THROUGH THE LINES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 108, 30 September 1914, Page 6

THROUGH THE LINES.

THE AuM& ADVANCE ij BATTLE. STIIUUNG SCENES. HOUSE AND FOOT PitivSMNU UP FKOMNAMUi. ('Daily Mows Special Cori\eipo:ident)-. Ostllilu, Aitlgllot I^. 1 have just reached lici„- iron;', Nan»ur —now a cay or nwuing ciowus and anxiohs waiting.

Ail 'tlinougu Monday nglit tha French were pouring up, delra-iumg outside the town, iney were- concealed uinter provision u>agH, etc., from Hie aviators. By day or twilight they an ;vcu! with helmets or cuirass.u marked, The Spahis had il warm welcome, 1-Acu a. low clicer Irani the. suemii crowds lliat warned liom point to point like a restless st a.

All the morning, too, ilia fivuh Belgian FoiJrl-h A; my kajups mo.'e.l in ami tlnuiigii to rep.a..e uim n-.nfoivo the woi-liuu iliiru. In lue evening the oli/ceis uincd and loo.i collee in tUc Mifua-re, to speed oil in motors later to Uielr pouts. There Was c\eu a iiUle smy.ng and music in thj hotels, lor tne tension is aliuowt over. Tile. Buigians Wno.v iin.-iruitx.ious, lonely ta.iic is almost, over. The real tiiej will face in gum! tom'p.uiy.

It was on Sunday that we got into Xani'U". An hour later tne Uhmns were across tin: line and road. A d.s----p-ate'h carrier wus 10-tind dead later in lho day. Tho autenii'pt to draw the (ici'mans upon Namur luw not suecccdod. Tuicrefore they have, been allowed a g.tp to pasri in on tlin north, into the trap, l hey got as far a.-i Gcinhloux.

'JIiTTIX'G INTO .POSITION.

Meanwhile the armies have been taking posil.ou in a vast saiii-ciicie Irom Diest to Naiuur, curving oy yuatro Bras • and Havre. They have b.ui causing their ground. Not Waterloo this lime —that, is too cioso to 'tile possible dististetioiic in BriiiTsels—lbut on a spiend:d field, it -is ibroken ground, veiling tno strength from thu enemy. lesLeiday the long .-ino of -troops, drawn gradually in, stiffened. An engagement toulk pl&eo near Gombloux. i'ho Ctuans were hunted back !by the (JuiriUiSieis. I was out near, the lines, and heard the .operating going; on. To-day, the imain road to Brussels is almost clear. Taking advantage of the full, we got, omt of Nanair early 'this morning, talcing cross roads and uuuw in front of tne French and Belgian Lues. N 'They were |ad|vau|cing, pushing the Germans bivck under the great guns placed along the northern line. 'We were toon involved. Tho face of the field", and low hills was alive with moving troops—columns of cavalry, light guns moving into position, Jong snaked of infantry. An extraordinary sight in the; sun, among woods and trees.

THKOTOH THE LINLH We worked -back-through the. lines,, i Occasionally the country and tho closeness of troops opened. ItV'u ran among (patrols of tne 'light bsue Hussars. Anxioiiij to get us out of the way, they ipaissed 'Us on courteously, with an occasional ''aerest." They were clearing the. last Uhlans., the reiiumviiits of those ■which were efepersc.d yesterday. An ■officer' warned US in a la mi on a hill. "Wait here," he said. "We have ruit: down some UhlajiK in the woods." j We -waited for half tin hour. No movement, sunny fields; nothing to die; simii. Then suddenly, over a field out of the wootl, a rush of four horsemen and ■the snap of a few shots from the far side. Tiie next instant a running report of invisible muskets. 'Three horses fell. - T'he fourth mian fell from hi,* saddle, and was dragged through 'Hie stii'i.U.(J,..<Jlc of the. other three got up, laying his horse, walked a few paces, Eii'(j"'fell. A grim sight 'n the .-I'mnier fields ~ Finally, we were shepherd'cul through to -Mazy.. Hero we were, blocked for two l.eurs. Klowly through the village (no peasants or -children showing/ now) defile*! regiment after regiment of French cavalry—glorious fellows, helnietn covered in dust-colored linen; cuira.ss.es dull iwitit rust; dusty trappings and uneasy horses. Not the glitter of parade, but infinitely moi'u impressive; savage, bronzed helmets of war. FIjOYYKR-HECKED WARRIORS.' A few ivoro gay ib'uiiiches of (low.vs on their dull cuirasses, and laughed gaily under their helnjjts at us. The ma'ority had aio glance for .us; set faces and a, rustle and stir of -black, lusty plumes as the horses shifted uneasily at the. ear. •Now and again officers, and white moustathed colonels. A few noticed us, and gave various orders. Two general officers wero especially noticeable in their nu'bdued gunt of armor. The one, white-boarded, slightly heat, but with a hawk's eye anil perfect scat and a great brown Irish hunter. The. other, like a Viking, with a white, drooping moustache. After enquiry of one of his staff, he rodo up a«' he passul, with a i dignified slight inclination. "You may I pass en —Englishman—and friend," N h."e 1 ts.id.

A line of Belgian artillery, then the lighter horses and trappings of Lancers; filially cyclists, ami a detachment 111 the Iter Gross and Ambulance.

They all .passed up the lanes out on to the' hills with a sort of rustling, intent for there are no drums nor music iu this war.

For many of these great hroivzed men,' with hero and ithere a fierce! negro African, we were the last link of towns and civilians.

iSouth of Xanrar the French are advancing across the. Mouse, piwhing forward on the oll'eiMivo. There will soon he a straight diagonal of the Allies from Maa.s-lrite.ht to Belfort.

The Belgians are. waiting quietly, and. now, confidcmtly. Tim i,*ue cannot 'be delayed now.