The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-16
BY WILLIAM r. MARTIN
-ROM his secret place among I

hill overlooking the first line
trenches the soldier peers far out
inio the territory Of TIE Germans.
Down below. near the base of the hill.
arc his own trenches. "A little distance
further OF he can indis.inctly make
on, the network Of the eremy's lines.
The Germans. knowing lookouts are
Stationed on the hill and being unable
to locate. have long since completed
the destruction OF the little village
at the summit. The observer has a
deep dugout where he can take shelter
when German shells fall too near.
Looking out over the land on the
other side all seems barren Of life.
Near by is part of n little village. a
rennan, the French have left stand
ing-their vil'aGe-and 1t too seems
dead. The trenches at the base Of the
hill lose individuality in the distance
in a general network that runs right
and left. Some distance to the left Il,
is broken by a river. Nets are stretch
ed across II. The German batteries
are far in the rear and out Of sight.
To hide their movements from the
French the Germans bring their equip
ment up in the nighttime CT behind
screened roads. Here and there at long
intervals the wird or n shell mas made
a break in the cloth or the brush of
the screens. aiRl before the Germans
have had time to repair them the SOL
Tier looking through can occasionally
sec a wagon hurryinE along, an auto
mobile laden with supplies. n STAFF car
rushing past flied with officers or SOL
diers on their way to or from the
trenches.
Sometimes an ambulance Gashes by.
They usually rush up after the deep
rcsounding reports down in the
trenches. mines being thrown from
one trench to another. cr after the
sharp fusillade- Of exploding srenades
or rife Are between attacks. Some
NV 'liN "a Nv WI Tx
number OF wounded. The ambulances
ere noiselcss from his distance, hut
row and then I've can near the long
Drawn out rumbling OF the heavy
wagons as they jog along.
When his batteries shell the roads
behind the lines, often he can see the
,r,,r,,.t,, t,,S,, l.,, 49, .r~ ..
Ing crashes and see their terrific
havoc. And then occasionally he can
mark an accelera;ion in the distant
rumbling OF the agons rs they roll
over the ground. drawn by wild steeds
urged along by frantic drivers.
SINE Of the fields near the trenches
arc worked ny peasants-people fear
less # death. some wishing II. The
lsnh Is dotted with shel holes. but the
peasants work on. Fox n long time
an o;d white horse. useless in Its age
and fprsaken, has grazed away mon
little clumps Of green things that still
SAM IN al spots in a devastated field
not far back. So far. it has escaped
death. AS shells often break around
IN" soldier marks It's scapcs. It's fear
l~e'sne.3, lie thinks OF it often. and
here n some;n.lg Of a feeling OF re-
lationship.
This afternoon rs he looks out over
The land he suddenly sees far over in
tho sky slightly above the horizon n
lumber of little specks that seem
badly to move. They ilont about,
b. numerous little clouds. AZ he looks
they seem to increase in number.
They look like a flock Of birds m the
beavers.
The" are almost invisible to the
naked e"e. so the lockout reaches for
Wis siasss lie sees them distinctly
now. Thty are aeroplanes. German
machines, anu he makes out a whole
IrPt uf them. In the distance they
:e": most stationary. They float
T'ovly through space, but grow larger
while he starcs. gliding along in regu-
'"' w lIIflI'n.
The observer knows it Is an air
'aidIng eA edition. He has seen many
OF them a'f he knows there is no time
10 lose, - NJ rusnes to his dugOut. to
II telephone and works a special con-
nec'ion that runs directly to the avia-
ton grounds out OF sight and the gun
range in the rear. With all the haste
al his command he tells OF the oncom-
ing craft.
BACK AT the grounds are several long
rows of high sheds. chiefly made OF
sheet iron, ard n number of smaller
houses for the men. II Is a village in
itself, a little town for the men who
Work in the air. just now everything
r gu!et and there IL little sign OF life.
Men are walking here and there, AM
several Of the sheds are open at rho
sh1S. But the front row. next to the
'Hbh|.ve field. now vacant. Is shut up.
suddenly several men rush u OF
one OF the little houses and disappear
'n'ns the buildings. Immediately the
"o"rS N tho ends or the sncds facing
~" field open almost simultaneously.
N"a rash about IN icvPrifii activity
- word goes around that tho German
are coming over again, Through Il
!tTf c. system OF communication
sN"ry one ~ nat ih.d and knOws his or