Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28
BRITISH ARMY At FRONT
SHOWS GREAT INCREASE
Amazing Gains in Numbers of Men,
Guns and Equipment in
Past Six Months.
FRONT EXTENDS 100 MILES
Second Winter In Trenches Finished,
and Soldiers Are Asking What Will
Happen This Summer-Chaplain
Receives Victoria Cross.

BRITISH HE A d Q L A T E RS IN
FRANCE. May 27.-A correspondent
who has been absent for six months
from the British front is amazed. upon
his return. at the increase in numbers
Of men. guns and equipment h
numerous battalions OF the new army
which have arrived have engulfed tho
old regular army. Not one officer in
ten that are met have had any mill
tary service before the war.
II now requires a ride OF 100 miles to
compass the British front. Khaki Is
thick in the villages of the Somme
country AZ we'll as in those Of North
ern Belgium. The British hold the
famous Labyrinth" as we'll as Ypres
and Loos. In the course Of the TAX
ing over OF a long section Of the French
line. which freed French troops for
service. hundreds OF miles OF wire had
TO be laid. transports organized. head
quarters moved. new corps and divi-
eions created and ommanders an
pointed. In the last few months new
men have come Into positions OF re-
sponsihility. Men who entered the
army as second lt%eutenants have be-
come captains without yet being old
enough to vote. Majors nave become
coionels and generals.
W do not know when the war will
be over, but wed o know that spring is
here said the eoldiers. The second
winter in the trenches is finished. Its
chill. wet monotony is over. Before
another winter-well. what will hap
pen this Tine growth Of the
army and the sur drawing the moisture
out Of the mud emphasized the uni
versal question. Never. so far as one
can learn. have there been so many
and so many allied troops on
the western front as at his time. Next
20 the Nerdun region, the German con-
centration is heaviest in face Of the
British of any section from the North
Sea 20 Switzerland. No German troops
have been drawn off from the British
front as re-enforcements for the at
tack on Eerdun.
FIGHTING on nRITISH FRONTS
DESCRIBED AS TRENCH RAIDS
Whatever lighting there was through
the winter and there now is along the
British front might best be described
AS trench raids. One side or the other
demol!shes a section OF enemy trench
b! exploding mines or by artillery con-
centration. Then the infantry rushes
the trench. gathers in some prisoners,
does what damage II can and returns
10 It's own trench. In the morasses of
the Ypres salient and the Loos region
nothing more could. be done. though a
winter attack might be possible In high
country like that around Verdun. Much
ingenuity has been shown by both sides
in these trench raids. But no sooner
mas one side worked out a new trick
Than the other learns how to counter
II. Mud" was the reason given in a
word by an of1cer why the British could
not attack in winter to relieve the pres
ure on Nerdun. 1T was the season the
Germans would have chosen for us 70
attack" he added.
notwithstanding the countless deeds
OF bravery that have been chronicled
on the British front. the ceremony of
awarding the Victoria Cross is still
rare enough TO be notable whenever II
occurs. One such recent ceremony was,
in fact. unique, for the recipient was
the Rev. Noel Mellish. a London curate,
who is the first chaplain In the Brit
ish army TO receive the cross in the
present war. or in any war since the
second Afghan campaign OF 1879.
The units OF the army were drawn
up for the in a division form
ing a hollow square on the spring green
of an open field. in the center of which
stood Mr.. Mellish and other officers who
were TO receive Lesser decorations. The
general who pinned the ribbon on the
chap!ain's breast read a brief account
OF the gallantry that won him the
honor. The general told how, again
and again, Mellish had risked his life
to attend to and bring to places of
safety those wounded in the fighting at
ST. Eloi. The clergyman, who is an ex-
tremely slender n boyish-looking
man, OF gentle rather than a
typical fighting parson, took his honors
modestly, n was given a hearty round
OF cheers by the thousands Of soldiers
present.