BAPTISM OF FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11478, 28 August 1915, Page 7

BAPTISM OF FIRE.

OFFICER'S FIRST VISIT TO TROCHES. " NO3CDY SUMS 10 MIND." The following narrative comes from an officer at the front, who describes the impressions created by a first visit \\> the trenches: My greatest excitement this week has been a twenty-four hours' instructional visit to the trenches. Two officers and myself were taken up to within three and a half miles of the firing line by motor Hbus. We walked the remainder of the distance, accompanied by a guide. The village at which we alighted was the last place inhabited by civilians. From that point onwards ah was desolat.on. Villages we passed through were entirely depopulated. The deserted state of the p-lacus ana ruinous condition of the buildings had a sobering effect on even the merriest of 'us It is weird marching througt. streets of a deserted town or village-.. 'A kind of chant of desolation arises in the shape of a sobbing echo of your footsteps. Occasiona ly the emptiness and >vi!dern.es effect of the places was emphasised by the appearance of a semi-wild cat. •As we were going through what once, must have been an exceptionally pretty village—now a heap of ruins—a place of exceptional desolation—a lark suddenly burst into song, soaring heavenwards, full of the joy of life. Nothing so forcibly brought home to us the sin and shame of the terrible destruction, wanton and cruel, around ns. A gu.de led lis into the trenches. After much dodging, running and stumbling through communication trenches, we arrived in a ligne de feu —fire trench—to the accompaniment of starlights—bombs fired into the air find bursting into a greenish blue flare, illuminating the country for miles These prevent the enemy suddenly rushing the trenches in the dork. By seven in the evening I was with tho captain of the company to which I was attached. He is a D.S.O. and a most charming man. _ At 9 p.m. he pave us quite a good dinner in a dugout. At ]0 p.m. I went on duty with an officer. All along the trencnea were dug-outs, outside of which were standing fires in braziers. . For the roost part the men were happily sleeping in spite of the incessant sniping that went on. At twelve I retired to bed, only to be wakened up at 4.15 a.m. by a devil, of a bombardment and fusiladc of rifle fire. I crawled out on my hands and knees, thinking that the enemy had determined to destroy my particular dug-out. .1 went into the fire trench to nee if we were being at- | tacked, but discovered that we were i dcrng a 1! the attacking. I joined tho; firing line and fired off about twenty I rounds of ammunition. Thi* affair only lasted half an hour. Ai six o'clock thev retaliated by bombarding our trendies. They missed most of the time, and about twenty Jack Johnsons fell quite chy-.e to me. j Nobody seems to mind. Tho life is very exciting and merry. They all live in comparative comfort. vv.-ll .supplied with warmth and • food. In the afternoon I spent three hours visiting the. ljnos. Among other places I Tveht to Nenre Chape'le—not j a house standing. One hopeless ruin is the unfortunate place which a few weeks ago was one of the sweetest villages or towns imaginable. In one plaop a German field officer was lying crushed beneath the. weight of ruins. W ; « lvend and shoulders were atone visible. 1 nfront of the trenches at this part. are hundreds of dead German*. I have received all yonr parcels. The I eke was beautiful. Do not worry, j War i L « not so dangerous as people imarrine for those who are careful.