Evening star., 1917-01-07

lures of bursting German shells. Sc
he wandered down the line. He came
upon an isolated and empty wood. De.
void of soldiers. After consultation
with an officer he went among the
trees, gathered together some leaves
and brush and started a small bonnre
Then he withdrew. speedily. He go
what he wanted and even more. Ihs
Possibly they thought it campfire
Anyway they let loose their guns IL
considerable variety. Shells small ant
large crashed into the bonfire zone
while Brooks, camera in hand. siidt
out, and hand on the bulb. took" burs'
after burst One burst came perilousl.
close, no more than ten yards away.
IA beauty" Lieut. Brooks said. II
almost filled the plate"
The story the army likes most aoou,
Brooks is the one about the time ne anc
a German took refuge under a disabled
tank"
The British were storming a village
assisted by the now famous tanks
which were then on one of their mrs.
outings. Lieut.. Brooks idea is to pic
torialiy keep up with the news OF the
day, so that when village is taker
photographs may accompany the de'
scriptive stories of the war CORE
spondents. Hence, on this day, Lieut.
Brooks followed on the heels OF the al
yancing troops and the gigantic wheels
of the ungainly tanks.
fJe followed close and presently walk
ed into a rainstorm of German sneil
co,nmonly known as a barrage 1t was
hot and most unhealthy. somewhere
beh,nd was the driver of Lieut.. Brooks
car. who was supposed to be bringing
up a case of Photographic parapher
MALTA. He failed to appear ana IL wAs
later discovered the man had oee"
wounded. ,ot+er rJeut.
Rrooks determined to seek cover. ne
came to a captured German a
Spanning it, disabled ana a.
was a tank. 1t seemed 1oeai1n n ,
,,ored bridge across the remains OF
narroip trench. Down Lieut. Brooks
went and scrambled underneath ,ne
Startled cross between a Caterpillar
tractor and light cruiser. ,
It was comfy place, un.il broon ne
.,,daenIy discovered the presence OF
snother' He took a keen look and was
aware that he was in the presence :"
the enemy. -. .-... -
II had nothing except my camera.
Lieut.. Brooks said. but neither was
he armed. / discovered, and / imagine
he was Just as badly scared as 1 was.
Lieut.. Brooks was asked what nap
pened underneath the tank.
Nothing" he said: 4 craWleu uhuef
and saw this German soldier SAID;
.Sprechen sic Englisch.' which was an
the German knew. and he said. 'Nein.
which was all he knew or felt like say
ing, and after that there was no con-
versation at all"
For half an hour this situation, which
now seems amusing. but which Brooks
did not laugh about at the time. con-
tinued Then came great shell very
near by, breaking with great roar.
Lieut.. Brooks thought, as was doubt
less the case, that the Germans were
Smelling his tank. and. knowing that a
mean disaster, he determined to de-
part. without, apparently. saying
farewell to his companion. Lieut.
Brooks dashed outa nd made for
nearby German dug-out. Naturally the
opening of the dug-out was toward the
German guns, so 1t afforded little protec
tioh from artillery fire. Brooks found
the opening and dashed down the steps.
A she'll burst above him and brought
eelerated his movements down the
many steps, but caused him some
pain.
In the dug-out Brooks found a Brit
ish dressing station. There was an Of
ficer of the line there. and Brooks told
him about his German friend under
the tank. When the Germans shifted
their fire Brooks and the officer clam
bered up to the tank. The officer waved
much frightened, crawled out. BROOKS
of the experience by taking a
of his prisoner.
Once Brooks and a companion. q man
with cinematograph machine, engaged
In making the .Battle of the Somme'