On the way we met two men in English uniform who later denounced us as spies.  We hailed them, and they replied that they had been cut off from their regiment and were now fighting with the French.  Just as luncheon was announced eight soldiers filed into the hotel, arrested us, and marched us before the Commandant, who saw that our papers were all right, but suggested that on account of the dangerous position we leave as soon as possible.  We asked permission to finish our luncheon.  It was lucky that we were arrested then—­before the accusation that we were spies—­for when that question arose there was no doubt in the mind of the Commandant concerning us, so our accusers’ charge merely reacted upon themselves.

During the episode of arrest there was another lull in the bombardment, which began again as we were seated at luncheon.  All through the meal the shells whistled and screamed overhead, and the dishes rattled constantly on the table.

When the meal was over the proprietor called us to witness what had happened to the far wing of the hotel.  It was completely demolished.  “Alert” had just been sounded, and the soldiers were running through the streets.  We ran out in time to see a building falling half a block away, completely filling the street by which we had entered the town an hour earlier.

In a few minutes we heard the sharp crackle of infantry fire about half a mile away, and we had a sudden desire to get away before the automobile retreat was cut off.  Just then we heard the sound of an aero engine overhead.  It was flying so low that through a glass we could easily see the whirring propeller.  The machine was mounted with a rapid-fire gun which was trying to locate the German gunners, who immediately abandoned the destruction of the town in an attempt to bring it down.  For ten minutes we saw shells bursting all about it.  At times it was lost in smoke, but when the smoke cleared there was the monoplane still blazing away, always mounting to a higher level, and finally disappearing toward the French lines.

There was another lull in the cannonade, and we were permitted to pass down the street near the river, where, by peering around a building, we could see where the German batteries were secreted in the hills.  We were warned not to get into the street which led to the bridge, as the Germans raked that street with their fire if a single person appeared.  We then took advantage of a lull in the firing and departed to the south at seventy miles an hour, in order to beat the shells, if any were aimed our way as we crossed the rise of the hill.

Unburied Dead Strew Lorraine

By Philip Gibbs of The London Daily Chronicle.

DIJON, Sept. 26.—­Although great interest is concentrated upon the northwest side of the line of of battle in France, it must not be forgotten that the east side is also of high importance.  The operation of the French and German forces along the jagged frontier from north to south is of vital influence upon the whole field of war, and any great movement of troops in this direction affects the strategy of the Generals to command on the furthermost wings.