The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-13
IN THE CAFE

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 France, December 19.-(Special Cor respondence. )-Dusk is falling over the village of C.. and the star shells are rising over trenches that seem very near at hand. But distance at this hour is deceptive and the lights which seem to rise few hundred yards away are in reality several miles distant. Two days ago they were nearer, for the enemy's position, the famous Hindenburg line, was then lit- tie more than rifle shot away. Now the line has been pressed back hv the British and the village is almost out Of shell range. The British are victorious and the dwellers in the village of c. are well pleased.
 The place is crowded with men who nave been fighting and with men who are going forward to take up tbeir share in the combat. regiment Is marching through the street the men singing at the tops of their voices Cisarettes are alight and heavy boots are crunching the cobbles. Out of the cares that are lit up men peer at the marching hosts and now and again come to the door and wish good iucl, 10 the soldiers going up to the bat tie.
 Give them what ohr, they shout Let them have itr'
 Just leave that to us," Is the re- ply of hundred voices that cease their singing for moment
 Behlnd the marching men a cater pillar howitzer crawls along, the heavy gun Joiting from side to side as the wheels wobble over the cobbles. An ambulance wagon skirts by it and past the soldiers ahead who get or ders from the commanders to "feel Tn 10 the left of the road. From afar comes the thunder of guns showing the fight is in full swing out by Cam. brai.
 Down the street, past the market square, IS the most animated and live " quarter of the village Here the German shells have not done much harm to the houses and a number of dwellings are in perfect order.
 Here the cafes are alight and crowded. Soldiers are sitting and standing Inside and women are serv- ing steaming bowls of cafe au lait as fast as they can. The men are speak Ing or the incidents of the attack. the advance of the tanks, the hand to-hand encounters with the enemy in the villages near Cambrai They have Just come back from battle and are now resting after the fighting.
 Twas the best scrap ever I was Tn, says one, young fellow who has taken off his puttees and is scrap- ing mud from them with a clasp knife "If every scrap was like that one I wouldn't mind if the war last ed for another 10 years. And the way the tanks went forward! Twas good to see them"
 Tt can be done once or maybe twice" says an old soldier, with a Knowing nod of his head But it can't be done always I wish to heaven it could"
 "sick of it. then?" inauires A man who is sitting in the corner near the window
 Not sick of It." the old soldier an- swers. I'd be sick of 1t if it fin- lshed without our side winning But then you see, I am married man and now and again I would like to see my wife and kids"
 Well that's not to be wondered at," says the young soldier who is cleaning his puttees.
 What has happened to Bowdy Jim my some one inquires. T haven't see him since the morning of the attack. Do you know where he Is. Bill?"
 The man addressed as Bill Is standing taking with the patronne. Turning around, he- looks at the speaker.
 "He copped a packet at Neuf Wood" Bill says. deep note of feeling in his voice. T was with him at the time. There was machine gun in front and It was ripping for all it was worth. wen rush it!' he shouted, and then he dropped with one through the head It was blinkin's hard on him, and only n minute before that he was saying he never enjoyed scrap so much.
 Tt was great change from Passchen- daele,' the old soldier remarks. "It's nice to have fight when there's no blooming mud"
 And no bofnbardment before we went forward" says the young man with the puttees Tt seemed strange just like a play on the stage without an overture.
 can do without any overture of whizzbanRs and crumps," Bill remarks. nooding his head with an air of finality
 What I liked most in the advance was the few casualties before starting" said the old soldier. T saw only one man get hit by shrapnel. He was so blooming anxious to get forward that he went out in front and waited for the whistle. If made everybody laugh. what he said when ne got hit Just my luck he cried out as he fell The first time I looked forward to scrap. and here I'm knocked out at the startn''
 All the company laughs, then there is silence From afar comes the roar of ar tllery. and all know that out by Cambraj the battle Is still in full swing. Ont side, over the cobbled streets, the trans rort and guns are clattering as thev make their way up to the front. In the cafe the old soldier lights fresh cigar cite and p'ffs the smoke up toward the rocf. The toung soldier puts his putteas on and goes toward the counter. "cafe Tor one, he says to the woman. Then he looks at the old soldier and points his finger at him. Make it cafe pore der civveo play" he adds. "For my mate and me-