Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-15
By Lieut.. J. .H.AT. VEY DOUG
Eourt. Canadian Mounted Rife

municating trench which took us TO
tho front line.
The ordinary trench is narrow enough
for u man wearing full equipment. but
when a relief is going on the trench is
filled with men loaded down like pack
mules waiting TO go out MS soon as the
relief Is completed. We bumped and
equeezcd our way along to tho accom-
paniment of many CALCULATIONS never
heard In Sunday school. At length we
came to the section of trench we were
TO occupy II was on the extreme right
Of the Third Division.
During the day Colonel Ussher. ac-
companied by his adjutant, Captain
Symons. and all the company COM
manders, had gone over the whole line
and each knew thoroughly the peculiari-
ties of the parts of the line with which
they had most to do. y noncommls-
stoned officer from each company, the
machine gun section, etc, had also gone
in ahead to take over trench stores.
CA supply OF such articles as shovels,
rubber hoota' wiring gloves, ammuni-
ton, hand Erenades. etc.) Thus every
thing was in readiness for n quick relief
when We arrived
RELIEF COMPLETED"
In our part Of the line we were met
by our company commander, Lieutenant
Cockshutt. and our company sergeant
major. who superintendent the distrlhu-
lion of the men and arranged refers
for each sentry post. Each man was
shown his alarm post. and at these par
ticular points every man stood TO-
while the relief was going on. At
length tho message Relief Completed
was passed down the line and tho mCu
Of the Seventh Battalion hedycd sigh
Of satisfaction and left the trenches
Nfter n final inspection by the company
commander, tho order "Staud Down
was given, and all but the sGutries OF
duty, the trench officer and trench uou'
commissioned officer sought out spot
In Il dugout or u holo in the side of tht
support trench in Which TO stretch thcii
weary legs.
Az ELEPHANT pCGoUT
Our home, which was known az ar
elephant dusout. was about eight fee
square and was rooted over with very
heavy corrugated steel In tho form o
an arch, each CorruEatioa hcing abou
eight inches broad. This steel roof wa
very strong and served TO support
large amount of earth and sandUag
covered over with u decorating layer O
broken rock, SO that in case Of a Iii
rect hit the shell would explode on tn
outside rather than the inside OF tn
dugout.
l,hc door consisted of n wooden franz
sunk in the wall of sandbags whiCl
closed the entrance. At the top hum
n blanket soaked In chemicals and role,
up in convenient position to b
dropped to close the door in case o
a gas attack.
Inside there was just room to stan,
up. There were two beds made o
wire netting stretched over n woodei
frame. In the center was n small. rUugl
table, where we did all our work an,
ate our meals sitting on the edge o
, the beds 1t was the first time we ha
, had such Il good dugout and we too
great pride in hanging mp our equip
mcnt on nails driven into the sand
bags which closed up the far end o
the arch There was plenty of room, n
on this last tour in the trenches ther
were only three officers In A Company
Lieutenant Cockshutt, Lieutenant Well
= and myself. one was always on duty
) so that the other two could each oc
cupy a bed and snatch little yer
necessary sleep.
= Continued Monday