THE HINDENBURG TUNNEL

Taihape Daily Times, 28 January 1918, Page 6

THE HINDENBURG TUNNEL

Some further details which I have gathered to-day regarding the famous Hindenburg support tunnel may serve to bring home the magnitude of the feat which the British Third Army has accomplished writes Philip Gibbs from the western front at the beginning of December. Execavated and construct: ed entirely by Russian prisoners, this tunnel runs under the ground at an average depth of 40ft. for a distance of 13 miles. Practically the whole length of it is in our possession. The tfailure of the mines* which were found to bo sown at frequent intervals to explode when the electricians switched on the contact caused bitter rage and disappointment to the watching Huns in the fear. The story of jusf how we discovered the wire leads and cut them is one of those little romances which must await the telling for the present. At about every 35 yds or eo in the concreted roof of this electrically-lit gallery are exits which arc so cunningly contrived that they' are as nearly bomb-proof as is humanly possible. The habitable nualties of the innumerable nests of ~311-fur-nisher! chambers are cxcellr-t and very large supplies of food, drink, and tobacco are still being unearth-d. It is small wonder that the Germans boasted that their defensive line was Impregnable.