The Washington times., 1917-09-05
ONE HOUR IN WAR
GRANDSTAND LONG
ENOUGH FOR BROUN
ny HAYWOOD BROUN.
Especial Copyright Cabie1


war terms" the first question Of
fered in two languages was, Where
is the grandstand?"
But I have found that grandstand.
We occupied a box for almost an hour,
and in that time the program included
a duel between two aeroplanes, an
explosion and no end of big gun fir
ing. The officer who conducteu US
said II was a dull morning.
Our day on the hill was a clear one
after three days of low clouds Almost
two dozen British planes were to be
seen from the hilltop. as well as sew
eral captive balloons. Although the
English planes flew well over the
German lines. they drew no fire. but
presently the sky began to grow wool
IL. Little round white patches ap-
peared, one against the other, cutting
the sky into great flannel figures.
Then we saw above II all q plane
so high as to be hardly visible. Indeed.
we should not have aeen 1t but for the
tolltale shrapnel. These were our
guns, and this was no friend. Now
II was almost over our heads.
DodEInE Strapped.
1t seemed intent upon attacking, one
Of the British captive balloons, which
could only stand and wait. The guns
were snarling now. We were. close
enough to hear the anger in every
shot. The shrapnel broke behind, be-
low, above and in front Of the aero
plane. but on II sailed, untouched.
like a glass ball in a Buffalo BIZ
shooting trick.
Yet here was no poor marksman-
ship, for at 10000 feet the air pilot
has forty seconds to dodge each shell.
He merely has to watch the flash OF
the gun and then dive or rise or slide
tC right or left. Sometimes. indeed,
the shrapnel lays a finger on him, but
he whirls away out Of its grip like a
quarterback in a broken field. The
guns stopped firing. although the
German was still above the British
lines. Somebody was up to tackle him
at closer range.
Where our plane came from we did
not know. The sky was filled all
morning with English hiers, but each
appeared to have definite work In
hand, and not one paid the slightest
attention to the German intruder.
This WAS a special assignment When
We caught sight OF the English fiier
he had Unanswered into a position be-
hind his German adversary. We
caught the flashes from the machine
guns. but we could hear no sound OF
the fight above US.
The plane darted forward and back
They were clever little bantams.
these. and neither was able to put in
a finishing blow. Our stoIid guiding
officer was up on his toes now and
roofing as II II were some sporting
event in progress Looking upward
at his comrade, 10000 feet aloft, he
cried: Let him have IT."
German Altman FIees.
The hostile attitude OF the speeta-
tors or something else discouraged
the German, and he turned and made
for his own lines. The EngIishman
pursued him for a time. and then
gave up the chase. The consensus OF
opinion was that the Briton had won
the decision on points.
Next we turned out attention to the
big gun firing. We could see the fash
Of the guns on both sides and hear
the whistle of the shells. with the
occasional whine OF shrapneL After
the fash one might mark the result II
he had a sharp eye. There was no
trouble in following the progress OF
one DElAlHu SMELL lOI an
instant after the fash a high column
Of smoke arose above a town which
the Germans held. We could hear the
guns Of both armies. and OF the two
sounds that of the shells coming to
ward us was much the more pleasant.
Our own hill was pocked with shell
holes, and the tower near which We
stood was nibbled nigh to bits. and I
had a stimulating. walieful sort of a
feeling that almost any minute some
thing might drop on or near us.
About threequarters OF perhaps a
mile away there ran a road. and every
ten minutes or so the Germans pumped
a shell on that road or whereabouts.
Our guiding officer looked at II
thouEhtfullly.
That's the road we've got to take
Il we 20 to the ridge" he said.
"Of course. YOU can't see anything
up there" he added.
Again he paused. This is much
better place" he remarked. and We
haven't got much time" a shell land
ed almost directly in the middle Of the
not too highly eXtolled road.
DIdnt Care TO Venture.
40 you want to go?" asked the Of
ficer. cheerlly.
ASK him." answered hoarsely.
pointing to my companion. who was
my senior. The other correspondent
shifted from one foot to another and
didn't complete the evolution very
smoothly. for just then a she'll went
sailing across our well beloved road
/ with a fine piercing whistle.
Il don't think I'll 60" said my com
panion. You know I've seen so much
81 that stuff it's no novelty for me.
/ But I'll walt here for you II Broun
wants to go"
He did not wait for me. We de
scended the hill together as closely as
Mr.. and Mrs. 10 John Anderson.
Lord Northcliffe," said my COM
psnion, "once told mo. Remember. the
! thing for you to do Is ALWAYS bring
/ yourself and the story back"
Wonderful man. Lord Northcliffs!
am not at all sure that our guild
I ing officer was not having a bit Of
[ fun with US. Certainly he lost no
I chance to drive home the dramatic.
| We went to Nimy Ridge in the after
noon, which was once the center Of
50 much fierce lighting. and climbed
/ over trench after trench. Across this
ground first the French and then the
English had fought the Germans.
There were hundreds OF cartridges
fred and unfired. gun stocks. twisted
bAyonets. and any number OF live
and forbidding hand grenHdes Of the
German "halrbrush" variety.
a.