Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-20
Associated Press Man Visits
French Trenches at Verdun and
Escapes Being Shot by Germans

(Associated Press Correspondence
verdun, Sept. 24-Just west Of here,
in the forest of Argonne. there is q re-
markable military tunnel. Is feet un-
foreground. running right up to within
900 yards Of the German trenches. 1t
Is one Of the most hard pressed points
around Verdun. but through this tun-
mel reinforcemeuts; move forward with
out danger, relieving every two hours
the men on the firing line.
There was very American atmos-
phere about this tunnel when The As
ISOLATED Press correspondent visited it
for the curious fact developed that the
two officers in command were, Amer
lean residents. one q stock-raiser in
Alberta, Canada, and the other a bank
official Of the Frnaco- American Bank
at Los Angeles. Cal. Both were born
lin France and when the war broke out
left their American business to come
home and night. And now they are in
full charge of this underground high
way, leading up to one Of the most des-
perate positions along the front. They
are SO American that they speak Eng
lish instead of French. and the Com
mandants headQuarters-a little nest
in the clay-has a big picture Of Uncle
Sam hanging on the wall.
Creeping through this tunnel toward
the front line. the members Of the Wis
iting party knocked their steel casques
on the roof, and plunged through wa
ter ankle deep. Paul Cravath, the
New York lawyer. a man of large
build, 6 feet inches tall, was bent
double in the struggle through the tun-
mel. Along the way they passed an
electric plant, throbbing with energy,
and pumping the fresh air which
keeps the tunnel habitable. Further
on. in a large clay hole, a kitchen was
in full operation, with soldiers eating
bowls of noodles.
Let me introduce you to our Chef"
said the commandant. as a young SOL
der came forward. HE is now
the cook for this tunnel-and he ought
to be good cook, for before the war
he was chef to the French Ambassador
at Rome"
Emerging from the tunnel into tho
front line French trenches, the Ger
man trenches were plainly visible on
the crest only 300 yards away. The
intervening space was swept clear as
though by cyclone. Instead Of the
beautiful green Of the forest, that was
left at the other end Of the tunnel.
here the whole outlook was gray and
desolate; the ground jagged and torn
as by eccentric ploughs; not a vestige
OF grass or verdure, and the few gaunt
trunks Of trees stripped of their last
nd a.
crows.
This has been a rather quiet day
only two mine explosions" said the
commandment -" two men injured,
one in the shoulder, the other in the
leg That is little. for often we have
40 to go men killed or injured in these
mine explosions, which go on continl
ually as the Germans try to mine under
our trenches and we try to mine under
theirs"
Even beyond the front line French
trenches, the French soldiers had
pushed their observation posts into
the fire-swept dividing line, 800 yards
wide. Some of these daring men could
be seen almost up to the crest where
the German line ran. They were
~ OoNhSu hCpAAu ASdPS VI UOulOeTS,
rifles ready.
Those men are only ten yards from
the Germans" said the commandant.
AS he spoke, Mr.. Cravath Of New
York said:
Il see a German; there he is on the
crest; you can see his uniform with
the round cap"
And he sees you. too" said the
commandant. You have been under
fire." he added as he led Mr.. Cravath
and the other to a more secure posi-
ton.
TITS good that German didn't fire."
remarked Cravath. 1T might have
been an international incident. Think
OF it-killing an American visitor to
the French trenches"
Coming back from the front line
trenches. one had view of the many
ceaseless activities in carrying on this
great battle. At one point soldiers in
shirt-sleeves were digging graves in
an improvised cemetery along the for
est path. The cemetery for very
large. and had been given name:
"Maison Forester" or Forest Home