South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-24
TRENCH DIGGING
NEVER FINISHED.
Soldiers in France Always
Busy With Work of Keep
ing Lines in Condition.

BEHIND BRITISH LINES IN
FRANCE, Aug. 24-Six o'clock on
an August morning. The sun, al
though not yet very high in the sky
is streaming down on ground already
baked by many rainless sweltering
days. II is as hot as midday, al
though signs of storm are in the
air. storm that has been threaten
ing for days and yet never comes.
I'm the dusty village street platoon
is just forming up preparatory 10 go
ing ION fatigue a working party
going up to the back Of the front,
which means about two miles be-
hind the front line Breakfasts were
eaten half an hour ago, washing and
shaving and all the other decencies
of a British soldiers life were per
formed even earlier.
The platoon commander has a
very spruce appearance. with well
polished boots and buttons and belt.
He has the face of boy. and looks
as though in normal times ne would
still be at school; the moustache he
wears seems to be having real
struggle for existence, yet there is a
set of the jaw and "a poise of the
head which speaks of experience in
command which in ordinary times
would not develop until 10 years
later.
The platoon moves off after be-
mander. The heat soon begins TO
tell IL tale in perspiring faces and
Ioosened jackets. and the men look
longingly at the closed cafes and
estaminets as they leave the village.
There is a march of a mile 10 the
royal engineers Dumps where
the platoon obtains its tools for the
days work. Arrived there, rifles are
slung across the back, and each man
takes a pick or shovel. Next 10 the
rifle, he has often, been told, these
are his best friends at the front.
New Trenches to be Dug.
There is still two miles Of march
ing to the scene of the days labor
miles during which the rifle on the
soldiers back and the pick or shovel
in his hand grown inconceivably
heavy and hot. At the appointed
rendezvous the party is met by
non-commissioned officer of the
royal engineers. who points out the
work TO be done-a length of new
trench 10 be dug Equipment and
coats are removed and stacked near
by; each man is given his task.
At first the task seems incredibly
heavy owing TO the sweltering heat,
but that soon wears off and the men
plug along steadily at their job, a
natural spirit of competition urging
the majority TO make as good
show as their neighbors. The turf
is carefully removed first and stack
ed ready for further use, 10 serve as
cover for the fresh earth of parapet
and panados Work proceeds as
steadily as the heat permits: i'm boil
ing hot weather there must be oc-
casional breaks, and i'm "a short time
something that looks like a trench
begin to appear.
An AerOplane Battle For Diversion.
At midday there is a diversion. An
aeroplane is seen overhead. The
officers glasses reveal the enemy
markings on the wings. and i'm a
very few seconds British machine
comes dashing out of the clouds 10
oppose it. Those interesting evOlu-
tions known as 'mdneuvring for
positions begin. with occasional
suffering of machine guns as one
or the other gets into advantageous
position. Gradually the British avia-
tor drives the German lower until he
is within range OF the anti-aircraft
artillery The German perceives his
danger and decides 10 slope home
wards. His stay has not been long.
but it was evidently long enough for
him TO spot the location Of the work
ing party, for soon after he returns.
shells begin to come over from the
German batteries in unpleasant
proximity 10 the work
The officer i'm charge quickly
comes TO a decision and gives an or
der. Everyone ceases work and gets
into the partly dug trench. where
they stay, getting what cover they