Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-23

| quiet day. Nothing occurred except
the Smelling of our right. The enemy
contented himself with sapping. it is
stated. Owing to the high tide, the
inundation was extending to south
east of Dixmude.
Thursday, the 10Th, also was un-
eventful. Our trench mortars were
used for the first time with good re-
suits. The successful resistance we
have up TO the present time made to
all the efforts of the enemy has had
very encouraging effect, in spite of
the exhausting nature of the opera
tons in the past month Our men
show great enterprise in making local
counter attacks in cutting off the enc
mys patrols, and in similar affairs of
outposts.
Gruesome Evidence
Around Ypres we continually are
finding fresh evidence of the slaugh-
ter inflicted upon the enemy. On the
18th one of our battalions, while ad-
vancing, discovered a German trench
manned by II corpses, while there
were 49 more in hut close by. On the
next day a patrol discovered 60 dead
in front of one trench and so more in
another opposite.
According to prisoners the German
attempt to take Ypres proved costly.
One stated that there were only 10
survivors out of his platoon, which
went into action so strong. Another
reported that of $50 men who ad-
vanced with him, only 10 returned. 1t
is believed that one BARBARIAN regi-
nent 5000 strong, which left Bavaria
for the front on Oct. 10, had only 1900
men left when an attack was made
along the Menin-Y pres road ON Nov
IA. in which it again suffered severely.
The plight Of some units of new for
nations is even worse, one regiment
of the Third Reserve Corps having 600
men out of 5000.
Friehtful Losses
IF the period since the beginning of
the war is considered, the numbers
are even greater. For instance. of the
18th corps, one regiment lost go officers
and $3.50 men. Another lost 5000 men,
These figures include casualties of ev-
cry kind--killed, wounded and missing
on all for days the weather has
been bad. Generally fine and frosty in
the early morning, it turned to heavy
rain as the day wore on. Thursday
snow started to fall abot 1 P. NJ. and
continued until about o'clock. 1t fell
in large soft flakes which covered the
ground for two inches and melted un-
der foot. The state of roads already
bad was rendered worse.
1.-THE condition of the trenches be-
came wretched beyond description.
From having to sit or stand in mix
ture of straw and liquid mud, the men
had to contend with half frozen
slush It is an i'll wind however, and
one point about the weather is that
1t made the grounds so soft the enc
my's howitzer shells sink some depth
before they detonate and expend
great part of their energy in an up
ward direction, throwing the mud
about
Nevertheless, the wet and cold have
added greatly to the hardships of the
troops in the trenches and the prob
lem how to enable them to keep their
feet reasonably dry and warm now is
engaging earnest attention.
Through the courtesy of the pro-
prietor of one large factory who turn
ed the plant over to the use of the
army our men enjoy the privilege of
a bath. The buildings contain sew
eral large watts which accommodate
several men at a time.
While the men are enjoying their
bath, their clothes are taken away,
their underclothing washed or burned
and replaced by new set. At the
same time their uniforms are fumi-
gated, cleaned and repaired and but
tons sewed on. The repairs are done
by gang of women, who are employ
ed for the purpose BY this installa-
ton some 1900 men are catered to-"
JOtIRNAJ WANT An0