Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-06
CHAPTER y.
"I'hc Days Work."

] WAS fast learning that there is a
regular routine about the work OF the
trenches. although 1t is badly upset at
Times by the Germans.
The real work In the fire trench COM
menccs at shutdown. Tommy is like
n burglar-hc works at night.
Just as II begins to get dark the
word stand to- is passed from traverse
to traverse. and the men get busy.
The first relief, consisting Of two men
TO traverse. mount the fire step. one
man looking over the top. while the
other sits at his feet, ready to carry
messages or to inform the platoon Of
hccr of any report made by the sentry
as to his observations in mo mans
land" The sentry Is not allowed to
relax his watch for second. If he
is questioned from the trench or ask
cd his orders. he replies without turn
ing around or taking his eyes from tho
cxpanse of dirt in front of him. The
remainder of the occupants OF his ira
verse either sit on the fire step. with
bayoncts fixed. ready for any cmcr-
Gcncy. or If lucky, and a dugout hap
pens 10 be in the near vicinity Of the
traverse, and if tho night Is quiet
they are permitted TO go TO same AMI
try and snatch a few winks of sleep.
Little sleeping is done; generally the
mon SIT around, smoking Tags and sec
ing who can tell the biggest lie. Some
Of them perhaps. with their feet in
water. would write home sympa thizing
with the governor" because he was
laid up with cold, contracted by get.
ting his feet wet on his way to work
in Wrolwich arsenal. II man should
manage to dozc on likely as not he
WOULD wake with start as the clam
my. cold feet cf 4 rat passed o:er his
face. or the next relief stepped on his
stomach while stumbling on their way
to relieve the "cntries in tho trench.
Just try TO sleep witt; a belt full. Of
ammunition around YOU. your rifle bolt
biting into %our ribs intrcnching tool
handle sticking Into the small OF your
back. with a tin :sat for a pillow: and
feeling very damp and cold. with COO
ti"e' boring for oil in your armpi;s.
the air foul from the stencil Of Erimv
human bodies and smoke from n juicy
pine being Whitfield into your rostrls.
then YOU Will not wonder why Tommy
occasionally takes turn in the trench
for rest.
While IN fro1t-line trench. orders
forbid Tommy from removing his boots.
Dnttc"s. clothing or equipment. The
coolies take advantage OF ;hi- order
ard mobilize their forces, and Tommy
'wcarS vengeance or them and nut
tors :" himself. ".Tus; wait until hit
'"st hili"ts and :.m able to get my
uw.I back
JUS, hrfo-" daylight tho MGR turn
-" and tunhic out >: ;ho dugorts.
nHr the Gre sicp nrt,i X gets light.
or IN" welcome order. stand down"
= given. Somc,i lines before stand
down" i ordered the command five
rounds lapid." - passed along the
trench. This means that each nan
must rest Ills rifle ON the top and fire
as rapidly as possible five shots aimed
toward tho German trenches, and then
duck twith tho emphasis on the
"duck'o. There iG a grc.t: rivalry be
tween the opposing forces TO get their
rand fire OF nrs,. bccauac the early
bird in this instance, catches the
worm-sort OF gets the iumD on the
other fellow, catching him unawarce.
We had sergeant in our battalion
named Warren. He was or duty with
his platoon in the fire trench one after
noon when orders came UP from the
rear thar hs had been granted seven
days leave for Blighty. and would be
relieved at . o'clock to proceed to Eng
land.
IIe was ,icklcd to death at these
welcome tidinSs. and RECALLED his more
or less enviuus mates beside him OH
the fire step with a muttered. I'll send
over couple Of souvenirs 10 Fritz, so
That he'll miss nc when I leave" he
stuck his rifle over tnc top ani cred
two shots. when crack went a bullet
and he tumblcd off the stcp, fell into
the mud at the bottom of the trench.
ard lay still in a huddlcd heap with
bullet hole III his forehead.
At about the time he expected to
arrive at Waterloo Station he was laid
10 rest In little cemetery behind the
lines. lie had gone TO BliEhty.
In the trenches one can never tell
IL Is not safe 10 plan very far ahead
After stand down" the men sit on
the nre step or repair to their respec-
tive dugouts and wait for the rum
issue to nlatcrialiZe. Immediately
following the rum. comes breakfast
BROUGHT up from the rear. Sleeping is
then In order, unless some special
work turns up
Around 1880 dinner shows up
when this is eaten the men try to
amuSe themselves until tea" apnears
at about o'clock. then stand to-" and
they carry on as before.