The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-29
A NIGHT IN THE NEW BRITISH LINES TAKEN FROM GERMAN ARMY
 AT NEUVE CHAPELLE
(Continued from Page Onc)

us burst into yells of derision, like the outcries from baseball fans when a mis- throw to first lets in run. Later in the night these same Germans saw the same phantom in the darkness and began firing feverishly, when it became our turn to laugh,
 At a point where the trenches are only 60 yards apart an English speaking Ger man asked when kitchener's army was coming? T want this war over," he de- clared loudly, "so l can go home. Don't get downhearted my dear, Tommy Atkins called back, you're all ready started, and you'll know when the new army comes because you will be going faster than you want to-
 At this point one could distinctly hear the Germans talking, the com mands of their officers and the driving of stakes as they strengthened their works German rifles, helmets, caps and diaries were plentiful in the British breastworlxs; souvenir hunter could have a helmet by going out Tn front for 1t.
 In the moonlight dark patches with points like bloodless human faces were visible on the field between the two forces wherever you went along the front. Under the light of the German flares they took the form of masses of prostrate bodies and by daylight one could see the attitudes of each as he fell. including that of a German sol dier with an unexploded hand grenade lying where 1t dropped from his fingers
 Across this field the Germans made their main charge to recover Neuve Chapelle They did not fail for want of courage. The German official bull letin gave the German losses at Neuve Chapelle as 5000, but this could hardly include the known killed and 2eo0 pr1s- oners taken, without counting the wounded.
 Ask No Armistice
 Though the Germans shout badinage in their trenches, they have asked for no arristice to bury their dead and on previous occasions when the Brit ish asked the privilege to bury British dead it was refused. Therefore the bodies remain. This shows how grim is the actuality, despite occasional sal lies of wit A breatwork jsster takes care not to show his head when he makes his quip lest a bullet make it his last.
 It Is shrewd calculating war every moment from the parapet and camp fire comradeship under the protection of the wall of sandbags which bullets cannot penetrate. There is plenty Of admiration for the skill of the Ger mans as soldiers heard, both officers and men, but there is confidence also 1 that the Germans have shot their bolt. Coming to an Irish regiment an Irish man said:
 q have three brothers in the states and I am going myself after the war. | Tho Germans need a licking and when anybody needs licking that's the place ! for the Irish"
 | These Irishmen insisted that the cor | respondent have a cup of tea, and wouldn't he try slice of bacon, which was sizzling in the pan while an oc- casional bullet sizzled over the para pet.
 l The wounded captain, my host, going beyond his own bailiwick, chatted with | fellow officers about breastworks mak- ing and other business details. They re- ferred to this and that friend who had been killed since they last met as if death were familiar thing to ali. Not one louded war or found any glory in it. but all had no thought except to continue until victory had been won 1 If I got few yards ahead of my | guide l found how rare was the privi- l lege to be alone in that exclusive world Some soldier instantly demanded to
 know who was, and if there had been :! no one to identify me I should have been promptly apprehended and sent tc headquarters under suspicion of being | a spy.
 Desult0ry Firing 1t was after o'clock in the morning
 when my host and myself lay down ir
 his dugout, but not to sleep; for there
 were many things to talk about. Twice 1 when the desultory firing became heav- fer on both sides he went out to sec what was the cause we have not | settled down on this front yet" Inc
 said. "The Germans are pretty grouchs over their beating. Both sides begir
 firing on the slightest alarm; they
 don't want to risk any night attacl getting started.'
 At dawn as I said eood-by I ex. pressed regret to my host for having kept him awake all night "Oh. no,
 he replied. "I stay awake always a
 night. My time for sleep is from ua