The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-08-18

In fact British soldiers have a curiously de-
tached and generous way Of regarding their coun-
trys enemies. When the German soldier IS
taken prisoner picked up wounded the British
soldier IS disposed, as a hundred thousand IN
stances show, to treat him as pal, to divlde
his food and share his cigarettes with him as ne
passes to the base.
In the gadlatorial fights for the entertainment
of the people In ancient Rome the defeated COM
blatant was expected to expose his throat to the
sword of the victor, and any shrinking on MS
part caused the arena to ring with the angry
shouts of the thousands Of spectators, Receive
the steew BY all accounts the Germans have
dislike of the bayonet. They might well be para
yzed, indeed, at the afrighting spectacle OF that
thin line of cold steel welded by furious Irish
man; but II the bayOnet were in the hands OF q
soldier Of any of the other British natonalities
his cry to the German that recoiled from Its
thrust would probably be Receive the STEEL! ex-
pressed In the rudest and toughest native idiom
The way of the Irish at Ginchy was different;
and perhaps the pronunciation of their revenge
was not the least magnificent act of glorious
day.
IF we Drained them the spot who could
blame us? IT'S ourselves that would think 1t no
sin if 1t was done by anyone else" said private
of the Dublin Fusers. Let me tell you, ne
went on what happened to myself. AS raced
across the open with my comrades jumping IN
and out of shell holes, and the bullets flying thick
myself: This is going to be fight to the last
gasp for those Of us that get to the Germans
"As I came near the trenches picked man
out for myself Straight in front Of me he was,
leaning out Of the trench, and he with rifle hr-
ing away at us as II were rabbits.
II made for him with my bayonet ready, de-
termined to give him what he deserved, when
what do you think 7-ddn't he notice me and
what was up to! Dropping his rifle. he raised
himself up in the trench and stretched out his
hands toward What could you do In that
case but what did? Sure you wouldn't have the
heart to strike him down, even If he were to XIII
you.
II caught sight of his eyes. and there was such
a frightened and pleading look In them that |
at once lowered my rifle and took him by the
hand saying, You're my prisoner!
II don't suppose he understood word OF what
I said but he chung to me- crying, 'kamerad !!
Kameradr l more glad than ever that l
hadn't the blood of him on my SOUL IT'S queer
thing to say, maybe Of a man who acted ike
that; but, all the same, ne looked decent pos'
every bit Of him.
"I suDpose the truth Of it is this: We soldiers
ON both sides have to go through such terrible
experiences that there is no accounting 1or no"
we NAV behave. We might be devils all out in
the morning and saints no less In the evening"
Trench Repartee and Trench Favorites.
The relations between the trenches include
even attempts at an exchange OI EepdTtee. Lie
w.t. as may be supposed, in such circumstances
is invariably ironic and sarcastic. My examples
are Irish for the reason that have had most to
do with Irish soldiers, but they may be taken as
fairly representative Of the taunts and pleasan'
tries which are often banded across No Mans
Land.
The Germans holding part of their line in Bel
GUM got to know that the British trenches oppo
site them were being held by an Irish battalion
how wi f
getting on and have you got home rule yetT'
The company sergeant major, big Tipperar1
man. was selected to make the proper reply, ant
in order that it might be fully effective he sent II
through megaphone which the colonel was &C
customed to use in addressing the battalion or
parade Hello, Gerry" he called out I'm
thinking it isn't information We want. but divar
shion; but It's information I'll be after giving We
all the same Later on Wen be sending ye some
fun that'n make We laugh at the other side OF ve