TRENCH-MAKING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 9

TRENCH-MAKING

DUCK-WALKS AND "A" FRAMES

ENGINEERS WORK AT TRENTHAM

J Mining in trench-making is included in (.he syllabus of the New Zealand eoldier. At Trontham the trenches, which are modelled on those in Flanders, have jjrown and spread far and wide. Every torn of underground thoroughfare haa been made. But, except in very wet weather, these trenches are all in dry ground. On active service, the duckwalk is tho rule rather than ihe exception in the trenches. And that being the case, it is advisable that soldiers should havo acquaintance with this form of trendies ns well as with, the dry one. To provide this actual experience, a communication trench over a quarter of a mile long is being mado from tho roar lino of the existing trenches to the hills. A road and a creek happened to intervene, but the Engineers, under their officers, all of whom are returned soldiers, do not lot these obstacles interfere with their purpose. Tho road, which is mot with first, is.being tunnelled under. This is a heavy and a wot job. At each end —for, like the Otira Tunnol, this one is being pierced from both ends—a forcepump lifts tho water out of the depression and eonds it. clear of tho trench. As tho men dig out the stones and earth they put iu frames that have been made by other gangs. The water nuisancn looks as though it would be a permanont feature. But a deep sump will ,be dug in an out-of-the-way place and the water drained thither, while the übiquitous duck-walk,will bear the feet of tho passing traveller by the6o subterranean ways. Before the> duck-walks can bo explained, however, there is a stream to be crossed. The soil is not of the kind which would favour the boring of a Channel tunnol. It would be leaky and unpleasant. Therefore the' Engineors, who are helped at different times by different companies of infantry, go over the Stream. The floor of the trench nees gradually to the banks of the stream and a plank bridge is built. This brings tho passenger in the communication trench up to earth level, and to bido him from the enemy high rovetments are mado of solid earth and sods, buttressed by sandbags and A" frames, the soil for the purpose being dug out or bor-Tow-pits" beside the lino of trench. By degrees theso pits are mado so deep that thoy take tho water from the trenolies bv soakage, and thus servo two'purposes. Sometimes they serve three purposes, being converted into T trenches, to fonra firing positions, such as cannot be lnade in a communication trench, when it is desired to protect any portion of the underground road. Across the stream the trench dips again, and presently the duck-walbs that are completed are como to. Tho A frame really resembles an inverted A. The point of the letter is the bottom of the trench, the crossbar carries the duckwalk, and the long arms, made of stout manuka, help to hold up the walls of the trench firm. The duck-walks .in these new Trentham trenches are inade of round manuka slabs of stout dimension*, stapled and wired on to their bearers. Beneath them the brown water gurgles along, but tho trenches themselves are dry, so far as that affects the soldier. The popular idea of duck-walks is of rough planks squelching in grey mud ft 9 the heavy boots pass and Tepass. lhat is wrong. A duck-walk is u, dry, and dignified place of ambulation. ■ A communication trench, however, is not a place where riflemen may ply their doadly skill against tho enemy. There is no fire-step. It would seriously impede traffic. But it is only in certain places that it is over desirable to use a rifle in a communication trench. In every maze of trenches there aro always etronj posts, usually ou rising ground, wliore the men on duty must fight "to tho death knock." The battle iriny rage up and down other trenches, bu.t at theso places the foo must be hold. When such a place, or an adjoining favourable position for attack, happens to be near a communication trench, a T trench is run out at one or both sides. And tnero tho fighting men carry on their game m death, whiln Iho busy thoroughfare's traffic remains undisturbed by tlieir strenuous labours. . All Ihese thinzs are hptnpr mado in the now trenches-at Trentham. -And the duck-walk* will lead at length to strong posts in I vouchee on (he sides of the hills themselves-such trenclios .as yore made and held on Gnl.lipoh in that great campaign. ■