TUNNELLERS AT WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16766, 7 August 1916, Page 7

TUNNELLERS AT WORK

OPERATIONS IN FRANCE. MINING ANTD COUNTER-MINING. An interesting account of somo of tho operations of members of tho New Zealand Tunnelling Corps in Franco, and of other incidents that occur in tho filing-line, is given in a letter from ono of tho tunnellers (says the Now Zealand Herald). Following aro some extracts: — "There iiavo been some terrible struggles in this city. Threo tunes tho Germans have had possesion of it, and each time they have been driven out of it at tho point ot Uio bayonet. Tbo lino wo aro holding is about ono mile fiom tho city, and dtfrcnbes, roughly, a half-moon, so that wo aro frequently shelled trorn. diiierent directions. In tiio city itself, tho fchops and houses have underground cellais, into \.hieh the sokheis go when tho blielimg becomes unusually heavy. Thero aro a tew thousand French peoplo left, and som'o ot tho poorer people aro in the habit of leaving tho city as soon as a bombardment commences, to roturn again when it stops. It makes mo more determined than ever to do what I can to help to drive tho Germans back when I heo tho little babies having tbo bumble homes wrecked by the German high explosive shell. Everv day I walk about throo miles through trenches to get to my poet, and vie aro shelled regularly. EXPLOSION OF A MINE. " On Friday iwe put down six shafts, about 100 yards apart. Drives in various directions were then constructed, past our own trenches towards those of tho enemy. Wo heard tho Germans approaching, to we stopped work. Wo listened attentively nntil they got quite close —thoy wanted to get under our trenches and blow our fellows up, but wo loaded our galleries with many tons of powerful explosives. At List everything was ready for firing. We received instructions to complete the act at 10 o'clock at night, and you can imagine that our nerves wero screwed up vejy tightly as wo watched tho minutes go by. The infantry were warned. At last— 'bang'; tho earth trembled, and although I was some distance away it took _mo all my time to keep my feet. I think wo must have fired some of tho enemy's charges as well, and subsequent events have shown that we destroyed many Germans and their plans considerably. The galleries that we constructed prior to tho explosion were 70ft below the surface of the ground. FEW CASUALTIES. "On Sunday tho enemy commenced to pay ua back, and started a terrific bombardment over a front of half-a-mile. Wo wore subjected to fire from all sorts of guns, up to 6in, at tho rate of about 1000 an hour for two and a half hours. We have had few casualties, considering that wo

have been under firo and in tho -vicinity of tho front trenche., for two months. A d.iy or two ago 1 w.im on duty between our tunnels Our ticnchos were being Immbardcd, and wore bi'nig knocked to pieces Trees with a trunk diameter of 2ft blown to bits, and liugo holes \.oro torn in (ho ground every yard or nvo. Home of tli n men were almost roasted with tho high explosive {.hells, and thore weie bits ot iron fetuck in sandbags, and huge pieces of wood everywhere. Tho (o.oat miners aro uphndid workers. They shift ground in a rn,ir\ ellouo manner. Our men ;ue planted 14 days' leave, and are advanced w.igifl and get free steamer and tram fares to any part of England, Scot land, cr Ireland A d.iv or two aro, I went to see a battorv of eonco iled in an old chalk pit. Just as 1 pot there an order camo to immediately open lapid lire on a spot two miles away. It was a revelation to see the gunneis working. 'Lhcy «pran<» to action, and in a moment or two evei\ '.run w.i.s eliolls at an astonishing pace. The man at th" breech slipped on ploves as the handle grew hot. Soon the order camo to ccase fire. AI.T, KINDS OF MISSILES. "All kinds of missiles aro hurled at us in tho trenches. Tho 'whizbang' is very quick to explode, and you cannot seo it leave tho gun Tho coal-box 1 is like an oil drum, and is up to 1201b in weight. It contains a lot of biokcn bottles and nails and other rubbish, but one can seo it coming. It makes a fearful noiso when it explodes. The 'sausage' is shaped like one; ono can seo it coming through tho air, a,nd can dodgo it. The 'peard,rop' is quick and deadly, while tho aerial torpedo is a big powerful monster, with blades li_ko_ firo attached to it. It makes quick deviations, and one is nevor sure which way it will fiin.illv land. So far as shell-fire goes we can '1 tho Germans five to one, and we often compol them to stop firing."