The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-04-12

C4lbuICO 1IOAu bhO NuJ VA LILO *
10 the time when he was "TagE
(Participator in more than twenty
battles" fifty raids" and three
Great Pushes;" wounded eight times,
but never asked to be "sent home"
zach time returning to the battle line
or he twas lonesome for the trenches
and the Fritzies;" cursing at misfor-
une with always a smile on his lips;
now laughing. now signing. but never
grumbling this wonderful specimen
bf Scottish grit and English sports
nanship tells a story that keeps his
reader always near him; feeling his
every impulse, cursing when he curses,
and laughing when he laughs9
The majority of Germans make no
bones about the fact that they are
Jolly glad to be captured.
OF course, this for them means
more and better food, while they ap-
pear to be thoroughly glad to get out
pf the danger zone. While our Off
GERS lead US, theirs drive them, and
you will easily recognize that such a
process is by no means an enviable
one. The Huns, according to their
own admission, are thoroughly sick of
WAR, and in their hearts are longing
for peace.
A pretty hungry and down-at- heel
ot. That generally was my impression
of the German soldiers whom we
fought against and captured on and
after that ever-to-be-forgotten East
er Sunday which opened the Battle of
Arras.
1 landed in that section of the
trenches the day before, and although
had by this time become accustomed
to artillery, still it had all sounded
tame enough compared with the up
roar now going on.
1t was not a succession of noises
but just one continuous, deep and sui
ven noise. To hear It was bad enough
To sample its effect-well TIL tell you
what Fritz thought about it later on
AS Safely AS At Home
The Germans were replying, OF
course, but very feebly and erratical-
ly.
Before the boys went cover the top
we were not allowed to show a hair
above the parapet, but after everyone
had cleared out on the great charge
one could have walked about the place
as safely as at home.
Why2
Because our artillery had simply
swept the Boche, bag and baggage
clean over the horizon.
That is literal fact.
He and his precious guns-thost
that had not been knocked out-wer'
trundling pen-mell for that famous
Hindenburg line in the more or les:
distant rear.
A Stream of Prisoners
MT the first real indication apar
from the sudden stoppage of their ar
tiIlery, that the Germans had lef
their positions for good, was the lonj
stream of prisoners which 1 very sool
saw coming marching back with
grinning Britisher or two beside them
That stream told it's own tale, an
the tale became dramatically ampli
fled by the appearance Of quite
number of German orderlies, and eve
doctors, who were to be seen here anS
there assisting in the dressing Of tn
wounded and in carrying them bac
to the security of our lines.
After we had passed that first bate
the thing that struck me most was tn
parts of the Eoadways.
You may think it strange to com
ment on that, but just picture tn
scene,
DeSolatiOn Everywhere
All around, desolation and death;
great army in retreat; a greater arm
following it.; the ground pitted wit
shell-holes, Uttered with timber, do
ted with ruins, and over all the va
hum of legions afoot, and the MOI
strous howl of the ceaseless art1ller
Can you wonder that any little hi
of decent roadway that we saw SUI
prised US in that wilderness? Ths
were like cases in the desert.
But these same decent spots, on
served, after ALL to accentuate IL
general terror Of the scene.
The Huns are well-named.
Really, their aptitude for destru
ton amounts to positive genius, an
their tricks would give points to S.
tan and all his imps- Trees were C.
down everywhere, barbed wire WI
lying in the most extraordinary tai
giles, traps were stretched across roa
ways, bombs were attached to the mo
innocent-looking objects. And, on e
cry side of all this weller, one cou
get a peep into the very Utmost T
cesses of wrecked dug-outs, where l;
in grim and CHASTITY confusion all tn
remained of their once stout inhat
tants.
Truly, our artillery had done
work.
Making Tea
Each of these dug-outs we tho
ougl1iy explored, for we had to ma
sure that everything was cleaned
as we went along and in one of the
we had quite little surprise.
1t was fixed up bayonets' as :
entered, but these were speed
grounded as we saw what was goi
en-.
Three Germans were there. One "
wounded and unable to move, the OF
er two were making tea, and were t.
ribly in earnest about it.
Just fancy in the middle of
great retreat, with their own arr
passing over their very heads, tht
sat three Germans-making tea
much as to say, well the shows o1
now, let's eat"
The fritzies were very hospitable
naturally. We partook of their tea
There was much conversation,
each side was eager for news. And
was In the course of It that we leal
% WhRt ear artillery had meant