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278 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
to stow away my diaries, sketches and photographs in a hand-
bag. Once more I cast a glance at the bold destroyers outside.
Beneath my balcony I heard an officer shouting out orders in
a stentorian voice to the effect that the street was to be cleared
and that not a man must show himself on the front, except the
sentry at the Littoral, but a moment later, he, too, was called in
for Deckimg.
My friends had disappeared ; I looked into their rooms, they
were empty. Then I took my glasses and hurried downstairs.
Bess had warned his colleagues against remaining on the
balconies, and he thought that I had gone down already.
In the elegant, carpeted vestibule of the hotel, where sofas,
tables and chairs stood in little groups between the huge
green plants, officers hurried to and fro, and it was plain that
something unusual was pending. " Are they going to shoot ?
"
I asked Bess. " Oh yes, they are going to shoot all right," he
answered with stoical calm. Through the glass doors of the
vestibule I could see clearly what was going on at the end of
the Rue du Cerf. Admiral von Schroder was in command and
I caught sight of Captain Tägert and his men of the naval
brigade, hurrying to bring up the two 6-cm. naval guns and
their ammunition carts which we had seen a moment ago at
the theatre—there was no other artillery available in the town
for the moment. The street had been cleared of civilians,
and there were no military visible save those required for
serving and directing the little battery. I was not allowed out-
side, of course, but I had time nevertheless to admire the
astounding swiftness and precision with which the two guns
were unlimbered, loaded and the range found :
" Load !
Ready! Fire!"
The first shot rang out. The report re-echoed down the
street and the window panes in the hotel rattled in their
frames. I went into the restaurant, whence I had an un-
interrupted view of the sea and the leading destroyer. A
moment later came the second shot. The first shell struck the
water right in front of the destroyer, but it was impossible to
tell whether it did any damage. The second shell also struck
quite close to the target.
There were several officers in the restaurant.^; I was stand-
ing with Dr. Algermissen of Colmar, Lieutenant in the First
Naval Reserve. The room was very large, with eight windows
looking on to the sea and two others on to the Rue du Cerf.
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