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<<%,$&» ••; • •;- ; fcgCJjP^ •'f^^'-V'^ .„ . . ... fmsi'f xf*? #:• &~&»!aiar*;% :v awvOTTft :* •S^'i BTHENHY FLAINDEATJER, M'HE AMID SHRAPNEL FIRE WRITER SEES '-/; '~i& WM By EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER. • ! . y f c o r r e a p o n d e n t C h i c a g o D a i l y Neva.) ^ West Flanders, Belgium.--For mow than a week I have been at the head­ quarters of the Belgian army behind the line of the River Yser from Nleu- port to Dixmude. I have seen how the remnants of the army from Ant­ werp retreating on the way to Ostend were sent to northern France to rest and reorganize and how the rest of the Belgian forces, being asked to hold the lines 42 houro, have actually held 0It for six days, thus preventing, a siege of Dunkirk and saving the French k- " coast from Invasion. 8tlck to Antwerp to Last. Contrary to what was at first report­ ed) the Belgian army left Antwerp only after all the forts except four had been destroyed, and these four the defend­ ers blew up as they hastily evacuated the town, the heroic Belgian, General de Guisel remaining to the last What part of the retreating Belgians en­ tered Holland and are held by Dutch ' authorities is not known here. It is certain that the others never 'would have escaped the Germans but lor the heroic stand made by a mixed force of English, Belgians and French marines in the village of Nelle, south­ west of Ghent, wherein* two Belgian regiments--the Sixth volunteers and the Ninth of the line--particularly dis­ tinguished themselves. Walks From Dunkirk to France. I reached Furnes October 16, hav­ ing walked frpm Dunkirk, I cropsed a bridge, reached a village street and after two turnings emerged on the quaint old market place of Furnes, the home and present seat of the general he&dquarters of the Belgian army. I Went at once to the headquarters in the town hall, made known my iden­ tity and secured a pass. Standing before ^the headquarters was an automobile containing three British soldiers. I approached and asked the nearest one where the Ger­ mans were. He looked at me with astonishment and before replying or letting me explain who I was and why I had come, he exclaimed: "Good Lord! Have they let you come this far? Well, since you are here, it can do no harm to tell you where they are." He drew a map from his pocket. "Here they are," he said, laying a linger on the village of Mlddlekirke. *Our line extends from Nieuport to Dixmude. Thfe Belgians are intrench­ ing themselves all along the line." Starts Out for Nieuport. I thanked the soldiers and set out to walk to Nieuport. On the outskirts of Furnes I passed a regiment of Bel- Clans starting for Dixmude. I turned to the left in the direction of Nieuport, but at the village of Wulpun I was turned back by an over polite Belgian •ergeant. That night I heard a terrible can­ nonading, and Saturday morning, Oc­ tober 17, I learned that the battle of the Yser had begun. This battle, which has not yet come to an end, it­ self is only a part of the greater bat- tie of which it Is likely to be the center. Small though it is in the num­ ber of troops engaged, the battle of the Yser presents three distinct phases, according to the nature of the ground. About eight miles east of Furnes lies the town of Dixmude, where the attack began. The Belgians here had been re-enforced by 5,000 French marine in­ fantry, these marines forming the first line of defense, 400 yards beyond thfc town and on the right bank of the Yser. The Germans attacked with great violence about nlpe o'clock Fri­ day evehlng. Marines who figured in the battle estimate their opponents' strength at 20,000. The attack contin­ ued until daybreak on Saturday, when the marines, ably assisted by French and Belgian batteries placed behind the town, drove back the onslaught with considerable loss. Reaches the Belgian Trenches. When 1 reached the Belgian bat­ teries and trenches about eleven a. m. Saturday the former were keeping up a steady fire. Some of the Belgians lying in the trenches which had been the second line of defense tried to de­ ter me from continuing further, as the shrapnel fire was rather heavy at this point, but I proceeded until 1 reached about one kilometer (six- tenth of a mile) on this side of the town. A Belgian lieutenant previous­ ly had given me permission to go one kilometer beyond the towh to a po- aitlon which, as I learned later, would have put me exactly between the op­ posing forces and in full line with the rifle fire. # Escapes Shrapnel of Germans. I turned aside and approached a .dttirch in the midst of a small village. All the morning the booming of the far away German cannon had been audible, but It seemed without Impor­ tance. Now .1 had my first experience of being under fire. As I waB about to onter the church, intending to mount into the belfry, I heard an unnerving whir, of a somewhat lower pitch than that produced by projectiles from the Belgian guns. It grew louder, louder and louder. I felt as if a devil's fly­ ing machine was looking about hunt­ ing for me, and for a brief seffond I wished that I had never come. Then,' with a loud report, the German shrap­ nel burst harmlessly beyond the church and 100 feet' up in the air. Since that day I have heard and seen perhaps 20 shells burst nearly over «ne, but never without the same aw­ ful sensation, which, I believe, la not OPERA SINGER MAKES SHOES WHILE,PRISONER New York.--After having cracked atone and made shoes for eight weeks as a German prisoner in a French de­ tention camp near Paris, Albert R. Reiss, tenor of the Metropolitan Op­ tra compan>, arrived here from Havre, A passenger oh the liner Chicago. / Mr. Reiss, although a German, had lived in Paris 30 years. When the French government moved to Bor- fear of death, but the result of tha unearthly sound. Entering the Church, I found it fall of straw, the place evidently haying been UBed as a dormitory for soldiers, but nothing had been touched, though chairs were scattered everywhere. Af­ ter mounting a rickety ladder a long time in the dark I reached the very tip of the steeple above the beH. Sees Battle From Steeple. Looking through my spyglasses over the flat country in the direction of tho town, I was able to distinguish the very spots and buildings beyond which the Belgian shells were bursting. Flames were leaping high, but owing to a row of trees screening the Ger­ man batteries I was unable to see what was burning. At that time tha town itself was intact. To the left stretched tho poplar bor- dered Yser. I could see men shel­ tered in trenches along the roadside-- trenches so cut as to yovide a skel­ eton covering, upon which was heaped straw making a watertight roof. In front, about six hundred yards dis­ tant, a regiment was drawn up, but I was unable to learn the reason why. In company with an English corre­ spondent, at that time the only other correspondent with the Belgians, I saw the battle of Nieuport at CIOBO range. Long before we reached the village of Nieuport Baines we saw part of the naval squadron lying Just off the coast occasionally firing at some unseen mark and heard field artillery boom­ ing ahead. Hear Batteries In the Dunes. We heard the Belgian batterfes fir­ ing in the dunes cm our right toward Nieuport and only when we reached the south pier at the mouth of the Yser could we obtain any idea of the general situation, the lines at this point being held by the Sixth and Seventh Belgian infantry. The day was cloudy and the wind was driving the mist of rain inland. Accordingly, we sought a high, deserted building that stood nearest the river. When we finally stuck our heads through the skylight, by the aid of our glasses we saw an unforgettable sight. At our feet lay the railroad station at the mouth of the River Yser, which stretched away right to the town of Nieuport, then bent southward and was hidden from view by the building In which we were. Behind the river, hidden in a grove of scrubby trees growing on the dunes, were three Bel­ gian batteries of four guns each, which were firing incessantly straight across before us. The shells were striking beyond the village of Lombaertzyde. Thirteen Warships in Sight. To the left, beyond Lombaertzyde, was the village of Westende, which the Germans had retaken that morn­ ing. Still farther away the church spire of Middlekerque was faintly visi­ ble. Lombaertzyde seemed quiet, but German shells bursting over it pres­ ently located the Belgian trenches be­ fore us and a few soldiers came run­ ning over the dunes. But it was on the left that the spec­ tacle was most impressive. There, ly­ ing out from the coast at varying dis­ tances, were 13 vessels of war. There were two cruisers, one of which fired occasionally from about three miles; the other lay silent somewhat farther from the coast and south of eight de­ stroyers, four French and four Eng­ lish and three monitors. Great Flashes Bare Batteries. For a long time vfle watched the Ger­ man shells bursting over Lombaert­ zyde. The Belgian shrapnel and the shells of the monitors were directed against Westende. I saw the Belgian batteries lying on our side of the Yser, but, though their thunder made our building tremble, we were able to lo­ cate the batteries only by the terrific flashes amid the trees through an occasional rift in the smoke. So well were they concealed that the Germans must have been unable to locate them, since the only shells which fell in our direction seemed to be aimed at the lighthouse, which the Germans prob­ ably imagined to be a wireless station. Each time a message was sent more shells came whirling toward the light­ house. Many fell into the river. , Tells English Officer's Bravery. We were joined in our skylight by a Belgian captain who asked us for the loan of our glasses and when he had seen all that he desired he told us the story of the English lieu­ tenant who had landed that morn­ ing, the particulars of which he had just learned. This officer came ashore from the monitor Severn with 20 men and three machine guns to prevent the Belgian retreat Reaching Nieuport, he saw that in losing Groote Bamberghe farm that morning the Belgians had weakened their position. Accordingly, he start­ ed with his 20 men across the bullet- swept area right to the Belgian trenches. The men who were there say he walked as calmly as if on a tour of Inspection, calling orders to his men and signaling with his hands. In vain the Belgian officers shouted that the position was already occupied by the Germans. Either he did not hear or he was determined to accom­ plish the task at all costs. Destiny broods and Is silent over matters of this kind. When 60 yards from the coveted goal the young offi­ cer fell dead, a bullet having struck him between the eyes. The men re­ treated, still carrying the guns with them and with the memory of a hero In their minds. deaux, he said, he was arrested and sent to a camp six miles from Paris, where he lived in a slaughter house for eight weeks on a diet of codfish and mussels. He was made to crack stone for concrete, he asserted, until his hands became sore; then he was set to making shoes. He was re­ leased through the efforts of the Amer­ ican state department. Mr. Reiss said he had no ill feeling againt the French, but regarded his detention as a precaution, necessitated by condi­ tions. GHASTLY SCENE IN THE FOREST OF MESNEL *** mmm >•**«?,.:' • i« wmwv, TA-'^-net ^m'WW TO ED BELGIANS ROCKEFELLER'S VAST FORTUNE WILL BE USED AS CHECK ON STARVATION. Gruesome photograph, showing an entire regiment of French infantry, which was surprised by the Germans la the Forest of Mesnel, near Peronne, and completely annihilated. ELUSIVE DESTROYER OF BRITISH COMMERCE , * • ; J * f f i v f r u 1 1 ThlB is the German cpilser Karlsruhe, one of four fast warships that have been destroying British merchant •essels on the high seas. Nearly a hundred cruisers of the allies are on the lookout for these terrors. BUILDING A' GERMAN ZEPPELIN C , , * ^ •&> > ^ W# ' -• 1 Scene in one of Count Zeppelin's workshops, where a giant dirigible is being constructed. ' JAPANESE TROOPS IN. FLOODED CITY iSMNVEBNATKJNA S-ANIWS SCKVlCr Just before the arrival of the Japanese troops In the leased territory of Kiauchau there were heavy rains that inundated the country. The picture shows Japanese soldiers pulling a light field gun through tho flooded streets of a Chinese town. . . BRITISH COOLLY DRINK TEA ON BATTLEFIELD FATE OF FRENCH TRAITOR French soldier, who, tot 100 francs, signaled to the Germans of a French battery near Reims. He was caught in the act and summarily shot, his body being left tied to the stake as a warning to others. ALONE IN THEIR MISERY Paris.--The Liberte publishes some interesting impressions of the British troops furnished by a French soldier who was attached to the English as In­ terpreter. He was particularly struck by their amazing coolness in battle. As an Instance he tells of a section of Highlanders who defended a vil­ lage under terrible fire as a forlorn hope to enable the rest of the regi- paent to withdraw. When the sergeant In command per­ ceived a number of packages of choco­ late In a wrecked grocery, he cried out: "Every-one who gets his man will have a piece of chbcolate." He then proceeded forthwith to diar tribute prizes to the men. Even in the midst of war's alarms the English decline to abandon the tea habit. The interpreter heard an officer say in- an interval between two desperate attacks: "Come, gentlemen, Let's take tea." . An old woman and child who wers unable to get away from Ostend, pho­ tographed sitting disconsolate on the pier. This his comrades proceeded to do. The English are equally particular about shaving, and the soldiers take ad­ vantage of the smallest respite to pro­ duce a razor, brush, soap and pocket mirror. The Llberte's informant says he was also tremendously impressed by Eng­ lish catch-words, shouted often at most desperate moments. A soldier would cry: "Are we downhearted?" Immediately a stentorian roar, "No,", would follow from every one present, / RELIEF SHIP IS NOW LOADED Commission Will Go to Europe From United States to Learn Best Way .to Extend Assistance to Starving Noa combatants. New York, Nov. 8.--The Rockefeller Foundation has determined to employ Its immense resources for the relief of noncombatants in the countries af­ flicted by the war and stands ready to give "millions of dollars If necessary" for the purpose. This was announced by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., president of the foundation. In pursuance of this philanthropy the foundation will send a commission to Europe in a few days to report first hand as to how, when and where aid can be rendered most effectively. At a cost of >275,000 it > already has char­ tered a ship and loaded it with 4,000 tons of provisions for the relief of the starving Belgians. "This action is taken," Mr. Rocke­ feller says, "as a natural step in ful­ filling the chartered purposes of the foundation, namely, 'to promote the well being of mankind throughout the world." " The ship is the Massapequa, the largest neutral vessel now in New York harbor, and it will sail Tuesday morning direct for Rotterdam with a certification from the British consul at New York that its cargo is destined for the use of Belgain noncombatants only and should not be delayed In transit. The supplies are consigned to the American consul at Rotterdam and will be distributed by the Belgian re­ lief commission. Mr. Rockefeller has been in com­ munication with Ambassador Page at London and made public a cablegram in which the ambassador describes the dire need of the Belgians and says that "It will require a million dollars a month for seven or eight months to prevent starvation." "In fact," the ambassador said, "many will starve now before food can reach them." #He added that the Brit­ ish government forbids the export of food and that none can be bought on the continent. Mr. Rockefeller makes clear in his announcement that whatever steps are taken by the foundation In ^he admin­ istration of Its relief work will be "ab­ solutely neutral." The commission of investigation will be headed by Wlck- liffe Rose, director-general of the in­ ternational health commission and will visit the several countries affected by the war. The announcement in part follows: "It having become clear that one of the most terrible and appalling effects of the war will fall upon the noncom­ batants--those most innocent of any part in the cause or the conduct of the conflict -- the Rockefeller Foundation has determined to exert itself to the extent. If necessary, of millions of dol­ lars for the relief of noncombatants In the various countries involved. "The cargo will consist of: "Twenty-eight thousand five hun­ dred barrels of flour. "Fourteen thotf&and packets (100 pounds each) of rice. "Three thousand bags (200 pounds each) of beans. "One thousand boxes (100 pounds each) of bacon." NEW CRISIS IN MEX TURKS WRECK U. S. PROPERTY American Interests Suffer When Odessa Is Shelled--Washington Asks for Particulars. Washington, Oct. 31.--The state department has received a cablegram from the American consul at Odessa stating that that city has been bom­ barded and that American property has been destroyed there. The administration, through Acting Secretary of State Lansing, cabled to Charge d'Affaires Wilson at Petro- grad, asking a complete report of the damage inflicted on American prop­ erty at Odessa during the bombard­ ment of the town by Turkish war^' ships Wednesday. BOER WAR IS BROKEN 41. 8. EXPECTS ATTACK ON OKI ERAL FUNjTTON'S FORCES* ^ Invasion of Cape Province 8topped by Colonel Brits--General Beyers in Flight- * Cape Town, South Africa, Oct. 81.-- Colonel Brits, who took the field against the rebellious Boers, reports that the invasion of Cape Province has finally been broken. The combined Boer and German forces at South Drift on the Orange river were defeated. General Beyers Is reported to have j fled after hie command was scattered. Colonel Brits is returning to the Transvaal. 18 Hurt In Rail Wreck. Huntington, W. Va.. Oct. 30.--Eight­ een persons were hurt, five seriously, when the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad train No. 1, a flyer bound from Rich­ mond and Washington to Chicago, left the track and jumped into the ditch. Admiral Winslow's Body Arrives. New York. Oct. 30.--Two bodies were brought to port on the liner Carothia. The bodies were those of Admiral Hubert Winslow, who died in Florence, and Mrs. M. A. Spencer Miller, who died in Naples. Shoots Banker; Kills 3elf. Steubenville. O., Oct 30.--Dohrman J. St. Clair, prominent banker and wealthiest citizen of this place, is fa­ tally wounded and Charles Gilmora, flfty-flve, attorney, is dead as the re­ sult of a shooting affair. Auto Race Mechanic Is Dead. Galesburg. 111., Oct. 30.--Frit* Walk­ er. well-known automobile face mech­ anician, died In a hospital here from Injuries received last Thursday, wien Jack Gabel's machine turned over hera during the 100-mlle race. Both Carranza and Villa Leaders mand U. S. Withdraw Troops Troops From Vera Cruz. Washington, Nov. 3.--The waf di|'< p&rtment finds itself facing a ne^ crisis in Mexico. Word conveyed t<jj this department within the last twein ty-four hours re^ealB an acute situs* tlon that may demand ah immediate re-enforcement of troops under UmJ, command of General Funaton at Vent Cruz. The leaders of the Villa and CaiH ranza forces who are fighting for siW premacy in the Aguas Calientes con#^ vention are insisting that United! States soldiers be withdrawn front Mexico. They are getting irritated! over the stern supervision of Mexican} undertaken by this govern* affairs ment. An official of the war department) A!'". v admitted secretly to the International^ --" News service correspondent that wlt&i ; M neither Villa nor Carranza willing tty a s s u r e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h a t i t s c l t l * ' ' • i ' " ' « sens will be protected and the Aguafli -S Calientes convention ignoring thQi '••'••'J matter, a juncture has arisen thatt ,:M may lead to serious trouble. The United States will not draw its troops unless a sufficient guaranty of protection Is given bjf H the Mexican leaders or by the convett* tion which is to decide their suprem­ acy. If the Mexicans, as now seemai likely, maintain their stubborn att|# tude, a clash of the two governmental Is anticipated within a week's time. The truth is, as given to the corre­ spondent, that an attack upon Fuilfe, ton is expected most any day. If iti comes the government will hurry enough troops to make a stout resist­ ance. Funston himself has reported to that. war department that there 1b always danger that he may be attacked. liMiniiiiiiiniiiniii NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR IMMMMMNMNMMM* Detroit, Mich., Oct. 29.--While four sisters stood chatting an automobile plowed through the group. Agnaft Brown died of a fractured ekull. Tw» of her sisters were hurt. Horace New* som is charged with manslaughter. Washington, Oct 29.--With her pro­ peller torn loose by a heavy sea, tb|» torpedo boat Jouett limped Into th» Portsmouth (Va.) navy-yards. Tha grounding of the Paulding in Lynil- haven roads alBo was reported. Joliet 111., Oct. 29.--Pedestrian* scattered In terror when 35 armeiit guarils pursued two escaped convicts .. • | down the principal streets of Joliet, -iisS firing a fusillade of shots after thenfe., , ;, ̂ The men were captured. Johnstown, Pa., Oct. 29.--Arriving" '1*? •v^ here on his speaking tour, Theodora Roosevelt was pfesented with a birth* • "V? day cake having 56 candles, presented ' " by the colonel's party from McKeea» : port ' ;|:§t I ̂ QUARANTINE ON AT CHICAGO: ' Government 8tops Shipment of Catt^fe Out of Stockyards for Ten i D»y«. : vti'5 Chicago, Nov. 2.--The Union stoato - yards of Chicago wercr^quarantinedt by the department of agriculture i* order to facilitate the work of tlMN government in stamping out foot anA mouth dlesase, which has recently made its appearance In Indiana anid? Michigan. The quarantine will stop the shipments of cattle out of Chicago- , for ten dayB. It will pot prevent th*c * receipt of cattle by the Chicago pacto-' frig plants, or the killing, dressing, or shipment of dressed meats. It will! simply hold up for a time the function of the stockyards as a clearing housa? for stocking dairies, ranches, and feed* ing farms of the middle west Not caBes of foot and mouth disease hava* been discovered in the Chicago yards* and the action of the department aft agriculture was taken as a precaution­ ary measure. Kills Three Children and 8elff. Galesburg, 111, Oct 30.--W. Stromberg, a manufacturer of confeo* tionery, during a fit of temporary la» sanity or while under the influence oft liquor, early Wednesday shot antj killed his three children, painfully wounded his wife and then killed him* telf. The shooting was the result o^ a quarrel In the middle of the nighty when Stromberg demanded mora M. j clothes, saying he was cold. Bishop Smith Dies. Washington. Nov. 2.--Bishop Charts* W. Smith of St. Louis, Mo., a widely- known Methodist Episcopal clergyw man, died suddenly from heart trouble at the home of Justice Thomas H. As> derson. Director of Mint Resigns. New York, Oct. 31.--George EL Roll* erts. who, as reported In dispatches from Washington, tendered his restg^ nation as director of the United State mint, is to join the official staff of tha National City bank of New York. Thfc plan for his taking a place of Import tance with the bank was virtually com­ pleted when President Vanderlip was taken sick. Mr. Vanderllp's illness ha* delayed final arrangement of the mat# <•' t e r . I t i s s a i d h e r e t h a t d e s p i t e t h l s t ^ , > 3 d e l a y M r . R o b e r t s w i l l j o i n t h a s i l f j " . T - of the National City bank. 400 Young Irish Flee to U. S. New York. Odt 31.--Four hundred Irishmen, from sixteen to twenty-flv«: ^ |pj years old, came over from Queens* town In a body on the steamer Cedric, , 4m which reached here. It was reported ;A among the other passengers that thejf ; y. had left Ireland because an Irish labo** leader had convinced then that th* British government was soon to force conscription in Ireland. Whale Killad by War Mina. London, Oct. SI.--A whale tilled a mine drifted ashore at Marpla :.W.: