GIVING TOMMY HIS SPELL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1689, 22 March 1917, Page 4

GIVING TOMMY HIS SPELL.

RELIEVING TIIIC FRONT LINE. KEEPING THE “TRENCH LOG.” Tommy is of Spartan breed, but he cannot withstand the strain of lighting imlelinitely. Overlooking the obvious peril oi! the business, the mere occupaP . of a section of main trench entails a tremendous strain upon the powers of human endurance, for at no hour of the night or day must vigilance be relaxed. So, if his nerves are to remain proof against the roar of big guns, the scream of Hying shrapnel, and the terrors of asphyxiating gas, Tommy must needs be relieved and “rested” at regular intervals. Wonderful, this system of trench reliefs! Wonderful, that is, when one considers the din and chaos amid which it is so coolly carried out. By its means jaded and “nervy” soldiers are regularly withdrawn from the tiring line, replaced by fresh troops, and later returned to duly with buoyant spirits and freshed bodies, often enough under the embarrassing attentions of the enemy. Think of the magnitude of the task —the British line in the west is roughly 100 miles long now —and you will appreciate the perfection of the arrangements which enable us always to keep our advanced trenches manned by alert, formidable soldiers. “CHANGING THE GUARD.” Reliefs are supplied by those troops “resting” in the comparatively sale area behind the trenches. When one company is taking over a section of “ditch” from another, the commanding officer and serge-ant-major of the relieving company, together with some chosen N.C.O.’s, go on in advance of the main body in order to prepare things, for (he troops. This party is met at its destination by the commander of the unit actually in occupation, and the business of transfer is immediately tackled. There an* so many matters to be taken into account in these days of highly-organised warfare that the work is by no means so light as may be imagined.

First there must be a tour of inspection over the whole section occupied. The O.C. of the company being relieved —Jet us call it A and the other B—accompanied by the commander of B, goes carefully and minutely over the trench, pointing out the various sentry posts, all the danger spots where exposure may mean death at the hands of an enemy sniper, what work is under way, and the strong and weak points of the German position; he imparls all the information in his possession regarding the enemy, and generally puls (he O.C. of B Company wise on every matter that he can. The business is really very like stocktaking in a city warehouse—everything must be accounted for, and the merest I rill e considered.

The meanings of the notices appearing on the walls of the trench are also explained. “Beware of the ginger- headed German!”; that cautions ail and sundry that the Ilun sniper with the ruddy locks is a holy terror with his ritlo. “Keep your head down here!” appearing below a shell-torn part of the parapet means it: is courting disaster to show even one’s cup for a moment while passing this point. Then there is the topography of the trench to be studied, and the commander of

the relieving company must know what “mobs” (Tommy’s slang term for regiments) are on the Hank of. the section he is taking over, the special activities they are engaged upon, and the amount of co-opera-tion that exists between them. Likewise he is made thoroughly conversant with the geography of “No Man’s Land” —that strip of ground between the rival trenches. All the knowledge of this area that scout patrols have garnered is passed on to the new arrival. Enemy bombing saps made and in the making have to ho, noted.

Generally it is the C.O. who concerns himself with the trench and its many problems, and the serge-ant-major, acting on his instructions, whn attends to his arrangements for manning if. While the C.O.’s are touring the “ditch” there is a consultation taking place between the two S.M.'s and the platoon sergeants of the company in possession, at which the general routine observed in the section is elucidated, and matters affecting the rank and file fully talked over. Amungst a hundred and one other tilings (tie S.AI. notes the parts of the line lo which to send his various platoons, so that when these arrive on the spot there will lie no confusion and loss of time —perhaps life, for muddles are always dangerous. Then he takes Ids own advance N.G.O.’s aside and gives his instructions to them. When all arrangements have geen Completed, (ho C.O. of B Company takes possession of the “trench log,” wherein must he recorded all that takes place, and the arrival of the relieving company is awaited —calmly by Idm, maybe, but not so by the Tommies on duly, who are eager to be back at their rest billets and a little relaxation.

Shortly it comes, ami it matters neither to A Company nor to B Company that the enemy, suspecting this circumstance, starts peppering the, spot with lead. They are used to such malicious attentions. The newly arrived lot are led into the main trench, still occupied by the other company, and marched oil to their respective positions by the advance N.C.O.'s. Without loss of lime, old sentries are relieved and new ones posted, ollicers standing by see that the duties are properly explained to the latter and clearly understood. Then the other men are shown 1 lie dugouls and shelters available tor them; after which “flood luck” is wished between the two companies, and the relieved troops conducted down the communication trench. Scarcely is the last man gone than the battalion commander (in the supports) gets word by ’phone that the relief has been successfully executed —it that is the case —as it nearly always is. So. then, is the notable task of relieving (he tiring-line accomplished. Some days and some 1 nights, perhaps fairly quiet, perhaps thrilling in the extreme, will pass before the latest occupants are withdrawn; but at the end of that period they will be relieved. British organisation set's (o thiil. And Totality fights the better for knowing (hat headquarters si tiff is .as considerate of his health and comfort as it can be in the circumstances.