The sun., 1916-11-28
CANADIANS CREATED
NIGHT TRENCH RAIDS
They Keep the Foe Busy and
Mask the Big Push on
the SOmme.
MUCH COURAGE REQUIRED
Speed Is Vital, for Germans
Open Fire az Soon as En-
tanglement Is Cut.

The article foilotcinO Is the second OF
q series OF four, and sets forth In detail
how the Allies make raids OF the Ger
man trenches on the Somme. Later arft-
cles 'cih deal ~ith the artillery. airplons
n medical service. Philip n. Pdfchen,
correspondent Of the Chicago Tribune on
the British front. tcrofe the articles not
only from his o,cn observations but from
Information placed at his disposal for
the purpose BY Gen. Maurice, director
OF military operations Of the British
army.
ny PHILIP II. PATCHlN.
LONDON. Nov. 10.-when the war be-
gan to sag. so far as the British front
was concerned. with long intervals be-
tween big movements, and the monotony
OF trench warfare grew and palled. some
ne-th Canadians. It is said-invented
the raid.
The raid is a thrilling. dangerous en-
terprise consisting Of an unexpected dash
across to the enemy's trenches. n shower
OF bombs. n bit Of bayonet work and q
sudden retreat, with the raiders taking
with them as many prisoners as possible.
The raid was new once; now 1t Is a
common thing. During the present
Somme offensive raids all along the line
are constantly being made. particularly
between advances. They serve on both
sides now to keep the enemy on the
Jump and they are particularly valuable
as an interlude between genuine ad-
vances for the reason that the enemy
cannot tell when a aid Is simply a raid
or perhaps the commencement Of q gen.
eral engagement.
Every Detail IL Planned.
Like other things in this war. the raid
Is not simply an impulsive. impetuous
dash. II is planned in advance. down to
the last detail.
For one reason or another-the dis
covery OF an enemy mine sap. possibly
It is decided that a trench shall be raided
and preparations accordingly are made.
The plan is carefully devised and orders
are issued. These orders are given out In
the minutest detail. Every officer n
man Is told just what he must do.
Even the names OF the men are given.
A complete order for a small raid will
contain a hundred or more different
points.
By careful reconnaissance every de-
tail OF the enemy's position becomes
known. His renches are photographed
from above n at night patrols creep
out and investigate the barbed wire in
front. All data are charted and the plan
Of attack Is made from the chart. His
machine guns are located and the ar
tillery behind the line Is instructed to
lay the runs on those machine gun posi-
tions.
The study and preparations take days,
although the aid may take only twenty
minutes when finally executed. When
time for action comes which IL when
weather conditions are favorable. the
first step Is to cut the enemy's wire bar
riers, which are usually ten or fifteen
yards In front of his trenches.
Every detail of the wire has been as
certained. its thickness and the charac-
ter and frequency of the posts which
hold 1t in place. Early In the night the
wire cutters creep out on their danger
Gus mission. They crawl silently. throw
ing themselves down when the Germans
fire a light so that the enemy cannot tell
them from the dead who litter No Mans
Land.
Upon reaching the ENHANCEMENT they
set to work with wire cutters. Now they
are in danger OF discovery from trench
or from German patrols. II may IA
hours to cut a pathway through tho en-
tanglement, and every minute Is one full
! OF danger TO the whole enterprise.