Evening star., 1918-11-16
FIGHTERS HELLO
over QUIET LINES
aJerries" Tell the Yankees
They'd Rather Come Here
Than Go Home.
SOUVENIRS FOR "CIGs"
ny JCNTUs b. WOOD.

BY JCNIUS b. WOOD.
C;ablexrnm to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright 1913.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY AT
THE FRONT, November IA rev
yards behind where our automobile
was stalled in the mud little group
of soldiers could be distinguished
standing in the fog. We had motoreo
across no mans land. where only
few minutes earlier bullets had been
flying. A silent body lay at the road
side with scattered equipment and
empty shells about 1t. Half dozen men
wore the only sign of life as We ap-
preached trying to get our bearings.
where are the German lines? ask
ed one OF the correspondents.
lines. but we have come over here
to talk to these Jerries," replied an
American soldier. Then we were able
to distinguish that two members or
the group of soldiers were in German
uniform and were talking In their
own language to a German-speaking
American You see the war IS ever
and we Just wanted to find out what
they think of it," explained one OF
the soldiers.
"HeuoS' Across Lines.
This scene was repeated at many
places on the front yesterday In the
first few minutes after the fighting
had stopped When the last guns were
fred the men were within talking dis
tho front. The two armies could cas-
ity Hello" across the Intervening
space Once he received an answer
the American soldier was not slow to
slip across and visit his former an
tagonistics.
This Jerry says he would rather
go to the United States than return
to Germany" said the soldier. who
was doing the interpreting.
The German soldiers said that their
tonight. makes a short march and then
load trains. which were returning to
Germany. Out Of the dozens whom
saw none seemed disappointed that
the war was over. Indeed. all were
extremely eager for cigarettes and
exchange almost anything they had
for the coveted packages. Either post
cards, "Gott NIT uns," belts. buckles
and blankets were offered in barter.
Most of the Germans had abandoned
their arms as soon as the armistice
hour arrived, declaring that they had
no further use for weapons and also
understanding that the equipment
was to be left behind when the armies
evacuated.
"sick Of Fighting"
I'VE are sick of fighting and all Of
the misery and suffering brought on
the nation" said one soldier. The
Germans were greatly impressed by
the fact that the Americans kept up
the fighting until the last minute. 1t
dispelled any lingering belief in tho
statement of the German command
that the allied nations were equally
tired of the war. In fairness to the
Germans. however. 1t must be said
that even with the armistice only a
few minutes away they kept up their
resistance and defended themselves
etubbornly until the firing stopped.
Orders were given out yesterday by
Gen Foch that the allied armies
were not to continue the advance un-
til after the Germans have fully re-
tired from the present occupied ter
rttory. except in short stretches
where the terrain requires it. The
railroads are in good condition, and
it is expected that train service will
be restored quickly in all parts Of
France and Belgium