The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-11-15
One Minute After Cessation of
Firing All Trenches We're
Vacated.
TREAT WITH THE ENEMY
Americans and Germans Ex-
change Cigarettes, Chocolate,
Chewing Gum, Coffee, Bread
and Sausage.

far1S, NOV. 14.-When dawn came
Monday morning there was no hint
OF the cessation of hostilities. East
or the Meuse, regardless of the sit
uation, the American second army
attacked in force at 8 o'clock. The
onslaught was defeated by a tre-
mendous barrage which was return
ed In kind by the enemy. For three
hours the Americans swept forward
hurting themselves against the wire
entanglements.
The German gunfire was devasta-
ting. Then at exactly one minute of
IL, like final thunder crash at the
clearing of storm, the guns on
both sides abruptly ceased
The silence was more startling
than the deafening roar of the bar
rage. For a brief minute intermit-
tent rife fire followed; then came
pause. punctured by ripping
sides Of the line.
What followed on one sector was
perhaps one of the most singular
events Of the war. Against the sky
line figures were suddenly silhouet-
ted. They appeared cautiously at
first but soon, growing bo'der all
along the line, they stood upright.
These were Germans.
The Americans were not so cau-
tious AS the barrage died, ending
a
tance from the big guns. runners
went springing along the FIRE line.
Instantly comprehending. the whole
line of doughboys leaped from
trenches. foxholes and shell craters.
splitting the unaccustomed silence
with brill cheer. The roar of
voices was very like an outburst at
some great college contest in Ameri-
ca when contestant scores a classic
play.
Strange to relate. the defeated
enemy joined vociferously in the
cheering. The world war was fin
ished.
At one minute before II 1t would
have meant death to show ones self
above shelter. Not more than a
minute after the hour the rolling
plain was alive with cheering, shout
Ing men. friend and enemy alike.
Not many minutes later Germans
and Americans were coming along
the narrow stretch of ground, so
fiercely fought over. some shyly and
awkwardly, like embarrassed school
boys.
The first advances followed by Of
fers from the Americans Of cigar
cites. chocolate and chewing gum
The Germans in some places recip-
rocatcd with offers of hot coffee,
bread and sausage.
The orders forbidding fraternizing
were strict, but the novelty of the
situation at times overcome pru-
dence and doughboys surreptitiously
visited nearby enemy dugouts Along
the barbed wire at road crossing,
some doughboys and Germans began
a brisk barter for souvenirs. The
Germans were bewildered by the
number of Americans speaking Ger
man.
"Sure. my old man was born in
Germany" laughingly remarked one
stalwart private.
That's nothing" said another,
my mother and father were both
born there"
A middle-aged landsturmer an
nounced:
Yes. the war Is finished, thank
the good Cod. My only wish is to
get back to Germany"
A slender pink checked machine
gunner said:
"Yes. l know the kaiser has abdi-
Gated ."
Instantly a young aristocrat rails
ed his voice:
"There will be no revolution in
Germany; a new emperor will sue
ceed."
An uproar imm mediately arose
The speaker was drowned out by
protesting voices. Then the Ger
mans began offering the Americans