The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-06
TRENCHES
 AT NIGHT IN BOATS
 FAV0R|TE PAST|ME
Belgians Take Prisoners While Sightseeing in Boats Over Flooded
 French Area

Washington, November 5.-Night trench raiding by means of boats and portable bridges Is not an infrequent occurrence in the flooded portions of the front held by the Belgian troops. Stories of such feats are told in 8 cablegram received here today by the Belgian legation.
 "In order to see what was in the German trenches" says the dispatch, Corporal Jean Leenearts, accompanied by two men, Corneille Vanderbroscll and Francois Pastereurs, set out in a small boat on voyage of discovery across the flooded country. Having satisfied themselves as to the lay of the land, they made signal to their comrades. The officer in command, substitute Lieut.. Louis Antoine, imme- diately sent forward some patrols and formed a Junction with a detachment of French troops. One of the Belgian patrols. consisting of only eight men, made 21 prisoners at the farm of Nen uphars, east of Blankaart pond. Ser geant vernaegan, who led this pa trol, has told history in these words:
 UNIQUE WORK
 AT looked through some of the enemy works on the west side of the stream, but finding no one I CrOSSc0 tuo dcTIldu IOOL UTluSe to the other side and reached the farm. Post- ing six of my men around the trench, took the seventh with me and en- tered the shelter. holding by browning In one hand the Belgian flag in the other so that the French could recog- nize us. The German adjutant was taken by surprise and held up his hands. saw 20 of the enemy and yelled to the rest of my men, who at I- T s~- a wink. we disarmed the whole lot. I then trotted my prisoners safely back about 1000 yards and turned them over'
 While these eight men were taking their q prisoners, Sergeant Guillaume Mellebeek. over at the farm known as The Magpie,' was busily engaged in do- ing his bit by capturing nine prisoners.
 MORE PRISONERS
 "Cn tho night of the 29th an Soth of October. the Belgians again did brisk business in taking prisoners. After a violent artillery preparation, three de- tachments of Belgian rifle corps dashed forward to the German trenches on this sector, 'moped them up and psht back number of prisoners as well as supplies and munitions. To accomplish this operation, the Belgians had to ad- vance more than half mile over No Mans Land, across boggy country, cut by overflowing canals and filled with shell holes, an to carry with them foot brige weighing 600 pounds.
 Protected by very accurate barrage fire. the Belgians were able to get vStt- ing 80 yards of the enemy trenches ,and, then, at the signal, they dashed forward and in 20 seconds were In the trench. where they took IA prisoners.
 When the detachment of Belgians jumped into the trench, they found eight more Germans, two of them worCded, in a shelter; in another shelter were six of the enemy who refused to surrender and who were killed When the thirp, Belgian detachment came up they found only dead bodies in the first line trench;. in the second trench there was nlo one at all.
 "The Belgians returned from this ex- petition with great quantity of supplies and munitions besides the prisoners.