Evening journal., 1917-12-31
BY w. S. FORREST
=
United Press STAFF Correspondent

United Press stan Correspondent
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN THE
FIELD. Dec. 5.-lBy Mail)-Probably
the worlds record for death-trap
treachery was established by the Ger
mans in their forced retreat from the
Aisne.
Thanks to their previous knowledge
Of snares usually left behind a retreat
ing German army to catch the unwary,
French troops maneuvered with slight
est loss but through no fault Of the
enemy. Scattered everywhere in aban-
doned dugouts. trenches. houses.
stables, wire entanglements and on
roads were concealed conglomeration
Of cunningly arranged slaughter traps
without parallel in unciyilized warfare.
Dugouts freshly abandoned were
found literally fllled with traps. A
Ions, narrow branch barring the way
to an entrance would, If removed, pro-
duce an explosion in the shelter a few
moments later. An innocent looking
book on a table would detonate
charge II touched. Coal in convenient
ly filled buckets proved, on examina-
ton, TO be literally mixed with high
explosives Stoyepipers were charged TO
blow up II fire was started. Tele-
phone wires seemingly leading to a
connecting room were in reality wires
connecting a hidden mine which blew
up if the wires were touched. Nails
driven in walls were equally danger
Gus If anything came into contact with
them. A shovel leading against q wall
OIL rrrfrs A
chair would blow up II sat in. Various
objects casually lying about-tools.
pieces Of metal, helmets. fragments Of
shells, artificial flowers and all kinds Of
apparently abandoned souvenirs were
murder traps. To open the door Of a
dugout or to push aside some branches
or a sack placed there to obscure the
doorway would detonate a carefully
prepared charge. Window weights
were hung so they would fall on a box
Of detonators If disturbed. Nails were
driven on stairways so as TO be literal
ly triggers for mines.
In the trenches abandoned pieces Of
clothing or equipment Of most any kind
connected with grenades; harmless
looking telephone wire exploded buried
mines, the barbed wire OF barricades
was on hair-trlgger contact with heavy
explosives and many other cunning
traps were laid for the uncareful,
Barbed wire entanglements In some
cases were found cunnngly camou-
tlaged so as to be diflcult to distinguish
and when tripped over became a verlt-
able ambuscade.
Roads that appeared IN perfect condi-
tion were examined and found 10 con-
ceal many traps. One trick consisted
a very thin roof. a heavy shell was
placed in the chamber so that the de-
tonator was touched when a weight
passed over the spot. Another trap was
arranged to allow troops 20 pass safe
ly but would blow up when an auto
mobile, gun or transport wagon passed.
Entire cases Of explosives were found
buried a few inches under roadbeds.
Experience has proved that when the
Germans leave a private house or pub
lie building intact 1t is usually a dan
ger spot. Here explosions are retarded
by means Of clocks which sometimes
tick away for OYER q week before they
set OF the fatal charge Small mines
are literally hidden In floors, ceilings
and walls. Many times a fuse is sus-
pended in the chimney so that it will
eventually be ignlted and communicate
the spark TO a concealed mine. Some
times a picture is left tilted on a wall
with the Teutonic hope that some per-
son disposed to neatness will set Il
straight.
Proof is not lacking, Il was learned
today, that the enemy has contaminat-
ed wells on the western front and that
he has left poison behind him In the
guise Of -four The same applies to
fodder. oats and bedding in stables
since an attempt to start an epidemic
Of Slanders has been discovered Before
stables left by the enemy are occupied
by the horses and mules Of the French
army all the German fodder and bed
ding is burned and the stables are thor
oughly fumigated However. even the
stables are not immune to explosive
death traps. Grenades are placed in
the ground and a brick is carefully
placed over the fuse. Then the trap
is covered with straw and the least
pressure makes the explosion.
Wells are usually destroyed by the
Tor,aane htsf ,rfbap loft intact Erapoh