Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-15
SACRIFICE OF
LIFE EXPECTED
Captain, Writing of Drive,
Says War Is Damnable
and Stupid

New York, July 15-The big push"
which the British and French have at
last attempted along the northern por-
ton OF the German line has been
viewed by at least some of the officers
in the British trenches as likely TO en-
tail a sacrifice OF life that no general
VIII De prepared to face" according TO
captain whose letter from the British
front, written just before the big for
ward movement began, gives some in
teresting light on the present psy-
Th0losy OF the men in the trenches.
Ralph L. Shaniwald, a New York
manufacturer, makes public the let
ter, without disclosing the identity of
the captain who wrote it.
we talked of big push when l
was IN London" says the officer. 1T
may be attempted, and may be in it.
put the sacrifice OF life will be some
thing that in my humble opinion no
general Will be prepared to face. Only
those who have had some experience
or trench warfare can appreciate the
Stupendous difficulties OF a great for
ward movement, with It's attendant
wholesale slaughter of the very blood
that England lequires most. No; in
my opinion, valueless though il be, our
policy must be one OF attrition-of
wearing out the enemy-a policy that
1 rully recognize, however, may mean
the bankruptcy OF the civilized world
Nerdun is doubtless the last great
EFFORT of desperate and wonderfully
organized military nation, but its fail
ure in that quarter will not render the
task or oNerthrowing its we'll handled
masses Of troops very much easier,
under trench circumstances"
Between you and me-" he says,
war is the most damnable, stupid,
nonsensical thing that was ever in
vented for settling disputes, and is
carried on by brainless, well-meaning
men, that you wouldn't give the Office
boys job TO. Incompetence, ineflciency
and pluck; effrontery. interference,
red tape and ability, are all mixed UP
together out here. IN a manner that
would drive a businessman like you
crazy.
IT have no intention of wearytng
you with tales OF 'hurtling' shells, and
the dearening roar Of cannon, making
your blood run cold with stories OF the
sights that disgust you, and yet Ill you
with deep sympathy; Of shocks and
hairbreadth escapes; OF tales OF valor,
and Of trembling knees; OF the brave
British officer shaving under shell nre
(although have done that stunt many
morning, without cutting myself) OF
shots that pierced the tunic TO be de-
rtected finally by the small Bible pre-
sented by the blue and brown eyed
maiden OF Bloomsbury Square; OF the
bullying officer being saved by the
tresh-raced youngster fulfilling noble
Strangely enough. in my short ex-
perience, I have seen many OF these
things, including the winning of u
military cross at 2 in the morning by
blase young man somewhat tired OF
life who, fortunately for me, refused
my pronered assistance, and who,
when he returned TO share my dugout
with the sweat Of suppressed excite
ment on his brow, drank two stiff
that I poured out for him, and then
failed 10 find sleep for his over-tired
nerves. I have seen the shells burst
ing around with no opportunity of
running like the devil. as We all felt
inclined TO do. l have escaped bits
OF horrible shrapnel by two and three
feet, and snipers' bullets by inches,
and I've eaten bully beef till the cows
came home-the bravest deed OF all
1t is a curious feeling the first time
one stands surrounded by shell and
machine gun fire. I was interested by
watching myself TO see how 1 took 1t.
To my intense surprise I wasn't fright
eneu, but only curious-and then sad.
Sad at the thought of what it all
meant, and what I had seen. But in
spite OF everything I have never for a
moment been depressed or nervous.
I have had to stand under machine
gun fire for an hour at night so as to
impress my men and reassure them;
for I find example is everything in
war; and yet 1 am disgusted with il
all-eXcept the spirit of the splendid
fellows with whom I am surrounded
Their devotion to duty. their unselfish-
ness. fraternity and oheerfulness is
something to make one proud Of one
race. Hard-swearing and hard-Hving
men they may be (officers and men
alike, but they are the finest fellows
one can meet. and their daily conduct
is more beneficial than a hundred
sermons by the finest parson orator
living"