The sun., 1916-10-08
ALLIES Use SUBWAY
TO VERDUN FRONT
Tunnel. rs Feet Under
Ground, Leads to Within 800
Yards Of Germans.
AMERICANS TAKE TRIP
Paul d. Cravath Narrowly
Escapes Shots as lie Views
Trenches.
cspvsssssdsaos Of Associated P,e,s.

cs~rvSspssdsecs Of Associdfsd Press.
VnpuN, Sept. lo.--Just west Of here,
IN the forest % Argonne, there Is a re-
markabie military tunnel. forty-fvc feet
underground, running right up to within
800 yards OF the German trenches. II IL
one OF the most hard pressed points
around verdun. but through this tunnel
reenforcements move Onward without
danger. relieving every two hours the
men on the firing line.
There was n very American atmos-
phere about this tunnel hen the writer
visited 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 q
Bank ohiclal OF tho Fra"ro-American
Bank at Los Angeles. Cal. both were
born IN France. and when The wal broke
out left their American business 20 como
home and fight. And now they are In
full charge Of this underground high
way, leading up to one Of the most des-
perate positions along the front. They
are so American that they speak English
instead Of French. and the commandments
hsadQuarters-a little nest In the clay
has a big picture Of Uncle sam hanging
on the wall.
Creeping through this tunnel toward
the front line. the members Of the visit
ing party knocked their steel casQues on
the roof. n plunged through water
ankle deep. Paul d. Cravath. the New
York lawyer. a man OF large build, 6 feet
inches tail. was bent double In the
struggle through the tunf 81. Along the
way they passed An electric plant. throb.
bling with energy. Inc pumping the fresh
air which keeps the unnel habitable.
Further on. In q large clay hole. a kitchen
was n full operation. with soldiers eat.
Ing bowls Of noodles.
Chef to an Ambassador.
let ms Introduce you to our chef"
said the commandment, as a young soldier
cook came forward. Tie is now the cook
for this tunnel-and he ought to be a
good cook. for before the war he was
chef to the French Ambassador at
Rome"
Emerging from the tunnel into the
front line. the German trenches were
plainly visible on the crest only 800
yards away. The intervening space was
swept clear as though by a cyclone. In
stead Of the beautiful green Of the forest.
that was left at TIN othe. end OF the
tunnel. here tho whole outlook wal gray
n dssolate; the ground Jagged and
. ~ W plOusuS not u
vestiGe OF grass or erdur n the few
gaunt trunks Of trees stripped OF their
last leaf n looking like 80 many scare
erowA.
This has been q rather quiet day
only two mine explosions," said the COM
mandant, two men injured. one in the
shoulder. the other In tho leg. That II
little. for often We have forty to sixty
men killed or injured in these mine
explosions. which 60 on continually as
the Germans try to mine under our
theirs"
Even beyond the front line French
trenches the French soldiers had pushed
their observation posts into the fire swept
dividing line. 900 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 ten yards from
the Germans" said the commandment.
As he spoke Mr.. Cravath OF New
York said: 81 SEQ a German there he
10 on the crest: you can see his uni
form with the round cap"
"And he sees you too" said the COM
mandant. you have been under fire.
he added as he led Mr.. Cravath and the
others to . moro secure position.
Americans Are Lucky.
"It's good that German didn't nre.''
remarked Cravath. ut might have been
an international incident. Think Of II
killing an American visitor to the
French trenches"
Coming back from the front line
trenches M had q view Of the many
ceaseless activities in carrying on this
great battle. At one point soldiers In
shirt sleeves were digging raves In an
tmprovised cemetery along the fores,
path. Tho cemetery was very large and
restier." or Forest Home. Every grave
had q wooden cross above It with the
name and regiment of the dead soldier
The shells kept whizzing and bursting
~ the party moved along. and II got tc
be q pleasant pastime to note tho Ions
s-z.z-z as the shells flew overhead. One
Of them struck a few hundred feet away
throwing up trees. earth and clouds Of
smoke.
To those who wanted souvenirs there
were big fragments Of shrapnel lying a,
every turn. 1t was pleasant at first to
pick them up. but after three or four Of
these heavy chunks Of steel were carried
half q mile the task was abandoned.
The ingenuity of some Of the trench
quarters along the way IN shown in the
use OF empty glass bottles for windows
One officer pointed with pride to the yer,
artistic effect he had secured with these
empty wine bottles. A triple row ex
tended all across the front of his lof
shack. giving light within and having
rather a cathedral window effect with
out. The bottles are Of white glass
used for bottling tho white wine o.
Bordeaux.
Lives Outside City.
The headquarters OF Gen. Neville, II
command Of the operations at Verdun
are quite a way outside the city, at #,
little cross road hamlet. which cannot b,
named for military reasons. The Gen
erals offices are In the town court house
q two story stone structure. 1t was II
this same building that Gen. Petaln, VIII,
preceded Neville. and Gen. de Castelna,
quickly made the plans on the first on
rush OF the Germans. which held then
until reenforccments could be brought up
Gen. Neville goes to Verdun and alonj
tho trench front frequently. but mos
Of his time is al headquarters. In tele
graph and telephone with the whole cir
clo Of defenccs. and In touch. too, wit
the other army corps and masses O
supplies ready 10 be moved forward [
MI any gap the Germans may make.
As we were at Gen. Neville's head
quarters n party OF Gle man prisoner
came by. They marched .wO n two
their gray uniform and round cap con
t~rasting with the French blue an
casque. Already they were being set
work. and instead OF n gun each Germa