South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-26
BRITISH AND GERMANS
MAKE MERRY XMAS
Make a Truce and Visit With
Each 0ther-ExChange Ra-
tons for Cigars and Kill
Each Other Next Day.

One of the most interesting letters
as yet received from the war zone
reached Mishawaka Monday. II was
addressed 10 citizen who has a
brother In the British army and gives
a graphic account Of Christmas in the
trenches. Among other things the
writer says: Il must tell you about
the last time we were in the trenches.
1t was the most extraordinary occur
renee that i suppose ever took place
in any war that has ever been. The
fun started on Christmas eve when we
went into the trenches. one man in
our com pany yelled TO the Germans
askins y they would like some rum.
They shouted back yes, so ne went
across the lines and gave them some.
getting cigars in exchange There.
was great cheering from both sides
when he returned and everybody
stopped firing. Many OF the Germans
could speak English quite well, and
told u. they would not fire Christmas
day unless we did, so we said we
wouldn't either. 1 and another lieu
tenant spoke with one Of their officers
and arranged that we should give one
another songs, SO we sang and APP
plauded each other until nearly a.
IN. Christmas morning
Lit Up With Bonfres.
This all took place in the trench
es. They had theirs all lit up with
big bOnfires and lanters, and one could
even here the pop of corks and chink
OF bottles as they made merry. We
stuck up some notices on the top of
the trench. greeting them i'm German.
During the morning one of their Of
fcers came over and asked for a truce
during Christmas day with which we
agreed. Then our men started going
over TO them and talked in groups be-
tween the lines. 1t was not long be-
fore 1 got hold Of some OF their. Of
fcers, who saluted and shook hands
as if we were the best of friends They
told me they were fed up and that
they were certain TO win. They
thought that another of their armies
was at the gates OF Paris and that
the French were totally routed and
beaten. and the Russians likewise:
that they had got Warsaw and were
quite near st. Petersburg; and that
the Russians and French were only
waiting for the English TO make terms
of peace They also stated that they
We're going TO lake Canada, Egypt.
East Africa and many of our island
colonies. They thought that India
had revoIted and that Egypt was
theirs already. one man / spoke To
had been a waiter at the TrOcaderO
and anOther at the PiccadHIy hotel.
London. Another was an exporter of
mouth organs TO Britain. They told
me that many of their men didn't
know they were fighting Russia Trade
in Germany, they said, was i'm flour
ishing condition. and they were under
the impression that starvation reigned
in England. Every other man was
wearing the iron cross. Forty thou
sand OF them were issued TO the
troops on this front: some wear two.
Started Killing Again.
The Germans have 1 o DAYS in the
trencheC and four days rest. while we
have four each way, SO they don't get
as much rest as we do. They are very
friendly, and were much struck with
the size and strength of our men.
They are generally of small statue
and look sick They We're delighted
with some tins Of our bully beef and
jam which we gave them. We're get
ting too much TO eat and could afford
10 be generous even with the enemy.
/ got big can OF cigars from one
Of their officers and they were i'm
mense. They told me they got them
I'm Belgium and that they didn't cost
them anything.
The day Following Christmas we
were at it again killing our friends Of
the night before and getting some of
our own 'heeled over at the same
time"