Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-16
On the Battle Eve
BY HERBERT COREY.

PARIs-Those last hours before the attack
Perhaps every civilian has wondered how the sol
dier passes them. vfsualizes fighting man
crouched n a damp side a trench,
writing last letter to the dear at home Per-
haps by Pickering light painfully candle
end although these modern times is apt to
employ his electric pocket torch. Sometimes
at home magines the trenches beaded with fires.
around which the sit to smoke their last cigarette
and exchange the messages which are to go to the
loved if anything happens" Jests uproar-
iousy appreciated but between each burst of merri-
ment there come little uttering silences-
THAT isn't it at ALL" said Henri Dufresne. who is
back from the fight verdun. That fight is still
going this is being written Dufresne took part
in part of the fighting Pepper hill and the
Dead Man, and OF the force which met the
German "corps-a-corps"-body to body-n the streets
of Douaumont and "hooked them OUT with the bayonet
No rough desperate hand to hand fighting has
been reported in all this The who lived
through stained and spotted with the blood of
medieval type
"one becomes Indifferent after one has spent
period in the first trench said Dufresne Death
but incident Of the day, which may come to
ones self. There is much necessary business to be
in the just before battle One has no
time in which to grow morbid"
is only when he been forced to take cover in
the without chance of replying to the enemy's
fire that the seasoned soldier apt tremor
of the nerves, this believes. In the charge the
soldier is excited He is almost maddened by the
death every side the smell of blood that
trench and gain revenge Even when he is in trench
the heaviest bombardment the nope that the
bombproofs will afford safe shelter sustains him.
Although have seen men in the advanced trenches
GO the of the shell shower Said he,
grovel the ground and to dig shelter holes
with their fingers, and and pray and faint,
them sit rocking back and forth singing,
others threw themselves TIE embankment and
forward toward the enemy simply because their
nerves could the strain longer"
But when seasoned men not under direct fire
Dufresne thinks they do not experience emotional
To his word they have been brutalized'
by war they go to the repose camps they quick
ly regain normality Upon returning the trench
they almost quickly state of tran
guilty which, in the intervals of nacton. is
either by fear pity. They wait in state of
hard carelessness for what may
ut is a stupor of the emotions"
The French commanders verdun prepared well in
for the counter attacks they proposed mold
Germans in check. Before each such attack
routine must be gone through. Experience has
tated There is good reason for each action.
''One bathes. if possible, and always snaves,' said
Dufresne.
The tyro in war is apt to romantic motive
in this the lighters going forth death
bridegrooms their brides. That isn't ii at
all surgeons, we'll back of line have dictated
t. cleanliness precaution against the infection
that often follows wounds. The wash their
thoroughly, shave. cut their hair, if possible
and roughly manicure their hands. The wise old SOL
dier tries to keep a of clean underwear
and shirt in which to forward. He knows
this may mean difference between life death.
Then comes the letter writing. Dufresne finds that
underneath the love and longing for those home
is perhaps deeper than but curious veil has
been by the front trench conditions and the
ticipaton of wnat is the ability
press these feelings. Men who to his knowledge
times write long and eloquent letters have
unable than scribble short notes in
their very simplicity and brevty these notes
times more impressive than more eloquent letter;