Evening star., 1915-01-01

employing a lot of women as spies ana
dispatch carriers, some dressed as mar
ket women: they could speak French
and Flemish. One middle-aged woman,
carrying two large bundles, "aikeu
fright along the British lines one day.
and was going away when she was
called back and taken to the ofncers
quarters. There it was found that the
bundles contained important ois-
The German snipers, too. were
source of great anxiety. They are
crack shots, and concealed themselves
In all manner of unlikely places anu
accounted for many brave fellows pc
were located, however, they came down
in a hurry. He had a poor opinion OF
the German soldier individually, Dut
their numbers were formidable. IL
rectly one lot was swept away ths.s
was another batch to step up behino
them, and the British had been hght-
ing against enormous odds. At close
quarters the Germans were coWaros,
they would charge to within twenty
yards of the British trenches and then
turn and run, for they could not stand
the sight. of the bayonets. and they hao
an overwhelming dread of the Gurkha
and his knife.
Private Hicks Of the Inniskilling Fusi-
liers, who was wounded at Ypres and Is
now invalided home. states that his regl-
ment suffered severely in driving the
enemy from a wood where the Germans
proved to be in larger numbers than were
ings advanced, and they had not got far
when a murderous fire was opened upon
them with machine guns and rifles. In
spite Of the fire. they pressed on and
drove the Germans before them, captur-
ing sixty prisoners The British suffered
severe losses and Private Hicks got bull
let wound in his right arm during the
engagement.
Speaking of the artillery fire, he says
the Germans waste an extraordinary
lot Of senSeless destruction, such as
pounding away at the remnants of old
houses which could not possibly be a
cover for British soldiers. Private Hicks
on which appeared the date 1876"
proving that the enemy were using up
their reserve of ammunition. The Brit
ish artillery are certain not to waste
their shots. but "if the Germans saw a
hen passing along they would fire shell
at it. They seem to fire a great deal
for the sake of practice. But they will
not face the bayonet. Sometimes at night
the men in the British trenches will
clash their bayonets as if they were
off.
An Anglo-Indian officer says:
All the alarmists may. be assured
that the Germans have got every inch
in the west. By what has happened
we have gathered experience; we know
their strength, and know what they can
do. There is no one behind the lines
who does not feel secure. and that with
ordinary numbers-they are probably
from three or four to one as rule
they will never penetrate our lines
For real stamina and bearing the
hardships Of active service the Indians
compare favorably with the British
troops. All the British and Indian
troops are taking things stoically and
calmly No one can see how quietly
calmly and nethodically things are
done and remain unmoved. There is
than the British troops, and it is novel
to see the happy-go-lucky way they go
about their duties.''
Tommy in the Trenches.
Corp. Jones. in one of the territorial
battalions at the front, writes:
Tommy, whom you see at home on
the march looking spick and span and
as bright as a sixpence, is different
being out here. His clothes and equip
ment are shabby and torn and covered
with mud. His boots are doubled up
and down at heel. Underneath his
pack IA his intrenching tool, and
dangling below at the back of his legs,
his drinking vessel, which generally
consists, after his mess tin has given
up the ghost. of small bully beef
tin with bit of old wire for a handle.
IF he Is on convoy work, a seven
pound bully beef tin, with holes in it
and a wire handle, and filled with
cinders, completes his equipment. This
elaborate kitchen range is used to
warm his rations and boil his water
when on the march. Tea and sugar
are carried in old 'bacca tins. His face
has lost Its color from sleepless nights.
But one thing he never loses. and that
is his good spirits. Wherever you go
you hear thes old familiar cry, Are we
No. while "Tipperary' is
as popular as ever"
Private H Singleton, Coldstream
Guards. who has returned home, re-
lates some exciting experiences. "I
was twice captured by the enemy, but
on each occasion succeeded in regain
ing the British lines." he said. II was
wounded by srapnel in the leg and
back, and was hit in four places, while
my overcoat was pierced by no fewer
than forty-nine bullets. l <Has first
taken prisoner with fifty-two others
while out scouting. We were all re-
moved to a. farm, where our wrists
were tied with cord, each man being
fastened to the next. The Loyal North
however, charged the place and Sc
cured our release. o.
After. heavy fighting, lasting five
days and five nights. the Germans again
our company. Our captain
refused to surrender, and ordered the