Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-25

In fact, it is quite impossible to de-
scribe them so as to give you an idea
of the conditions which exist out
yonder. Most of the roads in Flanders
| are what are called pave, that is. they
consist of small cobble stones in the
| center, and on each side just the plain
macadam. which is now a sea of mud
| anything up to two three feet in
! depth.
! THE pave has been considerably
| knocked to pieces, not only by the
| heavy traffic of the motor wagons, but
also by the shell fire. Perhaps the best
| way to describe it is to say that it is
| like riding on the top of a drain pipe.
| and the whole of the time sllidding
| from one side to the other. 1t is ex-
cellent training for reliability trials.
dispatch riders have perhaps the
most unique and fascinating work at
the front. At the present moment !
know the whereabouts of practically
every regiment we have at the front l
know the shortest cuts to them: and,
in addition to this. at one time and
another, / have seen every department
of the British army a t work.
Hunting the Artillery.
Some days am sent with dispatches
to deliver to the artillery, and this is
one of the journeys which is most
act whereabouts of our batteries, you
would pass them by on the road. To
protect them from being seen from
above by the enemies aeroplanes, the
guns are covered by trees, and in the
distance look more like an old hedge
or a haystack. 1t may be that the
artillery are to shell the German posi-
ton some half a dozen miles away.
First of all aviators are dispatched
to ascertain the exact position of the
enemy. 1t is thrilling to see the bravery
of our aviatorS, especially when high
up in the air, their machines rocking
with the explosions of shrapnel On
their return, having made their report
to their commander, l am probably dis
patched to the artillery unit with full
particulars of the range. and told to
remain with the artillery in case they
should wish to communicate with the
aviation division or the headquarters.
Having reported myself to the officer
in command, I may have to stand a
couple of hours, or the whole day.
watching the artillery at work. Our
artillery officers always treat US very
well, and insist upon taking us to their
mess when we arrive.
Riding at Night Dangerous.
Dispatch riding at night is very
dangerous. because of the large num-
Der of sentries on the roads. You don't
always see them until you are stopped
by a man with a rifle pointed at your
head. They examine your papers, and
this might happen dozens of times in a
mile, SO you have no time to think of
anything but the job you are on. 1t
is difficult to pass the Indian sentries.
They never smile. and as you are quite
unable to understand their language,
you do not know whether they are
satisfied or not.
When you pass a French sentry ne
cries OUT 'Vivi rAngleterre" and i'm
mediately wants to make fuss of
you, which at times Is disconcerting.
Every time you bring dispatch to the
French army they insist upon feeding
you with coffee and rolls. and after
about half dozen journeys day one
has had quite sufficient coffee and rolls
to do one any good.
I'm conclusion, l thing things out
there are going very well, but not for
the Germans / would not like to
prophesy when the war will finish, as
can see no diminution in the strength
of the Germans, nor in their ammuni-
ton or equipment; but when spring
comes things will begin to hustle and
we will be able to make considerable
progress. We could advance any day
now but for the difficulties of feeding
and supplying the army. owing to the
awful condition of the roads"