El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-14
BRITISH USE
DUMMY TRENCH.
FOOL GERMANS
Lead Enemy to Think Army
Is in the Trenches and
Attack Follows.
TAKE DELIGHT IN
ANNOYING GERMANS

ONDON, Eng, Nov. 14.-Modern
fighting strategy, at first rather
~ HELPLESS before the aerial and ar
tillery factors, is beginning to adapt
irself to the new conditions and along
the Great battle front many fertile
brains have been busy devising schemes
70 meet these problems. Probably the
most useful work Of the aeroplane has
been the location of positions and con-
saouent direction of artillery fire often
resulting in terrible losses to the at
tackled army.
According to distinguished London
surgeon, now serving as volunteer IN
fine army medical corps, the British
troops have become adopts at building
dummy trenches to attract the enemy
fire These trenches are thrown up
with great fidelity ana dummy figures
and guns are left in them patiently
awaiting the German aeroplane scouts.
Relieving he has discovered a new pO-
sition the aviator signals to the nearest
German battery, and storm OF shellS
fall upon the. unOccupied trenches. 1t
is usually only after a great waste OF
valuable ammunition that the Trick IS
discovered.
Fool Them With HeIiOgrnph.
Another favorite device is the inven-
a
heliOgraph can be operated at dis
lance of two miles by means of tele-
graph wire. This Photograph begins
to send out messages purporung to
emanate from headquarters staff and
believing they have located the brains
of the British army the German artil-
lery devotes its attention to the spot
marked by the flashes from the hello
ghaph. Sometimes the Photograph Isl
destroyed. but usually the operator
Il. Ffr.n nen ca.
heavy that no staff in its senses would
remain in the vicinity new appara-
tus is set up in some position where the
staff would be likely to remove should
it be driven from the first selected
place.
Keeps the Enemy Awake.
Along the front where the opposing
trenches are within a few hundred
yards of each other the allies have de-
vised a system of tormenting the enemy
by keeping them awake at night. Reg
ular skirmish details are selected each
night and in a thin skirmish line they
advance as close as possible and pour
in a rafting fire. The response is al
most instant and in such volume as to
indicate that the Germans believe a
general attack is beginning. Several
times during the night these tactics are
repeated.
The surgeon who has just returned
from the front reports that contrary to
the usual belief the trenches are not
very wet. but he believes that with
the coming OF the heavy winter rains
conditions along the Aisne will become
terrible. The tension is already so
great that many have reached the snap
ping point until the insane ward at
Netley is filled with officers and SOL
diers who have lost their reason when
disease is added TO the terror OF bat
tie
One Of the optimistic features Of the
situation In -
transport of the wounded from the bat
tie front to hospitals in England Two
weeks ago it often took as long as
three weeks to get the wounded from
the scene of fighting to SOUTHAMPTON
and now the same trip is made in from
three TO four days. This speeding up
has resulted in a great acceleration In
the recovery of the dangerously
wounded, for they reach the hospitaIs-
within the period Of infection. -