Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 306, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1914 — SEIZED A GERMAN MEAL [ARTICLE]

SEIZED A GERMAN MEAL

Incidents of soldier life in the fighting zone are read eagerly in London. How a small party of British cavalry cheated some Germans of their supper is told in the following words: "A small party were out on reconnoissance work, scouring woods and searching the countryside. Just about dusk a hail of bullets came upon our party from a small spinney of fir trees on the side of a hill. We instantly Wheeled off as if we were retreating, but, in fact, we merely pretended to retire and galloped around across plowed land to the other side of the spinney, fired on the men and they mounted their horses and flew like lightning out of their 'supper room,’ leaving a finely cooked repast of beefsteak, onions and fried potar toes all jready and done to a ; turn with about fifty bottles of lager beer, which was an acceptable relish to our meat Ten of our men gave chase and returned for an excellent feed.” The same writer gives an account of a speech

of an old French squire, a retired general, who entertained the troops at his house. He says: “The old gentleman’s two daughters helped to wait on the men, and after the meal was over the general said: “ ‘My dear comrades, let me so call you. It is an old soldier who fought against Prussia fortyfour years ago. I was then a captain of cuirassiers—who welcomes you to his house with a heart full of emotion and in a voice trembling with sympathy and thick with tears. You honor me by this visit. In the midst of all your trials and privations you have a soldier s heart and Courage and cheerfulness. By your wounds I know your sufferings. You see me old, but I am active and glad to be honored by your sharing such as I can offer you. France can never repay the debt she owes to England for giving tcrus her best and bravest sons. My father was killed in the war of 1870 at the battle of Sedan.* “It was a* picture to see the grand old veteran, with faltering voice, strike the men’s hearts by the first phrase, ‘My dear comrades,* but when he raised his glass and gave ‘The king and queen of England* the men stood up and tears chased each other down their cheeks. Then the parish priest said a few kind words of welcome and invited the party to attend benediction in the little church which adjoins the park of the general. This was a happy thought, for Protestants, Episcopalians and Presbyterians joined with Catholics ip a solemn service of devotion undei* circumstances which show how easily, under stress of trial and adversity, the barriers of class and creed fall down.”