The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-17
.COLORFUL INCIDENT
IN GREAT DRAB WAR
British and French Divis-
ions Meet on a Road
and Dine Together.
(correspondenee Agsoclated Pressl

Correspondence Associated Press)
WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
THE FIELD. France, Dec. 20.-There
Is point on the western battle line
where the British Tommy and the
French Poilu meet-where the alliance
between Great Britain and France be.
comes a reality.
There they are dug in, the man in
khaki and the man in pale blue. There
in the long watches OF wintry nights
in the front trenches they sit about
charcoal fire an, smoke and think
together, and make understandable
signs and sounds, though 1t is sell
dom that either can speak the 9TH
ers tongue. 1t is not show spot,
this meeting place of the two great
allied armies in France, nor Is there
a definite mark to show the dividing
line. 1t is Just mingling point, not
an abrupt juncture. For perhaps a
hundred yards at the joining sector
the French and British soldiers fra
ternize and visit.
There is no break in the line any.
where along the front and from time
to time the meeting place of the arm
and the agreements of the French and
are at loss to know who is opposing
them-French or British-and all sorts
of ruses and subterfuges are restorted
to in the attempt to gain information.
1t is considered of great Importance
on both sides to know Just who the
fellows are in the opposing trench, and
when there Is relief, or change in
the line, the world war resolves itself
at least locally into hazardous game
of hide and seek.
Tommy and Poilu have the greatest
respect for each other and If Tom.
my has been over very long he gen.
orally knows a phrase or two OF
French, which, coupled with war slang
that is common to both armies, gives
q medium of communication mutually
enjoyed. In the front line trenches
they share and exchange their little
belongings like so many school chill
dren swapping luncheon goodies at re-
cess time. Cigarettes, tobacco and
chocolate are traded back and forth
and oftentimes the midnight meal for
Frenchman and Englishman is heated
over the same little stove carefully
concealed from the enemy lest hand
grenade should upset the supper plans.
This stubborn, logged, foot by foot
warfare, with its mire and mud, its
redoubts and dugouts and its intricate
geography OF trench upon trench. sell
dom lends itself to pictures of martial
splendor. but without design or ar.
rangement there occurred few days
ago spectacle which will live long
in the memory of the few outsiders
privileged to witness 1t.
Two great contingents OF the French
and British armies met upon the road,
exchanged salutations. and passed. One
was coming out" the other going
In" Each column must have been
at least seven miles long. And with
each was all the paraphernalia. the
panoply and the impediments OF mod
ern warfare. There was no studied
display to the spectacle, no full dress,
no gltnting steel, nor FURNISHED brass.
The day was cold and gray and wet
and everywhere was grim realization
of the business, the machinery Of war
war Just over the horizon.
When the two columns were fully
abreast the military picture had Mt.
tanned its fullest expression. From
point Of eminence one could look
down upon the undulating road and
see for miles the two colored ribbon
formed by the marching men-the