New-York tribune., 1917-07-29

In the distant, easy-going pre-war days we
used rather to poke fun at some Of the writ
ers for what was called their habit Of stretch
ing the long arm of coincidence to fit the
exigencies of their plots That idea is per-
haps one of the many that we shall have to
revise in the light of the war. For the most
extravagant among the users of the long arm
rarely ventured upon any stretching OF 1t that
would equal Fate's almost daily exercise of it
| in this war.
One day last year two hospital ships were
berthed at the same time alongside the land
ing stage at southampton. One was from
France and the other from the Near East.
For the most part the cases removed from
one ship saw nothing of those dsembarked
from the other but it happened by chance
that one of the first stretcher cases from the
Near East ship was laid down in the shed
alongside one of the last stretcher cases from
the French ship. But the two nen did not
see each other, because their heads were
turned in opposite directions. The writer,
walking between the stretchers, offered a
newspaper to one of these men, and as he
smoke both turned their heads and saw and
recognized each other. They were brothers
Both had been serving since the autumn OF
1914, and neither had the remotest idea wha:
had become of the other. For year or more
neither had known in what unit or country
the other was serving. Both were now laid
up with leg wounds.
Lucky Shift of Quarters
Ina sector on the Ancre, before the ma
jority of people in England had ever heard OF
that little river, the company in reserve was
reckoned almost as well placed as a company
in rest. By comparison with very vile from.
line, the support line trenches there were
very good and had some really excellent dug
outs. company's o. c. had an excellent
dugout to himself there, and splendid mess
dugout was shared as a sleeping place by his
subaterns, and then had bunk to spare On
C. bitter cold night at end of 1915 D company
went into reserve, having heen relieved in the
front line by A after rather hot turn in
which the o. c. ID had had no sleep az all.
After posting his various support line duties.
and having some food in the commoiious
mess dugout, the 0. C. made off for the
luxurious solitude of his own dugout. thank
full for the prospect of a good sleep.
Half an hour later he returned TO the mess
dugout, where there was a CHEEKY little fire
OF coke and charcoal. Tired though he was
Tor, perhaps, because Of that he had had no
sleep at all for four days and nights, he had
been unable TO rest in the other cugout De-
cause too cold. Now he cgouched over the
little fire in the mess dugout to light pipe
and warm himself before climbing into the
spare bunk While he crouched there he
heard the whrring moan of g biggish Bochs
she'll, which landed not far away with tre-
mendous explosion. Then another, and then
third, and then silence. The Boche often
sent little salvos Of that kind, for no very
apparent purpose, he being good deal be.-
ter of for "heavy stuff" than we were in
those days.
Amoment later the C. O. d realized that wire
netting without sandbass made poor couch,
end once more he turned out into the frost
bound trench, TO return to his own dugout for
an armful of spare sandbags. The distance
was about two hundred yards, the trenche,
there being full of intricate windings. The
o. c. had to DO without his sandbags tina.
night, but his pcrscope and few other odd
ments were dug w next morning. His dugout
had sustained three practically direct hits
and fragments OF his bunk had travelled as
far as a hundred yards while he had been
rtoopng over the fire in the mess dugout
Soldiers IN this waT Will tell you that such
odd chances are really too commonplace 20 be
worth recording.
Melodrama Of Real Life
The sergeant major of 4 company was rec.
ognized as a man Of parts lie had once
shared n moderately substantial business with
a partner, something 10 do with certain
kind of clothing. housed in the Reighborhood
Of st. Psu's Churchyard wholesale and ap-
parenty prosperous But there had come 4
day Of disaster The se-gean. majors part
ner had disappeared, and the books and sc-