“These Belgian soldiers were at work and on the march during stupendous days, practically without a moment’s respite.  They went, literally, until they dropped.  As a medical man, their condition interested me enormously.

“What force of will to fight and struggle until the last gasp!  The exhaustion one sees often in heat strokes and in hot climates is commonplace, but this type of exhaustion is, by itself, the final triumph of brave spirits.

“The victims presented a very alarming appearance when first I met them.  They seemed almost dead; limp, pale, and cold.  Recovery usually is not protracted; in every case the men knocked out in this manner expressed a fervent desire to return at once to the ranks.

GERMAN WARNING TO FRENCH TOWNS

Following is the text of a proclamation published in French and posted in all towns occupied by the Germans: 

“All the authorities and the municipality are informed that every peaceful inhabitant can follow his regular occupation in full security.  Private property will be absolutely respected and provisions paid for.

“If the population dare under any form whatever to take part in hostilities the severest punishment will be inflicted on the refractory.

“The people must give up their arms.  Every armed individual will be put to death.  Whoever cuts telegraph wires, destroys railway bridges or roads or commits any act in detriment to the Germans will be shot.

“Towns and villages whose inhabitants take part in the combat or who fire upon us from ambush will be burned down and the guilty shot at once.  The civil authorities will be held responsible. (Signed) VON MOLTKE.”

MOTORS IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY

The Russian army has always placed much dependence on its horses, having a vast number, but it has realized the importance of the motor vehicle in warfare and already it is much better equipped than other nations suppose.  An illustration of the fact is the following, related by a Bed Cross man who accompanied the Russian forces into eastern Germany: 

“I was walking beside one of our carts.  We could hear heavy artillery fire as we went, when shouts from our people behind warned us to get off the road.  We pulled onto the grass as there came thundering past, bumping from one rough place to another on the poor road and going at a sickening pace, a string of huge motor cars crowded with infantrymen.  They looked like vehicles of the army establishment, all apparently alike in size and pattern and each carrying about thirty men.

“They were traveling like no motor wagon that I ever saw—­certainly at not less than forty miles an hour.  The procession seemed endless.  I didn’t count them, but there were not less than a hundred, and perhaps a good many more.  That was General Rennenkampf reinforcing his threatened flank.”