The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1915-01-22

cess Patricias in their first experience
at the front we'll upheld the honor Of
Canada and the fame of their regi-
ment. For five days they faced the
full force Of German fire amidst the
most trying and depressing climatic
conditions possible to imagine.
Although within fifty yards of the
German lines many Of them never saw
single German soldier.
Shippers Active.
During the whole time every var
iety Of German gun, from Jack John
sons to eighteen Founders, firing
shrapnel and high explosives and COM
mon shells, bombarded them day and
night. They were sniped increasingly
and pay frank tribute to the excellent
craftsmanship of German snipers.
Their losses were amazingly small.
While no official figures are available
here, every soldier I have seen is
agreed the Casualties were three killed,
one other died, and fourteen wounded.
The killed included Captain Newton
and two privates.
Heavy Marching.
Nine days ago, after two days
heavy marching of 16 miles each day
throughout broken, muddy roads, the
Canadians came into the firing lines.
They paused at ruined village and
then set out at 6 o'clock in the evening
for the trenches, marching along
shelled roadways, reaching the COM
municating trenches and relieving the
French troops who had held the line,
! at half past 10 at night.
1t was pitch dark with heavy rain.
The darkness was frequently illumin-
ated by the German star-shells which
fell along the front, making the posi-
tions as light as daytime. Some Of
the soldiers could not Immediately
realize the absolute necessity Of dead
silence while advancing and the noise
their movements made brought a
heavy but futile bombardment on the
lines.
Trenches Are Mud Holes.
The first and second companies &C.
cupied the front trenches, the third
and fourth companies supporting in
| secondary lines. The trenches were
mud holes, holding Is inches to three
feet of water, with at some places
deep concealed cavaties into which the
men plunged up to their chests in
| water.
The Canadians took up the position
| without lights, commands being whis-
pered along the line. Some men &C.
| cupied observation points ahead,
crouching in the mud and searching
through the darkness for any signs Of
German advance; others crouched be-
hind parapets ready for instant action.
Firing Into Darkness.
Amid pauses in the almost inces-
SAINT din of artillery fire they could
hear the Germans from their COW
ering, baling water out Of their
trenches scarce a stones throw away.
The artillery. The artillery on both
sides kept on and during the night the
occasional ping ping Of rifle shots told
of the activity Of snipers and star
shells fell frequently.
Several times the men, believing
the Germans approaching, opened
rapid rife fire into the darkness. Here
and there along the trenches were
rough tops Of tarpaulins or tarred
paper.beneath which some stood to es-
cape the rain, while others were
busy baling water from the trenches,
1t was night that none there will
ever forget.
! Advance Impossible.
J. Next morning gave the Canadians
fuller view Of the position they were
occupying, long hidden lines in a sea
of mud.
The German lines, scarcely visible,
were from so; to $50 yards away and
between both fronts were wire en-
tanglements. The soldiers had hoped
when approaching the trenches that
they would have an opportunity Of
charging the enemy's position and