New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-03

Carlos Salzedo was a harpist BEFORE
he was fighter, but he says ne mas
almost forgotten IL. He is in America
again. after six months In the trenches
at the Bois-le-Pretre and five months
in the hospital. lie is going TO take
up his music again until he is caileo
hack TO the trenches. Al present ne is
but shadow Of the dapper young
musician who once played the harp IN
the orchestra Of the Metropolitan
Opera House. As he says himself
trench life makes a man either very
strong or very i'll. Unfortunately,
come in the latter category, first
through rheumatism and then through
pneumonia" Also Il makes il hard for
him 20 take up any music again. AFTER
the horrors and primitive realities Of
war. art seems at first trivial and IN
real. Whenever I try to practice
miss my uniform and my cap. WY
am I here in America? / am soldier!
I say 10 myself" War has made the
dapper little musician philosopher
Mr.. Salzedo has fought and suffered
for his country, but he is no swash-
buckling Cyrano. lie has done his
duty. hating it the while. He has no
illusions as TO glory or fame. with
the officers, war gives them their one
chance for public performance. Nat
urally they like it. as no artist ana
after all war Is an art wishes 20 re-
hearse all his days. But the private
soldier in all the armies IS tired and
sick Of war. He only fights because
he must, because upon him depends his
country's safety. | know this is the
feeling in the French army. and 1T is
equally true in the German"
Then Mr.. SalzedO went on TO give
the reasons for his belief.
Every day ! was IN the trenches
German soldiers would desert TO our
lines. They simply wanted 70 be taken
prisoner. and longed only for the wars
end. never saw a German prisoner
vet. except the officers OF the active
army. who wasn't glad that his lighting
was over. The German private and the
German reserve officer is human be
ING like ourselves. Unfortunately the
German professional officer is brute.
II is he who caused this war and whom
we French hate. We have no hatred
for the average German, but only for
the military caste. In fact, there IS
very little hatred between the soldiers
in The trenches. The hate they leave
70 those who remain at home. Why.
once I was on patrol with a party, ana
we saw an enemies patrol not far dis
tant. Just as we were preparing 10
shoot NJ one another, pig ran be-
tween US. and at once We turned our
anger against the pigi Over the car
cass Of that pig we met and delloer-
ated. the Germans and US. and when we
returned to our lines each party car
ricd with l. half pgl
another time there was detach -
ment Of Bavarians opposite US with
whom we became most friendly. one
dav they sent us word that they were
IN move. and Wurtembergers were 70
take their places. and warned us not
IN show ourselves, as the NurtemDer-
gers did not like US. SO you see the
nrivate soldier is generally a pretty
GOOD sort Of fellow. II ia true, how
ever. that the Germans do hate the
English. Nearly every prisoner we
. captured said that England was 70
! blame for the war. They really seem
TO believe il" -,
Mr.. Sazedo has not a very hign
opinion Of the efficiency Of the English
army. -.
"The English soldiers are as brave y, ~
anv in the world and fight splendldIy
on the defence. The trouble IS tnat they
lack initiative When they fail to ma 4
situation Just as they expect u they