The Washington herald., 1916-06-05

A sunny morning on the lovely coast
OF wales! Scent of gorse and wild thyme
was In the air, and the sea-pinks peeped
out valiantly from their gray-green tufts,
Gulls were crying and calling to each
other, and the sea splashed on the soft,
slaty rocks below the ci1s.
Down in the little village with the un-
pronounceable name there was great ex-
element Three fishing smacks had failed
TO return, and the ominous word Sub
nartned" was on every lip. Cation
pawo!" cried an old woman, running
through the crowd and wringing her
hands excitedly. IF no news come of
my poor man. 'tis mad I shall go. Cans't
:hee do nothing"
She wore the wide shawl of the Welsh
costume and a high-frilled cap. Her
white hair was Ioosened in the morning
wind and her grief was most pitiab!e to
behold. When evening came, the bad
news was confirmed. The three fishing
boats had all been summarized, and no
one had been saved,
At night. the little inn was crowded
with gossipers, chiefly old men, for most
OF the young ones were on TO the war
They sat on settees Of black oak, drink
ing the home-brewed ale, while the peat
fire sent its circling smoke up the wide
chimney Such a queer, old-fashioned
place. the doors heavily coated with tar
and everything reeking of the sea.
Hush" cried the landlord. Listen
And the rattle Of glasses and the
cultural tones of the Welsh tongue
ceased as the sound of singing rang down
the valley We'll. indeed. It's the young
girls practicing for the Eisteddfod!
cried someone, and "Etto! Etto. (again !.
againD with shouts of applause.
For music stirs the Welsh heart as
nothing else in this world can do And
the old men Joined in the refrain with
voices that still were harmonious IN
spite of age.
The inn door opened and young SOL
der walked in. He was blind. and his
eft coat sleeve was empty All, druan
bach. druan BACH Poor fellow, poor
IeuowD cried the old men. moving to
make room for him.
But the "druan bach" seemed perfect
v cheerful And. later in the evening he
.etailed his experiences. 7 fought for
sight months in France without recelV-
ng a scratch, he said. and though the
ife was hard. we had many things to
,nliven it. For instance, sometimes we
you'd have short truces with the enemy
It our part of the line and hold con-
,erts. Strange concerts they were. too.
There was an old ruin, and the Germans
would occupy one side of it. we'll away
rom Us. while We would be in the other.
DUR bows sang wonderfully. all in unison.
md the Germans would cheer us to the
rery skies. Their singing wasn't half so
rood as ours. The trenches were only
90 yards apart, too, and often when we
ang there, answering music would come
rom the enemy trenches.
"One night the Prussian regiment we
lad occasionally had truces with was
ernoved under cover of darkness and
Jhlans came to take their place. We
udu't know Of the change and got a
right when on marching out to our
uined castle for a little evening sing
ong. the new regiment poured Volley
Z FIRE at US.
I'VE were determined to pay them
ack So. three nights later, We rushed
heir trenches in the dark. I spiked two
Jhlan sentries for a start, stationed out
No Mans Land. They fell without
sound The Celtic blood Of the Welsh
yas up, and we rushed straight ahead.
hat was a terrible fight in the Uhlan
renches. Such a mix-up Of screaming
ursing men, tranpling and bayoneting
ach other, and the rain pouring down
torrents.
The Uhlans were driven back. Just
the last one retreated, he shot me
the face. The bullet destroyed one
ye, and I fell back in the mud.
TT was so dark that my companions
fdn't see me, and left me lying there.
ater I woke Up to find myself a pris-
ner in German camp, 1t seemed that
be Uhlans had reca ptured the position
My a few hours after their retreat. and
ound me.
What a dreary thing II was TO be a
risoner Of war! The sight Of one eye
ras entirely gone. and I feared that the
ther was going, too. Then escape would
impossible. Oh. how I longed TO be
ack with my old CHEEKY Welsh regi-
ient,
And so we plotted together. the other
risoners and I. We slept in a farm
ouse with barred windows, two guards
the front door and another stationed
Ist outside our room. On Sunday nights
ley were inclined TO fall asleep, having
ad an extra supply of beer. So Sunday
light, then. was our chosen time.
We drilled q hole in the HOOr-{t uaz