Bisbee daily review., 1917-09-02
TRENCH DIGGING
 FOR TOMMY VERY
 T|RESOME WORK
The Life of a Fatigue Squad
 Which Goes Near Line and Works on Trenches Inter- esting But Tiresome Work

BEHIND BRITISH LINES IN FRANCE, August 2S.-(Corresponu- ence of the Association Press )-Six o'clock on an August morning. The sun, although not yet very high in the sky, is streaming down on ground al ready baked by many rainless swelter- ing days. It is as hot as midday, al though signs of a storm are in the air, storm that has ben threatening for days and yet never comes. In the dusty village street a platoon is just forming up preparatory to going out 'on fatigue" working party going up ro the back of the front" which means about two miles behind the front line. Breakfasts were eaten half an hour ago, washing and shaving ana all the other decencies of a British soldiers life were performed even earlier.
 The platoon commander has a very spruce appearance, with well polished boots and buttons and belt. He has the face of a boy and looks as though in normal times he would still be at school, the moustache he wears seems to be having a real struggle for eX- istence, yet there is a set of the jaw and poise of the head which speaks of experience in command which in ordinary times would not develop un- til ten years later.
 The platoon moves off after being critically inspected by its commander The heat soon begins to tell its tale ! in perspiring faces and loosened jack cts, and the men look longingly at the closed cafes and estaminets as they leave the village. There is march of mile to the Royal Engineers Dump" where the platoon obtains it's tools for the days work. Arrived there, rifles are slung across the back and each man takes a pick or shovel. Next to the rifle, he has been told, these are his best friends at the front. There is still two miles of marching to the scene of the days labor, miles during which the rifle on the soldiers i back and the pick or shovel in his hand grown inConceivably heavy and hot. At the appointed rendezvous the party is met by non-commissioned of ficer of the Royal Engineers, who points out the work to be done-a length of new trench to be dug. Equip ment and coats are removed and stack ed near by, each man is given his ! task.
 At first the task seems incredibly heavy owing to the sweltering heat, but that soon wears off and the men plug along steadily at their job, a nat ural spirit of competition urging the majority to make as good show as their neighbors. The turf is carefully removed first and stacked ready for further use, to serve as a cover for the fresh earth of parapet and pana- dos. Work proceeds as steadily as the heat permits; in boiling hot weather ther must be occasional breaks, and in short time something that looks like trench begins to appear.
 At midday there is a diversion. An aeroplane is seen overhead. The off cer's glasses reveal the enemy mark ings on the wings, and in a very few seconds a British machine comes dashing out of the clouds to oppose it. Those interesting evolutions known as
 'maneuvering for position" begin. with occasional sputtering of machine guns as one or the other gets into advantageous position. Gradually the ! British aviator drives the German low CT until he is within range of the antr- aircraft artillery. The German per ceives his danger and decides to slope homewards. His stay has not been long, but it was evidently long enough for him to spot the position of the working party, for soon after he re tursn shells begin to come over from the German batteries in unpleasant proximity to the work.
 The officer in charge quickly comes to a decision and gives an order. Ev- eryone ceases work and gets into the partly dug trench, where they stay getting what cover they can, until the burst of fire ceases as suddenly as It began Casualties number four. one man killed. three slightl ywounded, so slightly that after the use of field dressing they are content to sit and smoke and wait for the rest of the party before going back.
 Work goes on with an hours rest and several short breaks until three o'clock, when the men form up once