In an instant I was alert and observant. “Yes,” I said, “it looks as though they were going to take us away from here.”
A German officer with several non-commissioned officers and privates had begun to count the men, form them into military groups, and march them through the doorway.
“They are separating the men from the officers,” said Gordon. “Possibly we may remain here.”
“I think not,” I replied. “They will be keeping us on the move. If I am not mistaken their whole army is falling back. They need all the wheels they have got and legs are cheaper, especially if they belong to us; and they don’t care a bit for our comfort.”
So it proved.
After the men and non-commissioned officers had been moved out, there remained about twenty French and American officers.
Rations of bread, vegetable soup, and imitation coffee, were given us; and, after giving our names and rank, we too were marched from the enclosure and through the half-ruined village.
On all sides were evidences of hasty but methodical retreat. Long lines of German infantry, light artillery and heavy guns on tractors, caissons, ammunition wagons, pontoon trains and other belongings of a monster army, were moving over the roads to the rear, or into position for defence and battle. The roads, gullied by rains, cut up by wheels of heavy gun carriages, tractors and other vehicles, were in poor condition for haste.
On one side of the heavily burdened roads, directed by the guard, we picked our way. Everywhere were the German wounded, some conveyed on gun carriages, others in baggage wagons and ambulances. Some of our guard even were slightly wounded men, others were old and war-worn soldiers.
About six o’clock that afternoon we came to a halt in a field where grain had been harvested and stacked. A guard was stationed around us, and we were glad to rest. The weather was hot and uncomfortable; but the sky grew suddenly darkened, and a tempest was upon us. Gordon, who had been with me during the day’s march, pretending to help me, hurried me to one of the grain stacks where with our blankets we were able partially to shelter ourselves from the rain.