Soldiers who have been fighting near Roye say that the hostile
trenches there are only fifteen yards apart at some points, so
that the enemies can hear each other talking. Last week a company
of sappers were misled by the darkness right into a German trench,
where a squad of Teuton sappers were at work. The men fought in
the dark with picks and shovels until rifles also began to crack,
whereupon each side drew back.
French cemeteries, with their strong stone tombs, sometimes play an
important part in the hostilities. Thus the Germans have intrenched
themselves on a cemetery height near Roye and have made it a strong
position. The vaults offer a safe shelter against rain and shrapnel,
while metallic coffins have been placed along the edge of the
trenches as a protection against rifle fire.
"OUR LUCK WAS IN."
A thrilling incident in the wonderful retreat of the British from
Mons is described by Sapper Wells of the Royal Engineers, who passes
lightly over his own part in an extraordinary act of heroism.
"One of our officers asked for a man to go with him to blow up a
bridge, so that the Germans could not follow us, and I went with
him," says Wells.
"Well, to blow a bridge up we use guncotton and a wire fuse. It is
safe enough if you take your wire well away, but this time it would
not work. Our men in running back had stepped on the wire, so we
had to go nearer to the bridge and try again. Even then it would
not act, so the officer said to me, 'Get out of the way, Wells.' I
said, 'No, I'll go with you.' We were the only two on the bridge and
the Germans were shooting at us, but our luck was in. Well, we both
lay down and I fired ten rounds at the guncotton with my rifle, and
he did the same with a pistol, but it wouldn't work. If it had we
should have gone with it, so you see what a shave we had. We made
a dive back and got some more guncotton, and were making to have
another go when an officer ordered us back, saying it was no use
trying."
"IN HONOR BOUND."
A photographer in Southampton row showed outside his studio an
apt comment on the war. Last September the Duke of Westminster
and other British sportsmen sent round a circular letter asking
for subscriptions to the Olympic games to be held in Berlin, and
in the request were the following words: "In honor bound, Great
Britain must send a team to Berlin, and ... this object can only
be accomplished by efficient organization and adequate financial
support."
The photographer has written below by way of comment: "The response
to the above appeal has been most successful. The money has been
found and the team, most thoroughly equipped, is now on its way to
Berlin. Very little doubt exists that all the prizes will fall into
its arms."