The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-06

With the Allied Forces in Flanders, November 5.--CBy the Associated Press) The open warfare now being conducted over long stretches of inhabited terri- tory along the northern battle front has produced strange situations which arg far-reaching from the trench fighting of few months ago.
 Probably none more unusual has been recorded than that experienced by cer- tain Canadian unit the other, day in the Valenciennes area, where the troops holding the front line were actually liv- ing in furnished houses, where they slept in beds well supplied with linen and had their meals served on excellent china. Fresh vegetables of all sorts from the gsurroundns countryside were on the menu. Muddy ~dugouts and timed bully beef were never like that.
 Dramas Involving the individual ele- ment are piling up along the front these days and bring home forcibly what the world war really means to the hundreds of thousands of civilians directly or in- directly concerned. It was the corre- spondent's privilege to take a small part in one of these dramas in the Valen- ciennes sector.
 E The correspondent was motoring along the highway Heading to the recently freed city of Domain when French of ficer beside the road asked for ride. Occasionally he would wave to civilians and shout greetings
 LEFT WIFE BEHIND
 Asked If he lived in the vicinity, the officer said that his home was in De- main, where, four years ago, he left ms wife to join the colors. Just after his departure his first child, a daughter, was born Then came the German oe- equation, cutting off his loved ones NOW he was going back after these long years to his wife and the baby he had never seen. He was visibly wrought up to the highest pitch. as well~ he might be. II was quite possible he might find ms family dead or gone and his home Ill ruins.
 Denain had been the center of a bat tie that had cost civilian lives Neither the officer nor correspondent mentioned this fact, but undoubtedly both were thinking it as the car sped over the she'll shattered road. Entering the clty, the officer directed the correspondent to- ward his home, through streets showing the cruel marks of the invaders hate.
 
 was in ruins. He gave a nervous start, but said nothing. A few doors further on was his home, and the car stopped across the street from it. The officer climbed out slowly and with an effort' his eyes fixed on the place.
 TOT FEARED OWN FATHER
 There was no signs of life. The win- dows were shuttered and on the door uac o ci iUr, chA bat of cers had been living there. Crossing the street. the officer pulled bell. No one answered. He backed away like man in trance and leaned against the car, trembling. Suddenly the door opened and an aged woman servant appeared in answer to the bell She was leading by the hand beautiful baby girl with a wealth of golden curls The officer took one step toward the child and then halted. He was a stranger to his own flesh and blood. The child hid behind the skirts of the nurse, peering out Tn fright Undoubtedly her mother had told her many times during the boche occu- patton that men in uniform were bad and that she must avoid them. The horizon blue uniform of France meant nothing to this tot. The half blind eyes of the old nurse had recognized her master and she held out her hands to him, repeating, Monsieur! Monsieur!'' in ecstacy. He crossed the road and grasped her hands, but the baby drew back still farther.
 A door opened at the end of long hall and comedy young matron came through to see what was going on. When half way down the hall she caught sight of her husband. She stopped, her hand flew to her breast and she swayed for a second, as though about to fall. With a