Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-12-17
Life In The Trenches.

siege rather than battle; it resembled
the operations round Richmond or Vicks-
burg rather than the engagements at Get
tysburg or Antietam. For weeks and
even months the soldiers OF both armies
lived in the cleverly constructed trenches
they had dug among the hills and stone
quarries. Here is a graphic picture OF the
lite they led there, taken from an English
officers letter in the London Times:
Ten days ago we had arrived within
sound OF the firing, and were about to
take our places in the trenches. That
night we marched seven miles through
the mud over roads that had been soaked
by four days rain and torn by ceaseleSs
traffic. The sound Of guns and rifles
grew louder as we approached the from t
and dead horses marked the passage OF
the armies. We crossed the river Aisne,
and halted near the village beneath the
heights. ;. The brigade split into regi-
ments, and ours went off up the hill,
slippery with mud, TO the trenches. We
relieved company OF lrishmen, almost
incoherent in their speech from their long
ordeal, who had begun with the retreat
from Mons, and had been fighting with
out ceasing ever since Many had been
killed, but with their weakened numbers
they had taken these heights, and clung
TO them until our arrival.
We posted sentries. and the company
took up its allotted line, finding cover be-
hind the embankment OF a quarry. The
next day food arrived; we cooked our
timed beef and boiled tea, cleaned our
rifles, and began to feel more at home.
Then we started TO dig. No one knew
how long we should stay, but the cover
was bad, and gave no protection from the
enemy's guns. And this we learned to
our cost, for soon we had our first lesson
about shrapnel. Our own artillery open
ed fire, and the shells passed over our
heads into the enemy's lines. Then they
replied, first at our guns, and then at the.
trenches. Bang Smash and shower
of pellets and earth, that was all. A hor-
rid, unpleasant sound, typical OF deStruc-
ton. Yet, if men will remain under COW
er, no harm can befall. But they won't.
Nothing on earth will prevent the British
soldier from lighting a fire to cook his
tea, or from going round to borrow a
light for his cigarette. Then the shrapne
catches him. II is not bravery or any
other virtue. II is just his cheerful habit.
Some men must 60 out, of course, on
duty, and so there have been the casual
ties that you see in the papers. But,
with care, these losses should be slight
while we remain in the trenches. And
we begin 10 think we shall be there for
ever.
Ten daysl Aeroplanes watching us,
and shells flying overhead by day, alarms
and rifle fire by night. We live the life
of rabbit-digging ourselves deeper and
deeper into the earth, until we are COM
pletely sheltered from above, coming out
now and then, when things are quiet, to
cook and eat, making any moves that
may be necessary under cover OF dark
ness. Ammunition, food and drinking
water are brought in by night the wound
ed are sent away to the hospital. We
do not wash, we do not change our
clothes; we sleep at odd intervals when
ever we can get the chance, and daily we
| get more accustomed TO our lot. Little
holes dug beneath the parapet just big
enough TO sit in are our homes, with
straw and perhaps sack or two for
warmth. The cold is intense at night,
and those good ladies who have made us
woolen caps and comforters have earned
our thanks. The coldest moments are
those when there is an alarm of night
attack, and we spring from our sleep TO
stand shivering behind the parapet, peer
ing over the wall to see our enemies,
and firing at the flashes OF their rifles.