium. + +"As well as they have fought, however," continues the narrative, "it is +doubtful if their achievements are commensurate with their losses, which +recently have been largely due to a lack of training and a comparative +lack of discipline of the improvised units they put in the field." + +Col. Swinton concludes with the statement that, as the war is going to +be one of exhaustion, after the regular armies of the belligerents have +done their work it will be upon the raw material of the countries +concerned that final success will depend. + + + + +XIII. + +*The Lull in November.* + +[Dated Nov. 29.] + + +General inactivity is recorded along the English front, with the Germans +pressing the attack in one quarter against the Indian troops, who have +been extending their trenches in an endeavor to get in close quarters +with the enemy. There has been some shelling of the rear of our front +line south of the Lys, but this form of annoyance diminishes daily along +the whole front. Sniping, however, is carried on almost incessantly. +There seems to be little doubt that the Germans are employing civilians, +either willingly or unwillingly, to dig trenches; some civilians have +been seen and shot while engaged in this work. + +While it is necessary to accept the evidence of all prisoners with +caution, there is a change in the views expressed by some officers +captured recently which appears to be genuine. They admit the failure of +the German strategy and profess to take a gloomy view of the future. At +the same time it must be confessed that as yet there is no sign that +their view is that generally held by the enemy, nor has there been any +definite indication of a lack of morale among the German troops. + +The highways of Northern France are crowded with men responding to the +various mobilization orders issued by the French Government. + +Thousands of such troops were encountered in the course of a short +automobile trip. The strange procession includes a curious mixture of +types. A considerable proportion of these new drafts are composed of +middle-aged men of good physique and likely young men from the +countryside. + +The change within the last few days of what may be termed the atmosphere +of the battlefield has been marked. The noise of the cannonading has now +decreased to such an extent that for hours at a time nothing is heard +but the infrequent boom of one of the heavy guns of the Allies, the +occasional rattle of machine guns, and the intermittent fire of snipers +on either side. So far as the use of explosives is concerned, the +greatest activity is found in local attacks with hand grenades and +short-range howitzers. The enemy has practically ceased his efforts to +break through the line by assaults, and he is now devoting his energies +to the same type of siege operations which have been familiar to the +Allies since the beginning of the battle of the Aisne. + +Subterranean life is the general rule in the neighborhood of the firing +line. Even those men not actually engaged in fighting live in +underground quarters. Some of these quarters, called "funk-holes" are +quite elaborate and comfortable and contain many conveniences not found +in the trenches on the firing line. They communicate with the firing +line by zigzag approach trenches which make enfilading impossible. + +Attacks are made on the firing line trenches by blind saps, which are +constructed by a special earth borer. When this secret tunnel reaches +the enemy's trench, an assault is delivered amid a shower of hand +grenades. The stormers endeavor to burst their way through the opening +and then try to work along the trench. Machine guns are quickly brought +up to repel a counter attack. Most of this fighting takes place at such +close range that the guns on either side cannot be fired at the enemy's +infantry without great risk of hitting their own men. Bombs have come to +take the place of artillery, and they are being used in enormous +quantities. + +The short-range howitzers are of three types, and those used by the +Germans have come to be termed the "Jack Johnson" of close attack. The +smaller bombs and grenades thrown by hand, although local in action, are +very unpleasant, particularly between the inclosed space of a trench. +These grenades are thrown continuously by both sides, and every trench +assault is first preceded and then accompanied by showers of these +murderous missiles. This kind of fighting is very deadly, and owing to +the difficulty of observation it is at times somewhat blind. This +difficulty has in a measure been decreased, however, by the use of the +hyperscope, an instrument which works very much like the periscope on a +submarine. It permits an observer to look out over the top of a parapet +without raising his head above the protection of the trench. + + + + +*THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY.* + +By EDWARD NEVILLE VOSE. + + +THE old year dies 'mid gloom and woe-- + The saddest year since Christ was born-- +And those who battle in the snow + All anxious-eyed look for the morn-- +The morn when wars shall be no more, + The morn when Might shall cease to reign, +When hushed shall be the cannons' roar + And Peace shall rule the earth again. + +As we from far survey the fray + And strive to succor those who fall, +Let each give thanks that not today + To us the clarion bugles call-- +That not today to us 'tis said: + "Bow down the knee, or pay the cost +Till all ye loved are maimed or dead, + Till all ye had is wrecked and lost." + +Should that grim summons to us come + God grant we'd all play heroes' parts, +And bravely fight for land and home + While red blood flows in loyal hearts. +But now a duty nobler far + Has come to us in this great day-- +We are the nations' guiding star, + They look to us to lead the way. + +They look to us to lead the way + To liberty for all the world, +The dawning of that better day + When war's torn banners shall be furled-- +The day when men of every race + Their right divine shall clearly see +To rule themselves by their own grace, + Forever and forever free. + + + + +*"Human Documents" of Battle* + +*By Men Who Saw or Took Part./* + + _Written in the hurry and confusion of battle, and without the + opportunity at hand to check up the impressions given, it is of + course likely that these dispatches from special correspondents may + contain many things which history will correct. But as human + documents they have no equal, and history will not be able, however + she may correct matters of detail and partisan feeling, to offer + anything which will give a more vivid impression of the glare and + roar of battle than do these letters, penned by men actually in or + near the firing line at the moment of great events. As such_ THE + TIMES _offers them, not as frozen history, but as history in the + making, and has no apologies to make for an error of fact here and + there, for those very errors are in a way testimony that adds value + to the story--the story of honest and hard-driven human beings + writing what was passing before their eyes._ + + + + +*The German Entry Into Brussels* + +*By John Boon of The London Daily Mail.* + + +BRUSSELS, via Alost, Aug. 20. (Thursday,) 10 P.M. + +The Germans entered Brussels shortly after 2 P.M. today without firing a +shot. + +Yielding to the dictates of reason and humanity, the civil Government at +the last moment disbanded the Civic Guard, which the Germans would not +recognize. The soldiers and ordinary police were then entrusted with the +maintenance of order. + +After a day of wild panic and slumberless nights the citizens remained +at their windows. Few sought their couches. + +The morning broke brilliantly. The city was astir early, and on all lips +were the words: "They are here" or "They are coming!" + +The "they" referred to were already outside the boundaries in great +force. The artillery was packed off on the road to Waterloo. Horse, +foot, and sapper were packed deep on the Louvain and Tervervueren roads. + +An enterprising motorist came in with the information and the crowds in +the busy centres immediately became calm. At 11 o'clock it was reported +that an officer with half a troop of hussars bearing white flags had +halted outside the Louvain gate. + +The Burgomaster and four Sheriffs went in a motor car to meet the +officers. They were conducted to the German military authorities at the +head of the column. The meeting took place outside the barracks of the +carabineers. + +The Burgomaster claimed for the citizens their rights under the laws of +war regulating an unfortified capital. When roughly asked if he was +prepared to surrender the city, with the threat that otherwise it would +be bombarded, the Burgomaster said he would do so. He also decided to +remove his scarf of office. + +The discussion was brief. When the Burgomaster handed over his scarf it +was handed back to him and he was thus intrusted for the time being with +the civil control of the citizens. The Germans gave him plainly to +understand that he would be held responsible for any overt act on the +part of the populace against the Germans. + +From noon until 2 o'clock the crowds waited expectantly. Shortly after 2 +o'clock the booming of cannon and later the sound of military music +conveyed to the people of Brussels the intimation that the triumphant +march of the enemy on the ancient city had begun. + +On they came, preceded by a scouting party of Uhlans, horse, foot, and +artillery and sappers, with a siege train complete. + +A special feature of the procession was 100 motor cars on which +quick-firers were mounted. Every regiment and battery was headed by a +band, horse or foot. + +Now came the drums and fifes, now the blare of brass and soldiers +singing "Die Wacht am Rhein" and "Deutschland Ueber Alles." + +Along the Chaussee de Louvain, past St. Josse and the Botanical Gardens, +to the great open space in front of the Gare du Nord, the usual lounging +place of the tired twaddlers of the city, swept the legions of the man +who broke the peace of Europe. + +Among the cavalry were the famous Brunswick Death's Head Hussars and +their companions on many bloody fields, the Zeiten Hussars. But where +was the glorious garb of the German troops, the cherry-colored uniforms +of the horsemen and the blue of the infantry? All is greenish, +earth-color gray. All the hel- [Transcriber: Text missing in original.] +are painted gray. The gun carriages are gray. Even the pontoon bridges +are gray. + +To the quick-step beat of the drums the Kaiser's men march to the great +Square Charles Rogier. Then at the whistling sound of the word of +command--for the sonorous orders of the German officers seemed to have +gone the way of the brilliant uniforms--the gray-clad ranks broke into +the famous goose step, while the good people of Liege and Brussels gazed +at the passing wonder with mouths agape. + +At the railroad station the great procession defiled to the boulevards +and thence marched to encamp on the heights of the city called +Kochelberg. It was truly a sight to have gladdened the eyes of the +Kaiser, but on the sidewalks men were muttering beneath their breath: +"They'll not pass here on their return. The Allies will do for them." + +Many of the younger men in the great array seemed exhausted after the +long forced march, but as a man staggered his comrades in the ranks +held him up. + +It was a great spectacle and an impressive one, but there were minor +incidents that were of a less pleasant character. + +Two Belgian officers, manacled and fastened to the leather stirrups of +two Uhlans, made a spectacle that caused a low murmur of resentment from +the citizens. Instantly German horsemen backed their steeds into the +closely packed ranks of the spectators, threatening them with uplifted +swords and stilling the momentary revolt. + +At one point of the march a lame hawker offered flowers for sale to the +soldiers. As he held up his posies a Captain of Hussars by a movement of +his steed sent the poor wretch sprawling and bleeding in the dust. Then +from the crowd a Frenchwoman, her heart scorning fear, cried out, "You +brute!" so that all might hear. + +There was one gross pleasantry, too, perpetrated by a gunner who led +along a bear, evidently the pet of his battery, which was dressed in the +full regalia of a Belgian General. + +The bear was evidently intended to represent the King. He touched his +cocked hat at intervals to his keeper. + +This particularly irritated the Belgians, but they wisely abstained from +any overt manifestation or any unpleasant feature of behavior. The +soldiery as they passed tore repeatedly at the national colors which +every Belgian lady now wears on her breast. + +A more pleasant incident was when a party of Uhlans clamored for +admittance at a villa on the Louvain road. They disposed of a dozen +bottles of wine and bread and meat. The non-commissioned officer in +command asked what the charge was and offered some gold pieces in +payment. The money was refused. + +Near the steps of St. Gudule a party of officers of high rank, seated in +a motor car, confiscated the stock of the news vendors. After greedily +scanning the sheets they burst into loud laughter. + +Hour after hour, hour after hour, the Kaiser's legions marched into +Brussels streets and boulevards. Some regiments made a very fine +appearance, and it is well that the people of England should know this. +It was notably so in the case of the Sixty-sixth, Fourth and +Twenty-sixth Regiments. Not one man of these regiments showed any sign +of excessive fatigue after the gruelling night of marching, and no doubt +the order to "goose step" was designedly given to impress the onlookers +with the powers of resistance of the German soldiers. + +[Illustration: The First Rush Into Belgium.] + +The railway stations, the Post Office and the Town Hall were at once +closed. The national flag on the latter was pulled down and the German +emblem hoisted in its place. Practically all the shops were closed and +the blinds drawn on most of the windows. + +At the time of writing I have heard of no very untoward incident. The +last train left Brussels at 9 o'clock on Wednesday night. Passengers to +the city cannot pass beyond Denderleeuw, where there are strong German +pickets. + + + + +*The Fall of Antwerp* + +*By a Correspondent of The London Daily Chronicle, Who Was at Antwerp +During the Siege.* + +[Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +LONDON, Oct. 11.--A Daily Chronicle correspondent who has just arrived +from Antwerp tells the following story of his experiences: + +Antwerp has been surrendered. This last and bitterest blow which has +fallen upon Belgium is full of poignant tragedy, but the tragedy is +lightened by the gallantry with which the city was defended. + +Only at the last, to save the historic buildings and precious +possessions of the ancient port, was its further defense abandoned. +Already much of it had been shattered by the long-range German guns, and +prolonged resistance against these tremendous engines of war was +impossible. + +Owing to this the siege was perhaps the shortest in the annals of war +that a fortified city ever sustained. I have already described its +preliminaries and the many heroic efforts which were made by the +Belgians to stem the tide of the enemy's advance, but the end could not +long be delayed when the siege guns began the bombardment. + +It was at three minutes past noon on Friday that the Germans entered the +city, which was formally surrendered by the Burgomaster, J. de Vos. +Antwerp had then been under a devastating and continuous shell fire for +over forty hours. + +It was difficult for me to ascertain precisely how the German attack was +being constituted, but from officers and others who made journeys from +the fighting lines into the city I gathered that the final assault +consisted of a continuous bombardment of two hours' duration, from 7:30 +o'clock in the morning until 9:30. + +During that time there was a continuous rain of shells, and it was +extraordinary to notice the precision with which they dropped just where +they would do the most damage. I was told that the Germans used captive +balloons, whose officers signaled to the gunners the points in the +Belgian defense at which they should aim. + +The German guns, too, were concealed with such cleverness that their +position could not be detected by the Belgians. Against such methods and +against the terrible power of the German guns the Belgian artillery +seemed quite ineffective. The firing came to an end at 9:30 o'clock +Friday, and the garrison escaped, leaving only ruins behind them. + +[Illustration: GEN. VON KLUCK +Commanding on the German Left Wing in the West +(_Copyright, Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin +Photographic Co., N.Y._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. VON HINDENBURG +The German Commander in the East +(_Copyright, Photographische Gesellschaft, by permission of the Berlin +Photographic Co. N.Y._)] + +In order to gain time for an orderly retreat, a heavy fire was +maintained against the Germans up to the last minute, and the forts were +then blown up by the defenders as the Germans came in at the Gate of +Malines. I was lucky enough to escape by the river to the north in a +motor boat. The bombardment had then ceased, though many buildings were +still blazing, and while the little boat sped down the Scheldt one could +imagine the procession of the Kaiser's troops already goose-stepping +their way through the well-nigh deserted streets. + +Those forty hours of shattering noise, almost without a lull, seem to me +now a fantastic nightmare, but the harrowing sights I witnessed in many +parts of the city cannot be forgotten. It was Wednesday night that the +shells began to fall into the city. From then onward they must have +averaged about ten a minute, and most of them came from the largest guns +which the Germans possess--"Black Marias," as Tommy Atkins has +christened them. + +Before the bombardment had been long in operation the civil population +or a large proportion of it fell into a panic. It is impossible to blame +these peaceful, quiet living burghers of Antwerp for the fears that +possessed them when the merciless rain of German shells began to fall +into the streets and on the roofs of their houses and public buildings. +The Burgomaster had in his proclamation given them excellent advice to +remain calm and he certainly set them an admirable example, but it was +impossible to counsel the Belgians who knew what had happened to their +fellow citizens in other towns which the Germans had passed through. + +Immense crowds of them, men, women and children, gathered along the +quayside and at the railway stations in an effort to make a hasty exit +from the city. Their condition was pitiable in the extreme. Family +parties made up the biggest proportion of this vast crowd of broken men +and women. There were husbands and wives with their groups of scared +children unable to understand what was happening, yet dimly conscious in +their childish way that something unusual and terrible and perilous had +come into their lives. + +In many groups were to be seen old, old people, grandfathers and +grandmothers of a family, and these in their shaking frailty and terror, +which they could not withstand, were the more pitiable objects in the +great gathering of stricken townsfolk. This pathetic clinging together +of the family was one of the most affecting sights I witnessed, and I +have not the slightest doubt that in the mad rush for refuge beyond the +borders of their native land many family groups of this sort completely +perished. + +All day and throughout the night these pitiful scenes continued, and +when I went down to the quayside early Thursday, when the dawn was +throwing a wan light over this part of the world, I found again a great +host of citizens awaiting their chance of flight. + +In the dimness of the breaking day this gathering of "Les Miserables" +presented, as it seemed to me, the tragedy of Belgium in all its horror. +I shall never forget the sight. Words would fail to convey anything but +a feeble picture of the depths of misery and despair there. People stood +in dumb and patient ranks drawn down to the quayside by the announcement +that two boats would leave at 11 o'clock for Ostend, and Ostend looks +across to England, where lie their hopes. + +There were fully 40,000 of them assembled on the long quay, and all of +them were inspired by the sure and certain hope that they would be among +the lucky ones who would get on board one of the boats. Alas for their +hopes, the two boats did not sail, and when they realized this I fancied +I heard a low wail of anguish rise from the disappointed multitude. + +Other means of escape were, however, available in the shape of a dozen +or fifteen tugboats, whose destinations were Rotterdam and Flushing and +other ports of Holland. They were not vessels of any considerable +passenger carrying capacity, and as there was no one to arrange a +systematic embarkation a wild struggle followed among the frantic people +to obtain places on the tugs. Men, women, and children fought +desperately with each other to get on board, and in that moment of +supreme anguish human nature was seen in one of its worst moods, but who +can blame these stricken people? Shells that were destroying their homes +and giving their beloved town to the flames were screaming over their +heads. Their trade was not war; they were merchants, shopkeepers, +comfortable citizens of more than middle age, and there were many women +and children among them, and this horror had come upon them in a more +appalling shape than it has visited any other civilized community in +modern times. + +There was a scarcity of gangways to the boats and the only means of +boarding them was by narrow planks sloping at a dangerous angle. Up +these the fugitives struggled, and the strong elbowed the weak out of +their way in their mad haste to escape. The marvel to me as I watched +the scramble was that many were not crushed to death in the struggle to +get on board or forced into the river and drowned. As it was, mishaps +were very few. One old lady of 80 years slipped on one of the planks and +fell against the side of the boat, fracturing her skull. Several people +fell into the river and two were drowned, but that is the sum total of +accidents as far as I could ascertain. + +By 2 o'clock Thursday most of the tugboats had got away, but there were +still some 15,000 people who had not been able to escape, and had to +await resignedly whatever fate was in store for them. + +I have endeavored to describe the scenes at the quayside on Thursday +morning, and I now turn to the Central Station, where incidents of a +similar kind were happening. There, as down by the river, an immense +throng of people had assembled, and they were filled with dismay at the +announcement that no trains were running. In their despair they prepared +to leave the city on foot by crossing the pontoon bridge and marching +toward the Dutch frontier. + +I cannot, of course, speak positively on the subject, but I should say +the exodus of refugees from the city must have totaled 200,000 +persons--men, women, and children of all ages--or very nearly that vast +number, and that out of a population which in normal times is 321,821. +One might estimate that fully 70 per cent. of those folk had little or +no money. + +There were three lines of exit. They could up to the time of the German +invasion cross the pontoon bridge over the Scheldt; they could go along +the countryside toward the Dutch frontier, or they could walk up the +Scheldt toward the frontier and then cross by ferry to Belgian territory +again. + +Many of the aged women among the refugees, terrorized and +hunger-stricken, died, I am told, on the way to the Belgian frontier. +The towns were crowded with pitiful wanderers, fleeing from the ruthless +invaders, and they begged for crusts of bread. They were simply +starving, and householders did what they could to help, cottagers giving +to their utmost out of their meagre larders, but still there was a cry +for food. + +I now return to the events of Thursday. At 12:30 o'clock in the +afternoon, when the bombardment had already lasted over twelve hours, +through the courtesy of a Belgian officer I was able to ascend to the +roof of the cathedral, and from that point of vantage I looked down upon +the scene in the city. + +All the southern portion of Antwerp appeared to be a desolate ruin. +Whole streets were ablaze, and flames were rising in the air to the +height of twenty and thirty feet. In another direction I could just +discern through my glasses dimly in the distance the instruments of +culture of the attacking German forces, ruthlessly pounding at the city +and creeping nearer to it in the dark. At that moment I should say the +enemy's front line was within four miles of Antwerp. + +From my elevated position I had an excellent view also of the great oil +tanks on the opposite side of the Scheldt. They had been set on fire by +four bombs from a German taube, and a huge, thick volume of black smoke +was ascending 200 feet into the air. The oil had been burning furiously +for several hours, and the whole neighborhood was enveloped in a mist of +smoke. + +In all directions were fire and flames and oil-laden smoke. It was like +a bit of Gustave Dore's idea of the infernal regions. From time to time +great tongues of fire shot out from the tanks, and in this way, the +flames greedily licking the sides of other tanks, the conflagration +spread. How long this particular fire raged I cannot say, for I saw +neither the beginning nor the end of it, but while I watched its +progress it seemed to represent the limit of what a fire was capable of. + +After watching for some considerable time the panorama of destruction +that lay unrolled all around me, I came down from my post of observation +on the cathedral roof, and at the very moment I reached the street a +28-centimeter shell struck a confectioner's shop between the Place Verte +and the Place Meir. It was one of these high explosive shells, and the +shop, a wooden structure, immediately burst into flames. + +The city by this time was almost deserted, and no attempt was made to +extinguish the fires that had broken out all over the southern district. +Indeed, there were no means of dealing with them. + +As far back as Tuesday in last week the water supply from the reservoir +ten miles outside the city was cut off, and as this was the city's main +source of supply, indeed practically its only source, great apprehension +was felt. The reservoir is just behind Fort Waelhem, and the German +shells had struck it, doing great mischief. It left Antwerp without any +regular inflow of water, and the inhabitants had to do their best with +artesian wells. Great efforts were made by the Belgians from time to +time to repair the reservoir, but it was always thwarted by German shell +fire. The health of the city was thereby menaced, for there was danger +of an epidemic. + +Happily, stricken Antwerp was spared this added terror. It had plenty +of other sorts, and some of these I experienced when, after leaving the +cathedral, I made my way to the southern section of the city, where +shells were bursting at the rate of five a minute. With great difficulty +and not without risk I got as far as Rue la Moiere. + +There I met a terror-stricken Belgian woman, the only other person in +the streets besides myself. In hysterical gasps she told me the Banque +Nationale and the Palais de Justice had been struck and were in flames, +and that her husband had been hit by a shell just five minutes before I +came upon the scene, his mangled remains lying not a hundred yards away +from where we were standing. + +It was obviously impossible to proceed further, and so I retraced my +steps toward the quay. As I was passing the Avenue de Keyser a shell +burst within twenty yards of me. I was knocked down by the force of the +concussion. A house not ten yards from where I was was struck and +actually poured (I can think of no other word to describe what happened) +into the street in a shower of bricks. A broken brick struck me on the +shoulder, but its force was spent and I received no injury. + +I had scarcely picked myself up and was hastening to a place of safety, +if there were one, when a man about 40 years of age, almost half naked, +rushed out of a house, screaming loudly. He had gone mad. + +At this time I was fortunate enough to meet Frank Fox of The Morning +Post. Mr. Fox is an ex-officer of artillery, and he told me he had found +a hotel which, as long as the Germans fired in the direction they were +then firing, was not within the reach of their guns. This was the Hotel +Wagner, which stands behind the Opera House on the Boulevard de +Commerce. It was the only hotel in the city except the Queens Hotel, in +which some representatives of American newspapers had been staying, that +was open. There I found Miss Louise Mack, an Australian authoress, and +she, Fox, and myself were among the few British subjects left in the +port. + +As night came the city presented a fantastic appearance as I watched it +from the Hotel Wagner. The glare from the fires that had burst out in +all directions could be seen for miles around. The bombardment was +proceeding furiously, and German shells were bursting in every +direction. I reckoned they were coming in that time at the rate of at +least thirty a minute. + +I went to the Queens Hotel to ascertain what had become of the American +journalists. I found they had left the city after having spent the night +in a private house which had been struck three times by shells, and +finally caught fire. Arthur Ruhl of the staff of Collier's Weekly had +left for me this note: + + Donald C. Thompson, photographer of The New York World, fitted up + for himself a cellar at 74 Rue de Peage, just by the Boulevard de + Keyser, where shrapnel fell with terrible force during the latter + part of Wednesday. With him were three other Americans. The entire + population, including, of course, the Government of Antwerp, have + made their escape across the pontoon bridge which still connects + the River Scheldt with the road toward Ghent. Two shells demolished + Thompson's retreat and at sundown it burst into flames. The + American Consul General and Vice Consul General had gone by this + time. The following Americans, all of them newspaper men, were + known to have spent the night in Antwerp; Arthur Ruhl, Horace + Green, staff of The New York Evening Post; Edward Eyre Hunt, + correspondent of The New York World; Edward Heigel of the staff of + The Chicago Daily Tribune, and Thompson himself. + +Except for the glare of burning buildings, which lit up the streets, the +city was in absolute darkness, and near the quay I lost my way in the +byroads trying to get back to the Hotel Wagner. For the second time that +day I narrowly escaped death by a shell. One burst with terrific force +about twenty-five yards from me. I heard its warning whirr, and rushed +into a neighboring porch. Whether it was from concussion of the shell or +in my anxiety to escape, I cannoned against a door and tumbled down. As +I lay on the ground the house on the opposite side crashed in ruins. I +remained still for several minutes feeling quite sick and unable to get +up. Then I pulled myself together, and ran at full speed until I came +to a street which I recognized, and found my way back to the hotel. + +As I hastened down the Avenue de Keyser shells were bursting in every +quarter. Several fell into the adjoining street. At the hotel I found my +friend Fox had been up to the Red Cross Hospital to inquire about a +motor car in which we hoped to get away. It had gone, as had the entire +personnel of the hospital. + +We began to wonder how we should escape. However, Fox had a bicycle, and +Mr. Singleton, Chief of the Boy Scouts in Antwerp, had given me the key +of a house not far off, in which he told me there was one if I wanted it +in an emergency. I ventured into that dangerous part of the city again +to get it. I got to the house safely and found the bicycle, but as there +was no tube in the back tire it was useless. On my return journey I was +startled to see in the street through which I had just walked a hole six +feet deep, which had just been made by a shell. + +On returning to the hotel I joined in a meal, eaten under the weirdest +[Transcriber: original 'wierdest'] conditions imaginable. Descending +into the cellars of the hotel with Miss Mack and Mr. Fox we found the +entire staff gathered there uncertain what to do and not knowing what +was to happen to them. We were all hungry, and one of the men dashed +upstairs to the kitchen and brought down whatever food he could lay his +hands on, and we all partook of pot luck. Considering all the +circumstances we made a very jolly meal of it. We toasted each other in +good red wine of the country, pledging each other with "Vive la +Belgique" and "Vive l'Angleterre," and altogether we were a merry party, +although at the time German shells were whirling overhead and any moment +one might have upset our picnic and buried us in the debris of the +hotel. + +How many of the inhabitants of Antwerp remained in the city that night +it is impossible to say, but it is pretty certain they were all in the +cellars of their houses or shops. + +The admirable Burgomaster, M. De Vos, had in one of his several +proclamations made many suggestions for safety during the bombardment +for the benefit of those who took refuge in cellars. Among the most +useful of them perhaps was that which recommended means of escape to +adjoining cellars. The power of modern artillery is so tremendous that a +cellar might very well become a tomb if shells were to fall on the +building overhead. + +We went to bed early that night but sleep was impossible in the noise +caused by the explosion of the shells in twenty different quarters of +the town. About 3 o'clock in the morning a twenty-eight centimeter shell +fell into the square in front of the hotel and broke all the windows in +the neighboring house. In spite of the terrific din one got to sleep at +last. + +About 6 o'clock Fox roused me and said he thought it was time we got +out, as the Germans were entering the city. We hurried from the hotel, +and found in the square a squad of Belgian soldiers who had just come in +from the inner line of forts. They told us it was not safe for us to +remain any longer. The streets were now completely deserted. + +I walked down to the quayside, and there I came across many wounded +soldiers, who had been unable to get away in the hospital boat. On the +quay piles of equipment had been abandoned; broken-down motor cars, +kit-bags, helmets, rifles, knapsacks were littered in heaps. Ammunition +had been dumped there and rendered useless. The Belgians had evidently +attempted to set fire to the whole lot. A pile of stuff was still +smoldering. I waited there for half an hour, and during that time +hundreds of Belgian soldiers passed in retreat, the last contingent +leaving at about 6:30 A.M. + +I went again to the Queen's Hotel to inquire what had become of the +American newspaper men, and it was just about this time that the pontoon +bridge which had been the way of the Belgian retreat was blown up to +prevent pursuit by the Germans. The boats and woodwork of the +superstructure burnt fiercely and in less than twenty minutes the whole +affair was demolished. + +Safe exit from the city was now cut off. A Red Cross officer whom I met +when standing by the quay had been a spectator of the blowing up of the +bridge. + +"My God!" he said, running toward me, "it is awful!" + +"How are you going to get out?" I asked him. + +"I'm going to stay here and look after my wounded," he replied. + +In further talk with him I learned that the greater part of the second +line of forts had fallen at midday the previous day and that there was +nothing then to stop the Germans entering the city save a handful of +Belgian soldiers in three or four forts. At 8 o'clock a shell struck the +Town Hall. + +Fox had now joined me, and we took refuge in the cellars beneath the +Town Hall. So far as I could gather, the remaining inhabitants of +Antwerp must have assembled about this neighborhood, groups taking +refuge in small and stuffy cellars, where developments were anxiously +awaited. There must have been hundreds of people sheltered underground, +and they included the Mexican and Dominican Consuls. Why these stayed I +do not know, as none of their people were left behind. They were the +only Consuls remaining in Antwerp. + +About 8:15 o'clock another shell struck the Town Hall, shattering the +upper story and breaking every window in the place. That was the German +way of telling the Burgomaster to hurry up. There was a tense feeling as +we waited for tidings of some sort or other. A quarter of an hour later +M. De Vos went out in his motor car toward the German line to discuss +conditions on which the city should be surrendered. + +Another shell struck a furrier's shop opposite the Town Hall and the +place burst into flames. Several of the gendarmes who had stayed behind +were occupants of cellars, and two of them immediately rushed out to +force a way into the shop in order that they might extinguish the fire. +They found the door locked. It took them ten minutes to force an +entrance. By this time the fire was burning fiercely, and at great +personal risk one of the gendarmes made his way to the top floor of the +premises, and there he endeavored to beat out the flames with a piece of +timber torn from the roof. His efforts were futile, and he called for +water. Soon a Flemish woman brought him two pailfuls, which Fox had +carried to the house, and after half an hour's labor the fire was +extinguished. + +The proprietor of the shop was among the people in the cellars across +the way. The news that his house was aflame was broken to him and he +rushed into the street. He gazed for a moment on the scene and burst +into tears like a child. + +At 9 o'clock the bombardment of the city suddenly ceased and we +understood the Burgomaster had by this time reached German headquarters. +Still we waited, painfully anxious to learn what would be the ultimate +fate of Antwerp. The Belgian soldiers hurried by on their way to the +front. A number paused just as they reached a tobacconist's shop which +had been wrecked by shells, scattering the stock in the street. There +were cigars hurled across the pavement and roadway, and soldiers who had +halted picked up a few of the cigars. A Belgian workman, taking +advantage of this, entered the shop and began to stuff his pockets full +of cigars and cigarettes, but immediately gendarmes hurried to the place +and arrested him, the last arrest the Antwerp police will make for some +time. + +At 10:30 o'clock proclamations were posted on walls of the Town Hall +urging all in the city to surrender any arms in their possession and +begging for a calm demeanor in the event of German occupation. The list +was also posted of several prominent citizens who were appointed to look +after the interests of those Belgians who remained. + +Just before noon a patrol of cyclists and armed and mounted gendarmes, +who had escorted the Burgomaster to the gate of the city, informed Fox +and myself that the Germans were entering by the gate of Malines. We +hastily took our bicycles with the intention of making our way over the +Dutch frontier. As we passed along the quay by a most timely stroke of +luck we found a motor boat standing by. It was manned by a Belgian, and +his mate. + +"Can you take us to Flushing?" we asked. + +"Yes," answered the Belgian. + +"How much?" + +"One hundred and fifty francs each." + +We were in that boat in thirty seconds and in another thirty seconds had +started down the Scheldt. By this time the Germans were in the city. + +At a good ten knots we raced down the river. In twenty-five minutes we +had reached the bend which blotted Antwerp from view. As we rounded the +corner I turned for a last glimpse of the disappearing city. The +Cathedral was still standing, its tower dominating surroundings. Here +and there volumes of smoke were rising to the sky. + +It took us twelve hours to get to Flushing. On either side of the river +thousands of refugees were fleeing from the invaders. They swarmed along +the banks in continuous lines, a vast pilgrimage of the hopeless, many +laden with household possessions which they had been able to gather at +almost a moment's notice. Numbers were empty-handed and burdened at that +in dragging their weary bodies along the miles which seemed never +ending. It was a heartrending spectacle. Infinite pity must go out to +those broken victims of the war, bowed veterans driven from home, going +they knew not where; women with their crying children, famished for lack +of food, all or nearly all leaving behind men folk who were still +fighting their country's battle or mourning the loss of loved ones who +had already sacrificed their lives. + +Where the Scheldt becomes Dutch property we were stopped by customs +authorities and submitted to a rigorous examination. Dutch officials for +a time believed we were either Belgian or English officers escaping, but +eventually they were satisfied. + +Upon arriving at Flushing we found the town in a tremendous state of +excitement. Great crowds of refugees were there, 10,000 or more, and +the hotels were choked. Many wretched people had left their homes +absolutely without any money and were forced to camp in the streets. +There was a vast crowd waiting to get on the Flushing-Folkestone boat, +and it appeared we would be balked in our endeavor to get to England +that night. However, we discussed our position with the Superintendent +of the line, and he very kindly got us a berth. + + + + +*As the French Fell Back on Paris* + +*By G.H. Perris of The London Daily Chronicle.* + +[Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +CHATEAU [Transcriber: original 'Chateau'] THIERRY, Sunday, Sept. 13.--We +first realized yesterday, in a little town of Brie which lies east of +Paris, between the Seine and the Marne, how difficult it is to get food +in the rear of two successive invasions. As in every other town in the +region, all the shops were shut and nearly all the houses. It was only +after a long search that we found an inn that could give us luncheon. + +There, in a large room with a low-beamed roof and a tiled floor, our +stout landlady in blue cotton produced an excellent meal of melon, +mutton, macaroni, and good ripe pears. Dogs and cats sprawled around us, +and a big bowl of roses spoke of serenities that are now in general +eclipse. At a neighboring table a group of peasants, too old for active +service, were discussing their grievances. + +At a railway crossing just out of town we were blocked by a train of +about a dozen big horse trucks and two passenger carriages, carrying +wounded and prisoners to Paris from the fighting lines in the north. It +had been a gloomy morning, and the rain now fell in torrents. +Nevertheless the townsfolk crowded up, and for half an hour managed to +conduct a satisfactory combination of profit and pity by supplying big +flat loaves, bottles of wine, fruit, cigarettes, and jugs of water to +those in the train who had money and some who had none. One very old +woman in white, with a little red cross on her forehead, turned up to +take advantage of the only opportunity ever likely to fall in her way. A +great Turco in fez, blouse, and short, baggy breeches was very active in +this commissariat work. + +Some of the Frenchmen on board were not wounded seriously enough to +prevent their getting down on the roadway; and you may be sure they were +not ashamed of their plaster patches and bandaged arms. + +There were about 300 German prisoners in the train. We got glimpses of +them lying in the straw on the floor in the dark interior of the big +trucks. I got on the footboard and looked into the open door of one car. +Fifteen men were stretched upon straw, and two soldiers stood guard over +them, rifle in hand. They all seemed in a state of extreme exhaustion. +Some were asleep, others were eating large chunks of bread. + +In the middle of the car a young soldier who spoke French fairly well +told me that the German losses during the last three days had been +enormous; and then, stopping suddenly, he said: + +"Would it be possible, Sir, to get a little water for my fellows and +myself?" + +"Certainly," I replied; and a man belonging to the station, who was +passing with a jug, said at once that he would run and get some. The +prisoner thanked me and added with a sigh: + +"They are very good fellows here." + +One jocular French guard had put on a spiked helmet which he was keeping +as a trophy, and, so much does the habit make the man, he now looked +uncannily like a German himself. + +As we passed through the villages to the northeast the contrast between +abandoned houses and gardens rioting with the color of roses and dahlias +and fruit-laden trees struck us like a blow. + +In Gourchamp a number of houses had been burned, and the neighboring +fields showed that there had been fighting there; but it was Courtacon +which presented the most grievous spectacle. Eighteen of its two dozen +houses had been completely destroyed by fire. The walls were partly +standing, but the floors and contents of the rooms were completely +buried under the debris of roofs that had fallen in. In a little Post +Office the telegraphic and telephonic instruments had been smashed. Just +opposite is a small building including the office of the Mayor and the +village school. The outside of the building and the outhouses were +littered with the straw on which the Uhlans had slept. In the Mayor's +office the drawers and cupboards had been broken open, and their +contents had been scattered with the remnants of meals on the floor. + +But it is a scene in a little village school that will longest remain in +my memory. The low forms, the master's desk, and the blackboard stand +today as they did on July 25, which was no doubt the last day before the +Summer vacation, as it was also the last week before the outbreak of the +war. On the walls the charts remained which reminded these little ones +daily that "Alcohol is the enemy," and had summoned them to follow the +path of kindness, justice, and truth. The windows were smashed, broken +cartridge cases lay about with wings of birds and other refuse. Near the +door I saw chalked up, evidently in German handwriting, "Parti Paris," +("Left for Paris.") + +The invaders had sought to burn the place. There was one pile of partly +burned straw under the school bookcase, the doors of which had been +smashed, while some of the books had been thrown about. They had not +even respected a little museum consisting of a few bottles of metal and +chemical specimens; and when I turned to leave I perceived written +across the blackboard in bold, fine writing, as the lesson of the day, +these words: "A chaque jour suffit sa peine," ("Sufficient unto the day +is the evil thereof.") + +One of the villagers gave us the following narrative of the experiences +of the past week: + +"It was last Saturday, Sept. 5, that about 15,000 Uhlans arrived in the +village with the intention of marching on Provins on the morrow. They +probably learned during the night that the British and French lay in +force across their road, and perhaps they may now have received orders +to fall back. + +"At any rate, early Sunday morning they started to retire, when they met +at the entrance to the village a regiment of chasseurs. This was the +beginning of fighting which lasted all day. Under the pretext that we +had learned of the presence of the French troops and had helped them to +prepare a trap, the Germans sacked the whole of the village. + +"Naturally there was a panic. All the inhabitants--mostly women and +children, because since the mobilization there have been only nine men +in Courtacon--rushed from their cottages and many of them, lightly clad, +fled across the fields and hid themselves in the neighboring woods. + +"In several cottages Germans, revolvers in hand, compelled the poor +peasants to bring matches and themselves set fire to their homes. In +less than an hour the village was like a furnace, the walls toppling +down one by one. And all this time the fighting continued. It was a +horrible spectacle. + +"Several of us were dragged to the edge of the road to be shot, and +there we remained for some hours, believing our last day had come. A +young village lad of 21 years, who was just going to leave to join the +colors, was shot. Then the retreat was sounded, the Germans fled +precipitately, and we were saved." + +I asked whether the cottages had not been fired by artillery. + +"Not a cannon shot fell here," he replied. "All that"--pointing to the +ruined huts--"was done by incendiaries." And then he added: + +"Last Tuesday two French officers came in automobiles and brought with +them a superior German officer whom they had made prisoner. They +compelled him to become a witness of the mischief of which his +fellow-countrymen had been guilty." + +A peasant woman passed, pushing a wheelbarrow containing some +half-burned household goods and followed by her two small children. + +"Look," she said, "at the brutality of these Germans! My husband has +gone to war and I am alone with my two little ones. With great +difficulty we had managed to gather our crop, and they set fire to our +little farm and burned everything." + +Half an hour later we were at La Ferte Gaucher, a small town on the +Grand Morin, now first made famous by the fact that it was here that the +German flight began after the severe fighting last Monday. The invaders +had arrived only on Saturday and had the disagreeable surprise of +finding that the river bridges had been broken down by the retreating +French. The German commandant informed the municipal officials that if +the sum of 60,000 francs ($12,000) was not produced he would burn the +town. Then he compelled the people to set about rebuilding the bridge, +and they worked day and night at this job under the eyes of soldiers +with revolvers and rifles ready to shoot down any shirker. + +The relief of these people at the return of the Allies may be imagined. +Here, as elsewhere, some houses were burned, but otherwise the damage +did not appear to be very serious. + + + + +*The Retreat to Paris* + +*By Philip Gibbs of The London Daily Chronicle.* + +[Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +NEAR AMIENS, Aug. 30.--Looking back on all I have seen during the last +few days, I find it difficult to piece together the various incidents +and impressions and to make one picture. It all seems to me now like a +jigsaw puzzle of suffering and fear and courage and death--a litter of +odd, disconnected scraps of human agony and of some big, grim scheme +which, if one could only get the clue, would give a meaning, I suppose, +to all these tears of women and children, to all these hurried movements +of soldiers and people, to the death carts trailing back from unknown +places, and to the great dark fear that has enveloped all the tract of +country in Northwest France through which I have been traveling, driven +like one of its victims from place to place. Out of all this welter of +individual suffering and from all the fog of mystery which has +enshrouded them until now, when the truth may be told, certain big facts +with a clear and simple issue will emerge and give one courage. + +The French Army and our English troops are now holding good positions in +a much stronger and closer line and stemming the tide of the German +hordes rolling up to Paris. Gen. Pau, the hero of this war, after his +swift return from the eastern front, where he repaired the deadly check +at Muelhausen, has dealt a smashing blow at a German Army corps which was +striking to the heart of France. + +Paris is still safe for the time being, with a great army of allied +forces, French, English, and Belgians, drawn across the country as a +barrier which surely will not be broken by the enemy. Nothing that has +happened gives cause for that despair which has taken hold of people +whose fears have exaggerated the facts, frightful enough when taken +separately, but not giving any proof that resistance is impossible +against the amazing onslaught of the German legions. + +I have been into the war zone and seen during the last five days men who +are now holding the lines of defense. I have been among their dead and +wounded, and have talked with soldiers marching fresh to the front. I +have seen the horrid mess which is cleared up after the battle and the +grim picture of retreat, but nothing that I have seen or heard from +either British or French leads me to believe that our army has been +smashed or the Allies demoralized. + +It is impossible to estimate our own losses. Our wounded are being +brought back into Havre and Rouen, and undoubtedly there are large +numbers of them. But, putting them at the highest, it is clear to me, +from all information gained during the last five days, that there has +been no overwhelming disaster, and that in the terrible actions fought +on the four days from the 23d to the 27th, and afterward in the further +retirement from the line of Cambrai and Le Cateau, swinging southward +and eastward upon St. Quentin, our main forces, which were pressed by +enormous numbers of the enemy, succeeded in withdrawing in good order, +without having their lines broken, while inflicting a terrific +punishment upon the German right. + +As I shall show in this narrative, retreats which seem fatal when seen +close at hand and when described by those who belong to broken fragments +of extended sections, are not altogether disastrous in their effect when +viewed in their right perspective, away from the immediate misery which +is their inevitable accompaniment. + +German audacity of attack against the heroic courage of the French and +British forces, who fight every mile of ground during their retirement, +is leading the enemy into a position from which there will be no retreat +if their lines are broken. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of +thousands of people who know nothing of the great issues and who are +possessed by the great, blind fear which has driven them from their +towns, villages, and homes. + +When the Germans swept around Lille they found, to their amazement, that +this town, surrounded by forts, had been abandoned, and they had only to +walk inside. This easy access to a town which should have been defended +to the last gasp opened the way to the west of France. + +The left wing of the French, which was to the west of Mons, was +supported by the English troops, all too weak to sustain the pressure of +the tremendous odds which began to surge against them; and, realizing +this perilous state of affairs, the brain at the centre of things, the +controlling brain of Gen. Joffre and his Headquarters Staff, decreed +that the northwest corner of France was untenable and that the main army +of defense should withdraw into a stronger and closer formation. + +It was then that the great panic began, increasing in speed and terror +during the end of last week. I was in the midst of it and saw +unforgettable scenes of the enormous tragedy. It was a flight of +hundreds and thousands of families from St. Omer and Roubaix, Bethune, +Douai, Valenciennes, and Arras, who were driven away from their northern +homes by the menace of approaching Uhlans. They are still being hunted +by fear from place to place, where they can find no shelter and no +permanent safety. The railways have been choked with them, and in these +long fugitive trains which pass through stations there is no food or +drink. The poor runaways, weary, filthy, and exhausted, spend long days +and nights shunted onto side lines, while troop trains pass and pass, +and are held up in towns where they can find no means of existence +because the last civilian train has left. + +When the troops marched away from Boulogne and left it silent and +unguarded I saw the inhabitants, utterly dismayed, standing despondently +staring at placards posted up by order of the Governor, which announced +the evacuation of the town and called upon them to be ready for all +sacrifices in the service of their country. The customs officers left, +the civil police disarmed, while a flag with nine black spots was made +ready to be hoisted on the fort directly any Uhlans were sighted. + +The people of Boulogne could not understand, no Frenchman of the north +can understand, why their ports and towns are silent after the tramp of +so many regiments who have left a great tract of country open and +undefended. In that corner of France the people listen intently for the +first clatter of hoofs and for the first cry "Les Uhlans." Rumors came +that the enemy has been seen in neighboring towns and villages. Can one +wonder that mothers and fathers rush from their houses and wander forth +in a blind, unreasoning way to swell the panic tide of fugitives, +homeless and without food, dropping here and there on the wayside in +utter weariness? + +I was lucky in getting out of Boulogne on the last train bound for +Paris, though not guaranteed to reach the capital. As a matter of fact, +I was even more lucky because it did not arrive at its destination and +enabled me to alight in the war zone and proceed to more interesting +places. + +I will tell at once the story of the French retirement when the Germans +advanced from Namur down the valley of the Meuse, winning the way at a +cost of human life as great as that of defeat, yet winning their way. +For France the story of that retirement is as glorious as anything in +her history. It was nearly a fortnight ago that the Germans concentrated +their heaviest forces upon Namur and began to press southward and over +the Meuse Valley. After the battle of Dinant the French Army, among whom +were the Second and Seventh Corps, was heavily outnumbered and had to +fall back gradually, in order to gain time for reinforcements to come +up. + +French artillery was up on the wooded heights above the river and swept +the German regiments with a storm of fire as they advanced. On the right +bank the French infantry was intrenched, supported by field guns and +mitrailleuses, and did deadly work before leaping from trenches which +they occupied and taking up a position in new trenches further back, +which they held with great tenacity. + +In justice to the Germans it must be said they were heroic in courage +and reckless of their lives, and the valley of the Meuse was choked with +their corpses. The river itself was strewn with the dead bodies of men +and horses and literally ran red with blood. + +The most tremendous fighting took place for the possession of the +bridges, but the French engineers blew them up one after another as they +retired southward. + +No less than thirty-three bridges were destroyed in this way before they +could be seized by the German advance guard. The fighting was extended +for a considerable distance on either side of the Meuse and many +engagements took place between French and German cavalry and regiments +working away from the main armies. + +There was, for instance, a memorable encounter at Marville which is one +of the most heroic episodes of the war. Five thousand French soldiers of +all arms, with quick-firers, engaged 20,000 German infantry. In spite of +being outnumbered, the French beat back the enemy from point to point in +a fight lasting for twelve hours, inflicting tremendous punishment and +suffering very few losses. + +The German officer captured expressed his unbounded admiration for the +valor of the French troops, which he described as superb. It was only +for fear of getting too far out of touch with the main forces that the +gallant 5,000 desisted from their irresistible attack and retired with a +large number of German helmets as trophies of the victorious action. + +Nevertheless, in accordance with the general plan which had been decided +on by the Generals, in view of the superior numbers temporarily pressing +upon them, the Germans succeeded in forcing their way steadily down the +Meuse as far as Mezieres, divided by a bridge from Charleville, on the +other side of the river. This is in the neighborhood of Sedan and in the +"trou," as it is called, which led to the great disaster of 1870, when +the French were caught in a trap and threatened with annihilation by +the Germans, who had taken possession of the surrounding heights. + +There was to be no repetition of that tragedy. The French were +determined that this time the position should be reversed. + +On Monday the town of Charleville was evacuated, most of its civilians +being sent away to join the wanderers who have had to leave their homes, +and the French troops took up a magnificent position, commanding the +town and the three bridges dividing them from Mezieres. Mitrailleuses +were hidden in the abandoned houses, and as a disagreeable shock to any +German who might escape their fire was a number of the enemy's guns, no +fewer than ninety-five of them, which had been captured and disabled by +French troops in a series of battles down the river from Namur. + +The German outposts reached Charleville on Tuesday. They were allowed to +ride quietly across the bridges into an apparently deserted town. Then +suddenly their line of retreat was cut off, the three bridges were blown +up by a contact mine, and the mitrailleuses hidden in the houses were +played on the German cavalry across the streets, killing them in a +frightful slaughter. + +It was for a little while sheer massacre, but the Germans fought with +extraordinary tenacity, regardless of the heaped bodies of comrades and +utterly reckless of their own lives. They, too, had brought quick-firers +across the bridges, and, taking cover behind houses, trained their guns +upon the houses from which the French gunners were firing. There was no +way of escape for those heroic men, who voluntarily sacrificed +themselves, and it is probable every man died, because at such a time +the Germans were not in the habit of giving quarter. + +When the main German advance came down the valley, the French artillery +on the heights raked them with a terrific fire, in which they suffered +heavy losses, the forefront of the column being mowed down. But under +this storm they proceeded with incredible coolness to their pontoon +bridges across the river, and although hundreds of men died on the +banks, they succeeded in their endeavor, while their guns searched the +hills with shells and forced French gunners to retire from their +positions. + +The occupation of Charleville was a German victory, but was also a +German graveyard. After this historic episode in what has been an +unending battle the main body of French withdrew before the Germans, who +were now pouring down the valley, and retired to new ground. + +It was a retirement which has had one advantage in spite of its +acknowledgment of the enemy's amazing pertinacity. It has enabled the +allied armies to draw closer together, its firm front sweeping around in +a crescent from Abbeville, around south of Amiens, and thence in an +irregular line to the eastern frontier. + +On the map it is at first sight a rather unhappy thing to see that +practically the whole of France north of Amiens lies open to German +descent from Belgium. To break up the German Army piecemeal and lure it +to its own destruction it was almost necessary to manoeuvre it into +precisely the position which it now occupies. The success of Gen. Pau +shows that the allied army is taking the offensive again, and that as a +great fighting machine it is still powerful and menacing. + +I must again emphasize the difficulty of grasping the significance of a +great campaign by isolated incidents, and the danger of drawing +important deductions from the misfortunes in one part of the field. I do +so because I have been tempted again and again during the past few days +to fall into similar mistakes. Perhaps in my case it was pardonable. + +It is impossible for the armchair reader to realize the psychological +effect of being mixed up in the panic of a great people and the retreat +from a battlefield. + +The last real fighting was taking place at a village called Bapaume all +day Friday. It was very heavy fighting here on the left centre of the +great army commanded by Gen. Pau, and leading to a victory which has +just been announced officially in France. + +A few minutes before midnight Friday, when they came back along the road +to Amiens, crawling back slowly in a long, dismal trail, the ambulance +wagons laden with the dead and dying, hay carts piled high with saddles +and accoutrements, upon which lay, immobile like men already dead, the +spent and exhausted soldiers, they passed through the crowds of silent +people of Amiens, who only whispered as they stared at the procession. +In the darkness a cuirassier, with head bent upon his chest, stumbled +forward, leading his horse, too weak and tired to bear him. + +Many other men were leading poor beasts this way, and infantry soldiers, +some with bandaged heads, clung to the backs of carts and wagons, and +seemed asleep as they shuffled by. + +The light from roadside lamps gleamed upon blanched faces and glazed +eyes, flashed into caverns of canvas-covered carts, where twisted men +lay huddled on straw. Not a groan came from the carts, but every one +knew it was a retreat. + +The carts carrying the quick and the dead rumbled by in a long convoy, +the drooping heads of the soldiers turned neither right nor left for any +greeting with friends. + +There was a hugger-mugger of uniforms, of provision carts, and with +ambulances--it was a part of the wreckage and wastage of war; and to +the onlookers, with the exaggeration, unconsciously, of the importance +of the things close at hand and visible, it seemed terrible in its +significance and an ominous reminder of 1870. + +Really this was an inevitable part of a serious battle, not necessarily +a retreat from a great disaster. + +But more pitiful even than this drift back were scenes which followed. +As I turned back into the town I saw thousands of boys who had been +called to the colors and had been brought up from the country to be sent +forward to second lines of defense. + +They were the reservists of the 1914 class, and many of them were +shouting and singing, though here and there a white-faced boy tried to +hide his tears as women from the crowd ran forward to embrace him. These +lads were keeping up their valor by noisy demonstrations; but, having +seen the death carts pass, I could not bear to look into the faces of +those little ones who are following their fathers to the guns. + +Early next morning there was a thrill of anxiety in Amiens. Reports had +come through that the railway line had been cut between Boulogne and +Abbeville. There had been mysterious movements of regiments from the +town barracks. They had moved out of Amiens, and there was a strange +quietude in the streets. Hardly a man in uniform was to be seen in the +places which had been filled with soldiers the day before. + +Only a few people realized the actual significance of this. How could +they know that it was a part of the great plan to secure the safety of +France? How could they realize that the town itself would be saved from +possible bombardment by this withdrawal of the troops to positions which +would draw the Germans into the open? + +The fighting on the Cambrai-Cateau line seems to have been more +desperate even that the terrible actions at Mons and Charleroi. It was +when the British troops had to swing around to a more southerly line to +guard the roads to Paris, that the enemy attacked in prodigious numbers, +and their immense superiority in machine guns did terrible work among +officers and men. + +But on all sides, from the French officers, there is immense praise for +the magnificent conduct of our troops, and in spite of all alarmist +statements I am convinced from what I have heard that they have retired +intact, keeping their lines together, and preventing their divisions +from being broken and cut off. + +The list of casualties must be very great, but if I can believe the +evidence of my own eyes in such towns as Rouen, where the Red Cross +hospitals are concentrated, they are not heavy enough to suggest +anything like a great and irretrievable disaster. + +DIEPPE, Sept. 3.--Let me describe briefly the facts which I have learned +of in the last five days. When I escaped from Amiens, before the tunnel +was broken up, and the Germans entered into possession of the town on +Aug. 28, the front of the allied armies was in a crescent from +Abbeville, south of Amiens on the wooded heights, and thence in an +irregular line to south of Mezieres. The British forces, under Sir John +French, were at the left of the centre, supporting the heavy +thrust-forward of the main German advance, while the right was commanded +by Gen. Pau. + +On Sunday afternoon fighting was resumed along the whole line. The +German vanguard had by this time been supported by a fresh army corps, +which had been brought from Belgium. At least 1,000,000 men were on the +move, pressing upon the allied forces with a ferocity of attack which +has never before been equaled. Their cavalry swept across a great tract +of country, squadron by squadron, like the mounted hordes of Attila, but +armed with the dreadful weapons of modern warfare. Their artillery was +in enormous numbers, and their columns advanced under cover of it, not +like an army, but rather like a moving nation--I do not think, however, +with equal pressure at all parts of the line. It formed itself into a +battering ram with a pointed end, and this point was thrust at the heart +of the English wing. + +It was impossible to resist this onslaught. If the British forces had +stood against it they would have been crushed and broken. Our gunners +were magnificent, and shelled the advancing German columns so that the +dead lay heaped up along the way which was leading down to Paris; but as +one of them told me: "It made no manner of difference; as soon as we had +smashed one lot another followed, column after column, and by sheer +weight of numbers we could do nothing to check them." + +After this the British forces fell back, fighting all the time. The line +of the Allies was now in the shape of a V, the Germans thrusting their +main attack deep into the angle. + +This position remained the same until Monday, or, rather, had completed +itself by that date, the retirement of the troops being maintained with +masterly skill and without any undue haste. + +Meanwhile Gen. Pau was sustaining a terrific attack on the French +centre by the German left centre, which culminated on (date omitted). +The River Oise, which runs between beautiful meadows, was choked with +corpses and red with blood. + +From an eyewitness of this great battle, an officer of an infantry +regiment, who escaped with a slight wound, I learned that the German +onslaught had been repelled by a series of brilliant bayonet and cavalry +charges. + +"The Germans," he said, "had the elite of their army engaged against us, +including the Tenth Army Corps and the Imperial Guard, but the heroism +of our troops was sublime. Every man knew that the safety of France +depended upon him and was ready to sacrifice his life, if need be, with +joyful enthusiasm. They not only resisted the enemy's attack but took +the offensive, and, in spite of their overpowering numbers, gave them +tremendous punishment. They had to recoil before our guns, which swept +their ranks, and their columns were broken and routed. + +"Hundreds of them were bayoneted, and hundreds were hurled into the +river. The whole field of battle was outlined by dead and dying men whom +they had to abandon. Certainly their losses were enormous, and I felt +that the German retreat was in full swing and that we could claim a real +victory for the time being." + +Nevertheless the inevitable happened, owing to the vast reserves of the +enemy, who brought up four divisions, and Gen. Pau was compelled to give +ground. + +On Tuesday German skirmishers with light artillery were coming +southward, and the sound of their field guns greeted my ears in that +town which I shall always remember with unpleasant recollections in +spite of its Old World beauty and the loveliness of the scene in which +it is set. It seemed to me that this was the right place to be in order +to get into touch with the French Army on the way to the capital. As a +matter of fact, it was the wrong place from all points of view; it was +nothing less than a deathtrap, and it was by a thousand-to-one chance +that I succeeded in escaping quite a nasty kind of fate. + +I might have suspected that something was wrong with the place by the +strange look on the face of a friendly French peasant, whom I met. He +had described to me in a very vivid way the disposition of the French +troops on the neighboring hills. Down the road came suddenly parties of +peasants with fear in their eyes. Some of them were in farm carts and +put their horses to a stumbling gallop. + +Women with blanched faces, carrying children in their arms, trudged +along the dusty highway, and it was clear that these people were afraid +of something behind them. There were not many of them, and when they had +passed the countryside was strangely and uncannily quiet. There was only +the sound of singing birds above fields which were flooded with the +golden light of the setting sun. + +Then I came into the town. An intense silence brooded there among the +narrow little streets below the old Norman church--a white jewel on the +rising ground beyond. Almost every house was shuttered with blind eyes; +but here and there I looked through an open window into deserted rooms. +No human face returned my gaze. It was an abandoned town, emptied of all +its people, who had fled with fear in their eyes, like those peasants +along the roadway. + +But presently I saw a human form; it was the figure of a French dragoon +with his carbine slung behind his back. He was stopping by the side of a +number of gunpowder bags. A little further away were little groups of +soldiers at work by two bridges, one over a stream and one over a road. +They were working very calmly, and I could see what they were doing; +they were mining bridges to blow them up at a given signal. + +As I went further I saw that the streets were strewn with broken bottles +and littered with wire entanglements, very artfully and carefully made. + +It was a queer experience. It was obvious that there was very grim +business being done, and that the soldiers were waiting for something +to happen. At the railway station I quickly learned the truth; the +Germans were only a few miles away, in great force. At any moment they +might come down, smashing everything in their way and killing every +human being along that road. + +The station master, a brave old type, and one or two porters had +determined to stay on to the last. "We are here," he said, as though the +Germans would have to reckon with him; but he was emphatic in his +request for me to leave at once if another train could be got away, +which was very uncertain. As a matter of fact, after a bad quarter of an +hour I was put on the last train to escape from this threatened town, +and left it with the sound of German guns in my ears, followed by a dull +explosion when the bridge behind me was blown up. + +My train, in which there were only four other men, skirted the German +army, and by a twist in the line almost ran into the enemy's country, +but we rushed through the night, and the engine driver laughed and put +his oily hand up to salute when I stepped out to the platform of an +unknown station. "The Germans won't get us, after all," he said. It was +a little risky, all the same. + +The station was crowded with French soldiers, and they were soon telling +me their experience of the hard fighting in which they had been engaged. +They were dirty, unshaven, dusty from head to foot, scorched by the +August sun, in tattered uniforms and broken boots; but they were +beautiful men for all their dirt, and the laughing courage, quiet +confidence, and unbragging simplicity with which they assured me that +the Germans would soon be caught in a death trap and sent to their +destruction filled me with admiration which I cannot express in words. +All the odds were against them; they had fought the hardest of all +actions--the retirement from the fighting line--but they had absolute +faith in the ultimate success of their allied arms. + +I managed to get to Paris. It was in the middle of the night, but +extraordinary scenes were taking place. It had become known during the +day that Paris was no longer the seat of the Government, which has +moved to Bordeaux. The Parisians had had notice of four days in which to +destroy their houses within the zone of fortifications, and, to add to +the cold fear occasioned by this news, aeroplanes had dropped bombs upon +the Gare de l'Est that afternoon. + +There was a rush last night to get away from the capital, and the +railway stations were great camps of fugitives, in which the richest and +poorest citizens were mingled with their women and children. But the +tragedy deepened when it was heard that most of the lines to the east +had been cut, and that the only line remaining open to Dieppe would +probably be destroyed during the next few hours. A great wail of grief +arose from the crowds, and the misery of these people was pitiful. + +Among them were groups of soldiers of many regiments. Many of them were +wounded and lay on stretchers on the floor among crying babies and +weary-eyed women. They had been beaten and were done for until the end +of the war. But, alone among the panic-stricken crowd--panic-stricken, +yet not noisy or hysterical, but very quiet and restrained for the most +part--the soldiers were cheerful, and even gay. + +Among them were some British troops, and I had a talk with them. They +had been fighting for ten days without cessation, and their story is +typical of the way in which all our troops held themselves. + +"We had been fighting night and day," said a Sergeant. "For the whole of +that time the only rest from fighting was when we were marching and +retiring." He spoke of the German Army as an avalanche of armed men. +"You can't mow that down," he said. "We kill them and kill them, and +still they come on. They seem to have an inexhaustible supply of fresh +troops. Directly we check them in one attack a fresh attack is +developed. It is impossible to oppose such a mass of men with any +success." + +This splendid fellow, who was severely wounded, was still so much master +of himself, so supreme in his common sense, that he was able to get the +right perspective about the general situation. + +"It is not right to say we have met with disaster," he said. "We have to +expect that nowadays. Besides, what if a battalion was cut up? That did +not mean defeat. While one regiment suffered, another got off lightly"; +and by the words of that Sergeant the public may learn to see the truth +of what has happened. I can add my own evidence to his. All along the +lines I have spoken to officers and men, and the actual truth is that +the British Army is still unbroken, having retired in perfect order to +good positions--the most marvelous feat ever accomplished in modern +warfare. + +From Paris I went by the last train again which has got through to +Dieppe. Lately I seem to have become an expert in catching the last +train. It was only a branch line which struggles in an erratic way +through the west of France, and the going was long and painful, because +at every wayside station the carriages were besieged by people trying to +escape. They were very patient and very brave. Even when they found that +it was impossible to get one more human being on or one more package +into the already crowded train they turned away in quiet grief, and when +women wept over their babies it was silently and without abandonment to +despair. The women of France are brave, God knows. I have seen their +courage during the past ten days--gallantry surpassing that of the men, +because of their own children in their arms without shelter, food, or +safety in this terrible flight from the advancing enemy. + +Enormous herds of cattle were being driven into Paris. For miles the +roads were thronged with them; and down other roads away from Paris +families were trekking to far fields with their household goods piled +into bullock carts, pony carts, and wheelbarrows. + +Two batteries of artillery were stationed by the line, and a regiment of +infantry was hiding in the hollows of the grassy slopes. Their outposts +were scanning the horizon, and it was obvious that the Germans were +expected at this point in order to cut the last way of escape from the +capital. + +One of the enemy's aeroplanes flew above our heads, circled around, and +then disappeared. It dropped no bombs and was satisfied with its +reconnoissance. The whistle of the train shrieked out, and there was a +cheer from the French gunners as we went on our way to safety, leaving +them behind at the post of peril. + +ST. PIERRE DU VAUVRAY, Sept. 6.--England received a hint yesterday as to +a change in the German campaign, but only those who have been, as I +have, into the very heart of this monstrous horror of war, seeing the +flight of hundreds of thousands of people before an overwhelming enemy +and following the lines of the allied armies in their steady retirement +before an apparently irresistible advance, may realize even dimly the +meaning of the amazing transformation that has happened during the last +few days. + +For when I wrote my last dispatch from Arques-la-Bataille, after my +adventures along the French and English lines, it seemed as inevitable +as the rising of next day's sun that the Germans should enter Paris on +the very day when I wrote my dispatch. Still not a single shot has come +crashing upon the French fortifications. + +At least a million men--that is no exaggeration of a light pen, but the +sober and actual truth--were advancing steadily upon the capital last +Tuesday. They were close to Beauvais when I escaped from what was then a +death-trap. They were fighting our British troops at Creil when I came +to that town. Upon the following days they were holding our men in the +Forest of Compiegne. They had been as near to Paris as Senlis, almost +within gunshot of the outer forts. + +"Nothing seems to stop them," said many soldiers with whom I spoke. "We +kill them and kill them, but they come on." + +The situation seemed to me almost ready for the supreme tragedy--the +capture or destruction of Paris. The northwest of France lay very open +to the enemy, abandoned as far south as Abbeville and Amiens, too +lightly held by a mixed army corps of French and Algerian troops with +their headquarters at Aumale. + +Here was an easy way to Paris. + +Always obsessed with the idea that the Germans must come from the east, +the almost fatal error of this war, the French had girdled Paris with +almost impenetrable forts on the east side, from those of Ecouen and +Montmorency, by the far-flung forts of Chelles and Champigny, to those +of Susy and Villeneuve, on the outer lines of the triple cordon; but on +the west side, between Pontoise and Versailles, the defenses of Paris +were weak. I say "were," because during the last three days thousands of +men have been digging trenches and throwing up ramparts. Only the +snakelike Seine, twining into Pegoud loop, forms a natural defense to +the western approach to the city, none too secure against men who have +crossed many rivers in their desperate assaults. + +This, then, was the Germans' chance; it was for this that they had +fought their way westward and southward through incessant battlefields +from Mons and Charleroi to St. Quentin and Amiens and down to Creil and +Compiegne, flinging away human life as though it were but rubbish for +deathpits. The prize of Paris, Paris the great and beautiful, seemed to +be within their grasp. + +It was their intention to smash their way into it by this western entry +and then to skin it alive. Holding this city at ransom, it was their +idea to force France to her knees under threat of making a vast and +desolate ruin of all those palaces and churches and noble buildings in +which the soul of French history is enshrined. + +They might have done it but for one thing which has upset all the +cold-blooded calculations of their staff, that thing which perhaps I may +be pardoned for calling the miracle. They might have done it, I think, +last Wednesday and Thursday, even perhaps as late as last Friday. + +I am not saying these things from rumor and hearsay, I am writing from +the evidence of my own eyes after traveling several hundreds of miles in +France during the last four days along the main strategical lines, grim +sentinels guarding the last barriers to that approaching death which is +sweeping on its way through France to the rich harvest of Paris, which +it was eager to destroy. + +There was only one thing to do to escape from the menace of this death. +By all the ways open, by any way, the population of Paris emptied itself +like rushing rivers of humanity along all the lines which promised +anything like safety. + +Only those stayed behind to whom life means very little away from Paris +and who if death came desired to die in the city of their life. + +Again I write from what I saw and to tell the honest truth from what I +suffered, for the fatigue of this hunting for facts behind the screen of +war is exhausting to all but one's moral strength, and even to that. + +I found myself in the midst of a new and extraordinary activity of the +French and English Armies. Regiments were being rushed up to the centre +of the allied forces toward Creil, Montdidier, and Noyon. That was +before last Tuesday, when the English troops [Transcriber: original +'toops'] were fighting hard at Creil. + +This great movement continued for several days, putting to a severe test +the French railway system, which is so wonderfully organized that it +achieved this mighty transportation of troops with clockwork regularity. +Working to a time table dictated by some great brain which in +Headquarters Staff of the French Army, calculated with perfect precision +the conditions of a network of lines on which troop trains might be run +to a given point. It was an immense victory of organization, and a +movement which heartened one observer at least to believe that the +German deathblow would again be averted. + +I saw regiment after regiment entraining. Men from the Southern +Provinces, speaking the patois of the South; men from the Eastern +Departments whom I had seen a month before, at the beginning of the war, +at Chalons and Epernay and Nancy, and men from the southwest and centre +of France, in garrisons along the Loire. They were all in splendid +spirits and utterly undaunted by the rapidity of the German advance. + +"It is nothing, my little one," said a dirty, unshaved gentleman with +the laughing eyes of a D'Artagnan; "we shall bite their heads off. These +brutal bosches are going to put themselves in a guetapens, a veritable +deathtrap. We shall have them at last." + +Many of them had fought at Longwy and along the heights of the Vosges. +The youngest of them had bristling beards, their blue coats with +turned-back flaps were war worn and flanked with the dust of long +marches; their red trousers were sloppy and stained, but they had not +forgotten how to laugh, and the gallantry of their spirits was a joy to +see. + +They are very proud, these French soldiers, of fighting side by side +with their old foes. The English now, after long centuries of strife, +from Edward, the Black Prince, to Wellington, are their brothers-in-arms +upon the battlefields, and because I am English they offered me their +cigarettes and made me one of them. But I realized even then that the +individual is of no account in this inhuman business of war. + +It is only masses of men that matter, moved by common obedience at the +dictation of mysterious far-off powers, and I thanked Heaven that masses +of men were on the move rapidly in vast numbers and in the right +direction to support the French lines which had fallen back from Amiens +a few hours before I left that town, and whom I had followed in their +retirement, back and back, with the English always strengthening their +left, but retiring with them almost to the outskirts of Paris itself. + +Only this could save Paris--the rapid strengthening of the allied front +by enormous reserves strong enough to hold back the arrow-shaped +battering ram of the enemy's main army. + +Undoubtedly the French Headquarters Staff was working heroically and +with fine intelligence to save the situation at the very gates of Paris. +The country was being swept absolutely clean of troops in all parts of +France, where they had been waiting as reserves. + +It was astounding to me to see, after those three days of rushing troop +trains and of crowded stations not large enough to contain the +regiments, how on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last an air of profound +solitude and peace had taken possession of all these routes. + +In my long journey through and about France and circling round Paris I +found myself wondering sometimes whether all this war had not been a +dreadful illusion without reality, and a transformation had taken place, +startling in its change, from military turmoil to rural peace. + +Dijon was emptied of its troops. The road to Chalons was deserted by all +but fugitives. The great armed camp at Chalons itself had been cleared +out except for a small garrison. The troops at Tours had gone northward +to the French centre. All our English reserves had been rushed up to the +front from Havre and Rouen. + +There was only one deduction to be drawn from this great, swift +movement--the French and English lines had been supported by every +available battalion to save Paris from its menace of destruction, to +meet the weight of the enemy's metal by a force strong enough to resist +its mighty mass. + +It was still possible that the Germans might be smashed on their left +wing, hurled back to the west between Paris and the sea, and cut off +from their line of communications. It was undoubtedly this impending +peril which scared the enemy's Headquarters Staff and upset all its +calculations. They had not anticipated the rapidity of the supporting +movement of the allied armies, and at the very gates of Paris they saw +themselves balked of their prize, the greatest prize of the war, by the +necessity of changing front. + +To do them justice, they realized instantly the new order of things, +and with quick and marvelous decision did not hesitate to alter the +direction of their main force. Instead of proceeding to the west of +Paris they swung round steadily to the southeast in order to keep their +armies away from the enveloping movement of the French and English and +drive their famous wedge-like formation southward for the purpose of +dividing the allied forces of the west from the French Army of the East. +The miraculous had happened, and Paris, for a little time at least, is +unmolested. + +That brings me back to the fighting at Creil and Compiegne, which +preceded from last Tuesday until two days later. + +The guns were at work at midnight on Tuesday when I passed the English +Headquarters. This battle had only one purpose so far as the Germans +were concerned. It was to keep our British soldiers busy, as well as to +hold the front of the French allies on our right, while their debordant +movements took place behind this fighting screen. + +Once again, as throughout the war, they showed their immense superiority +in mitrailleuses, which gives them marvelous mobility and a very deadly +advantage. They masked these quick-firers with great skill until they +had drawn on the English and French infantry and then spilled lead into +their ranks. Once again, also the French were too impetuous, as they +have always been, and as they still are, in spite of Gen. Joffre's +severe rebuke. + +Careless of quick-firers, which experience should have taught them were +masked behind the enemy's advance posts, they charged with the bayonet, +and suffered needlessly heavy losses. One can only admire the gallantry +of men who dare to charge on foot against the enemy's mounted men and +who actually put a squadron of them to flight, but one must say again: +"C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre." + +There have been many incidents of heroism in these last days of +fighting. It is, for instance, immensely characteristic of the French +spirit that an infantry battalion, having put to flight a detachment of +German outposts in the forest of Compiegne, calmly sat down to have a +picnic in the woods until, as they sat over their hot soup, laughing at +their exploit, they were attacked by a new force and cut to pieces. + +But let me describe the new significance of the main German advance. +Their right army has struck down to the southeast of Paris, through +Chateau Thiery to La Ferte-sur-Jouarre and beyond. Their centre army is +coming hard down from Troyes, in the Department of the Aube, and the +army of the left has forced the French to evacuate Rheims and fall back +in a southwesterly direction. + +It would not be right of me to indicate the present position of the +British troops or describe the great scenes at their base, which is now +removed to a position which enables our forces to hold the eastern +approach to Paris. It is a wonderful sight to pass the commissariat +camp, where, among other munitions of war, is a park of British +aeroplanes, which are of vital importance to our work of reconnoissance. + +Looking, therefore, at the extraordinary transformation throughout the +field of war in France, one thing stands out clear-cut and distinct. +Having been thwarted in their purpose to walk through the western way to +Paris by the enormous forces massed on their flanks, the Germans have +adopted an entirely new plan of campaign and have thrust their armies +deep down into the centre of France in order to divide the western +armies of the Allies from the army on the eastern frontier. It is a +menacing manoeuvre, and it cannot be hidden that the army of Lorraine is +in danger of being cut off by the enemy's armies of the left. + +At the same time the German right is swinging round in a southwesterly +direction in order to attack the allied forces on the east and south. +Paris is thus left out of account for the time being, but it depends +upon the issues of the next few days whether the threatened peril will +be averted from it by the immense army now protecting it. I believe the +spirit of our own troops and their French comrades is so splendid that +with their new strength they will be equal to that formidable attack. + +Nothing certainly is being left to chance. For miles all around Paris +trenches are being dug in the roads, and little sectional trenches on +the broad roads of France, first one on this side of the way, and then +one on the other side, so that a motor car traveling along the road has +to drive in a series of sharp curves to avoid pitfalls. + +There was feverish activity on the west side of the Paris fortifications +when I passed between St. Germain and St. Denis. + +Earthworks are being constantly thrown up between the forts, and the +triple curves of the Seine are being intrenched so that thousands of men +may take cover there and form a terrific defense against any attack. + +Gen. Gallieni, the Military Governor of Paris, is a man of energy and +iron resolution, and no doubt under his command Paris, if it has to +undergo a siege, (which God avert!) will defend itself well, now that it +has had these precious days of respite. + +After wandering along the westerly and southerly roads I started for +Paris when thousands and scores of thousands were flying from it. At +that time I believed, as all France believed, that in a few hours German +shells would be crashing across the fortifications of the city and that +Paris the beautiful would be Paris the infernal. It needed a good deal +of resolution on my part to go deliberately to a city from which the +population was fleeing, and I confess quite honestly that I had a nasty +sensation in the neighborhood of my waistcoat buttons at the thought. + +Along the road from Tours to Paris there were sixty unbroken miles of +people--on my honor, I do not exaggerate, but write the absolute truth. +They were all people who had despaired of breaking through the dense +masses of their fellow-citizens camped around the railway stations, and +had decided to take to the roads as the only way of escape. + +The vehicles were taxicabs, for which the rich paid fabulous prices; +motor cars which had escaped military requisition, farmers' carts laden +with several families and piles of household goods, shop carts drawn by +horses already tired to the point of death because of the weight of the +people who crowded behind pony traps and governess carts. + +Many persons, well dressed and belonging obviously to well-to-do +bourgeoisie, were wheeling barrows like costers, but instead of +trundling cabbages were pushing forward sleeping babies and little +children, who seemed on the first stage to find new amusement and +excitement in the journey from home; but for the most part they trudged +along bravely, carrying their babies and holding the hands of their +little ones. + +They were of all classes, rank and fortune being annihilated by the +common tragedy. Elegant women whose beauty is known in Paris salons, +whose frivolity, perhaps, in the past was the main purpose of their +life, were now on a level with the peasant mothers of the French suburbs +and with the midinettes of Montmartre, and their courage did not fail +them so quickly. + +I looked into many proud, brave faces of these delicate women, walking +in high-heeled shoes, all too frail for the hard-dusty roadways. They +belonged to the same race and breed as those ladies who defied death +with fine disdain upon the scaffold of the guillotine in the great +Revolution. + +They were leaving Paris now, not because of any fears for themselves--I +believe they were fearless--but because they had decided to save the +little sons and daughters of soldier fathers. + +This great army in retreat was made up of every type familiar in Paris. + +Here were women of the gay world, poor creatures whose painted faces had +been washed with tears, and whose tight skirts and white stockings were +never made for a long march down the highways of France. + +Here also were thousands of those poor old ladies who live on a few +francs a week in the top attics of the Paris streets, which Balzac knew; +they had fled from their poor sanctuaries and some of them were still +carrying cats and canaries, as dear to them as their own lives. + +There was one young woman who walked with a pet monkey on her shoulder +while she carried a bird in a golden cage. Old men, who remembered 1870, +gave their arms to old ladies to whom they had made love when the +Prussians were at the gates of Paris then. + +It was pitiful to see these old people now hobbling along together. +Pitiful, but beautiful also, because of their lasting love. + +Young boy students, with ties as black as their hats and rat-tail hair, +marched in small companies of comrades, singing brave songs, as though +they had no fear in their hearts, and very little food, I think, in +their stomachs. + +Shopgirls and concierges, city clerks, old aristocrats, young boys and +girls, who supported grandfathers and grandmothers and carried new-born +babies and gave pick-a-back rides to little brothers and sisters, came +along the way of retreat. + +Each human being in the vast torrent of life will have an unforgettable +story of adventure to tell if life remains. As a novelist I should have +been glad to get their narratives along this road for a great story of +suffering and strange adventure, but there was no time for that and no +excuse. + +When I met many of them they were almost beyond the power of words. The +hot sun of this September had beaten down upon them--scorching them as +in the glow of molten metal. Their tongues clave to their mouths with +thirst. + +Some of them had that wild look in their eyes which is the first sign of +the delirium of thirst and fatigue. + +Nothing to eat or drink could be found on the way from Paris. The little +roadside cafes had been cleared out by the preceding hordes. + +Unless these people carried their own food and drink they could have +none except of the charity of their comrades in misfortune, and that +charity has exceeded all other acts of heroism in this war. Women gave +their last biscuit, their last little drop of wine, to poor mothers +whose children were famishing with thirst and hunger; peasant women fed +other women's babies when their own were satisfied. + +It was a tragic road. At every mile of it there were people who had +fainted on the roadside and poor old men and women who could go no +further, but sat on the banks below the hedges, weeping silently or +bidding younger ones go forward and leave them to their fate. Young +women who had stepped out so jauntily at first were footsore and lame, +so they limped along with lines of pain about their lips and eyes. + +Many of the taxicabs, bought at great prices, and many of the motor cars +had broken down as I passed, and had been abandoned by their owners, who +had decided to walk. Farmers' carts had bolted into ditches and lost +their wheels. Wheelbarrows, too heavy to be trundled, had been tilted +up, with all their household goods spilt into the roadway, and the +children had been carried further, until at last darkness came, and +their only shelter was a haystack in a field under the harvest moon. + +For days also I have been wedged up with fugitives in railway trains +more dreadful than the open roads, stifling in their heat and +heart-racking in their cargoes of misery. Poor women have wept +hysterically clasping my hand, a stranger's hand, for comfort in their +wretchedness and weakness. Yet on the whole they have shown amazing +courage, and, after their tears, have laughed at their own breakdown, +and, always children of France, have been superb, so that again and +again I have wondered at the gallantry with which they endured this +horror. Young boys have revealed the heroic strain in them and have +played the part of men in helping their mothers. And yet, when I came at +last into Paris against all this tide of retreat, it seemed a needless +fear that had driven these people away. + +Then I passed long lines of beautiful little villas on the Seine side, +utterly abandoned among their trees and flowers. A solitary fisherman +held his line above the water as though all the world were at peace, and +in a field close to the fortifications which I expected to see bursting +with shells, an old peasant bent above the furrows and planted cabbages. +Then, at last, I walked through the streets of Paris and found them +strangely quiet and tranquil. + +The people I met looked perfectly calm. There were a few children +playing in the gardens of Champs Elysees and under the Arc de Triomph +symbolical of the glory of France. + +I looked back upon the beauty of Paris all golden in the light of the +setting sun, with its glinting spires and white gleaming palaces and +rays of light flashing in front of the golden trophies of its monuments. +Paris was still unbroken. No shell had come shattering into this city of +splendor, and I thanked Heaven that for a little while the peril had +passed. + + + + +*A Zouave's Story* + +*By Philip Gibbs of The London Daily Chronicle.* + +[Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +CREIL, Sept. 10.--I could write this narrative as a historian, with +details gathered from many different witnesses at various parts of the +lines, in a cold and aloof way, but I prefer to tell it in the words of +a young officer of the Zouaves who was in the thickest of fighting until +when I met him and gave him wine and biscuits. He was put out of action +by a piece of shell which smashed his left arm. He told me the story of +the battle as he sat back, hiding his pain by a little careless smile of +contempt, and splashed with blood which made a mess of his uniform. + +"For four days previous to Monday, Sept. 7," he said, "we were engaged +in clearing out the German bosches from all the villages on the left +bank of the Ourcq, which they had occupied in order to protect the flank +of their right wing. Unfortunately for us the English heavy artillery, +which would have smashed the beggars to bits, had not yet come up to +help us, although we expected them with some anxiety, as big business +events began as soon as we drove the outposts back to their main lines. + +"However, we were equal to the preliminary task, and, heartened by the +news of an ammunition convoy which had been turned into a pretty +fireworks display by 'Soixante-dix' Pau, my Zouaves, (as you see, I +belong to the First Division, which has a reputation to keep up, n'est +ce pas?) were in splendid form. Of course, they all laughed at me. They +wanted to get near those German guns and nearer still to the gunners. +That was before they knew the exact meaning of shellfire well. + +"They did good things, those Zouaves of mine, but it wasn't pleasant +work. We fought from village to village, very close fighting, so that +sometimes we could look into our enemy's eyes. The Moroccans were with +us. The native troops are unlike my boys, who are Frenchmen, and they +were like demons with their bayonet work. + +"Several of the villages were set on fire by the Germans before they +retired from them, and soon great columns of smoke with pillars of +flames and clouds of flying sparks rose up into the blue sky and made a +picture of hell there, for really it was hell on earth. Our gunners were +shelling Germans from pillar to post, as it were, and strewing the +ground with their dead. It was across and among these dead bodies that +we infantry had to charge. + +"They lay about in heaps. It made me sick, even in the excitement of it +all. The enemy's quick-firers were marvelous. I am bound to say we did +not get it all our own way. They always manoeuvre them in the same +style, and a very clever style it is. First of all, they mask them with +infantry; then, when the French charge, they reveal them and put us to +the test under the most withering fire. It is almost impossible to stand +against it, and in this case we had to retire after each rush for about +250 meters. Then, quick as lightning, the Germans got their +mitrailleuses across the ground which we had yielded to them and waited +for us to come on again, when they repeated the same operation. + +"I can tell you it was pretty trying to the nerves. My Zouaves were very +steady in spite of fairly heavy losses. It is quite untrue to say that +the Germans have a greater number of mitrailleuses than the French. I +believe that the proportion is exactly the same to each division, but +they handle them more cleverly, and their fire is much more effective +than ours. + +"In a village named Penchard there was some very sharp fighting, and +some of our artillery was posted thereabout. Presently a German +aeroplane came overhead, circling round in reconnoissance; but it was +out for more than that. Suddenly it began to drop bombs and, whether by +design or otherwise, they exploded in the middle of a field hospital. +One of my friends, a young doctor, was wounded in the left arm by a +bullet from one of these bombs, but I don't know what other casualties +there were. The inevitable happened shortly after the disappearance of +the aeroplane. German shells searched the position and found it with +unpleasant accuracy. It is always the same. The German aeroplanes are +really wonderful in the way they search out the positions of our guns. +We always know that within half an hour of observation by aeroplane +shells will begin to fall above gunners, unless they have altered their +position. It was so in this fighting round Meaux yesterday. + +"For four days this hunting among the villages on the left bank of the +Ourcq went on all the time, and we were not very happy with ourselves. +The truth was we had no water and were four days thirsty. It was really +terrible, for the heat was terrific during the day, and some of us were +almost mad with thirst. Our tongues were blistered and swollen, our eyes +had a silly kind of look in them, and at night we had horrid dreams. It +was, I assure you, intolerable agony. + +"I have said we were four days without drink, and that was because we +used our last water for our horses. A gentleman has to do that, you will +agree, and a French soldier is not a barbarian. Even then the horses had +to go without a drop of water for two days, and I'm not ashamed to say I +wept salt tears to see the sufferings of those poor, innocent creatures +who did not understand the meaning of all this bloody business and who +wondered at our cruelty. + +"The nights were dreadful. All around us were burning villages, and at +every faint puff of wind sparks floated about them like falling stars. + +"But other fires were burning. Under the cover of darkness the Germans +had piled the dead into great heaps and had covered them with straw and +paraffin; then they had set a torch to these funeral pyres. + +"Carrion crows were about in the dawn that followed. One of my own +comrades lay very badly wounded, and when he wakened out of his +unconsciousness one of these beastly birds was sitting on his chest +waiting for him to die. That is war. + +"The German shells were terrifying. I confess to you that there were +times when my nerves were absolutely gone. I crouched down with my men +(we were in open formation) and ducked my head at the sound of the +bursting shell, and I trembled in every limb as though I had a fit of +ague. + +"It is true that in reality the German shells are not very effective. +Only about one in four explodes nicely, but it is a bad thing when, as +happened to me, the shells plopped around in a diameter of fifty meters. +One hears the zip-zip of bullets, the boom of the great guns, the +ste-tang of our French artillery, and in all this infernal experience of +noise and stench, the screams at times of dying horses and men joined +with the fury of gunfire and rising shrill above it, no man may boast of +his courage. There were moments when I was a coward with all of them. + +"But one gets used to it, as to all things. My ague did not last long. +Soon I was shouting and cheering. Again we cleared the enemy out of the +village of Bregy, and that was where I fell, wounded in the arm pretty +badly by a bit of shell. When I came to myself a brother officer told me +things were going on well and that we had rolled back the German right. +That was better than bandages to me. I felt very well again, in spite of +my weakness. + +"It is the beginning of the end, and the Germans are on the run. They +are exhausted and demoralized. Their pride has been broken; they are +short of ammunition; they know their plans have failed. + +"Now that we have them on the move nothing will save them. This war is +going to be finished quicker than people thought. I believe that in a +few days the enemy will be broken and that we shall have nothing more to +do than kill them as they fight back in retreat." + +That is the story, without any retouching of my pen, of a young +Lieutenant of Zouaves whom I met after the battle of Meaux, with blood +still splashed upon his uniform. + +It is a human story, giving the experience of only one individual in the +great battle, but it gives also in outline a narrative of that great +military operation which has done irreparable damage to the German right +wing in its plan of campaign and thrust it back across the Ourcq in a +great retiring movement which has also begun upon the German centre and +left. + + + + +*When War Burst on Arras* + +[A Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK TIMES and The London Daily +Chronicle.] + + +A TOWN IN FRANCE, Oct. 7.--Arras has been the pivot of a fierce battle +which, commencing Thursday, was still in progress when I was forced to +leave the citadel three days later. + +In that period I was fortunate enough to penetrate into the firing line, +and the experience is one that will never be dimmed in my memory. Like +the movements of so many pawns on a mammoth chessboard was the feinting +with scattered outposts to test the strength of the enemy. + +I saw the action open with skirmishes at Vitry-en-Artois, and next +morning one of the hardest battles which make a link in the chain flung +right across France of the gigantic battle of rivers was being +prosecuted before my eyes. + +The days that ensued were full of feverish and hectic motion. Arras +rattled and throbbed with the flow of an army and all the tragedy which +war brings in its train. There were moments when its cobbled streets +were threaded by streams of wounded from the country beyond. Guns boomed +incessantly, a fitting requiem to the sad little processions which +occasionally revealed that some poor fellow had sacrificed his life for +the flag which accompanied him to his grave. + +I reached Arras on Sept. 29. The Germans had occupied it a fortnight +earlier. Now it was placid, sleepy, and deserted, and bore no outward +signs of having suffered from their occupation. I learned, however, that +although they had refrained from demolishing buildings, there had been +scenes of debauchery, and private houses had been ransacked. + +It was declared that the only German paying for anything during the +whole of the fortnight's occupation was a member of the Hohenzollern +family, an important officer who had made the Hotel d'Univers his +headquarters. + +I decided to pass on to Vitry-en-Artois, twelve miles distant and six +kilometers from Douai, where I had heard the Allies were in force. Here +I obtained a room in a hotel. + +Within a short while I saw armed cars. There came many warriors in many +cars, cars fitted with mitrailleuses, cars advancing backward, cars with +two soldiers in the back of each with their rifles rested on the back +cushions and their fingers on the triggers, and with the muzzles of +mitrailleuses pointing over their heads. Several cavalry scouts, too, +are in the streets. + +Once I ventured my head a little outside of the door and was curtly +warned to eliminate myself or possibly I would get shot. I eliminated +myself for the moment. + +Now with dramatic suddenness death touches Vitry with her chill fingers. +In the distance, right away beyond the bridge behind a bend in the road, +there is a clatter of hoofs. It stops. Again it goes on and stops for +about a couple of minutes, and then quite distinctly can be heard the +sound of a body of horsemen proceeding at a walk. + +The cavalry scouts have vanished into big barns on either side of the +road, and around the corner of the bridge comes a small body of German +cavalry. They have passed the spot where the French scouts are hidden +and I have retreated to my bedroom window, from where I can count twelve +of the Death's Head riders. + +They are riding to their fate. Right slap up in front of the cars they +come. A rifle shot rings out from where the French scouts are hidden, +then another, and that is the signal for the inferno to be loosed. + +C-r-r-r-r-r-ack, and the mitrailleuse spits out a regular hail of death, +vicious, whiplike, never-ceasing cracks. Two horses are down and three +men lie prone in the road. + +The Germans have not fired a shot, all their energies being concentrated +in wildly turning their horses to get back again round the bend. + +It is too late. Another two are toppled over by the scouts in the barns, +and then cars are after them, still spitting out an unending hail of +lead. + +It seems impossible that even a fly could live in such a stream of +bullets, yet out of the dozen three get round the bend, and, galloping +madly, make for the only spot where they can leave the road and get +across country. Even the automobile and auto-mitrailleuse men cannot +follow them there. + +These fellows seem perfectly satisfied with a bag of nine, obtained +without a scratch. All are dead, one of them with over twenty wounds in +him. Two horses are stone dead, and three others have to be put out of +their misery. The other four are contentedly standing at the roadside +munching grass, one with a hind leg lifted a few inches off the ground. + +The bodies of the dead Germans are laid side by side in a field to await +burial. The uniforms are stripped of everything that can be removed, +buttons and shoulder straps. The men in the cars take the water bottles, +swords, and revolvers as mementos. + +I imperfectly understood the real meaning of this scrap. I had thought +it was an encounter between stray forces. A talk with the driver of an +armed car, however, enlarged my perspective. It was a meeting of the +outposts of two great opposing armies, one of which was at Douai, the +other at Cambrai. The feelers of both forces were being extended to +discover the various positions, preparatory to a big battle, which was +expected on the morrow (Oct. 1) along the line of +Cambrai-Douai-Valenciennes. + +It was understood that the Germans had massed in force at Cambrai and +strong wings were thrown out on both sides, the outposts of one wing, as +we have already seen, coming into touch with the French at Vitry. + +From the reports of the auto-mitrailleuse men, who cover great +distances in a day, similar skirmishing had been taking place at Etain, +(where some farmhouses were burned,) Eterpigny, Croisilles, Boisleux, +and Boyelles, these places ranging from ten to twenty kilometers from +Arras. + +There was a general exodus from Vitry and I secured standing room in a +wagon of the last train leaving for Arras. It was loaded with fugitives. + +Arras had changed completely on my return. Its calmness was gone. The +station was empty of civilians, there were no trains running and the +station entrance was in charge of a strong picket of soldiers, while the +road outside echoed to the tread of infantry. + +I stood still in amazement, while my papers were being closely examined, +and watched regiment after regiment of foot with their transport trains +complete marching out on the road to Douai. This was part of the +preparation for the big battle which I was told was going to begin +tomorrow. + +In the town itself the transformation was still more amazing--soldiers +in every street, cavalry, infantry, dragoons, lancers, and engineers in +ones and twos, and parties of twenty or thirty picturesque Moroccans. I +never saw such a medley of colors and expressions, and the whole town +was full of them--material for one army corps at least. + +I installed myself in quarters at the Hotel de l'Univers, with the +intention of getting away the first thing in the morning if possible. +But it was not possible. I was informed that Arras was now under +military control, and no permits were being issued whatsoever. The +Lieutenant who told me this smiled as I shrugged my shoulders. + +"You will bear witness, Monsieur, that I tried my best to get out," said +I. + +"Certainly; but why go away?" he asked with a smile. "Arras est tres +belle ville, Monsieur. You have a good hotel, a good bed, and good food. +Why should you go out?" + +And so I stayed at Arras. + +That was Sept. 30. The next day I could hear guns. They started at about +8 o'clock in the morning, the French guns being in position about five +kilometers outside of Arras to the south, southeast, and east, sixteen +batteries of France's artillery or 75-millimeter calibre. + +All day long the guns thundered and roared, and all day long I sat +outside the cafe of the Hotel des Voyageurs in the Place de la Gare. The +station building was right in front of me. I longed for a position which +would enable me to see over the tall buildings on to the battlefield +beyond. Even the roof of the station would have suited. There was a +little crowd of officials already there with their field glasses, and +they could discern what was going on, for I noticed several pointing +here and there whenever a particularly loud explosion was heard. + +Two men in civilian clothes sat down beside me and gave me "good day," +evidently curious as to my nationality. I invited them to join me in +coffee and cognac, and during the ensuing conversation we all became +very friendly, and I was given to understand that one of them was the +volunteer driver of an auto-mitrailleuse who had just come off duty. + +I remarked that it would be very interesting to get a sight of what was +going on behind the station. + +"Is it very near--the battle?" + +"About five kilometers, Monsieur. The German guns are ten kilometers +distant. One of the German shells exploded behind the station this +morning. Would Monsieur like to walk out a little way?" + +"But surely the pickets will not let me pass beyond the barrier," said +I. + +My good friend of the auto-mitrailleuse smiled, rose, and buttoned up +his coat. "Come with me," he invited. + +At the barrier we were stopped, but luck had not deserted me, for in the +Sergeant in charge of the pickets I recognized another cafe acquaintance +of the previous night. We shook hands, exchanged cigarettes, and +proceeded up and down numerous streets, bearing always southward in the +direction of the firing, until the open country was reached. + +My companion suddenly caught hold of my arm and we both jumped up the +bank at the side of the road to let a long string of artillery drivers +trot past on their way back for more ammunition. Another cloud of dust, +and coming up behind us was a fresh lot of shells on the way out to the +firing line. + +Right up in the sky ahead suddenly appeared a ball of yellow greeny +smoke, which grew bigger and bigger, and then "boom" came the sound of a +gun about three seconds afterward. A shell had burst in the air about +300 yards away. Another and another came--all about the same place. They +appeared to come from the direction of Bapaume. + +"Bad, very bad," commented my companion. And so it appeared to me, for +the Germans were dropping their shells from the southeast, at least one +kilometer over range. We were standing beside a strawstack and looking +due south, watching the just discernible line of French guns, when we +heard the ominous whistling screech of an approaching shell. Down on our +faces behind the stack, down we went like lightning, and over to the +left, not 200 yards away, rose a huge column of black smoke and earth, +and just afterward a very loud boom. A big German gun had come into +action, slightly nearer this time. + +Just behind a wood I could plainly see the smoke of the gun itself +rising above the trees. Two more shells from the big gun exploded within +twenty yards of each other, and then, with disconcerting suddenness, a +French battery came into action within a hundred yards of our strawstack +cover. They had evidently been there for some time, awaiting +eventualities, for we had no suspicion of their proximity, and they were +completely hidden. + +My ears are still tingling and buzzing from the sound of those guns. One +after another the guns of this battery bombarded the newly taken up +position of the German big guns, which replied with one shell every +three minutes. + +Presently we had the satisfaction of hearing a violent explosion in the +wood, and a column of smoke and flame rose up to a great height. + +Soixante-quinze had again scored, for the German guns had been put out +of action. From out the French position came infantry, at this point +thousands of little dots over the landscape, presenting a front of, I +should think, about two miles, rapidly advancing in skirmishing order. +Every now and then the sharp crackle of rifle fire could distinctly be +heard. + +The French had advanced over a mile, and the Germans had hastily +evacuated the wood. Other French batteries now came into action, and the +German fire over the whole arc was becoming decidedly fainter and less +frequent. This might, of course, be due to changing their positions on +the German front. + +Wounded began to arrive, which showed that for the present at any rate, +it was safe to go out to the trenches to collect them. + +Very few of them seemed badly hit, and the wounded French artillerymen +seemed to be elated in spite of their wounds. Had not their beloved +Soixante-quinze again scored? The time was 6 o'clock of a beautiful +evening and the firing, though fairly continuous, was dropping off. The +Germans had changed their positions and it was getting a little too hazy +to make observation, although a French aeroplane was seen descending in +wide circles over the German position, evidently quite regardless of the +numerous small balls of smoke, which made their appearance in the sky in +dangerous proximity to the daring pilot. + +It is very interesting to watch these aeroplane shells bursting in the +air. First of all one sees a vivid little streak of bluish white light +in the sky, and then instantaneously a smoke ball, which appears to be +about the size of a football, is seen in the sky, always fairly close to +the machine. Then there is the sound of an explosion like a giant +cracker. + +Occasionally several guns will fire at about the same time, and it is +weird to watch the various balls of smoke, apparently coming into being +from nowhere, all around the machine. Sometimes one of these shells, +which are filled with a species of shrapnel, bursts rather unpleasantly +near the aeroplane, and then one sees the machine turn quickly and rise +a little higher. + +Two or three holes have been neatly drilled through the planes. Perhaps +one has appeared in the body of the machine, rather too near the pilot +for safety; but it is a big gamble, anyhow, and besides the pilot has +been instructed to find out where the various positions are, and he +means to do it. + +So he simply rises a little higher and calmly continues his big circles +over the German position. + +I take off my hat to these brave men, the aeroplane pilots. They are +willing to chance their luck. What matters it if their machine gets hit, +if the planes are riddled with holes? It will still fly, even if the +engine gets a fatal wound and stops. + +The pilot, if he is high enough, can still glide to safety in his own +lines. But (and it is a big "but") should a shrapnel ball find its +billet in the pilot--well, one has only to die once, and it is a quick +and sure death to fall with one's machine. + +[Illustration] + + + + +*The Battles in Belgium* + +[An Associated Press Dispatch.] + + +LONDON, Oct. 26, 4:40 A.M.--The correspondent of The Daily News, who has +been in an armored train to the banks of the Yser, gives a good +description of the battle in the North. He says: + +"The battle rages along the Yser with frightful destruction of life. Air +engines, sea engines, and land engines deathsweep this desolate country, +vertically, horizontally, and transversely. Through it the frail little +human engines crawl and dig, walk and run, skirmishing, charging, and +blundering in little individual fights and tussles, tired and puzzled, +ordered here and there, sleeping where they can, never washing, and +dying unnoticed. A friend may find himself firing on a friendly force, +and few are to blame. + +"Thursday the Germans were driven back over the Yser; Friday they +secured a footing again, and Saturday they were again hurled back. Now a +bridge blown up by one side is repaired by the other; it is again blown +up by the first, or left as a death trap till the enemy is actually +crossing. + +"Actions by armored trains, some of them the most reckless adventures, +are attempted daily. Each day accumulates an unwritten record of +individual daring feats, accepted as part of the daily work. Day by day +our men push out on these dangerous explorations, attacked by shell +fire, in danger of cross-fire, dynamite, and ambuscades, bringing a +priceless support to the threatened lines. As the armored train +approaches the river under shell fire the car cracks with the constant +thunder of guns aboard. It is amazing to see the angle at which the guns +can be swung. + +"And overhead the airmen are busy venturing through fog and puffs of +exploding shells to get one small fact of information. We used to regard +the looping of the loop of the Germans overhead as a hare-brained piece +of impudent defiance to our infantry fire. Now we know its means early +trouble for the infantry. + +"Besides us, as we crawl up snuffing the lines like dogs on a scent, +grim trainloads of wounded wait soundlessly in the sidings. Further up +the line ambulances are coming slowly back. The bullets of machine guns +begin to rattle on our armored coats. Shells we learned to disregard, +but the machine gun is the master in this war. + +"Now we near the river at a flat country farm. The territory is scarred +with trenches, and it is impossible to say at first who is in them, so +incidental and separate are the fortunes of this riverside battle. The +Germans are on our bank enfilading the lines of the Allies' trenches. We +creep up and the Germans come into sight out of the trenches, rush to +the bank, and are scattered and mashed. The Allies follow with a fierce +bayonet charge. + +"The Germans do not wait. They rush to the bridges and are swept away by +the deadliest destroyer of all, the machine gun. The bridge is blown up, +but who can say by whom. Quickly the train runs back. + +"'A brisk day,' remarks the correspondent. 'Not so bad,' replies the +officer. So the days pass." + +The Telegraph's correspondent in Belgium, who, accompanied by a son of +the Belgian War Minister, M. de Broqueville, made a tour of the +battleground in the Dixmude district last Wednesday, says: + +"No pen could do justice to the grandeur and horror of the scene. As far +as the eye could reach nothing could be seen but burning villages and +bursting shells. I realized for the first time how completely the motor +car had revolutionized warfare and how every other factor was now +dominated by the absence or presence of this unique means of transport. + +"Every road to the front was simply packed with cars. They seemed an +ever-rolling, endless stream, going and returning to the front, while in +many villages hundreds of private cars were parked under the control of +the medical officer, waiting in readiness to carry the wounded. + +"Arrived at the firing line, a terrible scene presented itself. The +shell fire from the German batteries was so terrific that Belgian +soldiers and French marines were continually being blown out of their +dugouts and sent scattering to cover. Elsewhere, also, little groups of +peasants were forced to flee because their cellars began to fall in. +These unfortunates had to make their way as best they could on foot to +the rear. They were frightened to death by the bursting shells, and the +sight of crying children among them was most pathetic. + +"Dixmude was the objective of the German attack, and shells were +bursting all over it, crashing among the roofs and blowing whole streets +to pieces. From a distance of three miles we could hear them crashing +down, but the town itself was invisible, except for the flames and the +smoke and clouds rising above it. The Belgians had only a few field +batteries, so that the enemy's howitzers simply dominated the field, and +the infantry trenches around the town had to rely upon their own unaided +efforts. + +"Our progress along the road was suddenly stopped by one of the most +horrible sights I have ever seen. A heavy howitzer shell had fallen and +burst right in the midst of a Belgian battery, making its way to the +front, causing terrible destruction. The mangled horses and men among +the debris presented a shocking spectacle. + +"Eventually, we got into Dixmude itself, and every time a shell came +crashing among the roofs we thought our end had come. The Hotel de Ville +(town hall) was a sad sight. The roof was completely riddled by shell, +while inside was a scene of chaos. It was piled with loaves of bread, +bicycles, and dead soldiers. + +"The battle redoubled in fury, and by 7 o'clock in the evening Dixmude +was a furnace, presenting a scene of terrible grandeur. The horizon was +red with burning homes. + +"Our return journey was a melancholy one, owing to the constant trains +of wounded that were passing." + +The Daily Mail's Rotterdam correspondent, telegraphing Sunday evening, +says: + +"Slowly but surely the Germans are being beaten back on the western +wing, and old men and young lads are being hurried to the front. The +enemy were in strong force at Dixmude, where the Allies were repulsed +once, only to attack again with renewed vigor. + +"Roulers resembles a shambles. It was taken and retaken four times, and +battered to ruins in the process. The German guns made the place +untenable for the Allies. + +"An Oosburg message says the firing at Ostend is very heavy, and that +the British are shelling the suburbs, which are held by the Germans. +Last night and this morning large bodies of Germans left Bruges for +Ostend. It is believed the Ostend piers have been blown up." + +"The position on the coast is stationary this morning," says a Daily +Mail dispatch from Flushing, Netherlands, under date of Sunday. "There +is less firing and it is more to the southward. No alteration of the +situation is reported from Ostend. + +"The German losses are frightful. Three meadows near Ostend are heaped +with dead. The wounded are now installed in private houses in Bruges, +where large wooden sheds are being rushed up to receive additional +injured. Thirty-seven farm wagons containing wounded, dying, and dead +passed in one hour near Middelkerke. + +"The Germans have been working at new intrenchments between Coq sur Mer +and Wenduyne to protect their road to Bruges." + +Gen. von Tripp and nearly all his staff, who were killed in a church +tower at Leffinghe by the fire from the British warships, have been +buried in Ostend. + +[Illustration: Flanders and Northern France--How the Battle Line Has +Changed (Up to Jan. 1, 1915) Since the War Began.] + + + + +*Seeking Wounded on Battle Front* + +By Philip Gibbs of The London Daily Chronicle. + + +FURNES, Belgium, Oct. 21.--The staff of the English hospital, to which a +mobile column has been attached for field work, has arrived here with a +convoy of ambulances and motor cars. This little party of doctors, +nurses, stretcher-bearers, and chauffeurs, under the direction of Dr. +Bevis and Dr. Munro, has done splendid work in Belgium, and many of them +were in the siege of Antwerp. + +Miss Macnaughton, the novelist, was one of those who went through this +great test of courage, and Lady Dorothie Feilding, one of Lord Denbigh's +daughters, won everybody's love by her gallantry and plucky devotion to +duty in many perilous hours. She takes all risks with laughing courage. +She has been under fire in many hot skirmishes, and has helped bring +away the wounded from the fighting around Ghent when her own life might +have paid the forfeit for defiance to bursting shells. + +This morning a flying column of the hospital was preparing to set out in +search of wounded men on the firing line under direction of Lieut. de +Broqueville, son of the Belgian War Minister. The Lieutenant, very cool +and debonair, was arranging the order of the day with Dr. Munro. Lady +Dorothie Feilding and the two other women in field kit stood by their +cars, waiting for the password. There were four stretcher-bearers, +including Mr. Gleeson, an American, who has worked with this party +around Ghent and Antwerp, proving himself to be a man of calm and quiet +courage at a critical moment, always ready to take great risks in order +to bring in a wounded man. + +It was decided to take three ambulances and two motor cars. Lieut. de +Broqueville anticipated a heavy day's work. He invited me to accompany +the column in a car which I shared with Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett of The +London Daily Telegraph, who also volunteered for the expedition. + +We set out before noon, winding our way through the streets of Furnes. +We were asked to get into Dixmude, where there were many wounded. It is +about ten miles away from Furnes. As we went along the road, nearer to +the sound of the great guns which for the last hour or two had been +firing incessantly, we passed many women and children. They were on +their way to some place further from the firing. Poor old grandmothers +in black bonnets and skirts trudged along the lines of poplars with +younger women, who clasped their babies tightly in one hand, while with +the other they carried heavy bundles of household goods. + +Along the road came German prisoners, marching rapidly between mounted +guards. Many of them were wounded, and all of them had a wild, famished, +terror-stricken look. + +At a turn in the road the battle lay before us, and we were in the zone +of fire. Away across the fields was a line of villages with the town of +Dixmude a little to the right of us, perhaps a mile and a quarter away. +From each little town smoke was rising in separate columns which met at +the top in a great black pall. At every moment this blackness was +brightened by puffs of electric blue, extraordinarily vivid, as shells +burst in the air. From the mass of houses in each town came jets of +flame, following explosions which sounded with terrific thudding shocks. +On a line of about nine miles there was an incessant cannonade. The +farthest villages were already on fire. + +Quite close to us, only about half a mile across the fields to the left, +there were Belgian batteries at work and rifle fire from many trenches. +We were between two fires, and Belgian and German shells came screeching +over our heads. The German shells were dropping quite close to us, +plowing up the fields with great pits. We could hear them burst and +scatter and could see them burrow. + +[Illustration: ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JELLICOE +Commanding the British Fleets +(_Photo from Rogers._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. VICTOR DANKL +The Austrian Commander in the Russian Campaign +(_Photo from Bain News Service._)] + +In front of us on the road lay a dreadful barrier, which brought us to a +halt. A German shell had fallen right on top of an ammunition convoy. +Four horses had been blown to pieces and their carcasses lay strewn +across the road. The ammunition wagon had been broken into fragments and +smashed and burned to cinders by the explosion of its own shells. A +Belgian soldier lay dead, cut in half by a great fragment of steel. +Further along the road were two other dead horses in pools of blood. It +was a horrible and sickening sight, from which one turned away +shuddering with cold sweat, but we had to pass it after some of this +dead flesh had been dragged away. + +Further down the road we had left two of the cars in charge of Lady +Dorothie Feilding and her two nurses. They were to wait there until we +brought back some of the wounded. Two ambulances came on with our light +car, commanded by Lieut. Broqueville and Dr. Munro. Mr. Gleeson asked me +to help him as stretcher-bearer. Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett was to work with +one of the other stretcher-bearers. + +I was in one of the ambulances, and Mr. Gleeson sat behind me in the +narrow space between the stretchers. Over his shoulder he talked in a +quiet voice of the job that lay before us. I was glad of that quiet +voice, so placid in its courage. We went forward at what seemed to me a +crawl, though I think it was a fair pace, shells bursting around us now +on all sides, while shrapnel bullets sprayed the earth about us. It +appeared to me an odd thing that we were still alive. Then we came into +Dixmude. + +When I saw it for the first and last time it was a place of death and +horror. The streets through which we passed were utterly deserted and +wrecked from end to end, as though by an earthquake. Incessant +explosions of shell fire crashed down upon the walls which still stood. +Great gashes opened in the walls, which then toppled and fell. A roof +came tumbling down with an appalling clatter. Like a house of cards +blown by a puff of wind, a little shop suddenly collapsed into a mass of +ruins. Here and there, further into the town, we saw living figures. +They ran swiftly for a moment and then disappeared into dark caverns +under toppling porticos. They were Belgian soldiers. + +We were now in a side street leading into the Town Hall square. It +seemed impossible to pass, owing to the wreckage strewn across the road. +"Try to take it," said Dr. Munro, who was sitting beside the chauffeur. +We took it, bumping over heaps of debris, and then swept around into the +square. It was a spacious place, with the Town Hall at one side of +it--or what was left of the Town Hall; there was only the splendid shell +of it left, sufficient for us to see the skeleton of a noble building +which had once been the pride of Flemish craftsmen. Even as we turned +toward it parts of it were falling upon the ruins already on the ground. +I saw a great pillar lean forward and then topple down. A mass of +masonry crashed from the portico. Some stiff, dark forms lay among the +fallen stones; they were dead soldiers. I hardly glanced at them, for we +were in search of the living. + +Our cars were brought to a halt outside the building, and we all climbed +down. I lighted a cigarette, and I noticed two of the other men fumble +for matches for the same purpose. We wanted something to steady our +nerves. There was never a moment when shell fire was not bursting in +that square. Shrapnel bullets whipped the stones. The Germans were +making a target of the Town Hall and dropping their shells with dreadful +exactitude on either side of it. + +I glanced toward the flaming furnace to the right of the building. There +was a wonderful glow at the heart of it, yet it did not give me any +warmth. At that moment Dr. Munro and Lieut. de Broqueville mounted the +steps of the Town Hall, followed by Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett and myself. Mr. +Gleeson was already taking down a stretcher; he had a little smile +about his lips. + +A French officer and two men stood under the broken archway of the +entrance, between the fallen pillars and masonry. A yard away from them +lay a dead soldier, a handsome young man with clear-cut features turned +upward to the gaping roof. A stream of blood was coagulating around his +head, but did not touch the beauty of his face. Another dead man lay +huddled up quite close, and his face was hidden. + +"Are there any wounded here, Sir?" asked our young Lieutenant. The other +officer spoke excitedly. He was a brave man, but he could not hide the +terror in his soul, because he had been standing so long waiting for +death, which stood beside him, but did not touch him. It appeared from +his words that there were several wounded men among the dead down in the +cellar, and that he would be obliged to us if we could rescue them. + +We stood on some steps, looking down into that cellar. It was a dark +hole, illumined dimly by a lantern, I think. I caught sight of a little +heap of huddled bodies. Two soldiers, still unwounded, dragged three of +them out and handed them up to us. The work of getting those three men +into the first ambulance seemed to us interminable; it was really no +more than fifteen or twenty minutes. During that time Dr. Munro, +perfectly calm and quiet, was moving about the square, directing the +work. Lieut. de Broqueville was making inquiries about other wounded in +other houses. I lent a hand to one of the stretcher-bearers. What the +others were doing I do not know, except that Mr. Gleeson's calm face +made a clear-cut image on my brain. + +I had lost consciousness of myself. Something outside myself, as it +seemed, was saying that there was no way of escape; that it was +monstrous to suppose that all these bursting shells would not smash the +ambulance to bits and finish the agony of the wounded, and that death +was very hideous. I remember thinking, also, how ridiculous it was for +men to kill one another like this and to make such hells on earth. + +Then Lieut. de Broqueville spoke a word of command; the first ambulance +must now get back. I was with the first ambulance, in Mr. Gleeson's +company. We had a full load of wounded men, and we were loitering. I put +my head outside the cover and gave the word to the chauffeur. As I did +so a shrapnel bullet came past my head, and, striking a piece of +ironwork, flattened out and fell at my feet. I picked it up and put it +in my pocket, though God alone knows why, for I was not in search of +souvenirs. + +So we started with the first ambulance through those frightful streets +again and out into the road to the country. "Very hot!" said one of the +men--I think it was the chauffeur. Somebody else asked if we should get +through with luck. Nobody answered the question. The wounded men with us +were very quiet; I thought they were dead. There was only an incessant +cannonade and the crashing of buildings. The mitrailleuses were at work +now, spitting out bullets. It was a worse sound than that of the shells; +it seemed more deadly in its rattle. I started back behind the car and +saw the other ambulance in our wake. I did not see the motor car. + +Along the country roads the fields were still being plowed by shells +which burst over our heads. We came to a halt again in a place where +soldiers were crouched under cottage walls. There were few walls now, +and inside some of the remaining cottages were many wounded men. Their +comrades were giving them first aid and wiping the blood out of their +eyes. We managed to take some of these on board. They were less quiet +than the others we had, and groaned in a heartrending way. + +A little later we made a painful discovery--Lieut. de Broqueville, our +gallant young leader, was missing. By some horrible mischance he had not +taken his place in either of the ambulances or the motor cars. None of +us had the least idea what had happened to him; we had all imagined that +he had scrambled up like the rest of us, after giving the order to get +away. + +There was only one thing to do--to get back in search of him. Even in +the half hour since we had left the town Dixmude had burst into flames +and was a great blazing torch. If de Broqueville were left in that hell +he would not have a chance of life. + +It was Mr. Gleeson and Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett who, with great gallantry, +volunteered to go back and search for our leader. They took the light +car and sped back toward the burning town. The ambulances went on with +their cargo of wounded, and Lady Dorothie Feilding and I were left alone +for a little time in one of the cars. We drove back along the road +toward Dixmude, and rescued another wounded man left in a wayside +cottage. + +By this time there were five towns blazing in the darkness, and in spite +of the awful suspense which we were now suffering we could not help +staring at the fiendish splendor of that sight. + +Dr. Munro joined us again, and after consultation we decided to get as +near to Dixmude as we could, in case our friends had to come out without +their car or had been wounded. + +The German bombardment was now terrific. All the guns were concentrated +upon Dixmude and the surrounding trenches. In the darkness under a +stable wall I stood listening to the great crashes for an hour, when I +had not expected such a lease of life. Inside the stable soldiers were +sleeping in the straw, careless that at any moment a shell might burst +through upon them. The hour seemed a night; then we saw the gleam of +headlights, and an English voice called out. + +Ashmead-Bartlett and Gleeson had come back. They had gone to the +entrance to Dixmude, but could get no further, owing to the flames and +shells. They, too, had waited for an hour, but had not found de +Broqueville. It seemed certain that he was dead; and, very sorrowfully, +as there was nothing to be done, we drove back to Furnes. + +At the gate of the convent were some Belgian ambulances which had come +from another part of the front with their wounded. I helped to carry +one of them in, and strained my shoulders with the weight of the +stretcher. Another wounded man put his arm around my neck, and then, +with a dreadful cry, collapsed, so that I had to hold him in a strong +grip. A third man, horribly smashed about the head, walked almost +unaided into the operating room. Mr. Gleeson and I led him with just a +touch on his arm. This morning he lies dead on a little pile of straw in +a quiet corner of the courtyard. + +I sat down to a supper, which I had not expected to eat. There was a +strange excitement in my body, which trembled a little after the day's +adventures. It seemed very strange to be sitting down to table with +cheerful faces about me, but some of the faces were not cheerful. Those +of us who knew of the disappearance of de Broqueville sat silently over +our soup. + +Then suddenly Lady Dorothie Feilding gave a little cry of joy, and +Lieut. de Broqueville came walking briskly forward. It seemed a miracle; +it was hardly less than that. For several hours after our departure from +Dixmude he had remained in that inferno. He had missed us when he went +down into the cellar to haul out another wounded man, forgetting that he +had given us the order to start. There he had remained, with buildings +crashing all around him until the German fire had died down a little. He +succeeded in rescuing his wounded man, for whom he found room in a +Belgian ambulance outside the town and walked back along the road to +Furnes. + +We clasped hands and were thankful for his escape. This morning he has +gone again to what is left of Dixmude with a flying column. Dr. Munro +and Mr. Gleeson, with Lady Dorothie Feilding and her friends, are in the +party, although in Dixmude German infantry have taken possession of the +outer ruins. + +The courage of this English field ambulance under the Belgian Red Cross +is one of those splendid things which shine through this devil's work of +war. + + + + +*At the Kaiser's Headquarters* + +By Cyril Brown of The New York Times. + + +GERMAN GREAT HEADQUARTERS IN FRANCE, Oct. 20.--The most vulnerable, +vital spot of the whole German Empire is, paradoxically, in France--the +small city on the Meuse where the Grosses Hauptquartier, the brains of +the whole German fighting organism, has been located for the last few +weeks. After a lucky dash through the forbidden zone of France held by +the Germans I managed to pay a surprise visit to the Great Headquarters, +where, among other interesting sights, I have already seen the Kaiser, +the King of Saxony, the Crown Prince, Major Langhorne, the American +Military Attache; Field Marshal von Moltke, and shoals of lesser +celebrities with which the town is overrun. My stay is of indeterminate +length, and only until the polite but insistent pressure which the +Kaiser's secret police and the General Staff are bringing to bear on +their unbidden guest to leave becomes irresistible. + +It was a sometime TIMES reader, a German brakeman, who had worked in New +York and was proud of being able to speak "American," who helped me to +slip aboard the military postzug (post train) that left the important +military centre of L---- at 1:30 A.M. and started to crawl toward the +front with a mixed cargo of snoring field chaplains, soldiers rejoining +their units, officers with iron crosses pinned to their breasts, +ambulance men who talked gruesome shop, fresh meat, surgical supplies, +mail bags, &c. Sometimes the train would spurt up to twelve miles an +hour. There were long stops at every station, while unshaven Landsturm +men on guard scanned the car windows in search of spies by the light of +their electric flash lamps. After many hours somebody said we were now +in Belgium. + +There are no longer any bothersome customs formalities at the Belgian +border, but the ghost of a house that had been knocked into a cocked hat +by a shell indicated that we were in the land of the enemy. Houses that +looked as if they had been struck by a Western cyclone now became more +numerous. A village church steeple had a jagged hole clean through it. +After more hours somebody else said we were in France. Every bridge, +culvert, and crossroad was guarded by heavily bearded Landsturm men, who +all looked alike in their funny, antiquated, high black leather +helmets--usually in twos--the countryside dotted with cheery little +watch fires. + +In the little French villages all lights were out in the houses. The +streets were barred like railroad crossings except that the poles were +painted in red-white-black stripes, a lantern hanging from the middle of +the barrier to keep the many army automobiles that passed in the night +from running amuck. + +Sedan, a beehive of activity, was reached at daybreak. Here most of the +military, plus the Field Chaplains, got out. From here on daylight +showed the picturesque ruin the French themselves had wrought--the +frequent tangled wreckage of dynamited steel railway bridges sticking +out of the waters of the river, piles of shattered masonry damming the +current, here and there half an arch still standing of a once beautiful +stone footbridge. I was told that over two hundred bridges had been +blown up by the retreating French in their hopeless attempt to delay the +German advance in this part of France alone. + +Several hours more of creeping over improvised wooden bridges and +restored roadbeds brought the post train to the French city that had +20,000 inhabitants before the war which the Kaiser and the Great +Headquarters now occupy. + +Wooden signs printed in black letters, "Verboten," (forbidden,) now +ornament the pretty little park, with its fountain still playing, +outside the railroad station. The paths are guarded by picked +grenadiers, not Landsturm men this time, while an officer of the guard +makes his ceaseless rounds. Opposite the railroad station, on the other +side of the little park, is an unpretentious villa of red brick and +terra cotta trimmings, but two guard houses painted with red-white-black +stripes flank the front door and give it a look of importance. The +street at either end is barred by red, white and black striped poles and +strapping grenadiers on guard are clustered thick about it. You don't +need to ask who lives there. The red brick house (it would not rent for +more than $100 a month in any New York suburb) is the present temporary +residence of the Over War Lord. Its great attraction for the Kaiser, I +am told, is the large, secluded garden in the rear where this other "man +of destiny" loves to walk and meditate or, more usually, talk--though +the few remaining French inhabitants could have a frequent opportunity +of seeing him walk in the little closed public park if they were +interested, but the natives seem outwardly utterly apathetic. + +Several of the Kaiser's household, in green Jaeger uniforms, were +lounging around the door for an early morning airing, while secret +service men completed the picture by hovering in the immediate +neighborhood. You can tell that they are German secret service agents +because they all wear felt alpine hats, norfolk jackets, waterproof +cloth capes and a bored expression. They have been away from Berlin for +nearly three months now. About fifty of them constitute the "Secret +Field Police" and their station house is half a block away from the +Kaiser's residence. + +Just around the corner from the Kaiser, within a stone's throw of his +back door, is another red-brick house with terra-cotta trimmings, rather +larger and more imposing. The names of its new residents, "Hahnke," +"Caprivi," and "Graf von Moltke," are scrawled in white chalk on the +stone post of the gateway. Further up the same street another chalk +scrawl on a quite imposing mansion informed me that "The Imperial +Chancellor" and "The Foreign Office" had set up shop there. Near by were +Grand Admiral von Tirpitz's field quarters. A bank building on another +principal street bore the sign, "War Cabinet." + +The Great General Staff occupies the quaint old Hotel de Ville. An +unmolested ramble showed that all the best residences and business +buildings in the heart of the town were required to house the members of +the Great Headquarters, who number, in addition to the Kaiser and his +personal entourage, thirty-six chiefs or department heads, including the +Imperial Chancellor, the War Minister, the Chief of the Great General +Staff, the Chief of the Naval General Staff, the Chief of the Ammunition +Supply, the Chief of the Field Railways, the Chief of the Field +Telephone and Telegraph Service, the Chief of the Sanitary Service, the +Chief of the Volunteer Automobile Corps, &c., making, with secretaries, +clerks, ordonnances, and necessary garrison, a community of 1,200 souls. + +I could not help wondering why the Allies' aviators weren't "on the +job." A dozen, backed up by an intelligent Intelligence Department, +could so obviously settle the fortunes of the war by blowing out the +brains of their enemy. Perhaps that is why the whereabouts of the Great +Headquarters is guarded as a jealous secret. The soldiers at the front +don't know where it is, nor the man on the street at home, and, of +course, its location is not breathed in the German press. Theoretically, +only those immediately concerned are "in the know." Visitors are not +allowed, neutral foreign correspondents are told by the authorities in +Berlin that "it is impossible" to go to the Grosser Hauptquartier. + +Two aeroplane guns are mounted on the hills across the river at a point +immediately opposite the Kaiser's residence, while near them a picked +squad of sharpshooters is on the watch night and day for hostile fliers. +To further safeguard not only the person of the Kaiser but the brains +of the fighting machine the spy hunt is kept up here with unrelenting +pertinacity. + +"We went over the town with a fine-tooth comb and cleaned out all the +suspicious characters the very first day we arrived," said a friendly +detective. + +"There are no cranks or anarchists left here. Today the order is going +out to arrest all men of military age--between 18 and 45--but there are +few, if any, left. We also made a house-to-house search for arms and +collected three wagonloads, mostly old. + +"Our Kaiser is as safe here now as he would be anywhere in Germany. We +know every one who arrives and leaves town. It seems impossible for a +spy to slip in and still more to slip out again through the lines--but +we are always on the watch for the impossible. The fear of spies is not +a delusion or a form of madness, as you suggest. Here is one case of my +personal knowledge: A German Boy Scout of 16, who had learned to speak +French and English perfectly at school, volunteered his services and was +attached to the staff of an army corps. This young chap succeeded in +slipping into Rheims, where he was able to locate the positions of the +French batteries and machine guns, and make his way back to our lines +with this invaluable information. For this feat the boy received the +Iron Cross. After being in the field for six weeks he got home-sick, +however, and has been allowed to go home for a visit." + +From a spectacular point of view the Great Headquarters is rather +disappointing. A few mixed patrols of Uhlans, dragoons, and hussars +occasionally ride through the principal streets to exercise their +horses. Occasionally, too, you see a small squad of strapping +grenadiers, who break into the goose step on the slightest provocation +as when they pass a General or other officer of the Great General Staff, +whom you recognize by the broad red stripes on their "field gray" +trousers. + +There is no pomp or ceremony even when royalty is running around at +large. Thus when the King of Saxony arrived in town, a few hours after +I did, no fuss was made whatever. The Saxon King and his staff, three +touring car loads, all in field gray, drove straight to the villa +assigned them, and, after reciprocal informal visits between King and +Kaiser, the former left to visit some of the battlefields on which Saxon +troops had fought, and later paid a visit to his troops at the front. +For this exploit, the Kaiser promptly bestowed on him the Iron Cross, +first and second class, on his return to town. + +Even the Kaiser's heart is not covered with medals, nor does he wear the +gorgeous white plume parade helmet nowadays, when going out for a +horse-back ride or a drive. I saw him come from a motor run late in the +afternoon--four touring cars full of staff officers and personal +entourage--and was struck by the complete absence of pomp and ceremony. +In the second car sat the Kaiser, wearing the dirty green-gray uniform +of his soldiers in the field. At a distance of fifteen feet, the Over +War Lord looked physically fit, but quite sober--an intense earnestness +of expression that seemed to mirror the sternness of the times. + +The Kaiser goes for a daily drive or ride about the countryside usually +in the afternoon, but occasionally he is allowed to have a real outing +by his solicitous entourage--a day and more rarely a [Transcriber: text +missing in original] + +"His Majesty is never so happy as when he is among his troops at the +front," another transplanted Berlin detective told me. "If his Majesty +had his way he would be among them all the time, preferably sleeping +under canvas and roughing it like the rest--eating the 'simple' food +prepared by his private field kitchen. But his life is too valuable to +be risked in that way, and his personal Adjutant, von Plessen, who +watches over his Majesty like a mother or a governess, won't let him go +to the front often. His Majesty loves his soldiers and would be among +them right up at the firing line if he were not constantly watched and +kept in check by his devoted von Plessen." However, the Kaiser sleeps +within earshot of the not very distant thunder of the German heavy +artillery pounding away at Rheims, plainly heard here at night when the +wind blows from the right direction. + +Of barbarism or brutality the writer saw no signs, either here or at +other French villages occupied by the Germans. The behavior of the +common soldiers toward the natives is exemplary and in most cases +kindly. There are many touches of human interest. I saw about a hundred +of the most destitute hungry townsfolk, mostly women with little +children, hanging around one of the barracks at the outskirts of the +town until after supper the German soldiers came out and distributed the +remnants of their black bread rations to them. It is not an uncommon +sight to see staff officers as well as soldiers stopping on the streets +to hand out small alms to the begging women and children. Many of the +shops in town were closed and boarded up at the approach of the +Prussians, but small hotel keepers, cafe proprietors, and tradesmen who +had the nerve to remain and keep open are very well satisfied with the +German invasion in one way, for they never made so much money before in +their lives. Most of the German soldiers garrisoned here have picked up +a few useful words of French; all of them can, and do, call for wine, +white or red, in the vernacular. Moreover, they pay for all they +[Transcriber: original 'them'] consume. I was astonished to see even the +detectives paying real money for what they drank. Several tradesmen told +me they had suffered chiefly at the hands of the French soldiers +themselves, who had helped themselves freely to their stock before +retreating, without paying, saying it was no use to leave good wine, for +the Prussian swine. + +I had not prowled around the Great Headquarters for many hours when the +Secret Field Police, patrolling all the streets, showed signs of +curiosity, and to forestall the orthodox arrest and march to +headquarters (already experienced [Transcriber: original 'experience'] +once, in Cologne) waited upon Lieut. Col. von Hahnke, Military +Commandant of the city, and secured immunity in the form of the +Commandant's signature on a scrap of paper stamped in purple ink with +the Prussian eagle. Commandant Hahnke, after expressing the opinion that +it was good that American newspaper men were coming to Germany to see +for themselves, and hoping that "the truth" was beginning to become +known on the other side, courteously sent his Adjutant along to get me +past the guard at the Great General Staff and introduce me to Major +Nikolai, Chief of Division III. B., in charge of newspaper +correspondents and Military Attaches. Here, however, the freedom of the +American press came into hopeless, but humorous, collision with the +Prussian militarism. + +"Who are you? What are you doing here? How did you get here?" snapped +the Prussian Major. A kind letter of introduction from Ambassador +Gerard, requesting "all possible courtesy and assistance from the +authorities of the countries through which he may pass," and emblazoned +with the red seal of the United States of America, which had worked like +magic on all previous occasions, had no effect on Major Nikolai. Neither +had a letter from the American Consul at Cologne, nor a letter of +introduction to Gen. von Buelow, nor any one of a dozen other impressive +documents produced in succession for his benefit. + +"No foreign correspondents are permitted to be at the Great +Headquarters. None has been allowed to come here. If we allow one to +remain, fifty others will want to come, and we should be unable to keep +an eye on all of them," he explained. "You must go back to Berlin at +once." + +Reluctant permission was finally obtained to remain one night on the +possibly unwarranted intimation that the great American people would +consider it a "national affront" if an American newspaperman was not +allowed to stay and see the American Military Attache, Major Langhorne, +who was away on a sightseeing tour near Verdun, but would be back in the +morning. However, a long cross-examination had to be undergone at the +hands of the venerable Herr Chief of the Secret Field Police Bauer, who +was taking no chances at harboring an English spy in the Houptquartier +disguised as a correspondent. + +I found Major Langhorne standing the strain of the campaign +[Transcriber: original 'compaign'] well, and I gathered the impression +that he intended to see the thing through, and that there was much which +America could learn from the titanic operations of the Germans. Major +Langhorne and the Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean, Spanish, Rumanian, +and Swedish military attaches are luxuriously quartered a mile and a +half out of town in the handsome villa of M. Noll, the landscape +painter, present whereabouts unknown. The attaches all have a sense of +humor, "otherwise," said one of them, "we could never stand being cooped +up here together." The gardener's daughter, a pretty young Frenchwoman, +the only servant who remained behind when the household fled at the +approach of the Germans, is both cook and housekeeper, and when I +arrived I found the seven military attaches resolved into a board of +strategy trying to work out the important problem of securing a pure +milk supply for her four-month-old baby. + +Work consists of occasional motor runs to various points along the long +front. I was told that recently Major Langhorne ran into some heavy +shrapnel and shell fire, and was lucky to get away with a whole skin. +When asked to tell about it, Major Langhorne passed it off laughingly as +"all in the day's work." + +In spite of the fact that they are engaged in keeping their end up in a +life-and-death fight for national existence, the Great General Staff has +found time to give the American Military Attache every possible +opportunity to see actual fighting. + +The foreign military attaches have made many of their expeditions in +company with the small band of German war correspondents, who live in +another villa close by, under the constant chaperonage of Major von +Rohrscheldt. They are allowed to see much, but send little. The relative +position of the press in Germany is indicated by the fact that these +German war correspondents are nicknamed "hunger candidates." A military +expert who was well posted on American journalism explained to me, +however, that the very tight censorship lid was not for the purpose of +withholding news from the German people, but to keep valuable +information from being handed to the enemy. He pointed out that the +laconic German official dispatches dealt only with things actually +accomplished, and were very bare of detail, while, on the other hand, +the French and English press had been worth more than several army corps +to the Germans, concluding, "It may be poor journalism, but it's the +right way to make war." + + * * * * * + +KAISERIN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. + + +Oct. 22.--It was hard to realize today that a great war was going on. +Every building in town occupied by the Germans was decorated with the +German flag in honor of the Kaiserin's birthday, and at night the +principal ones, including that occupied by the "War Cabinet," were +specially illuminated. All morning long, quantities of Generals came +rolling up in touring cars to the Kaiser's door to pay their homage and +offer congratulations. About noon the Crown Prince and staff arrived by +motor from the direction of the headquarters of his army. The Crown +Prince, who characteristically sat on the front seat next to the +chauffeur, looked as boyish and immature as his former pictures--his +military cap cocked slightly on one side. The responsibility of leading +an army had apparently not had a sobering effect on the Crown Prince as +yet, but I was told that the guiding brain and genius in the Crown +Prince's army headquarters was not that of the Crown Prince, but of his +chief adviser, Gen. von Haeseler, the brilliant cavalry leader of the +war of 1870 and now the "grand old man" of the German Army, sharing with +von Zeppelin the distinction of being the oldest living German Generals. +It seemed still harder to realize that men were fighting and dying not +fifty miles away when, after luncheon, Kaiser, Crown Prince, and staffs +went for a two hours' automobile ride, the Crown Prince leaving late in +the afternoon to rejoin his command. + +The only warlike notes in the day's picture were a German military +aeroplane--one of the famous Taubes--that flew at a high altitude over +the Great Headquarters toward the enemies' lines; a battalion of Saxon +Landsturm that rested for an hour at the railroad station, then started +on the final hike for the front, refreshed by a glimpse of their +motoring Kaiser, and toward evening four automobile loads of wounded +German officers, who arrived from the direction of Rheims, where it was +rumored the French had made four desperate attempts to break through. + +Here one gets more and more the impression that the Germans in their +war-making have learned a lesson from the hustling Americans--that they +have managed to graft American speed to their native thoroughness, +making a combination hard to beat. For instance, there is a regular +relay service of high-power racing motor cars between the Great +Headquarters and Berlin, the schedule calling for a total running time +of something under a day and a half, beating the best time at present +possible by train by four hours. One of the picked drivers, who has the +last lap--through France--said his running schedule required him to +average sixty miles an hour, and this running at night. A network of +fast relay automobile services is also run from the Great Headquarters, +through Belgium, linking up Brussels and Antwerp, and to the principal +points on the long line of battle. + +How great a role the motor car plays among the Germans may be gathered +from an estimate made to the writer that 40,000 cars were in use for +military purposes. Many thousands of these are private automobiles +operated by their wealthy owners as members of the Volunteer War +Automobile Corps, of which Prince Waldemar, son of the sailor Prince +Henry, is chief. Their ranks include many big business men, captains of +industry, and men of social prominence and professional eminence. + +They wear a distinctive uniform, that of an infantry officer, with a +collar of very dark red, and a short, purely ornamental sword or dagger. + + * * * * * + +BACK TO LUXEMBURG. + + +LUXEMBURG, Oct. 24.--I have just returned from the German Great +Headquarters in France, the visit terminating abruptly on the fourth +day, when one of the Kaiser's secret field police woke me up at 7 +o'clock in the morning and regretfully said that his instructions were +to see that I "did not oversleep" the first train out. The return +journey along one of the German main lines of communication--through +Eastern France, across a corner of Belgium and through Luxemburg--was +full of interest, and confirmed the impression gathered at the centre of +things, the Great Headquarters, that this twentieth century warfare is +in the last analysis a gigantic business proposition which the Board of +Directors (the Great General Staff) and the thirty-six department heads +are conducting with the efficiency of a great American business +corporation. + +The west-bound track is a continuous procession of freight trains--fresh +consignments of raw material--men and ammunition--being rushed to the +firing line to be ground out into victories. The first shipment we pass +is an infantry battalion--first ten flatcars loaded with baggage, +ammunition, provision wagons, and field kitchens, the latter already +with fire lighted and soup cooking as the long train steams slowly +along, for the trenches are only fifty miles away, and the Germans make +a point of sending their troops into battle with full stomachs. + +After the flatcars come thirty box cars, all decorated with green +branches and scrawled over with chalked witticism at the expense of the +French and Russians. The men cheer as our train passes. A few kilometers +further backed on to a siding, is a train of some twenty flatcars, each +loaded with a touring car. Then we pass a battery of artillery on +flatcars, the guns still garlanded with flowers; then a short freight +train--six cars loaded with nothing but spare automobile tires--then a +long train of heavy motor trucks, then more infantry trains, then an +empty hospital train going back for another load, then a train of +gasoline tank cars, more cheering infantry, more artillery, another +empty hospital train, a pioneer train, a score of flatcars loaded with +long, heavy piles, beams, steel girders, bridge spans, and lumber, then +a passenger train load of German railway officials and servants going to +operate the railways toward the coast, more infantry, food trains, +ammunition trains, train loads of railway tracks already bolted to metal +ties and merely needing to be laid down and pieced together, and so on +in endless succession all through France and through Belgium. The +two-track road, shaky in spots, especially when crossing rivers, is +being worked to capacity, and how well the huge traffic is handled is +surprising even to an American commuter. + +Our fast train stops at the mouth of a tunnel, then crawls ahead +charily, for the French, before retreating, dynamited the tunnel. One +track has been cleared, but the going is still bad. To keep it from +being blocked again by falling debris the Germans have dug clean through +the top of the hill, opening up a deep well of light into the tunnel. +Looking up, you see a pioneer company in once cream-colored, now +dirty-colored, fatigue uniform still digging away and terracing the +sides of the big hole to prevent slides. Half an hour later we go slow +again in crossing a new wooden bridge over the Meuse--only one track as +yet. It took the German pioneers nearly a week to build the substitute +for the old steel railway bridge dynamited by the French, whose four +spans lie buckled up in the river. The pioneers are at work driving +piles to carry a second track. The process is interesting. A +forty-man-power pile driver is rigged upon the bow end of a French river +barge with forty soldiers tugging at forty strands of the main rope. +The "gang" foreman, a Captain in field gray, stands on the river bank +and bellows the word of command. Up goes the heavy iron weight; another +command, and down it drops on the pile. It looks like a painfully slow +process, but the bridges are rebuilt just the same. + +Further on, a variety of interest is furnished to a squad of French +prisoners being marched along the road. Then a spot of ant-hill-like +activity where a German railway company is at work building a new branch +line, hundreds of them having pickaxes and making the dirt fly. You half +expect to see a swearing Irish foreman. It looks like home--all except +the inevitable officer (distinguished by revolver and field glass) +shouting commands. + +The intense activity of the Germans in rebuilding the torn-up railroads +and pushing ahead new strategic lines, is one of the most interesting +features of a tour now in France. I was told that they had pushed the +railroad work so far that they were able to ship men and ammunition +almost up to the fortified trenches. The Germanization of the railroads +here has been completed by the importation of station Superintendents, +station hands, track walkers, &c., from the Fatherland. The stretch over +which we are traveling, for example, is in charge of Bavarians. The +Bavarian and German flags hang out at every French station we pass. +German signs everywhere, even German time. It looks as if they thought +to stay forever. + +Now we creep past a long hospital train, full this time, which has +turned out on a siding to give us the right of way--perhaps thirty +all-steel cars--each fitted with two tiers of berths, eight to a side, +sixteen to a car. Every berth is taken. One car is fitted up as an +operating room, but fortunately no one is on the operating table as we +crawl past. Another car is the private office of the surgeon in charge +of the train. He is sitting at a big desk receiving reports form the +orderlies. During the day we pass six of these splendidly appointed new +all-steel hospital trains, all full of wounded. Some of them are able +to sit up in their bunks and take a mild interest in us. Once, by a +queer coincidence, we simultaneously pass the wounded going one way and +cheering fresh troops going the other. + + + + +*How the Belgians Fight* + +[By a Correspondent of The London Daily News.] + + +LONDON, Oct. 28.--Writing from an unnamed place in Belgium a +correspondent of The Daily News says: + +"The regiment I am concerned with was fifteen days and nights in the +Antwerp trenches in countless engagements. It withdrew at dawn, hoping +then to rest. It marched forty-five kilometers with shouldered rifles. +In the next five days it marched nearly 200 kilometers until it reached +the Nieuport and Dixmude line. By an error of judgment it got two days +of drill and inspection in place of resting, then took its place in the +front line on the Yser to face the most desperate of the German +efforts." + +The correspondent quotes a young volunteer in this regiment as follows: + +"---- was evacuated by the Germans, and we were sent in at +nightfall. As soon as they saw our lights they began shelling us. We +lost terribly. A number of the men ran up the streets, but we got them +together. I had about twenty and retired in order. We were 600 who went +in, and must have left a third there. + +"In the morning we moved down to reinforce a network of trenches on our +bank of the Yser. There was a farm on our right, and some of our men +were firing at it, but the door opened and three officers in Belgian +uniform came out shouting to us to cease fire, so we sent a detachment +to the farm, and they were swept away by machine gun fire from the +windows. No, I don't know what happened afterward about the farm. I lost +sight of it. + +"We got into the trenches. They lay longways behind a raised artificial +bank on our side of the river. At the northern end of them were mazes of +cross trenches protecting them in case the Germans got across the bridge +there and started to enfilade us. They were full of water. I was firing +for six hours myself thigh deep in muddy water. + +"The Germans got across the bridge. We could not show head or hand over +our bank. German machine guns shot us from crevices in their raised bank +across the river only a few yards away. I was hours and hours dragging +our wounded out of the cross trenches at the northern end of the bank +southward and behind a mound till there was no more room for them there, +and bringing up new men singly and two or three at a time from further +down the trenches to take their places. We lost our officers, but I got +the men to listen to me. + +"Some Germans shelled us with a cross fire. They got into the cross +trenches. They fired down our lines from the side. We had to run back. I +was too tired and sleepy to drag my feet. I think I must have fallen +asleep. + +"We had an order to advance again. The French were behind us on either +wing in support. I was too tired to get up. Some one kicked me. I looked +up. They were three of my friends, volunteers like myself. We had all +joined together. They apologized and ran forward. They are all wounded +now, but we are all still alive, and I never have been hit once in +thirty-four fights. + +"I got up. So did a man lying on the field in front of me. He was shot +through the head and fell back on me. I got up again. A shell burst +beside me and I saw three men, who were running past, just disappear. I +was lying on my face again, and could not lift my head, either through +fear or sleep, I don't know which. + +"I found myself running forward again. I called to men lying and running +near and held my revolver at them. We were all charging with bayonets +back at the Germans shooting us from our own trenches under the raised +bank. They did not wait for us. They looked like frightened gray beetles +as they scrambled up away over our bank and down into the river. It was +dusk, but we shot at them over the bank. The water seemed full of them. +We crouched in a big trench in muddy water behind the bank. No, we did +not sleep, but my head and eyes seemed to go to sleep from time to time. + +"There were perhaps 200 left of our 600. I think there was one officer +further along, but it was quite dark. Some of the men talked very low. +Then I heard voices whispering and talking near us on the river side of +our bank. It was of earth perhaps five feet high and six feet thick. On +the other side the slope fell steeply to the river. + +"I sent a hush along the line. We listened quite silent. I thought I +heard German words, an order passed along on the other side. I crawled +up on to the bank, not showing my head, you know. It was really about +300 Germans who had stayed there on our side under the bank, fearing to +cross the river under our fire. So we stayed all through the night. We +did not sleep nor did they. + +"There was just six feet of piled wet earth between us. We only +whispered and could hear them muttering and the sound of their belts +creaking and of water bottles being opened. + +"There was a thick gray mist hanging low in the morning. I crawled on to +the bank again, holding my revolver out-stretched. A gray figure stood +up in the mist below close to me. He looked like a British soldier in +khaki. He said: 'It's all right, we are English,' and I said, 'But your +accent isn't,' and I shot him through with my revolver. Some of our men +crept to the bank, but they shot them, and some of theirs climbed over, +but we fired at their heads or arms as they showed only a few feet +away, and they fell backward [Transcriber: original 'bakward'] or on to +us or lay hanging on the bank. Then we all waited. + +"As it grew lighter they did not dare move away, and none of us could +get out alive or over the bank to use the bayonet. A few men made holes +in the looser earth, and so we fired at each other through the bank here +and there. Our guns could not help us, and theirs could not shoot +across, for we were all together, and yet we could not get at each +other. Some of the men--theirs and ours--got over lower down, so there +was firing now and then, and two men were killed near me sliding down +into the water in the trenches. + +"Somebody threw a cartridge case across close to me. On a paper inside +was scrawled one word: 'Surrender!' We did not know if they wanted to +surrender themselves or wanted us to surrender. They were more numerous, +but we were better placed, so we went on scrapping and crawling around +to get a shot at them. + +"Perhaps it was the French who got round at the ends. There was heavy +firing. We heard quite close through the raised bank a few slipping down +on the river edge and water splashing. Some of us pulled ourselves up on +to the bank. I heard our men scrambling up on either side of me, but +could not see them. I think I was too sleepy. I shouted to charge, and +then must have fallen over on my head, rolling down the bank. + +"I am on the way down with these wounded. There are fifteen of us unhit +here, but I think we came away just now with nearly a hundred out of our +600 of yesterday." + +He was doing gallant Captain's work, a young, slight, ordinary Belgian +trooper, a volunteer private in the ranks, muddy, limping, and +unspeakably tired in muscle and nerve. His story is as nearly as +possible in his own words, interrupted by blanks in his own +consciousness of events--lapses familiar to men whose muscles and nerves +are exhausted, but who must still work on without sleep. + +For the following ten hours, without pause, he acted as interpreter and +most capable adviser in getting long trains of stretchers with his +wounded Belgian compatriots down and on to the British hospital ships. + + + + +*A Visit to the Firing Line in France* + +[By a Correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +PARIS, Sept. 30.--In company with several representatives of American +newspapers, I was permitted to pass several days in "the zone of +military activity," on credentials obtained at the personal request of +Ambassador Herrick, that we might describe the destruction caused by the +Germans in unfortified towns. Although I have given a parole to say +nothing concerning the movement of the troops or to mention certain +points that I visited, I am now permitted to send a report of a part of +my experiences. + +We crossed the entire battlefield of the Marne, passed directly behind +the lines of the battle still raging on the Aisne, accidentally getting +under fire for an entire afternoon, and lunching in a hotel to the +orchestra of bursting shells, one end of the building being blown away +during the bombardment. We witnessed a battle between an armored French +monoplane and a German battery, and also had the experience of being +accused of being German spies by two men wearing the English uniform, +who, on failing to account for their own German accent, were speedily +taken away under guard with their "numbers up," as the French Commandant +expressed what awaited them. + +On account of our exceptional credentials we were able to see more +actual war than many correspondents, who when they learned that permits +to go to the front were not forthcoming, went anyway, usually falling +into the hands of the military authorities before getting far. In fact, +getting arrested has been the chief occupation of the war correspondents +in this war, even our accidental view of the fighting being sufficient +to cause our speedy return to Paris under parole. + +Going over the battlefield of the Marne, we found the battle had +followed much the same tactics as a cyclone, in that in some places +nothing, not even the haystacks, had been disturbed, while in others +everything, the villages, roads, and fields, had been utterly devastated +by shells. We talked with the inhabitants of every village and always +heard the same story--that during occupation the Germans, evidently +having been ordered to be on their good behavior after the Belgian +atrocities, had offered little trouble to the civilians, and had +confined their activities to looting and wasting the provisions. Also +that when retreating they had destroyed all the food they were unable to +carry. + +Our baptism of fire appropriately came while we were in a church. At +noon of the second day we motored into a deserted village, and were +stopped by a sentry who acknowledged our credentials, but warned us if +we intended to proceed to beware of bullets. But there was not a hostile +sound to alarm us. + +As we drove carelessly over the brow of a hill where the road dipped +down a valley into the town, we were in direct line with the German +fire, as great holes in the ground and fallen trees testified. It is a +wonder our big motor car was not an immediate mark. On the way in we +noticed a church steeple shot completely off, so after finding an inn, +where the proprietor came from the cellar and offered to guard our car +and prepare luncheon, we decided first to examine the church. The +innkeeper explained that we had come during a lull in the bombardment, +but the silent, deserted place lulled all sense of danger. The verger +showed us over the church and we were walking through the ruined nave +when suddenly we heard a sound like the shrill whistling of the wind. + +"It begins again," our conductor said simply. As the speech ended we +heard a loud boom and the sound of falling masonry as a shell struck the +far end of the building. We hurried to the hotel, the shells screaming +overhead. We saw the buildings tumbling into ruins, glass falling in +fine powder and remnants of furniture hanging grotesquely from scraps of +masonry. + +All my life I had wondered what would be the sensation if I ever were +under fire--would I be afraid? To my intense relief I suddenly became +fatalistic. I was under fire with a vengeance, but instead of being +afraid I kept saying to myself, "Being afraid won't help matters; +besides nothing will happen if we just keep close to the walls and away +from the middle street." + +On the way we met two men in English uniform who later denounced us as +spies. We hailed them, and they replied that they had been cut off from +their regiment and were now fighting with the French. Just as luncheon +was announced eight soldiers filed into the hotel, arrested us, and +marched us before the Commandant, who saw that our papers were all +right, but suggested that on account of the dangerous position we leave +as soon as possible. We asked permission to finish our luncheon. It was +lucky that we were arrested then--before the accusation that we were +spies--for when that question arose there was no doubt in the mind of +the Commandant concerning us, so our accusers' charge merely reacted +upon themselves. + +During the episode of arrest there was another lull in the bombardment, +which began again as we were seated at luncheon. All through the meal +the shells whistled and screamed overhead, and the dishes rattled +constantly on the table. + +When the meal was over the proprietor called us to witness what had +happened to the far wing of the hotel. It was completely demolished. +"Alert" had just been sounded, and the soldiers were running through the +streets. We ran out in time to see a building falling half a block away, +completely filling the street by which we had entered the town an hour +earlier. + +In a few minutes we heard the sharp crackle of infantry fire about half +a mile away, and we had a sudden desire to get away before the +automobile retreat was cut off. Just then we heard the sound of an aero +engine overhead. It was flying so low that through a glass we could +easily see the whirring propeller. The machine was mounted with a +rapid-fire gun which was trying to locate the German gunners, who +immediately abandoned the destruction of the town in an attempt to bring +it down. For ten minutes we saw shells bursting all about it. At times +it was lost in smoke, but when the smoke cleared there was the monoplane +still blazing away, always mounting to a higher level, and finally +disappearing toward the French lines. + +There was another lull in the cannonade, and we were permitted to pass +down the street near the river, where, by peering around a building, we +could see where the German batteries were secreted in the hills. We were +warned not to get into the street which led to the bridge, as the +Germans raked that street with their fire if a single person appeared. +We then took advantage of a lull in the firing and departed to the south +at seventy miles an hour, in order to beat the shells, if any were aimed +our way as we crossed the rise of the hill. + + + + +*Unburied Dead Strew Lorraine* + +*By Philip Gibbs of The London Daily Chronicle.* + + +DIJON, Sept. 26.--Although great interest is concentrated upon the +northwest side of the line of of battle in France, it must not be +forgotten that the east side is also of high importance. The operation +of the French and German forces along the jagged frontier from north to +south is of vital influence upon the whole field of war, and any great +movement of troops in this direction affects the strategy of the +Generals to command on the furthermost wings. + +It was a desire to know something of what had been happening in the east +which led me to travel to the extreme right. Few correspondents have +been in this part of the field since the beginning of the war. It is far +from their own line of communications. For this reason there have been +no detailed narratives of the fighting in Lorraine, and a strange +silence has brooded over those battlefields. The spell of it has been +broken only by official bulletins telling in a line or two the uncertain +result of the ceaseless struggle for mastery. + +Here are regiments of young men who have the right already to call +themselves veterans, for they have been fighting continually for six +weeks in innumerable engagements, for the most part unrecorded in +official dispatches. I had seen them answering the call to mobilization, +singing joyously as they marched through the streets. Then they were +smart fellows, clean shaven and spruce in their new blue coats and +scarlet trousers. Now war has put its dirt upon them and seems to have +aged them by fifteen years, leaving its ineffaceable imprint upon their +faces. Their blue coats have changed to a dusty gray, but they are hard +and tough for the most part, and Napoleon himself would not have wished +for better fighting men. + +Now for the first time since the beginning of the war there will be a +little respite on the Lorraine frontier, and in the wooded country of +the two lost provinces there will be time to bury the dead which +incumber its fields. Words are utterly inadequate to describe the +horrors of the region to the east of the Meurthe, in and around the +little towns of Blamont, Badonviller, Cirey-les-Forges, Arracourt, +Chateau-Salins, Morhauge, and Baudrecourt, where for six weeks there has +been incessant fighting. After the heavy battle of Sept. 4, when the +Germans were repulsed with severe losses after an attack in force, both +sides retired for about twelve miles and dug themselves into lines of +trenches which they still hold; but every day since that date there has +been a kind of guerrilla warfare, with small bodies of men fighting from +village to village and from wood to wood, the forces on each side being +scattered over a wide area in advance of their main lines. This method +of warfare is even more terrible than a pitched battle. + +"It is absurd to talk of Red Cross work," said one of the French +soldiers who had just come out of the trenches at Luneville. "It has not +existed as far as many of these fights are concerned How could it? A few +litter-carriers came with us on some of our expeditions, but they were +soon shot down, and after that the wounded just lay where they fell, or +crawled away into the shelter of the woods. Those of us who were unhurt +were not allowed to attend to our wounded comrades; it is against +orders. We have to go on regardless of losses. My own best comrade was +struck down by my side. I heard his cry and saw him lying there with +blood oozing through his coat. My heart wept to leave him. He wanted me +to take his money, but I just kissed his hand and went on, I suppose he +died, for I could not find him when we retreated." + +[Illustration: Where the Armies are Contending in Alsace-Lorraine.] + +[Illustration: GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS NICHOLAIEVITCH +The Russian Commander-in-Chief. _ +(Photo (C) by Underwood & Underwood._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. RENNENKAMPF +The Russian General Who Was Removed by the Grand Duke +[Transcriber: photo credit ineligible]] + +Another French soldier lay wounded at the edge of a wood ten miles from +Luneville. When he recovered consciousness he saw there were only dead +and dying men around him. He remained for two days, unable to move his +shattered limbs, and cried out for death to relieve him of his agony. At +night he was numbed by cold; in the day thirst tortured him to the point +of madness. Faint cries and groans came to his ears across the field. It +was on the morning of the third day that French peasants came to rescue +those who still remained alive. + +There have been several advances made by the French into Lorraine, and +several retirements. On each occasion men have seen new horrors which +have turned their stomachs. There are woods not far from Nancy from +which there comes a pestilential stench which steals down the wind in +gusts of obscene odor. For three weeks and more dead bodies of Germans +and Frenchmen have lain rotting there. There are few grave diggers. The +peasants have fled from their villages, and the soldiers have other work +to do; so that the frontier fields on each side are littered with +corruption, where plague and fever find holding ground. + +I have said that this warfare on the frontier is pitiless. This is a +general statement of a truth to which there are exceptions. One of these +was a reconciliation on the battlefield between French and German +soldiers who lay wounded and abandoned near the little town of Blamont. +When dawn came they conversed with each other while waiting for death. A +French soldier gave his water bottle to a German officer who was crying +out with thirst. The German sipped a little and then kissed the hand of +the man who had been his enemy. "There will be no war on the other +side," he said. + +Another Frenchman, who came from Montmartre, found a Luxembourger lying +within a yard of him whom he had known as a messenger in a big hotel in +Paris. The young German wept to see his old acquaintance. "It is +stupid," he said, "this war. You and I were happy when we were good +friends in Paris. Why should we have been made to fight with each +other?" He died with his arms around the neck of the soldier who told me +the story, unashamed of his own tears. + +I could tell a score of tales like this, told to me by men whose eyes +were still haunted by the sight of these things; and perhaps one day +they will be worth telling, so that people of little imagination may +realize the meaning of this war and put away false heroics from their +lips. It is dirty business, with no romance in it for any of those fine +young Frenchmen I have learned to love, who still stay in the trenches +on the frontier lines or march a little way into Lorraine and back +again. + +Some of those trenches on either side are still filled with men leaning +forward with their rifles pointing to the enemy--quite dead, in spite of +their lifelike posture. + + + + +*Along the German Lines Near Metz* + +[Correspondence of The Associated Press.] + + +WITH THE GERMAN ARMY BEFORE METZ, Sept. 30, (by Courier to Holland and +Mail to New York.)--A five-day trip to the front has taken the +correspondent of The Associated Press through the German fortresses of +Mainz, Saarbruecken, and Metz, through the frontier regions between Metz +and the French fortress line from Verdun to Toul, into the actual +battery positions from which German and Austrian heavy artillery were +pounding their eight and twelve-inch shells into the French barrier +forts and into the ranks of the French field army which has replaced the +crumbling fortifications of steel and cement with ramparts of flesh and +blood. + +Impressions at the end are those of some great industrial undertaking +with powerful machinery in full operation and endless supply trains +bringing up the raw materials for manufacture rather than of war as +pictured. + +From a point of observation on a hillside above St. Mihiel the great +battlefield on which a German army endeavoring to break through the line +of barrier forts between Verdun and Toul and the opposing French forces +could be surveyed in its entirety. In the foreground lay the level +valley of the Meuse, with the towns of St. Mihiel and Banoncour nestling +upon the green landscape. Beyond and behind the valley rose a tier of +hills on which the French at this writing obstinately hold an intrenched +position, checking the point of the German wedge, while the French +forces from north and south beat upon the sides of the triangle, trying +to force it back across the Meuse and out from the vitals of the French +fortress line. + +Bursting shells threw up their columns of white or black fog around the +edge of the panorama. Cloudlets of white smoke here and there showed +where a position was being brought under shrapnel fire. An occasional +aeroplane could be picked out hovering over the lines, but the infantry +and the field battery positions could not be discerned even with a +high-power field glass, so cleverly had the armies taken cover. The +uninitiated observer would have believed this a deserted landscape +rather than the scene of a great battle, which, if successful for the +Germans, would force the main French Army to retreat from its intrenched +positions along the Aisne River. + +About three miles away, across the Meuse, a quadrangular mound of black, +plowed-up earth on the hillside marked the location of Fort Les +Paroches, which had been silenced by the German mortars the night +before. Fort Camp des Romains, so named because the Roman legions had +centuries ago selected this site for a strategic encampment, had been +stormed by Bavarian infantry two days earlier after its heavy guns had +been put out of action, and artillery officers said that Fort Lionville, +fifteen miles to the south and out of the range of vision, was then +practically silenced, only one of its armored turrets continuing to +answer the bombardment. + +The correspondent had spent the previous night at the fortress town of +Metz, sleeping under the same roof with Prince Oscar of Prussia, +invalided from the field in a state of physical breakdown; Prince +William of Hohenzollern, father-in-law of ex-King Manuel, and other +officers, either watching or engaged in the operations in the field, and +had traveled by automobile to the battlefront thirty-five miles to the +west. For the first part of the distance the road led through the hills +on which are located the chain of forts comprising the fortress of Metz; +but, although the General Staff officer in the car pointed now and then +to a hill as the site of this or that fort, traces of the fortifications +could only occasionally be made out. Usually they were so skillfully +masked and concealed by woods or blended with the hillsides that nothing +out of the ordinary was apparent, in striking contrast to the exposed +position of the forts at the recently visited fortress of Liege, which +advertised their presence from the sky line of the encompassing hills +and fairly invited bombardment. + +The country as far as the frontier town of Gorze seemed bathed in +absolute peace. No troops were seen, rarely were automobiles of the +General Staff encountered, and men and women were working in the field +and vineyards as if war were a thousand miles away instead of only next +door. + +Beyond Gorze, however, the road leading southwest through Chambley and +St. Benoit Vigneuilles to St. Mihiel was crowded with long columns of +wagons and automobile trucks bearing reserve ammunition, provisions, and +supplies to the front, or returning empty for new loads to the unnamed +railroad base in the rear. Strikingly good march discipline was +observed, part of the road being always left free from the passage of +staff automobiles or marching troops. Life seemed most comfortable for +the drivers and escorts, as the army in advance had been so long in +position, and its railroad base was so near, that supplying it involved +none of the sleepless nights and days and almost superhuman exertions +falling to the lot of the train in the flying march of the German armies +toward Paris. + +A few miles beyond Gorze the French frontier was passed, and from this +point on the countryside, with its deserted farms, rotting shocks of +wheat, and uncut fields of grain, trampled down by infantry and scarred +with trenches, excavations for batteries, and pits caused by exploding +shells, showed war's devastating heel prints. + +Main army headquarters, the residence and working quarters of a +commanding General whose name may not yet be mentioned, were in Chateau +Chambley, a fine French country house. In the chateau the commanding +General made all as comfortable as in his own home. Telegraph wires led +to it from various directions, a small headquarters guard lounged on the +grass under the trees, a dozen automobiles and motor cycles were at +hand, and grooms were leading about the chargers of the General and his +staff. At St. Benoit, five miles further on, a subordinate headquarters +was encountered, again in a chateau belonging to a rich French resident. +The Continental soldier leaves tents to the American Army and quarters +himself, whenever it is possible, comfortably in houses, wasting no +energy in transporting and setting up tented cities for officers and +men. No matter how fast or how far a German army moves, a completely +equipped telegraph office is ready for the army commander five minutes +after headquarters have been established. + +At St. Benoit a party of some 300 French prisoners was encountered, +waiting outside headquarters. They were all fine young fellows, in +striking contrast to the elderly reservist type which predominates in +the German prison camps. They were evidently picked troops of the line, +and were treated almost with deference by their guards, a detachment of +bearded Landwehr men from South Germany. They were the survivors of the +garrison of Fort Camp des Romains, who had put up such a desperate and +spirited defense as to win the whole-hearted admiration and respect of +the German officers and men. Their armored turrets and cemented +bastions, although constructed after the best rules of fortification of +a few years ago, had been battered about their ears in an unexpectedly +short time by German and Austrian siege artillery. Their guns were +silenced, and trenches were pushed up by an overwhelming force of +pioneers and infantry to within five yards of their works before they +retreated from the advanced intrenchments to the casemates of the fort. +Here they maintained a stout resistance, and refused every summons to +surrender. Hand grenades were brought up, bound to a backing of boards, +and exploded against the openings into the casemates, filling these with +showers of steel splinters. Pioneers, creeping up to the dead angle of +the casemates, where the fire of the defenders could not reach them, +directed smoke tubes and stinkpots against apertures in the citadel, +filling the rooms with suffocating smoke and gases. + +"Have you had enough?" the defenders were asked, after the first smoke +treatment. + +"No!" was the defiant answer. + +The operation was repeated a second and third time, the response to the +demand for surrender each time growing weaker, until finally the +defenders were no longer able to raise their rifles, and the fort was +taken. When the survivors of the plucky garrison were able to march out, +revived by the fresh air, they found their late opponents presenting +arms before them in recognition of their gallant stand. They were +granted the most honorable terms of surrender, their officers were +allowed to retain their swords, and on their march toward an honorable +captivity they were everywhere greeted with expressions of respect and +admiration. + +The headquarters guard here was composed of a company of infantry. The +company's field kitchen, the soup-boiler and oven on wheels, which the +German army copied from the Russians and which the soldiers facetiously +and affectionately name their "goulash cannon," had that day, the +Captain said, fed 970 men, soldiers of his own and passing companies, +headquarters attaches, wounded men and the detachment of French +prisoners. + +Experienced German officers rank the field kitchens, with the sturdy +legs of the infantry, the German heavy artillery and the aviation corps, +as the most important factors in the showing made by the German armies. + +Beyond St. Benoit the Cote Lorraine, a range of wooded hills running +north and south along the east bank of the Meuse, rises in steeply +terraced slopes several hundred feet from the frontier plain, +interposing a natural rampart between Germany and the French line of +fortresses beyond the Meuse. The French had fortified these slopes with +successive rows of trenches, permitting line above line of infantry to +fire against an advancing enemy. For days a desperate struggle was waged +for the possession of the heights, which was imperative for the German +campaign against the line of fortresses. + +Germans do not mention the extent of their losses in any particular +action, but it was admitted and evident that it had cost a high price to +storm those steep slopes and win a position in the woods crowning the +range from which their batteries could be directed against the French +forts. Vigneuilles, a village at the foot of the hillside, shot into +ruins by artillery and with every standing bit of house wall scarred +with bullet marks from the hand-to-hand conflicts which had swayed to +and fro in its streets, was typical of all the little stone-built towns +serving as outposts to this natural fortress which had been the scene of +imbittered attacks and counter-attacks before the German troops could +fight their way up the hillsides. + +The combat is still raging on this day from north and south against the +segment of this range captured by the Germans. The French, massing their +troops by forest paths from Verdun and Toul, throw them against the +Germans in desperate endeavors to break the lines which protect the +sites for the German siege artillery, heavy mortars of 8-1/4 and 16-1/2 +inch calibre and an intermediate sized type, and for the Austrian +automobile batteries of 12-inch siege guns. + +The correspondent had no opportunity to inspect at close range the +16-1/2-inch guns, the "growlers" of Liege, Namur, and other fortresses, +which Krupp and the German Army uncovered as the surprise of this war. +They could be heard even from Metz speaking at five-minute intervals. A +battery of them, dug into the ground so that only the gun muzzles +projected above the pits, was observed in action at a distance of about +a half mile, the flash of flames being visible even at this distance. + +Their smaller sisters were less coy. A dismounted battery of the +intermediate calibre, details of which are not available for +publication, was encountered by the roadside, awaiting repairs to the +heavy traction engine in whose train it travels in sections along the +country roads, while the German 8-1/4-inch (21 centimeter) and the +Austrian 12-inch (30.5 centimeter) batteries were seen in action. + +The heavy German battery lay snugly hidden in a wood on the rolling +heights of the Cote Lorraine. Better off than the French, whose aviators +had for days repeatedly scrutinized every acre of land in the vicinity +looking for these guns, we had fairly accurate directions how to find +the battery, but even then it required some search and doubling back and +forth before a languid artilleryman lounging by the roadside pointed +with thumb over shoulder toward the hidden guns. + +These and the artillerymen were enjoying their midday rest, a pause +which sets in every day with the regularity of the luncheon hour in a +factory. The guns, two in this particular position, stood beneath a +screen of thickly branching trees, the muzzles pointing toward round +openings in this leafy roof. The gun carriages were screened with +branches. The shelter tents of the men and the house for the ammunition +had also been covered with green, and around the position a hedge of +boughs kept off the prying eyes of possible French spies wandering +through the woods. + +It was the noon pause, but the Lieutenant in charge of the guns, anxious +to show them off to advantage, volunteered to telephone the battery +commander, in his observation post four miles nearer the enemy, for +permission to fire a shot or two against a village in which French +troops were gathering for the attack. This battery had just finished +with Les Paroches, a French barrier fort across the Meuse, and was now +devoting its attention to such minor tasks. Only forts really counted, +said the Lieutenant, recalling Fort Manonvillers, near Luneville, the +strongest French barrier fort, which was the battery's first "bag" of +the war. Its capture, thanks to his guns, had cost the German Army only +three lives, those of three pioneers accidentally killed by the fire of +their own men. Now Les Paroches was a heap of crumbled earth and stone. +In default of forts the guns were used against any "worthy target"--a +"worthy target" being defined as a minimum of fifty infantrymen. + +At this moment the orderly reported that the battery commander +authorized two shots against the village in question. At command the gun +crew sprang to their posts about the mortar, which was already adjusted +for its target, a little less than six miles away, the gun muzzle +pointing skyward at an angle of about 60 degrees. As the gun was fired +the projectile could be seen and followed in its course for several +hundred feet. The report was not excessively loud. + +Before the report died away the crew were busy as bees about the gun. +One man, with the hand elevating gear, rapidly cranked the barrel down +to a level position, ready for loading. A second threw open the breech +and extracted the brass cartridge case, carefully wiping [Transcriber: +original 'wipping'] it out before depositing it among the empties; four +more seized the heavy shell and lifted it to a cradle opposite the +breech; a seventh rammed it home; number eight gingerly inserted the +brass cartridge, half filled with a vaseline-like explosive; the breech +was closed, and the gun pointer rapidly cranked the gun again into +position. In less than thirty seconds the men sprang back from the gun, +again loaded and aimed. A short wait, and the observer from his post +near the village ordered "next shot fifty meters nearer." + +The gun pointer made the slight correction necessary, the mortar again +sent its shell purring through the air against the village, which this +time, it was learned, broke into flames, and while the men went back to +their noonday rest, the Lieutenant explained the fine points of his +beloved guns. One man, as had been seen, could manipulate the elevation +gear with one hand easily and quickly; ten of his horses could take the +mortar, weighing eight tons, anywhere; it could fire up to 500 shots per +day. He was proud of the skillful concealment of his guns, which had +been firing for four days from the same position without being +discovered, although French aviators had located all the sister +batteries, all of which had suffered loss from shrapnel fire. + +Along the roadside through the Cote Lorraine were here and there graves +with rude crosses and penciled inscriptions. At the western edge of the +forest the battle panorama of the Meuse Valley suddenly opened out, the +hills falling away again steeply to the level valley below. The towns +below--St. Mihiel and Banoncour--seemed absolutely deserted, not a +person being visible even around the large barracks in the latter town. +While the little party of officers and spectators, including the +correspondent, were watching the artillery duel on the far horizon or +endeavoring to pick out the infantry positions, a shrapnel suddenly +burst directly before them, high in the air. There was a general stir, +the assumption being that the French had taken the group on the +hillside for a battery staff picking out positions for the guns; but as +other shots were fired it was seen that the shrapnel was exploding +regularly above the barracks, a mile and a half away, the French +evidently suspecting the presence of German troops there. + +A ten-mile ride southward led to the position of the Austrian 12-inch +battery. The two guns this time were planted by the side of the road, +screened only in front by a little wood, but exposed to view from both +sides, the rear, and above. For this greater exposure the battery had +paid correspondingly, several of its men having been killed or wounded +by hostile fire. Here, as in the German batteries, the war work in +progress went on with a machinelike regularity and absence of +spectacular features more characteristic of a rolling mill than a +battle. The men at the guns went through their work with the deftness +and absence of confusion of high-class mechanics. The heavy shells were +rolled to the guns, hoisted by a chain winch to the breech opening, and +discharged in uninteresting succession, a short pause coming after each +shot, until the telephonic report from the observation stand was +received. The battery had been firing all day at Fort Lionville, at a +range of 9,400 meters, (nearly six miles,) and the battery commander was +then endeavoring to put out of action the only gun turret which still +answered the fire. The task of finding this comparatively minute target, +forty or fifty feet in diameter, was being followed with an accuracy +which promised eventual success. + +The shells from the guns started on their course with characteristic +minute-long shrieks. Watches were pulled out to determine just how long +the shrieks could be heard, and the uninitiated were preparing to hear +the sound of the explosion itself. The battery chief explained, however, +that this scream was due to the conditions immediately around the muzzle +of the gun, and could not be heard from other points. He invited close +watch of the atmosphere a hundred yards before the gun at the next shot. +Not only could the projectile be seen plainly in the beginning of its +flight, but the waves of billowing air, rushing back to fill the void +left by the discharge and bounding and rebounding in a tempestuous sea +of gas, could be distinctly observed. This airy commotion caused the +sound heard for more than a minute. + + + + +*The Slaughter in Alsace* + +*By John H. Cox of The London Standard.* + + +BASLE, Switzerland, Aug. 19.--I have just returned from an inspection of +the scenes of the recent fighting between the French and Germans in the +southern districts of Alsace. + +Dispatches from Paris and Berlin describe the engagements between the +frontier and Muelhausen as insignificant encounters between advance +guards. If this be true in a military sense, and the preliminaries of +the war produce the terrible effects I have witnessed, the disastrous +results of the war itself will exceed human comprehension. + +As a Swiss subject I was equipped with identification papers and +accompanied by four of my countrymen, all on bicycles. + +At the very outset the sight of peasants, men and women, unconcernedly +at work in the fields gathering the harvest, struck me as strange and +unnatural. The men were either old or well advanced in middle age. +Everywhere women, girls, and mere lads were working. + +The first sign of war was the demolished villa of a Catholic priest at a +village near Ransbach. This priest had lived there for many years, +engaged in religious work and literary pursuits. After the outbreak of +the war the German authorities jumped at the conclusion that he was an +agent of the French Secret Service and that he had been in the habit of +sending to Belfort information concerning German military movements and +German measures for defense--very often by means of carrier pigeons. + +The Alsatians say that these accusations were utterly unjust; but last +week a military party raided the priest's house, dragged him from his +study, placed him against his own garden wall and shot him summarily as +a traitor and spy. The house was searched from top to bottom, and +numerous books and papers were removed, after which the building was +destroyed by dynamite. The priest was buried without a coffin at the end +of his little garden plot, and some of the villagers placed a rough +cross on the mound which marked the place of interment. + +In the next large village we were told that it had been successively +occupied by French and German troops and had been the scene of stiff +infantry fighting. + +Here we found groups of old men and boys burying dead men and horses, +whose bodies were already beginning to be a menace to health. The +weather here has been exceptionally hot, and the countryside is bathed +in blazing sunshine. Further on were a number of German soldiers beating +about in the standing crops on both sides of the road, searching for +dead and wounded. They said many of the wounded had crawled in among the +wheat to escape being trodden upon by the troops marching along the +road, and also to gain relief from the heat. + +On the outskirts of another large village we saw a garden bounded by a +thick hedge, behind which a company of French infantry had taken their +stand against the advancing German troops. Among the crushed flowers +there were still lying fragments of French soldiers' equipments, two +French caps stained with blood and three torn French tunics, likewise +[Transcriber: original 'liewise'] dyed red. The walls of the cottage +bore marks of rifle bullets, and the roof was partially burned. + +Passing through the villages we saw on all sides terrible signs of the +devastation of war--houses burned, uncut grain trodden down and rendered +useless, gardens trampled under foot; everywhere ruin and distress. + +At a small village locally known as Napoleon's Island we found the +railway station demolished and the line of trucks the French had used as +a barricade. These trucks had been almost shot to pieces, and many were +stained with blood. Outside the station the small restaurant roof had +been shot away; the windows were smashed, and much furniture had been +destroyed. Nevertheless the proprietor had rearranged his damaged +premises as well as possible and was serving customers as if nothing had +happened. + +Just outside this village there are large common graves in which French +and German soldiers lie buried together in their uniforms. Large mounds +mark these sites. Here again the villagers have placed roughly hewn +crosses. + +Not far from Huningen we met an intelligent Alsatian peasant who +remembered the war of 1870 and had witnessed some engagements in the +last few days. Here is his account of what he saw: + +"The bravery on both sides was amazing. The effects of artillery fire +are terrific. The shells burst, and where you formerly saw a body of +soldiers you see a heap of corpses or a number of figures writhing on +the ground, torn and mutilated by the fragments of the shell. Those who +are unhurt scatter for the moment, but quickly regain their composure +and take up their positions in the fighting line as if nothing had +happened. The effects of other weapons are as bad. It seems remarkable +that soldiers can see the destruction worked all around them, yet can +control their nerves sufficiently to continue fighting. + +"I remember the battles of 1870, in five or six of which I fought +myself, but they bear no comparison with the battles of 1914. War +forty-four years ago was child's play compared with war at the present +time." + +In several villages the schools and churches and many cottages are +filled with wounded Frenchmen and Germans, and everything is being done +to relieve their sufferings. In the stress of fighting many wounded +soldiers were left from three to ten or twelve hours lying in the fields +or on the roads. The ambulance equipment of modern armies appears +utterly inadequate, and most of the wounded were picked up by villagers. + +A French aeroplane from Belfort reconnoitred the German positions behind +Muelhausen. As it passed over the German works at the Isteiner Klotz +there ensued a continuous firing of machine guns and rifles. The +aeroplane, which had swerved downward to give its two occupants a closer +and clearer view of the German position, immediately rose to a much +greater altitude and escaped injury. It cruised over the German position +for more than an hour, now rising, now falling, always pursued by the +bullets of the enemy. + +This aerial reconnoissance [Transcriber: original 'reconnoisance'], part +of which was carried out at an altitude as low as 1,000 feet, was +undertaken at terrible risk, but in this case the aeroplane escaped all +injury and returned in the direction of Belfort, doubtless with all the +information it had set out to collect. + + * * * * * + + [Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + +BERNE, Aug. 22, (Dispatch to The London Morning Post.)--Gebweiler, in +Alsace, twelve miles to the northwest of Muelhausen, was taken by the +French at the point of the bayonet on Aug. 20. My correspondent, who has +just arrived at Basle from the field of battle, says that eight +battalions of the German One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, numbering +about 10,000 men, engaged the French Army. The French artillery was +deadly and caused great ravages among the Germans, few officers +escaping. + +During the whole night the wounded were being transported to villages in +the neighborhood, beyond the reach of artillery. All the buildings of +Sierenz were filled with wounded. + +Hundreds of horses were stretched on the field of battle. Those of the +German artillery were killed, and in consequence the German forces left +their artillery, of which about twenty guns are now in the hands of the +French. + +The object of the German troops was to cut off the retreat of the French +and force them toward the Swiss frontier--an object which they failed to +achieve. + +The wounded received here say that they passed a terrible night in the +open, without water or other succor, with the pitiful neighing of +wounded horses ringing in their ears. + + + + +*Rennenkampf on the Prussian Border* + +[By a Correspondent of The London Daily Chronicle.] + + +GRADNO, (via Petrograd,) Oct. 21.--I have returned here after a journey +along the East Prussian frontier, as close to the scenes of daily +fighting as I could obtain permission to go. The route was from the +north of Suwalki southward to Graevo, a stretch of country recently in +German occupation, but where now remains not a single German outpost. + +It is stimulating to see the Russian soldier in his habits as he lives +and fights. I have seen many thousands of them camped in the rain, +swamped in bogs, or marching indefatigably over the roads which are long +quagmires of mud, always with an air of stolid contentment and the look +of being bent on business. They include Baltic Province men speaking +German. Jews from Riga and Libau are brigaded with huge Siberians, whose +marching must constitute a world record. The Cossacks are past counting, +and with them are long-coated, tight-belted Circassians and Kalmucks, +all representing a mixture of races and languages like that of the +British Empire itself. + +Actually the whole line is a battle front from north of Wirballen to +well into Poland, and no day passes without contact with the Germans. +This is an army in which every man has fought. Most of them have been in +hand-to-hand conflict with the Germans. They have approached the front +through a country which the enemy has devastated. There is no village +which does not bear the mark of wanton destruction. I have seen these +things for myself. Houses have been burned, others pillaged and the +contents dragged into the streets and there smashed. Churches have been +invariably gutted and defiled. + +It is impossible not to admire these endless battalions of Siberians. +They are common objects of this countryside. I came past Suwalki as they +were moving up, column after column, in gray overcoats aswing in the +rhythm of their stride, like the kilts of Highlanders. It was they who +bore the brunt of the fighting, unsupported by artillery, in forests of +Augustowo, and, with the Baltic regiments, pushed on and took Lyck. +These are the men who marched forty miles, starting at midnight, then +went into action between Gor and Raigrod and delivered a bayonet charge +which their officers still boast about today. + +I may not indicate the geography of the front on which the Russians and +Germans are now facing each other, but the German general plan is to +protect the railway and all approaches to a vital junction such as +Goldapp and Insterburg. Between them and the frontier lies a country of +singular difficulty for the troops. It is easy of defense, with small +broken hills, innumerable lakes and roads winding in watered valleys +among woods. The Germans have gone to earth in their usual lavish +fashion, digging themselves in with a thoroughness worthy of permanent +fortifications. Their trenches are five feet deep, with earthworks in +front zig-zagging as a precaution against enfilading. Some of them are +very cleverly hidden with growing bushes. All peasants remaining at the +country-side in Prussia are compelled to work digging trenches. The +emplacements [Transcriber: original 'implacements'] for guns of large +calibre have concrete foundations. + +The Germans had fortified Suwalki, employing forced labor. They had +connected up the trench system with telephone installation and appointed +a Military Governor and other functionaries. Many German officers were +joined there by their wives and families, who when they retired took +with them souvenirs consisting of nearly every portable object of value +in the town, besides much furniture and clothing. + +The Russian trenches are scarcely more than shallow grooves in the +ground with earth thrown up in front of them, making barely sufficient +cover for prone riflemen. + +At once the German outer positions were carried by storm with ghastly +carnage. + +"We didn't dig much," said a Russian officer to me. "We knew we +shouldn't stay there. We should either go forward or back, and we were +sure to go forward." + +The cloud of patrols, mostly Cossacks, which flits unceasingly along the +German front is the subject of innumerable stories. + +When the news was issued that the Kaiser had come east to take command +of his army on this front a Cossack came in, driving before him a plump, +distressed Prussian Captain whom he had gleaned during the day's work. + +"I've brought him," he announced. "I knew him by his mustache," and he +produced an old picture postcard from his breast showing the Kaiser +with his characteristic mustache. + +Near Augustowo the roads are literally blocked in many places with +abandoned German transports which became trapped in the terribly muddy +country. Dead horses in hundreds lie everywhere and the Russian Sanitary +Corps is busy burying them. Yet the Russians who are still moving about +this country retain not only their usual average health, but do not even +complain. + +Between Augustowo and Raigrod a small stream is actually blocked with +German stores, including much gun ammunition. The German advance which +ended in this debacle has been the costliest defeat in point of +materials which they have yet suffered. + + + + +*The First Fight at Lodz* + +*By Percival Gibbon of The London Daily Chronicle.* + + +WARSAW, Dec. 5, (by Courier to Petrograd.)--I have wired you previously +of the German force which advanced around Lodz and was cut off south and +east of the town. This consisted of two army corps--the Twenty-fifth +Corps and the Third Guard Corps. The isolated force turned north and +endeavored to cut its way out through the small town of Breziziny. It +was at Breziziny that final disaster overtook them. + +The town and road lie in a hollow in the midst of wooded country, where +the Germans were squeezed from the Vistula and pressed to the rear. They +had fought a battle during the slow retirement of five days and were +showing signs of being short of ammunition. On the fifth day they made +their final attempt to pass through Breziziny. That was where that fine +strategist and fighting man who held Ivangorod on the Vistula brought +off the great dramatic coup for which he had been manoeuvring. + +The Germans were holding the town and pouring through when he began his +general attack. Breziziny underwent nine hours of furious shelling and +only half the town is now remaining. The Russian infantry again proved +its sterling quality, and, supported by the tremendous fire of its own +guns, drove home charge after charge, smashing the German resistance +completely. By nightfall out of two army corps, numbering 80,000 men, +there remained only a remnant. + +The number of prisoners reaches the total of about 20,000, and of the +remainder fully 80 per cent, were killed or wounded. This is the +estimate supplied to me. Owing to the small area on which the fighting +was concentrated, the dead are lying in great mounds and walls at points +where the charges were pushed home. For miles the countryside is dotted +with dead. + +In the sparser grounds an unknown number of fugitives, most of whom are +wounded, are lurking in the woods. From Rawa, south of Skierniwice, +midway between Lodz and Warsaw, to Lodz on the line of the former German +retreat and present advance, not a single village remains. All the +burned-out district is utterly desolate. + +On Dec. 1, 2, and 3 the force conducting the defense of the town of Lodz +was all but surrounded. The German positions were at Royicie on the +southern road, within four miles of the long, straggling street which +comprises most of the town of Lodz, while at Zgierz, seven miles to the +north, they had a battery of heavy guns with which they shelled the town +itself, killing several hundred civilians. The fire was chiefly directed +on the railway and station and the Russian guns were unable for some +time to locate the battery. It was discovered and reconnoitred at last +by an aeroplane. + +[Illustration: The War in the East (with Net Change of Battle Line Up +to Jan, 1, 1915) from Eastern Prussia to Galicia.] + +Then followed an act of heroism and harebrained enterprise which is now +the talk of the whole army. On Thursday night last the Colonel of +Artillery made his way out and with a little group of assistants +contrived to drag a field telephone wire within half a mile of the +German battery. While a searchlight was swinging over the face of the +country, he lay on the ground, and from there directed the Russian guns, +which with his help actually succeeded in silencing the battery. The +Russian guns were at this time placed in the streets of Lodz. + +On Thursday night, when the attack culminated, there were 700 guns in +action at one time on both sides, and throughout the night all was +alight with flashes from the guns and bursting shells, and the thunder +of the guns was faintly audible on the outskirts of Warsaw, sixty miles +away. + +Then there followed a general assault of the Germans, a charge of huge +masses of men, who followed up into the glare of the searchlights under +an inferno of gunfire. Here again the Siberians demonstrated the +qualities which have made them famous throughout the war. They met the +Germans with a rifle fire from the trenches which not only stopped them +but shattered them. They again played the old trick of allowing the +enemy to approach within fifty feet, meanwhile holding their fire, and +then blowing them off their feet with rifle fire and their use of the +mitrailleuse. + +The attack failed utterly, and from the very manner of it the Russian +losses could not be otherwise than light, while the German losses in the +whole of the operations against Lodz and the neighboring positions +exceed a hundred thousand killed. No guess at the number of their +wounded can be attempted, but we know that score upon score of trains +filled with them have gone west along the Kalisz line, and still +continue to go. + + + + +*The First Invasion of Servia* + +[By a Correspondent of The London Standard.] + + +NISH, Servia, Aug. 31.--After the butcheries and atrocities which I +witnessed during preceding battles I thought I would get accustomed and +insensible to these scenes of blood, but from my last visit to the +slaughter house I have brought such visions of horror that their very +thought makes me shudder. The object of the Austrian Army seems to have +been complete devastation. + +The fierce battle which the Servians gave them incessantly for more than +a week may be divided into two conflicts of equal intensity which raged +along the ridge of the heights of Tser. Each of the two slopes, +descending one to the Save and the town of Shabatz and the other to the +Drina, is now nothing but a charnel house. + +I could not say which of these two conflicts was more murderous, but +this admirably fertile region, with its countless fruit trees, is now +sheltering the last remains of hundreds of butchered men, women, and +children. + +When after three days and three nights of truceless fighting the +Servians succeeded in surprising the enemy in the middle of the night at +Tser, the toll of dead was so colossal that the Servian troops were +constrained for the time being to abandon burying the corpses. + +Everywhere the fighting was of the fiercest conceivable nature, for to +resist the invaders was to the Servians a question of life and death. At +several points they fought right up to the last man, succumbing but +never falling back. + +The volunteer corps of Capt. Tankositch, the famous leader whose head +Austria is so anxious to gain, was charged to defend Kroupage, situated +south of the battle front, between Losnitza and Lionbovia. Considerable +Austrian forces attempted to advance with the view of driving the +Captain back. + +For two days and three nights Tankositch and 236 volunteers held their +position. At last three whole Austrian regiments surrounded them, but +rather than yield to the enemy Tankositch and his gallant miniature army +resolved to fight to the last. In the dead of night he sent out a small +group to meet the Austrians. This group, consisting of a mere handful of +soldiers, hurled a shower of bombs at the enemy, cutting up his ranks, +and secured a free pass. + +[Illustration: The Battlefield in Servia.] + +At the first break of day, when Tankositch counted his men, only +forty-six answered the call. They surrounded more than a hundred +prisoners. + +It will be realized that in the course of such sharp fighting the +Servian losses must have been considerable, although they were much +smaller than those of the enemy. + +The most pitiful and heartrending aspect of these scenes was presented +by the long procession of Servian survivors from the neighboring +villages, consisting of old men, women, and children, bringing in the +heavy toll of mutilated human beings. At Valievo, the nearest town to +the field of battle, large masses of Servian and Austrian wounded kept +pouring in incessantly. About 10,000 have already arrived. All had to be +examined, all had to have their wounds dressed, and at Valievo there are +only six doctors. + +In spite of this appalling shortage of medical aid, I witnessed +yesterday a most touching spectacle. A car drawn by oxen brought to the +hospital at Valievo its load of mutilated soldiers. In the first portion +of the car were three wounded Austrians and in the second two wounded +Servians and two more Austrians. The convoys wanted to carry the +Austrian wounded to the dressing room before their own wounded. A +Servian doctor stopped them. + +"Bring the wounded in in the order in which they come," he commanded, +and, without any regard for the nationality of his patients, the doctor +and his colleagues commenced their humanitarian work. + +What are the Red Crosses of the neutral countries waiting for? Why do +they not come here? In the name of gallant little Servia, in the name of +a humane and pitiful people, I make urgent appeal to the Red Crosses to +send a portion of their staff here. There are thousands of lives to be +saved. + +Now I must begin a chapter of sorrows. I wanted to witness the +Austro-Hungarian excesses a second time before speaking of them, so that +I could give an exact and genuine account of actual facts. Courage +failed me to see all, but what I have seen can be summed up in one +phrase. In the environs of Shabatz the vanquished put the finishing +touch to their acts of fearful savagery by butchering their Servian +prisoners, whose corpses were found heaped up in the town. + +Yesterday and the day before I ran across country through Valievo toward +Drina. Further north, barely forty miles from Valievo, at Seablatcha, +the poor refugees who had fled from their houses before the onslaught of +the Austrians showed me eight young people, tied one to another, who +were all pierced by bayonets. + +Five miles from there, at Bella Tserka, fugitives of the village with +indescribable despair were burying the mutilated, bodies of fourteen +little girls. Six peasants were found hanging in an orchard. + +At Lychnitsa, on the Drina, about a hundred old men, inoffensive +civilians, were massacred before the eyes of their wives and children. +All the women and children were led over on the other side of the bank +of the Drina in order to compel the Servians to stop their fire. + +It is not war that Austria-Hungary tried to make on Servia. That great +nation wanted to exterminate the Servian people. She thought she would +succeed before Servia had time to defend herself. + +Austrian prisoners affirm that they received orders to hang all those +striving against their country, to burn all the enemy's villages, and +put all their inhabitants to death. + +The Servian Quartermaster General is drawing up an official list of +these Austro-Hungarian deeds. + + + + +*The Attack on Tsing-tau* + +*By Jefferson Jones of The Minneapolis Journal and The Japan +Advertiser.* + + +JAPANESE HEADQUARTERS, Shantung, Nov. 2.--I have seen war from a grand +stand seat. I never before heard of the possibility of witnessing a +modern battle--the attack of warships, the fire of infantry and +artillery, the manoeuvring of airships over the enemy's lines, the +rolling up from the rear of reinforcements and supplies--all at one +sweep of the eye; yet, after watching [Transcriber: original 'watchnig'] +for three days the siege of Tsing-tau from a position on Prinz Heinrich +Berg, 1,000 feet above the sea level and but three miles from the +beleaguered city, I am sure that there is actually such a thing as a +theatre of war. + +On Oct. 31, the date of the anniversary of the birth of the Emperor of +Japan, the actual bombardment of Tsing-tau began. All the residents of +the little Chinese village of Tschang-tsun, where was fixed on that day +the acting staff headquarters of the Japanese troops, had been awakened +early in the morning by the roar of a German aeroplane over the village. +Every one quickly dressed and, after a hasty breakfast, went out to the +southern edge of the village to gaze toward Tsing-tau. + +A great black column of smoke was arising from the city and hung like a +pall over the besieged. At first glance it seemed that one of the +neighboring hills had turned into an active volcano and was emitting +this column of smoke, but it was soon learned that the oil tanks in +Tsing-tau were on fire. + +As the bombardment was scheduled to start late in the morning, we were +invited to accompany members of the staff of the Japanese and British +expeditionary forces on a trip to Prinz Heinrich Berg, there to watch +the investment of the city. It was about a three-mile journey to this +mountain, which had been the scene of some severe fighting between the +German and Japanese troops earlier in the month. + +When we arrived at the summit there was the theatre of war laid out +before us like a map. To the left were the Japanese and British cruisers +in the Yellow Sea, preparing for the bombardment. Below was the Japanese +battery, stationed near the Meeker House, which the Germans had burned +in their retreat from the mountains. Directly ahead was the City of +Tsing-tau, with the Austrian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth steaming about +in the harbor, while to the right one could see the Kiao-Chau coast and +central forts and redoubts and the intrenched Japanese and British +camps. + +We had just couched ourselves comfortably between some large, jagged +rocks, where we felt sure we were not in a direct line with the enemy's +guns, when suddenly there was a flash as if some one had turned a large +golden mirror in the field down beyond to the right. A little column of +black smoke drifted away from one of the Japanese trenches, and a minute +later those of us on the peak of Prinz Heinrich heard the sharp report +of a field gun. + +"Gentlemen, the show has started," said the British Captain, as he +removed his cap and started adjusting his "opera glass." No sooner had +he said this than the reports of guns came from all directions with a +continuous rumble as if a giant bowling alley were in use. Everywhere +the valley at the rear of Tsing-tau was alive with golden flashes from +discharging guns, and at the same time great clouds of bluish-white +smoke would suddenly spring up around the German batteries where some +Japanese shell had burst. Over near the greater harbor of Tsing-tau we +could see flames licking up the Standard Oil Company's large tanks. We +afterward learned that these had been set on fire by the Germans and +not by a bursting shell. + +And then the warships in the Yellow Sea opened fire on Iltis Fort, and +for three hours we continually played our glasses on the field--on +Tsing-tau and on the warships. With glasses on the central redoubt of +the Germans we watched the effects of the Japanese fire until the boom +of guns from the German Fort A, on a little peninsula jutting out from +Kiao-Chau Bay, toward the east, attracted our attention there. We could +see the big siege gun on this fort rise up over the bunker, aim at a +warship, fire, and then quickly go down again. And then we would turn +our eyes toward the warships in time to see a fountain of water 200 +yards from a vessel, where the shell had struck. We scanned the city of +Tsing-tau. The 150-ton crane in the greater harbor, which we had seen +earlier in the day, and which was said to be the largest crane in the +world, had disappeared and only its base remained standing. A Japanese +shell had carried away the crane. + +But this first day's firing of the Japanese investing troops was mainly +to test the range of the different batteries. The attempt also was made +to silence the line of forts extending in the east from Iltis Hill, near +the wireless and signal stations at the rear of Tsing-tau, to the coast +fort near the burning oil tank on the west. In this they were partly +successful, two guns at Iltis Fort being silenced by the guns at sea. + +On Nov. 1, the second day of the bombardment, we again stationed +ourselves on the peak of Prinz Heinrich Berg. From the earliest hours of +morning the Japanese and British forces had kept up a continuous fire on +the German redoubts in front of the Iltis, Moltke, and Bismarck forts, +and when we arrived at our seats it seemed as though the shells were +dropping around the German trenches every minute. Particularly on the +redoubt of Taitung-Chen was the Japanese fire heavy, and by early +afternoon, through field glasses, this German redoubt appeared to have +had an attack of smallpox, so pitted was it from the holes made by +bursting Japanese shells. By nightfall many parts of the German +redoubts had been destroyed, together with some machine guns. The result +was the advancing of the Japanese lines several hundred yards from the +bottom of the hills where they had rested earlier in the day. + +It was not until the third day of the bombardment that those of us +stationed on Prinz Heinrich observed that our theatre of war had a +curtain, a real asbestos one that screened the fire in the drops +directly ahead of us from our eyes. We had learned that the theatre was +equipped with pits, drops, a gallery for onlookers, exits, and an +orchestra of booming cannon and rippling, roaring pompons; but that +nature had provided it with a curtain--that was something new to us. + +We had reached the summit of the mountain about 11 A.M., just as some +heavy clouds, evidently disturbed by the bombardment during the previous +night, were dropping down into Litsun Valley and in front of Tsing-tau. +For three hours we sat on the peak shivering in a blast from the sea, +and all the while wondering just what was being enacted beyond the +curtain. The firing had suddenly ceased, and with the filmy haze before +our eyes we conjured up pictures of the Japanese troops making the +general attack upon Iltis Fort, evidently the key to Tsing-tau, while +the curtain, of the theatre of war was down. + +By early afternoon the clouds lifted, and with glasses we were able to +distinguish fresh sappings of the Japanese infantry nearer to the German +redoubts. The Japanese guns, which the day before were stationed below +us to the left, near the Meeker House, had advanced half a mile and were +on the road just outside the village of Ta-Yau. Turning our glasses on +Kiao-Chau Bay, we discovered that the Kaiserin Elisabeth was missing, +nor did a search of the shore line reveal her. Whether she was blown up +by the Germans or had hidden behind one of the islands I do not know. + +All the guns were silent now, and the British Captain said: "Well, +chaps, shall we take advantage of the intermission?" + +A half-hour later we were down the mountain and riding homeward toward +Tschang-Tsun. + +To understand fully the operations of the Japanese troops in Shantung +during the present Far Eastern war one must be acquainted with the +topography of this peninsula, as well as with the conditions that exist +for the successful movements of the troops. + +Since the disembarkation of the Japanese Army on Sept. 2 everything has +seemingly favored the Germans. The country, which is unusually +mountainous, offering natural strongholds for resisting the invading +army, is practically devoid of roads in the hinterland. To add to this +difficulty, the last two months in Shantung have seen heavy rains and +floods which have really aided in holding off the ultimate fall of +Kiao-Chau. + +One had only to see the road from Lanschan over Makung Pass, on which +the Japanese troops were forced to rely for their supplies, partly to +understand the reason for the German garrison at Tsing-tau still holding +out. The road, especially near the base, is nothing but a sea of clay in +which the military carts sink up to their hubs. Frequent rains every +week keep the roadway softened up and thus render it necessary for the +Japanese infantry to rebuild it and to construct drainage ditches in +order that there may be no delay in getting supplies and ammunition to +the troops at the front. + +The physical characteristics of Kiao-Chau make it an ideal fortress. The +entrance of the bay is nearly two miles wide and is commanded by hills +rising 600 feet directly in the rear of Tsing-tau. The ring of hills +that surrounds the city does not extend back into the hinterland, and +thus there is no screen behind which the Japanese forces can quickly +invest the city. Germany has utilized the semicircle of hills in the +construction of large concrete forts equipped with Krupp guns of 14 and +16 inch calibre, which, for four or five miles back into the peninsula, +command all approaches to the city. + +The Japanese Army in approaching Tsing-tau has had to do so practically +in the open. The troops found no hills behind which they could with +safety mount heavy siege guns without detection by the German garrison. +In fact, the strategic plan for the capture of the town has been much +like the plan adopted by the Japanese forces at Port Arthur--they have +forced their approach by sappings. While this is a gradual method, it is +certain of victory in the end and results in very little loss of life. + +The natural elevations of the Iltis, Bismarck, and Moltke forts at the +rear of Tsing-tau have another advantage in that they are so situated +that they are commanded by at least two other forts. All of the guns had +been so placed that they can be turned on their neighbors if the +occasion arises. + +A Japanese aeroplane soaring over Tsing-tau on Oct. 30 scattered +thousands of paper handbills on which was printed the following +announcement, in German, from the Staff Headquarters: + +"To the Honored Officers and Men in the Fortress: It is against the will +of God as well as the principles of humanity to destroy and render +useless arms, ships of war, merchantmen, and other works and +constructions not in obedience to the necessity of war, but merely out +of spite lest they fall into the hands of the enemy. + +"Trusting, as we do, that, as you hold dear the honor of civilization, +you will not be betrayed into such base conduct. We beg you, however, to +announce to us your own view as mentioned above." + + + + +*The German Attack on Tahiti* + +*As Told by Miss Geni La France, an Eyewitness.* + + +SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Oct. 7.--Graphic stories of the plight of Papeete, +capital of Tahiti, in the Society Islands, were told here today by +passengers arriving on the Union Steamship Company's liner Moana. +Several of those on board the steamer were in Papeete when the town was +bombarded by the German cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. They said +the place was in ruins and that the natives were still hiding in the +hills, whence they fled when the bombardment began. + +The stories of those arriving on the Moana vary only in unimportant +details. Perhaps the most graphic story was that told by Miss Geni La +France, a French actress. She told of the Governor's heroism and his +self-sacrificing devotion to duty, which caused him to face death rather +than surrender. All of the passengers were loud in their praise of this +Frenchman, who thought first of his country, next of his guests--for so +he considered all travelers--and next of the city's residents. + +"While the shells screamed and exploded with a deafening roar, tearing +buildings and leaving wreck and ruin in their wake, this old Governor +was calm throughout," said Miss La France. + +"It was his bravery that enabled us to bear up under the terrible +strain, although it was impossible to flee the city, as shells were +exploding all about. + +"I was sitting on the veranda of the hotel, having a lovely holiday. +Every one was happy and contented. The sunshine was lovely and warm and +the natives were busy at their work. I noticed two dark ships steaming +up the little river, but was too lazy and 'comfy' to take any interest +in them. + +"Suddenly, without any warning, shots began exploding around us. Two of +the houses near the hotel fell with a crash, and the natives began +screaming and running in every direction. For a minute I didn't realize +what was happening. But when another volley of shells burst dangerously +near and some of the pieces just missed my head, I was flying, too. + +"Every one was shouting, 'To the hills, to the hills!' My manager could +not obtain a wagon or any means of conveyance to take me there. I felt +as if I had on a pair of magic boots that would carry me to the hills in +three steps. But I didn't. It was a good six miles, over bad roads, and +we had to run. + +"The shells from the German battleships kept breaking, and the +explosions were terrible. I am sure that I made a record in sprinting +that six miles. The cries of the people were terrible. I was simply +terror-stricken and could not cry for fear. I seemed to realize that I +must keep my strength in order to reach the hills. + +"We hid in the hills and the natives gave up their homes to the white +people, and were especially kind to the women." + +"The native population probably hasn't come back from the hills yet, and +when we left, two days after the bombardment, the European population +was still dazed," said E.P. Titchener, a Wellington, New Zealand, +merchant, who went through the bombardment. + +"From 8 o'clock until 10 the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau circled in the +harbor, firing broadsides of eight-inch guns at the little gunboat Zelie +and the warehouses beyond. + +"Only the American flag, which the American Consul hoisted, and an +American sailing vessel also ran up, the two being in line before the +main European residence section, saved that part of the town, for the +German cruisers were careful not to fire in that direction." + +According to all accounts, the cruisers directed their fire solely +toward the Zelie, but their marksmanship was said to be poor. Many shots +fell short and many went wide, so that the whole business district, the +general market, and the warehouses along the water front were peppered +and riddled. + +The French replied from some old guns on the hills as well as three +shots from the Zelie, but ineffectively. + +"It was plucky of the French to fire at all," said Mr. Titchener. "At 7 +o'clock we could see two war vessels approaching, and soon made out they +were cruisers. They came on without a flag, and the Zelie, lying in the +harbor, fired a blank shot. + +"Then the Germans hoisted their flag and the Zelie fired two shots. The +Germans swung around and fired their broadsides, and all the crew of the +Zelie scuttled ashore. No one was hurt. + +"The Germans continued to swing and fire. Their shells flew all over the +town above the berth of the Zelie and the German prize ship Walkure, +which the Zelie had captured. Perhaps not knowing they were firing into +a German vessel, the Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst continued their wild +cannonades. + +"During the two hours of bombardment a hundred shells from the big +8-inch guns of the cruisers fell and exploded in the town. The sound was +terrific, and nobody blamed the natives for running away. + +"With all the destruction, only three men were killed--one Chinaman and +two natives. The Germans evidently made an effort to confine their fire, +but many shots went wide, and these did the main mischief. + +"Finally, about 10 o'clock, without attempting to land, and not knowing +that the German crew of the Walkure were prisoners in the town, the +Gneisenau and the Scharnhorst steamed away and disappeared over the +horizon. They sailed off to the westward, but of course we could not +tell how they set their course when they got beyond our vision." + +The damage to Papeete was estimated at $2,000,000. Two vessels were sunk +and two blocks of business houses and residences were destroyed. The +French set fire to a 40,000-ton coal pile to prevent the Germans +replenishing their bunkers. + +The voyage of the Moana was fraught with adventure. From Papeete the +vessel, which flies the British flag, sailed with lights out and dodged +four German cruisers after being warned by the wireless operator, who +had picked up a German code message sent out by the cruisers which had +razed the island city. + + + + +*The Bloodless Capture of German Samoa* + +*By Malcolm Ross, F.R.G.S.* + +[Special Correspondence of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +WELLINGTON, N.Z., Sept. 19.--The advance detachment of the New Zealand +Expeditionary Force which was ordered to seize German Samoa left +Wellington in two troopships at dawn on Aug. 15, and was met in the +ocean in latitude 36.0 south, longitude 178.30 east by three of the +British cruisers in New Zealand waters--the Psyche, Pyramus, and +Philomel. + +As it was known that the armored cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were +still at large in Pacific waters, it was decided not to go direct to +Samoa, but to shape a course direct for New Caledonia. For the next +fortnight or so we were playing a game of hide and seek in the big +islanded playground of the Pacific Ocean. The first evening out the +Psyche signaled "Whereabouts of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau still unknown; +troopships to extinguish all lights and proceed with only shaded lights +at bow and stern." Military books and papers were quickly gathered +together, and the remaining few minutes of daylight were used for +getting into bed, while the difficult task was set us of trying to sleep +the round of the clock. Thus, night after night, with lights out, we +steamed along our northward track, the days being spent in drill and +ball firing with rifles and the Maxim guns. + +On the morning of Aug. 2 we proceeded along the shores of New Caledonia +and saw the big French cruiser Montcalm entering the harbor. Next day we +were joined by the battle cruiser Australia and the light cruiser +Melbourne. The contingent received an enthusiastic reception in New +Caledonia. As we passed the Montcalm our band played the "Marseillaise," +and the band on the French cruiser responded with our national anthem. +Cheers from the thousands of men afloat and the singing of patriotic +songs added to the general enthusiasm, the French residents being +greatly excited with the sudden and unexpected appearance of their +allies from New Zealand. + +A delay of twenty-four hours was caused by one of the troopships +grounding on a sand bank in the harbor, but on Sunday, Aug. 23, the +expedition got safely away. + +We steamed through the Havannah Pass, at the southeastern end of the +island, where we awaited Rear Admiral Sir George Patey, in command of +the allied fleets. In due course the Australia and the Melbourne came up +with us. Then in turn waited for the Montcalm. All the ships, eight in +number, were now assembled, and they moved off in the evening light to +take up position in the line ahead. + +Fiji was reached in due course, and at anchor in the harbor of Suva we +found the Japanese collier Fukoku Maru, and learned that she had been +coaling the German cruisers at the Caroline Islands just before the +declaration of war. After the coaling had been completed the Japanese +Captain went on to Samoa, calling at Apia. The Germans, however, would +not allow him to land. The Japanese Captain had been paid for his coal +by drafts on Germany, which, on reaching Suva, he found to be useless. +He was therefore left without means to coal and reprovision. As he was +not allowed to land at Samoa, he went on to Pago-Pago, in complete +ignorance that war had been declared, and, not being able to get +supplies there, left for Suva. At the latter port the harbor lights +being extinguished, he ran his vessel on to the reef in the night time. +Rockets were sent up, but no assistance could be given from the shore. +Fortunately, however, he got off as the tide made; but it was a narrow +call. + +In the early dawn of Aug. 30 we got our first glimpse of German Samoa. +The American island of Tutuila was out of sight, away to the right, but +presently we rounded the southeastern corner of the island of Upolu, +with its beautiful wooded hills wreathing their summits in the morning +mists, and saw the white line of surf breaking along its coral +reef--historic Upolu, the home of Robert Louis Stevenson, the scene of +wars and rebellions and international schemings, and the scene also of +that devastating hurricane which wrecked six ships of war and ten other +vessels, and sent 142 officers and men of the German and American Navies +to their last sleep. The rusting ribs and plates of the Adler, the +German flagship, pitched high inside the reef, still stare at us as a +reminder of that memorable event. + +The Psyche went boldly on ahead, and after the harbor had been swept for +mines she steamed in, under a flag of truce, and delivered a message +from Admiral Patey, demanding the surrender of Apia. The Germans, who +had been expecting their own fleet in, were surprised with the +suddenness with which an overwhelming force had descended upon them, and +decided to offer no resistance to a landing. Capt. Marshall promptly +made a signal to the troopships to steam to their anchorages; motor +launches, motor surfboats, and ships' boats were launched, and the men +began to pour over the ships' sides and down the rope ladders into the +boats. + +In a remarkably brief space of time the covering party was on shore, +officers and men dashing out of the boats, up to the knees, and +sometimes the waist, in water. The main street, the cross-roads, and the +bridges were quickly in possession of our men, with their Maxims and +rifles, and then, one after another, the motor boats and launches began +to tow strings of boats, crammed with the men of the main body, toward +the shore. The bluejackets of the beach party, who had already landed, +urged them forward by word and deed in cheery fashion, and soon Apia was +swarming with our troops. + +Guards were placed all about the Government buildings, and Col. Logan, +with his staff, was quickly installed in the Government offices. + +Lieut. Col. Fulton dashed off to the telephone exchange and pulled out +all the plugs, so that the residents could hold no intercommunication by +that means. The Custom House and the offices of the Governor were also +seized without a moment's loss of time. An armed party was dispatched +along a bush road to seize the wireless station. Late that evening the +man in charge rang up in some alarm to state that there was dynamite +lying about and that the engine had been tampered with to such an extent +that the apparatus could not be used until we got our own machinery in +position. + +Meantime the German flag, that had flown over the island for fourteen +years, was hauled down, the Germans present doffing their hats and +standing bareheaded and silent on the veranda of the Supreme Court as +they watched the soldier in khaki from New Zealand unceremoniously +pulling it down, detaching it from the rope, and carrying it inside the +building. + +Next morning the British flag was hoisted with all due ceremony. In the +harbor the emblem of Britain's might fluttered from the masts of our +cruiser escort, the Stars and Stripes waved in the tropic breeze above +the palms surrounding the American Consulate, and out in the open sea +the white ensign and tricolor flew on the powerful warships of the +allied fleets of England and France. + +A large crowd of British and other residents and Samoans had gathered. +In the background were groups of Chinese coolies, gazing wonderingly +upon the scene. The balconies of the adjoining buildings were crowded +with British and Samoans. Only the Germans were conspicuous by their +absence. With undisguised feelings of sadness they had seen their own +flag hauled down the day before. Naturally they had no desire to witness +the flag of the rival nation going up in its place. + +A few minutes before 8 o'clock all was ready. Two bluejackets and a +naval Lieutenant stood with the flag, awaiting the signal. The first gun +of the royal salute from the Psyche boomed out across the bay. Then +slowly, to the booming of twenty-one guns, the flag was hoisted to the +summit of the staff, the officers, with drawn swords, silently watching +it go up. With the sound of the last gun it reached the top of the +flagstaff [Transcriber: original 'fliagstaff'] and fluttered out in the +southeast trade wind above the tall palms of Upolo. + +There was a sharp order from the officer commanding the expedition, and +the troops came to the royal salute. The national anthem--never more +fervently sung--and three rousing cheers for King George followed. + +Then came the reading of the proclamation by Col. Logan, the troops +formed up again, and, to the music of the, band of the Fifth Regiment, +marched back to quarters. + + + + +*How the Cressy Sank* + +*By Edgar Rowan of The London Daily Chronicle.* + + +MUIDEN, Holland, Sept. 23.--(Dispatch to The London Daily +Chronicle.)--When the history of this war comes to be written we shall +put no black borders, as men without pride or hope, around the story of +the loss of the cruisers Aboukir, Cressy, and Hogue. We shall write it +in letters of gold, for the plain, unvarnished tale of those last +moments, when the cruisers went down, helpless before a hidden foe, +ranks among the countless deeds of quiet, unseen, unconscious heroism +that make up the navy's splendid pages. + +It is easy to learn all that happened, for the officers want chiefly to +tell how splendidly brave the men were, and the men pay a like tribute +to the officers. The following appears to be a main outline of the +disaster: + +The three cruisers had for some time been patrolling the North Sea. Soon +after 6 o'clock Tuesday morning--there is disagreement as to the exact +time--the Aboukir suddenly felt a shock on the port side. A dull +explosion was heard and a column of water was thrown up mast high. The +explosion wrecked the stokehole just forward of amidship and, judging by +the speed with which the cruiser sank, tore the bottom open. + +Almost immediately the doomed cruiser began to settle. Except for the +watch on deck, most of her crew, were asleep, wearied by constant vigil +in bad weather, but in perfect order officers and men rushed to +quarters. Quickfirers were manned in the hope of a dying shot at a +submarine, but there was not a glimpse of one. Of the few boats carried +when cleared for action, two were smashed in recent gales and another +was wrecked by the explosion. + +The Aboukir's sister cruisers, each more than a mile away, saw and heard +the explosion. They thought the Aboukir had been struck by a mine. They +closed in and lowered boats. This sealed their own fate, for while they +were standing by to rescue survivors, first the Hogue and then the +Cressy was torpedoed. + +The Cressy appears to have seen the submarines in time to attempt to +retaliate. She fired a few shots before she keeled over, broken in two, +and sank. Whether she sank any submarines is not known. + +The men of the Aboukir afloat in the water hoped for everything from the +arrival of her sister cruisers, and all survivors agree that when these +also sank many gave up the struggle for life and went down. An officer +told me that when swimming, after having lost his jacket in the grip of +a drowning man, his chief thought was that the Germans had succeeded in +sinking only three comparatively obsolete cruisers which shortly would +have been scrapped anyway. + +Twenty-four men were saved on a target which floated off the Hogue's +deck. The men were gathered on it for four hours waist deep in water. + +The rescued officers unite in praising the skill and daring of the +German naval officers, and, far from bearing any grudge, they have +nothing but professional praise for the submarines' feat. + +"Our only grievance," one said, "is that we did not have a shot at the +Germans. Our only share in the war has been a few uncomfortable weeks of +bad weather, mines, and submarines." + +When I entered the billiard room of the hotel here sheltering survivors +and asked if any British officers were there, several unshaven men in +the khaki working kit of the Dutch Army or in fishermen's jerseys got up +from their chairs. Most of them had been saved in their pajamas, and +they had to accept the first things in the way of clothing offered by +the kindly Dutch. One Lieutenant apologized for closing the window, as +he had only a thin jacket over his pajamas. He gladly accepted the loan +of my overcoat while making a list of his men who had been saved. + +While the survivors are technically prisoners in this neutral country, +to be interned until the end of the war, Muiden steadfastly refuses to +regard them as other than honored guests. The soldiers posted before +every building where officers or men are sheltered seem to be guards of +honor rather than prison warders, and every one in the place is +competing for the honor of lending clothes, running errands, or offering +cigars for the survivors. + +When the Dutch steamer Flora arrived with survivors last night, flying +her flag at half-mast and signaling for a doctor, the Red Cross +authorities and the British Vice Consul, Mr. Rigorsberg, at once set the +machinery in motion, and soon the officers were settled in hotels and +the men were divided among a hospital, a church, and a young men's +institute. + +I saw one bluejacket asleep covered with a white ensign. He had snatched +it up before diving overboard. He held it in his teeth while in the +water and refused to part with it when rescued. He is now prepared to +fight any one who may attempt to steal this last relic of his ship. + +One survivor says that an English fishing boat also was sunk by the +submarines, but the story is not confirmed. + +For hours Capt. Voorham of the Flora and Capt. Berkhout of the Titan, +caring nothing for risks of mines and submarines, cruised over the scene +of the disaster, and the gallant Dutch seamen were rewarded by the +rescue of 400 survivors. + +Capt. Voorham, who landed all the survivors at Muiden, says: + +"We left Rotterdam early Tuesday. In the North Sea we saw a warship, +which proved to be the Cressy. Not long afterward I saw her keel over, +break in two and disappear. Our only thought then was to save as many +survivors as possible. When we got to the spot where she disappeared +boats approached us and we began to get the men in them aboard. It was a +very difficult undertaking, as the survivors were exhausted and we were +rolling heavily. + +"We also lowered our own boats and picked up many from the wreckage. All +were practically naked and some were so exhausted that they had to be +hauled aboard with tackle. Each as he recovered at once turned to help +my small crew to save others. Later I saw the Titan approaching and +signaled for help. + +"One man was brought aboard with his legs broken. It was touching to see +how tenderly his mates handled him. + +"Presently the British destroyers approached. A survivor on my ship +signaled with his arms that he was on a friendly ship, and the warships +passed on. + +"Among those saved were two doctors, who worked hard to help the +exhausted men. One man died after they had tried artificial respiration +for an hour. + +"My men collected all the clothes and blankets on board and gave them to +the survivors, and the cook was busy getting hot coffee and other food +for my large party of guests. + +"By 11:30 we had picked up all the survivors we could see. Soon after we +saw German submarines, and, thinking it best to get to the nearest port, +called here." + +Remember that Capt. Voorham had only a comparatively small ship and a +crew of only seventeen and realize the splendid work he did. + +[Illustration] + + + + +*German Story of the Heligoland Fight* + +[Special Correspondence of THE NEW YORK TIMES.] + + +LONDON, Sept. 8.--Copies of the Berliner Tageblatt have been received +here containing the German account of the recent naval battle off +Heligoland between British and German vessels. + +"Regarding the sinking of torpedo boat V-187," says the Tageblatt +account, "an eyewitness says the small craft fought heroically to the +bitter end against overwhelming odds. Quite unexpectedly the V-187 was +attacked by a flotilla of English destroyers coming from the north. +Hardly had the first shot been fired when more hostile destroyers, also +submarines, arrived and surrounded the German craft. + +"The V-187, on which, in addition to the commander, was the flotilla +chief, Capt. Wallis, defended itself to the utmost, but the steering +gear was put out of business by several shots, and thus it was +impossible to withdraw from the enemy. When the commander saw there was +no further hope, the vessel was blown up so as not to fall into the +enemy's hands. But even while she sank the guns not put out of action +continued to be worked by the crew till the ship was swallowed up in the +waves. The flotilla commander, as well as Commander Lechler, was lost, +besides many of the crew. + +"The enemy deserves the greatest credit for their splendid rescue work. +The English sailors, unmindful of their own safety, went about it in +heroic fashion. + +"Boats were put out from the destroyers to save the survivors. While +this rescue work was still under way stronger German forces approached, +causing the English torpedo boats to withdraw, abandoning the small +rescue boats which they had put out, and those who had been saved were +now taken from the English boats aboard our ships. + +"When the thunder of the guns showed the enemy was near and engaged with +our torpedo boats, the small armored cruiser Ariadne steamed out to take +part in the scrap. As the Ariadne neared the outpost vessels it was +observed that various of our lighter units were fighting with the +English, which later, however, appeared to be escaping toward the west. + +"The long-suppressed keenness for fighting could not be gainsaid and the +Ariadne pursued, although the fog made it impossible to estimate the +strength of the enemy. Presently, not far from the Ariadne, two hostile +cruisers loomed out of the mist--two dreadnought battle cruisers of +30,000 tons' displacement, armed with eight 13.5-inch guns. What could +the Ariadne, of 2,650 tons and armed with ten 4-inch guns, do against +those two Goliath ships? + +"At the start of this unequal contest a shot struck the forward boiler +room of the Ariadne and put half of her boilers out of business, +lowering her speed by fifteen miles. Nevertheless, and despite the +overwhelming superiority of the English, the fight lasted half an hour. +The stern of the Ariadne was in flames, but the guns on her foredeck +continued to be worked. + +"But the fight was over. The enemy disappeared to the westward. The crew +of the Ariadne, now gathered on the foredeck, true to the navy's +traditions, broke into three hurrahs for the War Lord, Kaiser Wilhelm. +Then, to the singing of 'Deutschland Ueber Alles,' the sinking, burning +ship was abandoned in good order. Two of our ships near by picked up the +Ariadne's crew. Presently the Ariadne disappeared under the waves after +the stern powder magazine had exploded. + +"The first officer, surgeon, chief engineer, and seventy men were lost. +In addition, many were wounded." + + + + +*The Sinking of the Cressy and the Hogue* + +*By the Senior Surviving Officers--Commander Bertram W.L. Nicholson and +Commander Reginald A. Norton.* + +[By the Associated Press.] + + +LONDON, Sept. 25.--The report to the Admiralty on the sinking of the +Cressy, signed by Bertram W.L. Nicholson, Commander of the late H.M.S. +Cressy, follows: + +"Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report in connection with +the sinking of H.M.S. Cressy, in company with H.M.S. Aboukir and Hogue, +on the morning of the 22d of September, while on patrol duty: + +"The Aboukir was struck at about 6:25 A.M. on the starboard beam. The +Hogue and Cressy closed and took up a position, the Hogue ahead of the +Aboukir, and the Cressy about 400 yards on her port beam. As soon as it +was seen that the Aboukir was in danger of sinking all the boats were +sent away from the Cressy, and a picket boat was hoisted out without +steam up. When cutters full of the Aboukir's men were returning to the +Cressy the Hogue was struck, apparently under the aft 9.2 magazine, as a +very heavy explosion took place immediately. Almost directly after the +Hogue was hit we observed a periscope on our port bow about 300 yards +off. + +"Fire was immediately opened and the engines were put full speed ahead +with the intention of running her down. Our gunner, Mr. Dougherty, +positively asserts that he hit the periscope and that the submarine +sank. An officer who was standing alongside the gunner thinks that the +shell struck only floating timber, of which there was much about, but it +was evidently the impression of the men on deck, who cheered and clapped +heartily, that the submarine had been hit. This submarine did not fire a +torpedo at the Cressy. + +"Capt. Johnson then manoeuvred the ship so as to render assistance to +the crews of the Hogue and Aboukir. About five minutes later another +periscope was seen on our starboard quarter and fire was opened. The +track of the torpedo she fired at a range of 500 to 600 yards was +plainly visible and it struck us on the starboard side just before the +afterbridge. + +"The ship listed about 10 degrees to the starboard and remained steady. +The time was 7:15 A.M. All the watertight doors, deadlights and scuttles +had been securely closed before the torpedo struck the ship. All the +mess stools and table shores, and all available timber below and on +deck, had been previously got up and thrown over side for the saving of +life. + +"A second torpedo fired by the same submarine missed and passed about 10 +feet astern. About a quarter of an hour after the first torpedo had hit +a third torpedo fired from a submarine just before the starboard beam +hit us under the No. 5 boiler room. The time was 7:30 A.M. The ship then +began to heel rapidly, and finally turned keel up, remaining so for +about twenty minutes before she finally sank, at 7:55 A.M. + +"A large number of men were saved by casting adrift on Pattern 3 target. +The steam pinnace floated off her clutches, but filled and sank. + +"The second torpedo which struck the Cressy passed over the sinking hull +of the Aboukir, narrowly missing it. It is possible that the same +submarine fired all three torpedoes at the Cressy. + +"The conduct of the crew was excellent throughout. I have already +remarked on the bravery displayed by Capt. Phillips, master of the +trawler L.T. Coriander, and his crew, who picked up 156 officers and +men." + +The report to the Admiralty of Commander Reginald A. Norton, late of +H.M.S. Hogue, follows: + +"I have the honor to report as follows concerning the sinking of the +Hogue, Aboukir, and Cressy: Between 6:15 and 6:30 A.M., H.M.S. Aboukir +was struck by a torpedo. The Hogue closed on the Aboukir and I received +orders to hoist out the launch, turn out and prepare all boats, and +unlash all timber on the upper deck. + +"Two lifeboats were sent to the Aboukir, but before the launch could get +away the Hogue was struck on the starboard side amidships by two +torpedoes at intervals of ten to twenty seconds. The ship at once began +to heel to starboard. After ordering the men to provide themselves with +wood, hammocks, &c., and to get into the boats on the booms and take off +their clothes, I went, by Capt. Nicholson's direction, to ascertain the +damage done in the engine room. The artificer engineer informed me that +the water was over the engine-room gratings. + +"While endeavoring to return to the bridge the water burst open the +starboard entry port doors and the ship heeled rapidly. I told the men +in the port battery to jump overboard, as the launch was close +alongside, and soon afterward the ship lurched heavily to starboard. + +"I clung to a ringbolt for some time, but eventually was dropped on to +the deck, and a huge wave washed me away. I climbed up the ship's side +and again was washed off. Eventually, after swimming about from various +overladen pieces of wreckage, I was picked up by a cutter from the +Hogue, Coxswain L.S. Marks, which pulled about for some hours, picking +up men and discharging them to our picket boat and steam pinnace and to +the Dutch steamers Flora and Titan, and rescued, in this way, Commander +Sells of the Aboukir, Engineer Commander Stokes, (with legs broken,) +Fleet Paymaster Eldred, and about 120 others. + +"Finally, about 11 A.M., when we could find no more men in the water, we +were picked up by the Lucifier, which proceeded to the Titan and took +off from her all our men except about twenty who were too ill to be +moved. + +"A Lowestoft trawler and the two Dutch ships Flora and Titan were +extraordinarily kind, clothing and feeding our men. My boat's crew, +consisting mainly of Royal Navy Reserve men, pulled and behaved +remarkably well. I particularly wish to mention Petty Officer Halton, +who, by encouraging the men in the water near me, undoubtedly saved many +lives. + +"Lieut. Commander Phillips-Wolley, after hoisting out the launch, asked +me if we should try to hoist out another boat, and endeavored to do so. +The last I saw of him was on the after bridge, doing well. + +"Lieut. Commander Tillard was picked up by a launch. He got up a +cutter's crew and saved many lives, as did Midshipman Cazalet in the +Cressy's gig. Lieut. Chichester turned out the whaler very quickly. + +"A Dutch sailing trawler sailed close by, but went off without rendering +any assistance [Transcriber: original 'asistance'], although we signaled +to her from the Hogue to close after we were struck. + +"The Aboukir appeared to me to take about thirty-five minutes to sink, +floating bottom up for about five minutes. The Hogue turned turtle very +quickly--in about five minutes--and floated bottom up for several +minutes. A dense black smoke was seen in the starboard battery, whether +from coal or torpedo cordite I could not say. The upper deck was not +blown up, and only one other small explosion occurred and we heeled +over. + +"The Cressy I watched heel over from the cutter. She heeled over to +starboard very slowly, dense black smoke issuing from her when she +attained an angle of about 90 degrees, and she took a long time from +this angle till she floated bottom up with the starboard screw slightly +out of water. I consider it was thirty-five to forty-five minutes from +the time she was struck till she was bottom up. + +"All the men on the Hogue behaved extraordinarily [Transcriber: original +'extraordinarly'] well, obeying orders even when in the water swimming +for their lives, and I witnessed many cases of great self-sacrifice and +gallantry. Farmstone, an able seaman of the Hogue, jumped overboard from +the launch to make room for others, and would not avail himself of +assistance until all the men near by were picked up. He was in the water +about half an hour. + +"There was no panic of any sort, the men taking off their clothes as +ordered and falling in with hammock or wood. Capt. Nicholson, in our +other cutter, as usual, was perfectly cool and rescued large numbers of +men. I last saw him alongside the Flora. Engineer Commander Stokes, I +believe, was in the engine room to the last, and Engineer Lieut. +Commander Fendick got steam on the boat hoist and worked it in five +minutes. + +"I have the honor to submit that I may be appointed to another ship as +soon as I can get a kit." + + + + +*The Sinking of the Hawke* + +[By a Correspondent of The London Daily Chronicle.] + + +ABERDEEN, Scotland, Oct. 16.--The British cruiser Hawke was sunk in the +North Sea yesterday by a German submarine, and of her crew of 400 +officers and men only 73 are known to have been saved. + +The cruiser Theseus, a sister ship of the Hawke, was attacked by the +same submarine, but escaped because she obeyed the Admiralty's +instructions and looked to her own safety instead of rushing to the aid +of the Hawke's perishing crew. + +A survivor of the Hawke gives the following description of the disaster: +"Within eight minutes the Hawke had gone under. Had the ship gone down +forward or aft there would have been some chance for us to get the boats +out and clear of the cruiser, but she keeled over on her beam ends, and +so of all boats we lowered those on the starboard side were useless, and +those on the port side were crushed as soon as they touched the water. + +"I was proud to be among such comrades. Everything was absolutely in +perfect order. When the ship was struck a fearful explosion followed, +and grime and dust were everywhere. I was amidships at the time, and +could hardly see to grope my way to the ship's side. I heard orders +given to lower the boats, and then some one shouted, 'Look after +yourselves!' So I did that. + +"Most of the men on board were married men. We saw hundreds in the +water, but we were afraid to pick them up as our boat was already +overcrowded. So we threw our lifebelts to them. It was all we could do. + +"The weather was bitter cold, and I do not think that many, apart from +those who were landed at Aberdeen, were saved." + +Here is the statement of a rescued stoker: "When the explosion occurred +I, along with others who were in the engine room, was sent flying into +space and was stunned for a time. When I came to my senses I found +myself in the midst of what must be described as an absolute inferno. +One of the cylinders of the engine had been completely wrecked, and +steam was passing out in dense, scalding clouds. The horror of the +situation was increased when a tank of oil fuel caught fire, and the +flames advanced with frightful rapidity. + +"Seeing that there was not a ghost of a chance of doing any good by +remaining in what was obviously a deathtrap, I determined to make a dash +for it, and I scrambled up an iron ladder to the main deck. All this had +happened in less time than it takes to tell it, but such is British +pluck, coolness, and nerve even in such a situation that the commander +and other officers were on the bridge, and as calmly as if we were on +fleet manoeuvres the orders were given and as calmly obeyed. + +"The buglers sounded a stiff call which summoned every man to remain at +his post. During the first minute or two many of us believed all that +was wrong was a boiler explosion, but the rapidity with which the +cruiser was making water on the starboard side quickly disabused all our +minds of this belief. Realizing the actual situation, the commander gave +orders to close all the watertight doors. Soon after that came orders to +abandon the ship and get out the boats. + +"One cutter was being launched from the port side, but the Hawke at that +moment heeled over before the boat could be got clear, and the cutter +lurched against the cruiser's side and stove in one or two of her +planks. As the Hawke went down a small pinnace and a raft which had been +prepared for such an emergency floated free, but such was the onrush of +men who had been thrown into the water that both were overcrowded. On +the raft were about seventy men knee deep in water, and the pinnace also +appeared to be overfilled. + +"When those who managed to make their way into the cutter, which was +also in grave danger of being overturned, caught the last glimpse of +these two craft they were in a precarious condition. The cutter moved +around the wreck, picking up as many survivors as the boat would hold. +All those aboard her who had put on lifebelts took them off and threw +them to their comrades who were struggling in the water. Oars and other +movable woodwork also were pitched overboard to help those clinging to +the wreckage, many of whom were seen to sink." + + + + +*The Emden's Last Fight* + +[By the Cable Operator at Cocos Islands.] + + +KEELING, Cocos Islands, Nov. 12, (Dispatch to The London Daily +Chronicle.)--It was early on Monday that the unexpected arrival of the +German cruiser Emden broke the calm of these isolated little islands, +which the distant news of the war had hitherto left unruffled. One of +the islands is known as Direction Island, and here the Eastern Telegraph +Company has a cable station and a staff engaged in relaying messages +between Europe and Australia. Otherwise the inhabitants are all Malays, +with the exception of the descendants of June Clunies Ross, a British +naval officer who came to these islands ninety years ago and founded the +line of "Uncrowned Kings." + +The war seemed to be very far away. The official bulletins passed +through the cable station, but they gave us very little real news, and +the only excitement was when it was rumored that the company was sending +out rifles in case of a raid on the stations, and orders came that the +beach must be patrolled by parties on the lookout for Germans. Then we +heard from Singapore that a German cruiser had been dispatched to these +islands, and toward the end of August one of the cable staff thought he +saw searchlights out over the sea. Then suddenly we were awakened from +our calm and were made to feel that we had suddenly become the most +important place in the whole worldwide war area. + +At 6 o'clock on Monday morning a four-funneled cruiser arrived at full +speed at the entrance to the lagoon. Our suspicions were aroused, for +she was flying no flag and her fourth funnel was obviously a dummy made +of painted canvas. Therefore we were not altogether surprised at the +turn of events. The cruiser at once lowered away an armored launch and +two boats, which came ashore and landed on Coral Beach three officers +and forty men, all fully armed and having four Maxim guns. + +The Germans--for all doubt about the mysterious cruiser was now at +end--at once rushed up to the cable station, and, entering the office, +turned out the operators, smashed the instruments, and set armed guards +over all the buildings. All the knives and firearms found in possession +of the cable staff were at once confiscated. + +I should say here that, in spite of the excitement on the outside, all +the work was carried on in the cable office as usual right up to the +moment when the Germans burst in. A general call was sent out just +before the wireless apparatus was blown up. + +The whole of the staff was placed under an armed guard while the +instruments were being destroyed, but it is only fair to say that the +Germans, working in well-disciplined fashion under their officers, were +most civil. There was no such brutality as we hear characterizes the +German Army's behavior toward civilians, and there were no attempts at +pillaging. + +While the cable station was being put out of action the crew of the +launch grappled for the cables and endeavored to cut them, but +fortunately without success. The electrical stores were then blown up. + +At 9 A.M. we heard the sound of a siren from the Emden, and this was +evidently the signal to the landing party to return to the ship, for +they at once dashed for the boats, but the Emden got under way at once +and the boats were left behind. + +Looking to the eastward, we could see the reason for this sudden +departure, for a warship, which we afterward learned was the Australian +cruiser Sydney, was coming up at full speed in pursuit. The Emden did +not wait to discuss matters, but, firing her first shot at a range of +about 3,700 yards, steamed north as hard as she could go. + +At first the firing of the Emden seemed excellent, while that of the +Sydney was somewhat erratic. This, as I afterward learned, was due to +the fact that the Australian cruiser's range-finder was put out of +action by one of the only two shots the Germans got home. However, the +British gunners soon overcame any difficulties that this may have caused +and settled down to their work, so that before long two of the Emden's +funnels had been shot away. She also lost one of her masts quite early +in the fight. Both blazing away with their big guns, the two cruisers +disappeared below the horizon, the Emden being on fire. + +After the great naval duel passed from our sight and we could turn our +attention to the portion of the German crew that had been left behind, +we found that these men had put off in their boats obedient to the +signal of the siren, but when their ship steamed off without them they +could do nothing else but come ashore again. On relanding they lined up +on the shore of the lagoon, evidently determined to fight to the finish +if the British cruiser sent a party ashore, but the dueling cruiser had +disappeared, and at 6 P.M. the German raiders embarked on the old +schooner Ayessa, which belongs to Mr. Ross, the "uncrowned king" of the +islands. Seizing a quantity of clothes and stores, they sailed out, and +have not been seen since. + +Early the next morning, Tuesday, Nov. 10, we saw the Sydney returning, +and at 8:45 A.M. she anchored off the island. From various members of +the crew I gathered some details of the running fight with the Emden. +The Sydney, having an advantage in speed, was able to keep out of range +of the Emden's guns and to bombard her with her own heavier metal. The +engagement lasted eighty minutes, the Emden finally running ashore on +North Keeling Island and becoming an utter wreck. + +Only two German shots proved effective. One of these failed to explode, +but smashed the main range finder and killed one man. The other killed +three men and wounded fourteen. + +Each of the cruisers attempted to torpedo the other, but both were +unsuccessful, and the duel proved a contest in hard pounding at long +range. The Sydney's speed during the fighting was twenty-six knots and +the Emden's twenty-four knots, the British ship's superiority of two +knots enabling her to choose the range at which the battle should be +fought, and to make the most of her superior guns. + +The Sydney left here at 11 A.M. Tuesday in the hope of picking up any of +the survivors of the Buresk, the collier that had been in attendance on +the Emden and was sunk after an engagement on the previous day. Finally, +with a number of wounded prisoners on board, the Sydney left here +yesterday, and our few hours of war excitement were over. + + + + +*Crowds See the Niger Sink* + +[By a Correspondent of The London Daily Chronicle.] + + +DEAL, England, Nov. 11.--By the destruction of the British torpedo +gunboat Niger, which was torpedoed and sunk by a submarine in the Downs +this afternoon, the realities of war were brought home to the +inhabitants of Deal and Walmer. + +A loud explosion was heard from the gunboat as she lay off the Deal +pier, and great volumes of smoke enveloped the vessel. When the smoke +cleared the Niger was observed to be settling down forward. Men, women, +and children rushed to the sea front, exclaiming that the vessel had +been torpedoed or mined. They soon realized that the Niger was doomed. +The Deal and Kingsdown lifeboats as well as boats from other parts of +the beach were launched in an effort to save the sailors. + +Consternation and almost panic prevailed among the hundreds who stood +watching the ghastly sight from the beach. Fortunately, the North Deal +galley Hope, commanded by Capt. John Budd, lay at anchor near the spot, +waiting to land the pilot from a London steamer which was going down the +channel. When the boatmen realized that the Niger had been hit by a +submarine or mine, to use their own expression, they rowed like the very +devil. + +"We saw the sailors," said Capt. Budd, "jumping from the vessel's side +in dozens. As we neared the fast-disappearing vessel we came upon swarms +of men struggling in the sea and heroically helping to support each +other. Some were fully dressed, others only partly so. They were +clinging to pieces of wreckage and deck furniture, and some were in +lifeboats. + +"It was a heartrending spectacle. The men were so thick in the water +that they grasped at our oars as we dipped them in the sea. We rescued +so many and our own boat got so choked that we could not move. With our +own gunwale only just out of the water, we were in danger of sinking +ourselves. + +"We called to the men that we could take no more in or we should sink +ourselves, but they continued to pour over the sides, and some hung to +the stern of our boat. We had about fifty on board. Never had there been +so many in the boat before. One burly sailor, whom we told to wait until +the next boat came along, laughingly remarked [Transcriber: original +'remared'] while he was in the water, 'All right, Cocky, I will hold on +by my eyebrows,' and he drifted to another galley. Another Deal boat +then came along and relieved us of some of our men. + +"Suddenly we heard a shout, and, looking around, saw the commander of +the Niger waving and beckoning to us from the stern of the sinking ship. +We could not go to him because our craft was so heavily laden. Another +galley then came along, and, after taking out some of our men, together +with those who were hanging on to our sides, we went closer to the +sinking gunboat and took off some more men, and at the Captain's special +request we waited until he took a final look around to see if there were +any more men left on board the vessel. + +"By this time the ship was very nearly under water, and we shouted to +him to hurry up, as the Niger had turned over on her side and was likely +to go down at any moment. That brave Captain only just managed to jump +in time, when the gunboat gave a lurch and sank on her side in eight +fathoms of water. We were proud to rescue that Captain, for he was a +true sailor." + +The other boats which picked up men were the Maple Leaf, the motor boat +Naru, the Annie, the May, and the Deal lifeboat. + +The rescuing party saw one dead sailor floating by. + +The majority of those rescued received first aid on being landed at +North Deal, and then they were taken in ambulances to the Marine +Hospital at Walmer. + +One survivor, replying to a question as to whether the Niger was +torpedoed or mined, replied: + +"Torpedoed, Sir. With the exception of the watch and the gun crews all +were below at the time. The first order we received was to close the +watertight doors." + +So far as I can ascertain at present only one man is missing. Four or +five have been landed at Ramsgate. The crew is said to have numbered +ninety-six officers and men. + +The sinking of the Niger came with tragic swiftness. It was +comparatively a fine, peaceful day, and the people were resting on the +promenade enjoying sea and fresh air. Anglers--men and women--were +calmly fishing from the pier. One angler whom I interviewed this evening +said: + +"I had just baited my line and cast it out when I heard two loud +reports, like an explosion. I looked seaward and saw the Niger, only a +mile away, enveloped in smoke or steam. When it had cleared away. I said +to my fellow-anglers, 'Oh, he is letting off steam! When I looked at her +again I was startled to notice that she was lower in the water. +Fortunately I had slung across my shoulder a pair of glasses, and, on +looking at the vessel through them, I noticed that they were attempting +to lower the boats, while the remainder of the crew stood at attention +on the deck. We could see that the vessel was sinking, and the lifeboats +and other boats were hastening to the rescue. + +"The vessel then gradually disappeared, bow first, and after about +fifteen minutes not a sign of her remained." + + + + +*Lieut. Weddigen's Own Story* + +*By Herbert B. Swope.* + +[Copyright, 1914, by The Press Publishing Company (The New York World).] + + +BERLIN, Sept. 30.--Through the kindness of the German Admiralty I am +able to tell exclusively the story of Capt. Lieut. Otto Weddigen, +commander of the now world famous submarine U-9, whose feat in +destroying three English cruisers has lifted the German Navy to a lofty +place in sea history. + +There is an inviolable rule in the German Army and Navy prohibiting +officers from talking of their exploits, but because of the special +nature of Weddigen's exploit an exception was made, and through the good +offices of Count von Oppersdorf The World was granted the right of first +telling Weddigen's remarkable story. + +It must be borne in mind that Lieut. Weddigen's account has been +officially announced and verified by German Navy Headquarters. That will +explain why certain details must be omitted, since they are of +importance if further submarine excursions are undertaken against the +British fleet. Following is Weddigen's tale, supplemented by the +Admiralty Intelligence Department: + +By CAPT. LIEUT. OTTO WEDDIGEN. +Commander of the German Submarine U-9. + +I am 32 years old and have been in the navy for years. For the last five +years I have been attached to the submarine flotilla, and have been most +interested in that branch of the navy. At the outbreak of the war our +undersea boats were rendezvoused at certain harbors in the North Sea, +the names of which I am restrained from divulging. + +Each of us felt and hoped that the Fatherland might be benefited by such +individual efforts of ours as were possible at a time when our bigger +sisters of the fleet were prohibited from activity. So we awaited +commands from the Admiralty, ready for any undertaking that promised to +do for the imperial navy what our brothers of the army were so +gloriously accomplishing. + +It has already been told how I was married at the home of my brother in +Wilhelmshaven to my boyhood sweetheart, Miss Prete of Hamburg, on Aug. +16. + +Before that I had been steadily on duty with my boat, and I had to leave +again the next day after my marriage. But both my bride and I wanted the +ceremony to take place at the appointed time, and it did, although +within twenty-four hours thereafter I had to go away on a venture that +gave a good chance of making my new wife a widow. But she was as firm as +I was that my first duty was to answer the call of our country, and she +waved me away from the dock with good-luck wishes. + +I set out from a North Sea port on one of the arms of the Kiel Canal and +set my course in a southwesterly direction. The name of the port I +cannot state officially, but it has been guessed at; nor am I permitted +to say definitely just when we started, but it was not many days before +the morning of Sept. 22 when I fell in with my quarry. + +When I started from home the fact was kept quiet and a heavy sea helped +to keep the secret, but when the action began the sun was bright and the +water smooth--not the most favorable conditions for submarine work. + +I had sighted several ships during my passage, but they were not what I +was seeking. English torpedo boats came within my reach, but I felt +there was bigger game further on, so on I went. I traveled on the +surface except when we sighted vessels, and then I submerged, not even +showing my periscope, except when it was necessary to take bearings. It +was ten minutes after 6 on the morning of last Tuesday when I caught +sight of one of the big cruisers of the enemy. + +I was then eighteen sea miles northwest of the Hook of Holland. I had +then traveled considerably more than 200 miles from my base. My boat was +one of an old type, but she had been built on honor, and she was +behaving beautifully. I had been going ahead partly submerged, with +about five feet of my periscope showing. Almost immediately I caught +sight of the first cruiser and two others. I submerged completely and +laid my course so as to bring up in the centre of the trio, which held a +sort of triangular formation. I could see their gray-black sides riding +high over the water. + +When I first sighted them they were near enough for torpedo work, but I +wanted to make my aim sure, so I went down and in on them. I had taken +the position of the three ships before submerging, and I succeeded in +getting another flash through my periscope before I began action. I soon +reached what I regarded as a good shooting point. + +[The officer is not permitted to give this distance, but it is +understood to have been considerably less than a mile, although the +German torpedoes have an effective range of four miles.] + +[Illustration: CAPT. KARL VON MULLER +Of the German Cruiser Emden +(_Photo (C) by American Press Assn._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. JOSEPH JOFFRE +The French Commander-in-Chief. +(_Photo from International News Service._)] + +Then I loosed one of my torpedoes at the middle ship. I was then about +twelve feet under water, and got the shot off in good shape, my men +handling the boat as if she had been a skiff. I climbed to the surface +to get a sight through my tube of the effect, and discovered that the +shot had gone straight and true, striking the ship, which I later +learned was the Aboukir, under one of her magazines, which in exploding +helped the torpedo's work of destruction. + +There was a fountain of water, a burst of smoke, a flash of fire, and +part of the cruiser rose in the air. Then I heard a roar and felt +reverberations sent through the water by the detonation. She had been +broken apart, and sank in a few minutes. The Aboukir had been stricken +in a vital spot and by an unseen force; that made the blow all the +greater. + +Her crew were brave, and even with death staring them in the face kept +to their posts, ready to handle their useless guns, for I submerged at +once. But I had stayed on top long enough to see the other cruisers, +which I learned were the Cressy and the Hogue, turn and steam full speed +to their dying sister, whose plight they could not understand, unless it +had been due to an accident. + +The ships came on a mission of inquiry and rescue, for many of the +Aboukir's crew were now in the water, the order having been given, "Each +man for himself." + +But soon the other two English cruisers learned what had brought about +the destruction so suddenly. + +As I reached my torpedo depth I sent a second charge at the nearest of +the oncoming vessels, which was the Hogue. The English were playing my +game, for I had scarcely to move out of my position, which was a great +aid, since it helped to keep me from detection. + +On board my little boat the spirit of the German Navy was to be seen in +its best form. With enthusiasm every man held himself in check and gave +attention to the work in hand. + +The attack on the Hogue went true. But this time I did not have the +advantageous aid of having the torpedo detonate under the magazine, so +for twenty minutes the Hogue lay wounded and helpless on the surface +before she heaved, half turned over and sank. + +But this time, the third cruiser knew of course that the enemy was upon +her and she sought as best she could to defend herself. She loosed her +torpedo defense batteries on boats, starboard and port, and stood her +ground as if more anxious to help the many sailors who were in the water +than to save herself. In common with the method of defending herself +against a submarine attack, she steamed in a zigzag course, and this +made it necessary for me to hold my torpedoes until I could lay a true +course for them, which also made it necessary for me to get nearer to +the Cressy. I had come to the surface for a view and saw how wildly the +fire was being sent from the ship. Small wonder that was when they did +not know where to shoot, although one shot went unpleasantly near us. + +When I got within suitable range I sent away my third attack. This time +I sent a second torpedo after the first to make the strike doubly +certain. My crew were aiming like sharpshooters and both torpedos went +to their bullseye. My luck was with me again, for the enemy was made +useless and at once began sinking by her head. Then she careened far +over, but all the while her men stayed at the guns looking for their +invisible foe. They were brave and true to their country's sea +traditions. Then she eventually suffered a boiler explosion and +completely turned turtle. With her keel uppermost she floated until the +air got out from under her and then she sank with a loud sound, as if +from a creature in pain. + +The whole affair had taken less than one hour from the time of shooting +off the first torpedo until the Cressy went to the bottom. Not one of +the three had been able to use any of its big guns. I knew the wireless +of the three cruisers had been calling for aid. I was still quite able +to defend myself, but I knew that news of the disaster would call many +English submarines and torpedo boat destroyers, so, having done my +appointed work, I set my course for home. + +My surmise was right, for before I got very far some British cruisers +and destroyers were on the spot, and the destroyers took up the chase. I +kept under water most of the way, but managed to get off a wireless to +the German fleet that I was heading homeward and being pursued. I hoped +to entice the enemy, by allowing them now and then a glimpse of me, into +the zone in which they might be exposed to capture or destruction by +German warships, but, although their destroyers saw me plainly at dusk +on the 22d and made a final effort to stop me, they abandoned the +attempt, as it was taking them too far from safety and needlessly +exposing them to attack from our fleet and submarines. + +How much they feared our submarines and how wide was the agitation +caused by good little U-9 is shown by the English reports that a whole +flotilla of German submarines had attacked the cruisers and that this +flotilla had approached under cover of the flag of Holland. + +These reports were absolutely untrue. U-9 was the only submarine on +deck, and she flew the flag she still flies--the German naval +ensign--which I hope to keep forever as a glorious memento and as an +inspiration for devotion to the Fatherland. + +I reached the home port on the afternoon of the 23d, and on the 24th +went to Wilhelmshaven, to find that news of my effort had become public. +My wife, dry eyed when I went away, met me with tears. Then I learned +that my little vessel and her brave crew had won the plaudit of the +Kaiser, who conferred upon each of my co-workers the Iron Cross of the +second class and upon me the Iron Cross of the first and second classes. + + [Weddigen is the hero of the hour in Germany. He also wears a medal + for life-saving. Counting himself, Weddigen had twenty-six men. The + limit of time that his ship is capable of staying below the surface + is about six hours.] + + + + +THE SOLILOQUY OF AN OLD SOLDIER. + +By O.C.A. CHILD. + + +You need not watch for silver in your hair, + Or try to smooth the wrinkles from your eyes, +Or wonder if you're getting quite too spare, + Or if your mount can bear a man your size. + +You'll never come to shirk the fastest flight, + To query if she really cares to dance, +To find your eye less keen upon the sight, + Or lose your tennis wrist or golfing stance. + +For you the music ceased on highest note-- + Your charge had won, you'd scattered them like sand, +And then a little whisper in your throat, + And you asleep, your cheek upon your hand. + +Thrice happy fate, you met it in full cry, + Young, eager, loved, your glitt'ring world all joy-- +You ebbed not out, you died when tide was high, + An old campaigner envies you, my boy! + + + + +*The War at Home* + +*How It Affects the Countries Whose Men Are At the Front.* + + + + +*The Effects of War in Four Countries* + +*By Irvin S. Cobb.* + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES [Transcriber: original 'TMIES'], Dec. 2, 1914.] + + [_The following story of conditions in Belgium, Germany, France, + Holland, and England was sent by Irvin S. Cobb of The Saturday + Evening Post to the American [Transcriber: original 'Aerican'] Red + Cross, to be used in bringing home to Americans urgent need for + relief in the countries affected by the great war. Red Cross + contributions for suffering non-combatants are received at the Red + Cross offices in the Russell Sage Foundation Building, 130 East + Twenty-second Street. Such contributions should be addressed to + Jacob H. Schiff, Treasurer, and, if desired, the giver can + designate the country to the relief of which he wishes the donation + applied._] + + +Recently I have been in four of the countries concerned in the present +war--Belgium, France, Germany, and England. I was also in Holland, +having traversed it from end to end within a week after the fall of +Antwerp, when every road coming up out of the south was filled with +Belgian refugees. + +In Belgium I saw this: + +Homeless men, women, and children by thousands and hundreds of +thousands. Many of them had been prosperous, a few had been wealthy, +practically all had been comfortable. Now, with scarcely an exception, +they stood all upon one common plane of misery. They had lost their +homes, their farms, their work-shops, their livings, and their means of +making livings. + +I saw them tramping aimlessly along wind-swept, rain-washed roads, +fleeing from burning and devastated villages. I saw them sleeping in +open fields upon the miry earth, with no cover and no shelter. I saw +them herded together in the towns and cities to which many of them +ultimately fled, existing God alone knows how. I saw them--ragged, +furtive scarecrows--prowling in the shattered ruins of their homes, +seeking salvage where there was no salvage to be found. I saw them +living like the beasts of the field, upon such things as the beasts of +the field would reject. + +I saw them standing in long lines waiting for their poor share of the +dole of a charity which already was nearly exhausted. I saw their towns +when hardly one stone stood upon another. I saw their abandoned farm +lands, where the harvests rotted in the furrows and the fruit hung +mildewed and ungathered upon the trees. I saw their cities where trade +was dead and credit was a thing which no longer existed. I saw them +staggering from weariness and from the weakness of hunger. I saw all +these sights repeated and multiplied infinitely--yes, and magnified, +too--but not once did I see a man or woman or even a child that wept or +cried out. + +If the Belgian soldiers won the world's admiration by the resistance +which they made against tremendously overpowering numbers, the people of +Belgium--the families of their soldiers--should have the world's +admiration and pity for the courage, the patience, and the fortitude +they have displayed under the load of an affliction too dolorous for any +words to describe, too terrible for any imagination to picture. + +In France I saw a pastoral land overrun by soldiers and racked by war +until it seemed the very earth would cry out for mercy. I saw a country +literally stripped of its men in order that the regiments might be +filled. I saw women hourly striving to do the ordained work of their +fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons, hourly piecing together the +jarred and broken fragments of their lives. I saw countless villages +turned into smoking, filthy, ill-smelling heaps of ruins. I saw schools +that were converted into hospitals and factories changed into barracks. + +I saw the industries that were abandoned and the shops that were bare of +customers, the shopkeepers standing before empty shelves looking +bankruptcy in the face. I saw the unburied dead lying between battle +lines, where for weeks they had lain, and where for weeks, and perhaps +months to come, they would continue to lie, and I saw the graves of +countless numbers of other dead who were so hurriedly and carelessly +buried that their limbs in places protruded through the soil, poisoning +the air with hideous smells and giving abundant promise of the +pestilence which must surely follow. I saw districts noted for their +fecundity on the raw edge of famine, and a people proverbial for their +light-heartedness who had forgotten how to smile. + +In Germany I saw innumerable men maimed and mutilated in every +conceivable fashion. I saw these streams of wounded pouring back from +the front endlessly. In two days I saw trains bearing 14,000 wounded men +passing through one town. I saw people of all classes undergoing +privations and enduring hardships in order that the forces at the front +might have food and supplies. I saw thousands of women wearing widow's +weeds, and thousands of children who had been orphaned. + +I saw great hosts of prisoners of war on their way to prison camps, +where in the very nature of things they must forego all hope of having +for months, and perhaps years, those small creature comforts which make +life endurable to a civilized human being. I saw them, crusted with +dirt, worn with incredible exertions, alive with crawling vermin, their +uniforms already in tatters, and their broken shoes falling off their +feet. + +On the day before I quit German soil--the war being then less than +three months old--I counted, in the course of a short ride through the +City of Aix-la-Chapelle two convalescent soldiers who were totally +blind, three who had lost an arm, and one, a boy of 18 or thereabout, +who had lost both arms. How many men less badly injured I saw in that +afternoon I do not know; I hesitate even to try to estimate the total +figure for fear I might be accused of exaggeration. + +In Holland I saw the people of an already crowded country wrestling +valorously with the problem of striving to feed and house and care for +the enormous numbers of penniless refugees who had come out of Belgium. +I saw worn-out groups of peasants huddled on railroad platforms and +along the railroad tracks, too weary to stir another step. + +In England I saw still more thousands of these refugees, bewildered, +broken by misfortune, owning only what they wore upon their backs, +speaking an alien tongue, strangers in a strange land. I saw, as I have +seen in Holland, people of all classes giving of their time, their +means, and their services to provide some temporary relief for these +poor wanderers who were without a country. I saw the new recruits +marching off, and I knew that for the children many of them were leaving +behind there would be no Santa Claus unless the American people out of +the fullness of their own abundance filled the Christmas stockings and +stocked the Christmas larders. + +And seeing these things, I realized how tremendous was the need for +organized and systematic aid then and how enormously that need would +grow when Winter came--when the soldiers shivered in the trenches, and +the hospital supplies ran low, as indeed they have before now begun to +run low, and the winds searched through the holes made by the cannon +balls and struck at the women and children cowering in their squalid and +desolated homes. From my own experiences and observations I knew that +more nurses, more surgeons, more surgical necessities, and yet more, +past all calculating, would be sorely needed when the plague and famine +and cold came to take their toll among armies that already were thinned +by sickness and wounds. + +The American Red Cross, by the terms of the Treaty of Geneva, gives aid +to the invalided and the injured soldiers of any army and all the +armies. If any small word from me, attempting to describe actual +conditions, can be of value to the American Red Cross in its campaign of +mercy, I write it gladly. I wish only that I had the power to write +lines which would make the American people see the situation as it is +now--which would make them understand how infinitely worse that +situation must surely become during the next few months. + + + + +*How Paris Dropped Gayety* + +*By Anne Rittenhouse.* + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 23, 1914.] + + +On Friday night the Grand Boulevards were alive with people, motors, +voitures, singing, dancing, and each cafe thronged by the gayest light +hearts in the world. + +On Saturday night the boulevards were thronged with growling, ominous, +surging crowds, with faces like those of the Commune, speaking strong +words for and against war. + +On Sunday night mobs tore down signs, broke windows, shouted the +"Marseillaise," wreaked their vengeance on those who belonged to a +nation that France thought had plunged their country into ghastly war. +Aliens sought shelter; hotels closed their massive doors intended for +defense. Mounted troops corralled the mobs as cowboys round up +belligerent cattle. Detached groups smashed and mishandled things that +came in the way. + +Monday night a calm so intense that one felt frightened. Boulevards +deserted, cafes closed, hotels shuttered. Patrols of the Civil Garde in +massed formation. France was keeping her pledge to high civilization. +Yellow circulars were pasted on the buildings warning all that France +was in danger and appealing by that token to all male citizens to guard +the women and the weak. + +At daylight only was the dead silence broken; France was marching to war +at that hour. Will any one who was here forget that daily daybreak +tramp, that measured march of the thousands going to the front? Cavalry +with the sun striking the helmets; infantry with their scarlet overcoats +too large; aviators with their boxed machines, the stormy petrels of +modern war; and the dogs, veritably the dogs of war, going on the +humanest mission of all, to search for the wounded in the woods of +battle. + +And, side by side with the marching millions, on the pavement, were the +women belonging to them; the women who were to stay behind. + +As though the Judgment Trumpet had sounded, France was changed in the +twinkling of an eye. And added to that subconscious terror that lurked +in every American soul of another revolution--a terror that was +dispelled after the third day when France reached out her long arm and +mobilized her people into a strong component whole with but one heart, +was an inexplainable dread of this terrible calm. + +We knew about trained armies going to war, but here was a situation +where the Biblical description of the Last Day was carried out, the man +at the wheel dropped his work and was taken; he who was at the plowshare +left his furrow.... + +First we were afraid we would not have enough to eat. A famine was +prophesied, and the credulous who know nothing of the vast sources which +supply France with food clamored to get to England. Then there were +frenzied stories of hotels closing and prices soaring. None of which +happened or had any chance of happening. Food was never better, and +today we have fruit that melts in the mouth; fish that swims in the +sauce, the lack of which Talleyrand deplored in England; little green +string beans that no other country produces or knows how to cook. + +Prices never rose for the fraction of a sou. If one had a credit at a +hotel, all was well, but unless one had ready money in small notes, none +of the restaurants would accept an order. Here, and here only, was a +snag concerning food. It is true that women went for twenty-four hours +without food, but the reason was the lack of small change, not of +eatables. + +After the panic caused by a thousand rumors annexed to a dozen +disheartening and revolutionary conditions, after the people felt that +the Commune was the figment of imagination, not inspired prophecy; that +money was getting easier; that, above all, America was looking after its +own, though her move toward that end seemed to take months instead of +days, and because we counted by heart-beats, not calendars; after all +this, we found time and interest to observe the phenomena around us. We +began to feel ashamed of our petty madness on the worldly subject of +money and ships and safe passage home; our passionate, twentieth +century, overindulged selves who were neither fighting nor giving our +beloveds in battle, and who were harassing those who were in a death +struggle. Never throughout the centuries to come, whether the map of +Europe is changed or not, should the stranger within her gates ever +forget the courtesy of Paris. + +At night powerful searchlights backed up by artillery guard the city +from the monster of the air. + +This is fiction come true. It is Conan Doyle, Kipling, Wells come to +measure. From the moment of sunset until sunrise those comets with an +orbit patrol the skies. Pointing with blazing fingers to the moon and +the stars, to the horizon, they proclaim that Paris watches while her +people sleep. + +The idea has given comfort to thousands. You, in your safe, tranquil +homes, cannot know the pleasure it gives to look out of the window in +the wakeful nights and watch those wheeling comets circling, circling to +catch the Zeppelin that may come. + +And behind the light is the gun. Rooftop artillery! The new warfare! On +the roof of the fashionable Automobile Club on the Place de la Concorde +the little blue firing guns wheel with the blazing fingers. Always ready +to send shot and shell into a bulging speck in the sky that does not +return the luminous signals. So on the roof of the Observatoir, so on +the encircling environs; sometimes three, sometimes six, they are always +going. People stand in the streets to watch, hypnotized by the moment +into horizon gazing. There will be a speck in the sky; people grow +tense; the comet catches it; is that wigwagging on the roof, those +challenges in fire, returned? No. The speck passes; we breathe again. +And so it goes: a ceaseless centre of interest. It is the novelty of the +world war. + +The highest artillery in the world is on the Eiffel Tower. At its dizzy +top, pointing to the sky, are machine guns that are trained to fire at +an enemy's balloon. It is an answer to the prayer of the people that +these guns have not yet been used. + +But it is not only in the artillery on the top of the Eiffel Tower that +interest centres; it is in the wireless that sends the messages to land +and sea, safeguarding armies and navies, patrolling the earth and water. +Strange, isn't it, that the plaything of a nation has become its +safeguard? + +That was a stirring day when Paris sang "God Save the King." Gen. French +arrived from London, coming quietly to confer with M. Viviani, the +Minister for War, and with President Poincare. He was the first English +General to come to the aid of France since Cromwell commissioned the +British Ambassador to go to the aid of Anne of Austria. And the French +heart responded as only it can; the people stood, with raised hats, in +quadruple rows wherever he passed, as English, French, and foreign +voices sang a benediction to Britain's King. History was made there. + +That night Gen. French dined at the Ritz among a few friends. Even the +newspapers seemed not to know it, and those of us who had the good +chance to be there enjoyed him at leisure. He wore his field uniform of +khaki in strong contrast to the French Generals, who are always in +glittering gold, although he represents an empire and they a republic. +He is an admirable looking soldier, somewhat small of stature, firmly +knit, bronzed, white haired, blue eyed, calm. He spoke of their +responsibilities without exaggeration or amelioration. He did not make +light of the task before his soldiers, and his grave manner seemed a +prophecy of that terrible fight near Mons, above the French frontier, +which was so soon to take place and where English blood was freely +spilled for France's sake. + +Another day that we shall be glad we saw when it is written into the +narrative history of this Summer by some future Mme. Sevigne, was when +the first German flag arrived. Before it came, two soldiers exhibited a +German frontier post in front of a cafe on the boulevard, which started +the excitement, but the reception of the flag by the Government and its +placement in the Invalides, where is Napoleon's tomb, was an hour of +dramatic tenseness. + +The only music heard in Paris since the first day of August, the day of +mobilization, accompanied this flag to its resting place along with +those historic relics of former French victories. The procession went +over the Alexander Bridge, that superb structure dedicated in honor of +the Russian Czar, whose son is now fulfilling his pledge of friendship +to France. The flag was met at the Invalides by the old soldiers who +bore medals of the Franco-Prussian war. In the solemn inclosure, where +all stood at salute, the veterans stood with lances. The flag was +presented to an old sick soldier, who stumped forward on a wooden leg, +his breast covered with the medals of the Crimea and the Italian +campaign. He received it for France, and when it was placed over the +organ, the listening crowds that jammed the Place des Invalides heard +the singing of the "Marseillaise" by the cracked old voices first, then +by the sturdier younger voices, and so it joined in, this vast concourse +of solemn listeners. + +France has gone into this war with the spirit of the Crusaders, but the +spirit of French wit cannot be repressed even under the most terrifying +conditions. So after the news of the superhuman effort made by that +national baby, Belgium, in detaining the huge German forces for many +days, there was a placard on one of the gates at the station, placed +there by some gay refugee, saying that a train de luxe would leave for +Berlin the next day. + +It tickled the sensibilities of travelers very much, and it gave rise to +the sale of postcards by an enterprising soul. These cards gave one the +right, so they said, of a daily train to Berlin to visit the tomb of +Guillame. They were bought by the thousands as souvenirs of the war and +as one of the few things that caused a smile in this saddened city. + +Another incident that amused the people was the remark of a young +soldier who had single-handed taken some German prisoners, and who, when +asked whether he had done it by the revolver or the bayonet, answered +that he had only held out a slice of bread and butter and the Germans +had followed him. + +Amusement and irritation followed the order that all telephoning must be +done in French. The sensation produced depended on the temperament of +the person. Certainly queer things were said over the lines, and no one +could blame the "Allo girl" for laughing. The majority of Americans took +it in good part by saying that it was a French lesson for five cents. + +Another accomplishment that has been furthered in Paris during the last +three weeks is bicycle riding. With the paucity of transportation some +means of getting over the magnificent distances of this city had to be +found. So people who could ride rented bicycles, and those who had not +learned began to take lessons. The girls who work, and those who go on +errands for the Croix Rouge, wear a most attractive costume of pale blue +or violet. It has a short divided skirt, a slim blouse with +blue-and-white striped collar; there is a small hat to match, and the +young cyclists whirling around on their missions of mercy are a pleasant +sight for very sad eyes. + + + + +*Paris in October* + +[From The London Times, Oct. 21, 1914.] + + +PARIS, Oct. 19. + +The more one studies the life of Paris at the present time, and +especially its patriotic and benevolent activities, the more is one +impressed by the unanimous determination of its inhabitants to face +whatever may befall and to make the best of things. It is difficult to +realize at first sight how completely, in the hour of trial, the +traditional light-heartedness of the Parisian has been translated to a +fine simplicity of courage and devotion to the common cause and to a +high seriousness of patriotism. There is something splendidly impressive +and stimulating in the spectacle of civilization's most sensitive +culture suddenly confronted by the stern realities of a life-and-death +struggle, and responding unanimously to the call of duty. Without +hesitation or complaint, Paris has put away childish things, her toys, +her luxury, and her laughter; today her whole life reflects only fixed +purposes of united effort, of courage never, never to submit or yield, +and this splendid determination is all the more significant for being +undemonstrative and almost silent. + +We English people, who, observing chiefly the surface life of the French +capital, have generally been disposed to regard the Parisian temperament +as mutable and often impatient of adversity, must now make our +confession of error and the amende honorable; for nothing could be more +admirable than the attitude of all classes of the community in their +stoic acceptance of the sacrifices and sufferings imposed upon them by +this war at their gates. Especially striking is the philosophic +acquiescence of the city, accustomed to know and to discuss all things, +in the impenetrable [Transcriber: original 'impentrable'] veil of +secrecy which conceals the movements and the fortunes of the French +armies in the field. Go where you will, even among those of the very +poor who have lost their breadwinners, and you will hear few criticisms +and no complaints. The little midinette thrown out of employment, the +shopkeeper faced with ruin, the artist reduced to actual want--they also +are in the fighting line, and they are proud of it. The women of the +thrifty middle class consider it just as much their duty to devote their +savings of years to the common cause as their husbands and brothers do +to bear arms against the enemy; only in the last extremity of need do +they make appeal to the "Secours National" for assistance. And when they +do, they are well content to live on a maintenance allowance of 1s. a +day and 5d. for every child. + +The other Sunday morning at the hour of mass, when two German aeroplanes +were engaged in their genial occupation of throwing bombs over the +residential and business quarters of the city, I assisted at several +sidewalk conversations in the district lying between the Madeleine and +the Rue de Rivoli. Nowhere did I find the least sign of excitement. +Indeed, there was curiously little interest shown as to the results of +the explosions in that neighborhood; only a grim acceptance of this +daily visitation as something to be added to the score in the final day +of reckoning and some expression of surprise that the French aeroplanes +(supposed to be constantly on the alert for these visitors) should not +have found some means of putting an end to the nuisance. At the same +time I heard several spectators express their admiration of the German +aviators' courage and appreciation of the ease and grace with which they +handled their beautiful machines. In the cafes that evening, when the +full list of the casualties and damage had been published, one heard a +good deal of criticism, seasoned with Attic salt, on the subject of the +belated appearance of the French aeroplanes on the scene, and hopes that +the boulevards might soon be rewarded by the spectacle of a duel in the +air. They seem to think they have earned it. + +But in the afternoon all Paris was out--in the Jarden des Tuileries, in +the Bois, at Vincennes, basking in the sunshine of a glorious Autumn +day, Madame et Bebe bravely making the best of it in the absence of +Monsieur. (Not that Monsieur is always absent; the proportion of men in +the crowd, and men of serviceable age, was considerably larger than one +might have expected.) If the object of the German aviators is to instill +terror into the hearts of the Parisians they are wasting their time and +their bombs. + +Those people in London who complain about not being able to get supper +after the theatre, and other minor disturbances of their even tenor of +existence, should spend a few days in Paris. They would observe how +easily a community may learn to do without many things, and how the +lesson itself becomes a moral tonic, unmistakably stimulating in its +effects. + +Paris is reminded every morning of duty and discipline when it begins by +doing without its beloved petits pains and croissants for breakfast, the +order having gone forth that bakers, being short-handed, are to make +only pain de menage. Similarly, because the majority of journalists and +popular writers are under arms, Paris does without its accustomed daily +refreshment of ephemeral literature, its comic and illustrated press, +its literary and artistic causeries, its feuilletons, and chroniques. It +does without its theatres, its music halls, without politics, art, and +social amenities, without barbers, florists, and motor cars, partly +because there are not men enough to keep these things going, and partly +because, even if there were, la patrie comes first, so that thrifty +self-denial has become the duty of every good citizen. If the telephone +breaks down, (as it usually does,) there is no one to repair it, so the +subscriber goes without; if the trains and trams cease running on +regular schedules the Parisian accepts the fact and stays at home. + +In normal times life is made up of the sum of little things, but at +great moments the little things cease to count. How true this is in +Paris today one may judge from the correspondence and records of the +"Secours National"; they reveal an intense and widespread impulse of +personal pride in self-denial, and prove that the heart of the Parisian +bourgeoisie is sound to the core. + +To a foreigner, accustomed to the Paris of literary and artistic +traditions, perhaps the most remarkable feature in the life of the city +today lies in the absence of articulate public opinion, and apparently +of public interest, in everything outside the immediate issues of the +war. With one or two exceptions, such as the Temps and the Debats, the +press of the capital practically confines itself to recording the events +and progress of the campaign; nothing else matters. So far as Paris is +concerned, all the rest of the world, from China to Peru, might be +non-existent. Neither the political nor the economic consequences of the +war are seriously examined or discussed; the sole business of the +newspapers consists in supplementing, to the best of their abilities, +the meagre war news supplied through official channels. Some interest +attaches, of course, to the attitude of Italy; but, beyond that, all +things sublunary seem to have faded into a remote distance of +unreality--sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. + +The explanation [Transcriber: original 'explaantion'] of this attitude +of complete detachment lies, no doubt, chiefly in the fact that the men +who make and exchange political opinions have gone to Bordeaux, while +most of those who create and guide public (as distinct from political) +opinion, have exchanged the pen for the sword. Just as Paris, for want +of bakers, has only one kind of bread, so, for want of the men who +usually inspire public opinion, her press has concentrated upon one +absorbing idea, ecraser les allemands. Moreover, for want of printers +and of advertisers, most of the daily papers have now dwindled to +microscopic proportions. The virile intelligence of Paris journalism and +the nimble and adventurous inquisitiveness, which are its normally +distinguishing characteristics, have gone, like everything else, to the +front. As the editor of the Gil Blas says in a farewell poster to his +subscribers: "Youth has only one duty to perform in these days. Our +chief and all the staff have joined the colors. Whenever events shall +permit, Gil Blas will resume its cheerful way. A bien-tot." + + + + +*France and England As Seen in War Time* + +*An Interview With F. Hopkinson Smith.* + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY MAGAZINE, Dec. 6, 1914.] + + +F. Hopkinson Smith was in France when the war broke out, he spent +September in London, and is now back in New York. He has brought home +many sketches. Not sketches which suggest war in the least, but which +were made with the thought of the war lurking in the background. + +"Curiously enough," he said, without waiting for any opening question +from THE TIMES reporter--Mr. Smith often interviews himself--"curiously +enough, I was on my way to Rheims to make a sketch of the Cathedral when +the war broke out. I had started out to make a series of sketches of the +great European cathedrals. Not etchings, but charcoal sketches. + +"Let me say here, too, that cathedrals for the most part ought not to be +etched. You lose too many shadows, though you gain in line; but in the +etching you have to cross-hatch so heavily with ink that the result is +just ink, and not shadow at all. Charcoal gives you depth and +transparency. I was eager to do a series of the cathedrals, as I had +done a series for the Dickens and Thackeray books, and had planned to +give my, entire Summer to it. + +"I had been in London for some time. I had sketched in Westminster, in +St. Bartholomew's. Everything peaceful and quiet. It seems now as if we +ought to have felt--all of us, the people on the streets, I, +shopkeepers, every one--the approach of this tremendous war. But we +didn't, of course. No one in England had the faintest suspicion that +this terrible inhuman thing was going to happen. + +"I went on to France. I sketched Notre Dame, over which they exploded +shells a month or so later. I did some work in the beautiful St. +Etienne. I sauntered down into South Normandy and was stopping for a +little color work at the Inn of William the Conqueror before going on to +Rheims." + +These water colors of French farms, French inns, and French gardens are +glimpses caught at the very eleventh hour before France put on a totally +different aspect. + +"The war broke out. There at the quiet little French inn everything +suddenly changed color. It was quick, it was quiet. There was a complete +change in the snap of a finger. All the chauffeurs and the porters and +the waiters--men who had been there for years and with whom we who visit +there Summer after Summer have grown familiar--suddenly stopped work, +gave up their jobs, were turned into soldiers. One hardly recognized +them. + +"We were all stunned. I realized that I could not go on to Rheims, that +I probably should not get down into Italy. I scarcely realized at first +what that meant. I could not conceive, none of us could conceive," Mr. +Smith exploded violently, "that any one, under any necessity whatsoever, +should lay hands on the Rheims Cathedral. It's too monstrous! The world +will never forgive it, never! + +"The world is divided, I tell you! It is not a Double Alliance and a +Triple Entente; it is not a Germany and a Russia and a United States and +an Italy and an England. That is not the division of the world just now. +There are two sides, and only two sides. There is barbarism on the one +hand, civilization on the other; there is brutality and there is +humanity. And humanity is going to win, but the sacrifices are +awful--awful!" + +"How about the feeling in France, Mr. Smith?" + +"I can't tell you how overwhelmingly pathetic it is--the sight of these +brave Frenchmen. Every one has remarked it. Once and for all the +tradition that the French are an excitable, emotional people with no +grip on their passions and no rein on their impulses--that fiction is +dead for all time. + +"I saw that whole first act of France's drama. I saw the French people +stand still on that first day and take breath. Then I saw France set to +work. She was unprepared, but she was ready in spirit. There was no +excitement, there were no demonstrations. The men climbed into their +trains without any exhibitions of patriotism, without any outbursts. +There were many women crying quietly, with children huddled about their +skirts. + +"The spirit of England is different, but there is the same lack of +excitement. I chartered a motor bus when the war broke out and got to +Paris, and then went back to London, where I sketched for a month, saw +my friends, and talked war. + +"Making sketches in war time is very different, by the way, from making +sketches in time of peace. It is a business full of possibilities, when +all manner of spy suspicions are afloat. I made up my mind to do a +sketch of the Royal Exchange. Not as I should have done it a year +before, mind you, nor even three months before, but now, with the +thought of bomb-dropping Zeppelins in the back of my mind. It occurred +to me when I was hurrying along one rainy evening in a taxi past the +Stock Exchange, the Globe Insurance, the Bank of England. Everywhere +cabs drawn up along the curbing, cabs slipping past, people, great +moving crowds of people with their umbrellas up, moving off down +Threadneedle and Victoria. + +"A lot of human life and some very beautiful architecture and a good +part of the world's business, all concentrated here. And I thought to +myself what might happen should the cultured Germans get as far as +London, and should the defenders of the world's civilization drop a bomb +down into the heart of things here. I pictured to myself what havoc +could be wrought. + +"And I thought, too, of places like Southwark. Ever been in Southwark? +Horrible. A year before, when I was making the sketches for my Dickens +book, I spent a great deal of time in the Southwark section. Now, with +the prospect of Zeppelins, I thought again of Southwark. A bomb in a +Southwark street! Good Lord, can you imagine the horror of it! There +fifty or sixty families are packed into a single tenement, and the +houses in their turn are packed one against the next along streets so +narrow that the buildings seem to be nodding to each other, touching +foreheads almost. Desperately poor people, children swarming every +moment of the day and night up and down these dark stairways, up and +down these hideously dark streets. Now drop a bomb in the midst of it +all. That is what Englishmen are thinking of now. + +"I didn't go over into Southwark; I couldn't stand it. The next day I +went back to the Stock Exchange to make my sketch. I've done sketches in +London before--every nook and cranny of it--but this time I felt a +little nervous when I got there with my umbrella and my little tools. +But I managed it. I said to the bobby, I said--" + +And then Mr. Smith, getting up from his chair and relapsing into the +frown that always means he is going to tell a story, showed how he +managed it. It is impossible to reproduce Mr. Smith's inimitable manner. + +"'Are you, now?' said I. + +"'Well, 'ow can I tell?' said he. + +"'But if you're the excellent English bobby that I believe you to be,' +said I, 'you'll see at once that I'm an honest American artist just here +to do a little sketching.' + +"'I tell you,' said he. W'y don't you just pop hup and see 'Is Lordship +the Mayor?' + +"And so I did pop up and I told the Lord Mayor my troubles, and he waved +me a hearty wave of his hand and said he'd do anything to oblige an +American, and I came down again, and here was the bobby still very +upright but watching my approach from the tail of his eye. And I +pretended I had never seen him, but as I went past I slipped him a +cigar, and when I passed back again he twinkled his eye. Stuck between +the buttons of his coat, there being no other place, was my fat cigar. + +"I made my sketch of the Royal Exchange. I want Americans to see what +can happen if His Imperial Lowness over on the Continent sees fit to +send his Zeppelins to England. Not being big enough nor strong enough to +injure England vitally, he can take this method of injury, he can injure +women and children and maim horses, destroy business and works of art +and blow up the congested districts. + +"We have seen what the Savior of the World's Culture could do in France +and Belgium; it is small wonder that all England has in the back of her +head surmises as to what he might accomplish if some of his air craft +crossed the Channel. By which I do not mean to say that the English are +apprehensive. They are not nervous. I have spent more than a month with +them, among my own friends, learning the general temper of the country. + +"There are no demonstrations, there is no boasting, no display. London +is much the same as it always was. At night London is darkened, in +accordance with the order of Oct. 9, but that is about all the +difference. It is so dark that you can hardly get up Piccadilly, but +London takes her amusements about as usual. The theatres are not +overcrowded, but neither are they empty. For luncheons and for dinners +Prince's is full, the Carlton is full. The searchlights are playing over +the city looking for those Zeppelins. That is a new wrinkle to me; the +idea of blinding the men up there at the wheel with a powerful light is +a good one. + +"These Englishmen have their teeth set. They know perfectly well that +they are fighting for their existence. All this talk of the necessity of +drumming up patriotism in England is bosh. England has no organized +publicity bureau such as Germany, and in contrast she may have seemed +quiet to the point of apathy. But don't fancy that Englishmen are +apathetic. They are slow and they are sure. They are just beginning to +realize that they have these fellows by the back of the necks. Before I +left London I saw every day in the Temple Gardens, down by the +Embankment, that steady drill of thousands of young men in straw hats, +yellow shoes, and business suits. I felt their spirit. + +"There is a great fundamental difference between the spirit of Germany +and the spirit of the Allies, and the whole world has recognized it. +With the Allies there has been no boasting, even now when they realize +that the top is reached and this war is on the down grade. There is +determination, but there is no cock-sureness, no goose-step. There is +no insolence. + +"Why, in the last analysis, is the whole world against Germany? Because +of her insufferable insolence. It is an insolence which has been fairly +bred in the bone of every German soldier. I can give you a little +concrete instance. My daughter-in-law had been serving in one of the +Paris hospitals ever since the war broke out. She was finally placed on +a committee which was to meet the trainloads of wounded soldiers when +they first arrived. + +"In one of the cars one day there was a wounded officer, a German. He +spoke no French, and a young French Lieutenant, very courteous, was +trying to make him understand something. My daughter, too, had no +success. Finally a young German, a common soldier who was in the same +car, said to this German officer: 'I am an Alsatian; I can interpret for +you.' + +"'How dare you!' And the German officer turned to him in perfect fury. +'How do you, a common soldier, dare to speak to me, an officer!' And +with that he struck the Alsatian full in the face with what little +strength he had left. + +"Now there is an example of the attitude to which the German military +has been trained. + +"On another occasion, when a French officer, after one of the battles, +came courteously to the commanding German officer of the division and +said, 'Sir, you are my prisoner,' the German spat in his face. That is +all very dramatic and you may say that he showed much spirit, but you +could hardly call it a sporting spirit, surely not a civilized spirit. + +"It is this domineering spirit that the whole world is resenting. +Nothing that Germany can do through her well-organized press agents can +conceal that insolence which has been a continuous policy for many +years. American opinion is almost unanimous in its opposition to Germany +for this one reason. + +"Sir Gilbert Parker recently sent me a whole bundle of papers asking me +to judge England's case fairly and ask my friends in America to do the +same. I wrote back and asked him: 'Why do you waste stamps sending +evidence to America? America has the evidence, and if there has been any +anti-English feeling in America, von Bernstorff and Dernburg long since +demolished it.' + +"The world has never witnessed anything so far-reaching as this policy +of insolence. Men who in daily life are cultured and fine, whose ideals +are high and noble, who have achieved names for themselves in +literature, art, and science--we all have many friends among them--have +become unconsciously tinctured with this policy. They are intelligent +men, but, by the gods, when they get on this subject of Germany's place +in the sun, they become paranoiacs! This idea of their pre-eminence has +become a disease with Germany. Germany is actually sick with it, and the +medicine that will cure her will be pretty bitter. + +"I see that George Bernard Shaw presumes to announce that this policy of +insolence, this extreme militarism, has been just as prominent in +England and in France. Mr. Shaw is great fun and very wise about a lot +of things; moreover, he has lived in England a great deal longer than I +have, but just the same he is dead wrong when he makes such a statement. +I have many old friends in the army and the navy, many in politics, and +some of them are of the pronounced soldier, the militarist type. Not one +of them would ever dare to write such a book as Bernhardi has written, +and I don't believe there's one of them that would take any stock in a +man like Nietzsche. Mr. Shaw is dead wrong here; worse than that, he is +writing nonsense. + +"We live from day to day hoping that the end will be the absolute +annihilation of the militarist principle, this get-off-the-earth +attitude. + +"And what has all this," concluded Mr. Smith suddenly, "to do with art? +I'm sure I don't know. No one is thinking about art now." + +"But you haven't told me where your sympathies are in this war, Mr. +Smith." + +"Hey? I don't have any sympathies, as you see. I'm neutral as President +Wilson bids me be; I don't care who licks Germany, not even if it is +Japan." + + + + +*The Helpless Victims* + +*By Mrs. Nina Larrey Duryee.* + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, Sept. 9, 1914.] + + +Hotel Windsor. + +DINARD, France, Sept. 1, 1914. + +_To the Editor of The New York Times_: + +This is written in great haste to catch the rare boat to England. The +author is an American woman, who has spent nine happy Summers in this +beautiful corner of France, where thousands of her compatriots have +likewise enjoyed Brittany's kindly hospitality. + +Yesterday I saw issuing through St. Malo's eleventh century gates 300 +Belgian refugees, headed by our Dinard Mayor, M. Cralard. I try to write +calmly of that procession of the half-starved, terror-ridden throng, but +with the memory of those pinched faces and the stories we heard of +murder, carnage, burning towns, insulted women, it is difficult to +restrain indignation. They had come from Charleroi and Mons--old men, +women, and little children. Not a man of strength or middle age among +them, for they are dead or away fighting the barbarians who invested +their little country against all honorable dealings. + +Such a procession! They had slept in fields, eaten berries, carrots dug +from the earth by their hands; drunk from muddy pools, always with those +beings behind them who had driven them at the point of their bayonets +from their poor homes. Looking back, they had seen flames against the +sky, heard screams for pity from those too ill to leave, silenced by +bullets. + +Here are some of the tales, which our Mayor vouches for, which I heard: + +One young mother, who had seen her husband shot, tried to put aside the +rifle of the assassin. She was holding her year-old baby on her breast. +The butt of that rifle was beaten down, crushing in her baby's chest. It +still lives, and I heard it's gasping breath. + +Another young girl, in remnants of a pretty silk dress, hatless, her +fragile shoes soleless, and her feet bleeding, is quite mad from the +horrors of seeing her old father shot and her two younger brothers taken +away to go before the advancing enemy as shields against English +bullets. She has forgotten her name, town, and kin, and, "like a leaf in +the storm," is adrift on the world penniless. + +I saw sitting in a row on a bench in the shed seven little girls, none +of them more than six. Not one of them has now father, mother, or home. +None can tell whence they came, or to whom they belong. Three are +plainly of gentle birth. They were with nurses when the horde of +Prussians fell upon them, and the latter were kept--for the soldier's +pleasure. + +There is an old man, formerly the proud proprietor of a bakery, who +escaped with the tiny delivery cart pulled by a Belgian dog. Within the +cart are the remains of his prosperous past--a coat, photos of his dead +wife, and his three sons at the front, and a brass kettle. + +I heard from an aged man how he escaped death. He, with other villagers, +was locked into a room, and from without the German carbines were thrust +through the blinds. Those within were told to "dance for their lives," +and the German bullets picked them off, one by one, from the street. He +had the presence of mind to fall as though dead, and when the house was +set on fire crawled out through a window into the cowshed and got away. + +Now, these stories are not the worst or the only ones. Nor are these 300 +refugees more than a drop of sand on a beach of the thousands upon +thousands who are at this moment in like case. They are pouring through +the country now, dazed with trouble, robbed of all they possess. + +Who can help them, even to work? No one has money. Even those rich +villa people, Americans, are unable to pay their servants. There is no +"work" save in the fields garnering crops, for which no wages are paid. +Their country is a devastated waste, tenanted by the enemy, who spread +like a tidal wave of destruction in all directions. We take the better +class into our homes, clothe them and feed them gladly, that we may in a +minute way repay the debt civilization owes their husbands, sons, and +fathers. France, too, is invaded, and now thousands more of French are +homeless and penniless. + +We in this formerly gay, fashionable little town see nothing of the +pageantry of war--only its horrors, as trains leave with us hundreds of +wounded from the front. In their bodies we find dumdum bullets, and we +hear tales which confirm those of the refugees. + +Will America help them? I, an American woman, could weep for the +inadequacy of my pen, for I beg your pity, your compassion, and your +help. Not since the days of Rome's cruelty has civilization been so +outraged. + +I beg your paper to print this, and to start a subscription for this far +corner of France, where the tide of war throws its wreckage. The Winter +is ahead, and with hunger, cold, lack of supplies, and isolation will +create untold suffering. Paris, too, is now sending refugees from its +besieged gates. Every corner is already filled, and hundreds pour in +every day. The garages, best hotels, villas, and cafes are already +filled with "those that suffer for honor's sake." The Croix Rouge does +splendid work for the wounded soldiers, but who will help these victims +of war? Fifty cents will buy shoes for a baby's feet. Ten cents will buy +ten pieces of bread. A dollar will buy a widow a shawl. Who will give? +Deny yourselves some little pleasure--a cigar, a drink of soda water, a +theatre seat--and send the price to these starved, beaten people, +innocent of any crime. + +You American women, who tuck your children into their clean beds at +night, remember these children, reared as carefully as yours, without +relatives, money, or future. They will be placed on farms to do a +peasant's work with peasants. These women bereft of all that was dear +face a barren future. These aged men anticipate for their only remaining +blessing death, which will take them from a world which has used them +ill. + +America is neutral. Let her remain so, but compassion has no +nationality. We are all children of one Father. Send us help. These poor +creatures hold out to you pleading hands for succor. + +NINA LARREY DURYEE. + +P.S.--I beg you to publish this. I am the daughter-in-law of the Gen. +Duryee of the Duryee Zouaves, who fought through our civil war with +honor. Our Ambassador, Mr. Herrick, and his wife know me socially. Any +funds you can gather please send to M. Grolard, Marie de Dinard, +Municipality de Dinard, Ille-et-Vilaine, France, or to Le Banque Boutin, +Dinard, France. + + + + +*A New Russia Meets Germany* + +*By Perceval Gibbon.* + +[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, Oct. 26, 1914.] + + +VILNA, Russia, Sept. 28.--For a fact as great as Russia one needs a +symbol by which to apprehend it For me, till now, the symbol has been a +memory of Moscow in the Winter of 1905, the Winter of revolution, when +the barricades were up in the streets and the dragoons worked among the +crowds like slaughtermen in a shambles. Toward that arched gateway +leading from the Red Square into the Kremlin came soldiers on foot, +bringing with them prisoners dredged out of the turmoil, two armed men +to each battered and terrified captive, whose white and bloodstained +face stared startling and ghastly between the gray uniform greatcoats. +The first of them came to the deep arch, in whose recess is a lamplit +shrine; I stood aside to see them go past. The soldiers were wrenching +the man along by the arms, each holding him on one side; I recall yet +the prisoner's lean, miserable face, with the suggestion it had of +dissolute and desperate youth; and as they came abreast of the faintly +gleaming ikon in the gate they let him go for a moment. His dazed eyes +wandered up to the shrine; he was already bareheaded, and with a +shaking, uncertain hand he crossed himself in the intricate Russian +fashion. The soldiers who guarded him, too--they shuffled their rifles +to a convenient hold to have a right hand free; they crossed themselves +and their lips moved. Then they were through the arch and out upon the +snow within the walls, and once again they had hold of their man and +were thrusting him along to the prison which for him was the antechamber +of death. + +That was Russia then. Prisoner and captors, soldiers and +revolutionaries, blinded and bewildered by the rush and dazzle of +affairs, straining asunder yet linked, knitted into a unity of the +spirit which they neither understood nor questioned. + +But a week ago, on those still, dreary lands which border the Prussian +frontier, there was evidence of a Russia that has been born or made +since those hectic days in Moscow. The Germans who had forced Gen. +Rennenkampf to withdraw to the border were making an attempt to envelop +his left wing. Their columns, issuing from the maze of lakes and hills +in Masurenland, came across the border on both banks of the little River +Amulew, and fell upon him. There is a road in those parts that drifts +south along the frontier, an unmade, unholy Russian road, ribbed with +outcrops of stone, a purgatory to travel upon till the snow clothes it +and one can go by sledge. Away to the southwest, beyond the patches of +firwood and the gray, steeply [Transcriber: original 'steply'] rolling +land, there toned the far diapason of artillery; strings of army +transport, Red Cross vehicles, and miscellaneous men straggled upon the +road. + +From beyond the nearest shoulder of land sounded suddenly some gigantic +and hoarse whistle, an ear-shattering roar of warning and urgency. There +was shouting and a stir of movement; the wagons and Red Cross vans began +to pull out to one side; and over the brow of the hill, hurtling into +sight, huge, unbelievably swift, roaring upon its whistle, tore a great, +gray-painted motor lorry, packed with khaki-clad infantrymen. It was +going at a hideous speed, leaping its tons of weight insanely from rock +ridge to traffic-churned slough in the road; there was only time to note +its immensity and uproar and the ranked faces of the men swaying in +their places, and it was by, and another was bounding into sight behind +it. A hundred and odd of them, each with thirty men on board--three +battalions to reinforce the threatened left wing--a mighty instrument of +war, mightily wielded. It was Russia as she is today, under way and +gathering speed. + +At Rennenkampf's headquarters at Wirballen, where formerly one changed +trains going from Berlin to Petersburg, one sees the fashion in which +Russia shapes for war. Here, beneath a little bridge with a black and +white striped sentry box upon it, its muddy banks partitioned with +rotten planks into goose-pens, runs that feeble stream which separates +Russia from Germany. Upon its further side, what is left of Eydtkuhnen, +the Prussian frontier village, looms drearily through its screen of +willows--walls smoke-blackened and roofless, crumbling in piles of +fallen brick across its single street, which was dreary enough at its +best. To the north and south, and behind to the eastward, are the camps, +a city full, a country full of men armed and equipped; the mean and ugly +village thrills to the movement and purpose. On the roof of the +schoolhouse there lifts itself against the pale Autumn sky the cobweb +mast and stays of the wireless apparatus, and in the courtyard below and +in the shabby street in front there is a surge of automobiles, motor +cycles, mounted orderlies--all the message-carrying machinery of a staff +office. The military telephone wires loop across the street, and spray +out in a dozen directions over the flat and trodden fields; for within +the dynamic kernel to all this elaborate shell is Rennenkampf, the +Prussian-Russian who governs the gate of Germany. + +[Illustration: GEN. PAUL PAU +Commanding one of the French Armies +(_Photo from Underwood & Underwood._)] + +[Illustration: GEN. D'AMADE +Commanding One of the French Armies +(_Photo from Bain News Service._)] + +Here is the brain of the army. Its limbs go swinging by at all hours, in +battalions and brigades, or at the trot, with a jingle of bits and +scabbards, or at the walk, with bump and clank, as the gun wheels clear +the ruts. It is the infantry--that fills the eye--fine, big stuff, man +for man the biggest infantry in the world. + +Their uniform of peaked cap, trousers tucked into knee-boots, and khaki +blouse is workmanlike, and the serious middle-aged officers trudging +beside them are hardly distinguishable from the men. They have not yet +learned the use of the short, broad-bladed bayonets; theirs are of the +old three-cornered section type with which the Bulgarians drove the +Turks to Chataldja; but there is something else that they have learned. +Since the first days of the mobilization that brought them from their +homes there is not a man among them that has tasted strong drink. In +1904 the men came drunk from their homes to the centres; one saw them +about the streets and on the railways and in the gutters. But these men +have been sober from the start, and will perforce be sober to the end. + +Of all that elaborate and copious machinery of war which Russia has +built up since her failure in Manchuria there is nothing so impressive +as this. Her thousand and odd aeroplanes, her murderously expert +artillery, her neat and successful field wireless telegraph, even her +strategy, count as secondary to it. The chief of her weaknesses in the +past has been the slowness of her mobilization; Germany, with her plans +laid and tested for a mobilization in four days, could count on time +enough to strike before Russia could move. She used her advantage to +effect when Austria planted the seed of this present war by the +annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; she was able to present Russia in +all her unpreparedness with the alternatives of war in twenty-four hours +or accepting the situation. But this time it has been different. + +At Petrograd one sees how different. Hither from the northern and +eastern Governments come the men who are to swell Rennenkampf's force. +Their cadres, the skeletons of the battalions of which they are the +flesh, are waiting for them--officers, organization, equipment, all is +ready. The endless trains decant them; they swing in leisurely columns +through the streets to their depots, motley as a circus--foresters, +moujiks in fetid sheepskins, cattlemen, and rivermen, Siberians, +tow-haired Finns, the wide gamut of the races of Russia, all big or +biggish, with those impassive, blunt-featured faces that mask the +Russian soul, and all sober. No need now to make men of them before +making soldiers; no inferno at the way side-stations and troop trains +turning up days late. It is as if, at the cost of those annual +780,000,000 rubles, Russia had bought the clue to victory. + +West beyond Eydtkuhnen, under the pearl-gray northern sky, lies East +Prussia. Hereabout it is flat and fertile, with lavish, eye-fatiguing +levels of cornland stretching away to Insterburg and beyond to +Koenigsberg's formidable girdle of forts. Here are many villages, and +scattered between them innumerable hamlets of only two or three houses, +and a small town or two. Most of them are empty now; the German army +that leans its back on the Vistula's fortresses has cleared this country +like a dancing floor for its work. It has rearranged it as one +rearranges the furniture in a room; whole populations have been +transported, roads broken, bridges blown up, strategically unnecessary; +villages burned. Nothing remains on the ground that has not its purpose +assigned--not even the people, and their purpose has been clear for +some time past. The Russians have been over this ground already, and +fell back from it after their defeat between Osterode and Allenstein. +Their advance was through villages lifeless and deserted and over empty +roads; the retreat was through a country that swarmed with hostile life. +Roads were blocked with farm carts, houses along their route took fire +mysteriously, signaling their movement and direction, and answered from +afar by other conflagrations; bridges that had been sound enough before +blew up at the last moment. What the Belgians were charged with, and +their country laid waste for, all East Prussia is organized to do daily +as an established and carefully schooled auxiliary to the army. + +A few days since there arrived a prisoner, driven in on foot by a +mounted Cossack, sent back by the officer commanding the reconnoissance +party which had captured him. He came up the street, shuffling at a +quick walk to keep ahead of the horse and the thin, sinister Cossack--an +elderly farmer, in work-stained clothes, with the lean neck and pursed +jaws of a hard bargainer. In all his bearing and person there was +evident the man of toilsome life who had prospered a little; in that +soldier-thronged street, in his posture of a prisoner with the Cossack's +revolver at his back, he was conspicuous and grotesque. His eyes, under +the gray pent of his brows, were uneasy, and through all his commonplace +quality and his show of fortitude there was a gleam of the fear of death +that made him tragic. He had been found on his farm doing nothing in +particular; it was out of simply general suspicion that the Russian +officer had ordered him to be searched. The result was the discovery of +a typewritten paper, giving precise instructions as to how a German +civilian in East Prussia must act toward the enemy--how to signal +movements of infantry, of cavalry, of artillery; how to estimate the +numbers of a body of men, and what to say if questioned, and the like--a +document conceived and executed with true Prussian exactitude and +clearness, a masterpiece in the literature of espionage. + +For him there was no hope; even The Hague Convention, which permits +mine-laying, does not protect spies, however earnestly and dangerously +they serve their country. He passed, always at the same forced shuffle +of reluctant feet, toward his judges and his doom. + + + + +*Belgian Cities Germanized* + +*By Cyril Brown,* + +Staff Correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES. + + +BRUSSELS, Nov. 4.--Of all the war capitals of Europe, Brussels under the +German occupation is probably the gayest and the most deceptive. It +certainly outrivals Berlin in life and brilliancy, as Berlin outshines +London. The Germans are free spenders afield; their influx here by +thousands has put large sums of money into circulation, resulting in a +spell of artificial, perhaps superficial, prosperity. + +The crowds surging all day up and down the principal shopping street, +the Rue Neuve, overflow the sidewalks and fill the street. Well-dressed +crowds promenade along the circular boulevard all afternoon and into the +night. Places of amusement and the cafes are crowded. The hundreds of +automobiles loaded with officers speeding about the streets, with +musical military horns blowing, add to the gay illusion. + +Nowhere save at the Great Headquarters in France, where the Kaiser stays +when not haranguing his troops at the front, will you see such a +brilliant galaxy of high officers--and every day seems a holiday in +Brussels. + +You catch the sinister undercurrent in the more obscure little cafes. +Here you will find some Belgian patriot who is glad of the chance to +unbosom himself to a safe American. Perhaps he will speak with +unprintable bitterness of the shame of the Brussels women who, he says, +wave handkerchiefs and smile friendly greetings at the singing troop +trains passing through the suburbs on their way to the front, or give +flowers and cigars to the returning streams of wounded. They ought to be +shot as traitresses, he says. For the honor of the Belgian women, he +adds, these form only a small percentage. + +You are not surprised when well-informed neutral residents tell you that +these people "have murder in their hearts, and that if the Germans ever +retreat in a rout through Belgium, Heaven help the straggler and the +rear guard." Nor that copies of English papers, whose reading is +forbidden, are nevertheless smuggled in, and that copies of The London +Times fetch as high as 200 francs, reading circles being often formed at +20 francs per head. + +But there are no hopeful signs here of a German retreat. Brussels has +not been "practically evacuated." On the contrary, one gets +overwhelmingly the impression that the Germans expect to stay forever. +No cannon are posted on commanding avenues or squares. There are no +serious measures for the defense of the capital. The military and civil +Governments occupy the principal public buildings, and seem to be +working with typical German thoroughness. The Government offices begin +to assume an air of permanence. + +As conquerors go, the invaders seem to be bearing themselves well. There +is apparently no desire to "rub it in," the military Government +seemingly pursuing the wise policy of trying to spare the feelings of +the natives as much as possible, perhaps in the impossible hope of +ultimately conciliating them. German flags are flown sparingly. Only +small squads of Landsturm are now occasionally seen marching through the +streets. Even from the bitterest Belgians one hears no stories of +"insult, shame, or wrong." + +At the same time, swift and harsh punishment is meted out to any one +whose actions are thought to tend to impair German military authority or +dignity. Thus placards posted on many street corners day before +yesterday informed the people that a Belgian city policeman had been +sentenced to five years' imprisonment for "interfering with a German +official in the discharge of his duty, assaulting a soldier, and +attempting to free a prisoner." For this, also, a fine of 5,000,000 +france ($1,000,000) was imposed on the City of Brussels. Another +policeman was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for alleged similar +offenses. + +An interesting history of the German occupation can be reconstructed +from these same placards pasted on buildings. Here is one, dating from +the early days, forbidding bicycle riding in the country and announcing +that civilian cyclists will be shot at sight. If you look long enough +you can also find a mutilated specimen of ex-Burgomaster Max's famous +"dementi," in which he virtually calls the German Military Governor of +Liege and, by implication, the German Government, "liar." The Bruxellois +must be fickle and quick to forget, for I did not hear the picturesque +Max's name mentioned once. + +The realities of the military occupation are brought home to the people +perhaps most at the Gare du Nord and the Place de la Gare, where the +Civic Guards, in their curious comic opera caps, are reinforced by +German gendarmes with rifles slung over their shoulders. Civilians are +not allowed to cross this square in front of the railway station. "Keep +to the sidewalk" is the brusque order to those who stray. Also the park +in front of the Royal Palace is closed to the public. Three bright red +gasoline tank wagons among the trees give it an incongruous touch, while +the walks and drives are used as an exercising ground for officers' +mounts. All the windows of the Royal Palace are decorated with the sign +of the Red Cross. + +Brussels just now is humorously a victim of the double standard--not +moral, but financial. All kinds of money go here on the basis of 1 mark +equaling 1 franc 25 centimes, but shopkeepers still fix prices and +waiters bring bills in francs, and when payment is tendered in marks you +generally get change in both--a proceeding that involves elaborate +mathematical computations. At the next table to you in the restaurant of +the Palace Hotel, once a favorite stopping place for Anglo-American +travelers, but now virtually an exclusive German officers' club, with +the distinction of a double guard posted at the front door, sits a +short, fiercely mustached General of some sort--evidently a person of +great importance from the commotion his entry caused among all the other +officers in the room. In his buttonhole he wears the Iron Cross of the +second class, the Iron Cross of the first class pinned to his breast, +and underneath the rare "Pour le Merite Order, with Swords." His bill +amounts to about 7 francs, for he consumed the regular 4-franc table +d'hote, plus a full bottle of red Burgundy. He tenders a blue 100-mark +bill in payment and gets in return a baffling heap of change, including +1 and 2 franc Belgium paper notes, 5 and 10 mark German bills, Belgian +and German silver, and Belgian nickel coins with holes punched in the +centres. The General takes out his pencil and begins elaborate +calculations on the menu--then sends for the head waiter. It takes some +time and much talk to convince him that he is not being "short changed." +The double standard furnishes many of these humorous interludes. + +Equally exasperating is the double time standard. The Germans set their +official clocks and watches by Berlin time, but have made no attempt to +force it on the natives, who continue loyal to Belgian time, which is +one hour behind Berlin. + +Brand Whitlock, the American Minister to Belgium, who runs a strong risk +of having a statue erected to him some day by the grateful Belgian +people, is quite the happiest, most relieved-looking person in Brussels +since he heard the good news that all America was hard at work +collecting food for the Belgians and that England would not prevent its +delivery. Soon after the German occupation of Brussels a committee was +organized to give food to the poor here, of which Mr. Whitlock and the +Spanish Minister were patrons. Three weeks ago the Ministerial allies +discovered that the situation was exceedingly grave, not only here but +all over Belgium. Committees came to see Mr. Whitlock from Louvain, +Liege, Namur, Charleroi, Mons, Dinant, &c., and the people, I was told, +were within four weeks of absolute starvation. Mr. Whitlock got the +German Military Governor of Belgium, Field Marshal von der Goltz, to +give the Spanish Minister and himself a guarantee in writing that any +food sent in for the poor Belgians would not be requisitioned for the +German Army. + +The next thing was to get the permission of England; so two weeks ago +Secretary Gibson was sent to London with Baron Lambert, a banker, and M. +Franqui to get England's permission as well as a first shipment of food. +Two weeks ago Mr. Whitlock sent a long letter to the State Department +and to President Wilson, asking them to do something. At least one +phrase of Mr. Whitlock's coinage has been going the rounds here. In the +various preliminary discussions as to whose responsibility it was to +take care of the Belgian people there was considerable talk about Hague +conventions. "Starving people can't eat Hague conventions" was his +answer. + +Minister Whitlock also feels vastly relieved that he has got practically +all non-official Americans out of Belgium, the twoscore still here being +mostly resident business men, with a sprinkling of the boldest tourists, +who are staying "to see the fun," in spite of Ministerial warnings. + +Mr. Whitlock believes he has broken the world's record by being eight +Ministers at once. At one time he was representing Germany, Austria, +Great Britain, Japan, Servia, Denmark, and Lichtenstein. When he told a +German officer that he represented Lichtenstein--which is said to be a +small sovereign State somewhere, dependent on Austria--the officer +laughed and said: "Theoretically, Germany is still at war with +Lichtenstein and has been since 1866, it having been overlooked in the +peace shuffle." The reason for representing Denmark, which isn't at war +with anybody, is that the Danish Minister is equally accredited to +Belgium and The Hague, and had no Secretary to leave behind when he +departed Hagueward. Of course, the American flag does not fly over the +Danish Legation here. In addition, the French and Russian interests were +also offered to Mr. Whitlock, but he was so full of responsibility that +he had to ask to be excused. + + * * * * * + +LOUVAIN, Nov. 5.--Louvain now presents the ghastly spectacle of a dead +city, buried under ruins, slowly coming to life again, and continues to +give full scope to the morbid streak in human nature; for sightseers +continue to flock here in increasing numbers from Antwerp, Brussels, +and, in fact, all over Belgium, excepting from over the deadline of the +operating zone. With the Bruxellois especially the trip is a favorite +outing on a pleasant Sunday. The Germans have succeeded in restoring the +train service to the extent of two passenger trains daily between here +and Brussels and one between here and Antwerp, and the military +authorities pursue a surprisingly liberal policy in giving traveling +passes to the Belgian population. In addition to those who come by +train, a steady procession of automobiles passes through all day; and +next week, when a Berlin-Brussels express service is to be started, the +local touring season will have a further boom. + +About 5 per cent of the original population have come crawling back, and +the three companies of Landsturm garrisoned here, together with the +sightseers, form their source of revenue. The more courageous +shopkeepers who have come back and reopened their stores are coining +money as never in peace times--especially the little confectionery and +pastry shops, where the soldiers off duty come for afternoon coffee, +and the one tailor's shop which is open. Workmen are putting the +finishing touches to the new pine-board roof on the cathedral and are +making efforts to "restore" the stone exterior. The famous Gothic Hotel +de Ville is now protected by a high board fence, and two bearded +Landsturm men mount guard there day and night. A gang of laborers is +making headway in cleaning up the interior of the hopelessly ruined +University Library, and the streets are all cleared of debris. The +academic halls of the main university building, which suffered little +damage, are not silent, for one of the Landsturm companies is quartered +there. I found half a hundred of them and two cows in the university +quadrangle or campus. The men were all unshaven, but of a good-natured +sort, and many were the rough German jokes as they watched a comrade +milking the cows preparatory to their slaughter on the spot by the +company butcher, who stood in waiting, while at the same time the +gray-haired university castellan was getting ready to take a time +exposure of the cows. + +"And yet they say we Germans are barbarians," laughed an under officer. +"I bet you won't find that the French soldiers, or the highly civilized +English gentlemen, either, have a photographer come to take a picture of +the cows they are about to eat." + +The venerable university guardian continued to do a brisk business +making group pictures and solo portraits of Landsturm under officers and +men at two francs per dozen postcards, till a Lieutenant appeared on the +scene and the bugle sounded in the court for "boot inspection." All +promptly lined up in double file against the brick university wall and +presented feet for the critical eye of the inspector--all except the +company cooks, who were busy among their pots and pans and open-air cook +stoves set up in the academic stone portico. + +The last of the former students of the University of Louvain was +probably the well-dressed, meek-looking young Chinese, eating luncheon +at the near-by restaurant--the only one open in town. The German +soldiers, fortunately, did not mistake him for a Japanese, and he has +not been molested. + +There are touches of grim humor among the ruins. Here on the main +street, for example, is a pink placard stuck on a stick on top of the +heap of brick and mortar that was once a store. It reads: "Elegant +corsets: Removed to Rue Malines 21." And again, on a number of houses +that escaped the torch are pasted neatly printed little signs bearing +the legend: "This house is to be protected. Soldiers are not allowed to +enter houses or to set fire to them without orders from the +Kommandantur." + +The inhabitants who have no stores to keep seem continually to wander +aimlessly in the streets; and here, too, is the sight, common now all +over Belgium, of many women with children begging. Especially they +linger around the entrances to the barracks, for hunger has given them a +keen nose for bread, and they have soon learned that the soldier will +give them what they have left over from their ample rations. The German +Government is trying to stimulate the return of the population, and is +apparently doing its best to help them to earn a living by providing +work. + + * * * * * + +ANTWERP, Nov. 6.--The Germans are working incessantly to repair the +fortifications of Antwerp, mount new and heavier guns, and put the whole +place into a state of defense. The importance attached to their almost +feverish activities is indicated by the fact that Field Marshal von der +Goltz, the Military Governor of Belgium, ran over from Brussels and made +a tour of inspection of the double girdle of forts yesterday. His +Excellency von Frankenberg and Ludwigsdorf, Personal Adjutant of the +Military Governor of Antwerp, said to me in the course of a cordial +interview: + +"We have two principal interests in our work here: First, that Antwerp +shall become a place of great military importance again and be prepared +against attacks from the enemy, although that contingency doesn't seem +very probable." + +His Excellency was unwilling to hazard a guess as to how long the +Germans could hold Antwerp against an allied siege, but said: "I believe +we could hold out longer against the Allies than they did against the +Germans. Our second interest is to revive trade and industry and the +life of the city generally. When we first came here there were only +soldiers and hungry dogs on the streets; now, as you can see, the dead +city is coming to life in short order." + +He scouted the idea that the people of Belgium had been or were on the +brink of starvation as the result of German occupation, saying that the +very contrary was the case. "Belgium is a country which cannot sustain +itself--it produces only enough food for roughly 3,000,000 out of its +5,000,000 population, because Belgium is an industrial country, and food +for the remaining 2,000,000 has to be imported. Heretofore most of this +food has come from Holland, whence some is still coming, but in no great +quantity. We have taken the problem of food supply up with the Belgian +Government, as much as there is one left, namely, with the +municipalities, and at our suggestion an 'Intercommunistic Commission' +has been organized, so that everything possible can be done to help the +country. This commission sits in Brussels, and when any town or village +or district has no more food on hand the fact is reported and it gets +from the commission what is required. What food supplies we found here +we took charge of to prevent their being plundered, and also because we, +as a belligerent, had to supply our own necessities; that is the right +of war. But by no means have we used up all the food supplies ourselves, +nor set them aside for our own use; but a large part has been set aside +for this commission, to be used for the poor, and another part will be +given back in a short time for trade purposes, so that commerce will be +revived again. + +"There is no place in Belgium where the people have starved. Their most +pressing need now would appear to be money, for many are unemployed and +many others disinclined to work. At one place where we were told the +people were starving we found stores crammed full of food--but the +inhabitants had no money and the shopkeepers wouldn't give them credit. + +"Everything is being done by us to revive business so that the people +can again earn money. If America had not been so tender-hearted as to +send foodstuffs, and if the food supply had run out, we should certainly +have considered it our duty to bring food from Germany, for we are for +the time being the Government here, and it is our duty to see that the +people do not starve." + +German newspaper readers are not aware that their Kaiser had a narrow +escape from the bombs of the Allies' airmen at Thielt, for the fact of +the War Lord's recent invasion of Belgium has been kept as nearly a dead +secret as possible. I learned from an especially well-informed source in +Brussels that the object of the Kaiser's visit was not only to encourage +his troops but to reprove his Generals. According to this informant, who +is frequently in touch with high officers in their more mellow moods, +when military reticence somewhat relaxes, the Kaiser was said to be in a +towering rage at the failure of his army to make headway against the +English and Belgians on the coast, and to have decided to go in person +to see about it; also there has been considerable cautiously veiled +criticism of his persistent "interference" in the conduct of the +campaign. + +Having last seen the Kaiser two weeks ago motoring at the German Great +Headquarters in Eastern France, I picked up his trail at Louvain, +through which place he passed by night a week ago in a special train in +the direction of Lille, after a scouting pilot engine had returned and +reported "all safe." On his return journey from Flanders he was rumored +to have "put up" at the Palais d'Arenberg in Brussels. + +It is significant that the following notice has been placarded on the +outside of the building occupied by the Military Government, next door +to the Hotel St. Antoine: "Reports that the French and English are +marching on Antwerp are without foundation; the public is warned against +helping to circulate these false reports." All day crowds hang about the +door where this notice is posted among official German news bulletins. +The burghers of Antwerp are well informed about the varying fortunes of +the war, for several papers printed in French are allowed to appear, +under the German censorship, which seems surprisingly easygoing here and +eminently fair, allowing them to print not merely the official German +accounts circulated by the Wolff Bureau, but the official English, +French, Russian, and even Belgian bulletins as well, in addition to +matter copied from the Dutch papers, which are also allowed to circulate +here. + +If things look doubtful in the north, the Germans are looking +confidently to the south, where the next big victory is hoped for. I +learn that Gen. von Beseler, "the conqueror of Antwerp," as his popular +picture postcard title reads, is now in charge of operations around +Verdun, and that four of the new 42-centimeter mortars, in addition to +more than thirty of the 30.5-centimeter, are already in place there. On +the strength of this combination well-informed German officers +confidently expect the quick fall of Verdun as soon as Beseler gives the +order for the "Brummers" to speak--rather high-priced oratory, for I was +told by an artillery officer that it cost the taxpayers 36,000 marks +($9,000) every time one of the 42-centimeter mortars was fired. + + + + +*The Belgian Ruin* + +*By J.H. Whitehouse, M.P.* + +[An Associated Press Interview, Published Oct. 2, 1914.] + + +LONDON, Oct. 1.--A graphic picture of the desolation of Belgium was +brought to London today by J.H. Whitehouse, member of Parliament from +Lanarkshire, who has just returned from a tour around Antwerp for the +purpose of assisting in the relief measures. + +"Having always regarded war as the negation of all that is good," said +Mr. Whitehouse tonight, "I desired to see what its ravages were in a +country exposed to all its fury, and what steps were possible to +mitigate them. I do not think that any one here has realized the plight +of the civilian population of Belgium today, and can only attempt to +give any picture of this by describing some of my own experiences." + +Mr. Whitehouse made the journey outside Antwerp with two military cars, +attended by Belgian officials. In describing the damage which he says +the Belgians had to inflict upon themselves to supplement the defenses +of Antwerp, he said: + +"Hundreds of thousands of trees had been cut down, so that at some +points of our journey we had the impression of passing through a +wilderness of roots. The tree trunks had all been removed so as to +afford no cover to the enemy. All houses had been blown up or otherwise +destroyed. Later we passed through the country which had been flooded as +a further measure of defense. The damage resulting from these +precautionary measures alone amounted to L10,000,000, ($50,000,000.) + +"In the villages all ordinary life was arrested. Women and children were +standing or sitting dumb and patient by the roadside. Half way to +Termonde we could plainly hear the booming of guns and saw many +evidences of the battle which was then raging. + +"I had read newspaper accounts of the destruction of Termonde and had +seen photographs, but they had not conveyed to my mind any realization +of the horror of what actually happened. Termonde a few weeks ago was a +beautiful city of about 16,000 inhabitants--a city in which the dignity +of its buildings harmonized with the natural beauty of its situation, a +city which contained some buildings of surpassing interest. + +"I went through street after street, square after square, and I found +every house entirely destroyed with all its contents. It was not the +result of the bombardment; it was systematic destruction. In each house +a separate bomb had been placed, which had blown up the interior and set +fire to the contents. All that remained in every case were portions of +the outer walls, which were still constantly falling, and inside the +cinders of the contents of the buildings. Not a shred of furniture or +anything else remained. + +"This sight continued throughout the entire extent of what had been a +considerable town. It had an indescribable influence upon observers +which no printed description or even pictorial record could give. This +influence was increased by the utter silence of the city, broken only by +the sound of the guns. + +"Of the population I thought that not a soul remained. I was wrong, for +as we turned into a square where the wreck of what had been one of the +most beautiful of Gothic churches met my eyes a blind woman and her +daughter groped among the ruins. They were the sole living creatures in +the whole town. + +"Shops, factories, churches, and houses of the wealthy--all were +similarly destroyed. One qualification only have I to make of this +statement: Two or perhaps three houses bore the German command in chalk +that they were not to be burned. These remained standing, but deserted, +amid the ruins on either side. Where a destroyed house had obviously +contained articles of value looting had taken place. + +"I inquired what had become of the population. It was a question to +which no direct reply could be given. They had fled in all directions. +Some had reached Antwerp, but a greater number were wandering about the +country, panic-stricken and starving. Many were already dead. + +"What happened at Termonde was similar to what had happened in other +parts of Belgium under military occupation of Germany. The result is +that conditions have been set up for the civilian population throughout +the occupied territory of unexampled misery. Comparatively few refugees +have reached this country. Others remain wandering about Belgium, +flocking into other towns and villages, or flying to points a little way +across the Dutch frontier. + +"Sometimes when a town has been bombarded the Germans have withdrawn and +the civilians have returned to their homes, only to flee again at the +renewed attack. A case in point is Malines, which, on Sunday last, as I +was about to try to reach it, was again bombarded. The inhabitants were +then unable to leave, as the town was surrounded, but when the +bombardment ceased there was a great exodus. + +"The whole life of the nation has been arrested. Food supplies which +would ordinarily reach the civilian population are being taken by the +German troops for their own support. The peasants and poor are without +the necessities of life, and conditions of starvation grow more acute +every day. Even where there is a supply of wheat available the peasants +are not allowed to use their windmills, owing to the German fear that +they will send signals to the Belgian Army. + +"We are, therefore, face to face with a fact which has rarely, if ever, +occurred in the history of the world--an entire nation is in a state of +famine, and that within half a day's journey of our own shores. + +"The completeness of the destruction in each individual case was +explained to me later by the Belgian Ministers, who described numerous +appliances which the German soldiers carried for destroying property. +Not only were hand bombs of various sizes and descriptions carried, but +each soldier was supplied with a quantity of small black disks a little +bigger than a sixpenny piece. I saw some of these disks which had been +taken from German soldiers on the field of battle. These were described +to me as composed of compressed benzine. When lighted they burned +brilliantly for a few minutes, and are sufficient to start whatever fire +is necessary after the explosion of a bomb. + +"To the conditions of famine and homelessness which exist on such a +stupendous scale there must be added one which is bad--the mental panic +in which many survivors remain. I understood how inevitable this was +when I saw and heard what they passed through; eyewitnesses of +unimpeachable character described the sufferings of women and children +at Liege. As they fled from their burning houses, clinging to their +husbands and fathers, they were violently pulled from them and saw them +shot a few yards from them. + +"I should supplement what I have said regarding the condition of Belgium +with some reference to Antwerp itself, where the excited Government now +sits. It is a wonderful contrast to the rest of the country, and the +first impression of the visitor is that there is little change between +its life now and in the days of peace. I approached it by water, and in +the early morning it rose before me like a fairy city. Its skyline was +beautifully broken by the spires and towers of its churches, including +the incomparable Gothic Cathedral. + +"When I entered its shops were open, its streets crowded, and everywhere +there was eager activity. By midday the streets became congested. Early +editions of the papers were eagerly bought and great crowds assembled +wherever a telegram giving news could be read. This continued until +early evening, but by 8 o'clock a most extraordinary change had fallen +upon the city. + +"Not a light of any kind in house or shop was to be seen. No lamps were +lit in the streets and the city was plunged into absolute darkness. Not +a soul remained in the streets. To the darkness there was added profound +silence. It was as though this amazing city had been suddenly blotted +out." + + + + +*The Wounded Serb* + +[From The London Times, Oct. 18, 1914.] + + +VALIEVO, Sept. 25. + +Valievo lies at the terminus of a narrow-gauge railway which joins the +Belgrade-Salonika line at Mladinovatz. Along this single track of iron +road the entire transport of the Servian Army is being effected. +Westward come trains packed with food, fodder, munitions, and troops; +eastward go long convoys crowded with maimed humanity. At Mladinovatz +all this mass of commissariat and suffering must needs be transferred +from or to the broad-gauge line. In this situation lies not the least of +the problems which beset the Servians in their struggle with the +Austrian invaders. + +Valievo itself is a picturesque little town which in peace time is +famous as the centre of the Servian prune trade. Its cobbled streets +are, in the main, spacious and well planned. There still remain a few +relics of the Turkish occupation--overhanging eaves, trellised windows, +and the like--but these one must needs seek in the by-ways. I picture +Valievo under normal conditions as one of the most attractive of Balkan +townships. + +Nor has the tableau lost anything in the framing, for it is encircled by +a molding of verdant hills which run off into a sweep of seeming endless +woods. The vista from my hotel window is almost aggravatingly English. +Across the red-tiled roofs of intervening cottages rises the hillside--a +checkerboard of grassy slopes and patches of woodland intersected by a +brown road which runs upward until the summit, surmounted by a +whitewashed shrine, amid a cluster of walnut trees, touches the gray +sky. + +But Valievo is not now to be seen under normal conditions. From the +street below rises the sound of clatter and creak as the rude oxen +wagons bump over the cobblestones. Morning, noon, and night they rumble +along unceasingly, and whenever I look down I see martial figures clad +in tattered, muddy, and blood-stained uniforms, with rudely bandaged +body or head or foot. Every now and then a woman breaks from the crowd +of waiting loiterers and rushes up to a maimed acquaintance. They +exchange but a few sentences, and then she turns, buries her head in her +apron, and stumbles along the street wailing a bitter lament for some +husband, brother, or son who shall return no more. A friend supports and +leads her home; but the onlooking soldiers regard the scene with +indifference and snap out a rude advice "not to make a fuss." They brook +no wailing for Serbs who have died for Servia. + +The town itself has been transformed into one huge camp of wounded. All +adaptable buildings--halls, cafes, school-rooms--have been rapidly +commandeered for hospitals. Sometimes there are beds, more often rudely +made straw mattresses, for little Servia, worn out by two hard wars, is +ill-equipped to resist the onslaught of a great power. For 16 days a +fierce battle has been raging near the frontier, and wounded have been +pouring in much more rapidly than accommodation can be found for them. + +And in the streets--what misery! The lame, the halt, the maimed. Men +with damaged leg or foot hopping along painfully by the aid of a +friendly baton; men nursing broken arms or shattered hands; men with +bandaged heads; men being carried from operating shops to cafe floors; +men with body wounds lying on stretchers--all with ragged, +blood-bespattered remnants of what once were uniforms. One sees little +of the glory of war in Valievo. The Servian Medical Staff, deprived on +this occasion of outside assistance, and short alike of doctors, +surgeons, nurses, and material, is striving heroically to cope with its +task. Where they have been able to equip hospitals the work has been +very creditably done. One building is almost exclusively devoted to +cases where amputations have been necessary. It is clean, orderly, and +the patients are obviously well cared for. Here, when I entered a ward +of some thirty beds in which every man lay with a bandaged stump where +his leg should be, I think I saw the Servian spirit at its best. They +had been newly operated upon, their sufferings must have been great, and +for them all the future is black with forebodings. There is no patriotic +fund in little Servia. Yet amid all the pain of body and uncertainty of +mind that must have been theirs they did not complain. All they desired +to know was whether the Schwaba (Austrians) had been beaten out of +Servia. + +But it is when one leaves the organized hospitals and wends one's way +through the crowds of wounded who block the pavements, and enters a +lower-class cafe, that the appalling tragedy of it all fills even the +spectator with a sense of hopelessness. There, like cattle upon their +bed of straw, lie sufferers from all manner of hurts. They remain mute +and uncomplaining, just as they have been dropped down from the incoming +oxen transports. Their wounds--three, four, or five days old--have yet +received no attention save the primitive first-aid of the battlefield. +Blood poisoning is setting in; limbs that prompt dressing would have +saved are fast becoming victims for the surgeon's knife. Most of them +know the risk they run, for this is their third war--often, too, their +third wound--in two short years. Yet the doctors cannot come, because +every man of them is already doing more than human energy allows. It is +a heartrending sight to look down upon this helpless mass and to realize +that many of them have been sentenced to painful death for mere lack of +primitive medical attention. + +One wonders whether, now that half Europe has been transformed into a +vast slaughterhouse, appeals for sympathy can be other than in vain. + + + + +*ANOTHER "HAPPY THOUGHT."* + +By WINIFRED ARNOLD. + + +The world is so full + Of a number of Kings!-- +That's probably what is the + Matter with things. + + + + +*Spy Organization in England* + +*British Home Office Communication, Oct. 9.* + + +In view of the anxiety naturally felt by the public with regard to the +system of espionage on which Germany has placed so much reliance and to +which attention has been directed by recent reports from the seat of +war, it may be well to state briefly the steps which the Home Office, +acting on behalf of the Admiralty and War Office, has taken to deal with +the matter in this country. The secrecy which it has hitherto been +desirable in the public interest to observe on certain points cannot any +longer be maintained owing to the evidence which it is necessary to +produce in cases against spies that are now pending. + +It was clearly ascertained five or six years ago that the Germans were +making great efforts to establish a system of espionage in this country, +and in order to trace and thwart these efforts a Special Intelligence +Department was established by the Admiralty and the War Office which has +ever since acted in the closest co-operation with the Home Office and +metropolitan police and the principal provincial police forces. In 1911, +by the passing of the Official Secrets act, 1911, the law with regard to +espionage, which had hitherto been confused and defective, was put on a +clear basis and extended so as to embrace every possible mode of +obtaining and conveying to the enemy information which might be useful +in war. + +The Special Intelligence Department, supported by all the means which +could be placed at its disposal by the Home Secretary, was able in three +years, from 1911 to 1914, to discover the ramifications of the German +Secret Service in England. In spite of enormous efforts and lavish +expenditure of money by the enemy, little valuable information passed +into their hands. The agents, of whose identity knowledge was obtained +by the Special Intelligence Department, were watched and shadowed +without, in general, taking any hostile action or allowing them to know +that their movements were watched. When, however, any actual step was +taken to convey plans or documents of importance from this country to +Germany, the spy was arrested, and in such case evidence sufficient to +secure his conviction was usually found in his possession. Proceedings +under the Official Secrets act were taken by the Director of Public +Prosecutions, and in six cases sentences were passed varying from +eighteen months to six years' penal servitude. At the same time steps +were taken to mark down and keep under observation all the agents known +to be engaged in this traffic, so that when any necessity arose the +police might lay hands on them at once; and, accordingly, on the 4th of +August, before the declaration of war, instructions were given by the +Home Secretary for the arrest of twenty known spies, and all were +arrested. This figure does not cover a large number--upward of 200--who +were noted as under suspicion or to be kept under special observation. +The great majority of these were interned at or soon after the +declaration of war. + +None of the men arrested in pursuance of the orders issued on Aug. 4 has +yet been brought to trial, partly because the officers whose evidence +would have been required were engaged in urgent duties in the early days +of the war, but mainly because the prosecution by disclosing the means +adopted to track out the spies and prove their guilt would have hampered +the Intelligence Department in its further efforts. They were and still +are held as prisoners under the powers given to the Secretary of State +by the Aliens Restriction act. One of them, however, who established a +claim to British nationality, has now been formally charged; and, the +reasons for delay no longer existing, it is a matter for consideration +whether the same course should now be taken with regard to some of the +other known spies. + +Although this action taken on August 4 is believed to have broken up the +spy organization which had been established before the war, it is still +necessary to take the most rigorous measures to prevent the +establishment of any fresh organization and to deal with individual +spies who might previously have been working in this country outside the +organization, or who might be sent here under the guise of neutrals +after the declaration of war. In carrying this out the Home Office and +War Office have now the assistance of the cable censorship, and also of +the postal censorship, which, established originally to deal with +correspondence with Germany and Austria, has been gradually extended (as +the necessary staff could be obtained) so as to cover communications +with those neutral countries through which correspondence might readily +pass to Germany or Austria. The censorship has been extremely effective +in stopping secret communications by cable or letter with the enemy, but +as its existence was necessarily known to them it has not, except in a +few instances, produced materials for the detection of espionage. + +On Aug. 5 the Aliens Restriction act was passed, and within an hour of +its passing an order in council was made which gave the Home Office and +the police stringent powers to deal with aliens, and especially enemy +aliens, who under this act could be stopped from entering or leaving the +United Kingdom, and were prohibited while residing in this country from +having in their possession any wireless or signaling apparatus of any +kind, or any carrier or homing pigeons. Under this order all those +districts where the Admiralty or War Office considered it undesirable +that enemy aliens should reside have been cleared by the police of +Germans and Austrians, with the exception of a few persons, chiefly +women and children, whose character and antecedents are such that the +local Chief Constable, in whose discretion the matter is vested by the +order, considered that all ground for suspicion was precluded. At the +same time the Post Office, acting under the powers given them by the +Wireless Telegraphy acts, dismantled all private wireless stations; and +they established a special system of wireless detection by which any +station actually used for the transmission of messages from this country +could be discovered. The police have co-operated successfully in this +matter with the Post Office. + +New and still more stringent powers for dealing with espionage were +given by the Defense of the Realm act, which was passed by the Home +Secretary through the House of Commons and received the Royal Assent on +Aug. 8. Orders in council have been made under this act which prohibit, +in the widest possible terms, any attempt on the part either of aliens +or of British subjects to communicate any information which "is +calculated to be or might be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy"; +and any person offending against this prohibition is liable to be tried +by court-martial and sentenced to penal servitude for life. The effect +of these orders is to make espionage a military offense. Power is given +both to the police and to the military authorities to arrest without a +warrant any person whose behavior is such as to give rise to suspicion, +and any person so arrested by the police would be handed over to the +military authorities for trial by court-martial. Only in the event of +the military authorities holding that there is no prima facie case of +espionage or any other offense triable by military law is a prisoner +handed back to the civil authorities to consider whether he should be +charged with failing to register or with any other offense under the +Aliens Restriction act. + +The present position is therefore that espionage has been made by +statute a military offense triable by court-martial. If tried under the +Defense of the Realm act the maximum punishment is penal servitude for +life; but if dealt with outside that act as a war crime the punishment +of death can be inflicted. + +At the present moment one case is pending in which a person charged +with attempting to convey information to the enemy is now awaiting his +trial by court-martial; but in no other case has any clear trace been +discovered of any attempt to convey information to the enemy, and there +is good reason to believe that the spy organization crushed at the +outbreak of the war has not been re-established. + +How completely that system had been suppressed in the early days of the +war is clear from the fact disclosed in a German Army order--that on the +21st of August the German military commanders were still ignorant of the +dispatch and movements of the British expeditionary force, although +these had been known for many days to a large number of people in this +country. + +The fact, however, of this initial success does not prevent the +possibility of fresh attempts at espionage being made, and there is no +relaxation in the efforts of the Intelligence Department and of the +police to watch and detect any attempts in this direction. In carrying +out their duties the military and police authorities would expect that +persons having information of cases of suspected espionage would +communicate the grounds of the suspicion to local military authority or +to the local police, who are in direct communication with the Special +Intelligence Department, instead of causing unnecessary public alarm and +possibly giving warning to the spies by public speeches or letters to +the press. In cases in which the Director of Public Prosecutions has +appealed to the authors of such letters and speeches to supply him with +the evidence upon which their statements were founded in order that he +might consider the question of prosecuting the offender, no evidence of +any value has as yet been forthcoming. + +Among other measures which have been taken has been the registration, by +order of the Secretary of State made under the Defense of the Realm act, +of all persons keeping carrier or homing pigeons. The importation and +the conveyance by rail of these birds have been prohibited, and, with +the valuable assistance of the National Homing Union, a system of +registration has been extended to the whole of the United Kingdom, and +measures have been taken which, it is believed, will be effective to +prevent the possibility of any birds being kept in this country which +would fly to the Continent. + +Another matter which has engaged the closest attention of the police has +been the possibility of conspiracies to commit outrage. No trace +whatever has been discovered of any such conspiracy, and no outrage of +any sort has yet been committed by any alien--not even telegraph wires +having been maliciously cut since the beginning of the war. Nevertheless +it has been necessary to bear in mind the possibility that such a secret +conspiracy might exist or might be formed among alien enemies resident +in this country. Accordingly, immediately after the commencement of +hostilities, rigorous search was made by the police in the houses of +Germans and Austrians, in their clubs, and in all places where they were +likely to resort. In a few cases individuals were found who were in +possession of a gun or pistol which they had not declared, and in one or +two cases there were small collections of ancient firearms, and in such +cases the offenders have been prosecuted and punished; but no store of +effective arms--still less any bombs or instruments of destruction--have +so far been discovered. From the beginning any Germans or Austrians who +were deemed by the police to be likely to be dangerous were apprehended, +handed over to the military authorities, and detained as prisoners of +war; and, as soon as the military authorities desired it, general action +was taken to arrest and hand over to military custody Germans of +military age, subject to exceptions which have properly been made on +grounds of policy. About 9,000 Germans and Austrians of military age +have been so arrested and are held as prisoners of war in detention +camps, and among them are included those who are regarded by the police +as likely in any possible event to take part in any outbreak of disorder +or incendiarism. + + + + +*Chronology of the War* + +*Showing Progress of Campaigns on All Fronts and Collateral Events to +and Including Oct. 15, 1914.[A]* + + +*CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN EUROPE* + +July 21--Situation threatens European war; fear that Russia will aid +Servia. + +July 23--Austria sends ultimatum to Servia; Austrian Army Corps +mobilized at Temesvar, and fleet gathers at Semlin. + +July 24--Russia will ask Austria to extend time for Servia's reply to +ultimatum; Austria will brook no interference. + +July 25--Servia's reply to ultimatum unsatisfactory; Russian Army +mobilizing. + +July 26--Servian Army mobilizing; Russian warning to Germany. + +July 27--Austrian Army invades Servia; Servians blow up bridge across +Danube; report of mobilizing of Montenegrin Army; Austria denounces +Servia's reply to ultimatum; Cossacks fire on Germans at frontier. + +July 28--Austria declares war on Servia and Emperor issues manifesto; +fighting along River Drina; Russian forces mass on eastern border. + +July 29--Russian intervention imminent; Austrians bombard Belgrade; +Servians blow up bridges at Semlin. + +July 30--Kaiser calls on Russia to halt mobilization within twenty-four +hours; war activity in Warsaw; Austrians repulsed at Losnitza; +Montenegrins occupy Cattaro. + +July 31--Russians blow up railway bridge on Vienna-Warsaw line; Servians +check Austrians at Semendria and on Bosnian frontier; France replies to +German note about Russia; Czar, Kaiser, and King George may yet arrange +peace; following Council of Ministers at Peterhof, Russia sends no reply +to German note and calls out reserves; France and England still trying +to adjust matters between Russia and Austria; Russian mobilization +order; Austria orders military and naval mobilization. + +Aug. 1--Germany declares war on Russia, Kaiser signs mobilization order; +German patrol near Prostken fired on by Russians. + +Aug. 2--Russians cross German frontier and seize railroad station: +Montenegrin King signs mobilization order. + +Aug. 3--Germans seize three cities in Russian Poland; Czar calls +Russians to war; fighting on Drina River. + +Aug. 4--Russians defeated in attack on Memel; Serbs defeat Austrians +near Semendria; Turkey mobilizes. + +Aug. 5--Austria declares war on Russia; Russian patrols raid East +Prussia; Servian flag hoisted at Delarme, Austria; Belgrade bombarded; +Germans repulse Russian cavalry at Soldau and Neidenberg. + +Aug. 7--Montenegro declares war against Austria; Austrians bombard +Belgrade; Servians annihilate Austrian regiment. + +Aug. 8--Servia declares war on Germany; fighting between Germans and +Russians at Eydtkuhnen; German force lands in Finland; Austrians +evacuate Visigard; Austrians burn Russian villages near Rumanian border. + +Aug. 9--Russians repulsed by Germans near Tilsit; Germans capture motor +cars carrying money to Russia; Russians enter Austria; Austrians occupy +town and customs station of Andrejew, Russian Poland; Turkey mobilizing +[Transcriber: original 'mobolizing'] on Bulgarian frontier. + +Aug. 10--Montenegrins occupy Scutari; Belgrade again bombarded; Servians +penetrate Bosnia; Austrians bombard Antivari; Germans concentrate on +Russian frontier. + +Aug. 11--Russians guard Finland; Russian cavalry routs Austrians in +Galicia; Italy demands explanation from Austria of bombardment of +Antivari; Russians advance into Germany. + +Aug. 12--German attempt to reoccupy Eydtkuhnen unsuccessful; Austrians +and Germans defeated on Russian frontier; Russian visitors to German +health resorts tell of ill-treatment; Servians and Montenegrins advance +on Bosnia; Prince George of Servia wounded. + +Aug. 13--Russians capture Sokal; Cossacks annihilate two +Austrian-cavalry regiments; German troops before Kalisz threaten to +shoot every tenth inhabitant if further resistance is shown. + +Aug. 14--Russians defeat Austrians on the Dniester; unrest in Turkey. + +Aug. 15--Berlin reports capture of 23 Russian Generals and Admirals by +Germans; Greece wants explanation from Turkey of concentration of troops +near border; Russians raid East Prussia; fighting between Austrians and +Servians on the Save and the Danube; Turkish Ambassador says Turkey was +not hostile in buying German cruisers. + +Aug. 16--Germans fail to retake Eydtkuhnen. + +Aug. 17--Russia demands of Turkey unrestricted use of Dardanelles; +prisoners a problem for both sides; Russian Army marches on Austria and +Germany; minor engagements on frontier; Servians check Austrians' +advance; Greece hears that Turkish troops are approaching and sends +warning that corresponding measures will be taken. + +Aug. 18--Servia reports Austrian defeat near Saboc. + +Aug. 19--Austrians defeated by Serbs at Shabats; Russians report victory +over Austrians in Padolia; Germans report capture of Russians in East +Prussia; Russians driven out of Germany; Italian refugees complain of +German outrages. + +Aug. 20--Russians occupy Gumbinnen and Lyck in East Prussia; Austrians +occupy Miechow, Russian Poland. + +Aug. 21--Serbs defeat Austrians in four days' battle near Losnitza; +Russians successfully advance on Austro-German frontier. + +Aug. 22--Russians report continued successes on Austro-German frontier; +Servians report capture of Austrian guns in pursuit of defeated force +across the Drina. + +Aug. 23--Russian Army pushes fifty miles into Prussia, capturing three +towns; Servian version of victory at Losnitza confirmed in Rome; +Montenegrins continue attack. + +Aug. 24--Austria abandons Servian campaign to meet Russian attack; two +Russian armies crush Germans in the east; retreating armies lay waste +the country. + +Aug. 25--Russians spread on broad front over East Prussia and Galicia +and repulse Austrians at Kielce; Germans report Russian defeat near +Gumbinnen; Servians chase Austrians along whole front; report of German +outrages on Jews in Kalisz. + +Aug. 26--Russians sweep over Prussia in three lines, menacing Koenigsberg +and Posen; Germans reported fleeing from Elbing district; report of +Russian advance into Austria; Austrians drive Russians from Krasnik. + +Aug. 27--Russians take Tilsit; Germans retreat toward Koenigsberg and +Allenstein; Austrians routed in Galicia; French troops join Montenegrins +to operate against Austria. + +Aug. 28--Russians reach Allenstein; Russians continue advance in +Galicia; Serbs defeat Austrians at Shabats. + +Aug. 29--Russians invest Koenigsberg and occupy Allenstein; Germans claim +victories; Russians draw net around Lemberg; Austrians claim occupation +of Zamost. + +Aug. 30--Russians advance in East Prussia, to the Vistula and bombard +Thorn and Graudenz; panic in Danzig; battle between Russians and +Austrians in Poland; Austrians defeated at Lemberg; Russians gain ground +against Austrians and win battle at Zamost; Germans in East Prussia get +reinforcements and report capture of 30,000 Russians; Poland almost +clear of German troops. + +Sept. 1--Russians inflict crushing defeat on Austrians on Galician +frontier; Germans announce defeat of three Russian army corps near +Allenstein. + +Sept. 2--Russians seize fortified positions around Lemberg, admit +advance into East Prussia temporarily checked; new invasion of Germany +planned; Turkey lands troops in Asia Minor; Montenegrins defeat +Austrians near Bilek. + +Sept. 3--Austrians report success at Lublin; Cossacks rout German +scouting party from Thorn; Russians take capital of Bukowina. + +Sept. 5--Russians take Lemberg and Halicz and march toward Poland; +Austrians defeated at Tomaszow; Russian refugees tell of destruction of +Kalisch by Germans; twenty Russian army corps march on Prussia, ten hold +Austria back; Austrians defeated near Lublin. + +Sept. 6--Russians attack Germans on left bank of the Vistula, occupy +Stryk regions, capture Forty-fifth Austrian Regiment near Krasnystaw, +capture Austrian aeroplane and a Zeppelin and take year's provisions at +Lemberg. + +Sept. 7--Austrians retreat; Russians closing in on Przemysl. + +Sept. 8--Russians take Nikolaieff and Mikolajow; Gen. Ruzsky engages +Gen. Auffenberg's army in Poland; Austrians claim advance into Russian +Poland and defeat of Serbs near Mitrovica; Servian invasion of Bosnia +begun. + +Sept. 9--Battle at Rava-Russka; Austrians evacuate Russian Poland; +Germans claim capture of part of Russian Imperial Guard; Serbs and +Montenegrins advance into Bosnia. + +Sept. 10--Russians invade Silesia and menace Breslau; Austro-German +forces defeated at Lublin; Serbs cross the Save. + +Sept. 11--Serbs take Semlin; Montenegrins take Folcha and join with +Serbs in march on Serajevo; Germans defeat invading Finland force at +Lyck; Polish miners at Berdzin wreck German train by concealing +explosive in fuel; Russians occupy Suczawa and Hatna; Russians fight on +Austrian and German border; Austrians resume offensive near Lemberg. + +Sept. 12--Russians defeat Austrians in battle near Tomaszow; German +attack in East Prussia checked; successes of Serbs against Austrians +continue. + +Sept. 13--Russian victories west and northwest of Lemberg; Russo-Serb +Army plans advance on Budapest; Montenegrins will invest Bosnia. + +Sept. 14--Austrians rally for battle before Przemsyl; Russians cross the +San; Germans defeated near Miawa and send reinforcements to Memel. + +Sept. 15--Russians occupy Grodek; Austrians hemmed in between Rivers San +and Vistula; Germans report defeat of Russian Armies of Vina and Grodno; +Russians say Germans have been driven back across frontier; Serbs invade +Hungary. + +Sept. 16--Austrians still retreat in Galicia; Servians continue advance +into Bosnia; Montenegrins defeat Austrians near Koulilovo. + +Sept. 17--Austrians flee before Russians toward Cracow; Gen. Rennekampf +blocks flanking movement by Germans; Servian artillery repulses Austrian +warships that shell Semlin and Belgrade. + +Sept. 18--Russians take Siniava and Sambor; Austrian rear guard thrown +back beyond the San; prisoners and ammunition captured near Memirov; +Germans advance against Russians in Suwalki Province; Russians halt +offensive German movement and plan new invasion of East Poland; Germans +retreat from Kielce Province to rally Austrians defeated at Krasnik; +Russians enter Kazeshow. + +Sept. 20--Russians attack Jaroslaw and Przemysl and seize Sambor and +Kresheshov; Gen. Auffenberg's army separated from Gen. Dankl's; Germans +defeated near Sandomierz; Gen. Rennenkampf checks German advance in East +Prussia; Servians defeat Austrians near Novi-Bazar. + +Sept. 21--Russians take Dubiecko and surround Gen. Dankl's army; +Servians win near Krupani, evacuate Semlin. + +Sept. 22--Austrians defeated on the Drina near Krupani; Russians occupy +Jaroslaw and again move to attack Koenigsberg. + +Sept. 23--Russians take Wislok; Austrian retreat from Przemysl through +Carpathians cut off; Cossacks raid Czenstochowa; French land guns at +Antivari. + +Sept. 24--Advance guards of Russian forces arrive before Cracow; Germans +defeated at Subin; Russians again occupy Soldau; Montenegrins report +capture of Pratzho and Montak in Bosnia. + +Sept. 25--Russians occupy Czyschky and Felstyn; Germans occupy Cracow, +population flees; Przemysl cut off from all communication; battle +between Serbs and Austrians near Zvorkni. + +Sept. 26--Greater part of Przemysl occupied by Russians; Germans +concentrated in Prussia for impending battle. + +Sept. 27--Russians halt German advance in Suwalki and enter town of +Przemysl; Serbs and Montenegrins reach Rumania; Germans in weak position +on the Niemen River. + +Sept. 28--Montenegrins within artillery range of Serajevo; Serbs occupy +mountains near by; Bosnians join invading army; Russians occupy Dembica +and take another fort at Przemysl, cross Carpathians, and invade +Hungary. + +Sept. 29--Russians sweep across the Carpathians and over Northern +Hungary; Servians retake Semlin. + +Sept. 30--Germans fail in attempt to cross the River Niemen; retreating +Austrians surrounded near Dukia; Hungarians retake Uzsok Pass; Servians +and Montenegrins close to capital of Bosnia. + +Oct. 2--Russians break German centre and take up new battle line from +Mariampol to Ossowitz; Germans bombard Ossowitz; Russians claim +victories in Lodz and Suwalki, and take two Przemysl forts. + +Oct. 3--Germans are evacuating Russian Poland; Russians advance on +Transylvania; fighting at Augustowo; Servians raid Semlin and destroy +forts. + +Oct. 4--Russians defeat Germans at Augustowo and advance reaches Nugy +Valley in Hungary; Germans make unsuccessful attacks on Ossowitz forts; +Germans lured into a trap on the Niemen. + +Oct. 5--Two Russian armies advance toward Allenstein; fighting near +Warsaw; Russians are near Cracow; Germans fortify heights between +Breslau and Cracow; Austrians claim victory over Montenegrins in East +Bosnia; Servians approach Serajevo fortifications. + +Oct. 6--Germans claim victories near Suwalki and Augustowo; Russian +forces from the Baltic close in on Germans, and announce German retreat +from positions between Wirballen and Lyck; Austrians claim victory at +Uzsok Pass, but Cossacks are reported eighty miles from Budapest. + +Oct. 7--Germans bring reinforcements from Koenigsberg and check Russians; +Russians shell Przemysl; Austrians report victory in Hungary near Tesco. + +Oct. 8--Russians claim repulse of Germans in Russian Poland and capture +of Biala; Germans deny Russian advance in Suwalki; gains by Montenegrins +in Herzegovina. + +Oct. 9--Russians announce reoccupation of Lyck; Przemysl reported on +fire. + +Oct. 10--Russians claim that Germans are retiring from Lyck; Austrians +report successes throughout Galicia. + +Oct. 11--Montenegrins defeat Austrians near Kalenovitch; Russians +[Transcriber: original 'Rusians'] sweep through Bukoi Bukowina; +Austrians rush help to Przemysl. + +Oct. 12--Russians abandon siege of Przemysl and retreat from Galicia; +German-Austrian army captures many prisoners. + +Oct. 13--Fall of Warsaw believed near; British Consul asks for American +protection; Montenegrins defeat Austrians near Serajevo. + +Oct. 14--Germans report defeat of Russians at Warsaw and recapture of +Lyck; Servians in Bosnia beaten back. + +Oct. 15--Berlin reports advance of eight Russian army corps against Bast +Prussia; account made public of how Gen. von Hindenburg lured Gen. +Rennenkampf into trap at Tennenberg; Russians report victory over +Austrians south of Przemysl. + + +*CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EUROPE.* + +July 26--Belgium increases army to enforce neutrality. + +July 27--Belgian Army mobilizes, Holland prepares to maintain +neutrality. + +July 28--French Army moves to frontier. + +July 29--Belgium calls out reserves. + +July 30--England takes defensive measures. + +July 31--Belgium mobilizes. + +Aug. 1--France mobilizes after Germany asks her intentions; will respect +neutrality of Belgium. + +Aug. 2--Germany sends ultimatum to Belgium, seizes Luxemburg, and +invades France; fighting at Longwy, three German spies arrested in +England. + +Aug. 3--Berlin reports acts of hostility by French; England will protect +French coast and defend Belgium; France promises to guard Belgian +neutrality; France holds that war with Germany began automatically with +invasion of her territory. + +Aug. 4--England declares war on Germany as Kaiser rejects ultimatum on +Belgian neutrality; Germany declares war on Belgium; attack on Liege +repulsed; Germans cross French border near Mars-la-Tour and Moineville. + +Aug. 5--French repulse Germans at border; many Germans killed in attack +on Liege, Crown Prince bringing aid, French Army rushing up. + +Aug. 6--Germans take two forts at Liege; French Army coming; English +coast towns arm. + +Aug. 7--Rapid mobilization of French on frontier; French occupy two +towns in Alsace-Lorraine; Kaiser and King of Belgium call nations to +arms; Bavarians beaten by French at Marrehan; Germans enter Liege, forts +still held by Belgians; Germans get armistice to bury dead. + +Aug. 8--Holland guards frontier; conflicting reports of fall of Liege; +French forces in Belgium; British land on Continent; French take +Muelhausen after battle at Altkirch; German spies try to blow up tunnels +and bridges near Paris. + +Aug. 9--Germans in Alsace fall back on Neu Breisach; Kaiser leaves for +front; Belgian War Minister denies capture of Liege, Germans in city but +forts untaken; French and English reinforce Belgians; Governor and +Bishop of Liege held as hostages; German warning of reprisals; Germans +arrested in England; Holland captures and disarms Uhlans at Maastricht. + +Aug. 10--France breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria; French +student tells how Germans shot refugees; French patrols cover Eifel +district in Germany; French open way into Alsace by capturing Bonhomme +and Sainte Marie; 100 German spies put to death in Belgium; more caught; +Germans forced by French to plan new campaign in Belgium; Allies claim +success in cavalry encounters; Germans moving through Esch. + +Aug. 11--Germans attack French frontier, take Lagarde and intrench south +of Liege; Belgians retake Loncin fort; Kaiser claims victory at Liege; +French Army forced back in Alsace; minor checks to Germans; German siege +guns before Liege; German advance directed at gap between Verdun and +Longwy. + +Aug. 12--Germany tries again to negotiate with Belgium for passage of +army; Germans bombard Point-a-Mousson; Germans move on Brussels and are +driven back by Belgians' left wing; Germans report victory in Alsace; +Germans reported to have shot French wounded; German spies terrorize +Belgium; battle near Tongres; German official says Kaiser halted attack +on Liege and denies heavy losses; Germans complete bridge for siege +artillery; Paris papers say Germans burned village of Affleville and +shot farmers. + +Aug. 13--England declares war on Austria; Belgians beat off Germans in +two-day fight; Namur defenses strengthened; battles at Diest, Haelen, +and Eghezee; Germans shoot woman accused of attempt to blow up Alsatian +tunnel; British, French, and Belgians charge cruelties by German troops; +report that Germans hold Diest; German guns reported wrecked by fire +from Liege forts; French report severe defeat of Germans by +counter-attack at Pont-a-Mousson; Swiss report that Germans lost 10,000 +in Alsace; Swiss disarm German troops; Italy's troops guard Alpine +passes. + +Aug. 14--Germans mass to attack Allies and move toward Brussels; +bombardment of Liege renewed; attempt to storm Pontisse fails; British +Commander French and French Gen. Joffre meet at headquarters; French and +Belgian forts exchange officers; French win in battle in Vosges +Mountains. + +Aug. 15--Armies of Germany and Allies face each other on 248-mile battle +front; French storm three towns and retake Thann in Alsace; battling at +Liege forts continues; Germans said to have shot innocent people in +Linsmeau for slaying an officer. + +Aug. 16--Fighting at Muelhausen renewed; French take offensive along line +from Luneville to Saarburg; clash near Dinant; Germans damage Vise; +general advance of French on eastern frontier; South Belgium barricaded; +Belgian cyclists fight strong German force; rumor that Austrians are in +Belgium. + +Aug. 17--French forces sweep on toward Strassburg; desultory fighting +clears ground between Germans and Allies; Belgians say Germans torture +prisoners; Belgian seat of Government moved to Antwerp. + +Aug. 18--British force lands in France; German advance on Brussels +checked; Germans evacuate Saarburg; French take two batteries; Germans +start second fire in Vise. + +Aug. 19--Fighting near Altkirch; Paris prepares for eventualities; +Allies fall back and may quit Brussels; Germans occupy Louvain; French +report further advance into Alsace; Germans retake Ville. + +Aug. 20--French reoccupy Muelhausen, but are checked in Lorraine; other +French gains in Alsace; German cavalry occupies Brussels; Belgian Army +retires on Antwerp; French victory near Luneville; Germans defeat +Belgians at Aerschot. + +Aug. 21--French withdraw from Lorraine; Germans rush through Brussels, +capture Ghent, levy war taxes on Brussels and Liege, and will try to +seize Ostend; England says tax levy is violation of Hague treaty; German +assault on Namur begins; report of German vengeance on town of Tongres; +Antwerp, new seat of Government, prepares for defense; Germans hold +Audun-la-Roman and continue to cross the Meuse. + +Aug. 22--French deny German report of victory between Metz and the +Vosges; Germans continue bombardment of Namur forts and face Allies on +twenty-mile front to Charleroi; main force is aimed at Lille; battle +between English and Germans at Waterloo; French close in on Colmar; +fight between German and English cavalry at Colmar; fear that Belgian +cities may not be able to pay indemnity; Germans accused of shooting +Burgomaster and citizens of Aerschot without provocation. + +Aug. 23--Allies take offensive against Germans along 150-mile line from +Mons to Luxemburg; Belgian commander blows up one Liege fort; others +hold out; French repel three days' attack on Muelhausen intrenchments; +France protests to Hague against use of dumdum bullets by Germans. + +Aug. 24--Allies fall back before German attack on Belgium; report that +Namur has fallen; account made public of battle at Charleroi; Germans, +led by Crown Prince in Lorraine, pursue French beyond Longwy; success of +force headed by Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria at Luneville, Blamont and +Cirey; French defeated at Neuf-chateau by forces under Grand Duke +Albrecht of Wuerttemberg; Germans begin another attack on Muelhausen; +English cavalry brigade defeated by Germans south of Brussels; Germans +set fire to Hussigny and resume fire at Liege. + +Aug. 25--Battle on new 200-mile-line between Germans and Allies; Germans +capture five Namur forts and are attacking others; French withdraw from +Alsace to frontier; Allies gain to the south; Germans levy tax on +Brabant; report that Lorrainers betrayed French troops to Germans. + +Aug. 26--Allies fall back a short distance in Belgium; Belgian success +at Malines; French claim success near Nancy and Luneville; report that +Lille is abandoned; big battle in Lorraine; Germans fire houses in +Liege; Berlin announces British rout at Maubeuge. + +Aug. 27--Germans take Longwy and all Namur forts; British-French line +falls back on right flank; French reoccupy Lille; details given out of +fighting at Mons; Germans take Malines and tax Tourant and Charleroi; +announcement of German bombardment of Malines; Paris prepares for +possible siege. + +Aug. 28--Austria declares war on Belgium; Belgians retake Malines and +advance to Brussels; Germans defeat Allies along entire line; report +that fall of Namur was due to heavy fog; Germans sack and burn Louvain; +art treasures destroyed. + +Aug. 29--German force withdrawn from Belgium to meet Russians; French +right wins at Guise, left reinforced but repulsed; Germans march on La +Fere; Allies evacuate Boulogne; account made public of the heroic +defense of Longwy; details given out of fall of Namur; Germans blow up +bridges on railway from Antwerp to frontier; French bayoneted company of +Germans accused of treachery; Military Governor of Paris orders +destruction of houses obstructing forts' fire. + +Aug. 30--French left wing again driven back; Allies' lines reinforced; +Germans recalled to Brussels to hold city; French reported successful +near Amiens. + +Aug. 31--Paris defense plans rushed; Allies' left flank again driven +back. + +Sept. 1--Allies' centre hard pressed; German attack on Belfort fails; +British flank reinforced; Germans fortify Brussels. + +Sept. 2--French move capital temporarily to Bordeaux to allow Allies to +pivot left wing on Paris; German cavalry corps defeated by British near +Compiegne; another pushes on to Soissons; French report success in +Lorraine. + +Sept. 3--Report that Russian troops have been transported to Belgium; +Germans take La Fere and Amiens and move to attack Laon and Rheims; +Austrians sent to reinforce German left wing; Germans are twenty-five +miles from Paris. + +Sept. 4--Germans neglect Paris and move eastward; German right wing +reported checked and driven back to St. Quentin; Allies driven back +behind Conde; Germans move toward Verdun; Germans bombard Termonde; +fighting in Alost. + +Sept. 5--Germans take Rheims and three forts at Maubeuge; Belgians trap +Germans in flooded area near Malines; Germans take Termonde; Germans +abandon attack on Belfort. + +Sept. 6--German right wing checked near Paris; Kaiser directs attack on +Nancy; account made public of evacuation of Senlis and Chantilly. + +Sept. 7--It is now plain that the German march on Paris has been +deflected; Allies force Germans back in 160-mile battle from +Nanteuil-le-Hardouin to Verdun and report defeat of Crown Prince's army; +Germans defeat Belgians near Melle and march to occupy Ghent; repulsed +at Capelle-au-Bois. + +Sept. 8--British push German right over the Marne; French win on the +Ourcq; fighting at Vitry. + +Sept. 9--Germans claim capture of Maubeuge; British cross the Marne; +Germans fall back; have evacuated Upper Alsace. + +Sept. 10--Gen. von Stein admits defeat by Allies; Belgians reoccupy +Termonde, Aerschot, and Diest; French join British across Marne in +pursuing Germans; fighting near Vitry and other points in centre. + +Sept. 11--German line west of Revigny retreats, but captures fort near +Verdun; Gen. Pau seizes German supply train; account given out of battle +at Meaux; British report annihilation of German Jaeger regiment; French +deny fall of Maubeuege and recapture Muelhausen; Germans march south from +Ghent, Belgians in pursuit. + +Sept. 12--Belgians cut German Army in two by victory at Cortenberg; +whole German line in France retreats, Luneville retaken; Belgians +repulse German sortie at Louvain and advance on Brussels. + +Sept. 13--Germans repulsed at Nancy and Luneville, evacuate Amiens, lose +Revigny and Brabant-le-Roi; Crown Prince's Army threatened; fighting at +Louvain and Malines; heavy fighting at Bortzy; battle between Thann and +Sennheim. + +Sept. 14--Amiens reoccupied by French; Fort of Troyon relieved; Germans +make stand on the Aisne; Germans lay waste to Senlis. + +Sept. 15--German Crown Prince's army driven back to the Orne; French +reoccupy Rheims; fighting on the Aisne; new intrenched positions taken +by German armies; La Ferte ransacked by Germans; Franco-Belgian +successes at Alost and Rousbrugge. + +Sept. 16--New battle on from Noyon to Verdun; army from Douen is +circling von Kluck's corps; Germans move nearer Antwerp. + +Sept. 17--German Army strengthened between Berry-au-Bac and Argonne; +French advance in Woevre district; deadlock on right flank; Belgians +repulse attack on Termonde. + +Sept. 18--Germans complete bombardment of Termonde; now known that +Maubeuge has fallen; Allies' left advances six miles; Germans report +gain in centre; Germans intrench on the Sambre; Germans send scouting +parties into Belgium. + +Sept. 19--Germans fortify along the Rhine; Allies advance on left and +right wings and drive back army of German Crown Prince; heavy fighting +at Rheims; Germans capture Beaumont; German shells hit Cathedral of +Notre Dame and Church of St. Remi in Rheims. + +Sept. 20--Germans badly damage Rheims; Allies make slight gains; +fighting near Soissons; Germans report offensive move; Allies capture +Souain; Belgians retake Lanaeken; Germans bring siege guns up to +Antwerp. + +Sept. 21--Allies gain between Rheims and Argonne, take Massiges and +Mesnil; Germans claim capture of Craonne hills and Betheny; Belgians +repulse German assault on Fort Waelhem; Termonde under fire again. + +Sept. 22--Germans claim victories at Craonne and Betheny; their right +turned between Peronne and St. Quentin; desultory fighting near Malines +and Alost. + +Sept. 23--Allies advance on left wing near Lassigny; Germans bombard +Verdun; Germans prepare for campaign in Southern Belgium. + +Sept. 24--French take Peronne; Germans take Varennes; Belgians report +victory near Antwerp. + +Sept. 25--Allies beaten back by Germans at Noyon, but renew offensive +after being reinforced; Germans advance southeast of Verdun; quarries +from Giraumont to Machemok strengthen German position; campaign in +Alsace halted by snow. + +Sept. 26--Germans take Fort des Romaines and cross the Meuse; Germans +burn Bilsen; Austrian and German artillery menace Antwerp. + +Sept. 27--Allies repulse charges on right and left wings; Germans gain +in centre; Verdun forts withdraw fire; French reinforced on the Meuse; +Germans again bombard Malines. + +Sept. 28--Allies make slight progress on heights of the Meuse; fog in +Woevre district causes suspension of fighting; Belgians retake Alost and +repulse Germans at Malines. + +Sept. 29--Germans occupy Moll and Malines, bombard Lierre, and shell +outer forts of Antwerp; fighting on the Aisne continues. + +Sept. 30--Allies drive back both German wings and retake St. Mihiel; +French trap Germans in quarries; Germans destroy town of Orchies; +Belgians renew bombardment of Lierre. + +Oct. 1--Belgians repulse German attacks on Antwerp forts; Germans +capture Roye and claim success in attack on Albert; French report gains; +French shell Germans in quarries; Scheldt River interferes with attack +of Germans on Antwerp; Belgians bombard church at Termonde to drive +Germans from steeple. + +Oct. 2--Allies checked after pushing north to Arras; Germans driven back +across the Meuse; Germans report two Antwerp forts silenced; Cologne +prepares for defense; Belgians report German repulse at one Antwerp fort +and at Termonde. + +Oct. 3--Battle at Roye; Germans claim victory near Toul; Belgians near +Antwerp fall back. + +Oct. 4--Berlin reports capture of Forts Wavre, St. Catherine, and +Dorpweld, and of Termonde; Allies defeat flanking movement and +battleground shifts to vicinity of Arras; Allies claim success in Woevre +and Soissons regions; British forces aid in defense of Antwerp; Fort +Walheim damaged; Germans take two villages on Dutch border near +Maastricht. + +Oct. 5--Germans gain on right wing, take three Antwerp forts, and resume +offensive in Argonne district and along the Meuse. + +Oct. 6--Antwerp warned that bombardment is near; desperate fighting on +the Oise; Allies gain at Soissons; German column near Lille; French hold +strong positions in Alsace. + +Oct. 7--Germans report bombardment of Lanaeken when civilians attack +them; Germans closing in on Antwerp and have crossed the Nethe; fighting +near Ghent; Allies drive German cavalry back from Lille and gain at +Roye; skirmish at Ypres; Allies reinforced; Germans are still shelling +Rheims. + +Oct. 8--Antwerp bombarded by German siege guns and Zeppelins; Germans +cross the Scheldt; Allies gain near Arras, which is being shelled by +Germans; Germans cut railway lines near Ypres; cavalry fights on the +Belgian frontier. + +Oct. 9--Germans claim progress near St. Mihiel and in the Argonne +district; Germans report fall of Fort Breendonk; Antwerp aflame; +fighting around Roye; cavalry battles near Lille; Germans occupy +Courtrai and destroy bridges between Brussels and Mons. + +Oct. 10--Antwerp surrenders, Belgian Army escapes; widespread ruin in +city; some British troops driven into Holland; fighting at Arras +continues; Germans bombard Lokeron; Germans report gains at St. Mihiel +and in the Argonne region. + +Oct. 11--Germans occupy Antwerp; main British and Belgian defending +armies reach Ostend; fighting near Soissons; German attacks in Caronne +region repulsed; Allies win in centre; Arras free from Germans; British +official report tells how the Germans were routed near Bray. + +Oct. 12--Germans enter Ghent; Allies fight to check German +reinforcements; fighting at Lasigny and Lens; Germans mass around Ypres; +cavalry fighting near Lille. + +Oct. 13--Germans press on toward Ostend; severe fighting in Argonne +district; Germans take Lille and occupy Hazebrouck and Ypres; Germans +occupy Ghent and move on Bruges. + +Oct. 14--Belgian Army leaves Ostend and joins Allies in field; Allies +reoccupy Ypres; French gain near border; German battalion trapped in +canal in Lorraine. + +Oct. 15--Allies retake Estaires and report gains at several points; +Germans deny repulses and occupy Bruges, Thielt, Daume, and Esschen; +German convoy captured by French. + + +*CAMPAIGN IN THE FAR EAST.* + +Aug. 4--Japanese Government's proclamation prepares people for war in +behalf of England. + +Aug. 6--Germans fortify Tsing-tau. + +Aug. 11--Japan requisitions transports. + +Aug. 16--Japan sends ultimatum to Germany demanding withdrawal of fleet +in Far Eastern waters and giving up of Kiao-Chau. + +Aug. 17--Official announcement that Japan's action will be limited to +China Sea and to protection of her trade; ultimatum to Germany made with +concurrence of England. + +Aug. 18--Count Okuma emphasizes Japan's limitation of war and England +reassures United States. + +Aug. 19--Germany will reject Japan's demands. + +Aug. 20--Kaiser orders resistance to Japan at Kiao-Chau; Japanese +Foreign Office makes statement explaining ultimatum to Germany. + +Aug. 22--Germany ignores Japan's demands: time limit ends, Japanese +envoy ordered to leave Berlin; Japan is expected to make war move at +once. + +Aug. 23--Japan declares war on Germany. + +Aug. 24--Germans blow up bridges to halt Japanese invasion of Kiao-Chau. + +Aug. 26--War declared by Austria against Japan; British destroy German +wireless and cable stations on Island of Yap. + +Aug. 29--Germans lay mines at Kiao-Chau and fire at landing party at +Cape Jaeschke. + +Aug. 30--Japanese troops landed near Kiao-Chau; forts fire at destroyer. + +Aug. 31--Japanese occupy two islands. + +Sept. 2--Japan lands force at Lung-kow; German Legation protests against +violation of China's neutrality. + +Sept. 3--Japanese occupy seven islands near Kiao-Chau, clear waters of +mines, and land more troops at Lung-kow; China protests against +violation of her neutrality. + +Sept. 9--Japanese advance southward in Shantung. + +Sept. 14--Japanese flank Kiao-Chau. + +Sept. 15--Japanese cavalry captures Chimo; vanguard of Japanese Army +reaches Kiao-Chau. + +Sept. 19--Japanese seize Kiao-Chau station and train and land troops at +Laoshan. + +Sept. 20--Japanese cavalry in clash with German outposts near Tsing-tau. + +Sept. 22--Australians seize German wireless station on Island of Nauru. + +Sept. 24--British troops land near Laoshan, China. + +Sept. 26--Japanese advance on Fangate, where Germans hold valuable +mines. + +Sept. 27--Japanese defeat Germans on outskirts of Kiao-Chau; food supply +in city short. + +Sept. 28--Japanese approach Tsing-tau. + +Sept. 29--Japanese invest Tsing-tau; Chinese blow up railroad bridges to +hinder progress of Japanese troops. + +Sept. 30--Germans abandon artillery as Japanese reach Lao-Che. + +Oct. 1--Germans destroy railroad bridge at Ta-yu-ho. + +Oct. 4--Japanese march along railroad to Wei-Hsein; one Chinese killed. + +Oct. 5--Japanese repulse night attack of Germans at Tsing-tau. + +Oct. 6--Germans plan to destroy Shantung Railway. + +Oct. 7--Japanese seize Island of Yap; Japanese bring siege guns before +Tsing-tau. + +Oct. 8--German fire slackens at Tsing-tau. + +Oct. 13--Arrangements made for departure of non-combatants before final +attack on Kiao-Chau. + + +*CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA.* + +Aug. 8--British seize Port Lome, Togoland. + +Aug. 9--French are in Togoland. + +Aug. 26--Germans surrender Togoland. + +Aug. 28--German troops attack Belgian Congo. + +Sept. 10--Germans defeated by British in Nyassaland. + +Sept. 13--Germans occupy Karangu, British East Africa. + +Sept. 15--British defeat Germans in Namaqualand. + +Sept. 18--Germans defeated by garrison of seven British at Nakob. + +Sept. 22--Germans repulsed in attack on fort in Voi district. + +Sept. 24--Germans at Schuckmannsberg surrender to police. + +Sept. 25--Australian force takes German New Guinea. + +Sept. 26--French seize Coco Beach, Kamerun; British occupy Luederitz +Bay; Germans raid Walfish Bay. + +Sept. 28--German Congo seized by British and French. + +Oct. 13--Detachment of Boers under Col. Maritz rebels because of the +pro-British stand taken by the Government of South Africa; martial law +proclaimed in colony; British imprison Germans in British East Africa +and Germans imprison British in German East Africa. + +Oct. 14--There are but few men in the Maritz rebel force; silence of +Boer leaders is found disquieting in England. + +Oct. 15--Col. Brits's force captures eighty rebels under Col. Maritz; +Gen. Botha takes field; prominent men arrested on charge of treason. + + +*NAVAL RECORD*. + +July 26--British and French fleets ready for action; Servian vessels in +Danube seized by Austrians; German fleet ordered concentrated in home +waters; Italy masses fleet. + +July 29 and 30--British fleet leaves Portland; British and German fleets +in Far East mobilize. + +July 31--German squadron stops merchant vessels in Danish waters; +British warships near; Montenegrin King's yacht escapes Austrian +destroyers. + +Aug. 2--Fight between German and Russian cruisers off Libau; German High +Sea Fleet seizes Wilson liner Castro and a collier; fleets assemble in +Far East. + +Aug. 3--Germans chase Norwegian food ship. + +Aug. 4--Rival warships off Port of New York; British mine layer sunk by +German fleet; British fleet will aim to destroy Kiel Canal. + +Aug. 5--British third flotilla has battle with Germans in North Sea; +cruiser Amphion damaged; German mine layer Koenigen Luise sunk; many +German merchant ships seized by English, French, and Russians; Germans +bombard Sveaborg, torpedo boat blown up. + +Aug. 6--British cruiser Amphion sunk by mine; French capture German tank +steamer; Germans capture Russian ship. + +Aug. 7--British and German cruisers reported in fight off Brazilian +coast; British steamers destroyed by mines off German and Turkish +coasts; British capture German steamer Schlesien; German merchant ship +captured by French; Germans capture Russian cruiser; Japanese warships +off port of Tsing-tau; German cruisers Goeben and Breslau leave Genoa. + +Aug. 8--Thirty-six German ships seized by Belgians; Russians capture +Austrian and German merchant steamers; British capture German ship, said +to be North German Lloyd liner; naval fight in Adriatic; interest in +position of Goeben and Breslau; bombardment of Libau reported by ship +Captain. + +Aug. 9--British sink German submarine; cruiser Essex takes ship at sea; +Goeben and Breslau in the Dardanelles; two German steamers taken at +Rouen and one at Colombo; England and France protest against German +steamer Karlsruhe coaling at Porto Rico; firing off Shanghai; British +fleet proceeds to Tsing-tau; Austrian cruisers bombard Antivari. + +Aug. 10--Cruiser Birmingham sinks German submarine U-15; British close +North Sea to fishing fleets; Dutch steamer sunk in Baltic; Belgians +seize two Austrian steamers; English and Canadian steamers hunt in +Atlantic for German cruisers. + +Aug. 11--Battle in the Adriatic; Russians capture twenty German merchant +vessels in Baltic. + +Aug. 12--German destroyer sunk by mine off South Gedser. + +Aug. 13--German cruisers bombard Windau; France will check Austria's +navy; British said to have bottled up German Far Eastern squadron; +German cruisers Goeben and Breslau are flying Turkish flag. + +Aug. 15--Japanese Navy sails to join British fleet; Triple Entente +demands that Turkey repatriate crews of German cruisers; Austrian liner +blown up by mine in the Adriatic; British capture Austrian liner +Marienbad; German steamer W.W. Schneefels brought to Gibraltar as war +prize. + +Aug. 16--French fleet said to have sunk two Austrian ships in the +Adriatic. + +Aug. 17--German dreadnought said to be damaged in Norwegian port; French +sink Austrian cruiser in the Adriatic; German cruiser Karlsruhe said to +have sunk four British merchantmen; British cruisers capture +Hamburg-American liners Cap Ortegal and Santa Catharina. + +Aug. 18--Two German cruisers captured and taken to Hongkong; fight +between British and German patrol fleets. + +Aug. 20--British steamer Hostilius captured by German cruiser Dresden; +German fleet said to have shelled three Russian ports. + +Aug. 21--British and French warships and Montenegrin batteries bombard +Cattaro; two German Hansa liners seized at Bombay and Hamburg-American +ship at Rangoon. + +Aug. 22--Steamers Maryland and Broberg sunk by mines in North Sea; two +Dutch steamers reported sunk; German cruiser Dresden sinks British +steamer Hyades; British cruiser Glasgow captures German ship Santa +Kathina; French capture German four-master and Austrian steamer; account +made public of sinking of Austrian battleship Zrinyi. + +Aug. 23--Anglo-French fleets destroy Austrian cruiser Zenta and bombard +Cattaro; Dutch steamer Alcor blown up by Russians to block Hango harbor; +report that French, English, and Russian vessels are aiding Japan to +blockade Kiao-Chau. + +Aug. 24--Japanese fleet has begun bombardment of Tsing-tau; Cattaro +badly damaged by British and French fleets. + +Aug. 25--German steamer Elizabeth sunk. + +Aug. 26--British defeated in battle with German torpedo boat off +Kiao-Chau. + +Aug. 27--British cruiser Highflyer sinks Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse; +British marines occupy Ostend; German cruiser Magdeburg sunk in Gulf of +Finland; mines in North Sea sink a Danish and a Norwegian steamer; +Japanese bombard island near Kiao-Chau and blockade port. + +Aug. 28--British fleet sinks two German cruisers, sets fire to third, +and sinks two torpedo boats off Heligoland; Germans fire at Japanese +fleet near Kiao-Chau; Austrian destroyer sunk by British off Corfu; +British cruiser Welland sinks German torpedo destroyer; other German +ships captured; six vessels blown up in North Sea by mines; Russians +capture crew of German cruiser Magdeburg. + +Aug. 29--Port of Cape Jaeschke blocked by Japanese warships; passenger +steamer destroyed by mines near Russian port. + +Aug. 30--British official account of battle off Heligoland; New Zealand +expeditionary force captures Apia. + +Aug. 31--German gunboat shells abandoned Japanese destroyer at +Kiao-Chau. + +Sept. 2--British and French ships again bombard Cattaro; steam drifter +Eyrie sunk by mine in North Sea. + +Sept. 4--British cruiser sinks Austrian steamer Bathori in Bay of +Biscay; British gunboat Speedy sunk by mine in North Sea; British +steamship Bowes Castle sunk by German cruiser off St. Lucia. + +Sept. 5--German ships sink fifteen British trawlers in North Sea. + +Sept. 6--Cruiser Pathfinder destroyed by mine. + +Sept. 7--British submarine strikes German warships in Bremerhaven +Harbor. + +Sept. 10--British capture German, collier. + +Sept. 11--Germans destroy Russian steamer Uleaborg. + +Sept. 12--Australian Navy occupies Herbertshoehe in Bismarck +Archipelago; British take German coal ship Heinze. + +Sept. 14--Germans capture Fanning Island and cable station; German +cruiser Hela sunk. + +Sept. 17--German fleets fire on each other in Baltic by mistake; British +cruiser seizes Holland-America, liner Ryndam: French cruiser Conde +captures German storeship Helna; Canadian Pacific liner made a British +cruiser in Pacific; German cruiser Luxemburg reported to have sunk three +British freighters in West Indies. + +Sept. 19--Australian submarine AE-1 lost; Austrian warship Viribus +Unitis damaged in Adriatic. + +Sept. 20--Carmania sinks German merchant cruiser Cap Trafalgar; German +cruiser Koenigsberg disables British cruiser Pegasus; fighting between +British and German ships in Kamerun River, Africa; six British ships +captured by German cruiser Emden; damaged Russian warships arrive at +Helsingfors; Austrian torpedo boat 27 sunk at Pola; German cruiser +Stettin fights British warships. + +Sept. 21--British steamer Clan Matheson sunk by German cruiser Emden; +crews of six captured vessels landed in India. + +Sept. 22--British cruiser Berwick captures Hamburg-American liner +Spreewald and two German colliers; German submarine U-9 sinks British +cruisers Cressy, Aboukir, and Hogue in North Sea; British steamer +Belgian King sunk near Cape Kureli. + +Sept. 23--Russian cruiser Bayan sinks German cruiser and two torpedo +boats; Germany says submarine U-9 sunk British ships unaided in North +Sea fight yesterday; Austrian cruisers Maria Theresia and Admiral Staun +damaged; trawler Kilmarnock sunk by mine. + +Sept. 24--Two Austrian torpedo boats and one destroyer sunk by mines in +the Adriatic; Norwegian steamer Hesvik sunk in North Sea; cruiser Emden +bombards Madras; Anglo-French fleet again bombards Cattaro. + +Sept. 25--Kronprinz Wilhelm sinks British steamer Indian Prince; British +charge that Germans fired on Carmania after white flag was raised. + +Sept. 26--Fortress of Pelagosa dismantled by Anglo-French fleet; British +cruiser Cornwall seizes Dutch steamer with coal consigned to Rio de +Janeiro; French gunboat Surprise sinks two German ships and seizes Coco +Beach, West Africa; British capture German ship Ossa and seize American +ship Lorenzo and Norwegian ship Thor accused of coaling German cruiser. + +Sept. 28--French warship sunk at Cattaro by forts. + +Sept. 29--German cruiser Emden has sunk five British steamers in Gulf of +Bengal and has destroyed all tank steamers at Madras; British warships +bombard Tsing-tau forts. + +Sept. 30--British cruiser Cumberland captures Hamburg-American liner +Arnfried and nine merchant steamers; Italian ships sunk by Austrian +mines. + +Oct. 1--Account given out of bombardment of Windau by German squadron; +fighting between German and Japanese warships in Kiao-Chau Harbor. + +Oct. 2--British Admiralty plans to lay mines as counterstroke to German +policy; German cruisers shell Papeete, capital of French Island of +Tahiti; French gunboat sinks German auxiliary ships Rhios and Itolo; +German cruiser Liepzig sinks Union oil tanker Elsinore. + +Oct. 3--German cruiser Karlsruhe sinks seven British ships; British +steamer Dawdon and Norwegian steamer Thomos sunk by mines; German +steamer Mark bottled up in Philippine port; Italian boat sunk by +Austrian mine; Japanese cruiser blown up by mine in Laoshan Bay. + +Oct. 4--Anglo-French fleet bombards Cattaro and destroys Lustica; Dutch +steamer Nieuwland sunk by mine in North Sea; Rear Admiral Troubridge +recalled from Mediterranean to London to explain escape of German +cruisers Goeben and Breslau. + +Oct. 5--Japanese capture Jaluit Island; British grain ship sunk by mine +near Dover; Japanese shells hit German gunboat Iltis in Tsing-tau +Harbor. + +Oct. 6--French lay mines in Adriatic to offset similar action by +Austrians. + +Oct. 7--British submarine sinks German destroyer off mouth of River Ems; +six Austrian torpedo craft reported sunk by mines in the Adriatic; +British trawler blown up in the North Sea. + +Oct. 9--It is announced that thirty-two German merchant ships were +destroyed at Antwerp. + +Oct. 10--Japanese warships silence Iltis forts. + +Oct. 11--French fleet sinks two Austrian torpedo boats. + +Oct. 12--German submarine sinks Russian cruiser Pallada. + +Oct. 13--Russians claim that Germans lost two submarines in attack on +Pallada. + +Oct. 14--Report denied by Germans. + +Oct. 15--British cruiser Yarmouth sinks German liner Markomannia. + + +*AERIAL RECORD.* + +Aug. 2--Report that French aviators have dropped bombs on Nuernberg; +German troops shoot down French aeroplanes near Wesel; report that +Garros, French aviator, wrecked German airship at Longwy; French +aeroplanes dispatched toward Nancy. + +Aug. 3--German airships fly over Belgium. + +Aug. 5--Duel between Belgian and German aviators; Austrians report +destruction of Russian aeroplane. + +Aug. 13--German aeroplane pursued by Belgians; German aviator throws +bomb on Vesoul. + +Aug. 15--Harmless bombs thrown by German aviators on Vesoul and Lure; +French aviators throw bombs on Zeppelins in Metz; five men wounded in +Namur by bombs thrown from German aeroplanes. + +Aug. 18--Three Zeppelins wrecked by gunfire, one by fall; German +monoplane drops bombs on Luneville; German aeroplane destroyed near +Samno, Russia. + +Aug. 19--German monoplane captured in Belgium. + +Aug. 20--Pegoud's airship destroyed in flight to drop bombs in Germany; +Dutch capture German aeroplanes. + +Aug. 23--French destroy Zeppelin. + +Aug. 24--France believes five German Zeppelins are out of action. + +Aug. 25--Zeppelin bombs fall in Antwerp. + +Aug. 29--Russians bring down Zeppelin. + +Aug. 30--German aeroplane drops bombs on Paris; French Embassy in +Washington denies that aeroplanes bombarded Nuernberg. + +Aug. 31--German aeroplane drops bombs on Paris. + +Sept. 1--German aeroplane drops bombs on Paris. + +Sept. 2--Fight between French and German aeroplanes; Zeppelin renews +attack on Antwerp. + +Sept. 3--German aeroplanes drop bombs on British transport on the Seine +and on Belfort; German aeroplane over Paris destroyed, aviators killed. + +Sept. 4--Three German aeroplanes wrecked by French. + +Sept. 9--Russian and Austrian aviators killed in battle. + +Sept. 12--German aviators killed in battle with French near Troyes. + +Sept. 14--Japanese aeroplane drops bomb in Kiao-Chau. + +Sept. 17--Berlin claims that no Zeppelins have been destroyed. + +Sept. 18--Bomb dropped on Antwerp; Japanese aviator sets fire to ship in +Kiao-Chau Bay. + +Sept. 20--Vedrines kills German aviator; French aviator Chevilliard +captured by Germans. + +Sept. 21--Japanese aeroplanes wreck two forts at Tsing-tau. + +Sept. 23--British drop bombs on Zeppelin shed at Duesseldorf; London +fears Zeppelin attacks and reduces lights to minimum. + +Sept. 24--Zeppelin drops three bombs in Belgium; French capture five +Taube machines from Germans; destruction of Zeppelin by Russians near +Sieradz. + +Sept. 25--Duel between Belgian and German aviators over Brussels; +Zeppelin drops bombs in Ostend; London prepares to repel attacks. + +Sept. 26--Zeppelin raids Warsaw. + +Sept. 27--Man killed and child crippled in Paris; three killed in +Warsaw. + +Sept. 29--Zeppelin drops bombs on two Belgian towns. + +Sept. 30--Japanese aeroplanes attack Kiao-Chau Harbor. + +Oct. 1--Zeppelin drops bomb near Antwerp, but is driven off. + +Oct. 2--Germans report capture of thirty French aeroplanes; it is +learned that aviators patrolled the Straits of Dover during passage of +British expeditionary force; German aviators drop messages to Russian +troops. + +Oct. 5--Searchlight tests made in London in preparation for Zeppelin +raids. + +Oct. 6--It is announced that German airship aided in sinking British +cruisers; commander and crew decorated by Kaiser. + +Oct. 7--London insures against damage from Zeppelin raids as air fleet +is prepared at Wilhelmshaven; French aviators set fire to German +aeroplanes. + +Oct. 8--German aeroplanes drop bombs on Paris and Antwerp. + +Oct. 9--British air squadron destroys Zeppelin in hangar at Duesseldorf. + +Oct. 11--Three killed, fourteen injured from bombs dropped on Paris by +German aviators; Zeppelin over Ostend driven away by guns; Japanese +drop bombs in Tsing-tau. + +Oct. 12--Six more bombs dropped on Paris. + +Oct. 13--French rout German aviators near Paris. + +Oct. 14--French aviator decorated for bringing down German; Cossacks +bring down Zeppelin near Warsaw; bombs dropped on Nancy. + + +*AMERICAN INTERESTS.* + +July 26--Americans are leaving Carlsbad and other resorts. + +July 29--Tourists in Paris abandon plans to go eastward; many in London +take chances and go into Austria. + +July 31--Exodus from Geneva; war panic among American tourists in Paris; +President Wilson directs State Department to ask Ambassador Herrick to +remain at his post; many left in London as sailing of the Imperator is +canceled. + +Aug. 1--Many demand passports in France; Americans in London will +organize for relief work. + +Aug. 2--Americans in Paris form committee to aid countrymen; refugees +from Continent arrive in London; Ambassador Gerard appeals for funds; +State Department has no funds, but will forward deposits for refugees. + +Aug. 3--Bankers and Treasury Department officials agree on plan for +$3,500,000 gold shipment to tourists; hundreds reach Paris after many +hardships; fear in Berlin; both houses of Congress pass bill +appropriating $250,000 for relief; embassies will distribute funds. + +Aug. 4--Mrs. O.H. Kahn loses automobiles in France; tourists unable to +leave Germany; many destitute in Paris; automobiles requisitioned for +war; President Wilson approves plan to send $5,000,000 from bankers and +national appropriation of $2,500,000 in gold; cruiser Tennessee will +carry it. + +Aug. 5--Ambassador Herrick issues transports to stranded in Paris; +millionaires leave in cattle train for Havre; Ambassador Page praises +spirit of refugees; two committees in London to relieve distress; +cruiser Tennessee prepares to sail with relief fund; Congress votes +$2,500,000 appropriation; cruiser North Carolina will follow with more +gold if needed; Mayor Mitchel appoints relief committee. + +Aug. 6--Americans in London get funds from Transportation Committee; +many obtain certificates of American citizenship in Paris; Tennessee +leaves with gold; Secretary Garrison will use transports rather than pay +exorbitant prices to charter ships; Board of Relief named to supervise +distribution of funds appropriated by Congress. + +Aug. 7--Baroness von Andre and Anne W.N. Davis tell of brutal treatment +by German soldiers; Mrs. Philip Lydig tells of kind treatment by French; +Mrs. Herrick's American Ambulance Corps organized; $100,000 sent by +Treasury to Paris and $25,000 to Italy; many Americans leave via +Denmark; French and German railways will be open for departure of +Americans after mobilization is completed. + +Aug. 8--A.M. Huntington and wife reported to be arrested in Bavaria and +held as spies; 7,000 Americans leave England; committee of American and +English bankers formed to administer $3,000,000 gold shipment; Secretary +Garrison confers with Haniel von Heimhausen, German Charge d'Affaires, +who says Americans will be allowed to leave Germany. + +Aug. 9--One thousand five hundred Americans apply [Transcriber: original +'appy'] at Paris Embassy for transports; refugees arrive on the New +York; mines menace relief cruisers. + +Aug. 10--Mayor of Berlin and others move to care for refugees in +Germany; many stranded in Bermuda. + +Aug. 11--Cancellation of sailing of Olympic causes rush for steerage on +ships leaving London; Mrs. W.H. Page heads committee to look after +school teachers; Secretary Bryan orders Ambassador Gerard to make +representations regarding Mr. and Mrs. Huntington. + +Aug. 12--One thousand refugees arrive in New York, on S.S. Philadelphia; +Embassy in Paris arranges for relief of tourists all over France; +Secretary Bryan says Huntingtons are safe; refugees arrive on +Holland-America liner Potsdam. + +Aug. 13--Ambassador Page is seeking ships that may be chartered in +London; army officers will aid relief work in Paris; fourteen tourists +reached England via Arctic Sea; Secretary Bryan warns all Americans +going abroad to get passports; emergency passports to be issued; people +in Berlin open homes to Americans; Minister Whitlock reports Consulate +at Liege exposed to fire. + +Aug. 14--More than 300 Americans arrive in Rotterdam from Berlin. + +Aug. 15--Seven ships leave England; less need for transport; German +Foreign Office says Huntington was not arrested; Ambassador Herrick +arranges for sailings of the Espagne and the Rochambeau; refugees in +Rotterdam report generous treatment while in Germany; Germany will +provide trains to carry Americans to Bremen and will let cruiser +Tennessee land there; Gerard says Americans are now free to leave +Germany; ships leaving Italian ports. + +Aug. 16--Cruisers Tennessee and North Carolina arrive at Falmouth with +gold. + +Aug. 17--Eighteen ships that will leave England, within a week can +accommodate 20,000; London refugees given gold from cruiser Tennessee; +5,000 stranded in Italy; Nieuw Amsterdam and Laconia reach New York. + +Aug. 18--Refugees from Copenhagen arrive on the United States; tourists +flock into Genoa; members of Mayor Mitchel's Committee meet every +steamer and are prepared to help the needy. + +Aug. 19--Relief cruiser North Carolina reaches Cherbourg with Major +Hedekin; Miss Morgan's villa accepted as hospital; the Tennessee held at +Falmouth. + +Aug. 20--Payment on funds sent on Tennessee delayed in London. + +Aug. 21--American Rhodes scholars help in harvesting in Brittany; +missionaries urge sending ship with gold to Turkey; gold from the North +Carolina sent to Italy. + +Aug. 22--Refugees arrive on Campania, Baltic, and St. Louis; Ambassador +Gerard denies that Americans have been ill-treated in Germany; cruiser +Tennessee at Rotterdam. + +Aug. 23--Refugees in London tell of kindness of Austrians; the Tennessee +left too little gold in England and France. + +Aug. 24--Assistant Secretary Breckinridge reaches Berlin with gold; +Ambassador Herrick makes arrangements for Americans in Switzerland. + +Aug. 26--Art students in Paris in sad plight; few tourists now ask aid +in London; students leave German universities; refugees from Italy +express satisfaction with arrangements of Government Relief Committee; +relief bureau established at The Hague. + +Aug. 27--Cruiser North Carolina sent to Turkey. + +Aug. 28--German Government furnishes gold to Ambassador Gerard. + +Aug. 31--London again crowded with refugees; tourists in Denmark safe. + +Sept. 3--Turkish Government will not permit the North Carolina to go to +Constantinople; Americans in London help Belgian refugees. + +Sept. 4--Tennessee takes Americans across Channel; British soldiers give +up quarters for them at Havre; North Carolina starts for Smyrna. + +Sept. 9--Refugee aid cost $100,000 in five days in London. + +Sept. 10--Passports to be required of all in England. + +Sept. 12--Major Hedekin reports nearly all tourists out of France and +Switzerland. + +Sept. 13--Treasury Department will receive no further deposits; sailors +on the Tennessee cheer British transport. + +Sept. 23--Money from North Carolina reaches Constantinople. + +Sept. 28--Americans leaving Brussels. + +Sept. 29--Tennessee ordered to Adriatic. + +Oct. 10--Consul Deedmeyer says he was forced to leave Chemnitz because +of bad treatment from Germans. + + +*AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.* + +July 24--Minister at Belgrade prepares to leave. + +July 25--Diplomatic relations severed with Servia; martial law +proclaimed; Servian Gen. Putnik seized. + +July 26--Servian envoy dismissed; Emperor Francis Joseph takes decisive +part in country's action; war measures taken. + +July 27--Army deserters sought in Cuba. + +July 28--Emperor will take command at Vienna headquarters; food prices +raised in Vienna. + +July 29--Emperor sends letter to the Czar. + +July 30--Government may declare war on Russia; newspaper correspondents +expelled from Semlin; Emperor cheered in Vienna; men up to 50 years of +age called to service; Count Salm-Hoogstraetem says Slavs in Austrian +Army will be loyal. + +July 31--Government assures Italy that there is no desire for more +territory. + +Aug. 1--Whole nation wants war; Government was pressed by Germany to +discuss matters with Russia and to localize war. + +Aug. 2--Cadets in military academies made Lieutenants; Countess +Szechenyi places palace at disposal of army. + +Aug. 5--United States represents France at Vienna and Austria at Paris; +food prices fixed; Church permits marriages without publication of bans. + +Aug. 6--Russian Ambassador receives passports. + +Aug. 7--Pressure brought to bear on Italy to aid. + +Aug. 8--Threat to declare war on Italy; full text published of ultimatum +to Servia, of Servia's reply, of circular note to powers, and of notes +exchanged with Germany. + +Aug. 10--Government acknowledges receipt of President Wilson's offer of +good offices. + +Aug. 11--Army corps marches along Swiss border to relieve Germans in +Alsace; Italy demands explanation of shelling of Antivari; United States +will look after French interests. + +Aug. 13--Troops mutiny on southern frontier; United States will look +after interests in England; Prince Hohenlohe arrested in Canada. + +Aug. 14--Currency question acute; insubordination of troops; Government +tells Italy British declaration of war was based upon lies. + +Aug. 16--Martial law, proclaimed on Italian border; Consul arrested in +St. Petersburg. + +Aug. 18--Army mobilization accompanied by disorder and mutiny. + +Aug. 19--Massacre at Prague after Czech uprising. + +Aug. 25--Troops massing on Italian frontier; Government will join war +with Japan; passports handed to Ambassador. + +Aug. 27--Fortification of Vienna begun; children of murdered Archduke +sent to Switzerland. + +Aug. 29--Country reported seething with rebellion. + +Aug. 30--Servians charge atrocities by retreating Austrians. + +Sept. 3--Troops sent to reinforce German left wing. + +Sept. 4--Mutiny of Czech soldiers in Vienna, many shot; Gen. Bobrinsky +appointed Governor of Galicia. + +Sept. 5--Reports that Italians in Istria and Goerz have been shot for +treason without trial stirs Italy; England releases Austrian ships from +her ports. + +Sept. 6--Year's provisions seized at Lemberg; England orders Consular +officers out of Egypt. + +Sept. 7--Vienna makes hasty preparations for defense; possibility of +famine. + +Sept. 8--Government appeals to Jews in Poland to fight against Russia. + +Sept. 10--Panic in Cracow; Archduke Frederick admits loss of 120,000 men +in Galicia. + +Sept. 11--Berlin paper tells of agreement with Germany before war +started not to make peace separately. + +Sept. 14--Troops admit that there have been no Russian cruelties; Vienna +official report claims victories. + +Sept. 16--Guns taken by Russians bear initials of German Emperor. + +Sept. 17--Report of preliminary steps for peace with Russia; all +available men called to arms. + +Sept. 18--Police forbid public to spread unfavorable war news. + +Sept. 21--Field Marshal Vodinowski executed on charge of aiding +Russians; Field Marshal Foreich commits suicide after being cashiered +for defeat. + +Sept. 23--Serbs captured at Shabats to be court-martialed for firing at +troops. + +Sept. 24--Italian frontier fortified. + +Sept. 27--Cholera spreading among wounded soldiers. + +Oct. 2--Emperor is urged to shift Government from Vienna. + +Oct. 3--Alarm in Vienna over possibility of Russian invasion. + +Oct. 8--Panic in Hungary as Russians advance. + +Oct. 9--Much distress in Vienna. + +Oct. 12--Archbishop accuses Hungarian soldiers of atrocities in Russian +Poland. + +Oct. 13--Report that eight commanders have been dismissed and two have +killed themselves. + +Oct. 14--Austrian guns were used by Germans at Antwerp. + + +*BELGIUM.* + +July 29--Antwerp's trade paralyzed. + +July 30--Forts provisioned; export of horses and vehicles prohibited. + +July 31--State Railway trains into Germany suspended. + +Aug. 1--Government buys entire wheat supply in Antwerp. + +Aug, 2--Neutrality an issue with England; German Ambassador said to have +promised that there will be no invasion; guards mobilized at Liege and +Namur to hold bridges; Civic Guard called out; Parliament summoned. + +Aug. 3--Antwerp in state of siege; King appeals to King George; England +will defend neutrality; frontier being intrenched. + +Aug. 4--King addresses Parliament; Socialist Leader Vandervelde joins +Cabinet. + +Aug. 5--King Albert takes command of troops. + +Aug. 7--King issues proclamation to army. + +Aug. 8--King thanks President Poincare for aid. + +Aug. 9--Gratitude to Belgian people expressed by French Academy; English +and French stamps sold in Post Offices. + +Aug. 10--Germans mobbed in Brussels. + +Aug. 11--Government asks Holland's intentions if neutrality is violated; +Germany tries to negotiate for passage of her army. + +Aug. 13--Tribute to Belgians from Premier Asquith; Government will +appeal to neutrals because of alleged German atrocities; German +prisoners treated kindly. + +Aug. 14--American Vice Consul Duras says Germans underrated Belgians; +fighting spirit due to inspiration of growing democracy; people of Liege +deprived of all means of communication; Government feeds soldiers' +children. + +Aug. 15--Refugees say that Germans executed priest held as hostage. + +Aug. 22--France pledges aid; report that Minister Whitlock offered to +take Brussels under American protection at time of its surrender. + +Aug. 23--Report persists, but United States denies that he was +authorized to offer protection; panic in Ghent and Ostend; German +General's proclamation to Brussels; Cologne Gazette defends levy on +Brussels; country praised in French army bulletin. + +Aug. 24--Government rejects another German plea for free passage for +troops; Brussels pays first installment of fine; documents sent to +London in support of atrocity charges against Germans; Minister at +Washington protests to State Department against German statements of +Belgium's conduct on battlefield; legation in London issues note +protesting against reprisals. + +Aug. 25--Minister Whitlock reports to Secretary Bryan that he persuaded +Brussels authorities not to oppose Germans; statement made by Minister +in London charging German atrocities; text published of communications +with Germany concerning passage of troops; fugitives rush to Holland. + +Aug. 26--Refugees flock to Paris; Ministers of foreign powers protest to +Berlin against Zeppelin attack on Antwerp; Foreign Minister sends +protest to Washington; Baron von der Goltz made military ruler in part +occupied by Germans. + +Aug. 27--Resolution in British Parliament for expression of gratitude to +Belgian heroes. + +Aug. 28--Men in captured towns ordered by Germans to help with harvest; +Germans name hostages because of failure of Brussels to pay war levy. + +Aug. 29--Germany defends destruction of Louvain and other repressive +measures; commission to protest against atrocities may not be received +by President Wilson. + +Aug. 30--Gen. Leman's defense of Liege praised by German officer; +Antwerp in darkness to guard against Zeppelin attacks; Government's +reply to Austria's declaration of war; Gen. von Stein says Germany will +grant no concession. + +Sept. 1--Mrs. H.H. Harjes tells of German cruelties; refugees must leave +Antwerp because of scarcity of food; four men guarantee payment of +Brussels fine; Dutch artists protest to Kaiser against destruction of +Louvain. + +Sept. 2--English residents ordered out of Brussels. + +Sept. 4--Namur citizens starving; officials at Brussels warn citizens +against giving Germans excuse for reprisals. + +Sept. 5--Germans change clocks to German time; new official German +statement accuses citizens. + +Sept. 6--American newspaper correspondents say they saw no cruel acts by +Germans; names announced of famous paintings ruined in Louvain and of +buildings lost and saved; refugees flock to London. + +Sept. 7--Officers tell of German atrocities; charges that Germans +destroyed Dinant and shot many inhabitants. + +Sept. 8--Survivors tell of attack on Namur; list of fines made public +imposed on Belgian cities. + +Sept. 9--Mayor of Ghent sends appeal to President Wilson concerning +German atrocities; council of defense formed. + +Sept. 10--Stories of German atrocities greatly exaggerated, says Bank +Director Helfferich. + +Sept. 11--Gen. Leman asks King to pardon him for losing Liege; Prince +Henry of Reuss charges atrocities; Mrs. N.L. Duryee describes horrors of +German invasion; Gen. von Boehn replies to charges of German atrocities +in Aerschot; London Daily News says Termonde was burned for lack of +ransom; destruction in towns near Namur; lawyers and Judges in Brussels +refuse to adopt German customs. + +Sept. 15--Foreign diplomats inspect conditions in Malines. + +Sept. 16--Belgian Commission, which charges German atrocities, received +by President Wilson. + +Sept. 21--German official statement issued on destruction of Louvain. + +Sept. 22--Only newspapers published in Germany allowed to be sold in +Brussels. + +Sept. 25--Nobleman charges that American and Spanish investigators were +deceived by Germans on sacking of Louvain. + +Sept. 26--Ostend protests to President Wilson against dropping of bombs +by Germans; outrages against Germans charged by Bethmann-Hollweg. + +Oct. 4--Government issues "Gray Paper" on negotiations with Germany, +showing negotiations with Germany and other powers concerning the war, +(printed in full in THE NEW YORK TIMES of Oct. 18.) + +Oct. 7--Government moved from Antwerp to Ostend; all able-bodied men of +Antwerp called out for defense of city. + +Oct. 8--King and part of army move out of Antwerp; refugees flee in +great numbers to Holland and England. + +Oct. 9--Government protests to neutrals against monopolizing by Germans +of foodstuffs in Brussels. + +Oct. 10--Germans deny that there is famine in Brussels; much suffering +among Antwerp refugees; German coin put on same basis as Belgian. + +Oct. 12--Large quantities of stores fall into German hands in Antwerp +and many prisoners taken; refugees crowd Ostend; people will be allowed +to return to their homes in Antwerp. + +Oct. 13--Government moves to France, and will be established at Havre. + + +*CANADA*. + +July 30--Halifax garrison active. + +Aug. 1--Cabinet meets, will send to England offer of men. + +Aug. 2--Ten thousand men volunteer; Royal Naval Reserve called out; +fishermen will respond. + +Aug. 3--Ports of Quebec and Montreal in charge of military authorities; +militia called to duty; reserves to sail for England. + +Aug. 4--Cabinet meeting; mobilization of expeditionary force begins; +message of appreciation from King George; British and French reservists +sail. + +Aug. 5--Country-wide response to call for service; Government buys two +submarines built for Chilean Navy; Montreal port guarded; German +Consulate at Vancouver attacked. + +Aug. 6--Austrian and German Consulates stoned in Winnipeg; England +accepts offer of expeditionary force; Sydney is being fortified. + +Aug. 7--German Consuls asked to leave country. + +Aug. 9--Canada's offer of 1,000,000 bags of flour accepted by England. + +Aug. 10--Cruisers hunt in Atlantic for German ships; ports closed; much +grain goes to England. + +Aug. 14--National Chapter of the Imperial Order of Daughters of the +Empire will equip hospital ship for Admiralty; married men not accepted +for service without permission of wives; cruiser Good Hope arrives at +Halifax; American mass meeting called in Toronto. + +Aug. 15--Japanese of British Columbia want to form regiment. + +Aug. 17--Americans of Toronto will raise fund for soldiers' families. + +Aug. 18--Emergency session of Parliament opened by Duke of Connaught; +war vote to be $50,000,000. + +Aug. 19--Parliament endorses [Transcriber: original 'indorses'] +England's participation in war; speeches by Premier Borden and Sir +Wilfrid Laurier; women exercise veto power to prevent husbands from +going to war. + +Aug. 21--Move in Parliament to contribute million bags of flour to +Belgium; all war measures passed; Bank of Montreal will contribute +$100,000 for patriotic purposes; two cruisers added to naval force at +Esquimalt. + +Aug. 22--War session of Parliament ended; troops on way to Quebec. + +Aug. 23--Princess Patricia presents flag to Light Infantry. + +Aug. 25--Second army is being mobilized. + +Aug. 26--Applications by letter from American citizens for army service +refused. + +Aug. 29--All available troops to be maintained under arms; Princess +Patricia Light Infantry sails from Montreal. + +Aug. 30--Troops delayed at Quebec. + +Aug. 31--England accepts food offers from Alberta and Quebec; +unsuccessful [Transcriber: original 'unsucccessful'] attempt to wreck +troop train near Montreal; volunteers will replace Bermuda garrison. + +Sept. 10--Declared that Department of Militia and Defense kept secret +the passage of Indian troops through the Dominion. + +Sept. 11--Passage of Indian troops denied; officials of White Pass & +Yukon Railway warn Germans and Austrians not to try to pass through the +Yukon. + +Sept. 24--Thirty-two thousand troops sail. + +Sept. 28--Laurier wants French-Canadian regiment. + +Sept. 30--Cadets from Royal Military College sail for England. + +Oct. 5--Col. Hughes. Minister of Militia, says he can raise another +large contingent of men; second expeditionary force is to be organized. + +Oct. 7--New York Staats-Zeitung barred from the mails. + +Oct. 8--First [Transcriber: original 'Frist'] contingent of troops +reaches Southampton. + + +*ENGLAND.* + +July 24--England will side with Russia in event of hostilities with +Austria. + +July 27--Sir Edward Grey asks France, Italy, and Germany to confer with +England to avert general conflict. + +July 28--Germany refuses to accept Sir Edward Grey's proposal for +conference, but sends conciliatory reply; nation averse to war, but will +aid Allies; Home Rule strife forgotten. + +July 29--Report that Grey is forming new peace proposals; London Times +pessimistic. + +July 30--Unionist papers declare England must fight if Germany attacks +France; war preparations continue; political parties declare truce; +amending bill to Home Rule bill dropped; preparations in Far East, at +Malta, and Cape Town. + +July 31--Government joins France in trying to adjust matters between +Russia and Austria; country is calm; preparations at Hongkong for +hostilities. + +Aug. 1--Sir Edward Grey favors throwing weight of navy at once in favor +of France and Russia; Lloyd George does not favor participation; special +meeting of Cabinet called; King George appeals to Czar for peace; +Cabinet in night session; Belgian neutrality an issue; London Times +denounces Germany. + +Aug. 3--Sir Edward Grey addresses House of Commons; country will defend +French coast; Redmond pledges Ireland's aid. + +Aug. 4--Ambassador leaves Berlin; King issues call to arms and thanks +colonies for their support; Government controls railways and takes +foreign warships building in her ports; Vice Admiral Jellicoe takes +command of fleet; papers in London reduced in size; people advised to +economize. + +Aug. 5--Food prices rise; order specifying contrabands of war; bill +passes House of Commons to restrain movements of undesirable aliens; +many spies arrested; women volunteer as nurses; King's message to fleet; +Prince of Wales wants to fight; United States will care for interests in +Germany; German cable cut at Azores. + +Aug. 6--House of Commons grants army increase of 500,000 men; royal +decrees revoke prohibition against importation of arms into Ireland, +making trading with enemy illegal, prohibit English vessels from +carrying contraband of war between foreign ports, and make it high +treason to lend money to Germany; Asquith says "White Paper" issued by +Government shows how Sir Edward Grey tried to obtain peace; coast towns +arm; contraband of war announced. + +Aug. 7--Rush of volunteers; Prince of Wales receives commission in +Grenadier Guards; Embassies stoned in Dresden and Berlin. + +Aug. 8--Parliament passes bill providing for Government seizure of +foodstuffs; Capt. Fox, commander of the lost Amphion, given new command. + +Aug. 9--More Germans arrested. + +Aug. 10--Newfoundland offers men; Government acknowledges receipt of +President Wilson's offer of good offices. + +Aug. 11--King inspects troops at Aldershot; mobilization of Territorials +completed; Information Bureau gives out official war news; Admiralty +notifies United States of planting of mines in North Sea; Secretary +Bryan transmits Germany's request for permission to send messages +through London to the United States; Admiralty says Atlantic is safe, +but that Germans have laid mines in North Sea. + +Aug. 12--Exports of foodstuffs forbidden, no Americans barred. + +Aug. 14--Prisoners of War Information Bureau formed; money situation +improved; embassy informs Secretary Bryan of rules governing aliens; +Kitchener's plan for raising new army contemplates long war. + +Aug. 15--College men volunteer. + +Aug. 16--Refugees from Berlin reach Scotland and tell of abuses; J.E. +Redmond says he has rifles for Irish volunteers. + +Aug. 17--Government reassures the United States that Japan's activities +will be limited. + +Aug. 20--Troops impress French favorably. + +Aug. 21--Public told to watch for notes from aeroplanes; country +protests against German levy of war tax on Liege and Brussels; press +asks President Wilson to try to stop violation of rules of war. + +Aug. 22--Admiralty says Germany violates Hague rules by planting mines +in North Sea; protest to United States against allowing fuel to be +carried to German cruisers at sea. + +Aug. 23--Full text of British "White Paper" published in THE NEW YORK +TIMES. + +Aug. 24--First casualty list of expeditionary army includes Earl of +Leven and Melville. + +Aug. 25--Kitchener appeals for men; probability of three years' war +discussed. + +Aug. 26--Recruiting active; Indian Moslems loyal; members of staffs in +Munich complain of bad treatment by German military authorities; Daily +Chronicle warns against quarrel with United States on contraband +question; army's marching song for this war is "It's a Long Way to +Tipperary." + +Aug. 27--Army's pluck lauded by Gen. Joffre; Parliament votes expression +of admiration of Belgians. + +Aug. 28--Sir John French's report on activities of troops read in +Parliament; Peeresses sign letter expressing devotion to country. + +Aug. 29--Message to Scots Grays from Russian Czar; Lord Roberts says +hundreds of thousands of men will be needed and assails young men who go +on playing games; navy congratulated by Canadian Premier and Sir John +French. + +Aug. 30--Lord Kitchener tells of British share in fighting in Belgium +and France and of loss of life, but says troops have been reinforced. + +Sept. 1--Government asks United States to care for her interests in +event of war with Turkey; Anglo-American corps being formed in London. + +Sept. 3--Many recruits join army. + +Sept. 4--Asquith, Balfour, Bonar Law, Churchill, and others speak in +London Guildhall, appealing for volunteers; 700 Ulster volunteers enroll +in one hour. + +Sept. 5--Allies sign agreement that none shall make peace without +consent of all; official denial that dumdum bullets were used; London +agreement regarding contraband will be adhered to as far as is +practicable. + +Sept. 6--Churchill announces formation of one marine and two naval +brigades. + +Sept, 8--Gen. Joffre expresses thanks for army's support; Kitchener's +reply; five thousand recruits in one day; German prisoners held in +concentration camps. + +Sept. 9--Government will not consent to peace proposals unless Germany +will acknowledge that Belgium is entitled to redress; troops praised by +Belgians. + +Sept. 10--House of Commons votes to add 500,000 men to regular army. + +Sept. 12--Permission from Greece to establish naval base at Lemnos; +complete equipment for Territorials lacking. + +Sept. 16--John Redmond calls Irish to arms. + +Sept. 17--Prize courts established. + +Sept. 19--Lloyd George appeals for Welsh recruits. + +Sept. 20--Casualty list shows many officers killed or wounded. + +Sept. 21--Percentage of officers in casualty lists out of proportion to +number of men. + +Sept. 24--Censorship tightened. + +Sept. 25--Admiralty publishes report on sinking of three cruisers in +North Sea, saying disabled ships must look after themselves; shortage of +rifles denied in London Spectator; Asquith and Redmond appeal to Ireland +for aid. + +Oct. 4--Thousands of Irish enlist. + +Oct. 8--Sportsmen's Battalion organized by Mrs. Cunliffe Owen. + +Oct. 9--Government will not allow American army and navy officers to +observe operations. + +Oct. 11--Loss of officers is a peril. + +Oct. 12--Fall of Antwerp aids recruiting; infantry standard lowered to +admit more men; London Morning Post condemns Churchill's attempt to +relieve Antwerp with small naval force. + +Oct. 14--Foreign Office denies existence of secret agreement with +Belgium, which Germans charge is shown by documents found in Brussels. + + +*FRANCE.* + +July 24--Government will side with Russia in event of hostilities with +Austria. + +July 25--Paris mobs want war; President Poincare and Premier Viviani +absent from France. + +July 26--Emergency council of Cabinet held; people see hand of Germany. + +July 27--Government agrees to Sir Edward Grey's proposal for conference +to avert conflict; general impression that Germany inspired Austria's +act; President Poincare hurries home; anti-war demonstrations in Paris; +Ambassador tries to enlist Germany's aid for mediation. + +July 28--Army moves to frontier; Socialists protest against war. + +July 29--Demonstration as Poincare returns from Russia; Cabinet council; +business at standstill in Paris. + +July 30--Troops guard railroad. + +July 31--Answer to Germany's note about Russia; Government joins with +England in trying to adjust matters between Russia and Austria; +steamship La France taken over in service of Government. + +Aug. 1--President Poincare orders mobilization after Germany asks +intention of Government concerning her ultimatum to Russia; Cabinet +council; Delcasse becomes. War Minister; American Ambassador and Consul +will look after German affairs; Government promises to respect Belgian +neutrality unless another power violates it; German Ambassador is +leaving. + +Aug. 2--Ambassador Cambon blames Germany for conflict; state of siege +declared in France and Algiers; Socialists patriotic; railway +communication with Germany and Belgium cut off. + +Aug. 3--Berlin reports acts of hostility by French; Ambassador leaves +Berlin and German Ambassador leaves Paris; riots in Paris. + +Aug. 4--Paris newspapers reduced in size; General Staff prepared for +German moves; Prince Roland Bonaparte offers services; Gen. Joseph +Joffre leaves for frontier; statement by Premier Viviani in Chamber of +Deputies; war measures passed; many Americans want to fight for France. + +Aug. 5--War bills voted in Parliament; United States represents Austria +at Paris and France at Vienna; President Poincare's address to nation; +Gen. Pau will command one arm. + +Aug. 6--Ambassador embraced by the Czar; Premier Viviani asks women to +gather crops; army under command of Gen. Joffre. + +Aug. 8--President Poincare replies to King Albert's message of thanks; +Paris City Council changes name of Rue de Berlin to Rue de Liege. + +Aug. 9--Academy salutes Belgians; martial law proclaimed. + +Aug. 10--J.G. Demombynes, student, tells how Germans killed French +refugees on frontier; diplomatic relations with Austria broken off; +Government acknowledges receipt of President Wilson's offer of good +offices. + +Aug. 13--Dr. Alexis Carrel goes to front as surgeon. + +Aug. 17--Garibaldi offers to raise army; Prince Antoine of Orleans wants +to fight for France. + +Aug. 18--American volunteer corps raised in Paris; severe military law +enforced; Carthusian monks, who were expelled, return to fight. + +Aug. 19--Third reserve army raised; Gen. Joffre in supreme command. + +Aug. 20--Government will protest to powers against German atrocities +which it charges. + +Aug. 21--Prefects ordered to take note of atrocities; foreign volunteers +mobilize in Paris; service of Anglo-American Rough Riders accepted. + +Aug. 22--Government charges Germans with using dumdum bullets; Paris +food prices low. + +Aug. 23--Government protests to The Hague against use of dumdum bullets +by Germans; army bulletin praises Belgians; success of Gen. Pau thrills +people. + +Aug. 26--Refugees from frontier flock to Paris; American volunteers go +to Rouen to enter training. + +Aug. 27--Government presents affidavits to neutral countries that German +officer shot at Red Cross nurses. + +Aug. 30--1914 reserves to be called out; Paris stores food; Vice Admiral +de Lapeyrere will command allied forces in Mediterranean. + +Sept. 2--Germans accused of setting fire to wood that sheltered St. +Quentin refugees. + +Sept. 3--Gen. Gallieni issues proclamation to people of Paris; many +leave city; Government in Bordeaux; Havre guarded. + +Sept. 4--Exodus from Paris continues; sanitary precautions taken. + +Sept. 5--Schools of Paris closed; Cabinet takes steps to send food to +country districts. + +Sept. 6--Gen. Joffre warns troops against premature attacks in mass; +siege awaited calmly; 1915 recruits called out; neutral diplomats want +Ambassador [Transcriber: original 'Ambasador'] Herrick to ask United +States to protest against possible destruction of Paris art treasures; +Germans levy war taxes on captured cities. + +Sept. 8--Suggestion to have art works regarded as international property +taken into consideration by President Wilson. + +Sept. 9--Decree ordering all men exempt from service because of +ill-health to be reexamined; many regret flight from Paris. + +Sept. 10--Gens. Exelmans and Toutee wounded; military authorities warn +Parisians against overconfidence; intrenchments dug. + +Sept. 11--President Poincare sends message to President Wilson in answer +to Kaiser's charges on dumdum bullets; Government commandeers all +automobiles; Gen. Joffre and army congratulated by President Poincare. + +Sept. 12--Road from Havre to Paris reopened, rail service being resumed; +fresh troops ready in Paris. + +Sept. 14--Much booty has been taken from Germans; Senlis laid waste. + +Sept. 16--Troops accused of destroying German field hospital and killing +doctors. + +Sept. 18--Stricter watch on spies; minors allowed to enlist, with +permission of mothers. + +Sept. 19--Suffering in Luneville; statement issued by Washington +Embassy to show that Germany began the war. + +Sept. 20--Northern France is being laid waste; Menier chateau raided. + +Sept. 21--Foreign Office sends protest to neutrals against bombardment +of Rheims Cathedral; Ambassador Jusserand lays complaint before United +States State Department. + +Sept. 22--Loss in officers very heavy; their uniforms may be changed; +refugees return to Paris. + +Sept. 23--Germans say they were compelled to bombard Rheims. + +Sept. 24--Germans admit aiming one shell at Rheims Cathedral to drive +out observers; refugees advertise in newspapers for relatives. + +Sept. 25--Germans again shell Rheims Cathedral; formal complaint of +German atrocities filed at United States State Department; statement by +Ambassador Jusserand. + +Sept. 26--Stricter news censorship in Paris; Belgian refugees aid in +gathering grapes at Bordeaux. + +Sept. 28--Joffre denies Rheims Cathedral was being used for observatory; +two German spies shot. + +Sept. 30--Association of Architects expels German members. + +Oct. 2--French soldiers are charged by German Foreign Office with +torturing wounded at Orchies. + +Oct. 4--German charges officially denied. + +Oct. 6--German prisoners sentenced to die for looting. + +Oct. 7--French are charged by Germans with themselves pillaging French +towns, an alleged order of Gen. Joffre being quoted. + +Oct. 11--Problem of caring for refugees becomes serious. + +Oct. 15--Learned societies plan expulsion of German members. + + +*GERMANY.* + +July 23--Government approves of Austria's course in Servian trouble. + +July 25--Berlin mobs want war; Kaiser leaves Norway for Berlin. + +July 26--War spirit in Berlin; French believe Government had hand in +trouble, despite explanation of Baron von Schoen; Government wants +Austro-Servian quarrel localized. + +July 27--Kaiser returns to Berlin and confers with military officers; +Government was warned of mobilization of entire Russian Army; France +still suspects that Government inspired Austria's note to Servia. + +July 28--Socialist anti-war meetings fail. + +July 29--Kaiser holds naval council of war and exchanges messages with +the Czar. + +July 30--Government calls on Russia to stop mobilization within +twenty-four hours; three questions put to Russia; panic at Saarbrucken; +Cabinet meets at Potsdam; troops massing at Tsing-tau. + +July 31--Nation put under martial law; Kaiser makes speech in Berlin; +"nuptials of war" of Prince Oscar and Countess von Bassewitz; Reichstag +summoned; Crown Prince assigned to command. + +Aug. 1--Government's inquiry about France's intentions concerning +ultimatum to Russia causes French mobilization; Kaiser signs +mobilization order; Reichstag convoked; war speech by Chancellor; +Government pressed Austria hard for understanding with Russia and tried +to localize war; reserves in China go to Tsing-tau; officials in South +Africa hurry home. + +Aug. 2--Russian Ambassador receives passport; ships at sea ordered to +seek neutral port; Minister von Pourtales made demands upon Russian +Foreign Minister three times; Albert Ballin says Kaiser sought peace; +martial law declared in Kiao-Chau. + +Aug. 3--Rumor of invasion of Holland, but Minister gives assurance that +neutrality will be respected; United States will protect German +interests in Russia and other countries. + +Aug. 4--British envoy leaves Berlin; appeal made to Italy; Reichstag +opens; speeches by Kaiser and by Chancellor, who promises to make +reparation to Luxemburg and Belgium after the war; emergency measures. + +Aug. 5--Russian Ambassador and staff assaulted in Berlin; Embassy in St. +Petersburg wrecked; school children sent to garner crops. + +Aug. 7--Report that pressure was brought to bear on Italy to secure aid; +Kaiser's proclamation to nation; soldiers march cheerfully to war; +British Embassies stoned in Dresden and Berlin. + +Aug. 8--Threat to declare war on Italy; Russian official papers blame +Germany for war; papers says Government is traduced. + +Aug. 9--Hermann Wendel, Socialist member of Reichstag, volunteers for +service in the army. + +Aug. 10--Men of the Landsturm being mobilized. + +Aug. 11--Anti-war riots in Berlin. + +Aug. 12--Official hints that Kaiser halted attack on Liege to prevent +further loss of life; attempt on life of Crown Prince at +Aix-la-Chapelle; receipt of President Wilson's offer of good offices +acknowledged. + +Aug. 13--Troops in Belgian Luxemburg said to be starving; British, +French, and Belgians charge cruelties by troops. + +Aug. 14--Chancellor states Germany's case and calls war a life-and-death +struggle of the German and the Slav; report that Kaiser sent personal +telegrams to Belgian King demanding surrender of Liege forts; aviators +drop pamphlets over Poland urging revolt against Russia. + +Aug. 15--Government said to have asked Ambassador Whitlock to repeat to +Belgium offer of increased territory in return for free passage of +troops; belief that acquisition of Russian Poland is sought; many +members of Hohenzollern family in field; French and English signs +removed from shops. + +Aug. 16--Prisoners well treated by French; French say officers' corps is +tyrannical and demoralized; Russians accused of cruelty. + +Aug. 17--Untrained men called to colors; Paris journal reports prisoners +bitter against Kaiser. + +Aug. 18--Chancellor said to have called treaty guaranteeing Belgian +neutrality a "scrap of paper"; E.G. Treat says Kaiser called the Czar an +Asiatic barbarian. + +Aug. 19--Speech in Reichstag shows that Socialists are backing +Government. + +Aug. 20--Alsatian Deputies escape to France; Kaiser said to be +responsible for attacks on Liege; Government asks United States to +represent her in Far East in event of war with Japan. + +Aug. 21--Committee of merchants works to aid trade and addresses +explanation of the war to Americans; French charge German prisoners with +robbing the dead. + +Aug. 22--Japanese envoy ordered to leave Berlin; American Ambassador +will look after interests of Japan; dumdum bullets not used by Germans, +it is declared; great mortality of officers attracts attention; England +protests to United States against allowing fuel to be carried to +cruisers at sea. + +Aug. 24--Full text of German "White Paper" printed in THE NEW YORK +TIMES; German-Japanese Commercial Treaty will cease to be effective; +statements on Belgium's conduct on battlefield protested against by +Belgian Minister at Washington; Berlin newspapers given to returning +Americans to meet alleged false reports. + +Aug. 25--Kaiser decorates two sons and Duke of Wuerttemberg for bravery; +tax levied on Brabant; boys from 16 to 19 years ordered to drill. + +Aug. 26--Prince of Saxe-Meiningen killed at Namur; food supply +limitless, says Count von Bernstorff. + +Aug. 27--Food prices fixed by Government. + +Aug. 28--Emperor orders Ministry to care for fleeing population of East +Prussia; army to be sent from Alsace. + +Aug. 29--Force withdrawn from Belgium to meet Russians; name of +Englische Strasse in Berlin changed to Deutsche Strasse; Japanese State +debt seized. + +Aug. 31--Fourteen staff officers captives of Allies; many losses have +occurred in charges of massed infantry; Gen. von Stein says there will +be no concession to Belgium; railways again open. + +Sept. 1--German officers take charge of mobilization of Turkish Army; +Socialist manifesto assailing the Kaiser. + +Sept. 2--Casualty lists show heavy losses; new gun developed by Krupp +hurls powerful shell; wireless reports to Washington Embassy accuse +Russians of atrocities. + +Sept. 4--Czar says he will take from Prussia more than Kaiser gets in +Belgium; Namur citizens starving. + +Sept. 5--Six hundred Japanese students captured on Dutch frontier; new +official statement puts blame for destruction of Louvain on citizens; +Prince Lichnowsky goes to front; Russian refugees from Germany charge +cruelty. + +Sept. 6--Reichstag leaders pledge nation's entire strength. + +Sept. 8--Professors in universities will renounce distinctions conferred +upon them by British universities. + +Sept. 9--Attempts made to obtain Dutch sympathy; Kaiser sends message to +President Wilson, charging use of dumdum bullets by Allies. + +Sept. 10--Experts from Krupp works brought down in aeroplane by +Belgians. + +Sept. 11--Prince Engalitcheff charges atrocities on Russian border; +Consular officers leave Egypt; aviators decorated by Kaiser. + +Sept. 12--Crown Prince appeals for tobacco for men; many officers and +men decorated. + +Sept. 13--Gen. von Boehn's reply to Belgian charges of atrocities in +Aerschot. + +Sept. 16--Government notifies China that Germany reserves right to deal +with Chinese Empire as she sees fit because of breach of neutrality; +placard set up in Compiegne asserting sovereignty over territories +occupied. + +Sept. 17--Ambassador Gerard reports peace talk with Chancellor, who +suggests that United States ask Allies their terms; heavy losses +reported. + +Sept. 18--Prussian Guard Corps said to be wiped out; eight army corps +leave Belgium and France for eastern frontier; Crown Prince appeals for +clothing for soldiers. + +Sept. 19--Prince August William receives the Iron Cross; stories of +looting in French towns; fine demanded of Luneville; food problem acute +for army in the west. + +Sept. 20--Some States of empire said to resent Prussia's plunging +country into war. + +Sept. 21--Dutch traffic along the Rhine halted; soldiers' diaries show +shortage of rations; discontent among Bavarian troops; French find iron +crosses inscribed "1814-1914." + +Sept. 22--Troops accused of atrocities in report of Sir John French; +Frenchwoman says artillerymen shelled hospital at Etain. + +Sept. 24--Fine of $600,000 exacted from Tournai, Belgium, for death of +one Uhaln. + +Sept. 25--General Staff lists prisoners for exchange and admits totals +announced were erroneous; thirty-first casualty list given out. + +Sept. 26--Krupp works running night and day. + +Sept. 27--Epidemic of typhoid among soldiers. + +Sept. 28--Brussels used as intrenched camp; shortage of horses. + +Sept. 29--Big Krupp guns being placed on warships; Winter clothing for +army ordered; Rotterdam hears that soldiers are ill from lack of food +because commissariat broke down. + +Sept. 30--Krupp guns are dubbed "Busy Berthas"; women give gold +ornaments in exchange for iron rings. + +Oct. 4--The King of Bavaria is in command of six army corps in Silesia. + +Oct. 5--Losses at Antwerp shown to be heavy. + +Oct. 8--Director of Berlin Royal Museum says that works of art brought +into Germany will not be retained. + +Oct. 12--Prussia's losses estimated at 211,000; officials guard Antwerp +from plunderers. + +Oct. 14--Notice sent to Holland that status of River Scheldt will be +continued as heretofore; rejoicing in Berlin over fall of Antwerp. + + +*HOLLAND.* + +July 30--Government declares neutrality. + +July 31--Mobilization of army ordered; Austrian Government steamer +detained for time, but released. + +Aug. 2--Country may be flooded to prevent invasion; fear that Germany +may not respect neutrality; bill in Parliament to stabilize food prices. + +Aug. 3--Rumor of invasion, but German Minister promises that neutrality +will be respected. + +Aug. 5--Reservists in America summoned. + +Aug. 6--Neutrality in Anglo-German and Belgo-German wars declared. + +Aug. 8--Frontier guarded. + +Aug. 9--Uhlans captured and disarmed at Maastricht. + +Aug. 10--Queen Wilhelmina suggests formation of committee to aid the +needy. + +Aug. 11--Martial law in several provinces. + +Aug. 13--Troops massed on frontier; some districts flooded. + +Aug. 15--Queen orders Court festivities canceled. + +Aug. 16--Paralysis of trade in Rotterdam will render thousands +destitute. + +Aug. 18--Everything ready to flood frontier if Germany strikes. + +Aug. 20--Food supply causes anxiety; patrols capture German aeroplane. + +Aug. 21--Country prepared against invasion; soldiers fire on Zeppelin +using searchlight; declaration of neutrality renewed; bakers making +bread from potatoes; people of Tongres flee from Germans. + +Aug. 23--Minister of Industry and Commerce assures England that goods +will not be improperly supplied to Germany. + +Aug. 25--Mobilization ceased. + +Aug. 29--Southern frontier under martial law. + +Sept. 9--Germans want people's sympathy; some places put in state of +siege; rice substituted for wheat flour. + +Sept. 15--Artists protest to German Emperor against destruction of +Louvain. + +Sept. 26--Martial law on eastern frontier to stop smuggling of goods +into Germany. + +Oct. 2--Neutrality is being maintained at great cost; trade is +paralyzed. + +Oct. 3--Severe embargo on foodstuffs. + +Oct. 7--Amsterdam fixes price of wheat. + + +*INDIA.* + +Aug. 15--Mass meetings in Calcutta and Bombay to voice people's loyalty +to England. + +Aug. 26--Moslems still loyal to England. + +Aug. 28--Troops will be sent to France. + +Sept. 9--Men and money offered to England; message from Viceroy read in +House of Commons. + +Sept. 14--German tale of revolution denied; loyalty reported by British +Foreign Office. + +Sept. 15--Mussulmans in Russia support declaration of loyalty to +England. + +Sept. 21--Aga Khan, leader of Mohammedans, offers to enlist; potentates +eager to serve. + +Sept. 24--Preparations for comfort of soldiers being made in England. + +Oct. 1--Troops land in France; message to them from King George. + +Oct. 2--Great welcome given to troops at Marseilles. + + +*ITALY.* + +July 24--Country will simply safeguard her interests in the Balkans and +on the Adriatic; appeal made to other countries to be conciliatory. + +July 25--No disposition to espouse Austria's cause. + +July 26--Government looks to England to prevent war. + +July 28--Concentration of the first and second naval squadrons ordered +at Gaeta; warships on the Clyde ordered home. + +July 31--Government assured that Austria is not seeking more territory. + +Aug. 1--Government informs Germany of neutrality and says obligations +under Triple Alliance apply only to defensive war. + +Aug. 2--Cabinet ratifies declaration of neutrality; Government orders +all Bourses closed. + +Aug. 3--Fleet assembles in Far East; neutrality formally proclaimed, but +reserves are called to colors. + +Aug. 5--Report of German ultimatum to Italy; war may be declared on +Austria. + +Aug. 6--Ambassador to London justifies attitude of neutrality. + +Aug. 7--Germany and Austria bring strong pressure to bear to obtain aid. + +Aug. 8--Germany and Austria threaten war; King said to be indignant at +reported offer of colonies in return for aid. + +Aug. 13--Alpine passes and northern frontier guarded. + +Aug. 14--Government aroused by report that Turkey has purchased two +German cruisers. + +Aug. 16--Strong feeling in favor of England. + +Aug. 19--Refugees from Germany complain, of outrages. + +Aug. 21--Prefects vote against joining with Germany. + +Aug. 24--German Ambassador's efforts fail to persuade press to advocate +intervention; Allies are pressing Italy. + +Aug. 31--Romans leave cards at Belgian Legation to show sympathy over +Louvain. + +Sept. 7--Socialist Reform Party endorses [Transcriber: original +'indorses'] neutrality. + +Sept. 13--Populace of Rome cheers for France. + +Sept. 14--Radicals favor war; anti-Austrian demonstration in Rome. + +Sept. 16--Rioters in large cities demand aid to Allies. + +Sept, 20--More than 500,000 men are under arms. + +Sept. 21--Damage to Rheims Cathedral arouses sympathy for France; +British Embassy in Rome cheered. + +Sept. 22--Thousands offer to enlist in British Army. + +Sept. 30--Gabriele d'Annunzio urges country to join Allies. + + +*JAPAN.* + +July 30--Alliance with England may involve Government in war in case of +attack on British warships. + +Aug. 1--Navy prepared. + +Aug. 2--Emperor summons Council and asks War Minister to report on +condition of army; warships get ready. + +Aug. 4--Proclamation prepares people for war on behalf of England. + +Aug. 5--Count Okuma says Japan would have liked to join the United +States in mediation offer. + +Aug. 7--Warships off Tsing-tau; reserve army officers told to be ready; +navy squadrons organized. + +Aug. 11--Army aboard transports. + +Aug. 12--Telegraphic communication with Europe interrupted; Ambassador +confers with Russian Foreign Minister. + +Aug. 17--Official announcement in London that Japanese operations will +be confined to China Sea and to protection; ultimatum to Germany made +with concurrence of England. + +Aug. 18--Count Okuma emphasizes war limitation and England reassures the +United States; ultimatum to Germany was not inspired by England. + +Aug. 20--Count Okuma denies that Government has territorial ambitions. + +Aug. 21--United States sends formal declaration of policy bearing on +ultimatum. + +Sept. 5--Baron Kato makes speech in Diet outlining events leading up to +war with Germany and break with Austria, and thanking United States for +good offices. + +Sept. 10--Government tells Russia that no peace will be concluded until +Allies consent. + +Sept. 15--Papers controlled by Germans ordered suppressed. + +Sept. 26--Charges of misconduct on part of troops in China denied at +Washington Embassy. + +Oct. 5--Assurance given to China that Shantung Railroad will only be +used temporarily. + +Oct. 7--Ambassador Guthrie and embassy at Washington assure State +Department that taking of Jaluit Island is only a temporary move. + +Oct. 15--England tells China that she cannot interfere with the +occupation of railroad. + + +*RUSSIA.* + +July 21--Belief that Government will aid Servia in possible conflict +with Austria. + +July 24--Cabinet meets; Government will ask Austria to extend time +allowed for Servia's answer to ultimatum. + +July 25--Army is mobilizing. + +July 26--Warning to Germany against invasion of Servia; army manoeuvres +countermanded, but Government still hopes for peace. + +July 27--Czar warns Germany of general mobilization of army. + +July 28--Force masses on eastern border; lights along Black Sea coast +ordered extinguished. + +July 29--Intervention imminent; prayers for Serb victory; Baltic lights +out; Czar summons reservists. + +July 30--Germany demands halting of mobilization within twenty-four +hours and sends Grand Duke of Hesse to urge peace; war activity in +Warsaw; railroads taken over. + +July 31--Railway bridge on Vienna-Warsaw line blown up; no reply sent to +German note; mobilization order. + +Aug. 3--Czar issues statement outlining events leading up to war. + +Aug. 8--Czar addresses Duma and Council of Empire; Duma pledges people +to country's defense. + +Aug. 9--Minister Sazonof, in speech before Duma, blames Austria for war. + +Aug. 10--Government acknowledges receipt of President Wilson's offer of +good offices. + +Aug. 14--Army works in secret, 5,500,000 men mobilized; Poles support +Russia. + +Aug. 15--Home rule promised to Poland after war if people remain loyal. + +Aug. 16--Poles enthusiastic over promise of autonomy. + +Aug. 17--Unrestricted use of Dardanelles demanded of Turkey. + +Aug. 18--Many Poles join army. + +Aug. 24--Finns loyal. + +Aug. 27--Poles loyal; St. Petersburg well supplied with food. + +Sept. 1--Name of St. Petersburg changed to Petrograd; other cities with +German names would have them Russianized; Germany charges atrocities in +East Prussia. + +Sept. 3--Report that soldiers have been sent to Belgium through +Scotland. + +Sept. 4--Gen. Bobrinsky appointed Governor of Galicia. + +Sept. 6--Year's provisions seized at Lemberg, which is to be called +Lvov. + +Sept. 12--Prisoners are proving a problem. + +Sept. 14--British Press Bureau denies that troops have landed in Belgium +or France. + +Sept. 16--Proclamation issued to captured Austrian districts. + +Sept. 21--"Orange Book" shows Government's negotiations in cause of +peace. + +Sept. 27--Full text of "Orange Book" printed in THE NEW YORK TIMES. + +Sept. 28--Soldiers occupy Tilsit estate of German Emperor; war fund +presented to Czar by Petrograd bankers. + +Oct. 8--Lemberg made a province. + +Oct. 15--Refugees are a serious problem in Warsaw. + + +*SERVIA.* + +July 25--Parliament will meet in special session; King Peter moves +capital from Belgrade to Kraguyavatz. + +July 26--Army mobilizing; Crown Prince will command it; panic in +Belgrade as people flee. + +July 28--King Peter goes to Nish. + +Aug. 4--Sending of press dispatches forbidden. + +Aug. 8--Full text given out of Austria's ultimatum and of reply. + +Sept. 19--Government will conclude peace with Austria only by acting +with Triple Entente. + + +*RESERVISTS.* + +July 26--Ambassador Dumba tells Consuls to warn Austrian reservists to +prepare to return for service; Serbs in New York ready to sail. + +July 27--Austrians await call. + +July 28--Chicago Serbs anxious to return home. + +July 29--Reservists ordered to return to Austria; Servians in Indiana +ordered to await call. + +July 30--Servians in New York prepare to sail; Giuseppe Garibaldi will +fight for Servia if Italy remains neutral. + +Aug. 1--Mass meeting of Slavs in Central Opera House, New York City; Dr. +Winter issues proclamation for general mobilization of Austrians in New +York district. + +Aug. 2--Swiss called to colors; Germany and France recall all military +reserves; England sends for naval reserves. + +Aug. 4--Many flock to consulates; Servians fight to sail on Greek ship; +French and British reservists leave Canada; Austro-Hungarian Military +Benevolent Society formed in New York; hotels affected by leaving of +French chefs. + +Aug. 5--Canadians respond to call; 2,000 Frenchmen sail on La Lorraine. + +Aug. 6--Attempt to ship Austrians, Hungarians and Germans given up; +English and French to go; many leave destitute families. + +Aug. 7--Reservists will go as individuals, not as organized parties, by +order of Department of Commerce. + +Aug. 15--Many Frenchmen sail on the Rochambeau; Dutch and Germans on the +Potsdam; Secretary Bryan says men in America cannot be forced to join +foreign armies. + +Aug. 22--British ordered to be ready for call to colors. + +Aug. 25--German and Austrian reservists on the Potsdam taken prisoners +at Falmouth, England. + +Aug. 31--British vessels take Austrian and German reservists from two +Pacific Mail liners near Hongkong. + +Sept. 5--German reservists from Holland-America liner Nieuw Amsterdam +held prisoners by France; French reservists sail on the Espagne; Germans +from Puerto Colombia reach New York. + +Sept. 9--British cruiser captures the Noordam and makes German +reservists prisoners. + +Sept. 25--Germans taken from Holland-America liner Absteldyk by British. + + +*RELIEF WORK.* + +Aug. 1--Hungarians form committee to aid New York families. + +Aug. 2--Austrian headquarters established in New York City. + +Aug. 6--Prince of Wales starts fund. + +Aug. 7--American women of title in England start fund; American +Ambulance Corps organized in Paris by Mrs. Herrick. + +Aug. 8--Committee of American women formed in London to aid sufferers; +gift from Mrs. Whitelaw Reid and many other contributions; Belgians in +New York form relief committee; French fund started in New York. + +Aug. 10--French-Belgian relief fund started in New York. + +Aug. 11--Ambassador Herrick asks Red Cross to send hospital supplies to +Paris. + +Aug. 12--Duchess of Sutherland is at head of French Red Cross work in +Brussels. + +Aug. 13--Rothschilds give $200,000 to French fund. + +Aug. 14--Prince of Wales fund reaches $5,000,000. + +Aug. 15--English nurses arrive in Brussels; Germans in New York start +fund. + +Aug. 17--Servian societies aid Servian Red Cross. + +Aug. 21--Relief fund started in New York by German Historical Society, +which gives iron ring as souvenir to contributors. + +Aug. 24--Ex-Empress Eugenie contributes to French fund. + +Aug. 27--Noblemen in England offer homes to Red Cross. + +Aug. 31--Appeal for aid in equipment of American Hospital in Paris. + +Sept. 1--British War Office accepts Oldway House equipped as hospital by +American women; large contributions in London. + +Sept. 7--American ambulance corps first on field near Paris. + +Sept. 8--Mrs. W.E. Corey places chateau in France at the disposal of the +Red Cross. + +Sept. 12--Hanotaux issues appeal for French refugees; Duchess of +Marlborough to aid servants out of work; Duchess of Westminster a nurse. + +Sept. 13--Briand thanks American women for care of wounded in Paris; +Ambassador Jusserand will forward money for French Red Cross. + +Sept. 14--Chinese send Red Cross men to aid Japanese and Germans at +Kiao-Chau; American Red Cross steamship Red Cross sails from New York. + +Sept. 15--Work of rich American women praised by French Socialist organ; +Mrs. Penfield organizes corps of Red Cross workers in Vienna; Prince of +Wales fund increased by soccer teams. + +Sept. 17--Babies and Mothers' League formed in London. + +Sept. 19--Committee of Mercy formed in New York City. + +Sept. 20--Belgian Legation in Washington plans aid for women and +children. + +Sept. 23--Lady Paget appeals to American women for socks. + +Sept. 25--American Women's Fund in London gives six motor ambulances; +home of Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Depew on the Oise used for hospital. + +Sept. 28--Appeal for Belgian relief addressed to Canada repeated to +United States. + +Sept. 29--England generous in offering homes to Belgian refugees. + +Sept. 30--Duchess of Marlborough to act for Committee of Mercy in Great +Britain. + +Oct. 5--Prince of Wales fund reaches $15,000,000. + +Oct. 8--Mrs. J.P. Morgan on shipboard knits socks for soldiers; praise +is given to the work done by the American Ambulance Hospital in Paris +under Dr. J.A. Blake. + + +*PEACE AND MEDIATION.* + +Sept. 7--Germany reported ready for peace; Oscar Straus and diplomats +confer with Secretary Bryan. + +Sept. 8--Secretary Bryan and Ambassador Spring-Rice deny peace +proposals. + +Sept. 10--Bankers' peace movement afoot; German banks feel strain; Pope +issues appeal. + +Sept. 11--Apostolic Delegate in Washington has mission on mediation to +President Wilson; opinion in England that peace moves must wait. + +Sept. 12--Kaiser has received informal inquiry from United States +Government; Allies will unite in demanding compensation for Belgium. + +Sept. 17--Report of preliminary steps for peace between Austria and +Russia; Ambassador Gerard reports conversation with German Chancellor, +suggesting that Allies state terms. + +Sept. 18--England denies that Germany and Austria have made peace +proposals; Gerard's message will probably be sent to Allies, but United +States will make no further move at present; President Wilson receives +appeal from women of all nations and from General Conference of Friends. + +Sept. 19--Ambassador Gerard's message has not been forwarded to any +embassy; National Peace Council in England thanks President Wilson for +mediation offer. + +Sept. 21--President Wilson believes time has not come to move for peace; +he receives appeal from suffragists. + +Sept. 23--Ambassador von Bernstorff denies that German Government +initiated peace propositions. + +Sept. 26--Churches start peace campaigns to further efforts made by +President Wilson. + +Oct. 4--Prayers for peace held in churches throughout United States in +accordance with request in proclamation by President Wilson. + + + + +*THE MEN OF THE EMDEN.* + +By THOMAS R. YBARRA. + + +What matter if you + Be stanch and true +To the British blood in the veins of you, +When it's "hip hurrah!" for a deed well done, +For a fight well fought and a race well run-- + What matter if you be true? + Hats off to the Emden's crew! + +Theirs was the life of the storm-god's folk, + Uncounted miles from the Fatherland, +With a foe beneath every wisp of smoke, + And a menace in every strip of strand. +Up, glasses! Paul Jones was but one of these, + Hull, Bainbridge, Decatur, their brothers, too! + (Ha! those pirate nights + In a ring of foes, + When you douse your lights + And drive home your blows!) + Hats off to the Emden's crew! + +Erect on the wave-washed decks stood they + And heard with a Viking's grim delight +The whirr of the wings of death by day + And the voice of death in their dreams by night! +Under the sweep of the wings of death, +By the blazing gun, in the tempest's breath, + While a world of enemies strove and fumed, + Remote, unaided, undaunted, doomed, +They stood--is there any, friend or foe, + Who will choke a cheer?--who can still but scoff? + No, no, by the gods of valor, no! + To the Emden's crew-- + Hats off! + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote A: The second installment of this chronology, recording events +to and including Jan. 7, 1915, will appear in the next issue. The +chronology will then be continued in each succeeding issue.] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The New York Times Current History of +the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NEW YORK TIMES CURRENT *** + +***** This file should be named 16363.txt or 16363.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/3/6/16363/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, James LaTondre and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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