The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-17
BRITISH EDITOR
DEPICTS TRUTH
OF The TRENCHES.

An article by Horatio Bottomley,
the well known English editor, en-
titled Somewhere in He'll" tells
what life on the western front is
really like. according to the testi-
ony of a soldier who has seen two
years of it. This soldier, Private
Frank Jarvis of the First Canadian
Mounted Rifles. sent the article to
his brother in New York, with these
remarks: q
"Horatio, during his short visit
to the front, has certainly made a
very good and accurate summation
of the conditions under which our
boys have been fighting for three
years. He portrays the scenes just
about as they really are, and, as you
know, | have been among this sort
Of stuff for just a little over two
years and should be pretty well able
to judge his accuracy on the sub
ject."
Somewhere in HELL" appeared
in Mr.. Bottomley's paper. John Bull.
In it he said: ..@.
Il know it is customary, when
writing from the western front. to
address ones articles from Some
where in France But, after what
/ have seen during the week ] spent
there, l decline to be a party to such
a libel on the fair name of our ally.
Let me tell you some of the things
/ have seen and you shall Judge the
choice of my title-'SomeWher in
He'll have seen hell! Yes, / have
looked through its gates and have
seen the hosts of God fighting the
imps of the devil. And-forgtve the
apparent blasphemy Of the words
God is winning all along the line
Il have seen $4,000 men In hos
of them writhing in all
''I have seen the roads of France
a. mass of shell holes-roads which
were once the wonder of the world
81 have seen bridges and vtaduots
blown out Of existence-except ror'
here and there, a few solitary piers.
'I have seen thousands OF Ger
man prisoners for once earning an
honest living by the sweat of their
brow, and, afterward, being Kept
out of mischief in cage compounds
'I have seen African and Indian
la borers-and Chinese too-helping
to repair the ravages of the Hun.
Il have seen Maya tribes from
northern India chanting their weird
songs, and even doing their wild war
dances, in their rest hours on the
where they were en-
ployed on salvage work.
II have seen a thousand silent
of them inscrib-
ed simply "A British Soldier'-on hill
and mound-on roadside and in
not long ago, they
who now rest there fought like
mighty heroes for the right.
Il have seen the lads in the
II have seen the places where |
towns and villages once stood--noW
no more than masses Of bricks ana /
mortar. and human remains.
II have seen our guns playing up
IN the enemy lines.
II have seen gallant airmen hurt
ing to destruction from the blue
be praised!-l nave
,een the grinning and exultant Hun
Is he came out OF his trenches 70
,ur machine guns.
md villages of France-every WON
IN in black aand not a man OF mill
airy age anywhere.
II have seen the German lines.
'I have seen and talked with Ger
nan prisoners and German wound
ID.
az have seen our wireless stations
the messages OF the
enemy.
Il have seen wonderful women
many Of them rislIing their lves-in
,very department of war work.
7 have seen lords and laborers,
PEERS and peasants, fighting and
'allipg. and resting in silent graves,
iide by side,
Il have been in the first line
200 yards of the
enemy.
7 have been in the reserve lines
which is much more dangerous
han the first.
Il have sat alone with Sir Doug
as Haig and talked Of the great
work upon which he is engaged
ind have learned many things.
And now for what ] have learn
n. we win have the truth from
he trenches, at last. The war is
Won. Germany Is beaten. On every
ront she is weakening-and 1T liz
low only q question of the psyche
oaicaI moment to strike. That
decision rests with one
nan-at least, / hope to God 1t does.
L the politicians will kindly keep
mt OF the ring Haig will very soon
administer the Knockout blow.
II know what I am saying. / do
lot profess TO speak as any military
& aSsalfs