CLOSING SCENES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1919, Page 7

CLOSING SCENES.

YANKEES AND HU2S& ,

FKATEKNSATION AT THE- FRONT.

(Auckland Star Correspondent.) San Francisco,Dec.s,

The closing scenes of hostilities on the warfront were aptly described By a New York writer, who says that when dawn earn® on that memorable Monday morning of November 11, there was no hint of the cessation of hostilities. East of thcs Meuss, regardless of the situation, the American 2nd Army attacked in' force at S o'clock. The onslaught was preceded by a tremendous barrage, which was returned in kind by the enemy- hours the Americans swept forward, hurTing themselves against the wire entanglements. The German gunfire was devastating. Then, exactly one minute to 11, like a final thunder crash at the clearing of a storm, the guns on both sides abruptly ceased. The silence was more startling than the deafening roar o? tlie barrage. For a brief minute intermittent rifle fira followed. then came a pause, punctuated by ripping cbsera Trora the trenches on both sides of the line.

What followed on one setter was perhaps one of the most spectacular events of the war. Against the skyline figures were suddenly silhouetted. They appeared cautiously at first, but soon ; growing bolder all along the line, they stood upright. These were Germans.

SPRANG FROM TRENCHES. The Americans were not so cautiousAs the barrage died, ending in a final husky rumbled distance from the big guns, TunnneM went springing along the fire-Jine. Instantly comprehending, the whole line- of- Doughboys leaped from, trenches, fox-holes, and shellcraters, splitting the unaccustomed silence with a shrill cheer. The roar of voices wa» tike an outburst at some college contest in America •when a contestant scores * classie play, strange to relate, the defeated enemy joined vociferously in the cheering as the world-war was finished.

At one minute before eleven it would have meant instant death to show oneself above shelter. Not more than a minute after the hour the rolling plain was alive with cheering, shouting men, friend and enemy alike. Not many minutes later Germans aud Americans were coming along the narrow stretch of ground so fiercely fought over, some shyly and awkwardly, like embarrassed schoolboys. •

The first advances were followed by offers from the Americans of cigarettes, chocolates, and chewing gum, The Germans in some places reciprocated with offers,6f hot coffee, bread, and eauMge. MANY SPOKE GERMAN.

The "order forbidding fraternising wa» strict, but the novelty of tlie situation at times overcame prudence, and Doughboys surreptitiously Visited dugouts. Along the 'barbed wire ftt the road crossing, some Doughboys and Germans began a brisk barter of souvenirs. The Germans were bewildered by the number of Americans speaking German'. "Sure, my old man was born in Germany," laughingly remarked one stalwart private. "That's nothing," said another, "my mother and father were both born there." A middle-aged land.sturmer exclaimed: "Yes, the weir is finished, thank the good God. My only wish is td get back to, Germany."

A slender, pink-cheeked machinegunner said: "Yes, 1 know the Kaiser has abdicated." Instantly a young aristocrat raised his voice: "There wiJl be no revolution in Germany; a new Emperor will succeed." NIGHT UPROARIOUS.

Ail uproar immediately arose. The speaker was drowned out by protesting voices. Then the Germans began offering the Americans such news and gossip as they knew. The approach of an officer broke up the cdhversatious. The Germans celebrated, peace along the lines by firing flares, rockets, and signal lights. The night was uproarious I with cheering, but the victors took it jmore calmly. Along the front the ' ma* jority of them took a good night's sleep. 'Behind the lines, in towns brilliantly lighted it>r the first time in four years, French, British, and Americans were parading the streets arm in arm, singing lustily.