"They came on in skulking manner and some of them threw down their rifles. In every way they showed they were giving themselves up as prisoners. The 'Cobblers' were priding themselves on the capture and the officer said, 'We have a haul here,' as they got near the trench. When they were three or four yards away they poured a murderous fire at the poor fellows. They had not a dog's chance and nearly all were knocked over. The devils then tried to get back and ran for their lives, but our battalion was soon after them. Before they got many yards a machine gun ripped them up and scores of them rolled over. Some of them got away, but our battalion got them in the rear. Our lads were simply furious at such treachery. "I had a narrow shave as I fell over one of their wounded, and before I could get up again a bullet whizzed through the sleeve of my coat, but he who fired was shot through the head the next second. Some of the German officers are low bred. They are not like ours--gentlemen--and when they get a chance they gorge themselves and get mad drunk, so what can you expect from their men? I have spoken to several prisoners--one seemed a decent chap and spoke English well, having worked in London--and they admit it. The one who spoke English was a sergeant and he said his officers were perfectly mad because they were unable to get into Paris." HOW HE WON THE V. C. The story of how the first recommendation for the Victoria Cross was won in the present war is told in two letters. The first is from the hero himself, an English soldier named Dobson, to his wife in North Shields. He says very modestly: "You will know by the time you receive this letter that I have been recommended for the Victoria Cross, an honor I never thought would come my way. I only took my chance and did my duty to save my comrades. It was really nothing." The second letter is by Lady Mildred Follet, whose husband commands the company to which Dobson belongs, and is addressed to Mrs. Dobson. It reads: "You will be glad to know that your husband is very well and has behaved with very great gallantry. Capt. Follet says: 'A thick fog came down, so I sent three men out 100 yards to our front to give warning of an attack by the enemy. After they had been there an hour the fog suddenly lifted and they were fired on at close range. One man was killed, one badly wounded and one crawled back. I didn't know how to get the wounded man back, so I called for a volunteer, and Reservist Dobson at once responded and went out to fetch him. He was heavily fired at but not hit.'" * * * * * The Big Furor in books on the subject of war has been created by GERMANY AND THE NEXT WAR BY GENERAL F. VON BERNHARDI