Newspapers / The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.) / June 18, 1915, edition 1 / Page 2
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TELLS OF A TRIP THROUGH DESOLATED AND DEVASTATED VILLAGES OF FRANCE Edward B. Clark Gives a Simple and Uncolored Story of Conditions As He Found Them?Responsibility for the Destruction of Many Fair Places of France One of the Things to Be Considered When Final Day of Reckoning Comes. ?v By EDWARD a CLARK. (MmII Currampoadmmt Wamtmrm Newspaper Ualoa.) Sommellles. France?Am I make a few notes In this piece which once was a Tillage the {round Is shaken by the trans mitted tremor Im parted to the earth by the shock of the great guns which are bellow ing all along the battle front from St. Mlhial to the forest of Argonne. SommelUes Is beyond the pres ent Indicated range of the big rifles, but an ele vation of an Inch or two to the mus cles of the siege pieces would re sult In a rain of shells falling on ? Tillage, or at least the remnants of a rfllage which already has had not a rain but a deluge of Are. There is little chance that any gun will be elevated, for the cannoneers are too much occupied with the multi tude of human targets and with the sod and beam-covered trenches imme diately at their front to be willing to waste shots at the well-nigh Invisible. I am here with, a French army officer, Capt. Gerard de Ganay, who stands six feet three in bis military boots and who looks and Is k soldier. If the enemy In the trenches, battering away over the hill and the valley at our front wanted to put this officer out of the service with a shell, I doubt If It could see him, even If their range find ing experts were possessed of triple powered Held glasses. The captain Is ar rayed In what they call "horizon blue," a color which so melts Into the skyline that It becomes a part of It. Ruins Where Army passed. To this place I have come after a trip of two days' duration In a high powered military motor through about twenty of the desolated and devastated I Devastated by War. Tillages of Prance which lay In the line of advance and of retreat of a great army. In the days to come, when there Is a final reckoning to fix responsibil ity for the destruction of these fair places of Prance and for the killing of more than a few noncombatants, there will be a controversy as bitter as that which has marked the battling from the Marne, the high point of the German advance, to the Alsne, where the German now Is entrenched, wltn the Frenchman on the offensive and striking dally and boldly at his front. Included technically within the field of war operations today Is a large part of Prance. Virtually all the scene of the battle of the Marne Is forbidden ground to all persons except those who go with proper credentials. It is my Intention to take my read ers through some of these desolated places of Prance; to tell a simple and uncolored story of their condition to day as my eyes saw them, and to re peat ocaslonally the words-of men and of women who saw the acts of destruc tion and who have formed their own opinion as to the reasons therefor. One day the truth underlying all this ravage will be known. The world probably will continue to withhold its Judgment, but the fact remains that a score or more of thriving Prencb vil lages have perished from the earth after a manner that seemingly will not admit of the excuse or the explanation that It Is simply the result of the acts of ordinary and so-called civilized war fare. Was Fired by Incendiaries. From Vitry-le-Francots, where I left the train and took a military motor, I went first to Hurion, or rather to the place where Hurion once stood. The French declare that this place was burned by German Incendiaries. They hold that tha absence of shell holea In the walls and the roots of houses standing aloof, and whose Interiors are scorched and blackened ruins, proves beyond cavil that the ftres were set by hand. The Germans say that at this place some of the Inhabitants were caught with Area fins In their hands. This plea will probably enter later when all these acts are brought to the bar of man's adjudication. A It la, Hurlon virtually has disappeared from the face of the earth. This village was proud of Its Gothic Catholic church of St. Martin, which has stood here for centuries. Tbs church la not beyond repair, but to day It Is literally fiddled with shot and shell. Within la an undamaged shrine of Mary the Virgin, and before It wom en were praying for the success of the arms of Prance. Not far from Hurlon stands the vil lage of Glennes, or. again let me say. what once was Glennes. This village was destroyed utterly by shell fire, ex cept In the cases of a few of the larger buildings. The church la badly dam aged, but, like the sanctuary at Hurlon. It can be restored. 1 went lhto the churchyard at Glennes, drawn thither I think by a somewhat shadowed form of curiosity. The shellg bad fallen thick and fast Into this place where the villagers for centuries have burled their dead. The church and cemetery are pictures of gray and black desola tion. ImageaVbd monuments are ahat tered almost to dust. Barely one of the smaller tombstones in the ceme tery Is left untouched. Here, however, one sees the frequent freak of war. A great tomb stands almost In the cen ter of the churchyard. It dominates the scene. All about It trees and head stones and footstones have been splin tered and smashed, and yet the great tomb stands unmarred. Its escape Is one of the mysteries of the chances of war. Within the tomb, as the Inscrip tion tells us, rests the family of Jesson Botlleau. Jesson and his family still sleep undisturbed. Soldiers' Sepulchers Everywhere. After leaving Glennes,-the country. Is nothing but a great -graveyard. Soldiers' sepulchers are everywhere. Single graves are the exception. Ger ? mans and Frenchmen alike reat under the newly sprung May flowers In these fields of the republic. Nature Is cele brating Its own memorial day and 1*. decorating the resting places of the brave with dalBles and dandelions, vio lets, forget-me-nots and the while val ley lilies. Pf Cour-de-Manges Is a village not far from (i,lennes. In It only a few houses -esoapei fire or shot. Into the desola tion of this place the people are begin ning to enter. They scattered to the ?four parts of France when the storm broke, but this was their home, and here few by few they are coming back and are seeking the means to build "again their houses as they already. In the retreat of the enemy, have built again their hopes. The mayor of Cour-de-Manges dwelt In a handsome house with outlying grounds closed In by an Iron fence of line workmanship. Today, there Is nothing left of the official home but Its foundation stones. Shell and fire took their toll. The outlying garden, however, seemingly knew nothing of the: ravage of battle. It had been un tended since last autumn, but nature, the Restorer, today is making It to blos som with spring's rare coloring. War showed no favoritism at Cour-de Manges. The houses of the poor and the house of the rich alike were swept to swift destruction. It Is only a few miles from Cour-de Manges to Frignlcourt, but the Jour ney Is from Desolatiop to Desolation. All the way between the villages, how ever, there Is a land of beauty. The peasants, following on the heels of the French army In Its forward move ment. are cultivating every possible patch of ground, leaking untouched nothing but the graves of friend and foe. The grace of enjoyment is not to be found among mined homea. but confessedly there la momentary forget fulneee of the atrlcken village* wber one look* on the beauty of the Heidi which lie between the houses of dee olallon. Frlgntcourt ha* been ewept from lti place on the plalna. Not one atone reel* upon another here. We* there Justification for thla laying waste or waa It aheer w an tonnes* T Time per haps will disclose the truth. I wanted to determine for mysetf whether or not the tales constantly told of lncendlar lam were true or untrue. 1 began to observe closely and I hit upon a means of test which I have found that already the Frenchmen have applied. Faremont Is not far from Frlgnl court, and It was destroyed only In part by artillery lire. A fine highway runs through the heart of the Tillage, and It was along this highway that the Invading army passed. The houses on either side of the road and Immediately confronting It have all been destroyed while the bouses back of them are In tact Gunfire from a distance makes no such fine distinctions. The houses along the street were set on fire v by band. The old church of the village of Faremont Is still standing. There Is a shell bole In Its tower, and more breaches In the wall below. - From Faremont I passed through Pavresses, Bleame and Maurupt-le-Uojv toy. There is little left of anyone of these places to give It the right (o be called a village. At Blesme there are sbme curious contrasts. The lowly homes of the villagers all were de stroyed, but close to them an old and beautiful chateau stands unharmed amidst Its trees. , Am 14 h, At Mauruptle-Montoy the bombard ment caused heavy damage to the vil lage church and churchyard. In the latter, where the shells had fallen thick, there Is a stone cross bearing upon Its marble front a representa tion of Saint Veronica's handkerchief, upon which, according to the Catholic belief, was Imprinted the face of the Christ. In curious workmanship, upon the marble handkerchief in this ceme tery. the face of the Savior was Inlaid. Almost alone, this cross and this Christ stand uninjured In this shell-shattered acre of God. Frequently stress has been laid upon the escape from Injury by shell Are of representations of the Savior and the Virgin, his mother. I know, however, that these escapes are only accidental, and while It may be pleasant for the faithful to believe that immunity came to the things they hold sacred, It Is only the part of truth to say that I have seen the same destruction vis ited upon crucifix and on shrine that fell upon other images and other sanc tuaries of which Christians take less account. At Vaubecourt such walls as still rear themselves from the ruins are shaken dally and nightly by the thun der of pounding guns. At least one half of the Vaubecourt villagers have returned to their blasted dwellings ready again to take up life where their forefathers lived for centuries. These villagers give no heed to the trembling of the earth under their feet. The can non shot does not disturb their dreams. Hell came here last falL There was terrific fighting at Vaube court and In the country all about It and th^re la still terrific fighting near at hand. The village has been bat tered from Its foundations by shell and shot When the time comes for an swering the question of responsibility. It Is probable that no fine interroga tions will be raised- as to whether this place was swept from the face of the earth by bombardment or deliberate Incendiarism. Here, the question will concern Itself with the right of the in vader to put to death summarily three French soldiers whom they found In the village. Were Shot as Spies. The cure of Vaubecourt, a priest who stayed loyally at his post, told me that the French soldiers were In uniform and In advance of the enemy's lines and that therefore they could not have been spies. The Germans, how ever, have said that these soldiers were spies apd It was on this ground they shot them. The priest of Vaubecourt has gath ered a part of his flock together once more. He la l'Abbe Perrenot. He was sentenced to be shot by the order of the commanding officer of the Invad ing army. He added that this officer was a good deal of a brute but that his immediate Junior In command waa a soldier and a gentleman. The Junior, he said, secured his release. So on? hears the stories and so one may a may not pass Judgment as he will. As things' are, however, the village of Vaubecourt as s village of homes and houses Is no more, but the people are coming back to And the May sun shining on the ruins and showing forth the ravages of a storm that has passed on a little way and which now vexes priest and villager only with Its noise Much more has been heard In Amer ica of the destruction of the villages of Belgium than of those of Francs. I had no conception of the ruin that had been wrought by artillery and by Ore in this part of the French republic which lies under the shadow of the Ar gonne forest and not only within sound but within range of some of the heavy guns as they play hourly today along the banks of the Alsue, the Meuse and the Orns. I visited a dosen places other than these of which I have written and the story of the deso lation virtually Is the same. It Is a hard sight to look upon and a bard story to write. I turn from the last blackened picture while the roar of the distant guns reminds me that these scenes elsewhere. It fate so wills, may bs re-enacted In all their horror. POKES HIS OAR INTO WHALE New York Touriot Ha* Surpri** and Baraly Eaeapea Death at Banta Barbara. Santa Barbara, Cal.?When Prink Homer. New York tonrfbt, poked hie oar oa to what be thought wn a all my black rock protruding above tbe ware* In the channel, he turned looae a gey , aer, and rowed for hi* life to eecape from what far a time looked to him Uke certain death. It prate* to be Li ? v.. -1 - ?dn.'' ? it1 an Immenae whale, and Hamer barely < got beyond range In time to eacape the powerful lashing of the monster'a tall as It dived into the deepa of the chan nel. The waterapont thrown op soaked Hamar to the akin and water logged hla boat He waa reacued by flabermen who caught hta frantic alg nala for help. A hollow wooden ball, aiz feet In di ameter. which la moved by the llow of the sewage, la naed to remove rtatruc tiona from aewera la Parle. BoMy Hat Twins. Htbbtng. Minn.?M. Oarber, cattle buyer here, who la the owner of the Hlbblng cow which aet a new record by giving birth to a IBS-pound calf, an nounced that one of hla cowa gave birth to twin calvea. The twlna are white and brown, with colorings mixed In such a way that their coats differ from those of other calves. So many Imitation affairs are com ing In style; Jewelries, engagements and matrimonial happiness. AMERICAN SUBMARINES IN PRACTICE WORK I * , Above, the crew of U. 8. submarine H-I hoisting aboard a spent practice torpedo during the maneuvers off San Pedro, CaL Below Is submarine H-3 rising to the surface after a dive. TRIESTE BOMBARDED BY THE ITALIANS. View of the harbor of Trieste, the capital of lstrla, which the Italian artillery has begun to bombard from a point near the mouth of the Isonso river. NEAR STARVATION IN MEXICO ? ? * r' ? " ? ? * ? ? ? * ? I .?rr * ? 1 1 ? Here 1* a timely picture ihowlng to what measure# the civilian population of Mexico has to resort In order tA keep itself from actual starvation. Poor Mexican women with empty market baskets are seen thronging about one of the army food supply depots, where they are given barely enough to keep body and soul together. SOLDIERS' -LAUNDRY AT ST. RAPHAEL French colonial troop* doing their on lanndry work in the sea at St BaphaeL WAR HOSPITAL DISINFECTCF Device used (or the disinfecting ol bedding and clothing at the dt chest -of Westminster's hospital at L? Tou quet, France. Revenge In the Kitchen. v "Walter, I want to thank you for this aoup. It la richer and thicker than any I ever had here before." "Yes, air. Just confidentially, air, I the chef bad a row with the boas and the way he'a wasting stuff 'a a | caution." MAGNETIC CURRENT IS USED French Professor Introduce* Scientific Method .of Extracting Shrapnel Fragments From Wounded. French science baa again come to die aid of the wounded In the present war Bullets and shrapnel fragments deeply Imbedded In the flesh can now be extracted without the deep probing tnd Incisions formerly necessary. The new method of bringing these woJsctUaa to the surface of the flesh by means of electric magnets has been presented to the Academy of Medicine by Protestor Bergomle, the dlsooyerer. As practically all bullets and shrapnel used In modern warfare ars of steel tbey are capable of being magnetised and are subject to magnetic Influence. Professor Bergomle simply applies to the outside of tbe wound a highly po tential magnetic current. This sufflces to dislodge the projectile from the flesh sad bring It gradually towards the surface. To prevent any further tearing of the flesh the current la ap piled only a few aeconda each day and the projectile la drawn ao gradually to ward the anrtace aa to cauae nelthei Irritation nor pain. Finally only a alight auperfictal lnclalon of the aar geon'a knife la neceeaary for the final extraction. The method la to be Introduced al onoe in the military hoapitala all through France. Undena and Ltmae. Lindeo trfiea In Oennaa> hare thttl equWaJent In the Britlafe Una jnidmonal SlNMfStHOOL Lesson (Br ?. O. 8BLLJCM. Acting Director at Sunday School Course of Moody Blblo Institute, Chicago.) ' LESSON FOR JUNE 20 PRAYER FOR THE TEMPTED. LEMON TEXT?Psalm 141. GOLDEN TEXT?Hasp ms from ' tbs Snare which they have laid tor au.? Psalm 141A Tha style of this pM>m closely re sembles the known psalms of David In tbe Brat part of tha psalter. From Its structure and character. It la to be credited to David. In It are pre sented complaint, prayer and confi dent hope of relief. It la a petition for deliverance from sins to which his af flictions tempted him, and from the enemies who caused his affliction. I. Prayer. "My prayer directed" (vv. 1, 1). There Is good reason for belle vine David wrote this while go ing through the experience recorded in 1 Samuel 24, It la evident he Is passing through a time of great stress and was In dire need of help for he urges "haste" In glvlhg heed to his call, (Luke 11:1-1). David looks to JOhovah ail his only and sure helper. jWa are told to omit the first word "unto" In this verse and to read, "1 have called thee." Every human help had failed and faith fearlessly Turns to Qod. Can Ood be urged f Surely we are taught that Ood respects his "remembrancers" who ery "day and night" (Psalm 40:1S; 69:17, IS; 70:5;" 71:12; 14SI7). To fold the hatfds weakly and to "bide his time" Is usu ally an evidence of spiritual debility and of a desire to shirk tbe work Involved fn a true exercise of prayer. True faith knows but one way of de liverance. that of prayer (Phil. 4:t, 7), and those who csll In faith get deliv erance (Rom. 10:12). Such prayer, tbe fruit of heart and Hps, Is before God "as Incense" and Its effectiveness does not depend upon Its being pre sented In the tabernacle?it Is a "sac rifice" of praise well-pleasing to Ood. We are to pray to Ood through his Bon and In tbe Holy Spirit. Such prayer Is set forth beforvt-hlm as a sacrifice of sweet smelling savor. II. Practice. "Incline not my heart . to practice wicked work* (V. 4). Bach prayer aa here suggested demand* a preparation of parity. A* the "Incense" was prepared with great care (Ex. 20:34) and it* fra grance was brought out by lire (Rom. 3:30. 27: Eph. 0:11), so likewise there maet be a continual practice of prayer and an absence of "wicked works." In no way are we so apt to sin a* with our lips, but back of the Hps Is the heart (Matt. 13:11; Lake 6:45). The tongue can no man tame (James 3:3), yet Ood Is able and bis way la to cleanse the fountain. To have the mouth filled first with prayer and praise and then with evil Is contrary to reason and to Ood'e commands. David recognised that the heart Is the source of "wicked works," and prayed that he be not even "inclined" to tbem (Matt 3:13; Jam. 1:13). If he "keeps the door" we have a safe guard Pi. 137:1). Ood permits circum stances to come upon us which tust our inclinations and cur desires.' Da vid, feeling his own weakness and wickedness, pleads for a heart tliat is not Inclined to evil and as a farther safeguard that be be delivered from the Intercourse with "men that work Iniquity." Association with such men separate us from God (isa. 53:2). Thus David prays for a separate life. To lust after the dainties of the world and to participate therein soon leads to having the hands "occupied In deeds of wickedness" (?. 4 R. V.)> III. Position. "Let htm reprove me" vv. 37. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." This seems to be the po sition David desired to occupy, one that would be "a kindness" to blm. Such correction Is as sweet olL , Oil Is healing and soothing and here sym bol lie* the healing effect of correc tion. Fools hate reproof, wise men plead for lb David not only welcomed wisdom but (see R. V.) promises to pray for such friends when calamities come upon them and In the time when they are overcome by wickedness. When such are cast dowq by the rocky pmHsHo "thov shall hoar mv wsirHa " says David, and tbey will be sweet. The psalmist's experience, when hunt ed as a partridge, taught him bow to appreciate the petitions of Jonathan, ?his friend, whose words to him were "sweet." A careful reading of verse seven reveals David's dire extremity (see Am. R. V.). Death stared him la the face. Hit soul was torn as "one ploweth and cleaveth the earth." IV. Protection. "In thee do I put my trust" (R. v.). Though thus brought low David knew where to turn, and one to whom he oould look. The church of Christ needs to look to God, to become like him. It needs the transforming, encouraging, energizing vision. David is now taking his eyes off the difficulties and fixing them on the"one who 'enables him to over come. "Look unto me and be ye saved." Literally his prayer ie "make not my soul naked" or "pour not out my soul." David had made proof of God among the sheep, at the oourt, as a fugitive, on battlefield. In adversity and In prosperity, even in gross sin, yet God had not forsaken htm. Our David has promised to abide with all who put their trust in blm (John 14:18 R. V.). As his enemies bad set their snares God had deliv ered David frojn them, Satan's gins or snares are pride, passion, sensual ity, Intemperance, sloth, greed, mal ice, covetousneas, halted, falsehood, and so on, an Interminable list, easily seen a* snaring others, hard to be recognised as snaring our own feet. We need to pray the prayer "keep me,", (v. 8) as well as the prayer of verse ten. Whoever else a man harms by hia tin he harms himself inusL Saloonkeepers and their sons moat frequently fill the grave of the irunh ard. ? ? m - , I -i.v* iL ?v.?'< m&S
The News-Herald (Ahoskie, N.C.)
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June 18, 1915, edition 1
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