Gilpin observer., 1915-04-01
Hospital Next for Some of Cana
dian Soldiers.
Could Neither Sit Nor Stand In Mud
Filled bitches Under Heavy Fire
for Three Weary Nights
and Days.


actual suffering caused by doing only
one turn in the trenches Is described
by q Canadian soldier in Princess Pa
tricia's Light infantry in letter writ
ten at the front. Such was the condi-
tion of the troops that some of the
men hardly were able to crawl from
the trenches when the relief hour ar
rived. With. too much mud to sit
down and the trench too shallow to
stand up straight, the troop was in
difficult position. The letter, which
was printed in the London Times,
says:
I'VE left the place from which last
wrote. marched Is miles and billeted
in a barn. The following day we
marched IL miles to within about three
miles of the trenches, which we en-
tered late at night, relieving some
French troops. We stayed 4S hours in
the trenches. or rather bitches, as
they're little better, and such a time
/ never experienced in my life.
1T was raining most of the time,
sniping was going on all night, and in
the daytime we were subjected to a
most awful bombardment. especially
on the first day. shells exploding near
my trench sometimes in punches of
six. Mud and pieces of shrapnel fell
quite close several times. The shells
from the German big guns burst with
a terrible din and fairly made the
earth quake. our trenches caving in in
many places from the severe concus-
sions.
We of my platoon consider our
selves very lucky indeed, as we suf-
fered the hottest shell fire along the
line occupied by the battalion, but for
tunately the German gunners had too
much elevation. which resulted in the
shells, with two or three exceptions.
falling over and clear of the trenches.
The German trenches opposite our po
sition were only 120 yards away. but
very little rifle fire was INDUCED in.
everyone on both sides keeping we'll
under cover.
The bottom of the trenches in most
places is just ankle deep in mud We
sat on our equipment. which was soon
smothered in wet, cold mud. and in a
deplorable state. But it saved us from
actually sitting in the mud. and one
could not stand upright, as the trench
was not deep enough. OF course sleep
was practically impossible. though
most of us negotiated 40 winks at in
tervals when not on watch.
Our feet were wet through the
whole time. also our neither garments.
During the long nights we just longed
for daylight. although we knew it
would bring Il renewal of the lombard.
ment Some of our men were hardly
able to crawl out Of the trenches
when our turn came to be relieved.
Il hardly. think human flesh could
possibly stand the conditions prevail
ing more than three days at the most.
The night we came out and into bill
let's put on dry socks. had the most
peculiar sensations in my feet all that
night-a kind of pins and needles.
This. suppose. was the returning of
circulation.
My hands we're also much swollen.
but two days rest soon put me all
right again. I feel absolutely none the
worse for my experience, but some of
the men had to go to hospital, and
others were unfit to march and had to
ride in transports. myself have been
able to stay with the best of them, al.
though al. The Oldest man in the sec.
tion.
I'VE occupied the trenches on the
night of the fifth and were relieved on
the night OF the eighth. Twenty of us
are billeted in what you would call a
country public house ond sleep in the
kitchen on the floor. by far the most
comfortable digs we have had SO far.
Il was much struck by the behavior
of the boys who had never been under
fire before; in fact, was surprised.
or course we all realize that we carry
our lives in our hands and think the
most of us don't worry. We found
time to laugh and Joke while tho ahall,