Confessions of a German Deserter
(Continued from last week )
made In the ii'iiiltlntis fnctorler
I cannot say. i nMH ' they were Bm1
er, I did MMj 1 11 tn dutn bullets
made h.v the soldier- themselves. Tht
point" were filed off from (icrmnn mus
ket shells so that the nickel covering
was perforated imrliiK the lend til Unit.
The hnllet flaUriicd when It struck
Its object. If. foi instance. It entered
man' arm. the explosive charge In It
would so shutter the nrm us to blow It
entirely off mid leave It hanging hy the
kin.
German soldiers were frequently
im supplying themselves with dum
dam bullets In Hie trenches, preparing
to Inflict terrltile wound.
On January S, 111.r, the German at
tacked on their entire front of the Ar
gnnrie forest sector nnil Severn! hun
dred prisoners were tiiken. The hand
to-hnnd fight continued until sli o'clock
In the evening.
A fellow pioneer and myself found
ourselves In n hit of trench held hy
eight Frenchmen. It waa Impossible to
retire ao we accepted the unequal fight
Fortunately we were well supplied
with hand Krennden.
We cut the fuses shcrt so that they
would explode a quickly aa possible.
I threw one among the eight soldlera.
Before the men could get out of ths
way of the first. he second one fol
lowed, which exploded In their midst.
We took advantage of the confusion
thus created to hurl five more. Out
enemies were now reduced to four men.
We opened fire with our muskets, clos
ing In on the four. Their bullets
whlr.r.ed around our heads. One man
was shot In the mouth. That left three.
They turned and tried to flee.
In such moments as these one la In a
great rage and forgeta danger entirely.
We were very close to our enemies
bow, right on their heels when the last
man stumbled and fell.
I sprang on top of him. He defend
ed himself with his flats. My comrade
went after the other two. Rleedlng at
the mouth, this man fought on. After
I had knocked aeveral of his teeth out
he raised his hands and surrendered.
I releaaed him from my grip and
looked him over carefully. He was
about thirty-five years old. He showed
me hla wedding ring and talked to me.
I knew what he wnnted, he wanted his
life.
He gave me his canteen that I might
drink some wine and wept. Perhaps
he thought of nil wla and children. 1
pressed his hand aim he showed me
his bleeding teeth. TP-allod him a fool
end told him he was
ten away with the lL of only a few
molars. I was glad
him. I took him bao
to protect him against being misused
Aa I delivered him dyer to where the
prisoners were heluV aasemhled,
pressed my hand andjsmlled.
cky to have got
h had not killed
jnyself, In order
he
i ne cnriilren were with their father
and they kissed him ns he left. Me bnd
one child on curb iiiin and his wife
curried the third.
Willi the greatest hnpplness the
family walked along between the two
armed soldiers. When the moment of
parting came nil began to cry.
This was the fnte of thousands of
poor French and Belgian men and
women, quartered MM their homes
yet unable to know who was dead or
alive.
While we stood at I he depot ten Gcr
man soldiers arrived with fixed bayo
nets. Iletween them were three French
citizens in civilian clothing, whom they
BOCOrtad, All were elderly men. We
asked an old Frenchman what this was
about a nd be Mid :
"We receive our food from the Ger
MM mllllnry officials but It is not suf
ficient to live on. The people have
nothing left All stock and food had
been seined. These three men refused
to work any longer for the (fcrtnan
military officials because they could
not live on what they received.
"They were arrested and are being
sent to (lerinnny. No one knows what
their fate would be there. The men
were being taken awny by the Ger
mans and Interned In Germany."
We received nrdurs to march to
Varennes and left the next morning.
As we reached the heights of Varennes
about noon we saw the wide country
before us and the city nestling In the
valley. Farther up on the heights was
Vauqunls. Nothing could be seen of
any houses but through our field glasses
we could make out an enormous ash
heap. Sheila fell there continuously
and we were frightened at the pros-
CHAPTER XVI.
The next day we received orders to
march to an unknown destination. We
eoon arrived at the depot of A KMM
where we were obliged to wall. The
depot had been destroyed. The next
Station was Chntel. Roth of these
places are about five kilometers behind
the front.
The prisoners ware assembled In
Apremout. Several of them had come
from that town. Their families were
etui In their homes and ninny prlsouere
asked permission to visit them. 1 had
occasion to witness such a visit in Ap
remout. Two reserves led one of the
prisoners to the house, which he had
pointed out as his. The prisoner's
young wife wits in the kitchen with her
three Children, We followed them into
the house.
The woman turned pale as she sud
denly saw her husband. They em
braced. We went outside for we felt
out of place there.
The woman had not had a letter
from her husband for five months lie
cause the GmbhUM were between hei
and her husband's army Re had been
In the 1 1 em lies tor n month, realising
how Bsarbj ins wife and children were,
yet suable to reach them and with no
way of knowing whether they were
ellve or deed.
How he must have felt us the French
shells iieu over bis head on their way
to Apretnoni I
There was no way of knowing
whether the glow In the sky caused
by the burning of a house was fur
nished by his home or not. livery
thing became a torturing uncertainty
and all of lire was ., m il.
Home again for a few hours; then
sway, a prisoner! At least he would
be able to get word to his wife by
letter through the field posts
Finally he said good by. Ills wife
bad nothing to give him. no laundry,
no food.
Everything had been lost and she
lived on the soldiers' bounty. She gave
him her last money and he refused to
take It. She accepted the money back.
It consisted of a few ? and 10 pfSSV
nil? pieces and some coppers, all she
had.
Unable to endure this we took a col
lection among ourselves. We made up
more than 10 marks. Watch, we gave
to the young woman. She refused it at
ilrst, then looking at tier husband, she
took It Slid tried to kjsa our hands.
When we refused to let her do this
she ran to a store neurby and returned
with cigars, tobacco, mutdies and sau
sage, which she gave to her husband.
She smiled perhaps for the first time
In a long while.
This Village Had Changed Hands
Mora Than Fifteen Times.
pect of having to go to that spot.
Scarcely had we crossed the heights
when some shells hurst behind us. The
Preach artillery even singled out indi
viduals. While Vauquols was In theB
possession they could co-ordinate tin
entire neighborhood. We iimli rstood
now why tills ash heap' had been con
tested for so bitterly.
We ran down hill till we enme to
Varennes. The southern section of the
town had been wrecked Uy shells and
tire. Many chimneys were all that was
left standing of whole rowe of
housea. Soldiers everywhere collected
scraps of metal which were transport
ed to Germany. The church bell-, were
loaded on wagons and sent away. All
the copper, tin, brass and nickel which
could be found was gathered.
The next morning we went Into the
trenches. We had to reach our posi
tion before daybreak, for 'with daylight
the French kept all the approaches un
der tire. There was not much of a
trench In Vauquols. All that could be
seen was a single stone pile. Literally,
there was not. in this town, one stone
left upon another. The ruins of this
village had changed hands more
than fifteen times. When we arrived
one half of Vauquols was in German
hands. The French were In possession
of tb- hlghesl points from which they
could overlook the country for many
Ullles.
In default of a trench we sought
cover behind the stones, for it was im
possible to dig trenches here, ns the ar
tillery leveled everything. The soldiers
concealed themselves behind stone
walls and fired. Artillery of all cali
ber covered these ruins. Amid all this
destruction laj nu army of corpses,
mostly German.
CHAPTER XVII.
Wo were of the opinion at first thftt
this was only h temporary condition,
but after a few days we saw a
slaughter horderini: on Insanity under
taken again ami again. H.v night and
day it was always the same. I'slng
Verdun as their base, the French con
stantly brought up nev masses of
troops. They had marshaled their
heavy guns from the nearer Verdun
forts by the use of field railways.
In the spring of IS15 both sides be
gan an offensive of local, but of an In
ed Vauquols so that not a square foot
of land could be found which had SO'i
Men torn up by shells. Thousands anrt
thousands of shells, large and small,
were hurled Into the town for three
days and three nights.
This continued until not a single sol
dier was left In the village, for both
French and Germans had to retire
from tills fire from both sides, as It
was absolutely impossible to have sur
vived this hell. The entire hill and ad
Joining heights were enveloped In
smoke.
On the evening of the third dny the
enemy bombardment abated somewbut
and we were MM more sent Into the
pile of debris, which had been torn by
a hundred thousand shells. It was not
yet dusk, and as the French had also
advanced an attack developed. They
came Into our lines Uh strong reserve
units and the w-blest kind of a hand
to-hand encounter ensued.
Sharp daggers Hew from hend to
head, breast to breast. Men stood on
corpses In order to Ml I new corpses
New enemies continued to arrive
For each man who was killed three
others appeared.
We also received re-enforcements,
thus permitting the slaughter to eon
tlnue.
Bad) man fought fren.iedly, expect
ing his death blow momentarily.
No life was worth a penny. Bach
man fought like n beast.
I stumbled and fell upon the stones
and in less lime than Is required to re
late It I saw before me a giant French'
man with a pioneer's spade raised to
strike a blow. With light ningllke speed
I dodged and the spade struck a stone.
In the next moment my adversary
had a dagger plunged to the hilt In Ills
abdomen.
He went down with a terrible cry
and crumpled up In agony on the
ground. 1 thrust the dagger Into my
boot and stized the spade. There
were new enemies all around and the
spade came In handy.
I struck an enemy between the head
and shoulders. The sharp spade en
tered his body and burled itself half
way In. I heard the bones crack under
the force of the blow.
Another ndversary was nearby and
I dropped the spade and seized the
dagger.
He struck me with his flst and the
blood ran from my mouth and nose.
We clenched. - My dagger was In my
right hand.
Each of us held the other around th
breast. He was not superior to me In
strength yet he clung to me as tightly
as I did to him.
We tried to reach each other with
our teeth. T still held the dagger buf
was unable to strike.
Soon one of us would have to let go.
While I was trying my best to find a
way to kill him there was s terrlbl
explosion nearby.
I saw my opponent fall aniflk my
self felt a terrible pain In tire right
side of my lower jaw.
I ran as quickly aa I could to thf
rear and after a search of severs
hours found a dressing station. wher
I was bandaged.
My face was so swollen that the doc
tor could not tell whether or not mj
Jaw had been broken.
I wns placed on a train for woundet
men, bound for Germany, and wai
taken to a hospital In Dusseldorf.
I arrived at Dusseldorf August 28
191.1. My wound was not dangerom
and thev expected I would be cured Ir
14 days. Yet It required three weeks.
During this time I made up my mini1
firmly that I would not murder anj
more people at the order of and t(
further the Interests of Hnhenzollern
Ism, (bat this war would mean the en
of the Hohennollerns and of Prussia i
militarism. I decided to dsasrt to Hoi
land.
CHAPTER xvm.
f prevailed upon the authorities S
gn nt me an eight-day furlough to visit
I inj home and I took edvantage of this
' to cross the Dutch border. I left my
borne under a pretence of Intending to
, vlsrj relath s. wearlug civilian cloth
ing. I bought a railroad ticket to KaW
denklrchen, a medlurj-sir.ed town near
the Dutch border. During my trip to
Kaldenkirchen I had plenty of time to
review all that had hpppened.
How different everything was after
the first year of the war! My homa
town once a lively country settlement,
was now as calm as a graveyard. Is
this town, which had a population bo
fore the war of g,0U0 souls, more than
40 had been killed and many others
crippled. Food was very high with lit
tle to be had.
There was no enthusiasm for tits wsr
manifest anywhere. The people were
downhearted, stunned.
It was the same In other cities. The
longing for peace was universal yet no
one talked of peace or expressed tht
desire for It.
One word spoken, which displeased
the autocratic government, merited the
severest punishment. Tnat Is how It la
to be explained that the German peo
ple cannot force the Boheusallsms Into
pence because the government with
MststaaM of the military, smothered
every expression of peace with Mood,
even at that early date.
The pi es, in Prussian government
win als lighter anj Qermsa citizen -o'
further Its own Interests in the MUM
i say that it attacked the Innocent pom
ulaflon of Belgium with ut regard.
With a cleiin eouscience ami clean
hands !
"(iott strafe Bngtand. Br 1st strafe
ear
doing through the streets this whs
heard right and left as a comment and
a reply.
To m". fresh from the front, this
UBd of greeting was unknown.
Presently I learned the reason if
hatred within the German nation waa
not so great toward France and Rus
sia. The people quietly accepted the enor
mous sacrifices w hich the war demand
ed from them In course of time.
Rut the government, which even
then, foresnw the unfavorable courss
the war was taking, conceived the Ides
of setting England up as the arch
enemy which Intended to destroy Ger
many entirely.
The German war machine made uss
of the blockade which England drew
around Oermnny to such an extent,
playing upon child murder, so-called,
thifl the people developed an ever-increasing
hatred toward Knglnnd.
The French language was no longer
spoken anywhere. A large part of ths
Oerman people formerly used the
French word "adieu," as a farewell ex
pression but that was stopped. Care
had to be taken In the use of this word
to avoid arrest on a charge of high
reason.
I thought about these things as I
II eared my temporary destination. I
was sufficiently acquainted with the
border so thnt when I arrived In Kal
denkirchen I was able to rench It with
out asking any questions. The spot
which I had selected for crossing lay
In a forest. After a march of two
hours I arrived mar the bonier. It
wns soon dnrk and I decided to tnaln
'n the woods over night.
The next morning at daylight I v-n-tared
on and without being seen by ths
guards I crossed Into Dutch territory.
With a sigh of relief I arrived at the
next town. Ven in Holland.
Everywhere 1 was received In a
friendly manner. I observed that the
Dutch people bated the German people
as much as I did.
After passing several months tn
Holland, w here tens of thousands more
German deserters lived. I made up my
mind to move farther nujay than that
from Germany for the arms of the Ger
man government are long and Its spies
are everywhere In most cases con
scienceless criminals.
Some of my Dutch friends made ms
scqunlnted with sailors and these con
sented to smuggle me to America on
their ship. When the ship departed I
was placed In the conl bunkers and ar
rived after 14 days In New York, safs
and well.
The first thing that struck me on sr
rlvlng In the United States was ths
wide latitude permitted German propa
ganda. Most of the German papers pub
lished here were body and soul for the
kaiser and tried dally to Justify the
German fight for the German cause.
In this respect the government In
Washington certainly went too far un
til It was realized that no concessions
could be made to the Prussian govern
ment and thnt concessions made to
Washington were nothing but deceitful
talk, sustained only by action when It
served its Interests of Imperialism.
The promises which the German gov
ernment made to Washington concern
ing the Lusltnnln case, the U-boat war
fare and so forth, were nothing but de
celt on the part of the Rerlln govern
ment It was the desire to preserve peace
for the American people which Im
pelled President Wilson, again and
again, not to declare war and If Amer
ica fights today It has only kept faith
with Its democratic principles and as
sisted the world In defensive war
against the autocracy that Is a constant
menace for the world, which prepared
for this war over several decades.
With the entrance of America Into
the war the backbone of Prussinh mili
tarism will I s broken. The Hlnden
burgs and the Hohenzollerna nrs
doomed. A victory for the allies will
be a victory for democracy and a vic
tory of the greatest majority seeking
the welfare of the human race.
(THE BND.)
PRINCESS MURAT
WferiHyHBjH flfl mmV aKasHamM
Princes:; Murat, farmrrly M ss Hel
ena Str'lo of New Ycrl;, hM ben ap
pointed a member of the directing
beard of the Friends of Fr.mce, tht
new international ro. :ty formed for
the promotion of close coolal and in
tellectual rotat-Cai between this coun
try and Franca.
One Carload
Every Two Minutes
e had
sme
rga
rtj In
ly ind
ar da
ta , to
at the
1 1 ick-
t sde
ay the
w) Diesel-era
xr xol
s ond
to the
is 70
I 917.
do- of
' han
V the
Is) as
iet
15,000 POUNDS
MEAT A MINUTE
GOING TO ALLIES
One Hog Out of Every
Four Being Sent
Abroad,
Shipments of meat have been going
to the allies for aome time at the rate
of 16,000 pounds a minute. Aa the
shipments are kept up during a ten
hour day they amount to 9,000,000
rounds daily. The meat goes to sol
diers of the United States and ths al
lies and to the civilian population of
all the countries at war with Germany.
OsMSJS Tr&UMM, June (. 1111
T
nlf
In
mo
hoi
of
mo
ta
t
In
a ns
mitt
on '
R
I
all
W.
els
wl
$2t
tha
! clai
These statements
were made by a prom
inent representative of
the United States Food
Administration.
No industry in the
country has played a
more important part in
helping to win the war
than the American live
stock and meat-packing
industry.
Swift & Company
alone has been forward
ing over 500 car loads of
meat and meat products
per week for overseas
shipment.
Swift & Company, U.S. A.
The wonderful thing about- the Erin t Gamble Concert Party Is that,
whereas other musical companies have a life of from one to four years on
i.he com n t stage, this one is continually before the public.
A fiist rute, evenly balanced company with a fine ensemble is not the
result of bringing together a few performers of various ability each successive
season. The present personnel of the Gamble Concert Party has remained
the same for four seasons and th re has been but one change in six years.
The result is an all around polished and perfected performance rarely
heard.
The artists are not talenred amateurs, but skilled professionals, each
the product of the greatest European masters. The oldest member of the
party is Mr. Erin .-t Gamble, who is just attaining the zenith of his great
career at thirty-six The fact that for the past twelve seasons he has aver
aired 150 concerts yearly and has achieved a position on the concert plat
term facile princepa, is a just tribute fo his glorious voice and superb style
of singing.
The delightful violinist. Viss Verna Page, and Miss Shonert, piano
virtuoso, are by no nie.ins to ie called support. They sh.ir-- the program
ecually with Mr. Gambit and are quits as successful and essential to the
completeness of the fine performance of The Gamble Party. Moreover, thf
mmbination of voice, piano, and violin is ideal.
Tin Ernest Qanbu Concert Parti has become an Institution in tn.'
n i! world and on the lyceum platform. It has a high reputation and
si .nds for fine, legitimate and artist Ic ideals. It is popular and widely
known from coast to coast, and he name of The Gamble Party in music
r; uka with such strong men -j. Liua vi'us, Weadllng and ConwsU as lecturer
To be heard on third day of Chaufamiua.
ALLIANCE EVIDENCE
EOR ALLIANCE PEOPLE
The Statements of Alliance Kcsidt-i ts
Am surely Mom Hrliahis Than
Those of l iter Stranger-.
Home testimony is real proof.
Public statements of Alliance peo
ple carry real Weight,
What friend or neighbor s.-.ys
CO i pels respect.
The word of one whose home is far
away invites your doubts.
Here's an Alliance man's state
ment. And it's for Alliance people's ben -
fit
Such evidence is convincing.
That's the kind of proof that bac'.s
Doun's Kidney Pills.
i. 11. Williams, stationery fireman
42 1 "Yellowstone street, says: "My
back was lame and ached steadily
Mid heavy work would about use nu
up. Doaa'g Kidney Pills relieved mo
and I endorse them ns a first class
kidney medicine."
Price 60c at all dealers. Don't
simply ask for a kidney remedy A
Doan's Kidm ''ills the same thai
Mr. William:; had. rosier-Milburn
Co., Mfgrs., Buffalo, N. Y.
WHM4-M- : v v : .
HEAD STUFFED FROM
CATARRH OR A COLD
-r
f
Saya Cream Applied in Nostrils T
Opens Air Passages Kight Up. X
Instant relief no waiting. Your
dogged nnatriU open right up; the air
pasaKe8 of your head clear and you can
breathe freely. No more hawking, snuf
fling, blowing, headache, dryness. No
struggling for breath at night; your
cold or catarrh disappears.
Get a small bottle of Ely's Cream
Balm from your druggist now. Apply
a little of this fragrant, antiseptic,
healing cream in your nostrils. It pen
etrates through every air passage of the
bead, soothes the inflamed or swollen
mucous membrane and relief oomes io
tntly. It's just fine Don't stay stuffed-up
wth a cold or nasty catarrh.
