The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-27
VAUDEVILLE AT FRONT

"Fuses are set off every night" the officer explained, ''even when the moon shines brightly, as tonight, and besides
 the Germans may. as last year, have an idea that we are going at them be-
 fore morning."
 The fuses multiplied at the approach of midnight and the stroke of F the line as far as the horizon was illuminated as by long line of brilliant stars. Flashes of different colors could be seen far away
 to the north, although no reports were
 heard
 They are firing away up there around
 Souchez," lieutenant explained. Several miles up the deep, wide ditch ? inches of chalky mud at it's bottom, just far enough from the Ger man line to permit tranquil sleep, sol diers entertained each other with sim pie folk songs of their home regions, and examined parcels from home and talked of victory. One soldier read a little note from home which said: This year it is l who play Santa Claus. This year broke open my savings bank and am sending presents to papa at the 1 front" The soldier did not explain who the writer was, but his thick, coarse l beard failed to hide a touching smile | with which he accepted the reversal of Chirstmas roles.
 'Theyre singing over there, said a soldier just back from the first line trench. They've got an orchestra and i they're shouting to beat all, but it does | not sound very gay"
 l Meanwhile the impromptu concert in
 the trenches went on in tones that were flight, gay and confident. The same phrase was heard in all the toasts given here It was Peace through victory"
 PEACE THROUGH VICTORY 1 A little farther from the trenches in
 a bombarded barn covered by an im-
 provised roof the midnight watch was
 preceded by a concert ins which the
 soldiers who joked the military on the stage in peace times, reversed the or
 der of things and with the greatest
 zest caricatured the civilian behind the
 zone occupied by the armies.
 l All along the roads in this region
 two lines passed in different directions. Some with pick, shovel and rife were going to take their turn in the trenches, i while others were going back to the
 old village church to swell the congre- 1 gation. Officers, including generals,
 colonels, captains and lieutenants. with
 sprinkling of civilians, and many
 women were in attendance.
 l As in the quarters of the soldiers near the trenches everything in the
 attitude of the service brought out the
 same note: Peace through victory" A chaplain with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor on his surplice who
 had lost several brothers and has four
 more ill the army, all of whom rrve been cited in orders of the day, and he himself twice cited for herolc contact. preached on Peace Through Victory l A stretcher bearer, with a military l medal and a grenadier with war cross on his breast cang Christmas anthem i to the accompaniment of the modest old organ played bJ a simple soldier with such a master hand that the strains l A,n ac c,nir rtt<r .,c bo bnc l thedral music. The last notes, Peace on | earth. good will toward men" died away
 as the congregation was filing out of
 the little church, while in the distance the booming of cannon recalled NO
 truce for Christmas,"