The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1915-06-18
Keeping Men Cheered Up Is the
Vital Point, as French
Officer Tells 1t.
SOME SOCIAL EVENINGS"
Artillery Lieutenant Ventures to Say
the Famous "75" Is "of Little Use"
Fire Is Too Dlrect-surprlse
Ahead for the Germans.
BY GABRIEL pELAeARpE.

Correspondent Chicago Daily NeWs.)
Amiens, France.-He Is a captain
who comes to Amiens from time to
time for a few days of rest, Here
he has comfortable quarters, where
his wife impatiently awaits him; In
the small village near Albert all he
has to go to is subterranean cabin,
the ceiling of which ia of earth.
This. his permanent residence, Is
on a crest 500 yards from the enemy.
The narrow space, with Its wall OF
clay, measures perhaps four yards
In length by one In width. Entering
and seeing the owner Of the place, his
back to the wall, shapeless bundle
of animals skins, one might imagine,
were It not for telephone in the
corner, that one had been carried back
to prehistoric times.
Sleeps, Eats, Works In Cave.
It is here the captain sleeps, eats,
writes and gives and receives his Or
ders. 1t Is here that, through the EN-.
brasure which overlooks the plain, he
constantly surveys the little wood to
the left, and, In the distance. those
narrow lines of yellow earth, the
enemy's trenches. 1t Is from this cave
that he regulates the firing of the
French batteries so that their shells
will hit the real trenches filed with
men, not the counterfeit ones which
are masses OF earth.
A narrow, zigzag passage connects
the small hut with the first line
trenches. Three or four times day
the captain splashes through It. In
spite of the trunks of trees, with
which the bottom is covered, the wet
clay is slippery.
"This Is why my coat is 30 thread
bare" he says. Constant brushing of
the mud wears away the cloth. And
what Is more annoying even than fall
ing fiat in the clay is being splashed
on the head by wet earth hurled by
O she'll"
Thus slowly and cautiously one ar
rives at the advanced trenches.
Real Duty Of Leader.
"Do you know the most difficult part
of a chiefs duty?" the captain asked
me. ut is not SO much directing a
combat. At times attacks are rare;
we have not had single one for two
months. The real duty of the chief
is to sustain the morale of his men;
watch over them; talk to them famili.
arly of their families, their affairs, as
1t is that which interests them most.
It Is to improve the quality Of their
food, prepare what | hardly dare call
a social evening, when they can drink
q cup OF tea and eat few cakes or
dered from Amlens. In short, one
must be constantly watching them,
talking to them, encouraging them.
For instance, recently, one of our
sentiDels at the entrance to small
wood was killed one night. Our patrol
found him at the foot of tree with
his throat cut. A second sentinel met
the same fate. A third likewise.
Captain CaiIeo TO CdIm wen,
"At once my men became uneasy.
What was to be done? No one had
heard anything. Sentinels are sta
toned there at night only, to prevent
a surprise in the trenches. They are
stationed near an isolated oak, whence
they survey the path which is the
only outlet practicable through the
growth of shrubs In which the shells
have followed out unapproachable
Quagmires and so entangled the
branches that even In high wind 1t
would be impossible to pass through
without making a noise loud enough
to attract attention.
Il was sent for To place several
sentinels there would be all right but,
on the other hand, for these three
deaths we were determined to exact
payment from the slayer who prob
ably would not dare attack two or
three men at time.
Refuse to Let Captain Go.
Il listened, then said would go as
sentinel Not one of the men vol
unteered. They looked at one an
other searchingly. 1t was evident
they did not wish me to risk my life.
Finally they must have cast lots
Chance selected sergeant He
departed at night. l had a search
light set up, ready to operate, so that
he should have light and assistance
at the slightest attack He surround
ed himself with wire netting, mount
ed on small stakes to which bells
were attached. Our lines were lit
tie way back of it. This was how he
discovered the boche,' who had prob
ably arrived by a fox track, prepar-
ing his way during the day, and,
when all was ready, cutting the
Threats OF our sentinels.