The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-27


 France, December 12-"Glory me! this isn't much iv a brewery" said Gahey. the Irish soldier in a whisper as he dragged dead German out of a shell hole and made room for himself. .Tve seen breweries but never thing like thls. There was sort iv brewery in Banyrudden and all the drink that came from that was duty free"
 Hoid yer tongue, Ye big bloomin' red neaoed Irish bounder," said 8 man in hnaKi, who lay beside Gahey in the cra- ter. Maybe there's a Boche ustenin' 10 ye. Wot's that anyway"
 snadowy form showed in the dark ness Tn front and came towards the two men. Gahey, longer in reach than his mate' was the first to touch the new conner with the bayonet. "who are yep he whispered. That you Gahey," was tne reply 'Is Spudhole with you?"
 Come and sit down Bowdy," said Gahey We thought that ye were lost. spudhole, the limb. Is here In a bad temper, he Is, too" NO wonder" said spudhole, as the soldier Bowdy, sat down beside him. This damned Gahey [ IS talktn' about brewery when there's not q drink within 10 mile O us.' Well, that's brewery, anyway" said Bowdy, pointing his finger at ruined building. a mere shell, which stood in front. hardly a score of yards away.
 Poelcapelle brewery or all that remains of it."
 The hour was midnight, dark and heavy, with sullen rain falling on Poel- oapelle. its ruined streets, shattered houses and gutted cemetery. Away on the left hidden in the night, was the forest of Houthulst, in front was the ridge of Passchendaele and to rear was the town of Ypres with buildings afire, the flames reckoning the night. All day long the men had been fighting round the brewery of Poelcapelle which had been twice captured and twice lost It was in the British hands now, however, and a German counter attack was ex- pected and the men were waiting ready for the foe.
 Its down the road that they'll be comin' if they're comin' at all," said Gahey, pointing to a streak of dull white that lost itself in the distance That's the road leadin to their lines'
 The other two men, comrades who had shared many dangers with him, did not answer Probably they were falling asleep, for the day had been very trying one and the fight not yet at an .end, had commenced with dawn. It was very dark and 1t was impossible to dis tinguish objects quite near at hand. At one side of the road Gahey noticed some thing standing and it seemed to be com- ing towards him. A German prob ably Who are your he called in a whisper but receiving no answer. He got to his feet. lunged at 1t with his bayonet and the steel stuck in something hard a tree trunk, peeled almost white with shrapnel. He pulled the bayonet out with difficulty returned to the era ter. None of his mates moved. They were asleep.
 He listened. There was nothing to be lee af eli orcho ric cIp and the rumble of artillery. When the surrounding country was lit up. nothing could be seen, save the pitted levels and ruined houses, and the limp lifeless figures in field-gray and khaki which lay on the roadside. The brewery showed its walls broken and its tortured girders twisted out of shape, a fitting emblem of the weary night. Not soul was to be -. the whole stricken village looked desertofsand forsaken. "Who are ye, now?"
 Gahey's bayonet shot out towards the shawody form which rushed up to the shell hole and Gahey's finger fumbled at the trigger of the rifle.
 I'm your officer said the shad- ow "The Boche is coming down the road Get readyr' Gahey shot to his feet and kicked at his two mates. The officer rushed off to the next she'll hole. Spudhole and Rowdy got to their feet and gripped their rifles
 "Wot's wrong now?" Spudhole en- quired
 stand tow Gahey whispered Get one in the breech, for the Jerrys are comin'."
 Thank Gawd," said spudhole. "It bores me stiff when there's nuffink doin"
 Bowdy, Devon man. drew the pin 1 stood waiting, his thumb on the lever. An officer came over to where Gahey stood He was not the man who had been there before Do you hear any thing?" he enquired.
 "No, sir" Gahey replied, but even as he spoke a concentrated fire broke out from ahead. Flashes of light dabbed at the darkness. rifle bolts clicked. The Germans were close at hand.
 Ready" called the officer. Two rounds! Fire!'
 Even as he gave the order mass of men approached shouting madly. 'Hurrah! vonwarts" they yelled. They could be seen coming down the road, their heavy boots rattIing on the cobbles.
 "vorwarts be damned" Gahey called and flung his bomb into the press of surging figures. Spudhole was lying in the shell hole his rifle over the lip, barking spitefully. "You swineF' Bowdy shouted, as a dark shadow tried to jump past him. He caught it on his bayonet and it fell mortally stricken. Half a dozen figures rushed up and were met by bomb which burst right in the mid tle of them With long strangled cries they dropped to the ground.
 machine gun opened fire on the left, where bombs were dropping and exploding with vehement chatter. Starshells rose in the air and the brewery stood out, clearly defined in the light.