The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-06

the size of a baseball and are bound to short wooden paddles, making them very handy to throw. Usually they are pro- vided with fuses which the user lights from match or a cigar.
 supply of grenades is kept in every trench. When patrols go out each man usually carries two, and stornlng parties sent to take village equip themselves literally with them.
 General Von Heeringen was asked whether the war had settled the question of dense or extended lines for attack, English and French reports having de- scribed the Germans as charging in al- most solid formation. The general inti- mated that since the early days of the war the German staff had learned in order to get the men forward under heavy fire IL was necessary to advance in successive rushes rather than in dense lines, owing t" the effect of modern infantry weapons.
 General Von Heeringen had only praise for both British and French soldiers. The French were stiff, hard fighters, but like most officers at the front. he seemed to think the British were toughest. The correspondent had found German officers Of all arms united in that opinion. The German infantrymen has a wholesome appreciation of the way the Tommies stick to their trenches to the last the German artilleryman praises the work of the Brit
 sh guns and the German aviators say the British bipane is superior in many points to all other aircraft.
 The equipment of the English officers and soldiers is considered almost ideal. A surprising number of German officers are encountered wearing British great coats, even staff officers of higher grades con steering themselves lucky when they can put their shoulder straps and buttons on the brown overcoat of an English private.
 I,t l,,,I 1<s C..
 eral Won Heeringen said, was the action of the untried regiments of young German troops that had been thrown into the fighting in Flanders. They went into the fiereest fighting of the war singing Deutschland Uber Alles,'' and bore l their part with the enthusiasm of young sters and the steadiness of seasoned vet erans.
 Life at Headquarters Life at headquarters is one of steady work, notwithstanding the recent compar- atiye inaction of the army. The officers Of General Non Heeringens s staff. perhaps 50 in number, mess together in two large connecting rooms of the interesting old | French building used as headquarters | General Won Heeringen has the middle l seat at the long table. An animated ex- l change of news and opinion always Is
 In progress, sometimes on military topics 1 | lighter topics, such as the taste in art of the preceding occupant of the lild | ing
 l The telephone central, connecting witt the Emperors field headquarters, witf
 Berlin. with the headquarters of the other
 armies and with General Won Heeringen's own subordinates, down to noncommis sicned officers commanding squads ii tho | foremost trench is in an adjoining room but the general is seldom ever interrupt ed at table by communications. The bust | ness of running an army has been so sys | tenatized that the commander may talk. 1 his meals undisturbed by military routine 1 The food is plain and simple. soldierll | to almost the same degree as that of tn, men in the trenches
 His excellency," said one of the staff | 'does not encourage table luxury. Foo, is supplied by townspeople upon requisi ton and he wishes to make the burden a | light as possible. For a time we ha,
 trouble in getting even table wine, but w | later found supplies. Where do you think | In soldiers graves. French shell whic fell into one of these revealed a litttl l trick of the inha bitants-to bury such sup l plies, round up a mount of earth abov
 them and set up wooden cross at tn | head of the supposed grave.
 I Have you seen everything you wishe \ to?" asked General Won Heeringen in farewell conversation. We have no SC | crets, you know. except such as are locke,
 up in the breasts of our commanders
 gave instructions that you should be sivel every facility for your work In re turn, please do one thing--let the peopl of America know that we are not Hun | and barbarians"