The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-24

SSeA OAHSO IN Ahe NOOA VI AA5 ASAAAA-o
and you happen to pass q gang OF mon
tearing up the pavement with pick
and shovel. stop q minute and watch
them. Then. IL you are over thirty
years old. congratulate yourself with
q sly pat on the back and walk away
rejoicing.
For you may never have to dig a
trench.
Out at Fort Myer we Of the infantry
have received our nrst lesson In
trench digging. Now we are becom-
ing more familiar with the work. II
you don't believe Il, ask any Infantry
candidate at Fort Myer to let you take
look at his hands. You'll md him g
horny-handed son OF toll, all right,
with maybe q few undeveloped horns
still blisters.
II was 4 perfect June morning one
day last week. The dew was still on
the grass, the sky was blue and cloud
less. and the birds, wherever they
were, sang sweetly.
Nice New implements.
Our company was formed with rifles
and light marching packs. and con-
Quoted to the rear OF one Of the troop
quarters. where lay a pile OF bright
and shining picks and shoveIs, new
and unspotted. Each front-rank man
got a pick. while the fellow in the
rear was handed a shovel. After
which the company was marched to =
point near the present camp OF the
Third Infantry. District National
Guard, and halted.
Reading OF trenches, hearing Of
trenches, talking OF trenches, and
knowing that trenches may be our
future homes. on the other side, every
man in the company was anxious 20
get to work. build a trench, and get
down inside to see what II was like.
Besides, It was In the cool Of the
morning. the picks and shovels were
bright and new, and the fascination
OF digging a hole In the ground cam.
be denied.
The company Instructor first show
ed his men how to locate the best
position for the treneh-to-be. and
then every squad in the platoon
which was first to dig was assigned
a section OF the trench. The other
three platoons took up a position In
front of the trenches to watch for the
enemy. which we later learned, Is
one OF the most fascinating Things
about digging q trench, especially
when the enemy Is only assumed 10
exist
Worked In Relays.
Well, we went to work. Foar
men with picks were TO dig q hole
about nine feet long. and just wide
enough to make the trench uneom-
fortably narrow. Then men with the
shovels relieved those with the picks
at suitable intervals.
Now, the ground was unbroksn,
and the picks were stin bright and
shining and so work went forward
with vim. But when you have four
inexperienced men with picks work
ing on a ditch nine feet long. Il BE-
comes one OF the most exciting OF
the outdoor sports.
Every man, OF course, naturally
thinks he IL entitled to two feet ami
six inches OF the nine. upon which
10 stand, besides three feet in which
to swing his pick So you have to
take half Of your attention to keep
from hitting your well intentioned
neighbor on your right, and half your
attention to digging the trench
Naturally, the trench progressed
very SLOWLY al NlTHL.
Then, as the men became accustomed /
10 handling the picks and themselves
grunts echoed from all sides, and
when the corporal painted picks QUE.
Bhovels in," a full four inches Of the
virgin earth had been rudely hand !
led The shovelers jumped in. threw
the dirt out before the men with the
picks had a chance to regain their
breath, and thus the building OF the
first trench progressed
Troops Labor Lost!
In front Of US was a small de-
preston, oyergrown with brush and
grass. remember once during al
short rest a perspiring and blow
ing comrade pointed out the tactical
advantage of such underground and
with feeling that I'VE
could get down in those weeds and
the enemy never would see US, so
what's the use OF digging this
trench?"
When digging a trench, rifles are
laid in readiness to the rear. but the
light packs are kept strapped on to
your aching back. because the enemy
might start something, Rnd-welI,
you all know what importance mill
tary men attach to an orderly retreat.
anu suCn q EelTGAl COuiQn pc dCCOIn-
plished II every man had to get that
pack on his back and get away at
the sans time. But what the candi-
dates are wondering just now Is. n
the light pack is light. what Is that
vague and yet unknown "other pack"
going to be? The future probably
holds much in store.
After a good hour and a half of
IT was found to every mans
surprise that the trenches we had
dug were nothing more than q series
Of bitches, unconnected. rudely finish
ed. and offering mighty poor cover
against those shells which are said
to require only detailed instructions
as to your whereabouts in order to
land at your feet, or above them
So we found that trench digging.
like every other part OF this military
game" which looks so easy at first,
Is a science to be studied and learned.
We have the beginnings OF a trench
line down in that little old hollow by
the National Guard camp now, and
we are to spend many a weary hour
there, picking and shoveling away.
until something like a real line OF
habitable trenches exists.
VIII Undo Work Later.
And in the meantime, while one
company Is digging trenches, extend
ing them to the rear. putting In little
conveniences and learning
their uses, the other companies will
be constructing barbed-wire entangle-
ments In front And II has been
limited that we may spend a night or
In branches