El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-31
FRENCH PREFER
NIGHT TTACK5
Infantry Charges Begin as
Artillery Fire Ceases
at Nightfall

Mount Saint Eloi, Department of Pas
de calais, France, Dec. 31.-Night at
lacks have become the sole method of
making an advance in this under
ground war. as all attempts to assault
the positions in the daF time fail he
fire.
When night falls the artillery usual
ly ceases fire and all becomes moD1en-
tarlly silent Then begins the task Of
renewing the men in the dugouts
companies and battalions which are
able to take turn on the firing line
WarlIy approach the serpentine par
allels leading to the advanced trenches.
Leave, Covered With Mud.
me 1irst platoon advances and
makes its way through the zigzag
sunken path to trench out Of which
the soldiers, who have been therein in
most cases As hours. pour covered with
mud from head to foot.
shortly after the operation of relief
mas been completed. the new occupants
Of the trenches. who have been re-
Iieshed by a rest in the rear, start
movement.
Scouts ReconnOIter.
"A scouting party, generally composed
OF flve or six volunteers. leaves the
trenches to reconnoiter.
Each man is armed with a revolver
and rifle, bayonet and a pair of
shears. Creeping flat. thew nroceed in
direct line towards the German
trenches, their movements being as
slow and as silent as possible, because
the slightest noise brings forth a fusiI-
lade of bullets.
Make Wills Before Starting.
The men make their wills and hand
them to their comrades before starting
on the exploit as it is likely that some
Of the soldiers will never return.
scouts OFTEN succeed in evading the
German sentinels and cut the wire en-
tanglements in front of the German
trenches, thus preparing the way for
general attack before dawn. Those left
or them who return to the allies
trenches make a report Of the result of
their operations. Then a widespread
command passes along and a company
Chambers out and makes its way
crouchingly in advance. If the
company reaches the vicinity of the
German position without discovery and
before the opposing machine guns can
be brought into play. the men leap into
ana capture the trench at the point Of
the bayonet.
Throw Up EarthwOrks.
When prisoners are taken bv the
French they are grouped under a guard
at one end Of the trench, while half of
the attacking force, with entrenchinE
tools, hurriedly builds up an earthen
shelter at the rear of the captured
trench and consolidates the position
against possible counter attack. The
other half of the force opens fire on
the Germans in the next line of
trenches A gain of sometimes so and
sometimes 100 yards is made in this
way during the night
Become Calm in Attack
Houng soldiers going for the first
time into the trenches declare that the
work Is extremely enervating. but they
soon become accustomed to their sur
roundings. Their excitement when
leaving the trenches to attack the Ger
mans soon resolves itself, they say. into
a peculiar calmness. Each soldier,
When he sees his opponents. appears
to select the man who apparebtIv is
directly for him with a weap-
on. He takes steady aim with his
rifle and if he misses he dashes for
ward and engages his man in personal
combat