HUN "TRAPS."

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1918, Page 3

HUN "TRAPS."

A TBAIL OF fREAOHEKY. ; A remarkable story of what lie terms tlie world's record for death-trap treach* pry, which was established by the Ger* maim in the forced retreat from tha Aisne, is told by Mr. Forrest, the Unite*. Press Association correspondent with the French armies. Here are a few, traps left behind by the Huns to catch unwary Frenchmen:— Branches barring thjj entrances t<v<lug" outs if removed would produce an fan plosion in the shelter a few migatetf later. / A hook on a table if touched wotdd detonate a charge. Coal in buckets was mixed witb]iUgb,' explosives. . , Stove pipes wore charged tO'Mowwfl if a fire was ignited. Telephone wires were connected-'wttfr hidden mines. ' ■ Nails driven in walls if tand*(E meant death. A shovel leaning against a wall if, removed connected wires with. A chair would blow up if sat rapon. Tools, pieces of metal, Ihebnetsj qj£* tiflcial flowero, and all kinds .fit apjjS* ently abandoned souvenirs were deapp traps. Window weights were hung to SBl on a box of detonators if i Nails were driven on.Htairways B©«fif ; to be literally triggers for mines. ' Barbed-wire barricades in trendfe were on hair-trigger contact wittflwHwi explosives. Roads apparently in contained many traps. SbiuS of flfc»». would allow troops liut' \RN&! explode when a ; sed. Experience has proved that nd*ep ( Germans, leave a private (house <a"fflobbe buildup it is usually a danger •sjfifc' Here explosions are. retarded by i iSe&fti of clocks, which sometimes ti& a£ for over a week before they set off «$■ fatal charge. Small mines 'are Mtort%; hidden in floors, ceilings, land \tis& Many times a fuse is suspended in *&■ chimney, so that it will eventuajjy Sfe: ignited and communicate a concealed mine.. : "