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THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 29, 1940
Report On The B.E.F.
Here is the answer to a puzzle which | like mad-digging trenches and anti- must have perplexed many people in Britain.
Six months ago, a British Army dis- appeared into France-to a destina- tion still kept a closely guarded secret. Since then they have steadily increased in size until, as recently announced by Mr. Oliver Stanley, the War Minister, they have more than doubled them- selves.
What have the B.E.F. been doing all this time? What are they doing now?
To-day people at home know more about the life of the British troops in the forward outposts of the line, keep- ing the day and night watch on the enemy, than they do about the men in the back areas.
tank traps and helping to construct still more concrete blockhouses.
This incessant toil has been inter- rupted only for realistic and tactical exercises of various kinds.
IMAGINARY ATTACKS This is another remarkable feature of the life of the Army in France- apart from the fact that they have been kept so mobile during these months-the way they have carrying out manœuvres and fights, although they are an Army on active service in time of war.
long
been sand
"Fate has decided that the Allies should not be called upon yet and engaged in real battle. Good-we'll have sand battles to make ourselves In the first place, the men at the more highly trained," say the Gen- back have not had an easy, comfor-erals in their wisdom. table time. They have had a very
So steel-helmeted men manning de- repelled im- active time and have had to rough it. fensive positions have
But what are they doing? "Working | aginary "attacks" by groups of sol- very hard" is the answer. As far as the infantry are concerned they are either carrying out intensive training, to make them better soldiers, or they are expending their physical energy in making stronger fortified positions.
-By-
PAUL BEWSHER
The men in some places are rough- ing it, because this Army are always ready to move at a moment's notice. They have not been allowed to "dig themselves in" from a living point of diers representing the enemy. Batta- view at all. Week after week they lions travelling along a road far be- hind, the lines have been subjected to have been kept in a state of high mo- bility. Every unit of the rapidly grow-intense "machine-gun fire and bomb- ing" from low-flying enemy machines, ing Army can be shifted at once.
The B.E.F. may, in fact, be describ-represented by British fighters roaring ed as an "Elephant on Springs." There 20ft. or so overhead. they are-a vast collection of men spread over a wide area which is oc- cupied for months. The word is given birth and in a few hours the men
have gone.
for
Say that the battalion of the Xshire Regiment have been billeted at the little village of N'importe ou months. They were there for Christ- mas and Easter. It seems like home. An order comes, to leave at once. Men in battle dress dash to the con- cert hall, or stable, where they have lived and slept all this time. Kit is hurriedly packed. Blankets are rolled up. Bags and bundles are flung into the waiting lorries. Batmen hurriedly collect officers' belongings in the little rooms over cafes and shops where they have been living.
Meanwhile the Regimental Doctor is gathering up his instruments in his surgery the Chaplain is assembling his books. At the Battalion Headquar- ters, in a single front room of a little house, papers and records are strap- tables are ped together-the trestle dismantled and folded together with
a snap.
The battalion are off. Monsieur and Mme. Dubois will miss the popular Sergeant Smith at Sunday dinner, Children must be consoled at the loss of Private Jones, who played games with them on the floor.
But what have the Xshire Regiment been doing all the months they have been at this pleasant farming village? The particular Xshire Regiment I have in mind have been digging and digging
Specially trained patrol parties— practising for possible activity in the British positions beyond the Maginot Line-have crept out at night, trying to elude the listening posts (of men of their own regiment) and pass through On one of without being observed. thèse practices a member of the patrol dived into an icy cold river and suc- cessfully swam across to avoid "cap- ture."
20
Artillerymen take up positions and enemy,' fire at "concentrations `of telephoned by an officer at an observa- tion post farther ahead. So it goes on, this imaginary war inside the real war.
What is the programme of the men in these battalions, building fortifica- tions and training in the back areas? Here is a typical day in the life of Private Brown in that same Xshires: 6.30 a.m--Reveille. Wash and shave,
pack up bedding and clean billet. 7.30-Breakfast. Perhaps fried bacon,
with tea and bread. 8.30-Start work digging trenches or
building pillboxes. Noon-Knock off for a picnic meal on the spot. Hot tea and sandwiches. 12.46 p.m.-Continue work. 4.-Knock off for day. 4.30-High tea at billet. Substantial meal. Perhaps beefsteak and chips with 'a sweet. If not on sentry or special duty, off for the evening un- til billet roll-call and lights out.
SUPPER IN THE VILLAGE Now that the evenings are beginning to draw out the men can have a game (Continued on Page 11)
By George McManus
Bringing Up Father
OH-I'M ENJOYING OUR TRIP- I WISH WE COULD STAY IN NEW ORLEANS FOR TWO MONTHS- BUT WE MUST BE ON OUR WAY UP THE MISSISSIPPI- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR VISIT.
TO MEMPHIS -
WHERE
IS MEMPHIS?
YOU IGNORANT FOOL· HOW CAN ANYONE. BE AS DUMB AS YOU?
WHY DIDTEVER MARRY YOU ?
I'LL SITE- WHY ? BUT-NOW WHERE'S MEMPHIS?
GO LOOK IT UP- I'M SICK AND ·
TIRED OF WASTING INTELLIGENCE ON YOU -
MY
I WONDER 'WHERE'
MEMPHIS IS? WISH DALISH
WOULD HURR
HOME. AND SHOW ME
ATLASE
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