THB ALLIANCE HERALD, MAY 18, 1918
The Cbnfessi
of a Gerrtfca
Written 5y a Prussian Officers.
Who Participated in the FavacPS.ifr'
ani Pillaging of Belgium
ons
H iinlimi.-il fr.Mii Uflt W(Wk)
nii wiini tin' llefitenafkl taunsenja u
ascend pomnuul to halt, the boldlei
ttfllMd Rfoond hihI threw tlu hftad
tMfore the lieutenant's f'i't. Then he
aid tatetly, "I ds not wish inybtM)
any luirin. Imt if vmi mul your auto
cratic fiimlly, mul the whole Ccrman
nation hail to cuilii iv what the poor
IlelglimH ari obliged to suffer, it would
te a bitter tit Just lesson."
This man wns sentenceil to nerve 14
days for talking luick to his superior
officer. It Rtrprlssd us nil that he whs
let off bo ens.
But bitterness in the ranks mew.
ami at last the ninny hard punishment?
that were pronounced created ho much
feeling thnt the soldiers refused to tie
any of their comrades.
We left SUCnjf the next morning and
one hour later crossed the Kriinro llel
.glan border. Here aiaila we were or
dered to Rive three cheers aa we dill
when our troops first crossed Germany
Into Belgium. At noon we arrived at
Vlvler-Au-Cotirt. We remained In the
-Village until evening uml were per
emitted to go about without restrlc
tlons. In the afternoon nine men of
my company were arrested for assault
lng a woman but were soon released.
At this time there was a great scar
dty of tobacco among our soldiers and
I knew that a mark or more was paid
for a cigarette whenever one was of
fered for sale. Here, In Vlvler-Au
Court there was but one government
tobacco stall. I have seen how men
"Were forced by noncommissioned offl
tvrs at the point of guns to give up
their entire supply of tobacco for
worthless requisition papers. These
"gentlemen" later sold their tobacco
at half a mark for small packets.
Toward evening we marched off and
tirought the howitzers to a new nosl
tlon, from where the enemy's defenses i
on the Meitae could be bombarded
After a short march we encountered
snd fought a French army northeast
of Ionchery. Only the enemy's rear
sruard was on aur side of the Meuse.
To It was given the duty of coverlug
the crossing of the main body of the
French armies over the Meuse, which
was done near Imnchery.
The few bridges left standing were I
tot sufficient for the enemy to cross
s speedily as he should have. As a
result there developed In Donchery a
terrible fight. The French made an
enormous effort. There was a terrible
alaughter as man fought against man.
It was one of the most fearful battles
i have ever witnessed. No one knew
afterwards how many he had killed
Sometime stronger men. then ttrakfX
ones attacked. The glaie from burn
lng houses turned Into red the whir,
of ttt fighters' eyes and revealed men
tattltng one another frothing at the
mourn.
Without any headgear, unkempt
fcalr, uniforms open or mostly torn,
It was bayonettlng, hitting, scratching
nd plunging like wild beasts for life
or death. Everybody fought for his
life. There was no quarter. Only
moaning and gasping could be heard.
Each man thought only of his own
life, of death or his home. Old memo
ries raced through the mind, pursuing
one another feverishly and yet men
grew wilder, for they now battled a
new enemy exhaustion.
But there could not .vet lie any let
op. Again and again there is nothing
to do but strike, stab, bite, fighting
without guns or other weapons except
those provided by nature for life or
death.
The exertion becomes more super
Tinman. You bite and you are a victor.
But victor only for a second, for the
next antagonist is already upon you
He has Just killed one of your com
rades. You suddenly remember that
you still have a dsgger. After a hasty
search you find it Iq Its regulur place.
One, two, three and It sinks to the hilt
In the breast of your enemy. On, on,
where there are new enemies. You
suddenly wee your next antagonist be
fore you. He Is after your life. He
bites, stabs, scratches, to get you down,
to pierce your heart with his dagfOI
and again you use yours. Thank God
he lies on the ground; you are saved
But stop; you must have that dagger
back. You pull It from the breast of
your late enemy. A stream of warm
blood shoots from the open wound in
your face. Human blood, warm hu
man blood. You shudder, terrified
only for a few seconds for there it
another adversary. It is again neces
aary for you to defend yourself. Again
and again the murder commences
unew. Always, and always again
through the whole night.
At last, toward four o'clock in the
iiM.rnlng, the French retired ucross the
Meuse with the Germans storming
after them. When the bridge was full
of German soldiers, it was blown, up by
the French aud hundreds of -German
found their death in the Meuse.
......
CHAPTER IV.
The scene of the :iugliter cottk!
now be surveyed pi leisure. Dead am:
IrOUDded were strewn all around, hiii!
over them clouds of smoke and Unmet
made the an- thick. But wt were ai
ready too hardened to feel much pity
Humanity was thrown to the Wtndl
nnd the cries and begging of thf
wounded left everybody cold.
Some Catholic sisters lay dead In
front of their convent. The only build
lng that was spared in Oonchery waf
the armory of the Twenty-third Frencr
dragoons.
There was Dot much time In whlcfc
to do anything, for at seven o'clock
the French began to hurl shells Intf
the village. We fortified ouraelve ba
hind a thick garden wall directly In
front of the Meuse. The river bank
at this point was flat, but on the oppo
alte side It was steep. Here the Frencl
Infantry hnd dug Itself In and estab
lished three Hues, one above the other
The artillery firing was too far. W
did not come within Its range, so thai
we were able to observe the effect ol
the shelling of our own artillery on th
enemy Infnntry positions before us
The 21 -centimeter shells raced bs
above our heads and burst with a fear
ful noise in the enemy's trenches.
The French could not resist this ha I
of shot very long. They soon aban
doned all the heights on the rivet
hank. They abandoned Soudan with
out a fight aud it was left intact, which
had not been the case with Donchery
Hardly a house had suffered.
When the bugles sounded In Don
chery, It was discovered that our com
pnny hnd lost 38 men in battle. A po
sltion was taken behind the dragoot
armory and our company, which now
was reduced to 90 men, wus ordered
to attempt the building of a pontooc
bridge over the Meuse. After we Inn
been re-enforced by 80 men, w
marched In small detuebments in or
der not to draw the enemy's attentlor
to us. After an hour's march w
stopped in a small forest about 20C
meters from the Meuse to rest unti'
darkness set In. At twilight a division
bridge train was driven up close tc
our hiding place. Tttis was soou fol
lowed by a corps bridge train as a re
serve. After all preparations werf
made and the main advance work
such as setting up the bridge stays and
landing platforms, were ready, the
single pontoon wagons drove up. Thej
were speedily bul silently unloaded
We completed four pontoons, that la,
20 meters of bridge, without the enemy
discovering anything.
Then suddenly the searchlight of
the enemy was set In action and
canned the river. We dropped to the
ground at once. The enemy must have
seen us, for the searchlights played
here and there and kept our bridge
position under continuous glare. We
were discovered hardly before we
knew what had happened, and a rain
of fire fell In the water In front of
us. We continued to lie flat on the
ground as four more shots struck the
water, this time a little nearer to the
bridge and one shot hit the bank. At
once a third rain of shot followed and
tWO struck the bridge. Two men fell
In the water and two lay dead on the
bridge. Those in the water swam
ashore and escaped none the worse for
their experience except for a bath.
In spite of the continued volume ol
artillery fire, we brought the two dead
men to land. The bridge was now
greatly damaged and there was no
choice except to replace the damaged
pontoons by new ones. We besan this
difficult task as soon as the artillery
fire let up. Hardly hud we begun
again when a salvo struck and greatly
damaged the bridge. Fortunately we
had no losses. We were now ordered
to retire, and after n half hour begin
new. The enemx's seurchltghts wore
now dark. We brought about ton ism
toons up without Interference and then
we were suddenly bombarded again.
Wo had attracted the attention of the
enemy's patrol.
Several batteries now opened fire on
Us at one time and after ton minutes
the entire work was only a pile of
w reckage. Two more men were killed.
The order now came to retire. Fight
men were detailed to attend to the
dead and wounded and we were taken
out. of this danger eone. After we
marched about two kilometers up' the
river, we were hulted. und discovered
that the corps bridge tralu was In
place. We were told that we would
get the bridge ready on land. Sections
consisting of two pontoons each were
firmly fastened together, equipped with
anchors, everything else made ready
and then put In the water. The loca
tlon for the hrldg.e was indicated to
us and we reds with all our might
down to the bridge position. The en
emy did uot see through these tactics
and did not interfere, so that all the
rsr ri-htd Uie nositlou in a very
time, wnere they were iitwiein-n
together. In less than twenty min
utes the bridge wns completed and
the Infantry stormed over It.
The bridge was covered with straw
In order to dull the noise of the troop
movements. At the same time, at dif
ferent places, traiisHirts with jMintoonr
were assisting the army to cross and
before the French found out what had
happened our troops had occupied thr
Opposite bank and established them
selves firmly there.
The French artillery nnd Infnntry
now opened a terrible fire on the pon
toons. Our units, which bad defended
the pontoons, were relieved and re
placed by Infantry. I wns mnde n
leader In the pontoon and with foui
men at the paddle and IS Infantrx not,
a I a crew, we started our first cross
lng In a veritable hall of shell, hn,
with only one minor casualty, w
reached the opposite bank. A com
rade took my plnce nt the steering
gear. On the return trip, our pon
toon wns struck by bullets but fortu
nately nboTVo the water line. All about
us the pontoons crossed, several Ir
a sinking condition. The men win
manned them, all of whom could swim
tried to swim to the bank, but mnn.
Infantrymen were drowned.
We landed, and took a new pontoon
which, by a superhuman efTort, w
managed to get across the river a sec
ond time. This time we arrived with
two dead and one wounded infantry
mnn. Long before we Patched the
bnnk the Infnntrymen jumped Into th'
shallow water nnd waded to land
OBITUARY
J
suiting from a general breakdown of
her ayatem. She had lived a long life. ;
her faith was in Christ, now comes
rest.
Funeral services were conducted at
the Christian church by the minister.
Mdor Stephen , Epler. on Inst Fri
day arternoon, interment being made
In Grenwood cemetery.
Arrived With Two Dead and One
Wounded.
With the two dead left In the boat, we
turned around. Our crew ached as a
result of the continuous rowing and
their hands were soon covered by blis
ters, but nevertheless we had to row
on. There was no rest.
When we were 20 meters from the
bank, our pontoon was hit below- the
water line by several bullets. When
the bullets struck our bout they made
only a tiny hole, but as tt emerged on
the bottom, It tore an opening as large
aa a plate. As a result our pontoon
settled rapidly and there was nothing
elae for us to do except to Jump Into
the Icy water and swim. Hardly had
we left the boat when It sank, hut we
all reached the other bank safe for the
moment.
In spite of our wet clothing we had
to take a new boat at once, and with
our blistered hands had to man the
oars again. In the middle of the river
we collided with another boat. Thi
boat had lost Its pilot and two rowers
It rammed us and our pontoon tipped
over and 18 Infantrymen and one mem
her of the crew were thrown into the
water. We were saved along with
four men from the other pontoon and
taken to the left bank. Hardly had
we landed before we wore ordered tc
take over a pontoon loaded with am
munition.
About five more times we crossed
tin- Meuse. Meanwhile day broke
and then a terrible battle developed
between the troops which hail rroailj
and the French. The Germans bad tht
,best in ilds encounter because Uboj
could not be shelled bv the French ar
tillery.
We were given a short rest and lay
in our water-sonked clothing In an old
abandoned trench shivering with cold.
Our hands were swollen to twice their
normal size. They pained so greatly
that we could not hold a bottle to out
Hps. It was a terrible sight to aee
young and strong men lying on the
ground helpless and broken.
After a short rest we were ordered
to seek for wounded In the burning
houses but we did not find many, for
most of those who had been badly
wounded and unable to save them
aelves, were burned to death. Only
the buttons of their uniforms aud their
weapons Indicated to us to which Side
they had belonged.
In BOOM cases, there were not even
these vestiKes. Only a little heap of
ashes within the ruins of a house, was
all that was left of whole families for
whole streets. During the search most
of us behaved as If we had not taken
part In the terrible events of the last
hour, as If we had not seen the hor
rors of this encounter and as If we
had forgotten entirely the danger we
had just escaped.
As to honoring the dead, something
which had boon taught us by our moih
ers fpnaj Infancy or . fe;ir which th
Flennor Theresa Durham was born
at Drununonsvllle. Canada, April 8,
1846, and died at her home in Alli
ance May I, 1J8, age 73 years and
days. She was -married to James! M. E. Holloway, manager of the
Bk.nnrr September 8. 1867. Mr. and Hupmobl.e agency of Alliance n-
;,r y n;r;,7;,;,iV'b'Tbrn8kU in he' " th? he ha made
e r v h! 2 f ' uf amnp ,hVrrange,nents to handle the Chaddler
Znf; 'D T V&r , ' th"'rar- Jh the d'm,on ot this car,
tef h L h .T ' '"'"iwhich-la one of the best on the mar-.
sT.rlnU . 1 a , llriVV0,laykpl' theagency is provided with wo '
.N.r.ngs. along distance la thoao ia Of IttWWt to tl b09t-
i2l K2T H7" m' t)M ChatXr aid thVHu7
He, The Z ,P r ,he r d 8" ile. The establishment was In
trict. The first religious services n L.tiA4 w efcL 0 - . . i
their community was held in tholr 2fi"J L,7ow v T ' "T
house. Mrs. Skinner became a mem- W'th 1?r:hHO',OWayu ncnar- At
her of the First Christian ehurch JEL &JZJ!!S?
vnnru a h.c K.,.. k.. ,.,.Ka8t Third the building former-
Frunk Woten She was no, on,7 in-' by N'-,ai-forested
in spiritual things, but was!
most patriotic as well As r mem-1 Blie G. Rice, of 301 West Third
ber of the Rod Cross she was quite ! street, visited. Kansas City and sent a
diligent, being engaged in knitting! box by express from there to Alliance
for JIM soldiers previous to the tlme!Tne box wa8 ,abelled grocereBi but
of her death. L. , , i
a. .... . . , , . j the employes of the express company
She will be missed by her husband.!.. . 1 '
With whom she had happily lived forj,hinklnK the Krocerle hd peculiar
over fifty years, two daughters, Mrs. j odor notified the authorities. They,
Maud May and Mrs. Myrtle Leishman, . were ordered to deliver the box and
three grandchildren, Mrs. Fay Ture-jas soon as the delivery was made the:
chek. MisB Ethel Hembrey and Harry , m , , . ,
n. : . .... j . omcers seized it and found t contain
Clark, who is stationed at Camp , I
Bliss, Texas. e d eiKht lunrtB of whiskey and wine, j
'Mrs. Skinner had been in poorjMr and Mrs- Rlce were arrested and j
health for several years past, however j brought Into court. Mrs. Rice was'
her condition was not considered I dismissed, Mr. Rice being fined $100
serious untHa"week agoT death re-' and costs.
BEGUN EOT WATEE
DUINTOG It TOHJ
D0JTT FEEIiUNlT
Says glass of hot water with
phosphate before breakfast
washes out poisons.
If yon wake up with a bad taste, bad
breath and tongue 1b coated; If yoai
head Is dull or aching; If what you eat
pours and forms gas and acid in atom
ach, or you are bilious, constipated,
nervous, sallow and can't get feeling
just right, begin inside bathing. Drink
before breakfast, a glass of real hot
water with a teaspoonful of limestone
phosphate In It. T'jIs will flush the
poisons and toxins i.om Btornach, liver,
kidneys and bowe'. and cleanse,
sweeten and purify the entire alimen
tary tract. Do your Inside bathing Im
mediately upon arising In the morning
to wash out of the system all the pre
vious day's poisonous waste, gases and
sour bile before putting more food Into
the stomach.
To feel like young folks feel; like
you felt before your blood, nerves and
muscles became loaded with body Im
purities, get from your pharmacist a
quarter pound of limestone phosphate
which Is Inexpensive and almost taste
less, except for a sourish twinge which
is not unpleasant.
Just as soap and hot water act on
the skin, cleansing, sweetening and
freshening, bo hot water and limestone
phosphate act on the stomach, liver,
kidneys and bowels. Men and women
who are usually constipated, bilious,
headachy or have any stomach dis
order should begin this inside bathing
before breakfast. They are assured
they will become real cranks on the
subject shortly.
OUR LOOSE LEAF DEPARTMENT IS FOUNDED ON
THE SERVICE IDEA
Our System Service costs you nothing
Tell us the department in your busi
ness that is causing you troubls
This will Obligate You in No Way
WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF
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This line snjoys an international reputation for
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iaBxSnSKBBnflK : wrp 7y fly ifaTBSsW
1 'i?- Ssssr
Alliance,
HERALD PUBLISHING COMPANY
Selling Agents
Nebraska
1 TE STE D itfcTI RES -lllfl
a si
I m
kT the City of Goodrich, they
have officially announced the
erand mileage or Lroocnch
nation-wide Test Car work of 1917
1,044,686 linear miles.
4,178,744 tire miles.
Those figures indite the Emancipation
Act of motorists, freeing them few tire
mishaps and amputated ntlteugfe.
Compressed ui them ib the stoiy of the
famous Six Fleets, and how they hurled
Goodrich Tires the length and breadth of
our nation, over city pavement and country
road, ploughing them
through sand and mud;
mauling them against rock
and gravel.
Mathematics has no fa
vorites. That multiplied
mileage of 4,178,744 miles
. To be ''"M'lltUViii.i lt ..
M seirufnutu
If the A.rl4 Teat
fa ' Lo',tr-
H BUY WAR
" R A V 1 N Q
a IE STAMPS
a ' ff 9oin"J'kt V
ij! fftg'.r J
coldly, calculatingly, puts the seal of multi
plied proof on Goodrich Tires, and stamps
u:em lested." In that searching test.
slightest defect, no hidden short-coming
could escape the sight of the Goodrich ex
perts. SILVERTOWN CORDS, and BLACK
SAFETY TREADS, under light and heavy
caTa, dehed the rough going of roads wher
ever the Test Car Fleets rushed them.
The spiral-wrapped, cahle-cord tire body,
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fought the hard fiht and conquered.
Seek tire surety and long mileage in the
proven service of "America's Tested Tires."
Goodrich guarantees you will get it because
Goodrich tested and got it
Tested Tires mean 100 per cent, quality.
Demand it. Tested Tires mean supreme
service. Demand it.
THE a F. GOODRICH RUBBER COMPANY
Deuver Branch: 1422 Court Place, Denver, Colo.
iaam-1ltr.aaOTM(anililA,viiiTtX)(
THE CITY OF GOODRICH AKRON. OHI
siMl1Malaala1yrMMMLloaaggaa4,u
