Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-06
FIGHTING NEARLY
ALL UNDERGROUND
British Press Bureau Issues State
ment from Nan Who Visited
Trenches in Belgium.
TUNNEL TO ENEMY's WORKS
Battle with Hand Grensaes and
Bayonets Then Takes Place
~ short RanEe-soidiers
Living In Caves.

LONDON. Dec. 1.-The press bureau
today issued a report from an eve wit
ness at the front covering military opera
tons during the three days from Novem-
her Is 20 p. inclusive. This report is
summarized as follows:
General inactivity IL recorded along
the English front. with the Germans
pressing the attack in one quarter against
the Indian troops. who have been ex-
tending their trenches In en- endeavor to
get in close quarters with the enemy.
There has been some Smelling Of the rear
Of our front line south OF the Lys. but
this form 81 annoyance diniinishes daily
along the whole front Shipping. however
Is carried on almost necessarily. There
seems 10 be little doubt that the Germans
are employing civilians. either willingly
or unwilllngly. 20 dig trenches. Some
civilians have been seen and shot while
engaged in this work.
German Prisoners gloomy.
While "a Is necessary 10 accept the evi.
dence OF all prisoners with caution. there
Is change in the views expressed by
some officers captured recently. which APP
pears TO be genuine. They admit the
failure of the German strategy. and pro-
fess 10 take a gloomy View OF the future.
At the same time IL must be confessed
that as yet there h no sign that their
View is that generally held by the enemy,
nor has there been any definite indication
Of a lack Of morale among the German
troops
The highways OF northern France are
crowded with men responding TO the
vcrous mobilization orders Issued by the
French government. Thousands OF such
troops were encountered IN the course OF
short automobile trip. The strange pro-
cess.on includes a curious mixture OF
types. considerable proportion OF these
new drafts are composed OF mlddie-aged
men Of good physique and likely young
men from tho countryside.
Fighting az Close Range.
The change within the last few days of
what may be termed the atmosphere OF
the battlefield has been marked. Tho
noise OF cannonading has now decreased
TO such an extent that for hours at time
nothing Is head but the infrequent boom
OF one OF the heavy guns Of the allies. the |
occasional rattle OF machine guns and the I
Intermittent fire OF snipers on either side. /
SO far as the use Of explosives Ia con-
cerned. the greatest activity Ia found In |
local attacks with hand grenades and |
short range howitzers. The enemy has /
practicaily ceased his attempts to break /
ttleugh the line by assaults and is now |
dwelling his energies to the same type OF |
siege operations which have been familiar |
10 the allies since the beginning OF the !
battle Of the Aisne.
Men Live Underground.
Subterranean life Is the general rule in /
the neiehporhood OF the firing line Even |
those men not actually engaged In fight |
Ing live in underground quarters Some /
81 these quarters. called funk holes" are
quite elaborate and comfortable and con-
lain many conveniences not found In the
trenches on the firing line
They ccmmunicato with the firing limo
~ zie-Eag approach trenches. which make
,nfliading impossible. Attacks are made
"a the firing line BY blinded saps. which
re constructed by special earth borer
When this secret tunnel reaches the en-
smys trenches. an assault IL delivered |,
amid shower Of hand grenades. The
,toTfnors endeavor TO burst their way \
through the opening and then try TO work H