ter from a German
officer, published in the "Intelligenzblatt" of Berne pays a like
tribute to the artillery of the Allies. Speaking of this very section
or the battle front, he wrote:

"We were obliged to retreat as the English were attempting a turning
movement, which was discovered by our airmen. [This refers to the
advance of the British First Army Corps under Sir Douglas Haig in
the direction of La Ferte-sous-Jouarra, which, if it could have
been successfully carried out, would have meant the entire loss
of General von Kluck's southern army.] During the last two hours
we were continually exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery,
for our artillery had all either been put out of action or had
retreated and had ceased to fire. [This dispatch was evidently,
therefore, written toward the end of the second day, on Monday,
September 6, 1914, when General von Kluck realized that his forward
drive had failed and that he must fall back.]

"The enemy's airmen flew above us, describing two circles, which
means, 'there is infantry here.' The enemy's artillery mowed the
ground with its fire. In one minute's time I counted forty shells.
The shrapnel exploded nearer and nearer; at last it reached our
ranks. I quickly hugged a knapsack to my stomach in order to protect
myself as best I could. The shrieks of the wounded rang out on all
sides. Tears came to my eyes when I heard the poor devils moaning
with pain. The dust, the smoke, and the stench of the powder were
suffocating.

"An order rang out, and bending as low as possible, we started
up. We had to pass right in the line of fire. The men began to
fall like ninepins. God be thanked that I was able to run as I
did. I thought my heart would burst, and was about to throw myself
on the ground, unable to continue, when your image and that of
Bolli rose before my eyes, and I ran on.

"At last we reached our batteries. Three guns were smashed to pieces,
and the gun carriages were burned. We halted for a few seconds to
take breath. And all the time that whistling and banging of the
shells continued. It is a wonder one is not driven mad."

Admiration cannot be withheld from General von Kluck for his splendid
fight at the battle of Coulommiers. He was out-generaled, for one
thing, because of his plan--or his orders--to strike a southeasterly
blow; he was outmaneuvered by the presence of a vastly larger British
force than he had any reason to expect, and he was outnumbered
alm