The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-21
MANY WAR THRILLS
ON A QUIET SECTOR
incessant Danger Disconcerts The
Novices, But They Soon Get
Sailed"
VETERANS INSPIRE POISE.
Typical Conditions On the Belgian
Front Which Parallel Those Where
Americans Are.

Paris. November 20.-The American
army has received its baptism OF
blood" in a quiet sector" OF the
French line, where 1t is now gettins
ilrst-hand knowledge of the war. ]
have Just spent three days on quiet
sector" of the front in the Belgian
lines 1 win try to tell you as ex-
actly as possible what a quiet sector
means, and what are the sensations OF
one who In exposed as / was to enemy
shell fire for the first time in his life.
In modern military parlance
quiet sector" means place where.
for various reasons, no big scale In
fantry lighting Ia In progress or OK
pscted. 1t il generally a point where
an advance by either side would be
reproductive of subsequent tactical ad-
vantage, or else there are material dif-
ncUlties to prevent infantry action IN
the shape of deep ravfne or
swollen river, or, in the case of the
Belgian front. three-duarters of a
mile of ground flooded during the
User battle
The first line trenches are generally
far apart. 500 yards or more, though
advance posts thrown out at intervals
along the line are often within speak
ing distance of similar works opposite.
TIE trenches themselves are fairly
comfortable. Their occupants have
trti otfsic,d from time to time such I'M
proven ents as experience suggested
Shelters are concreted. so as to be dry
arc roomy, the trench walls are
strengthened with wooden supports.
and the floor OF the trench In compos-
Cd Of corduroy wooden raodways or
passerelies. as the French call them.
Drainage conduits have been dug. and
power stations installed to pump out
surplus water, and even drive electric
light plants.
There is little danger from bullets
or shell fire. unless a shell makes
direct hit. as the back and front of
tire trenches have been built up TO
give excellent protection. Cooking
arrangements have been perfected.
ard communications for men and sup
pi.es work smoothly,
Danger i,ehind the Lines.
All that Is the bright side. Now we
come TO the disagreeahle features. In
their massage through the villages be-
hind the front he men have noticed
ruined houses here and there on syery
SIDE Windows left unbroken have n
crikecrngs lattice work or brown paper
gummed on the side to diminish
breekage by splinters and protect them
AGAINST air conclusion II there IL a
little town nearby. the inhabitants live
81 cellars or in isolated. outlying bar
rerks on account OF air raids. In
the-Relgian- town~ Of Eut1 81 that is
a'ysoSt wholly the casa.
on the same lires is another thing
that struck me visited n school for
orrhaned or temporarily orphaned
children established NY the Belgian
oneen Each OF the 500 inmates.
whose ares range from two to ten
years. has a my gas mask hanging
above his cot in the Ave hargeck dor
m tories where they sleep, sixty in
eHgh All have heen drilled IN the use
OF the masks and all save the very
nurses. know how to put them on the
moment the alarm In given.
That is the life of the civil rorula-
ton four or FIVE miles behind our
-'uuiet sector" Suppose then, that
as far as the worst hardship~ of ex-
sstsncs In the trenches are concerned
our soldiers are not so badly\ off.
there remains an enormous aggregate
of fatigue" or non military work to
be performed,
Undoubtedly on the Belgian front.
where owing ~ the nArshy nature Of
the soil all the trenches have to be
built above ground instead OF dug be-
meath. conditions are exceptionally
onerous In this respect To take one
example. the trench system demands
not less than 10000, 900 sacks Of earth,
which must be wholly renewed three
or four times wear owing to the &C.
ton of the elements Imagine the
extent OF the work that means for
every Belgian soldier with the com
paratfvefy small army and limited
sources Of supply.
On the French front there i. natu-
rally less need for sandbaxs. but
support posts and corduroy structures
most be renewed, concrete shelters
reconstructed by man handled blocks
of concrete weighing 200 pounds
apiece. barbed wire strengthened Or
replaced and finally every piece OF
damage wrought by enemy shelle
r1ust be repaired as quickly an pos
sihle. Remember, nine -tenths of this
work must be done in darkness with
innumerable obstacles to trip the I'M
accustomed or unwary and the ever
present risk OF shelt or bullet TO keep
the nerves on edge,
Soldiers Must Get .SaIted.-
As regards this matter of nerves.
the presence OF veteran french troops
will DO Of the greatest service TO the
Americans. No one who has not Wis
tied the front can realize the tran
uuilixing effect OF the utter indiN-
ence to danger dfsplayed--and felt
hy those who are thoroughly sailed"
In hotel where 7 spent the night,
not one OF a dozen Belgian. French.
or British officers so much az looked
un from his dinner or conversation
when a sudden huzzing drane and
furious burst OF cannonading an
nounced that a flock of Gotha bomb
r,ls mes was riTht hove our heads Sim
,larly In the trenches themselves-they
don't take unnecessary risks. but no
one hothers about falling shells or
h,-'sts.
"rf tNe' hit you. thev hit you: If
thev .on't. they don't'' Is tne general
euae TN either case. why worry
..forehand?" That sums up the
whole question.
IN the case OF the Belgians, this
courage is perhaps more natural and
inrate and less a product OF custom
-. fata1'sm than elsewhere, owing to
the quality OF the present Belgian
.s.-,,v Small as 1t is. the Belgian.
army. man for man. Is probably SUI
,sar'ar in COURAGE ana physique to any
a. the allied forces
Here f. the proof and reason: Fully