The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23
German sunners reading a newspaper during lull in the 6ghting

or mats Is dangling down toward the
street. like shreds of red flags. and the
joists and Orders between the first
and second floors have collapsed, ere
hting a perfect scrap heap of wrecked
furniture. On the second floor. how
ever. a part OF a room has been left
intact revealing a cupboard. a chiid's
cot. and. strange to say, n looking
glass which still hangs perfectly un-
injured oil its hook.
Once more We looked in at a cha
teau by the roadside. shall never
forget the Impressions which thronged
into my mind as I wandered through
It's dim, deso.ate rooms. In the ped
rooms and guest rooms on the first
moor the beds were still in the state
In Which the masters of the house and
their guests had left them.
On the ground foor was the large.
lordIy looking dining room. The table
was laid. \ large dish still contained
the remnants Of the course last served.
an oneIet. some ten persons evil
IDENTIFY a p%artaken OF the meal.
Some plates were empty. others stlll
contained scraps Of omelet. Knives
and forks lay pell nell among the
bits OF bread by the side OF the covers.
"A couple OF empty champagne bot
ties stood On the table. while a third
still contained a few drops OF the
Joyous wine, which had now lost rs
lay Crumpled on tho table, others on
the chairs. and a couple had dropped
TO the floor. Everything testified
TO a hasty and panic stricken depar-
ture."
DR.. Hedin gives an interesting ac-
count Of the elaborate system OF
trenches:
I'm the trench wall nearest to the
enemy bowl shaped inches or dug
outs are ~eNCavated in the soil, pro-
vidinC effective protection against
overhead bursts and not ~inrreuuently
against direct hits. But Il is not i'm
possible for a shell 20 pitch IN the
wall, and In that case oven the oc-
cupants OF the dugouts are doomed
To provide against this the men often
dig out a cavern, n these caves are
OFTEN 40 elaborate and luxurious that
II Ia thought At to put up curtains
at the entrance.
"''hs NV Wills or tnese caves
straw is laid out for sleeping berths
and the li;tle tent section included in
each soldiers packing Is often used az
n blanket. When the stance be-
tween the opposing lines of trenches,
AS In the case | am describing. IL onlv
eighty meters no light must he III ever
In these suhterranean caves. stu less
a fire. and the air IN them IL there
fore cold, damp and raw. But II the
nearest enemy is three or four hun
dred meters away these rigid rules
are sometimes dispensed with. But
even then no fire must he lit and no
naked light is allowed in the trench
proper.
THE trenches do not run in straight
lines, unless, as in tho country south
of antwerp. the ground q absolutely
fiat. Usually their length and outline
depend on tho formation of g."
ground. AS n rule they are situated
so a. to Offer an uninterrupted view
of tho enemy positions opposite and
~ as to avoid dead angles, 4 free
ti"hH of fire Is the mos, important con
sidcration. \ trench thus often re-
celves a very irregular shape. resem-
bling a curry" with humorous bends
and salients.
TN" infantry can only sap ahead and
stick 10 what II has gained. Every
position must he treated by attackers
II II were "A fortress in Itself.
Every meter ~ open country, every
tree in the" Argouuc, must he captured
what might almost he described a.
d separate engagement. The Nrrnoh