The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-09-25

dig the tunnel, and all the caution that
was required was to avoid work at
the hours the guard visited the prison
ers to bring their meals and for other
purposes.
That same evening the tunnel was
dug. 1t was found that the wall could
not be pierced, and portion of the ce-
ment floor was removed and the tun-
neling done under the wall instead of
through 1t. The work was not difficult
and was accomplished In few hours.
The earth removed was concealed in a
dark Enclosure under the clock tower.
When all was ready Brooks, who was
small man Of great agility, having
been provided with the code, crawled
into the tunnel and when at the point
where it extended straight upward
stood on his feet with his head above
ground and looked about him.
The night was dark, and he could see
nothing, but he could hear the sentry
on that side of the church walking his
beat. The man passed within twenty
feet of him. Brooks noted his move
ments and estimated that the exit from
the tunnel was located about a third
nearer one end Of the beat than the
other. 1t behooved the American to
leave his point Of concealment after
the man had passed him on the longest
section of his beat and make his way
beyond the beat before he returned.
Watching his opportunity, Brooks
sprang out Of the tunnel and ran some
fifty yards into bush, behind which
he concealed himself. He heard the
sentry give a challenge, which indi-
Gated that he had been heard. The
sentry stood still for some time, and
Brooks heard the click of his rifles.
lock. But he probably made up his
mind that he had heard some animal,
for he presently started again on hts
beat.
Brooks crawled away toward the
firing line and on his way encountered
dead body. The corpse was that Of a
German, and Brooks appropriated his
helmet and his coat. His rife laySnear,
and Brooks took that too. Then he ad-
vanced to the trench at a point between
the occupants and after standing guard
for awhile found an opportunity to
steal out unobserved, and, throwing Off
his helmet and dropping his rifle, he
crawted on all fonrs toward the AmePi-
can line. Before he could make him.
self known several shots were fred at
him, but fortunately he was unhurt.
The next morning man was sta
toned with powerful glass Ieveied at
the dial of the clock. In time he called
an officer, who In turn called Brooks.
When they reached him he reported
that the minute hand Of the clock was
moving-now backward, now forward.
Brooks consulted the code and reported
to the officer:
Nothing doing"
This. Of course, meant that there was
nothing of importance to be reported of
the enemy's movements. During the
day the American troops made attacks
at two different points. About o'clock
tn the afternoon the watcher reported
that the minute hand Of the clock was
again moving backward slowly. After
moving over twenty minutes on the
dial It suddenly sprang forward. and
again began its slow retrograde move
ment. Brooks at once read from the
code:
"They are retreat1ng."
The officer at once hurried to a tele
phone station and reported the infor-
nation to the general commanding.
The general at once ordered barrage
of artillery fire, the shells falling just
beyond the church. Then he ordered a
charge. The fire kept the Germans
back, and the troops charging went
! beyond the church and dug themselves
In before the enemy could make q coun-
ter attack.
Brooks, who was with the attacking
party, went at once to the church,
broke open the doors and released the
prisoners. Naturally the meeting was
very joyful.
The general commanding ordered An
drews and Brooks to headquarters and
asked for a recital of what they had
accomplished. When they had finished
he announced to them that he would
recommend both of them for promo
ton, and the same evening they were
mentioned In orders for brave and
meritoriOus conduct In transmitting In
telligence Of the enemys movements.