Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-03-13
Life IN the Trenches
Is Terrific Moral and
Physical Strain on Men

Inc COTlnlI ai1SaIln6 fOT FeuIudEy
has an excellent article on Trenches
in Their Making by Capt. c. T. Da-
Wis IF the, British army, who is SON
in1law OF Rear Admiral G.. #. Goodrich.
III. s.. NJ. In q preface to this article
Gen. Combe says: That the two larg-
est armies which have ever met In the
field would find themselves confront
ing each other at close quarters In
defensive lines thrown up ad hoe over
q length of $50 miles was not realized.
Whether the Germans had any clearer
provision OF this contingency is not
certain; but at least they were per-
fectiy equipped with heavy artillery
and mountaineering mortars admirably
adapted to the conditions which have
arisen. They quickly showed prof.
cheney in all the techniealities OF
trench work. and they, therefore, Sc
cured some initial advantage. Our
textbooks were sound in principle;
but they did not contemplate all the
minor articles which German thor
Dnghness In detail had evolved. and
our troops have been obliged to learn
by experience much that was new and
unpleasant. The following article was
written at my suggestion by my late
A. ID. C.. Capt G. T. Davis. of the 10th
Pioneers, who came home wounded
after having gained practical knowl-
edge OF the trench warfare still In
progress. 1t IS Of vital Importance
that our forces now in training should,
as far as possible. be instructed In
the methods by which unnecessary
losses can be avoided: and Capt Da-
Wis practical hints deserve to be read
by ali who are preparing to bear the
grave responsibility of directing the
work OF our gallant troops at the
front
Capt. Davis says IN his article: CAS-
q rule, trench life means "a hours at
least Of the seyerest strain. Cold, wet,
mud, darkness and lack Of sleep are
the main hardships. The soldier car.
ries into the trenches with him his
food for one day. and II his stay ex-
ceeds "a hours hts next days food Is
brought out to him at night. In the
daytime he is subjected to spells of
FIRE from artillery or mortars. while
rifle and machile-gun FIRE is ceaseless.
In some places. where the enemy have
Slapped up close, there IS also a con-
tinuons shower of hand bombs and
grenades In other places the enemy
may have succeeded In mining our
trenches from their sap-head and
blowing In portion OF them. This
Siege warfare therefore frequently re.
solves itself into series of very close
combats. The enemy blows you out Of
q portion of your trench and occupies
II during the daytime. while at night
he Is coanter-attacked and driven out
OF 1t again-at the point of the bayo-
net.
The Importance of the construction
of trenches cannot be exaggerated.
In the present war Il has frequently
been stated that the soldier values
his entrenching tool almost as much
as his rife. KS
IF due precautions are taken, and
proper stealth Is observed, it Is posi-
bic to dig q line of trench at night
within $50 yards Of the enemy with
out mourning serious losses.
Troops at the front are now being
supplied with charcoal or coke to burn
in the trenches. This Is not only a
great protection against the cold. but
is useful for heating food or making
tea An old bucket, with air-holes
punched into II, forms an admirable
receptacle for this purpose. Any
amount Of old iron pans, suitable for
. brazfer, can be picked up from
ruined farmhousas !,