Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15

VERY German infantry COM
r. pany when it starts out fresh,
IL contains two necessary orna-
ments-the kompagnie-spass-
macher (wag or jollier) and the
dumme kerl (fooD.
The latter is an involuntary victim
or butt, awkward, slow, stupid and
laughed at as such-the unconscious
sidepartner of the spassmacher, who
uses him in his business; but the
spassmacher must be character.
His officers count on him to raise the
spirits of the men at difficult mo-
ments. He must always have his
witticism ready.
In the pen, there is one such-the
Spassmacher Engel. When the Ger
man drive on Paris began. Engel hit
on his great comic word: Grassy
Passy!" To jolly his company, fresh
from Russia reinforced by young
drafts, speaking no French, he ex-
planned that assy-passy would carry
them through.
ut is all the French you need"
said Engel. "Rassy-passy! When you
need wine, knock once with your
AAAo OulI Vino lAlSJ anu pronounce
rassy-pasSy!
4
"And cheese?" asked some idiot.
Cheese, two knocks and 'rassy-
passy.' sausages, two knocks and
'rassy-passy, rassy-passy!
Having got started, he worked up
quite a list Of gastronomic marvels
which the word and gesture. prop
erly repeated, would procure. They
were all hungry for anything tasty.
and it was good joke. Rushing down
on Paris, the spassmacher made a
song Of pillage, wine and beauty
what they would do when they got
there:
"Nu marschieren wir grad mach
Paris herein.
night, verboten sein!' (Now, we're
marching straight on Paris. Down
there. children. smoking is not for
Last week. marching into the pen,
Engel got off his last mach Paris wit
es list noch'n Gluck das Lehmans mir
NIGHT kiecken! OTIS lucky that the
Lehmans can't see meD"
Nobody laughed; but one man, hob
bling with the rheumatism, bleated:
. "Ach! Blech! Smoking not forbid
There was bitter contempt in it, for
kaiser, the spassmacher, who had led
them into this misery on false prom
Uses. But now, the prisoners say it
softly, smiling. "Rauchen NIGHT YER
boten!" Originally it meant: "The
lid is off, to do what we please, when
we get to Paris..' Captured, they
We're told, they would be shot or
harshly dealt with. Now the word
long lines of smiling Germans march,
ing rearward. "Rauchen NIGHT YER
boten" What is it's new meaning:
Contempt for France and America
because we treat them so decently?
Nobody understands these German
prisoners. They seem ineXplicable
mysterious. and their nerve is colos-
sal.
Another bunch presented a strange
sight. Headed by at least thirty off,
GERS, the procession. which was four
deep, stretched for fully a mile. Well
excellent condition, but from the
happy smiles on their faces one would
guess cit guessing is possible) that
the German army morale is low. AS
they passed, certain French villagers
called out:
"Nach Paris"
They were sorely tried French VIII
layers. These Germans had DESTROYED
their homes, and it was their only
gibe. Farther in the rear no word is
called against them. mach Parish!
cried the villagers. The Germans
smiled and nodded Eyes" and marched
on, smiling.
* !;
OF two colonies in this bunch one
fell to the Americans. So rapid had
been their advance that our boys
trapped him and his staff in a post Of
command, snug in quarry. He was
brought in by private from st. Louis,
who exclaimed to all as he passed by:
Look at me. I'm a big guy, bringing
in COLONEL"
The Bavaran colonel raised cain.
He ought only to be prisoner to an
officer of his own rank. He demand
ed to be taken TO hotel. While he
was still scolding for a room with
bath, the spassmacher. currying favor
with the Americans, said: There goes