HORRORS OF TRENCHES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1326, 19 November 1914, Page 4

HORRORS OF TRENCHES.

GROANS OF THE WOUNDED.

Evidently with the object of touching the feelings of Americans, Herr Karl von Wiegand, the United press correspondent has been allowed to send to New York from Berlin a remarkable wireless message, W bile predicting on the authority of high German officials at the front, “Victory within a week,’’ Herr Wiegand declares that the German soldiers have been greatly disappointed by the constant sufferings and agony of the wounded, whom it is impossible to relieve. The scarcity of doctors leads to the sacrifice of large numbers of the wounded. Herr Wiegand describes the arrival of a train of wounded in Berlin. “It was crowded to its utmost capacity. Although many of the wounded are very serious cases they did not complain. All declared that the conditions at the front were terrible. They described the fighting as the most bitter in the history of the world. Day and night it continues. First there is an artillery duel, then there is an attempted charge by one side or the other that is checked either with machine guns or by bayonets. At all times the artillery throws its rain ol shrapnel shells on the trenches. Those who are compelled to remain in the trenches find most of them partly filled with water. The slightest move at any point of the line is the signal for a cataract of shells directed to that very point. The groans and cries of the wounded are terrible. They greatly dishearten many of the soldiers who are forced to listen to them and to realise that they can do nothing to relieve the suffering. Only at night is it possible to gather in the wounded, and then if there is the slightest noise made a rapid fire immediately begins."