Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-19
Curious to See
The Big War
. He Saw More Than He
Cared to.
By F. A. mitchell

~ %
Desiring to see something of the
great European war, | resolved to go
abroad and visit the armies of both
opposing forces. Fortifying myself
with a passport from the state depart
ment at Washington, | sailed for Eng
land on an American steamer. The
change in the conditions from peace to
war were evident from the time l
went aboard the ship. Baggage was
searched for explosives, passports were
examined - indeed every precaution
was used common among peoples who
have thrown off that confidence in each
other that results from peace.
AS soon as our ship reached the zone
that the Germans had proclaimed to
be in state of war the boats were
swung out over the water, into posi-
ton to be stepped into from the deck,
an evidence of the fact that though
we were on an American liner we were
in danger, Then the passengers began
to strap on their life belts, and some
of them did not again turn in while
we were on the water. Every night ar
enormous American flag was hung SO
that its full length and width would
be displayed. illumined by rows of
electric lights. This was to show COM
manders of submarines our nationality
Since | had come from home to see
something of war l confess all this In
terested me. Time came before my
return when l had had quite enough
of war and was glad to return to a
country where a condition of peace ex-
listed.
Having crossed the channel, | ap.
preached the rear of the English army.
The deadlock in the trenches had by
this time settled down upon all the
armies in France and Belgium. The
great drives of the Germans for Calais
were over, and during a good deal of
the time the men in the trenches were
idle. While visiting the British trenches
a truce occurred between the men of
both sides. The Germans put up a.
sign: Lets have a rest today. M
firingH The British assented, and theI
men were swapping articles in cOmmoui
use. This gave me a more Quiescent
view of war than when | was in dan
ger Of being blown up on the ocean
AS | proceeded my own individual eX
perience became more and more peace
full, though | was unknowingly in the
greatest danger of my life.
From visiting the English lines
went to the French OF course | Wis.
tied headquarters, showed my pass,
ports and asked permission to inspect
the trenches. On my way there | met
a fellow cOuntryman, who told me that
it would be impossible for me to get a
permit, for he had just been refused.
Either an attack was expected or one
was to be made. At any rate, there
was some reason why all permits were
refused. However, | resolved to try,
and, assuming a look Of confidence
did not feel, | approached the officer
charged with the granting of passes
and asked to be permitted to visit the
trenches.
He looked at me inquiringly, then,
asking me to wait a moment, went
into another room-for the officers were
in a house-and upon his return sat
down at table and wrote me the de.
sired permit. l was very much aston.
ished. However, l gave no sign OF
surprise and after thanking him was
walking out when he said to me:
"You will need guide. If you will
wait moment I will provide you with
one"
Calling an orderly, he sent him out,
and the man returned in few min
utes with young lieutenant, whom he
introduced to me, but before sending
me forth under the lieutenant's guild
ance he took him into another room.
/ visited the trenches nearest head
quarters and found a different state of
affairs from what | had hit upon on
the British line. We were obliged to
descend before reaching those at the
front in order to avoid being shot.
Every man was on the qui vive, ready
to put a ball into any enemy who
showed even the tip of a finger. When
/ had seen all | wished to see | left
the trench and, thanking my conductor
was about to set off in an opposite
direction from headquarters when he
said politely that Colonel ArnouX, the
officer who had given me my permit,
would like to see me again. OF course
l returned with him, and when l en-
tered the colonel looked up from the
table at which he was writing and
babe me sit in chair beside him.
"IIave you visited the other side?" he
asked.
"What other side"
"The Germans"
Not yet but l expect to do So"
LET me see your passport"
He had examined the document
which | had shown him when l first
met him. | took it from my pocket
and handed it to him. He glanced at
It and tossed it on the table
"How do you expect to get to the
other side?" he asked.
"By hook or crook" replied, unless
you will have the goodness to pass me
through your lines"
He thought a moment, then said that
he would have to refer the matter to
one of higher rank than himself, but
he thought 1t possible that might be
accommodated. But. of course, the au-
thorlties must have confidence that
was all that purported to be. Firstly,