Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-16
GERMANS ON ALERT
ALL DAY AND NIGHT
British Officer Writes Firsthand
Account of Life in Trenches
in Flanders.
GETS TOUCH OF POISON GAS
Gives Account Of Surgeon Who
Succeeded in Plotting"
Bosche SHIPPER.

Especial Gable to Tho Times Dispatch.l
LONDON. January l5.--An officer In
tho Highland Light Infantry writes
from Flanders
Yes. That last push was some hght
We moved up TO the trenches the first
day OF tho bombardmcnt. which we sat
through for four days. II was a grand
unpleasant ut times. for the Poschcs
lid retaiiate bit. and then. what with
lodging our own shots. and Grannys
biowbacks. +, was no, altogether
pleasant time.
"om that Saturday morning. III.
t"cntynfth. when we opened tho great
battle VIC scrambled 10 the support
Of tho *. .. s. Rs, and. as YOU know
already from Sir {. Frcnch's dispatch.
rather got II in tho neck IN that par
'icuiar sector. Same old story--some
wcll-piaced machine guns which Gran
ny had failed 10 locate or knock out.
and some uncut and hidden wire. Well,
as you know. the brigade suffered vera
heavily.
IMPOSSIBLE To KEEL.
WOUNDED HROTHERS
We tried IL again the same day
about noon. after another short bonn
bardment. when we. and what was left
OF tho brigade, made another gala mt
charge. but those machine guns were
snll In action and held us up. though
q part or our four companies did win
through thanks to r!ght-augle fold
in the ground). and TONED up with the
brigade on our right, which had been
o.
charge.
Well. that's the whole story. ana IL
shook me mp bit, with our poor chaps
living OFT between tho lines and on the
German wire, wounded and dying-a
chnstiy sigh. for We couldn't get near
them. or course. that niEht we did
our best hut there was SO much 10 do
clearing our own trenches Of the dead
and wounded-and YOU know what
these narrow trenches arc-besides
holding the original brigade front and
no wire. ms II was all cut By us the nigh,
before we charged. So yon can imagine
II was a hit lumpy, and also there was
3 the anp TO run out with the help OF the
Royal Engineers TO connect ~ with
our new front.
SHIPPERS ARE. ACTIVE
EVEN AFTER DARK
II did try during the day to Re, Que
of my fellows in = Lance corporal Of
my company. who had crawlcd back
and Just reached where our wire was
and tainted. eeied myself over the
pa-apet and got hold OF his hand VIXEN
bullet turned him over. /, was u
hit too hot. as the blirh,crs kept pot
ting II was only throwing more
lives away TO try ana get nj them till
II was dark. and even then the snipcrs
were yer" active.
Here is true yarn OF 4 certain
medical officer who was out In front
on the Saturday night with us helping
Ia evacuate the wounded Mind you il
was pitch dark aud raining torrents
Ito heard 4 scream, and thought IT
could distinguish some one Not know
ing II Il was friend or foe, hut know
Ing that the scream had come from
there. he picked up q rife and started
his bag--thanks 10 the many lights that
were going up-and 10 and behold, Il
was 4 Boschc snipcr dressed In khaki
tuaic. who had evidently been going
round polishing on the wounded a la
hayonet'--the swine. Well, he got IT,
AID is nov before n higher Judge.
Il only got a touch OF the gas on
the sunday night. or rather late after
noon. when the division on our left
lot 90 the scent bottles and we dem
onstra,ed with rifle AMI machine gun
IRE ! suppose il was either the con
tour of tho trenches or else gust of
wind came our way. and stupidity nad
not M smoke helmet down. though
had 81 on my head, However. like
saveial others. got u mouthful which
made NC rather stupid at first and
then violently sick. but II was moth
ing. aud was soon able to carry on"