A further report of a visit paid by munition workers to the trenches was issued by the Press Bureau on Monday the delegates state that the trenches area triumph of engineering.
They can best be described as a clay hole about 2ft. wide, with the dugouts on the one side that form the men’s sleeping quarter. Efforts were being made to make them as comfortable as possible by putting boards covered with wire netting to give more secure footing.
“We marched through these trenches for some miles until we were within 35 yards of the enemy’s trenches, and at this point it was certain death to anyone who raised his head anything near the parapet.
So deadly was the fire that on more than one occasion the periscopes that our men had fixed on the end of their bayonet to enable them to locate the enemy were shot off by the enemy’s bullets, while were in the act of looking through them.
“From this point it was quite obvious that to attempt to make an advance on the enemy’s position was pure suicide, unless these positions had first been shelled and blasted to atoms, and this can best be done by high explosive shells, and the more thorough the shelling the lighter the casualty list.
It was explained that sometimes a great many shells had to be used before the proper location was got and the desired effect obtained. Hence the desire for an abundant supply of high-explosive shells.
It was apparent to us that before any advance could be made the price has to be paid, and that this price consists of men and munitions, and the greater the proportion of the latter the fewer men will be lost.”
An appeal is made to all workmen to do all that lies in their power to support the men in the trenches to bring the cruel war to an end.
The delegates record their appreciation of the stationary hospital, where they were impressed with the economy that is carried out.
The men’s clothes are disinfected and a plentiful supply of good food is provided to enable the soldier to leave fit and well and with complete clean outfit.
