CANADIANS’ FINE EXPLOITS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1543, 27 April 1916, Page 4

CANADIANS’ FINE EXPLOITS.

WHEN THE WEST COMES EAST THE SPIRIT OF THE TRAPPER In THE TRENCHES. (I'loin flu; Daily Chronicle's special correspondent, Philip Gihbs.J From the German point of vieAV there must be something' horribly disconcerting in the variety of men and methods opposed to them in the trenches, lu spite of the deadly .similarity of trench warfare, there are many differences in the fighting characteristics of British brigades. It is a question of race and temperament and discipline. If I had die misfortune to bo a Gorman soldier I should bate to have the Highlanders anywhere near my place in a trench. They arc fierce and terrible lighting men. The Irish have a peculiar sense of humour Avbieh is not at- all funny to those avlio arc the victims of it. Bombing parties from certain North of England battalions firing terror Avitli them down a German trench. They show no mercy, ami ask for none. . . But for a variety of reasons 1 fancy it must be most nerve-racking to be on the opposite side of the Avay to the Canadians in Flanders.

The enemy never knows wlial those felloavs are going to be up to next. When they are most (juict they are most dangerous. They are hot only inspired by a. restless audacity, but they are so cunning, and so methodical, that they Avill undertake what seems like a wild-cat adventure with curtain death at the end of it, and got back witli hardly a scratch. JOI'T’KK PRAISES CANADIANS.

They have brought the spirit of the trapper to the trenches, and they are very patient in marking down their prey. So it Avas in a recent “cutting out” raid, avliou a party of them—all volunteers—Avent out one night with the astounding intention of getting through the barbed Avire outside one of the strongest German positions. For a small party to got back again from a trench full ot Germans and machine guns is not so easy as escaping from a jungle full of man-eating tigers, and was not considered part of tne programme of Avar before the Canadians gave their exhibition. It was so successful that General Joft'rc has circulated an account of the Canadians’, exploit as a model to the French army. After taking some prisoners and killing about 30 men they came home again witli only tAVO casualties, one caused by accident. To men Avho know the conditions of french Avarfare this exploit still seems fantastic and incredible. It Avas possible only because these Canadians had made cunning of more importance than courage itself, and had adapted bid lessons of Red Indian Avarfare to these ucav conditions of modern Germans did not dare to show their noses for days after this tumble surprise. Canadian scouts came over the ground at night and insulted them ingeniously, but could gef no ansAvor. Little German patrol work is done opposite Canadian trenches. Nor are the enemy ever left >n peace behind the trenches.