The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-22
MILITARY SAP'IP|1NC.
Origin of the Trench Work Of the
Modern Battlefield.
bitches DUG BY PEASANTS.

In the Middle Ages civilians Were
Forced to DO the Labor to Which Sol
diers Would Not Stoop-Sappers and
Miners and Their Successors.
In stories and reports OF modern
battles the work of the sappers is Of
ten mentioned. 40 sap" or "sapping'
was an early way OF approaching
strongly fortified position by means OF
a ditch 1t was also very early form
OF trench work. The fortified posi-
tons against which saps were employ,
ed were the stone walls OF castles or Of
cities.
When the making Of cannon had not
progressed so far that solid shot could
breach stone walls. but when cannon
were powerful enough 10 keep armed
men at bay or TO destroy them, It be-
came necessary to make an approach
10 the walled position in way which
was difficult TO attack successfully ana
for which at that time no way of
checkmating bad been thought OF by
the defenders A harrow ditch was
dug IN the direction Of the wall to be
assailed. This ditch, which was wide
enough for one man to dig in. was
called n sap. The digger snpper. and
the end OF the ditch toward the enemy
was the saphead. As the leading sap
per dug forward lie protected himself
and the saphead IN various ways, usu-
ally by pushing screen ahead of him.
This screen was of various forms,
bag of sand or sheet of metal in.
clined to defect arrows or gun shots.
When the saphead had reached the
desired point the ditch would be wild
ened. the excavated earth forming q
parapet on each side. and tho guns
would be brought so close to tho wall
that they could not be reached by guns
mounted on the wall, for In the times
in which these conditions prevailed
walls were high and cannon crude and
they could not be sufficiently depressed
10 reach an enemy al the foot of the
wall
Sapping was usually done by peas
ants impressed or hired for that serv.
ice. because soldiers In the armies OF
the middle ages were more skillfui
With weapons than with tools and the
work OF digging trenches was beneath
their dignity. while II also savored OF
a dissemination TO close with the enc
my. even though that enemy was be
hind stone walls with cannon--cannon
AT which men armed with modern
weapons would smile. hut which 10
theil day were weapons OF great effect
Nanban. the great military engineer.
refined sappins and ufJ0-nt IL into
system by which any fortified place
could he approached, reached. mined
ma preached
These s3ps after awhile were dug tn
I number of ways. Many forms Of the
approach trench we're devised Tn
covered trenches were cut forward dc
iiected al right angles and then cut
forward la be again DETECTED further
along. each OF these reflections from
the straight course OF the trench form.
ny II transverse for the protection or
tfiC tINilNU. slOtbc titilhbIn W GAG lOQ1
ed in With timber and earth as they
were cut forward, thus forming
ponbproot covered way Sumo saps
were cut ur dug in the fashion of
tHpnel. the surface or Tue earth not
being disturbed at all. Double saps or
numerous parallel saps were dug close
up TO the position to be attacked
Mining OF castle and city walls or
city gates IL as old as the use OF gun.
powder In war. and undermining" OF
walls was practiced in war before the
nse OF gunpowder. when sapping had
become systemati2ed and generally en-.
ploycd in offensive operations against
fortified positions the military work of
sappins and mining WIS combined ana
instead OF being done by peasants or
civilian labor was committed 10 spe-
rial troops. These troops became
adept In This important work. and be-
cause OF the extra labor iuyeiyeJ and
the hazard OF this duty these. called
sappers and miners. were given hleh
er pay than other troops.
AS Inc years ana the centuries went
by other duties were put upon these
Of field fopti6c,ltions.
Ell ection of many forms OF Obstacles to
impede an aggressive enemy and hold
him under fire at 4 knows range, de
structlon of bridges, construction of
bridges. demolition of buildings and
many other things. Gradually the sap
pers and miners duties became greatly
enlarged and refined. and in many
armies they came to he called engi.
1eers.
In all armies every soldier today does
work that formerly fell to the aboring
md hard working sappers. Every sol.
1ier. today Knows how to handle pick
and spade as well as TO shoot Il rifle.
pistol. magazine gun or cannon All