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About The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Or.) 1903-1931 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1918)
FAGK0 RRNP nUMiKTIN, nKNI OltKGON, TI1UIUTOAY, AUGUHT 8, lf)IH (Tho G)n(i9ns oj a berraar Deserter fc J'JynYfcrt ty a Prussian Officer Who Participated in the RavafZl itng and rillaging of Belgium CHAPTER I. I ntn a German soldier. Naturally At the tlroo when the war started we did not know that there would be such a war ca !a being waged today. Dally wo soldiers were told that France and Russia wanted to attack ss and that the kaiser was doing ev erything possible for our protection. Already on July 20 we were armed to the teeth and prepared to march away. During these preparations which showed us all that war had to come, 18 men of my company deserted. The government published, during this time, bulletins almost hourly to prepare the people for the war, n subterfuge that succeeded perfectly. Consequently two days before war was declared, the people were overwhelm Ingly for war, but they were certain that It was only to be between Ger many and France. Of the Intervention of Belgium, Itussla, England and Italy, the coun try had as little thought as It did of any participation of the United States. All thought only of the promenade to Faris, which, to the disappointment of the people, and also, surely to the disappointment of the autocracy, has been longer drawn out than had been wished for. In these days of uncertainty the soldiers, contrary to the cruel treat ment which they had experienced be fore, were treated liberally with great quantities of supplies, delicacies and beer, so that most of the soldiers were eo drunk continuously that they were unable to realize the seriousness of the situation. And yet the majority of the sol diers could not be enthused over the war. They cheered and were enthu siastic because they knew it was the orders. On July 31, 101-1. one day be Sore the declaration of war, we left, after being brought to war strength, for our garrison at Malnz-nm-Ilhelne. Where the enemy toward which we were to point our bayonets was we had not the slightest idea. All we did know was that we bad to be trans ported somewhere to protect the bor der. There were stirring times ns we started out. Tens of thousands of people threw Mowers at us and all wanted to shake hands. AH even soldiers cried I Many embraced their wires or young brides. The bands played farewell songs and people laughed and cried all at the same time. Strangers embraced nnd kissed each other. "A veritable witch's holi day" of emotion was loosened and en gulfed the populace like a storm. No one, not even the strongest, could re sist Its powers. Yet even this was surpassed by the leave-taking at the depot, where last farewells hud to be said. This scene will never leave me 1 How desperately many women clung to their men 1 Many had to be forcibly removed. But this was at last done and then we were placed In cattle cars. Night came and we had no lights. The train went slowly toward the Rhine. It went smoothly enough. Our company, which had had days of great excite ment, welcomed the rest that the Jour ney afforded. Most of the soldiers slept with their knapsacks as pillows. Others looked dreamily into the fu ture. Still otherssecretIy pulled pic tures from their breastpockets and only a very few killed time by discussion and comment on their possible desti nation. "Where are wo going?" Yes, wbere7 No one knew. Then after endless hours, the train stopped. We wero In Duren. What were we there for? We did not know. The officers only shrugged their shoulders at our questions. After a brief pause we went ahead. On the evening of August 1 wo reached n farmyard near Duren. Our company was billeted in a barn. No one knew what we had to do. Ignorant of the jmrnosQ of pjur belpc. gent, so near the We will give you value for your money in what can be procured in the markets and we adhere strictly to all Food Administration Rules Baker's Grocery ; &. v '" 'a- l-m . V" , s Belgian border wo Tafd" down on our beds of straw. Something had to happen soon to rescue us from thts un certainty. How few suspected that would bo the last night for many of us on Gor man ground. An alarm took us from our beds nt 3 a. m. The company gathered and the captain demonstrat ed the war situation. Ah to the direc tion of the march ho himself was Ig norant. Scarcely half nn hour later 50 big trucks drove up and stopped on the road before our quarters. The driv ers also wero Ignorant and wulted for orders. Discussion of our destination started afresh. The orderlies who had been keeping their ears open said wo would enter Belgium thut day. Others contradicted them, no ono knew for certainly. But the order to march did not como and, in the evening we went back to our straw. But the rest was short. At 1 a. m. we were again nroused nnd honored by n speech from our captain. lie said we were at wnr with Belgium. He told us to show ourselves brave, deserve the Iron cross and bring honor to Germany. Then ho continued: "We only make war against tho armed force, the Belgian army. Llfo and property of civilians are protected under International law. Yet you sol diers must not forget to keep your lives for the fatherland or sell them as Honored by a Speech From Our Cap tain. dearly ns possible. Unnecessary shed ding of blood we will prohibit to tho civilian population. Yet I nsk you to consider that too much consideration borders on cownrdlco and that will bo punished very severely." After this speech of our captain wo were loaded on our autos and at 4 a. rn. crossed the border into Belgium. In order to make this a historical oc casion wo were ordered to give three cheers. On tho speedy nutos wo reached our goal at 10 a. m. It was a beautiful little rural village. Inhabi tants of the villages wo had passed looked at us In astonishment, so that we all got tho impression that theso country people never knew why wo camo to Belgium. They were fright ened out of their sleep and looked out at us from their windows. As we halted and left our nutos, tho farmers camo out and offered us cof fee, bread, meat, etc. We wero still without a field kitchen, so that wo en Joyed tho enemy's offerings more so since those of tho better clnss of vil lagers refused any pay, They told us thoBelglnn, soldiers hud departed to JVh&'iSkc&Aj' mBMk '""b,KVW "'"S" WGSmgBPJ&Wfri . rw SI 1 ' IT l lp uLXJty f6 Bfratlplr Bomo unknown deM7fllHton. After a short rest wo marched on. The nutos returned. Hardly had wo marched nn hour when'wo were over taken by cnvnlry, dragoons and hus sars, who reported that tho Hermans wero marching all over tho neighbor hood on all roads. Right behind canto the bicycle corps. This was comforting. Wo no longer felt alone, Isolated In n strange coun try. Another bicycle division over took us nnd passed on. Angry words Wiffo now uttered by members of our company. Tho others could ride but we had to walk. What we had always tnken for granted suddenly bcenmo great Injustice. If It did no good our grumbling nt least was a diversion from tho weight of our packs. Tho heat was oppressive. The sweat camo from all pores. The new and stiff leather trappings rubbed uh sorts especially upon our hips. It was n re lief nt 2 p. in. to halt nt an abandoned farm and rest on tho grass. Wo might havo lain down about ten min utes when suddenly we heard llrlug. We Jumped up like lightning and hur ried to our guns. The tiring which was about three kilometers away grew more lively. At ouco wo were on tho march again. From tho expressions on tho faces of the soldiers we could read the minds of the men. Something took posses- slon of them which they hud never ex perienced before. As for myself I became very restless. Fright and curi osity lashed my brain. Everything whirled around In my head and my heart was beating wildly. Hut I strove to conceal my fright from my com rades. I am sure that I tried energeti cally. I don't know that 1 succeeded better than my companions. Although I knew we would bo In the tight In an hour, I tried to per suade myself that our Interference would not be uecessnry. I clung tight ly te everything which might strength en this hope. The bicycles lying In the road Indi cated that the bicycle division was In the light at this point. How strong tho enemy was we did not know as we raced toward the tiring Hue. livery- body crouched down as low as posl bio while Jumping to the right and left. Before nnd behind us the bullets .wero Hying continuously, yet wo ! reached the firing line without losses. We were greeted Joyously by our hard j pressed comrades. The bicycle regl iment hnd not suffered any buses ex- cept for n few slightly wounded men who were still able to take part In tho Qght. Wo were lying tint on the ground and tiring In the direction ordered for all we were worth, even though wo hnd not seen our enemies. That was apparently not Interesting enough to i some of our soldiers. They wanted , to know how the people were looking , whom they hod to shoot at. They got up to a kneeling position. Two men of ( my company had to pay for their curl nultt ltii tlmlt tli'itu nlitut Inornnllt u.iuj ftiits iiivti iitvn itiitiui HuiMHi I The first victim of our party went down without it sound. The second threw his arms high in the air and fell on his back. Both wero dead in- i stantly. I It Is Impossible for me to describe the feeling that overcame me In the 1 first real volley as wo advanced nnd 1 came directly within the range of the tire. I no longer felt any fright, only an Impulse to get Into nctlon as quick ly as possible. Yet ut the sight of tho first corpse n terrible fear seized me. For minutes I was completely stunned, , lost nil self-control and was absolute ly unable to tulnK or do anything. I pressed my faco and hands close to tho ground. I wanted to clutch my gun and shoot blindly. Presently I calmed down. I suddenly became con tented with myself nnd conditions about mo and when soon afterward tho command wns sounded along tho whole line, "Spring out I" "Forwnrd march!" I charged as did everyone elso like one possessed. The order to halt followed. I.Ike wet bugs wo plumped to tho ground. Firing had be gun nnew. Our firing now became more lively momentarily and increased to a fear ful loudness. If wo had occasion to say anything to our comrades wo had to shout so loudly In their cars that it hurt our throats. Under the effect of our fire tho ene my grew restless, tho lire weakened and his lino wavered. As only COO meters separated us -from them wo could observe exactly what happened there. Wo saw about half tho enemy retire In tho following manner: Every other man quit tho line, leaving his al ternate In his place. Those remaining held on until tho retiring party halted. Wo used this moment to lntllct the most severe losses on the retreating enemy. As far as we could scan tho horizon to tho right nnd left wo huw tho Germans udvnnclng In several sec tors. Also for our detachments tho order camo to advanco us thu enemy retreuted. Tho tusk of clinging to tho heels of tho retiring enemy so tenaciously thut no tlmo would bo allowed to make a new stand fell to us. We followed tho Belgians, bcurccly stopping to breathe on tho wuy, In order to pre vent their fortifying themselves In a village situated Just ahead. Wo know that a bloody liouse-to-houso fight lay before us, yet tho Belgluns never at tempted to establish themselves, but managed to escape with astonishing cleverness. In tho meantlrao wo received re-enforcements. Our company wus now pretty well scattered and fought with whatever unit wns nearby, Tho body I Joined had to remain In tho vlllugo to search systematically for scattered soldiers. From this vlllago wo saw that tho Germans had gained on all sides. Field artillery, machine gun detachments and other, equipment or- riven" and "wo were nil nslohlHhcd nt their coming so quickly. But thero was no tlmo to bo spent In speculation. With fixed Imynnotn we, went from Iiouro to house, door to door, nnd while tho results were negli gible hecntiMo wo found no soldiers wo did not como out quite empty-handed. Wo made the Inhabitants deliver nil guns and tnuultlotm and so forth In their possession. Tho mayor, accom panying tho soldiers, explained to every citizen thut all found with arms after thu search would be punished according to the rules of war and Herman rules of war In Belgium meant execution. An hour might have passed when we were again aroused by tho sound of artillery and gunfire. A new battle had begun. Whether the artillery was busy on both sides could not bo Judged from our village. The bombardment was tremendous. The ground shook from the growling nnd moaning that rolled backward and forward, always seeming to become stronger. Tho ambulance columns now brought In the first wounded. Cour iers sped by us. War had set In In all Its pIiuncs. Darkness camo over us before we had finished our Itouse-to-hnuso search. We dragged all tho mattresses, straw sacks and feather beds that we could lay our hands on, to the community school nnd church to care for the wounded. They wero made as com fortable as possible. From other sur rounding villages now camo the first fugitives. They may have been march ing, for they looked tired and utterly exhausted. Women, old men nnd children were huddled together In one mass. They had saved nothing except their bare lives. In baby buggies or on wheel barrows these unfortunates carried whatever the rude force of war had left them. In contrast to the fugitives, whom we had met before, these wero extremely frightened, appearing to bo In mortal terror of their enemy. When ever they looked upon one of us Gor man soldiers they cringed In terror. How different these were from tho Inhabitants of the village where wo hud first stopped, who bad met us In n friendly, even polite manner. Wo tried to leurn the cause of this fright nnd discovered that the fugitives hud witnessed In thulr village bitter street fighting. They had become acquainted with wnr hod seen their housei burning, hnd seen their little property destroyed nnd could not forget tho sight of their streets filled with corpses and wounded. It dawned upon us that not merely fear gave these people the appearance of hunted animals; there was also hatred toward the Invaders who hnd fallen upon them and driven them from their homes by night. In the evening wo depnrted and tried to reach our own regiment. Tho Belgians had concentrated somewhere to the rear under cover of darkness. We were quite near the neighborhood of the fortified city of Liege. Many settlements through which we passed stood In llames; the Inhabitants driven out, passed us In droves. Women, children and old men were buffeted about nnd seemed to be everywhere In the way. Without alms or plans, with out it place on which to lay their heads these poor peoplo dragged themselves by. Again wo reached n village, which to all appearances hnd been Inhabited by contented people. Now Indeed nothing but ruins could bo seen. Wrecked houses nnd farms, dead sol diers, German and Belgian, and among them many civilians, who had been shot by military order. Toward midnight wo reached tho German lines. Tho Germans had tried to take a vlllago which lay with in the fortified belt of Llego and was defended tenaciously by tho Belgians. Here ull forces had to bo used In or der to drive tho enemy nut, house by house nnd street by street. It was not very dark yet, so that we hud to wit ness with all of our senses the terrlblo fights which developed here. It was n mun-to-mun fight. With tho butts of our guns, knives, fists, teeth wo went against the enemy, Ono of my best friends fought with a giant Belgian. Tho guns of both had fallen to thu ground. They hammered ono another with fists. I had Just closed nn account with n twenty-two-year-old Belgian nnd was going to as sist my friend because his antagonist was of superior strength. My friend succeeded suddenly In biting tho Bel gian on tho chin so deeply that ho tore n pleco of flesh out with his teeth. Tho Belgian's pain must havo been terri ble. Ho released my comrade nnd run uwuy with nn Insane cry of pulu. Everything developed by seconds. Tho blood of thu Belgian ran out of my friend's mouth; a terrible nausea and Indescribable loathing seized him. Tho tasto of warm human blood brought him almost to tho verge of In sanity. In the course of this night battle I came In contact for tho first tlmo with tho butt of n Belgian gun, During u haud-to-huud fight with a Belgian, a second enemy soldier struck mo on tho back of tho head with tho butt of his gun no hard thut my helmet wns forced down over my ears. Tho pulu was fearful and I fainted. When I revived, I wus lying In n burn, with my head bnnduged, among other wounded men. My wound was not severe. I only hud a feeling as If my head wus.twlco Its normal slzo. Tho other wounded soldiers and tho nmbulanco men suld tho Belgluns had been forced back within tho forts and that hard fighting was still in prog ress. Wounded men wero brought in con tinuously and thoy told us that the Germans had already stormed sovoral rorts and had taken n number of inula nnd auxiliary defenses, but could not hold thorn hecnuNO they had not been sulllcleully supported by artillery. Tho defenses Inside tho forts and their gar risons wero still Intact, Thu situation was not rlpo for a storming attack, so tho Hermans had to retire with enor mous losses. Tho reports wo received wero contradictory, It was InipoNslblo to get n clear picture. In thu mean time thu artillery bombardment hnd become so Intense, thut It horrltled even tho German soldlurs. Thu heavi est artillery wns brought Into action against tho steel and concrete de fenses. No soldier so far know anything of tho existence of thu (-centimeter mor tars. Long after Liege was In Her man hands these soldiers could not understand how It was possible that tho defenses, which consisted of dou ble six-meter walls of steel and Con crete, wero reduced after only a few hours' bombnrdmeut. I myself could not tnko part In tlieso operations, being wounded, but my comrades told mo Inter how tho cap ture of the several forts camo about. Artillery of all caliber was trained on the forts, but It was tho Hi-centimeter mortars and tho 42s which performed tho real work. From ii distance tho 12-centlmeter projectiles were beard to arrive, to tho accompaniment of u fearful hissing that sounded like it long drawn-out screech which filled the whole at mosphere. Wherever It fell, every thing was destroyed within a radius of several hundred meters. The air pressure which the bursting of the pro jectile produced was so terrible that It made breathing dllllcult for those of us who were holding the advanced po sitions. To make this witches' hnlhhy com plete, tho Zeppelins appeared during the night to participate In tho work of destruction. The soldiers suddenly heard uhuvu their heads the whirling of propellers and th noise of the mo tors. Thu Zeppelins ratlin nearer. They were not discovered by the ene my until they were close to the forts, which Immediately pUyed ull the Played the Searchlight on Them. searchlights at their disposal on them, hunting thu firmament for thu Hying foe. The whirling of the propellers of tho airships stopped suddenly. In stead, high In thu air n brilliant light appeared, thu searchlight of thu '.eH pclln, which, for a moment. Illuminat ed tho entire landscape. Suddenly all became dark again. A few moments later powerful detona tions revealed the fact that thu Zep pelin had thrown off "ballast." That went on a long while. Explosion fol lowed explosion. These wero followed by clouds of fire. In tho nlr. exploding shrapnel which thu Belgian artillery' fired at thu ulrshlps could bo observed. Tho whirling of the propellers started up ugaln, directly above our heads. It became quieter and quieter, until tho powerful ships of thu ulr disappeared from our vicinity. Thus tho forts were leveled. Thou sands of Belgian lay behind tho walls and under thu fortifications, dead and burled. A general storming attack followed. I.lego was in thu bunds of tho Hcrmnns, who hnd paid, In dead alone In this battle, 23,000 men. (To Bo Continued.) 8omothlng to soll7 Advortlao Tho Bulletin's classified, column. In Will it raise ANY dough? Certainly! No mutter how coarse grained and heavy the Hour, Cres cent Halting Powder will make the dough light, wholesome and easily digested. It mukos ALL wur broads hotter. Your grocer soils It 25o lb. EXHIBITS WILL BE PRACTICAL (From Tuesday's Dully.) "Willi tho nation engaged In war, and a shortage existing In both fond and clothing, all exhibits shown at tlio Htato fair this your will bo of a practical nature, and will bo designed to itlvn Instruction In tho Increasing; and conserving of tho food and cloth ing supplies of tho state," suld A. II. Lou, secretary of tho statu fair board, today In commenting on the 57th annual state fair, which will open In Haloni on Hoptnntlior 2.1, for u week. "By Increasing and conserving both theso resources more supplier will bo made available for our sol diers across tho waters, and morn money uvnllnblo for tho govern ment," ho continued, "nnd tho board Is bonding ovury effort toward tin attainment of theso ends, Tho food administration bus been nskod q furnish nn exhibit that will especially demonstrate tho value of food sub stitutes, nnd how to grow and usn them to tho best advantage. Lec tures and demonstrations will bit given on food production and con servation In all agricultural, horti cultural mid live stock department." Present Indications nro Hint the. Ilvo stock show will bo equally as good If not butter tlinu last year. Tho widely known Aberdeeu-Angusi hunt of Cougdou & Buttles wilt bo shown for tho first time nt tho (air, and I'llsn'n Ayrshire herd, tho larg est west of tho Mississippi will also bo on exhibition. 11. 11. Tboruborry of Hpokuno, tho biggest Importer of horses lit tho United Hiatus, has sig nified his Intention of competing for prizes with A. ('. Ruby, Oregon's fa mous horsi'inan. Excepting fill barrows, nil swine, under n now ruin promulgated by tho board, must bo under one ywir mid for tho first tlmo In tho history of tho fair Juvenile exhibitors of hmIiiii will bo permitted to eompeto with adults Tho gout department ban J been reinstated, nnd It Is expected that In both tho gout nnd sluxtp divi sion tho exhibit will bo uitusuully good. Fully ns ninny counties ns Inst year will semi agricultural exhibits, nnd tho machinery exhibit will b tho best In thu history of tho fair. Tractors anil trucks will predom inate. l'rlio winning entitling clubs from tho stitto of Washington will com pete with champion clubs of Oregon for premiums, nnd the contests will bo both Interesting rind Instructive. Tho racing program will bo superb, the music tho best and the entertain ments of n high class order. GIVES SPITZ PUT TO THE RED CROSS (From Saturday's Dally ) E, W, Hnloy, government trnppr who Is at tho present limn living in I this city, bus mndu a gift to tho Bed Cross of n two and ono-hnlf mouth old Alnsknn Spitz pup. Tho animal Is to bo on display nt tho Llltlo Brick restaurant, where numbers will bo sold at tho rate of 2& cunts each during tho next week, nt the end of that tlmo tho disposal of thu anlmul taking place. While You Shop, We Do Your Washing ! Hring in the wash when you eome to town in an hour nnd nhnlf it's done Jlny Kind of Finished Work SANITARY Laundry D-28j (J V
