Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-03

his star. ana simple presents. which
had heen obtained with difficulty.
were distributed g. lhc enlisted men.
Bitter Struggle Continues,
Tho bitter struegln or lhr wood-
ed hrights on the east bunk of the
RaWka river was lu progtvss .urng
the whole periud ur he 'ntl,spand-
euta stay. The roads selected as en
objective point for possihin aeuctrl
tion to the Russian trenches elise
Wherc, were protected hy "a swamp.
Nere the nature of the ground wus
moro favorable The Gcrmans forced
Ia passage uf the Rawka and worked
forward gradually to Within 100 yards
of the edge Of the woods. bat they
were unable TO dislodge the Rus
SLAMS.
The woods which concealed the
trenches were raked hy the German
artillery from stations 5000 yards IN
the rear The German artillcrymen
repeatedly brought the woods edge
under heavy lire. I'm without appa-
rent impression upon the Inssinn de-
fundrts who were mistaken.
SITS lure to Woods.
An attempt by mine throwcrs TO
set the woods on fire WAS finally de-
cidcd cu Twenty kegs of tar and
other combustihles were secured by
an enterprising officer from skierni-
vice. the Russian emperor's hunting
seat in this vicinity, ana these We're
rolled forward under cover of night
TO the forest The kegs. which served
AS cover to pioneers volunteering
for this dangerous expedition We're
set nfire. The blaze VAS intense
enough to kindle Il forest fire which
swept through part of a fir wood, eN-
posing the trenches which were be-
Ing effectively bombarded at the time
OF the correspondents departure
The correspondent spent DAYS
usually ON horseback, riding along the
positlon. which was being advanced
foot by foot, chatting with the oftic-
ers and soldiers, who had been in the
trenches, with short relief spells Tor
almost five weeks They had been eN-
posed To frequent raids and the llle
generally was uncomfortable ana dis-
couraging almost beyond description
The spirit of the men, nevertheless
appeared to be good everywhere no
expressions of discomfort being heard,
The men seemed to take pleasure IN
working
VIII Fight to the End.
IL cannot be said, however that
they would not return home gladly
hut an showed grim determination
TO stick to the job to the end. The
health of the men is remarkably good,
there being very little sickness. cold
catarrh and pneumonia, which might
be expected to result from the Ire IN
the muddy trenches, with clothing
drenched for days ut time and tem-
peratures ranging around the lfeeH-
ing point, are very little in evidence
The men show that their physllues
are capable Of being hardened to "a
point where they are actually thilNllls
under conditions which normally
would entail serious illness. The lot
of soldiers III llilf sN'Ai'H =" l''''
Iv hard. owing to lack Of shelter q
large proportion of the peasant how
els having been burned or destroyed
during the fighting, and to the ann
entity in obtaining wood and straw
with which to make the trenches
habitable. The men are making the
best of the situation, however.
Commissary Department Good
The good health of the troops IS due
largely to the excellent commissarF
service, the field Kitchens supplying
the men with abundant warm meals
daily.
one division is located in the chol-
era suspect neighborhood, but men
likely to enter the army are vaccinht-
ed against cholera. This division mas
heen given special allowance of one
mark CA cents) daily per soldier
and three marks per officer to I'M
nroye the rations. The correspondent
underwent the vaccination experience
receiving two injections Of serum ilVe
days apart. No discomfort was eN-
nerleneed in his case, but those Vacci-
mated often have high fever ns q
result.