The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-01-31

signaled the men dive to cover be-
meath the bomb proof she tiers.
The bomb proof shelters or dugouts
were situated many feet under
ground. and were practically impos-
slble TO destroy. Here the men
awaited the result Of the explosion.
TRENCHES Sometimes DAMAGED.
Occasionally a portion OF the trench
was damaged and had to be immedi-
ately reconstructed with sandbags or
other impediments. pending the time
more permanent Qualifications could
be built.
The torpedoes seldom caused any
real damage, because lie barbed wire
screen hid the exact positions occu-
pied by the opposing forces. The
trenches themselves wound in a crazy
zigZag fashion for protection against
%enfiladlng fire.
II was exceedingly difficult for me
to reconstruct my p~reconceived ideas
of the enemy's positions. Looking
beyond mo Mans Land" I had ex-
pecte0 to find the enemy stretched in
a long parallel line directly opposite.
About half a mile to our left and
seemingly far in our rear n brisk ar
tillery duel vas in progress. To our
A-AN y mail haAAAAfN III WHICH
most Of the houses were DESTROYED.
and IL seemed impossible that the
French could hold this village. appar-
emily situated so far forward.
Trenches Like Spider Webs.
/ asked our captain for an explana-
ton. I'VE occupy the whole of IL.
and far beyond. Our trenches run al
most at right angles at this point.
Where we are standing is just the be-
ginning of the salient"
As Dol as | vas permitted TO see
h trenches in perspective all my
geographical difficulties were cleared
up. Have you ever seen two spider
webs on either side Of a thick win
dow pane? II you have close your
ives and look al the window from the
side you have a vague idea of what
the trenches liik like from the dis
lance.
On either side of the River Aisne-
the thick window pane-stretched
long gossamer-like tendrills. These
were criss-crossed many times by
other wavy lines running in an elipti-
cal shape. with the CONVEX side al
ways pointed were the communicating
trenches. leading from the base OF
the first positions, and were trans
versed by trenches holding troops in
a second. third. and even fourth line
OF defense
French Gunners Accurate.
II is remarkable 20 see with what
accuracy the French artillery picks
out the German Qualifications. We
we're standing beside a young ueuten-
ant. who was a member OF the senior
class at St. Cyr. the French West
Point. and like many others al the
outbreak OF the wal he received his
commission. Due to his sharpness OF
sight he had been chosen 70 fiji the
post OF observer for a battery Of
heavy artillery.
It's difficult to see the enemy's
positions today on account Of the fog.
but IL you like We viii light them up
for you he said smiling. A sharp
order. through a small hand telephone
giving the range. quickly brought re-
suits. A tremendous roar behind us,
and four gums spoke simultaneously.
the flashing OF bursting ~shrapnel ef-
fectively piercing the hay atmos-
phere.
Il suppose theyn wonder why We
are firing al this time Of day" he
said. because Il IL rare that we be-
gin firing before sundown."
Don't you fire continually" I
asked.
"Oh. no." he replied. we seldom
fire between 3 and niEhtfail. a. Il
seems to be an unwritten law that
each side takes time out for a brief
afternoon snack. The English call
this tea time. but we call u oar
7 petit COULTER
a further description Of Mr.. ker-
bYs visit 90 the firing line on the west
front Will appear In tomorroWrs IN