The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-11-03
BUILD A SUBWAY
TO vERDUN FRONT
Tunnel, IS Feet Underground,
Leads to Within 900 Yards
af Germans.
AMERICANS MAKE THE TRIP
New York Lawyer Narrowly Escapes
Shots ~ Ne Views Trenches
Tunnel Cook Was Formerly
Chef 10 an Ambassador.

runner Cook was Formerly
Chef TO an Ambassador.
Verdun.-Just west OF here. In the
forest Of Argonne. there Is remark.
able military tunnel, Is feet under
ground, running right up TO within
800 yards OF the German trenches.
II il one Of the most hard-pressed
points around verdun. but through this
tunnel re-enforcements move forward
without danger. relieving every two
hours the men on the firing line.
There was very American atmos-
phere about this tunnel when the writ.
or visited II, for the curious fact de-
veloped that the two officers In com
mand were American residents, one
stock raiser In Alberta. Canada. and
the other bank Official Of the Franco
American bank at Los Angeles, Cal.
Both were born IN France. and when
the war broke out left their American
businesses 10 come home and fight. And
now they are In full charge Of this un.
foreground highway. leading up 10 oae
OF the most desperate positions along
The trout They are so American tina,
they speak English instead of French,
and the commandments headquarters
little nest In the clay--has q big
picture OF Uncle Sam hanging ON the
wall.
Creeping through this tunnel to-
ward the front line. the members Of
the visiting party Knocked their steel
casQues on the roof, and plunged
through water ankle deep. Paul H.
Crayath the New York lawyer. man
OF large build, feet q Inches tall,
was bent double In the struggle through
the tunnel. Along the way they passed
an electric plant, throbbing with en-
ergy, and pumping the fresh air which
keeps the tunnel habitable. Farther
on, in large clay hole. kitchen
was In full operation, with soldiers eat
ing bowls Of noodles,
Chef to an Ambassador.
Let me Introduce you TO our chez"
said the commandment. as a young SOL
der cook came forward. lie Is now
the cook for this tunnel--and he ought
TO be a good cook. for before the war
he was chef to the French amba ssador
at Rome"
Emerging from the tunnel into the
front line. the German trenches were
plainly visible ON the crest only 800
yards away. The intervening space
was swept clear rs though by cy.
clone. Instead Of the beautiful green
Of the forest. that was left at the other
end Of the tunnel, here the whole out.
look was gray and desolate: he
ground jagged and torn as by eccentric
plows, not yestge OF grass or
yerdure. and the few gaunt trunks Of
trees stripped of their last leaf and
looking like so many scarecrows.
This has been a rather quiet day
only two mine explosions" said the
commandant. two men injured. one In
The shoulder. the other In the leg. That
Ii little, for often we have forty 10
sixty men killed or Injured In these
mine explosions. which so on continu-
ally as the Germans try to mine under
our trenches and we try 10 mine un.
der theirs"
Even beyond the front line French
trenches the French soldiers had
pushed their observation posts into the
tire-swept dividing line. 300 yards wide.
Some OF these daring men could be
seen almost up to the crest, where the
German line ran. They were crouched
behind heaps Of powders. rides ready.
Those men are Only ten yards from
the Germans" said the comma da=t.
As be spoke. Mr.. Cravath Of New
York. said: Il SO a German: there
be 10 on the crest: you can see his uni.
form with the round cap
And he sees you too" said the COM
rnandant. "You have been under FIRE.
be added as he led Mr.. Cravath and the
| others to mere secure position.
Americans Are Lucky.
Its good that German didn't ere, "
remarked Cravath, 1T might have
been IN lnserna,inna, Incident. Think
Of it--ki,ling an American visitor ts
| the French ,rencEs$-
| Cenins back from the front-lins