The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-02-21
GERMAN SOLDIERS
PREFER SAD SONGS
Touching Melodies Are Sung in
the Trenches by Troops of
the Kaiser.
ts.seiAl 70 me Irlxa..s,


with one Of the German Armies
in a Hamlet of Northern Franco, Feb.
90 By courier to Berlin -Obser-
walton made by others that Ele Ger
man soldier at the front shows a
preference for sad songs was found
to be we'll borne-out during the ex-
perience of night spent by the As
sociated Press correspondent on the
battlefield here. One of the most un-
expected features Of the nights en-
tertainment was hearing grand opera
sung over a telephone in the midst
of battle.
Opera Over Telephone.
In bomb-proof dug-out, not far
from. the brigade headquarters in the
little Belgian town Of H., where
Colonel M was introducing the
newspaper men to the comforts Of life
under ground, a regimental adjutant
suddenly stepped to one of tie field
telephones and announced that all
was ready for the concert" The xis-
itors then heard the opening notes
Of a selection from THE Walking"
The dug-out was only 400 yards from
the foremost trenches. Bullets ana
shells were flying over head, with the
cannon adding their diarason to the
music Of Wagner. Tristan and 1sold''
and an old German folk song, with
intricate variations were other num-
bers Of the program.
who is It'll" Colonel NJ was
asked.
General Won c., the brigade COM
mander,7 he answered. And now, II
you like, my lads Will give you q con-
cert"
Led a short distance away, to the
cellar OF a ruined farmhouse, the
party found half-a-dozen fresh faced
youths, who boosted an improvised or
chestra. One played a mouth organ.
Another had mounted half a bicycle
bell upon the brass collar OF shell,
giving him two cellar notes. A third
played an instrument made from an
old soap box and strung with four
wires, tuned to the mount-organ's key
og &c" A snare drummer, an artist
In his line, and the leader, complet-
ed the orchestra. The leader, who
wore a disreputable derby above his
field-gray. uniform, belonged to q high
ly Individual school Of conducting He
would rap on the table, elevate his
baton-cut from board-and com
mand. .One, two three, CO." After
playing a number Of pieces the sol
diers sang.
War Brutalizes Man.
...They sang 'Morgenrot''-the song
of the soldier who is to die at sum
rise: .tEs gent bel gedaempfter from
mel Klang"-the song Of the soldier
condemned to be shot; 20 Strass-
ourg"-the song Of the relentless cap.
tain, who would not release the boy
to hsi parents because there must be
soldiers at Strassburg." They sand OF
home and parents, OF the parting for
war, of the lands who will never re-
turn: The colonel Joined with his
-ladsy in singing some Of the songs.
Then he sat motionless in a corner
OF the little room, looking down ut his
folded hands. his thoughts some
where away II the Bayarian home
land. The light Of the smoky petrol-
cum lamp fell upon the old soldiers
kindly face, and betrayed unsoldierly
tears In his eyes. This was the man
who only few hours earlier had told
the correspondents that the war had
brutalized him!
|, .ThAre is NO doubt about It, war
is brutalizing,r he had said. When
the first officer OF my regiment fell
there was no priest here and had
to read the burial service. couldn't
finish 1t. broke down and wept like
a child. But now can read it clear,
In common with all the officers at
the front Colonel Ms preconcep-
tons Of war had been upset by the
realty.
II never dreamed OF such a trench
warfare" he said 4 always expected
that We should meet the enemy on
the open field, as we did in 20 and I'd
None OF US, ] think, had anticipated
this weary lying in the trenches
Two bridges in . city or India are
supported on large q metal tanks,
whichc boat on the water and acz
and fall.