With the Cavalry Transport.
Page 6
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From One of Our Special Correspondents with the British Mechanical Transport and Supply Columns in France.
M.T., Wan Sec. WM Co.
• 3rd Sept., 19[1
Since my previous letters many exciting and sometimes dangerous episodes have occurred, both to me personally and to the column as a whole. During a run to one outpost, on the 21st August, we stood to arms for several hours while German troops crossed the road some distance in front. We reached this same outpost at midnight, and had to leave almost at once, as it was estimated that the village would be shelled in ten minutes.
On Monday, 24th August, we proceeded to another little village, where the main column halted and detachments were despatched to the various bodies of troops ; from this place I was sent back some 30 miles on my motorcycle with a despatch, and returned with a couple of lorries laden with rations to replace some which had gone astray.
Separated from the Convoy.
On my arrival to my consternation I found that the main. convoy had left and only two or three vehicles remained. However, I stayed the night, sleeping in an open lorry, and was awakened the following morning by a procession of refugees from outlying villages. The condition of some of the refugees was pitiful ; old women of 80 or thereabouts hobbled along carrying heavy bundles, while babies hardly able to toddle had to walk miles. We gave them as much food as we could spare, but most had only a few crumbs. Many of the women were sobbing, but the men seemed fairly cheerful.
I then proceeded alone to find my captain, passing through villages in the firing zone, and reaching him after some hours of travelling at high speed ; the vehicles left behind were to proceed to a certain railhead if I did not return and alter orders, and as this particular one proved correct I continued with the main column to it.
Twenty-three Aeroplanes in a Line.
In the afternoon I saw 23 aeroplanes in the air at once, stretching as far as the eye could see, from
one side of the sky to the other, all following each other at exactly the same height, and in a perfectly straight line, making a most impressive spectacle.
Scrapping a Leyland Five-tonner.
On Wednesday, the 26th of August, we proceeded to another town, great care being taken, as bodies of Uhlan cavalry were reported to be in the neighlnourhood. On this journey a fine five-ton Leyland broke a rear spring on the awful pav, and had to be abandoned ; before doing so the magneto was removed, the radiator and commutator smashed to pieces, and the load removed. It nearly made me weep to see a fine ear reduced to scrap-iron within a few minutes. At any rate the Germans will have difficulty in repairing it.
In the meantime it poured with rain, and riding my motorcycle was both uncomfortable and dangerous.
. An Unhealthy Neighbourhood.
On the Thursday vst left, and were about to proceed from MEM. to another town, but heard that that would shortly be under fire, so tried
111111M1•1111. I was left behind at a village a few miles from our starting point, in order to direct troops as to our whereabouts, and after remaining there for ten minutes was surprised to see half-adozen Lancer horses gallop by with empty saddles. This was not very encouraging for a start, but I remained at my post. A little later an officer on a motorcycle came up, and he decided that the neighbourhood was distinctly unhealthy, so we proceeded to rejoin the main column. On our way we saw some German cavalry charging along a ridge about. a mile away, but I do not think that we were spotted. We continued to ride for 22 hours, and by that time I felt so saddle-sore that I could hardly sit on the bike. During the night we encountered the most awful roads that it has ever been my lot to ride on, they were pave: which had had cavalry passing over them and in addition a considerable quantity of rain had fallen, the heavy vehicles rocked from side to side of the road ; the jolting was terrific.
rThe balance of this despttch will be published next week ]