The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-04
THEIR HARDEST CAMPAIGN.
The British Army's Worst Experience
Was in the Crimca-

The British Army's Worst Experience
Was in the Crimca-
"In the early part of the winter the
battalions in the front were generally
on duty two nights out of three, and
later every alternate night. The life
of the rank and file was thus spent.
The men were mustered carrying great
coat and blanket, just before dusk, and
marched through a sea of mud into the
trenches. These were cut up by deep
holes from which powders and stones
had been taken. and into these holes on
dark nights the men often fell. When
the soldier reached his position he had
to sit with his back to the parapet and
his feet drawn close up under his body
20 allow others to pass along the four
foot wide trench. If he was not de-
tailed for a working party, nor for
picket in the trenches or in advance
of them, he might lie down, resting as
best he could in n wet ditch
The relief of the sentries could snatch
q dogs sleep for four hours out of six,
hoping their comrades would, by re-
manning on the alert, give them time to
jump up ere the enemy was on them;
but for the two hours that each man
was out near the enemy the strain on
the nervous system would have been
great even 10 robust, well-fed man.
These sentries had necessarily 10 stand
absolutely still, silent and watchfn,
and as the severity of the winter be-
came more and more marked, num-
bers OF men whose frames were weak
ened by want of adequate nutritious
food were found IN the morning frost
bitten and unable to move.
'One battalion which landed nearly
900 strong early in November was actu-
ally in the trenches six nights out OF
seven, and then became so reduced, not
only in numbers, but also in the mems
bodily strength, that il was unable for
some time TO go there again.
When the soldier got back to camp he
used To lie often in puddle which
chilled his bones. under a worn-out
tent, through which the rain beat The
less robust would fall asleep, complete
" worn out, TO awake shivering. and
pital tent, scarcely more comfortable
than the tent which they had left, and
thence TO q grave in two or three days
Those who were stronger went out 10
collect roots of brushwood, or OF vines,
and roasted the green coffee ration
in the tin of the canteen. afterwsrd,
as already described. pounding it in Z
II 1. l..
boiled IL for use. Others, unequal 10
this laborious process, would drink
their rum, and, eating piece Of bis
cult, lie down again in the great coat
and blanket which they had brought,
often wet through, from the trenches
I'm the afternoon the soldier was
sent on fatigue duty from five 20
seven miles, according 10 the position
Of his camp. usually 20 Balaklava, 20
bring up rstioHs, On his return he bad
again TO gather fuel. in order 70 boil
the salt beef or salt pork III his mes
tin. which DID not hold water enough
10 abstract the salt. \ portion Of the
meat. therefore. only Wa consumed.
and il was necessary from tiTne 20 tins
10 tell CT men 20 bury the quantities
thrown away. Salt pork. which WA
issued two DAYS out OF seven. was fro
quently eaten BIZ tho men In fts raw
state from the difficulties Of finding
fuel 20 cook n.
shorty before dark the soldier
either marched back 20 the trenches or
laid down 20 sleep IL he was not On
picket IN front OF tho camp. Many /
Inen, dzlfling 70 report themselves /
sick. we're carried hack from the 4
trenches IN the morning, and died
few hours af-e-wor-i- Those who re- !
ported sick were taken 90 ne hospital. /!
~ many cases merely bell tent. here I
the men lay. ofter Ia mud. On tbe
ground. and IN many instances their
Diet was ONLY ralt meat and biscuit
They were, moreover, 50 crowded to-
getheT that the dociorx could scarcely 4
pass between tire 'pstscnts. A. sc had
10 anbu!anees, and th> French could
not always lerd as uuie-iitfer tran
sport. many were Decesszr5ly ca-xrbed
on casalry horses. which slipping on
The hill outside % Balaklsva, often
caused further injury or the death q
the patient
~On more than ore OCCASION, a. Wa
r~turuinz from T.aiatizvs. I ne; a
Far-v a SEX. mainly fro@f-bltsea, nd
ing cavalry hoFs.as. the iruopers lad
inr ihern and holding ths n5eu On. bus
tbe ground was often covered with
SHOW sud YER slippery. and on TIE h5iI
above kafikoi I enc. $50 every NAB
dashed 20 lie ground from the hor~es
SLIPPING ard falling On The hillside.
Later lie Eick who were gaaa.e - LaIa