The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-05
PINSK NOW STRONGLY
FORTIFIED BY GERMANS

among the finest In the German army.
Their officers include some of the
greatest mobiles in the empire whose
names are known all over the world.
For almost six months now they have
lain In their position. living alternately
In underground shelters and in the
great villa that stands on an elevation
plainly in view OF the Russian posi-
tons.
How is it." asked the correspon-
dent OF Count s., cousin Of a
famous German naval commander and
chief of the brigade. that the Russians
do not shoot your villa to pieces? The
nearest Russian artillery position
isn't more than six kilometers away"
The count laughed. There seems
to be an unwritten and unspoken
agreement that we won't touch the
Russian headquarters IL they leave
ours alone. They have had ample
evidence OF the accuracy OF our guns
and know that we would demolish
their villa II we wanted to-"
Wood Is Unlimited.
Thanks to the fact that there Is IN
almost unlimited quantity of wood on
hand. for Pinsk in peace times is one
Of the timber centers Of Russia. the
Germans have been able to build out
across the swamps and in this way to
establish far-flung outposts on every
hummock of ground that is large
enough to bear a blockhouse.
Paralleling the Strument half mile
to the south Is narrow. muddy dixie
or dam that was built some time ago
by the Russians. partly to check the
swamp waters. and partly as a pro-
spectivc railroad bed. This dam ex-
tends to within n few kilometers of
the Russian outpost positions at Ljub-
anskawo and Gornoye.
With the help OF wooden stagings
that crisscross the swamp in almost
every direction. the Germans have
free and easy access to this dixie. and
have erected on 1t series OF block
houses or supporting positions which
are veritable arsenals. Each Is equip
ped with machine guns. and from each
extends. again on the stagings, run
ways to Observation-Disclosures
sentry positions.
So near together are the block
houses that care has to be exercised
not TO sweep one with the artillery of
the other. To prevent such an occur
renee great painted signs have been
erected In the swamp in front of each
blockhouse. indicating how far to right
or left the machine guns Of any one
fort may swing without bringing a
neiehboring fort under German fire.
Almost due south of the farthest
such blockhouse. which is said TO be
the most easterly position which the
Germans now hold, are the Russian
positions. at distance of about 800
meters. Between the two liza a series
of hay piles or stacks, piled up long
before the war.
Because the swamp effectually pre-
vents any attack Of a major nature.
and because the men on both sides
grow restles sfrom inactivity, these
hay piles have come to play an inter-
esting II unimportant position in the
warfore Of Pinsk
Each time that frosty night stiff
fens up the swamp bit. both Russian
and German sen'ries make for the
piles in an effort to carry Off a little
hay on the one hand. and to take not
shots at each other on the other hand.
The Russians thus far have the best
OF it so far as the hay is concerned.
for the piles are nearer them, but the
Germans claim the record for patrols
wiped out or dispersed.
Street Is Trench.
One Of the lines in Pinsk itself. One.
street Is one long trench ready for
instant occupancy, and the houses that
line the streets are barricaded with
sand bags and earthwork. The street.
as well rs the entire town. is constant
ly patrolled, and 1t would be ONLY a
matter Of minutes in case Of an attack
before the whole section would swarm
with men.
Though the methods of defense IN
the south and north Of Pinsk, and the
city itself. vary considerably, the ma
chine gun plays an important part
everywhere. Every supporting point
in the long chain, both in the dunes
and in the swamps, has at least one Of
these deadly weapons. And 40 close
together are the supporting points that
the whole section may he said to con-
sist Of machine gun front"
Artillery plays probably less i'm.
portant part in the Pinsk section than
anywhere else along any other front
The Russian guns thus far have 1,ever
been able to reach Pinsk and do any
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