BITTER TRENCH FIGHTING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2687, 5 February 1916, Page 13

BITTER TRENCH FIGHTING

A ANCIENT METHODS IN THE WEST, Tho special correspondent of tho German journal "Vossisclie Zeitung" on tlie western front sends to his paper the following description of tho present fighting: Once more the opposing forces ate in trenches alongside one another. In Flanders, Ai't°> s i Champagne, and liorraino they stand waiting and watching. But there is a difference from the midsummer days. It is more desperate, more' virulent more cruel. Tho embitterment caused by tho great September offensive still vibrates in the air. Hitherto the wildest and most merciless fighting had taken place in the Argonne. The wooded country, with its thickets and shrubs, favoured this war"fare. The Argonne "type" becamo known along the whole front —tho picture of a savage, torn, grimy warrior, reminiscent of thoso primeval days when .men fought .with cannibals and wild animals.

This type is no longer oonfined to the Argonne. It has become general. The same horrible methods are being adopted all along the line. Victory again lies in hand-to-hand fighting. The oldest forms of weapon are used in combination with the most modern engines of science devised for killing and destruction. The iron arrows and fire arrows of the airmen recall ancient days. The slings used for _ pitching trench mines hardly differ in principle from seme of tho Roman weapons. The liquid fire is also an echo of far-off days, Steel helmets and shields have once again been introduced by French and Russians.

The dreadful favourite instrument of to-day—the hand grenade—played -an important rolo in the seventeenth century. After practically disappearing for 150 yoars it lias now again acquired a tremendous importance. Even tlio old vjisor has onco again come to the surface, but now not as a protection agaiust sword-cuts but against the vapours of poisonous gasos. It is not only men but horses also who - liavc to wear this protection when crossing tho poison zone. In these conditions sways tho battle to. and fro, with thrusting and wrestling, throttling and biting, witli knife and bayonet) rifle-butt and spade. And daily the General Staff reports "Nothing new" or "Nothing of special importance." The bitterness grows, t.lie mutual scorn deepens, until some day, when tho enemy lias accumulated a sufficient stock of munitions, he will attempt another assault. Till then the bloody, murderous warfare from trench to trench will continue, with its sacrifice upon sacrifice. One stands impotent and mournful before the blind fury of fate. >