The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-06-27
Officer Plays Prank on Germans for Ben
Eft Of Newspaper Correspondents and
Visitors; Fires Lone Shot From
Hidden Turet
STILL BOMBARDING
CITIES OF BELGIUM
Allies Declare Ii Does Nothing More Than
Waste German Ammunition; Civil
ians, in little Danger Even
Rowing on Battle Field
(By United Press Staff Correspond.
ent.)

/ GutsJ
London, June 17-(By mail "A
Canadian artillery major played a
side-splitting joke on the Germans for
the benefit Of the three American
news association correspondents at
the British war front in Belgium last
week
From a commanding elevation and
safe distance the correspondents and
the fopeign office official who was es-
corting them had been watching a
brisk "strafe between the Canadian
batteries and the German big guns on
the plain below them.
The Canadians started the row.
"Our airmen, you see" explained a
Canadian captain, have located lot
of Bosch dugouts and we're going to
bust EN-"
The "straf" was in full blast few
minutes later. The Germans re-
sponded enthusiastically.
OOH 7 SLdilu w 0o w ohoN H6alhSt
the skyline warned the colonel in
charge of the party. THE Bosches
could land shell here if they wanted
To-"
1T isn't this party I'm worried
about he addedS"but don't want to
get them in the habit Of shelling this.
position. 1t would be bad for people
who have to be here later"
After while the "straf" subsidized.
sWould you like to see one Of our
batteries?o asked the Canadian cap
tain.
The party declared it would be more
than delighted. The hill had to be
descended and a big field crossed to
get to the battery.
"You three chaps go ahead, said
the colonel to the Canadian captain
and a couple Of the correspondents.
NOW you two" he told the foreign
office official and his own aide, after
the first trio had gained lead of 300
feet or so.
NOW, wen CO." he concluded when
the official and the aide had made q
fair start.
IF we ali went IN bunch he point
ed out to the correspondent who ac-
companied him, "the Bosches might
think it worth while to land on us
with whizzbang.'
The battery was ensconced in bur
row which anybody could have passed
unconsciousIy at dozen-foot distance
and an aviator could hardly find with
microscope II had been there for
months, said the major who command
ed it.
"Would you like to see a shot fired?7
he inquired.
The correspondents and the foreign
office official certainly did want to.
Hardly had the shell cleared the
guns muzzle before a funny idea seem
ed to strike the major and he began
to laugh uproariously. The others
eyes turned on him curiously.
Il was just thinking" said the ma
jor "how that one lone shot will puzzle
the Bosches. AT first they'll think q
bombardment's starting. Then, when
nothing follows 1t, they'll get to worry
ling.
"Tll bet they lose sleep wondering
what we fired that single shot for.
Besides, the bombardment being
over, it's just time in the Afternoon
for 'em to be taking a bite to eat and
our shell must have landed just right
to muss up the tea things"
Three or four Germans were killed
for all anybody knows, merely to give
a good laugh to three correspondents
foreign office official and Cana
dian major
Earlier the same day the colonel
took the correspondents and theil
guardian official to see one Of Bel
GUMS ruined towns
Il must have been once quite a good
sized city. handsomely and substan-
TALLY built. but the German guns had
battered it completely to pieces.
Some tottering walls still stood. bui
there was not a whole building in the
place.
"And they're still shelling it. said
the colonel, $50 don't linger, and wher
you cross the grand square keep close
! to what's left Of the walls. II a shot