Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-04
PaSSageway important Factor
in verdun Warfare and is
in Constant Use
nv Associated Pressl


feet underground, running right up to
within 300 yards OF the German
trenches. II is one OF the most hard
pressed points around Verdun. but
4 through this tunnel reinforcements
move forward without danger. Eeliev.
ing every two hours the men on the
| firing line. w..:.
There was a very American atmo-
| sphere about this tunnel when the
1 Associated Press correspondent visit
/ ed II for the curious fact developed
that the two officers in command
were American residents, one a stock.
raiser in Alberta, Canada, and the
other a bank official OF the Franco
American bank at Los Angeles, Cal.
Both we're born in France and when
the war broke cut left their American
business to come home and fight. And
now they are in full charge of this
underground highway, leading up to
one of the most desperate positions
along the front They are SO Ameri-
can that they speak English instead of
French, and the commandments head
quarters little nest in the clay
has big picture of Uncle Sam hang
ing on the wall. F..
Busy Places Underground &.
Creeping through this tunnel to-
ward the front line, the members of
the visiting party knocked their steel
casques on the roof, and plunged
through water ankle-deep. Paul Cra-
vath, the New York lawyer, man of
large build, feet inches tall, was
bent double in the struggle through
the tunnel Along the way they
passed an electric plant, throbbing
with energy and pumping the fresh
air which keeps the tunnel habitable.
Further on, in a large clay hole. a
kitchen was in full operation, with
soldiers eating bowls of noodles.
Let me introduce you to our chef"
said the commandant as young sol
dier-cook came forward. He is now
the cook for this tunnel--and he ought
to be good cook, for before the war
be was chef to the French ambassador
at Rome
View Scene From Trenches
Emerging from the tunnel into the
front line French trenches, the Ger
man trenches we're plainly visible on
the crest only 800 yards away. The.
intervening space was swept clear as
though by a cyclone. Instead of the
beautiful green of the forest, that was
left at the other end of the tunnel,
here the whole outlook was gray and
desolate; the ground jagged and torn
as by eccentric ploughs; not yestige
OF grass or verdure, and the few gaunt
trunks of trees stripped Of their last
leaf and looking like so many scare
crows.
.sThis has been a rather quiet day
only two mine explosions" said the
COMMUNICATIVE men injured. one
in the shoulder, the other in the leg.
That is little, for often we have 40
to go men killed or injured in these
mine explosions. which so on continu-
ally as the Germans try to mine under
our trenches and we try to mine UNI
der theirs
Even beyond the front line French
trenches, the French soldiers had
pushed their observation posts into
the fire-swept dividing line, 800 yards
wide. Some of these daring men could
be seen almost up to the crest where
the German line ran. They we're
crouched behind heaps Of boulders. |
rifles ready.
Those men are only 10 yards from
the Germans said. the commandant |
AS he spoke Mr.. Cravath of New
York said:
q see q German; there he is on
the crest; you can see his uniform
with the round cap"
"And he sees you, too" said the
"You have been under
fire" he added as he led Mr.. Graz
vath and the others to more Sc
cure position.
Its good that German didn't fire,
Cravath. 1t might have
been an international incident. Think
Of it-kiliing an American visitor to
the French trenches.
Dig Graves Under Fire
Coming back from the front line
trenches, one had a view of the many /
ceaseless activities in carrying on
his great battle. At one point SOL
diers in shirt-sleeves were digging
graves In an lmprovised cemetery /
along the forest path. The cemetery +
was very large. and had been given a
name: @Maison Forester" or For
est Home. Every grave had wood
IN Cross above It. with the name and
regiment of the dead soldier.
The shells kept whizzing and burst
ng as the party moved along, and 1t Il
rot to be a pleasant pastime to note
he long s-z-z as the shells flew over
lead.4 One OF them struck few hun
ired feet away, throwing up trees.
.arth and clouds of smoke.
souvenirs Easily Gained
To those who wanted souvenirs
here were big fragments of shrapnel
wing at every turn. 1t was pleasant
It first to pick them up, but after
hree or four Of these heavy chunks
# steel were carried half mile, the
ask was abandoned.
The Ingenuity Of some of the trench
quarters along the way is shown in
he use Of empty glass bottles for
findows. One officer pointed with
ride to the very artistic effect he had
ncl1rnd with fhasa soranfv vipa h0f- =