The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-10
Trench Taking hvolpes Great Strategy
American Describes How If Is ACCOMPLISHED
Complicated Artillery Ac.
ton Prelude to Advance
Against Foe.
CHARGE Is MADE OVER
BODIES OF COMRADES

10 Prvfre on the e0sterN frontier of
Framce. trhere the activity has been con-
napous for several monfhs.
PARIS, Sept. 22.-~we have taken two
trenches and atty prisoners IL the Bets
10 Pretre."
You in far of America read that in tire
o6hcial communicate. note that this slight
progress has been made. and pass on
with no further thought to the short
paragraph reporting from the next sector.
Did you eve wonde about some OF the
details briefed into those few words?
OF course all actions vary. There are
times when trenches are taken with rela-
tive ease and with but small prepare
ton; frequently when but few are killed
and very often when the attacking force
suffers but little loss In comparison with
those defending the position. That is
one Of the revolutionary developments
Of this new warfare. where artillery
playa such an extraordinary part. In
general. however. h rench gains are
Effected in approximately the same man.
nsr.
II u naturally impossible to take up
aoh and every detail Of what goes be-
fore and after an attack. for to do 30 one
would have TO follow through all the in
trscate workings OF the entire army. deal
with facts ranging from the peasants
cottage 10 ammunition works and take
Up lines OF supply reaching into all quar-
tiers Of the earth. l will write only OF
the immediate preparations, the action
and the scenes following. This Is q pic
Wr rather than an article.
II has been ten days since the last at
tack in which the trench has been taken.
The trench gained has been turned. That
is. what was the unprotected back has
now been made the fortified front. Bags
Of earth are ranged along the rim and
steel plates with Sits for firing are se-
cured at about yard intervals between
he bags. A<ogs have been brought up
and in some places the trench is covered.
Where shells demolished the eides Of the
trench or boyaux (the narrow channel
communicating trenches running between
iiDo and TO the rear) the dirt has been
dug out and the caved walls ramined
with earth baSA. The ahria. OF ANAL
shelter caves, followed under the sides
and below the floor Of the trench, tAvs
bon cleared out and ~daslnfsctsd.
Preperatisns fer Attaek.
Blue clad French soldiers are dis
t,ibuted at comfortable Intervals in their
newly gained trench. They speak In
whispers. for the German line 10 but
forty yards in front. Hall Of the boyau
that connected this portion Of the trench
With the German second line Ia In the
hands Of the French. The other half Is
German. a wall OF bags forms a bar.
riade. and on the crest of the hoyau
about half way hack to the French line
lisa rack made of small logs and strung
with barhed wire that can be pulled
down 10 block the passage should the
enemy try an advance through the chan
mel The barricade IL a listening post
and the sentries stationed there ara
armed with shotguns. Some of the SOL
d!ers in the trench are peering out OF
the rife holes and keeping close watch
on the white line OF bags across the little
stretch OF shell torn ground. There are
corpses out there that fell in a counter
attack. II is impossible to get them. Just
az IT has been impossible to put up any
oarbed wire entanglenents. The Ger
mans occupy the upper portion Of tho
hill and II Ia therefore surf death TO
venture out ever between tho French
hrst and second lines.
The life Is m~onotonouB. There In al
ways that identical view OF ba0 q little
in front always tho lam things to do.
and the little there Is doesn't distract
one, One can write homo. but there 10
no news or one can play cards. but after
q year these are dull.
There have been Commandments Of
m trenches. Great shells have shr1eked
down and exploded with crushing de-
donations, A few have fallen In the
ranches and some of the men nave been
Killed or wounded. Others have been
killed by being crushed when an aerial
torpedo. called a torpillo, has hit near
The edge Of the trench and caved in the
sides or landed in the trench and blown
things 70 atoms. The c~rap0uillot. the
crude stunted wood capped cylinders OF
explosive. has been launched from little
trench mortars. and this too has claimed
few victims.
Ready for the Dash.
Taking the trenches In the immediate
sectT as a whole there Ia need OF
s'raiEhtening out the line. Just ahead
he German first line forms a salient into
the alignment OF tho French trenches.
and their second line follows the bend for
q short distance. In order to consolidate
he position properly about seventy FIVE
Yards of the enemy's trench must be
taken. That portion can then be con-
beted up with tho forward thrusts OF
ne French line that flank It. Two sec.
IONS OF fifty men each will make the at.
tack.
The men have not been told an attack
= 70 lie made. but they suImise from
Signs that 1t Is imminent. The portion
"' thu trench they are to capture :.
well known TO them. just before thu
attack their officer Indicates to then
me exact limits OF the part they are Il
%cupy The men that arc to nigh
onnough the boyau have been allotted 6
compliment OF grenades.
the a~rtillerymen In charge OF the biz
runs IN mo rear, those manning the fas
uring Held pieces back Of the trenches
Md the men who fire the tiny cannon
mat shoot c~rapouilIots or work tn
Tsr'nR c~ontrvanoss that launch aeria
'orpedoes, ave all been notified. Tn,
officers IN charge of the various batteries
nave proved their range. guided by Sig
mas from aeroplanes and by persona
obs ~ alton
Quantities OF ammunition have beel
seht IN 10 the trenches. including
I1ee supply Of hand grenades and lane
jackets. The latter consists of a tin box
y" snap" Of a sardins can. full of bit
W east iron and packed with an ex
wSly" ana nailed on a crude woode
pehd'" so as to make II Easy to throw
Ater Lighting the furc.
INe attack is to take place at
o'clock. The artillery goes into actio
rom one-half TO three hours bofor
u" infantry charge. depending on Oh
nature Of the trench to be taken. ]
uls case the trench In not EXCEPTIONAL
srons The artillery will prepare ~th
way for but half an hour.
The men in charge of the ttttls trend