New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-09
PATIENTLY AWAITING
DAY OF big PUSH"
Tommy Atkins Found To Be
Somewhat of a Fatalist as
Regards Death.

target at that distance" said the officer
who had come out of the shelter 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
British had fought fercely in order to
get possession OF this grove, for it
meant cover for them. Occasionally
bullets whistied overhead, and the
swish OF German shells which were be
ing fred at something in the rear
passed higher up, while hidden Brit
Ish battery was sending its shells in
the opposite direction.
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 a hole through it?" was asked Of
one of the rIhemen.
at looks so. They don't put them
up very often, sir" was the answer.
Two hundred and fifty yards away
was n wall of sandbags. The bare
field between the two lines was as life
less as a desert. and, for ali one could
see, the German breastwork was not
occupied by single human being. But
there, as on the British side, sharp
shooters were waiting and officers were
watching through the refracting mir
rors OF the perlscope.
No Changes in Three Months.
For three months the trenches have
remained in the same position, and
never in all that time, here as else
where along the line, but some one is
on the lookout and the reserves are
ready for an attack.
Here we will De 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 anything
new, and the British do. likewise to
ascertain if the Germans are. And
sometimes some Of the men are killed.
Those who are not on the watch are
lounging on beds of straw under the
timber roofs. To the rear there are
many more shelters, where officers and
men are quartered. One old South
African veteran was planting primroses
on the earth roof of his house. ut Is
getting primrose time at home in Eng
land" he said.
Except for thrash of shells and the
bang of the guns the scene IS most
peaceful. When the Germans cut loose
with some thrills of the rapid fire
guns or begin Smelling the men take
TO their shelters until the STORM -
over. They are always 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.
"If you are killed, why you are
killed." says Tommy Atkins, "anG
what's the use in worrying about IL?
The more you worry the better l.
pleases the Germans"
Already Familiar with Death.
From Mons to Ypres the British
regulars 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 1t
he said: "Just luck, that's all. Maybe
/ I'll get it from a sniper when this WIN
/ ter is over"
At night all the work in the neigh
borhood trenches is done. Across the
/ fire zone behind the trenches food and
/ timbers and everything needed in the
trenches are carried up by hand in a
walow of mud. Yet one hears no one
/ growing or swearing when it would
seem that human irritation must have
an escape valve.
profanity comes too high" said q
soldier. THE Gerb- US may hear you
and then turn loose. And it may not
only cost you your life but your pals.
Any one who has been much with the
British army on campaign has heard
the same remark many times, and
spoken in the same language, it had d
peculiar appeal
With darkness falling over the fiat
country and the buildings becom ng
shadowy, the correspondents walked
away from the cover of a village with
the commanding officer of that section
of the front, with the rattle of ma
chine gun growing louder toward the
trench. Whenever any one goes near
the front he is bound TO hear the ma
chine gun. even in this quiet spot OF
the British front.
"They can't be firing at any definite
object in the dark" queried CORE
spondent.
perhaps perhaps not the officer
replied. THE gun is laid for the tor
of their trench. We don't hold down
the fire too much, as we want the
Germans TO know we are on deck"
Within Bullet Range.
Are We in bullet range YETI" wa:
asked.
"Rather-five hundred yards. That:
why we don't walk up in the daytime
The fares you see are going up from
the German trenches" replied the Of
ficer.
These flares, like Fourth of july
rockets, threw a glare over the solder
fields and revealed the faces of tn,
correspondents and the officer and out
lined their figures. an that way they
keep watch to see that we are moi
creeping up for an attack" the officer
added.
Another three hundred yards Of
plunging in mud and the correspond
ents descended into the wet earth be
hind tiers Of sand bags and wer,
walking on a boardwalk at the bottom
of a great ditch. Step off that and one
sank over his ankles. The commanding
officer pulled aside e curtain and 1
lieutenant came out of his cellar look
ing neat enough for a parade. Neat
ness under any conditions is a poin
with the British officer, and he keeps
his men up TO it. 1t is amazing how
Private Thomas Atkins in this sea o.
mud keeps clear of 1t.
"lf the men get careless Of their ap
pearance and in their habits" say th'
officers, this means carelessness in th'
trenches, which would be fatal. Thor
ouqhness of detail and industry are o.