"The Germans are full of resources," writes an English
correspondent, "and it is one of their favorite plans to lure the
allied troops on to attack them by various devices, of which an
indicated intention of surrendering is the most common. If this
deception is successful, a skilfully concealed machine gun turns a
murderous fire upon those who have advanced either to attack or to
accept surrender.
"The audacity of the enemy cannot better be illustrated than by
a well-authenticated statement of what took place last night in
a trench held by a Gurkha regiment. A figure, silhouetted by the
moonlight and wearing a complete Gurkha uniform, approached the end
of the trench and delivered the message.
"'The Gurkhas are to move further up the trench; another Gurkha
contingent is advancing in support.'
"Puzzled by this announcement, the officer in command replied, 'Who
are you? Where do you come from?' to which the only answer was,
'You are to move up and make room for other Gurkhas.'
"The English was good, but something excited the officer's
suspicions.
"'Answer, and answer quickly,' he said; 'if you are a Gurkha, by
what boat did you cross?'
"This question, under the circumstances, was no easy one to answer,
and the German (for such he was) turned and fled, but he had not
gone five yards before he fell, riddled with bullets.
"If the officer had been deceived the trench, of course, would have
swarmed with Germans almost before the Gurkhas had made room for
them."