The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1915-06-17
FESTIVE MEAL
IN CAVE HOUSE
ASSOCIATED PRESS CORRESPON.
DENT is GUEST OF GERMAN
OFFICERS IN ROOM BUILT
UNDERGROUND.

Northern France.-(Correspond-
ence of the Associated Presss)-To
the seeker after sensations is COM
mended a luncheon at the German
front, in an Understand" or protect
ed underground cav house occupied
by some officer in the Immediate
neighborhood of a battery of heavy
artillery.
Let him preferably come directly
to the cave from the front trenches
at a time when the firing has been
heavy, and where he has been able
to see rows upon rows of dead be-
tween the German and French lines;
and where also he has been given
a glimpse of real warfare and some
of its h%ardships, mo if possible let
him choose the %colonel's wedding an
niversary for the day of his visit, for
then there will be, out in the verit-
able wilderness. champagne in honor
OF the occasion and perhaps a live
ly piano to Offset the shrieking Of
the shells as they tear overhead.
This opportunity to make Il study
in contrasts was afforded an AssD-
ciated Press correspondent on Il re-
cent tour OF Northern France.
Tho morning had been devoted to
inspecting the remarkable trenches
that form q veritable underground
city. with houses" that have IAN the
comforts of home" Overhead the Ger
man shells shrieked continuously.
and their devastating effect could be
seen in part by circumspect slimpsee
over the top OF the trenches.
The way led by the Bavarian col
onel a through the winding, twist
ing seemingly interminable "Lauf-
graben' or connecting trenches, and
led out suddenly into Il little wooded
clump, less than a thousand yards
from the French trenches and mo-
twice that from their batteries. Just
behind the trees was n German bat
terry that one could hear but not
see.
With a twinkle in his eye the Ba-
varian colonel turned sharply to the
right. down a neat and well-built
pair of steps and along a path flank
ed with flowers. The path lead into
"a spacious room. the ceiling Of which
was about on a level with the ground
perhaps a little lower.
At the entrance stood q mahogany
piano. Comfortable chairs stood about
ION one wall was book case, and or
another a big map with the German
lines indicated by little flags. In the
center was a long table. with spotless
linen and cleaning white china. A
vase of flowers added the final touch
Smiling, the colonel took his place
at the head of the festive board. in
vited the correspondent to a seat, at
his side and waved to his accompany
ing officers to take their seats. He
admitted, a little diffidently that it
was his wedding anniversary II that
he felt like celebrating. =
His officers We're in the midst OF
one of the guns in ~theNhattery jnsf
i'll the rear. and the she'll conld be
plainly heard as it tore over II roof
of the little dwelling, so incongruous
in the midst of all the evidences OF
active warfare.
For reply one of the musically tai
ented officers jumped up and an tc
the piano and struck up the Wedding
March. Its strains doomed out IN
the little room, and were drowned foI
q second as another -Boom-sopnd'
ed from the battery.
No luncheon in a big city coulc
have been more tastefully arranged
nor could have tasted ono half as
good. From some mysterious recess
a servant-summoned by an impro.
yised electric bell-drew forth. rec
and white wine, and then cham
payne. The colonel %apoloGized tor
the shortage of glasses. only ono
apiece, and that champagne had to
be drunk from a claret glass rlnseo
out with spring water after serving
it's first purpose.
To the tune of booming cannon
and shrieking shells the health o.
the colonel and that of his wife were
drunk in ice-cold champagne tna'
tasted fully one hundred percent bet
ter than it would have tasted If serv'
ed from a silver cooler. The eoione
responded with graceful words re
garding the American press. lh'
luncheon was over, to the regret o.
everyone.
"A boarded up entrance to what ap.
peared to be a closet or chest caught
the eye of the correspondent.
That, explained the colonel rs
the entrance to another room, o
deeper one. We have to go dowf
there when the French begin USING
their heavy guns against us. This
is only proof against the light
err Shells"