The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-09
Frederick Palmer Tells What the British Troops Are Doing in Their Trenches at the Front
1 GERMAN LINE Is BUT
 250 YARDS AWAY AND THE FIRE INCESSANT
Troops Keep Remarkably Clean for Muddy Sur rOundings and All Are Hardened to Fear
Ky FREDERIcK PALMER


 British Headquarters in France. March S.-(Via London, S:05 D. m.) "There you are, and keep your head down! It is fair target at that dis tance." said the officer who had come out of the shelter to meet the news paper correspondents who were be- ing permitted to visit the trenches.
 The correspondents were in the de- lenses at the edge of grove, called the Ploegsteert woods The British had fought fiercely for possession of this grove for it meant cover for them. Occasionally bullets whistled overhead and the swish of German shells which were being fired at some thing at the rear passed higher up, while a hidden British battery was sending it's shells in the opposite fi- rection.
 At intervals in the defenses men were waiting with rifles laid to plug any moving thing that looked like q "Gerboy."
 "If Gerboy helmet appears, can you put a hole through it?" was asked of one of the riflemen.
 ''It looks so They don't put them up very often. sir was the answer.
 Two hundred and fifty yards away was a wall of sandbags. The bare field between the two lines was as lifelesa as desert and for all one could sec the German breastworlS was not oc- cupied by single human being.
 In Same Position For three months the trenches nave remained in the same position and never in all that time here as else- where along the line but someone Is on the lookout and the reserves are ready for an attack.
 At night German patrols creep ont to see if the British are up to anything new and the British do likewise to as certain if the Germans are. And some times some of the men are killed.
 Those who are not on watch arc lounging on beds of straw under the timber roofs. To the rear there arc many more shelters, where officers and men are quartered. One old South Af- rican veteran was planting primroses on the earth roof of his house. Tt is getting primrose time at home In Eng land" he said
 Except for the thresh of shells and the bangs of the guns the sccne is peaceful. When the Germans cut loose with some thrills of the rapid fire guns or begin smelling the men take to their shelters until the storm is over They always are in danger from snipinR and are likely to be called at any minute to repel an attack. They are veterans who cease to think of possibilities.
 "If you are killed, why you are killed" says Tommy Atkins. and what's the use in worrying about it?'
 All Are Proud
 Very proud are all the men who have stuck it through from the time of the British landing until now. When ona of them was asked about it he said Just luck, that's all. Maybe I'll get it from a sniper when this winter is over"
 At night. all the work in the neigh borhood trenches is done. Across the fire zone behind the trenches food and t.mbers and everything needed in the trenches is carried up by hand in d wallow of mud. Yet one hears no one growing or swearing when it would seem that human irritation must have an escape valve.
 Profanity comes too high" said q soldier "The German boys may hear you and then turn loose. And it may not only cost you your life, but that of your pals"
 With darkness falling over the flat country and the buildings becoming shadowy. the correspondents walked away from the cover of village with an officer with the rattle of ma chine gun growing louder toward the trenches. Whenever anyone goes near the front he is bound to hear the ma chine gun even in this quiet spot of the British front.
 They can't be firing at any defi-
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