Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-04-29
TELLS OF ARMY LIFE
RELIABLE" DISPATCHES FROM
BARON MuNcHAusEN.
according to His Reports Soldiers
Are Having an Enjoyable Time,
but OF Course One Need Not
Believe Him.

The hardships OF warfare In the
trenches have been 80 grossly exag.
gerated that 1t III time, think, to
put forth the real facts OF this fea.
ture Of the war. Rockingham CORE
Spondents. who spend their time far
from the scene OF action, draw sc
largely upon their imaginations that
very little. III, In fact, any truth per.
colates through to the ultimate
reader. had read with interest,
though with skepticism. their reports
of the intense suffering OF the troops
compelled TO fight In the trenches. 30
while was with the German army In
Poland j determined to investigate
the matter fully. Needless to say,
found the soldiers enjoying comforts
In their subterranean shelters that
Tivaled those OF the most luxurious
homes.
had the pleasure OF visiting the
German position In Poland as the per-
Aonal friend and guest OF General Won
Hindenburg. The first thing that
struck my notice was that the
trenches we're about half filled with
lwater, In which the soldiers were
standing up to their waists. SO &C
customed had they become to IT. how
cvar. that they found II uncomfortable
10 atand on dry ground, and when.
.unhappily, as sometimes happened,
the water drained away, they made
special provisions for reiilling the
bitches, drawing their supply from
nearby streams.
The water served double purpose,
that Of keeping them warm and OF az
Wording hiding place when the Rus
MANS advanced In too great numbers.
The soldiers would In such a case
merely duck completely under the
water. until the attacking force had
again retired. The Germans also
found the streams that constantly
flowed through the trenches OF ines.
tlmabia value In the transport OF ra.
Mons and ammunition from one point
no another, and by the skillful use OF
specially constructed rowboats they
were enabled to rush re-enforcements
10 threatened spots
One difficulty they had COPIED with
unnecessarily was the freezing OF the
water In extremely cold weather. The
disadvantage OF this was that 1t rem.
derad the entire army immobile In
the event or attacks. and General Won
EHindenburg was often at loss when
he found troops needed at a particu.
lar point held fast by the Ice In their
positions. on .flxed post. as II were.
4 suggested that II the soldiers were
ordered all to jump upward at the
same time they would bring the ice
with them. and would. moreover. pre-
sent united front to the foe. This
scheme was tried on the next cold
night with unparalleled success. The
German lines. linked together by Ice
walls, advanced literally by leaps and
bounds. and 80 startled the Russians
that they fed precipitately.
Two companies In returning had
laughable experience. for inadvertent-
" each attempted TO enter the trench
OF the other. The irregular Ice, or
course. did not tit In either case, and
the soldiers efforts to force their way
into the wrong shelters was 30 ludi.
croua that was fairly conyulsed with
laughter. After the difficulty had been
pointed out the two commands OK.
changed places. and without further
trouble got into their proper shelters.
brooklyn Eagle.