The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-08
AT GERMAN
 FRONT IS EXCITING
 WHEN UNDER EARTH
Bavarian Colonel Has Pleas ant Anniversary Celebra-
 tion in Trenches.

Northern France. June 7.-To the seeker after sensations is commended a luncheon at the German front, in>I an 'Unterstand' or protected under ground cave 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 it's hardships. and if possible let him choose the colonePs, wedding anni- versary for the day of his visit, for then there will be. out in the veritabAe wilderness, champagne in honor of the occasion and perhaps a lively pi- ano to offset the shrieking of the shells as they tear overhead.
 This opportunity to make a study ciated Press correspondent on re- cent tour of Northern France
 The morning had been devoted to inspecting the remarkable trenches that form a veritable underground city with houses that have "tan the comforts of horne.'' Overhead the German shells s11rieked continuously, and their devastating effect could be seen in part by circumspect glimpses over the top of the trenches. The way led by the Bavarian colonel was through the winding, twisting, seem Eingly interminab1e +LaufgrAben'' or connecting trenches, and led out sud- denly into little wooded c1unp, less than 1000 yards from the French trenches and not twice that from their batteries. Just behind the trees was a German battery that one could hear but not see.
 With a twinkle in his eye the Ba- varian colonel turned sharply to the right, down neat and well-bui1t pair of steps and along a path hanked with flowers. The path led into a spacious room, the ceiling of which was about on a level with the ground, perhaps a little lower. At the entrance stood a mahogany piano. Comfortable chairs stood about. On one wall was l a book case, and on another big map with the German lines indicated by little flags. In the center was a gIeaming white china. A vase of flow CTS added>the final touch.
 Smiling, the colone1 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 1 ing officers to take their seats. He admitted, a little difhdently, that it
 was his wedding addiversary and that
 he felt like celebrating.
 l His officers were in the midst of congratulations when = IBang-went I one of the guns in the battery just to the rear, and the shell could be
 heard plainly as it tore over the roof
 of the little dwelling. so incongruous 1 in the midst of all the evidences of
 active warfare. For reply one of the
 musicaI1yA talented officers jumped up
 and ran to the piano and struck up
 the Wedding March. Its strains boomed out in the little room, and
 were drowned for a second as another -Boom-sounded from the battery. | No luncheon in a big city could
 have tasted one half as good. From
 some mysterious recess a servant
 summoned by an inprovised electric
 belI-drew forth red and white wine,
 and then champagne. The colonel
 apologized for the shortage of glasses,
 only one apiece. and that champagne
 had to be drunk from a claret glass
 rinsed out with spring water after
 serving it's first purpose.
 | To the tune of booming cannon and
 shrieking shells the health of the col
 onel and that of his wife were drunk
 in ice-co1d champagne that tasted full
 1y 100 per cent. better than it would
 have tasted if served from a silver l cooler. The colonel responded with I graceful words regarding the Ameri- can press. The luncheon was over, to the regret of everyone.
 A boarded up entrance to what ap- | peared to be a closet or chest caught the eye of the correspondent. That l lexpIatned the colonel f+is the entrance Ito another room, a deepr one. We I have ito go down there. when the 4 French begin using their heavy guns i against us. This room is only proof against the lighter shel1s.''