The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-06
By RCDYARD KIPLING.
tCopyright in U. s. A. by Rudyarc
kiplinD, 1916


tCOpvrigHt ~ 4. y. A. OU hudpdrd
kipling, 1851
Special Gable Despatch to THn Sun.
LoNDoN, Sept. 5.--"It's pretty
park" said the French artillery officer
owner left. hope he'll appreciate It
when he comes back"
The car trayersed a winding drive
through woods between banks en-
bellshed with little chalets of a rustic
nature. At first the chalets stood their
full height above ground, suggesting
tea gardens in England. Further on
they sank into the earth till at the
top Of the ascent only their solid
brown roofs showed. Torn branches,
dropping across the driveway, with here
and there scorched patch of under
modcsty.
The chateau that commanded these
glorics OF forest and park sat boldly
on terrace. There was nothing
wrong with it except, II one looked
closely. few scratches or dints on its
white stone walls or a neatly drilled
hole under a flight Of steps. one such
hole ended in an uneXploded shell.
Yes" said the officer. they arrive
here occasionally"
Something beloved across the folds
Of the wooded hills. Something grunted
IN reply. Something passed overhead
Querulously, but not without dignity.
Two clear. fresh barks Joined the
chorus and man moved laZily in the
direction Of the guns.
We'll, suppose We come and look
al things little" said the command
.nS officer on observation post.
There was a specimen tree, "A tree
worthy Of such a park, the sort OF
tree visitors are always taken to adj
mire. A ladder ran up IL to "A plat
form. What little wind there was
swayed the tall top and the ladder
crcaked like a ships GanEway. 4
telephone bell tinkled fifty feet over
lad. Two invisible guns spoke fer
yently for half minute and broke off
Ike terriers choked on a leash. We
climbed till the topmost platform
q swayed diZzlly beneath us, Here one
found a rustic shelter, always Of the
tea garden pattern, table. map and
a little window wreathed with living
branches that gave one the first view
OF the devil and all his works.
Grass yellow From Gas.
II was a stretch of omen country
with a few sticks, like old tooth
brushes which had once been trees
round farm. The rest was yellow
grass. barren to all appearances as
the veldt.
The grass Is yellow because they
have used ras here" said an officer.
"Th,'r trenches are-you can see for
yourself"
The guns i'm the woods began again.
; They seemed to have no relation to
the regularly spaced bursts of smoke
along a little smear in the desert
earth 1000 Yards away. no connection
ot All ,vith ,ho .tro,a ,.oicos o,,erba,d
coming and going. 1t was as impcr-
sor,l ~. tho Ir,,,a os tho son aIon, n
brcakwalcr. Thus IL went--a pause,
gathering of sound like the race of
an incoming wave. then the high
flung heads Of breakers spouting
white up the face Of a groyne. Sud-
deny seventh wave broke and
spread the shape of its foam like a
plume ovcrtopping ali the others.
!. That's one of our torpilleurs, what
! you call trench sweepers," said the
observer.
Among the whispering leaves some
one crossed the platform to consult
the map with it's ranges. blistering
outbreak Of white smoke rose a little |
beyond the large plume. II was as
though the tide had struck reef out |
yonder Then new voice of tremen-
Evidently tho yoics uas Lnou,n
That S not for u.s." gunner said. |
Ihey are being walked up from -"
ne named a distant French position, |
and 50 the 10. ?illeur is attending to
Wem there. We go on with our usl al |
"orh
LOOK. another torpilleur. The bar
parldn,
j., AGAIN big plume rose and again
ue 'Sht"r shells broke at their ap-