A MIDNIGHT BURIAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 13 July 1915, Page 2

A MIDNIGHT BURIAL

The body of a dead German l lying midway between Freneh and German trenches, about 30 yards apart, was the indirect cause of 40 Germans surrendering, says the Paris corx-esponderit of the "Express." The body had been lying there for some days, and finally three French soldiers made up their minds to creep out on. the first dark night arid bury it. They had not proceeded far before, the snipers became busy.; they had to hurry back., One of the three scribbled a note on a- piece of paper, rolled: it round a stone, and threw if into the German trench.' It was .a. request tha.t the Germans-should either bury the man themselves, or else allow the French to dp it. A little later a stone fell in the French lines. It cariied the reply, "If that is all you want, we will come and help you." There was a pause, and then a Frenchman came, out, unai'med; then came a German, then another Frenchman, until eventually there were 10 French and 10 Germans digging a grave. No one spoke a word. The -work was just finished when a shell from a "seventy-five" burst about 50 yards away. An artillery observer had noticed a. group of men, and, suspecting a surprise attack, had wax-ned his battery. As • the shell burst there was a wild scamper. A German non-commis-sioned officer and a private became confused, and befox-e they, realised where they were they found themselves on the bx'ink of. the French trench, whex-e willing "hands pulled them. in. They took kindly to their position, and when the" non-com. said he would like to go back and' fetch some of his friends, -the French decided to see if a German could keep his vvord'. The man- was gojie two hours, and the Frenchmen- were just becoming annoyed with themselves "for losing- a prisoner when two figui'es were seen ci'awling towards the trench. Two others followed, and two by two they came, until 40 had suri*endered'. :