Letters From the Front

Dated: September 30, 1915

We have been luxuriating in these comfortable billets—a Nuns' School for children with a large unfinished hall annexed where the men of our company are billeted on an earthen floor. They are worked so little that they have time to write hundreds of letters which we platoon commanders have to read over and censor. It is quite a business, too, if done properly.
Yesterday with Young, Cameron and Martin, I visited the trenches on a tour of inspection prior to our taking them over, and we went through our baptism of fire without being very much disturbed. The sniping is constant and our men watch like Indians for a chance shot. While exploring towards the right of the line our Battalion will hold, the Boches began shelling Battalion Headquarters of the present incumbents, and one shell threw bullets so close to us, about ten to fifteen yards, that we turned about and retraced our steps and waited until the small storm was over. They sent eight to ten shrapnel shells into an area about 200 yards square when one of our guns suddenly opened on them, firing one shot only, and silenced their gun at once. Machine guns peppered at our lines at intervals, and you can bet the men keep well down below the parapet when they know looking-glasses 1 inch by 2 1/2 inches on the end of a bayonet are frequently smashed as soon as stuck up.
The Germans have shouted over the trenches to our men here, 'The Battalion is no good. You can have our trenches on October 4th and go to hell.' It is also stated emphatically that they were distinctly heard to say, 'The Kaiser can go to hell on October 1st. You can have these trenches after that, and you will be back in England again sooner than you expect.' It is hard to credit all these statements, but they make food for discussion.