Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-09


the officer VINO had come out OF the shell
ter to meet the newspaper correspondents
who We're being permitted to visit the
trenches.
THE correspondents were in the de-
fences at the edge of hardwood grove
called the Ploegsteert woods. The Brit
ish had fought fiercely in order to get
possession of this grove. for it meant
cover for them. Occasionally bullets
whistled overhead and the swish of Ger
man shells which are being fired at
something in the rear passed higher UP,
while a hidden British battery was send
ing it's shells in the opposite direction.
Waiting for "Gerhoys"
"At intervals in the defences men were
waiting, with rifles laid, to plug any
moving thing that looked like a 'Gerboy.'
IF a Gerboy helmet appears can you
put hole through it," was asked Of
one of the rifemen.
"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 sand bags. The bare field be-
tween the two lines was as lifeless as a
desert and for all one could see. the Ger
man breastworks was not occupied by
a single human being. But there, as on
the British side, sharpshooters were
watching through the refracting mirrors
of the periscope.
Trenches Unchanged
For three months the trenches have
remained IL. the same position and every
minute in all that time, here as else
where along the line, someone has been
on the lookout and the reserves have
been ready for an attack.
Here We wait until the big push
comes" say the men. BY the big
push they refer to the movement
when the new British army is in the
trenches
At night, German patrols creep out
to see If the British are up to any
thing new, and the British do like
wise to ward the Germans. Those
who are not on watch are lounging
on beds of straw under the timber
roofs. To the rear there are man.
more shelters, where officers and men
are quartered. One old South African
veteran was planting primroses on the
earth roof of his house. 1T is getting
primrose time at home in England"
he said. Except for thresh Of Shells
and the bank Of guns the scene is
most peaceful. When the Germans cut
loose with the rapid fire guns or begin
Smelling the men take to the shelters
until the storm is over. They ere al
ways in danger from sniping and are
likely to be called at any minute
to suffer heavy losses in repelling an
attack. They are veterans who cease
to think Of possibilities.
Atkins Philosophy
IF you are killed, why you are kill
ed" says Tommy Atkins. and what's
the use in worrying about it? The more
You worry, the better it pleases the
Germans"
From Mons to Ypres. the British
regular gained familiarity with death
Very proud are all the men who have
stuck it through from the time Of the
British landing until now. When one
of them was asked about it, he said.
Just luck that's ALL May be I'll get il
from a sniper when this winter is
over"
At night all the work in the neigh
borhood trenches is done Across the
fire behind the trench food and timber
and everything needed in the trenches
is carried up by hand in a wallow
of mud. Yet one hears no one growl-
ing OF swearing when it would seem
that human irritation must have an
escape valve.
Profanity Dangerous
Profanity comes too high said 4
soldier. The Gerboys may hear you
and then turn loose. And it may not
only cost you your life, but your PALS
With darkness falling over the coun-
try and the buildings becoming shad-
owy, the correspondents walked away
from the cover of village with the COM
manding officer ofthat section Of the
'front.' with the rattle Of a machine gun
growing louder, toward the trenches.
When ever anyone goes near the front.
he is bound to hear the machine gun
eevn in this quiet spot Of the British
front.
They can't be firing at any definite
object in the dark?' queried a cor
respondent
Perhaps not, the officer replied
The gun is laid for the top of their
trench. We don't hold down the fire
too much, as we want the Germans to
know We are on deck
Are we in bullet range YETI" was
asked.
'Rather-500 yards. That's why we
don't walk UP in the daytime The
flares you see are going UP from the
German trenches" replied the officer.
These flares, Ike Fourth of July rock
cts, threw a glare over the sodden fields
and revealed the faces of the cores
pondents and officers and outline Of their
figures.
In that way they keep watch and
see that We are not creeping UP for an
attack the officer added.
Another 800 yards of plunging in mud
and the correspondents descended into
the wet earth behind tiers of sand bags,
and were walking on board walk at
the bottom of a great ditch. Step Off
that and one sank over his ankles. The
commanding officer pulled aside a cur
tain and a lieutenant came out of his
cellar looking neat enough for a parade.
Neatness under any conditions is
point with the British officer, and he
keeps his men up to it. 1t is amazing
how private Thomas Atkins in this sea
OF mud keeps clear of it.
III the men get careless Of their ap-