Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-27
Big Shells Usher in H0l-
iday Season but Sub
side for Christmas
Observance A on e
Ruins and in Trenches
CHEERFUL EVEN
AMID DESOLATION
Receive Gifts and Let
tiers from Home and
Make Brave Effort to
Be Merry

Arras. on the French Front, Dec
26.-Hundreds of big shells tore the
air over Arras all Friday afternoon.
The echoes of these We're the last COM
pliments of the season and they had
no sooner died away before the life
of Arras began to show itself in prep
aration for the usual Christmas eve
festivities The people of the Artois
region rise above their Affections dur
ing the war and the spirit of Arras
survives among the heaps of ruins.
Wars Ravaees
After the usual systematic Smelling
died down rifle shots and the OCCASION
al rattle of machine guns was all tina,
broke the stiffness that settled over
the city. The Cathedral. where mid
night mass was said last year under
the thunder Of cannon. stood out
against the twilight in ragged ruins
The rattle of machine guns struck up
again and u few rifle shots rang
through the air. Town rds o'clock the
soft strains of an organ were heard
Going through heaps of stone and
glass to a chapel entrance one could
see a candle light Pickering through
the darkness a short distance away
Staff officers, waiting for dinner, lei
the correspondent of The Associated
Press to an adjoining room. which re-
sembled the crater of Il miniature eX-
tinct volcano.
Santa in Trenches
Santa Claus and the Christmas spirit
We're in evidence everywhere on the
Artois battle front. They We're in the
trenches ana shelters with the simple
soldiers; in the temporary barracks
where the traditional Christmas eve
theatre was replaced by an improvised
concert and vaudeville that rivalIed
the best Paris could do in time of
peace. In the quarters whore the OFF,
GERS celebrated with no less simplicity
and dignity and in the first little
church. still defying shell fire that one
finds behind the battle front. midnight
mass was celebrated. From the road
running almost parallel to the trench
es, rockets shooting up into the air
from both lines recalled the Fourth
of July fireworks in America An off
cer explained that this was partly due
to habit
Several miles up the deep wide ditch
with II inches OF chalky mud at its
bottom. just far enough from the Ger
man lin, to permit tranquil sleep, sol
tlierS entertained each other with sim
pie folk songs and amid parcels from
home. one soldier read 4 little note
from home which said; "'Thi; year it
is l who play father. This year
broke open my savings bank and am
sending presents to Papa at the front"
They're singing over there. said a
soldier just back from the first line
trench "They've got an orchestra anu
they're shouting to beat all but it
doesn't sound very gay
Meanwhile the impromptu concert in
the trenches went on i'll tones that
were light, gay and confident. The
same phrase was heard in all the toasts
given here. 1t was Peace through vic
tory.
All along the roads two lines passed
in different directions. Some with pick,
shovel and rifle were going to take their
turn in the trenches. while others were
going back to the old village church
to swell the congregation. 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
The last notes Peace on Earth, Good
VIII toward Man died away as the
congregation was filing out of the lit
tie church while in the distance boom
ing of cannon recalled NO truce for
Christmas"