The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-20
VISIT OF A GERMAN OFFICER
TO THE FRENCH TRENCHES

Berlin, jan 20.-An interesting ac-
count of a German soldiers visit in
the trenches of the French is given in
a letter just received by relatives of
the writer.
81 had been ordered TO go to the
foremost of our trenches and deliver
a message to the officer in charge,
when I heard one Of our soldiers call
ing to the French only about 100
yards away" says the writer. "My |
comrade wanted the French to under
containing the latest German war
news into the trench of the enemy.
He waved a white handkerchief fast
ened to a bayonet. but it seemed the
French were afraid of ruse and none
showed their heads.
"Getting impatient | climbed out of
the trench and shouted as loud as /
could Don't shoot!' When l proceed
ed to climb through the wire entang-
| lements I heard the command, Halt,
coming from the French side. At the
same time bullets were coming from
our left flank. / shouted / did not
consider this fair play. Then heard
/ the voice of French officer telling
me to wait a minute, assuring me at
the same time no more shots would
be fired.
Shortly the face Of French SOL
der appeared above the enemy's
trench. He climbed out and seemed to
be somewhat anxious, but walked up
to him and handed him the bottle.
What's the news?" he asked me in
good German. We spoke few words
in French, but he seemed to be glad to
get back, so I handed him five cigars
} for which he thanked me profusely.
With mutual an revoir each of us
returned to his side.
} "When | told my officers of my ex-
} perience they said they had planned
to attack, but in order to avoid any
, suspicion that our move had been only
) a ruse they promised to postpone
: any aggressive tactics. At the same
,
time I heard one of our men shout
. The French are signalling, they evi.
o IDENTIFY want to speak to one of US.
. 81 went out again, climbed through
> the entanglements and waited.
n heard French officer tell me / shoulC
not be afraid. He gave his word o.
honor that I should not be harmet
if I entered their trench. So / wen
ahead The French officer thanked
me for giving him the news and sal,
he wished to return the favor b,
II handing me the latest copy Of tn
u Paris Matin.
II A great many soldiers came uI
4 looking at me in great astonishment
: They were surprised to see me with
d out an overcoat. ! explained to ther
n / was wearing heavy woolen under
q wear. One of them said he wishe
III he had some.
why don't you write to your Wit
to send you some,' replied. He sal
he had no wife. We'll, write to you
latest sweetheart I advised hin
q with laugh.
''The French lieutenant complaine
81 they were shot at whenever the
showed their heads and / told him W
were treated the same way. He the
told me the German prisoners an
wounded were treated the same 6
IL their own were treated and / asSul
B ed him the French prisoners in Gel
"a many were as well off as my comp;
III triots in France.
"At this moment the French con
mander appeared, | was prepared
make little speech and said it hs
not been our intent to wage Wa
against the French. Our real enen
was the English. The officer did NJ
~ like this kind of talk because tx
VI many soldiers were listening, SO
u asked me whether the Germans rea
b. ly thought they could win the war I
- timately.
Frankly, this question perplex,
me somewhat. Here we were in Il
o heart of France, only 100 kilometr
y from Paris and such question. / d
not want to wound the pride Of OF
adversaries and SO / diplomaticall
" suggested it would be impossible
foretell the result of the war, 2
though the present outlook looked
be favorable to the Germans.