The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-19

~tNt NAO AcAA0AHoSE UoNe ggNtSaa
dug-outs.
can American gentleman. q good
friend OF ours" was the form in
which the major introduced me to
the company. Again / found my
self mystified by the extraordinary
demonstrations OF respect with
which I was received. Germans
don't like Americans, especially
since they took to selling shells to
the allies, and began to think that
all these officers must know more
about me and my mission than I
did myself. A. stolId orderly, wear
\ ing white. gloves, brought beer and
some extraordinary nasty-Iool<ing
sardine sandwiches which. on samp-
ling. realized to be made OF "war
bread"
While the beer was being poured
out glanced round the room. bare
and very simply furnished. Terrible
Observation-Disclosures OF the Kaiser
and the crown prince hung on the
walls above a glass filled with war
trophies
With horrible sickness at heart
recognized amongst other en-
blemS a glenRssTy with q silver
bG18C oAAp - DflNl1n eNccl MCALuCl
with gaping hole through the
croY1 Then I remembered ] was
in the region OF the With Corps,
which supplies some OF our tough
est opponents on the western front.
Conversation was polite and per-
funetory.
at Is on occasions such as these
said the lame officer -that one
recognizes how our brothers over
seas are helping the German
cause"
-Your work must be extraordfn-
arily interesting" observed one of
the dug-outs.
"AII your difficulties are nov
over" said the major. much in the
manner OF the chorus Of q Greek
play. you viii be In Berlin to-
night, where your labors win be
doubtless rewarded American
friends Of Germany are not popular
In London, should imagined"
I mdrmured: Hardly"
you must posses Infinite tact to
have aroused no suspicion" said the
major.
That depends said
Pardon me-" replied the major,
in whom 1 began to recognize an
II know something OF the tmpor-
lance of your mission I speak
amongst ourselves Is II not 50 gen
tlemen? There were special orders
about you from the corps command
at Munster. Your special has been
waiting for you here for four days.
The gentleman who came to meet
you has been In a fever OF expeeta-
ton He had tlready left the sta
ton this morning when
when met you. sent word for
him to pick you ND here"
The plot was thickening. I most
certainly was q parsonage OF note.
what part OF America do you
come from. Mr.. Semlin?" said .
voice in perfect English from the
corner. The one-armed officer was
speaking.
From Brooklyn" I said stoutly,
though my heart seemed turned to
ice with. the shock OF hearing my
own tongue.
"You have no accent" the other
replied suavely.
"Some Americana" retorted san
tentiously, would regard that a. q
compliment Not all Americans talk
through their noses any more than
we all chew or spit in public"
II know said the young man
Il was brought up thereP'
We were surrounded by smiling
faces This officer who could speak
English was evidently regarded a.
a bit of a wag by his comrades.
seized the opportunity to give them
in German a humorous description
Of my simplicity in explaining to .
man brought up in the United
States that all Americans were not
the caricatures depicted in the Eu-
ropean comic press
There was q roar OF laughter
from the room
Zach, dieser Schmalz!" gufawsd
the major, beating his thigh in
ecstasy. "KolossalT' echoed one Of
the dug-outs. The lame man smiled
wanly and said It was "incredibls
how humorous Schmalz could be-"
had hoped that the conversation
might now be carried on again in
German. Nothing OF the kind The
room leant back in its chairs, a. "
expecting the fun to go on
1t did.
'You get your clothes m London"
the young officer said
He was a trinity built young man.
very pale from recent illness. with
f1axen hair and a bright, bold blue
eye-the eye OF a fighter. His left
sleeve was empty and was fastened
across his tunic, in a buttonhole OF
which was twisted the black and
white ribbon OF the iron cross.
Generally" I answered shortly,
when go to England. Clothes
are cheaper in London"
You must have a good ear for
languages" Schmalz continued;
''you speak German like q German
and English ." he paused ap-
probably, like an English
man"
1 felt horribly nervous. This
young man never took his eyes OF
me; he had been staring at me ever
since I had entered the rooom- His
manner was perfectly calm and
suave.
stil kept my end up very cred
itably, think.
"And not a bad accomplishment.
either" 1 said, smiling brightly. ''if
one has to visit London in war
time.
courtesy. But he continued to stare
relentlessly at me. I felt scared
what is Schmalz jabbering about
now?" said one of the dug-outs. I
translated for the benefit Of the
company. Ny resume gave the
dug-out who had spoken the oppor-
tunity for launching out on an In
terminable anecdote about an ulster
he had bought on a holiday at
Brighton. The story lasted until