The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-12-28
SHR|EK|NG SHELLS
FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
Following BOmbardment PeO-
pie of Arras Held Usual
Festivities.
SPIRIT IN THE TRENCHES
Soldiers Observed the Holiday Season
In Various Ways With Songs and
Plays in Evidence.

Io.-hunureuS OF Dig smells tore the |
air over Arras all Friday afternoon.
The echoes of these were the last
compliments of the season and they
had no sooner died away than the
life of Arras began to show itself
through re-opened sellar doors and
windows in preparation for usual
Christmas eve festivities.
The people of the Artois region
rise above their Affections due to the
war and the spirit Of Arras survives
among the heaps of ruins.
1T would be really shame if we
hadn't gotten used to it during all
these months" said a woman selling
postal cards and stationery by
candle light on the first floor of
building three parts open to the sky.
What we've got to do" the woman
continued, sis to hold out for final
victory and lasting peace"
After the usal systematic shelling
died down, rifle shots and the oc-
casional rattle of machine guns was
all that broke the stiffness of death
that settled over the city. The
cathedal, where midnight mass was
said last year under the thunder of
cannon stood out against the twilight
in ragged ruins like a spectacle with
crumbling walls of demolished build
ing all around giving the aspect of
a gigantic cemetery with decaying
headstones.
The rattle of machine guns struck
up again and few rifle shots rang
through the clear air. Toward 81
O'Clock the soft strains of an organ
were heard from an invisible source.
Going through heaps of stone and
glass to chapel entrance, one could
see a candle light fiickering through
the darkness a short distance away
Stan officers, waiting for dinner, led
the correspondent of the Associated
Press to an adjoining room, which re-
sembled the crater of a miniature ex-
tinct volcano.
IF 1t continues much longer, you
are likely to have your dining room
also opened to the weather." said the
correspondent to the officers.
THAT is quite possible" replied
the captain, but the destination OF
she'll is something over which we
have not found any control yet"
Santa Claus and the Christmas
spirit. Notwithstanding the war, were
in evidence everywhere along the
Artois battle front where the corre-
spondent passed Christmas eve. They
were in the trenches and sheltered
with the simple soldiers; In the
temporary barracks where the tradi-
tional Christmas eve theater was re.
placed by an improvised concert and
vaudeville that almost rivalIed the
best Paris could do in time of peace:
In the quarters where the officers
celebrated with no less simplicity and
dignity.
In the FIRST little church still de.
tying shell fire that one finds behind |
the battle front midnight mass was
celebrated. From the road running
almost parallel to the trenches rock !
cts shooting up into the air from
both lines recalled the Fourth of
July fireworks I'm America. An Off
Ger explained that this was partly
due to habit
The fuses are set Off every night
the officer explained, "eyen when the
moon shines brightly as tonight, and
besides the Germans may, an last
year. have an idea that we are going
at them before morning"
The fuses multiplied at the ap-
proach of mtdnight and on the stroke
of IL the line sssfar as the horizon
was illuminated as by a long line of
brilliant stars. Flashes OF different
coiors could be seen tar away TO the
north, although no reports were
heard.
They are firing away rp there
around souchez," lieutenant said.
Several miles up the ditch with II
inches Of chalky mud at Its bottom
just far enough from the German
line to permit tranquil sleeps, sol
diers entertained each other with
simple folk-sopgs of their home re-
gions and examined parcels from
home and talked OF victory. one sol
3 1f-sr - u. - ~ 81 81