The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-07
Are Drawn Down to a Horrible Fate on the Somme River
 Fighting Front.
MODERN HELL
American Writer Tells Truth After Studying 10 Months on the
 BattlefieIdS.
NEW YORK. Nov 2S.- Special

Men are being sullocateI and dle submerged in the mud on the Somme front, according 10 VIII Irwin, the writer, who arrived here yesterday on the American liner Philadelphia. after spending ten months studying war condition on the western battle fields of Europe
 "Even in the communication trenches" he said. "the mud is waist deep. The men become exhausted from the strain of pulling their trench boots away from the mud suction trying to wade through it. and are being carried back from the trenches in many cases suffering rom sprains onl physically unfi, for further service fer months.
 "But this quagmirc won't last. even though the rains may continue Ian winter and it does not mean that the advance Of tho allies oa the front there is stopped by Che clements There will come freezine temperature, which will harden the mud and allow military operations to proceed
 "ln the fighting ,o come. airplanes will pay a more important part than ever and in this the British now nave the upper hand They have virtually driven the Germans out of ! the air. Americans have no idea of the strides that the English have made in aviation and oi the tremen- dous advantage it is to them.
 Allies Rule the Air
 During the last week was on the Somme only one German obser- yation balloon was sent up. and il descended almost as soon as it loomed in sight Not a German aeroplane was to be seen, yet the air is alive with British and French planes. As. a result Of their being unable to oc. cupy the air the Germ8ns are shoot ing by the map and not only has the map Of Europe changed as ey- cry one knows, but they are wasting their fire by concentrating it where they figure the enemy should Jc.
 "Verdun was wonderful for it's con. centrated artillery fire. but the fight ing on the Somme shaded it. The curtain of fire on the latter front was the most remarkable demonsua ton of modern hell that has been shown
 "The Sommo is 9 blasted world ltl was a rolling country very fertile and hedged in, like the farms ofI ohio. It reminded one of that sta,o There is no growth there now Itl is a dead country, torn and reu, into waste Where there was a cmmp Of picturesque woods there are but few stumps le.t What were fertile fields are shel-ploughed expanses. When ground is gained l it is by ploughing up graves and scattering bones.
 Right there on the Somme itI can be stated that ;he British ,ech. niquc in battle has grown anti it stands out Until the Somme en- gagement the French technique was far better. But tine French were will ! ing to help their ally and the Brit ish were willing to learn The | French proved good tutors, and now the British are their equals in hatl,e. ! The percentage Of British losses IS decreasing in every attack
 French Army Democratic
 "The French army has 6een the most democratic and yet ;he most effective force in the field. 1t would be a great mistake if the Unitod States should model it's army after the Germans. In Fraace Jim is captain and John is private. but Jim and John meet off duty p tho cafes and both are men fighting together for one cause. There is no pushing of subseryients off into the gutter
 "The situation reminds me oi Inc story of a German who was invited to have a drink by an American. The German sized up the nearest refreshment place and remarked: TI won't go into the cafe. I'm a German officer and baron. Whereupon the American retorted: Neither will l. I'm an American and plumber
 Europe is the biggest rumor fac tory in the world. The latest story is that Kitchener is not dead, but is being held a prisoner in Germany. |.
 "The belief in England now is that when the Teutonic Allies finish with Rumania they will start an of fensiye against Italy But in this they are pretty sure to be. fooled. be- cause Italy now has a much finer army than the world supposes. 1t Is ready for any kind of a scrap.
 Germany has put her best men in the field. and now it seems to be up to England to go her one better. England has not reached the limit of her resources by any means. Tha is a fact that is bound to have a big bearing on the ultimate result. Rus sia has unlimited men, but not the equipment for them"
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