Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-21
CAMP OF
CANADIANS IN WAR
Frederick Palmer Describes How
Canadian Contingent is Holding
Part of Line in France.
AMERICAN ACCENT IS HEARD
(By Frederick Palmer, Correspon-
dent OF the Associated Press

one knew he was near the part OF
the line held by the Canadians.
1t was pitch dark and at the hour
when the supplies go up to the
trenches. There was not a light on
any vehicle or in any -habitation. but,
after stumbling along, the correspon-
dent passed through an open door
and the darkened hall Of a farmers
house and entered the brilliantly
Illuminated room, with thickly cur
tanned windows, Of the brigade head
quarters An officer was talking
over the telephone. He had just had
word that a man had been shot in
the back by concealed sniper in the
rear Of the trenches.
Request Gladly Granted.
The commander and his officers gath
cred around the correspondent from the
United States, whose request to go into
the trenches had been gladly granted.
The correspondent soon was on his way
down a dark road with a sergeant from
ottawa as his guide to the battalion
headquarters.
Passing through the ruins OF a village,
the sergeant remarked: 1.-The Germans
are not satisfied yet. They chuck few
shells into the wreckage every day. The
shells made us kind of nervous at first.
but we are used to them now. all right"
In a peasant cottage, battened as tight
as photosra pher's dark room-an enemy
fires at hght-the correspondent found
the battalion commander. who was from
Quebec. He sleeps in the cellar, and the
other officers of the battalion staff in
dugouts. The officers remarked that a
shell had knocked off piece OF the roof
the other day, but that the missile did
no harm except. to make some dust. The
colonel was going down into the trenches
himself for the night and took the corre-
spondent with him.
Warming to Look Out.
Look out for the narrow foot-bridge;
and here you are likely to slip off into
the ditch" warned the colonel as he
advised the correspondent to keep close
behind him in the inky night.
Right along here is n favorite place
for the Germans to loosen up with a ma
chine gun. for they have a clear field
for fire." the colonel added when an open
space was reached. There is nothing
to it but to lie flat and wait until they
are done shooting" -.
German searchllghts rays swung to-
ward the colonel and the correspondent
and then rested on the clear spot.
stand STILL" said the officer. That 8
the rule until 1t sweeps off. Thus they
are not able to spot u.s." ,s.
Occasional shots were heard behind the
| trenches. That's a sniper In our rear"
the colonel said. occasionally one gets
through. We don't know how. He Is al
ways In Khaki. We are out after this
fellow and we will get him before morn
ing"
Calls Them Boys.
The colonel and the correspondent kept
passing lone soldiers carrying food and
ammunition TO the trenches or returning
from the trenches empty-handed. The
colonel spoke to them as boys" a greet
ing which one never hears from an Eng
lish officer.
As the trenches were entered. a sudden
command was given to someone showing
an electric flash to turn It off, as the
patrols are coming in" Several men
who had been out. crawling up in Indian
fashion to sec If the Germans were UP
to anything new. came hustling over the
top of the trench Some bullets swept
overhead. The Germans had noted the
movement and fired. but hit nobody.
I'VE got within seven feet OF the bunch
in that old house and heard them whis-
pering," said one member of the patrol.
Find Crest Too Low.
When the strapping, tall Canadians
took the position over from an English
regiment they found the crest too low
for their height and had to raise It sew
eral inches. They have shown charac-
teristic American ingenuity and initiative
in arranging the trenches to suit them
selves. and besides have made them
wholly dry and comfortable.
This beats Salisbury plains" they kept
saying, referring to their experience in
drilling and waiting in England. "Ar we
needed was to be in," said the colonel.
I'VE came from home to fight and we are
fighting. There is no more trouble about
discipline. Every man is keyed up and
right on the Job"
The entire contingent of Canadians was
as clipper as a winning base baIl tenn.
We won't care TO go TO the fireworks
any more when we return home" said
man from Ontario, who asked the cor
respondent II he knew Toronto and Buff
falo. I'VE get enough OF German flares"
the man added, as the flares kept rising
at intervals. Illuminating garishly the 400
yards of space between the trenches.
They are worried lest we are going TO
spring an attack on them, and we shall
pretty soon, too, I hope" the soldier
said.
Can Hear snoring.
Occasionally as the correspondenf
walked along he could hear distinctly the
sounds Of snoring. In their shell proofs
the men. wrapped in blankets in frontier
fashion. and despite the German flares
and firing. which go on all night were
sleeping until their turn TO 60 on watch
The absence OF exhaustion among the
men as they come out of the trenches is
the cause OF universal comment
They say we gre making good. and I
believe We are" the colonel declared
when ne bade the correspondent good
night