The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-09-23

France at War on the Frontier OF
Civilization" describing the i'm
pressions OF a visit to the fighting
line in France.
BY RuDYARD KIPLINo.
copyright. 1875, By the Sun Printing and
Publishing association
CT rs pretty park, said the French
artillery officer. We've done q
lot for II since the owner left.
hope he'll appreciate II when he
comes back"
The car traveTsed a winding drive
through woods between banks embcl.
lishel with little chalets of rustic nj.
ture. At first the chalets stood their
full height above ground. suggesting
tea gardens in England. Farther on
they sank into the earth till at the ton
OF the ascent only their solid brown
roofs showed Torn branches, droop-
ing across the driveway, with here and
there scorched patch Of underground.
explained the reason of their modesty.
The chateau that commanded these
glories of forest and park sat boldly OH
a terrace. There was nothing wrong
with It except. if one looked closely, a
few scratches or dints on its white
stone walls or neatly drilled hole I'M
der flight Of steps. One such hole
ended in an unexpected shell
Yes" said the officer. they arrive
here occasionally"
Something beloved across the folds
of the wooded hills. Something grunt-
ed in reply. Something passed over
head ENORMOUSLY. but not without dig
nifty. Two clear. fresh barks Joined the
chorus. and a man moved lazily in the
direction of the guns.
well, suppose we come and look ut
things Il little" said the commanding
officer on observation post
There was a specimen tree. tree
worthy Of such park. the sort of tree
visitors are always taken to admire
A ladder ran up 1t to platform.
What little wind there was swayed the
tall top, and the ladder crenked like
ships gangway. \ telephone bell tin
killed. fifty feet overhead. Two invisible
guns spoke fervently for half minute
and broke of like terriers chokcd on
leash. We climbed till the topmost
platform swayel dizzily beneath us.
Here one found rustic shelter. always
OF the tea garden pattern-a table. a
map and a little window wreathed
with living branches that gave one the
first view Of the devil and nil his
works
Grass Yellow From Gas.
1t was a stretch OF open country
with 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 gas here" said an officer.
Their trenches are-you can see for
The guns in 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 at all
with the strong voices overhead. COM
Ing and going. 1t was as impersonal
as the drive Of the sea along u break
water. Thus 1t went-a pause, a gath
erfng OF sound like the race OF an in
coming wave. then the high flung
heads Of breakers spouting white UP
he face of a groin. Suddenly q sew
nth wave broke and spread the shape
II Its foam like plume overlapping
III the others.
rlats one of our torpilleurs, what
'ou calrtrench sweepers," said the OBJ
erver
Among the whispering leaves some
me crossed the platform to consult
he map with It's ranges. A blistering
of While smoke rose little
'eyond the large plume. Ii was as
hOugh the tide had struck a reef out
onder. Then new voice Of tremen.
ious volume lifted itself. Out of
Ill that followed somebody laughed.
-vidently the voice was known.
THAT is not for u.s. gunner said.
They are being walked up from"-he
AIMED distant French position-"and
the tOrplleur is attending TO them
here. We 20 on with our usual work.
Look. another torpllleur. The bar
arianr'
Again big plume rose, and again the
shter shells broke at their appointed /
istance beyond IT, The smoke died
way on that stretch OF trench as the ,
pam Of swell dies IN the angle of a {
arbor wall and broke out afresh half 1
mile lower down. In its apparent
illness, I'm its awful deliberation and !
3 quick spasms Of wrath II was more
Ike the work Of waves than OF men,
nd our high Platforms gentle sway .
nd glide were exactly the motion OF a I
hip drifting with MS toward that
hore.
Always the Same Work"
THE usual work. only the usual
'ork." the officer explained. Some /
mes II Is here. sometimes above or &
Glow us. have been here since q
lay" e
A little sunshine flooded the stricken /
Indscape aud made its chemical vel o
w look more foul A detachment OF /
len moved out ON road which ran ]