WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

WAR NOTES.

LATEST THING IN TRENCHES. The latest thing in trendies is to he seen with the Italians, who profit Inlast winter's experience of the French and Belgians and are making ready for next winter's campaign—if there "must needs be one (writes the correspondent of a New York paper). Thev have studied the places for them with the greatest care. A valley, f o r example, is crossed liy several li'nes of trenches with large spaces between them. hi one place, for a width of three miles, you muy count 'one hundred trenches running up the mountainside to left and right. The foothills, spurs, and projecting points are full furrowed with them. Not a dead point is left and each yard of land within view of the trendies, for a great distance, would have to he conquered under fire of tliß defenders. '

For that matter, the Germans nearly a year ago sent into the north of France an army of 250,000 excavators and carpenters to prepare the line of trenches where their army stopped and held on its retreat from the Battle of the Marne. These laborers are now replaced by men and machines to break stones and mix gravel and sand with cement and by auto-drags for trench-dig-ging. Miles and miles of trenches are constructed rapidly. The French have constructed as many miles to hold their own positions—and so a war of invasion has become an immense, endless siege-war.

One who has been with tho Italians describes some of these newest trenches The trench is constructed in reinforced concrete. It is covered with turf and grass; and in some places the Italian soldiers have planted flowerbeds on the top At a half-mile distance, no one could see the least sign of a treaeh. The interior is dry and clean The floor is of wood. A board is placed u ii rest against which soldiers lean t« fire and to aim through the battlemental openings. While comrades are watching they can sleep there and plaj at cards or amuse themselves as they choose. They need not suffer too many privations there m winter ■ Such trenches also have little to fear from infantry attacks or from aviators' bombs. There might be danger f»»m mines The real danger comes from the. enemy's artillery finding the range. Then, where all is quickly over in men cartli trenches, in these cemented works the tragedy endures a little longer.

CANADA'S HELP. As an incentive 10 our people, an extract from a letter just received from a large manufacturing company in Toronto will repay perusal. The writer states: "We are indeed realising what war means and what war costs. The whole of Canada since our losses commenced has taken on a serious and determined attitude, and the cry is'more troops, and more troops' Recruiting is active everywhere One thing we ara all determined, and that is oir. men shall never go up against the Germans again with but four machine-guns to a battalion whilst the Germans have four or five times as many, with the result—an unequal contest Our brave fellows were literally mowed down when getting to the Germans to bayonet them. The Canadian Government has arranged .to double the number of machine-guns to each battalion, and the Canadian people by private subscriptions have arranged to more than double what the Government is doing. All societies, sporting clubs, towns, villages, organisations of every sort, including the ministerial associations are subscribing for machine-guns. Tire response has been so spontaneous that the Government has cried halt, the millions sukscribed being more than enough. We have sent over 75,00(1 men overseas, have another 75,000 nearly ready, and recruiting is to go on steadily without limitation. Our own regular militia, battalions, such as the Queen's Own, Highlanders, Grenadiers, GovernorGeneral's Horse, etc., each is trying to rival one another in recruiting. Kaeh is keeping up its own regular I strength as it sends men forward for overseas service, In one week one regiment—a new one, the 109th—which is only 500 strong, recruited a full battalion, 1100 men, raised money for a full brass band, field kitchen?, machineguns, etc., and within two we<?ks had the men fully officered, uniformed, and in camp, and the other city regiments are doing nearly as good. Canada now talks of raising 300,000 men, and she can do it We are starting to make percussion primers for shrapnel and high explosive shells, and have added much expensive, nnd special machinery. The Canadian Government is striving to turn out enormous quantities of completed supplies of every kind to assist in the crisis, and the Canadian manufacturers are responding with tremendous enthusiasm, energy, ability and success. We are in this to a finish, with every dollar and every man if need be."

KILLED IX ACTION. There apepars to be little doubt that Major Frank Statham and Corporal Clive Statham were killed in action. Writing from the trenches to Mr. C 11. Statham, Lieutenant L G. Wilson, adjutant to the Otago Battalion of the lflth (North Otago) Regiment, to which both Mr Statham's sons were attached, says "The battalion was almost decimated, and the only information we could get was one man's statement that he had seen the major wounded and in an unconscious state early in the afternoon, and after that he had not seen him again. Now, however, three men who were wounded state that the major and Clive were standing together, and were killed by the explosion of one shell, which landed very close to them Beyond that I regret that I have been unable to gain any more details. rt lias been a terrible business, and a loss Hint will never be fully realised. The major, as an oflieer among' ollleers, was placed on the highest pedestal of respect and admiration, loved by "his men, and a born leader. In every operation in which our battalion was engaged it was tin major and his company who lei the offensive." In a private letter to another member of the family, Major-Oeneral Sir Alexander Oodley pays the following tribute to the late Major Statham: "IV had proved himself to be a commander ami leader far above the ordinary, and it was in great measure due to his persona! gallantry, example, and qualities of leadership 'that the Otago Infantry Battalion so signally distinguished itself during the desperate lighting we had lately. He was an officer ihat we can ill spare, and 1 only hope it may be of 9ome small consolation to his family and relatives to know that no more capable or braver soldier ever iteld down his Uie for his country,"