The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-21
By e. SWING.

With Right wing Oh lue Ieiuadu
Army in France.-Ffve miles ahead
are the trenches, 200 yards apart,
where the British and German troops
are taking their heroic parts in this
bloodiest and hardest fought battle OF
modern times. Occasional explosions
from big guns can be plainly heard.
1 have just returned from an auto
mobile ride which brought me near
enough to the firing line to see shells
exploding on the horizon. First there
would be a great flash lighting up the
evening sky, followed by a ~thunderous
discharge. I was not allowed to drive
nearer.
British Behind Rock Defenses.
The positions on both sides are ex'
cellent. The British troops at this
point are mainly behind rock defenses'
but the Germans have worked their
way 80 close up that accurate fire on
10th sides means death to the soldier
who carelessly protrudes his head.
One of the diversions of the Germans
is to put a cap on a rife, hoist 1t above
the trenches and draw the immediate
and unerring fire Of the opponents.
The soldiers in the trenches for
days and nights have had a terrible
experience. Recently they were lying
in water under the exploding shrapnel
and receiving food only at night, when
black bread, wine and sometimes soup
were passed to them under cover OF
the darkness! On the German side for
many days the wounded lay in the
trenches until night before they could
be removed.
Now the weather has improved and
conditions are better. About three
miles behind the trenches artillery is
stationed, dropping shells and shrap-
mel upon the trenches and the gun po-
sitions Of the opponents.
Flashlights Reveal Foe.
My impression is that such fighting
a continue unremittingly and that
here at least the Germans will per-
haps only attempt to hold the lines
while some other portion OF the Ger
man army breaks through, either on
the far right wing or at Verdun. The
British troops made several attempts
at night charges two nights ago. They
left their trenches and advanced on
the German positions, but the move
ment was suddenly revealed by a
German fashlight, machine guns were
quickly brought into position and an
entire regiment Of Englishmen was
moved down by the deadly fire.
For two days I have been a guest OF
the general commanding this corps,
who has his quarters in a beautiful
French chateau. 1t is ideally situated
in large grounds, richly provided with
game, which the staff officers have
hunted these last few days during a
slight pause in the fighting at the
front. Before the castle are artificial
lakes, the grounds giving the impress
sion of a small Versailles.
Interested In u. s. Attitude.
I was welcomed warmly by the off,
GERS, all Of whom were interested in
learning the attitude Of the United
States. The impression prevailed
among them that the American gov
eminent had assumed a p~rotectorate
over German interests in China.
We dined together in the great sa-
lon, the walls Of which were hung
p~rofusely with valuable oil paintings.
The menu was none too diverse, but
/. 1t was plentiful, with wines In abun-
dance l sat beside the city comman-
dant, who told me Of the situation in
the city.
The castle itself is filed with costly
treasures. There is gan especially
beautiful coin collection and there are
also old engravings of priceless value.
The chateau was crowded with Off
GERS. l had lodgings In the library,
sleeping on a mattress OF the floor be-
fore a cheerful fireplace in a room the
antique furniture Of which would make
any connoisseur envious.
In the front hall, Of the chateau is
q telephone switchboard, where two
soldiers sit with receivers at their
ears, making notes OF reports from
the firing line.
Outside Is a scene Of ceaseless &C
tivity. Every moment automobiles
drive up the wide roadways, officers
dismount, answer the salutes of the
orderlies, 60 inside, emerge again,
hastily take their places in the auto
mobiles and drive away quickly.
Horsemen in small detachments
come and 60 and soldiers on bicycles
or on foot are in constant circulation
from early in the morning till late at
night. One never forgets that this Is
one of the brain centers Of the battle
going on five miles ahead.
Tobacco Delights Fighters.
There was especial delight over the
arrival a short time ago Of a dozen
automobiles heavily laden with gifts
for the soldiers, such as tobacco,
newspapers, warm clothing, chocolate
and little luxuries Of all sorts. What
delighted the soldiers most was the
arrival of the tobacco, for the supply
was long ago exhausted and cigars