SMILING AT DEATH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2311, 19 November 1914, Page 5

SMILING AT DEATH

Whatever may bo the case with th& Germans and their war lord, it is obvious that our British troops have nob lost their sensj of -humour, states an Engl jsh correspondent. That notion of classifying the big German shells as "Jack Johnsons" because of their distiuguisked quality of blackness is; humour of tho big elemental kind. It has a family likeness to the sin of disrespect to the equator, a-' sin dearly beloved of Englishmen. But of all stories which! war lias so far produced tho one which will provoke the greatest joy in British lines is tho repdrb that a German aeroplane scout happening upon proceedings with a football solemnly reported that the British soldiers were completely disorganised and running about,in a state of demoralisation. ,Wβ can imagine that in future Private John Doe will invite Private, Thomas Roe to como antf "have a bit of demoralisation" instead of "a kick up." . When the complete history of the campaign can be written there will surely be some fascinating chapters of purely human interest, and they will show how men can go arm-in-arm with Death as with a. boon companion, inviting him to smile at this and that.. ■