Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-26
WATER CARRIERS DARE:
BATTLEFIELD HORRORS
Former Parliament Member Tells Of
Experiences in Supplying Thirsty
Fighting Men at Front.
WORK DONE DURING DARKNESS
Stumble Oycr Comrades Bodies as
They Founder Through Muddy
Shell Holes Under Fire of Both
English and German Guns.
[Correspondencs o. Associated press. !

Correspondence OF Associated Press.I
LONDON, November 25.-Carrying
water TO the thirsty fighting men in
the front-line trenches through
double barraSe or bursting shells from
both British and German guns. while
the multi-colorcd flares from the Ger
man trenches cast weird light over
a shell-rivcn battle field puts TO test
the nerve and courage of tho bravest.
Yet the work must DO done while the
battle is in progress.
Stumbling over the bodies OF dead
comrades or falling exhausted among
them. floundcrinE through the mud O,
into shell craters, the water carrier
yet must struggle on till he reaches
the first line. unless death relieve.
him OF the task. a vivid story Of
one such journey is told by Victor
Grayson. formerly member OF tho
British Parliament, now serving as
private in the British army.
az found myself one Of a party de-
tailed to carry up rations TO the front
line trenches through a dual barrarc
he writes. I'VE all knew that the
boys up the line were to hon over
1T daybrcak the following morning
but We were not aware until our ser
geant-major told us that they had
been without rations for twelve hours
LAS much as the mud would per
NIT, our pace was spccded UP. and
we were soon in line upon the duck
BOARDS tboardwalits laid in mud. my
self and my Immediate companions
each lacen with two petrol tins Of
water.
"The front line was about two miles
away. For the first part OF the Jour
ney bright moon made the travelling
comparatively easy Eut suddenly the
duck boards ended. tho moon cor,pletc
~ disappeared and tho resulting dark
ness acted like a signal to the on
posing batteries. The air was torn
with the howls and shrieks OF shells
SPLASH INTO SHE'LL HOLES
AS EXPLOSIVES BURST NEARBY
1T became matter OF infinite care
and considerable skill to pick our wav
between tho deep shell holes. which
were sometimes so close together as
to be divided only by a sloping ridge
OF less than foot in width. The on
envy was firing wild and shells wer.
exploding on all sides with n propin.
guilty that made IN involuntarily duel,
our heads and wait for the Inevitable
shower of dirt and mud, or worse
Every now and then a man would
lose his footing, and he and his cans
would roll with a splash into raninr
she'll hole.
1T seems uncomfortable even irrevcr-
ent, that one should laugh in the midst
OF such horrors. But when 7 saw nv
pal In front dart away from mep.c-
Ing shell-burst on the right. straight
INTO the arms. SO to speak, OF a muddy
shcll-hole on the left, laughed till n
stitch came into my side.
when We reached the suppor,
trenches, halt was callcd-not a mo-
mcnt too soon-for a rest. NY water
cans had become amazingly heavy. and
all of us were painting as We crouchcd
beside our comrades who were waiting
in the support trench. in reserve |
had recently suffered from a cold. and
i heartily wished that my Journey
might soon end. After five minutes we
started out again. and the sergeant
major set 4 pace that I knew I could
not sustain. Gradually I felt myself
falling behind. and every fresh effort
to catch up with my party only served
to increase my exhaustion and limit
my breath At last, with a feeling Of
utter desolation. l fell beside my cans
The flares revealed to me that should
lose contact with my hurrying com
radcs. and the mad music OF the hurt