The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-23
RAIN GREAT FOE OF
WEST 'FRONT.' ARMIES !
Does More Damage Than
The Opposing "A Artillery,
Says officer.

Says gH1cer.
teorregpondenceE Associated Press.)
PARIS. FEB. 1.-THE second win.
Ter campaign along the FrancoBel-
Etnn front has thus far differed little
from the first, excepting In the great
d EFFICIENCY that experience has CIV
en- 70 tactics between the trenches.
me two armies at close quarters are,
- Iast year like two wrestlers gain l
eriffF their forces, each seeking a
old foothold and ON the lookout for
tho chance to grip the other by the
F,ef.k, Most 81 the activity between
the artillery positions is with lying
F5achfnas overhead or with the sap
Tefs and nniners Eunderground; In the
trenches themselves, 1t Is largely
1natter Of vigilance; mud and warter,
Win & freduent variation in repairs
oe defenSe works after heavy bonn
bardment The mud is a more serious
nrotIem than at the same season last
vear on account Of heavy rains. Ditch
fng has BEEN done on a large scale all
aionE the front excepting In the
dunes of fBlande rs, where the trenches
are mostly above ground composed
81 millions OF sacks OF sand; the wa
Ter there Is too near the surface to
make drainage possible. ELSEWHERE
drainage has been effective In dry
JFeatiiars but the rain toys with the
genius Of the engineer and turns the
ditchss into canals. ,..
Bhe men areEwen armed against
cold with sheepskin coats, munlers'
sweaters, boots and are quite COM
4oftableS In the Vosges, where the wa.
fer runs of readily. In the plains OF
ne Woeyre, though, where an entire
f,rfRadeS worked four days to execute
4 man Of drainage admirably con-
cefyed and theoretically perfect that
vas found insufficient during the frst
storm. there is no protection against
mud and water.
SThe8 bottoms OF trenches are cover
Cd with fagots; but in vain; they dts-
aDpear In the mud after a storm. A
week Of rain cause as much damage
a Z violent bombardment, according
ID an officers who has seen nearly
ivory sector OF the front this winter
In certain parts OF the Woevre, Ar.
tots and FLANDERS the ground all
around the lines, belabored by shells
81 Ill calibres, covered with excava-
lions that rain has transformed INTO
miniature lakes, resembles marsh OF
fntefmfnabl length and a mile or SO
vide; the communicating trenches
ftmeseIyes, sometimes several miles
ionF. are like cess-pools. The men
Obliged to tramp through them to get
to the front line are tired out when
tliey arrive. One relief detachment
vas D whole might making the four
niles from their quarters to the
trenches; during the passage num-
ier of them left their shoes In the
heavy, sticky mud. Men often prefer
10 risk the Senemy's shells and make
their way TO tn cir post on the surface,
hut even this route is scarcely better
in many places on account OF the pit
fails dug by artillery fire. It is over
such ground that the soldiers must
rlod with backs bent under loads OF
materials required to maintain the In
viola tIity OF the first line; no other
means OF transportation Is possible
slThey reach their posts as rule
ready to drop from exhaustion. an
6fficer tells the Associated Press,
sbut the smoking rata as the trench
slang has named the rations, and
hot cup Of coffee restores than quick
n; Indifferent to swollen and blister
I'd feet they set Y owork under the
heayy rains throwing up eartn mat
has cayed IN from the parapets, re.
pairing the fagot supports, raising the
TSarapeta; with never finch a7d
;ss9er 4 sign that their courage may
hive suffered from those trying
ramps through the mud.
There are parts of the front where
- Zss5.ssff.TsHReIEfba man m garry tn
Die frfgid trench a primitive foot
SsS;sImer ia the shape Of stone heat
III iSy q brasil at the quarters in the
rear. the heat endures long enough
IS afford a. real comfort, but, of
course, the trench must be dry. For
okffer comtorts the men must wait for
fffeir tnfnftos go to the rear.
A head ventures above parapet
and Il greeted with a volley OF bull
f6ts. fha adversary replies and the
are tntensiies from both sides. All
I'D men ats work drop their picks and
shoveis for the rifle and the fusillade
6eeonles general, The bomb singers
3oin IA and generally the aLx-inch
Tuns follow, covering the lines with
ffagments Of steel, killing some men,
sounding others, rupturing tho barb
81 Wire entangl ements and damaging
Ete trenches. That is the average In
ventory Of a day in the winter cam
paign on the French front that the
officiai communiuue daily character
izes "a stcalm.T Il is going on every
day an along the front with constant
55astaee ofsmenS In killed and wounded.
sour shells go no straighter, but
withouk question they do more dam.
10 than those of the Germans" said
an artillery OFFICER to the Associated
Press. see It every day in block
houses torn to pieces and in ammunl.
zion stores blown up; we can't see all
ths execution our fire does to the
henches, but we can guage 1t pretty
zen from what we do see"
The principal havoc to the German
trenches and field! Notifications Is the
work Of the si1:inch shell. The three.
mob ShelI Is more effective against
Scoops 81 defence. In pursuit, but not
rbwerfnl enough to break through
henclh fortiflcat lions AT. .nightfall at.
tsr one 81 these s'calm" days Of the
officiai communique, the men creep
out through the mud to stretch more
harbed wire whore the lines have