The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-10-25
DR. ADAM DESCRIBES
LIFE IN TRENCHES
Heard Germans Talking a Pew Yards
Prom Him. No Young Men Seen
Excerpt In Army. Feeling in Europe
That War May End Suddenly.

Excerpt In Army. Feeling IN Europe
That War May End Suddenly.
Rev. DR.. John Douglas Adam, pro-
fessor at the Hartford Theological
Seminary, returned early this week
after having been on voyage to
England and France, where he saw
how the war was being waged in the
trenches. His description Of his ad-
ventures 10 "Courant" representa-
tive who called on him at his home
last night is full of interest and his
message is fresh from the war strick-
en- country.
about ten weeks ago. said DIR.
Adams, II set sail for "A British port
On the way over a submarine was re-
ported but ! did not see it, myself.
A number Of people on the boat saw
the periscope, and reports were re-
seiycd later Of submarines in that
vicinity.
London was more brilliantly light
cd than on previous visit the summer
before This was because air raids
were being made in the day time.
"There was an abundance Of food
except meat. The allowance of meat
for each meal was not more than
five ounces before cooking, but some
restaurants exceeded the limit, Sugar
was scarce, almost none being avail
able. This worked no terrible hard
ship except that little preserving of
fruit could be done, and fruit was a
glut on the market.
II went to the war zone by courtesy
of the British government, and we
were escorted by three warships to
France. From the port Of landing to
the chateau reserved for the govern
ments visitors, which was three and
one-half hours by fast motor, l found
not single field untitled. Every inch
was titled and bearing harvests Of
oats, wheat, beets. or beans. The har-
vest, which was fair, was taken in by
women, children and old men. saw
no civilian young men during the
Journey.
"The chateau was an interesting
18th century pile surrounded by a
moat The first night at dinner said
tothe major in charge: There is a
good deal Of lightning in the air to-
night as | saw the flashes from the
window. That is not lightning; II is
shell fire., he said, and this was my
first sense Of being near the war zone.
"The next morning we were in
structed how to put on the gas mask
and we started of for the trenches
with our gas masks and steel helmets
TO protect us against shells. During
the 500 miles which motored while in
France and Flanders, saw no private
motor or carriage. The only privately
owned vehicles were the farm wagons
in the fields.
when got into the war zone the
6rst thought that struck me was the
wanton way in which the Germans
had cut down the avenues of beautiful
trees. Miles of them had been cut in |
three sections by the roadside. As we
came closer and sat down on one Of
these fallen trees and had lunch, five |
kal tn Id IN. nl, ,ntn ,,rl
field. After lunch | was escorted to
the trenches, passing scores of ambul-
ances, ammunition and food wagons, |
and soldiers returning to their billets
and going TO the trenches. The roads
are wonderful, considering the great
amount Of traffic, and they are kept up
in admirable shape.
II passed up through the commun-
icating trenches, from the second to
the first, and finally into the sap
beyond the first line. There we were
twenty yards from the Germans and
could hear them speaking, and prob
ably they could Lear us speak, for on
our way back they shclled US and the
shells fell within twenty or thirty
yards from US so that we shook the
dust they made from our clothes. Ii
was remarkable TO see the spirit ard
bearing Of the men in close quarter,
their courage, self control, and good
humor, and it was gratifying to see
the men have good food, well cooked,
brought into the first line trench.
"on another day went TO Arras
and saw the ruin of that city. The
ruin was almost complete, the dcvas-
tation indescribable, and yet there
were numbers of people living in eel |
lars. One old woman came up to me I
Ms was looking around near the /
cathedral and said: Over 100 shells ,
hit my house, but am living safely ,
now in the cellar
"Baupaumc. which visited, was not |
ruined by shells bu; by high explosives
which the Germans blew il up with. I
One evidence that they intended to !