Winter on the British Front

Levin Daily Chronicle, 20 March 1917, Page 4

Winter on the British Front

V EVERYTHING DONE TO' MITIGATE HARDSHIPS. London, January 19. lleutcr's Agency correspondent at the British front in France, describing conditions at the front, says that a white mantle covers the semi-frozen ground. The weather prophets, whom the gunners alternately praise and curse predict that the weather wflll not become worse, but the trenches are already in a slushy state, and a deplorable moss is inevitable when it really thaws. .Nevertheless tlic conditions in the permanent trenches are better than last winter. "If we are uncomfortable." says the correspondent, "the Germans- are is a far worse plight. Everything is done to mitigate our hardships. Sltin coats, wading 1 boots, mufflers and mittens are provided, while good liot meals are served to the men in the front line trenches. Consequently sickness and trench .feet are reduced to a minimum." Even the men from the southern Overseas Dominions admit that they •can weather it. The correspondent says: I 'am dwelling on this subject is order to let the people .at home know that this phase of war horrors is not pressing so heavily a might 'be expected or imagined. The Agency's correspondent at the French Headquarters, who paid a visit to the Russian sector, says the Russian troop there, who are mostly veterans from the Eastern front, arc finding the weather "mild." The Germans greatly resent the presence of the Russians, and send over gas at every opportunity, but the precautions taken by the ussiane are effective.