Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-08-02


vfvidness some manifestations
of this romance-littie twilight pictures, gentle
touches of otherwise CHASTITY existence:
In the trenches evening a battalion of the
Leinster regiment held 'kailee," Irish sing
song, at which there spirited rendering of
the humorous old ballad, 'Brian OLynn," sung
TO an infectiously rollicking tune The opening
verse
"Brian OLynn had breeehes to wear,
So he bought SheepSkin make him a pair.
with the wooiiy side out and the skinny side in,
FAX. It's pleasant and cool, says Brian OLynn.'
The swing of the tune took the fancy of the
Germans In their trenches less than 80 yards
turn. tfey Aoudy huInmed the air of the end of
each verse all unknowing that the Lensters sing
ing at the top of their voices gave the words a
topical application:
. With the woolly side out and the skinny side in
Sure Wen wallop the Gerrys,' said Brian OLynn."
Hearty bursts of laughter and cheers arose
from both trenches at the conclusion of the song.
1t seemed as If the combatants gladly availed
themselves of this chance opportunity of becom-
ing united again in the common brotherhood of
man. even for but a fleeing moment. by the
spirit of good humor and hilarity.
A young English officer q different battalion
Of the same Leinster regiment tells of a
curious incident still, which likewise led brief
cessation of hostilities. Two privates in his COM
pany had quarrel In the trenches, and nothing
would do them but to fight it out No Mans
Land The Germans were most apprecative and
accommodating. Not only did they not modest
the pugiiiss, but they cheered them, and actually
fired the contents of their rifles in the air by way
pf salute The European was in fact,
pended in that particular section of the lines
while two Irishmen settled their little diff
ferences by contest of fists.
"Who will now say the Germans not sports
menf" the comment of the young English
officer.
There is, however, another. and perhaps a
shrender4 view of the episode 1t was taken by q
sergeant of the company.
| tIYerra come down of that. We pair of born
fools" he called out to the fighters IF We had
only glimmer of sense, yed see, We would
hat inlay III,
there's nothing they'd like better than to
ALI knocking blazes out of each other"
But as regards the moral pointed by the officer
there must be- of course, many "SpOrtSmen"
among the millions of German soldiers; though
the opinion widely prevailing i'm the British army
IL that they often treacherous fighters. In
deed. to their dirty practices is mainly to be
scribed the bitter personal animosty that occa-
ssaouaiiy marks the relations between the COM
bstants when the fighting becomes most bloody
and desperate, and-as happens at times in all
warS-no quarter given to those who allow
An interchange of Christmas Presents
Amenities between combatants are very ancient
The Greeks and Trojans exchange pres
ents and courtesies in the intervals of fighting,
and the early stages of this seemed to af-
ford a promise that they would be revived The
fraternizing of the British and Germans at their
FIRST Christmas under arms, in 1914. WILL perhaps,
always be accounted as the most curious episode
pf the
I influence the great Christian festival led
to suspension of hostiiities along the lines and
The men each side seized the opportunity to
satisfy their natural curiosity to something
more of each other than through the smoke of
battle with deadly weapons in their hands and
hatred In their eyes. Each side had taken prfs-
paers; but prisoners tout of it," and there
fore reduced to the level of noncombatants. The
toexnan in being appears in very different light.
He has the power to strike You may have to
KIN him, you may be killed by him. So the
British and the Germans. impelled in the main
by common feeling of inquisitiveness met to-
Refher between the lines No Mans Land. There
WAS some amicabie. conversation where they could
make themselves understood to each other, which
happened when a German found who could
speak little English. Cigarettes and tunic but
Part British and Germans stood with arms folded
their breasts and stared at each other with
n kind of dread fascination.
It never happened again. How could it pos
sably be repeated
The Introduction into the conflict by the Ger.
xuans higi, command of the barbarfc elements
OF -frightfuiness,'' hitherto confined to savage
tribes their Of such devilish inventions
as poison gas and liquid fire. their belief only in
ssnan soldiers the native lowness of morality
shown by many of them; their apparent in
sensztIxeness to ordinary humane instincts in
&y7tAbly tended to harden and embitter their ad
wexsarfes against them. Even British feeling
Is extraordinarily devoid of vindictiveness.
me Germans the mass. regarded hav
ing been dehumanized and transformed into
uruce3s ruthless destruction. In case, they
are the enemy. As such, there is satisfaction
Say. positive delight-in sweeping them out o
exasfence. That Is But against the German
snaxdker individually IL may be sold that. on thu
~sAnaeL there Il rancor