The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
ny ALAN sEEGER.

December \. 1914.
This is our fourth period 81 service
in the trenches since coming to the
front month ago. We left our camp
in the woods down by the chateau he
fore daybreak this morning and marched
up the hill in single file under the winter
stars. Passing the second line trenches
we walked for some time down q road.
torn up here and there with shell holes
and INSTRUCTED now and then with shat
tered trees Through openings in the
woods We could see that We were march
ing along "A high ridge and on either
hand vaporous depths and distances eN-
banded. the darkness broken sometimes
by a far light or the monetary glow
of n magnesium rocket sent up from the
German lines.
There Is netting fascinating II one
10 stationed ON sentry duty immediately
after arrival in watching the dawn
slowly illumine one Of these new land
scapes from a position taken up under
cover Of darkness. The other section
has been relieved and departs. we are
given the consigne by the preceding
sentinel and are left alone behind
mound Of dirt facing the North and the
blank. perlous night Slowly the mys-
terry that II shrouds resolves az the gray
light steals over the eastern hills Like
a photograph in the washing its high
lights and shadows come gradually
forth. The light splash in the fore
ground becomes a ruined chateau. the
gray streak demolished village.
Barbed Wire Protects Linc.
The details come out on the hillside
opposite. where the silent trenches Of
the enemy are hidden few hundred
meters away. We find ourselves IN a
woody, mountainous country. with broad
horizons and streaks oil MIST in the
valleys. cur position is excellent this
time high crest, with open land
stopping down from the trenches and
plenty Uf harbcd wire strung along I'M
mediately IN front. II would be- a hard
task to carry such a line and there
is not much danger that the enemy viii
try.
with increasing daylight the sentinel
takes sheltered position and surveys
his new environment through little gaps
where the mounds have been Crcncl-
lated and covered with branches. Sud
denly he starts as metallic bang
rings out from the woods Immediately
behind him. T. ,s the unmistakable
voice Of "A French ~ Starting the days
artillery due. by tn" time the sentinel
!s relieved. in broad daylight, the can
do 10 all al lf.
lie surrendcrs his post to a comradc
and craws down into his bombprOuf
dugout almost reluctantly for the long
day of inactive waiting has commenced.
Rather than initiate my comrades,
who are filing the chamber with all the
various noises of profound slumher |
shan try to while away some of Us
tedium by giving you a description Of
the life of volunteer in the French
army at one Of the least exciting points
of the present front-that IL the mid
centre
After the brilliant French victory in
he battle Of the Marine the Germans, de-
fsated IN their attack ON Paris, fell back
10 line about midway between the cap
tai and tho frontier and intrenchcd
themselves strongly along the Crests well
10 the north Of the River Alsne. The
French, following close on their heels,
took up whatever positions they could
ind or win Immediately behind and sat
down no less strongly fortified along a
line separated from that OF the enemy
10y distances OF usually only few hun
bred meters A deadlock cnsued here
and the theatre OF critical activity shifted
to the north, where the issue is still at
stake IN the tremendous battle for the
possession of the seaboard and the base
FOR an enveloplng movement which may
be decisive Toward the east the opera
lions have become pretty much confined
10 the artillery, pending the result Of the
fghting in the north, which must be de-
cided before an advance can be under
taken by either side on other points of
tho line
True, occasionally violent fusillade
10 the right or left of us shows that at
tacks are being ma'ie and AT any moment
are likely to he made, but these are only
Iocal struggles for position, ana in gem
eTal the infantry on the centre are being
utilized only TO support the long line o'
batteries that all along this immense
s:ont are marrying each other az short
distances across field and forest and vine
yard,