The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-07-24

H7HEN we took our position in the
w front line trenches in Belgium
we relieved the Twenty-sixth
Canadian battalion. Scouts from that
organization came back to the villages
of Dinkiebusch and Renninghelst to
tell US how glad they were to see us
and to show us the way in. AS we
proceeded overland. before reaching
the cOInmunicat ton trenches at the
front. these scouts paid US the hospita
BILE attention due strangers-that u.s.
one of them. leading a platoon. would
say:
Next 200 yards in machine gun
range. Keep quiet, don't run and be
ready to drop quick if you are warned"
There was one scout to each platoon,
and we followed him single file. most
of the time along roads or well worn
paths. but sometimes through thickets
and ragged fields. Every now and then
the scout would yell at us to drop.
and down we'd go ON our stomachs.
while away off in the distance we
could hear the output of machine
guns. the first sound of hostile firing
that had ever reached our ears.
Its all right said the scout
'.They haven't seen us or got track of
US. They're just firing on suspicion.
Nevertheless. When our various pla-
toonS had all got into the front reserve
trenches. at about two hours after mid
night. we learned that the first blood
of our battalion had been spilled. Two
men had been wounded. though neither
fo fol IN Dnt .bor
took orr wounded back to the field
hospital at Dinkiebusch The men of
the Twenty battalion, spent the
rest of the night instructing us and
then left us to hold the position We
were as nervous as a lot of cats. and
it seemed to me that the Germans
must certainly know that they could
come over and walk right through US.
but outside of few casualties from
sniping, such as the one that befell
the Fourteenth platoon man, which !
have told about, nothing very alarming
happened the first day and night. and
by that time we had got steady on our
job We held the position for twenty
six days, which is the longest period |
that any Canadian or British organiza-
ton has ever remained in a front line |
trench
In none of the stories I've read have |
l ever seen trench fighting as it was |
carried on In Belgium adequately de- |
scribed. You see. you can't get much |
Of an idea about thing like that max
ing quick tour of the trenches Under
official direction and escort as the
and magazine writer's dc.
| couldn't undertake to tell anything
worth while about the big issues Of the
war. but ! can describe how soldiers
have to learn to fight in the trenches.
and think good many of our young
fellows have that to learn now. over
here they don't talk of peace or
even Of tomorrow. They sit back and
AXE 1t.
We always held the fire trench as
lightly as possible. because it is
fact that the front ditch
'annot be successfully defended In q
determined attack The thing we did
ind the thing 10 do is to beoready to |
Jump on to the enemy as soon as be
las got into your front trench and is
ighting on ground that you know and
le doesn't and knock so many kinds
# tar out Of him hat he'll have to pull
lis load for spot that isn't so warm
hat system worked first rate with us
During the day we bad only very
ew men in the fire trench II an at
ack is comm. IN dayIht there's al
vays plenty Of time % get ready for t
! At night we kept prepared for q
rouble all the time We had night r
entry on each firing step and a man \
lifting at his feet 10 watch him 10 see u
e wasn't secretly snined Then we q
ad sentry in each hay of the 3
'ench to take messages
Orders didn't permit the MAN on the Q
ring step or the man watching him II
, icnre post on any excuse whatever r.