The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-29
ENEMIES JOKE ACROSS
LINES, THEN SHOOT
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.

omcers and the driving Of stakes as they
strengthened their works.
German rifles. helmets, caps and diaries
are plentiful In the British breastworks.
and the souvenir hunter could have a
helmet any time by going out in front
for 1t. In the moonlight dark paths with
points like bloodless human faces were
visible on the field between the two forces
wherever You went along the front. I'm
der the light of the German flares they
took the form of masses of PROSTATE
bodies. and by daylight one could see
the attitude of each as they fell. includ-
Ing the one with the unexploded hand
grenade lying where it dropped from lbs
hand.
Across this field the Germans made
their main charge to recover Neuve
Chapel 1t was not for want of cour-
age that they failed. A German official
bulletin stated that the German losses
at Neuve Cha pelle were 5000, but this
VIII hardly include the known killed
and the 1000 prisoners taken, without
counting the wounded.
Neither Asks Armistice.
Though the Germans shout badinase
from their trenches. they asked no
armistice TO bury their dead and on pre-
vious occasions when the British asked
Tor the privilege to bury the British
dead. it had been refused. Therefore
the bodies remained where they fell. This
shows how grim is the actually. de-
spite the occasional sallies of wit. A
beastwork jester takes care not to show
his head when he makes q quip, lest
a bullet makes It his last
1t Is a shrewd. calculating war and
every movement from parapet and camp
fire is under protection OF the wall Of
sand bags which the bullets cannot pene-
trate. | have heard plenty Of admira-
ton expressed for the skill OF Germans
as soldiers from both the officers and
the men. who add. however. expressions
of their confidence that the Germans
have shot their bolt.
Irish Where Licking Ia Needed.
When We came to an Irish regiment
l heard an IriShman say:
Il have three brothers in the States
and I am going there myself after the
war. The Germans need q licking. and
whenever anybody needs licking. that's
the place for the Irish
These Irishnen insisted that I have a
cup of tca-and wouldn't try slice of
bacon. which was sizzling in the pan.
while an occa sional bullet szzled over the
parapet. My wounded host going be
yond his own bailwick. chattcd with his
fellow officers about breastwork- making
and other business details. They refer
rcd to this and that friend who had
hcen killed since they last met. as II
death were a familiar thing to all. Not
one Landed war or found any glory in 1t.
and all had no other thought than OF
continuing until victory was gained.
If got few yards ahead of my guide.
I found how rare was the privilege of 4
civilian to he alone in that exclusive
i
to know who was and IL there happened
10 he no one about to identify me
should have been promptly apprehended
and sent TO headquarters under suspicion
of being a spy.
German. Arc Grouchy.
1t was after in the morning when
my host and I lay down in his dugout,
hut not to sleep, for there are many
d.sultory firing became heavier on both
sides he went out to see what was the
cause.
We have not settled down yet on this
front" lie said The Germans arc
pretty Srouchy vet over their beating
Both sides begin firing on the slightest
alarm. They don't want to risk any
night attack getting started
At dawn as said goodbye and eN-
pI'SS"u regret W MY LoSt aI hd me heps
him awake all night. nc lauGhinsly re-
Piled. oh. mol stay awake always At
night. Ny time for sleep is from until
| by day when We can see the Germans
if they try on any tricks"
In leaving the lines by daylight caro-
must be taken against appearing in open
spaces which ar" visible TO the enemys
shaypshooterS. who may not make
mis-; q sccond time, even IL they do the
first.
EfGIies Inharmcd-
To SOC Ncuvc ChaPele by daylight is
to see the most fearful example OF the
power of modern artillery fire Yet wit
messed. No village is left; there is only
massed brick and mortar. with the eN-
co,+iop Of baIF 8. 1ozc, bo,,SeG which