The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-17
More Letters to Miss East wood From Her Brother
 at Front
GERMAN SNIPER
 RARELY MISSES
More Men Lost in Carrying Ammuni- tiOn and Food to Trenches Than in Exchange of Fire--Eng-
 fish Hospitals Full

The Age-Herald today reproduces the third portion of series of letters re- ceived by Miss Cicely R. Eastwood in Birmingham from her relatives in Eng land and the continent in Europe. The i letters follow. as they are kept in Miss Eastwood's scrap-book:
 'To my mother from my brother at the front.
 Belgium, April 13 1915.
 At the present moment I am in a wood situated at the back of the trenches, which are about 300 or 400 yards away. We are spending two days in this wood, which is full of fairly comfortable dug outs after having been in the firing line for 50 hours or so.
 We are doing two days in and out sn this fashion for eight days. when we return for proper rest to huts or barns from anything to five to ten miles away to the rear of the firing line. As you will see from the papers, we have already lost many men. so you can guess that we who remain are continually in grave danger of adding to that list. Even as I write shells are screaming past from the
  don't worry much about them. despite that this is just the place they're likely to aim al. 1 sometimes wonder what people at home would feel like if they just changed places with me for few hours.
 q have fired hundreds c rounds at the German trenches opposite some 60 or 70 yards away and although 1t Is nothing less than murder, In my opinion, hope I've accounted for some of those 'Allemagnes' I don't know Just over the way.
 German Sniper Rarely Misses
 Beyond trench life itself we often do fatigues, such as carrying ammunition at night into the firing line, and I think these fatigues have accounted for more of our men than anything else. You sec we have to approach the trenches under fire nearly every time, and although these bullets that whiz amongst us arc not actually aimed at us, still they find any amount of 'billets sometimes. Of course, if we were observed by the Germans (and. as the place Is every minute lit up for miles around by flares, this Is not impossible). we would get 1t hot and strong from shells, machine guns and everything else Carefulness n the trench itself goes long way towards minimizing the chances of our being hit by bullets. and no one with any sense would think of putting his head over the parapet in the daytime. as contrary to the mistaken notions of some people fat home. the German sniper Is glorious shot and rarely misses his object But against shell fire we haven't much pro- tectlon, and I'll guarantee that whenever one lands right on the parapet or in the trench any one near will know all about it every time, whether lying down in dugout or not.
 People say. Remember Belgiumi'
 "I don't think there's any need for the gentle caution. It's forgetting Bel gium that's the poser.
 Now as regards food. get a fairly decent amount, but it's poor stuff. with nothing like enough nourishment to keep us fit for the great hardshps we undergo. Your parcels come like rain upon dusty desert, can assure you. and when I sometimes think of how I used to go home to your dinners every night, I heave big sighs.
 '.It Is now evening and we have passed the day fairly quietly, except for very heavy smelling we got this afternoon. Just close to me Is a huge. Jagged piece of iron from a large shell. It Is terrible looking thing and if 1t had hit anyone it would have cer- tainly blown him to atoms.
 ''The weather is lovely. and the birds are singing aWay, anu eVerythius N right but for man.
 Well. dear mother. good-by now. and don't fear for me or worry more than you can help. l can stand this life, bad though 1t certainly is. and am prepared to do my best for Eng land. come what may."-R. c. 10.
 Battalion Wiped Out
 ITO my mother from my brother:
 "B. Co. 2145. No. Platoon, 9th K. l l.. R., B. F. F.
 July 5. 1915.
 "I am very. very thankful to say that I have come through the most | terrible ordeal of this war without a scratch.
 You will read in the newspapers very soon. perhaps. of the dreadful fighting for Hill co, so l will not go | into vivid description just at this mo ment as don't feel like 1t at pres ent. We are out of danger at this | in a rest camp after having been continually in the first line of fir ing for 2S days
 "Our battalion Is no longer; we have lost in hundreds this trip. as we had l to advance in broad daylight under | shell fire. rifle and machine gun fire, | to support regiment on the hill, or rather. near to 1t.
 "In another letter l will describe all | about the times we have sbeen having
 tCentinued sn Page Nine)