South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-07
BRITISH PREPARE
To HOLD EGYPT
Construct Network Of
Trenches in Desert Sands
to Strengthen DefenSeS.
-nterrntlonai - -

lauor To SecIre the AIttApih VI 't4N .
waterway connecting the seas OF the
east and the west-the expenditure
is an insurance premium which no
home or colonial Briton will grudEe
how much greater must be the ade-
quate preparations Of the Germans.
He has 70 cross a practically water
less waste. with nothing 20 sustain
his army except what he can carry
from his base. 100 miles away.
Prudence prompted the British
10 construct numerous light rail
ways on the eastern side Of the
canal. and 10 lay an elaborate
system OF pipe lines for the
water supply. Cnless the Turks
make similar arrangements over 10
times the mileage they cannot brins
an army equal in numbers TO that
which they have 20 meet. nor keep
them opposite the British lines for
more than two days. even without
a shot being fired at them
British preparations are planned
70 resist the most serious attack that
could. in any circumstances. he made
against Egypt. The British have
by rapid little trains over 100 miles
Of metalled roads made for wheeled
transport The hum Of the motor is
carried far in the desert r.. but
even the aid of almost eve. 'Odern
appliance for speedy To omCu.ve is
not sufficient for the pur pose.
Camel Trains Popular.
While long clouds OF dust are
raised on the roads by self-propelled
vehicles tell the story Of an up-to-
date transport service. you see camel
trains moving. as in Pharoah's time.
larger. perhaps than ever before IN
history. carrying different loads
but in the same slow. methodicaI
f0llow-my-leader way
This curious blend OF ancient and
modern transport ~ necessary and
desirable to bring 10 the service Of
the army every possible means Of
carriage. and it is due to the en-
ployment OF al available resources
that such astonishing defensive
works have been completed
It IS certain that if ever there
were chances of a Turkish success
ing a visit 10 the front line Of de-
lenses L was much impressed with
the character OF the work and the
enthusiastic labor Of the troops.
In this sector the preparation Of
the lines have been given to a di-
vision composed OF veterans who
proved their courage and martial
spirit in the stern days of Gallipoh.
Some had held on TO their duties
longer than health warranted be-
cause they wished TO see the quality
of the reinforcements. and 10 i'm
press upon them how vital it was
that the younger nations. should
show the mother country that the
stock was true.
Came PREPARED.
They came to Egypt with nerves
mistaken. for the GallipoH ordeaIs
had merely tempered them: but
jaundice and other forms of sickness
preyed on troops who had lowered
systems
After recuperating for three weeks
AT the desert rest camp. they were
ready for fresh trials. Indeed. the
divisional commander told me thar
the news that his men were to pre-
pare and occupy the first line gave
Intense satisfaction. and though the
subsequent toll was heay-- and the
calls upon cheerfulness and endur-
ance great, their health was spIen-
did
Work for the empire has acted as
tonic and the rate of sickness
among these war-worn heroes has
fallen to three per 600.
Hired labor is used for railway
and road construction but onl,
troops are employed on the d.
fences. For weeks the troops Rrit-
ism and Colonial. dug. leveTed. sand
bagged and so on until tbe,- nro
duced system of earthworI1s I'm
comparaoly superior 10 any made in
Egypt before.
Those who watched them were
amazed at their skill and pride in
their work They have done nar,i-
ficently. and IN the whole ~ tbo
wonderful line the men see IN -
that there is not an idIer There -
no room for the drone i'm that hive
OF bees.
Trench Making Iaborious Task
Trench-making I'm the desert ,,ss7
10 be never-ending and heart-braal-
ing. You cut a hole and the ss,l
Uttered in like water Even sbo,,I5
the air be still. tiny Particles drif,
in. when the kamseen blows as :,
does now with the force Of n moo
crate gale, heavily charging the air
with sand. there comes over rbs
trench parapet and the sums. en-
placement "a fog OF dust which
quickly fills the IaboriousIv rrt
holes
This is bad enough. bur the 1o,e.
sand is easily distributed rbe, a.
storm subsidies. What is no be fsar-
ed is that the walls OF the trenches
viii fan away. then the whole mr.
vious exertion viii have been 10
vain
A new form or trench has bee,
planned TO meet this Difficulty Tbs
latest design involves infinitely NOR,
labor IN the initial sttyes. but il nra-
vents damage by storm or pressure
OF sand These elaborate trenc5es
viii stand the ravages OF time ana
the desert storm parh-r.s