Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-09
Stories of the War
Their Turn to Rest.

Last seven days 100000 battling Germans crowded on two-niIe front thirty to Q yaTd~curtain of fire, point lace curtains of flames came down. When lifted, 45,000 soldiers of LhEn- taht perdU Q1It of it, tens of thousands carcasses lying peu-mell, limbs stuck up. All attttldes of agony. Dust Of every road someone's heart!
 IEnfant Derdu should have seen French soldiers from this fight re turning to a village, their turn to rest. Writes cores SpO1Jent somewhere in eastern France" these seven days: It is seldom that one hears martial music in France in these hours, and in fact in general practice 1t has been unknown in connection with the army since the war began. Altogether apart from concerts in Paris. this is cUlarly the case in the provinces, and fnon the beginning all movements Of tEoOps have been effected in an un- insMrin@ silence. Consequently a thrill Of emotion swept through our little cafe last evening when we heard the strains Of the Chant du Depart" ;" Justify rendered by band, trumDets, and drums, advancing towards us down Q neiEhbOrinG street from the railway station of this small town. There was a. rush to the door, but al ready the tOWnSfOlk- men, women, and Children-TePe pouring DelI-mell into the Place du Jarche, their faces work ing with excitement. It was the-the IerritOrials returning from DOuau- mont to a rest base. Round the cor ner of the little Marie they swung. blowing braveIy-the band concealed sOlneWl1 ere in the centre of a dense human swarm, packed like bees in a cinging mass. A brazen flash as the trumpetS were fOurished was all one could sec of the musicians.
 Loudly the music echoed in the lit tie square, but where were the wei coming shouts, the brave huzzas? Why is this crowd thrOng silent?-very sim pei reason, there was not a dry eye among them! The people could not, dared not, open their lips because of the emotions that chOked them. The soldiers understood, for as they tramped sturdily past their eyes he meath the blue trench helmets spark led too, as they eagerly scanned the crowd in search of Q known face
 The Chant du Depart too of all music-the gallant song of patriotism so nearly chosen in preference to the 'Marseillaise' when the national hymn was seleCted-the music to which gen. eTations of weeping women have watched the flower of French man hood march off to wars. At such a time as this it's call was irresistible!
 And when the colors came-bat- tle-sOiled and rent in many places In6lr solid guard of ayOnetS-wOrdS can not describe the emotion. Gray heads were barred and hats raised soIemnly to the sky. Women, for want of other means of expression, stood at the mil itary salute. Yet not a voice was heard.
 T wonder if you entirely appreciate the profound anguish that has been consuming the people of France all thrOugh this prolonged nightmare of Verdun. The constant thought of the unspeakalbly ferocious things that are happening to husbands and brothers, fathers and sons, a few miles away be- hind those hills whence comes that dreadful run2b!ing, has scared deeply into the hearts of those in the homes. Old folks are breaking up under it. The necessary round of the daily duties of life in these little towns and villages is pursued quietly. It comes as a shock to hear a laugh except from a child.