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32—­THE ILLUSTRATED WAR NEWS, DEC. 30, 1914.—­[Part 21]

[Illustration:  DEFENDING OUR EAST COAST FROM INVADERS:  ENTRENCHMENTS OF THE TYPE USED AT THE FRONT, ON THE CLIFFS.]

The entrenchment of the East Coast is not only a wise precaution, but the work of digging and fitting up the trenches is excellent practice for the troops who may later on be called upon to do similar work abroad.  It will be seen from our photographs that the trenches on the East Coast are constructed on the latest pattern as developed in the war, with deep passage-ways, roofed sections, traverses, and zigzags to avoid an enfilading fire from the flank.  They are, indeed, to judge by the photograph, remarkably similar to those constructed at the front in France and Flanders.  Even if occasion should not arise to use them against the enemy, the labour of making them has not by any means been in vain.—­[Photo. by Newspaper Illustrations.]

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THE ILLUSTRATED WAR NEWS, DEC. 30, 1914—­[Part 21]—­33

[Illustration:  CHRISTMAS WITH THE GERMAN ARMY, ACCORDING TO A GERMAN PAPER; THE ARRIVAL FROM HOME OF GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS.]

Full early, the popular German illustrated papers gave pictures of Christmas on the field of battle, and it was very evident that our enemies anticipated a joyous day or two:  this, probably, thanks to the idea that at Christmas-time all the Armies might call something of a halt, although it was understood they were not in the least likely to do so officially.  It was also anticipated that the conditions of the Christmas spent by the Germans at the front would, like those experienced by our own men and those of the Allied Armies, be ameliorated by the reception and distribution of gifts from home.  For a considerable while Germany’s women-folk, especially, collected gifts for fathers and brothers at the front; and it is certain that their efforts were much appreciated.

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34—­THE ILLUSTRATED WAR NEWS, DEC. 30, 1914.—­[Part 21]

[Illustration:  UNDERGROUND, WITH GRAMOPHONE, WHITE TABLE-COVER, AND FLOWERS:  FRENCH SOLDIERS IN A “HOME-LIKE” BOMB-PROOF TRENCH.]

Our photograph reproduces a snapshot, by a French artillery officer, in the trenches to the east of the Aisne.  It shows how some of the French are making the best of things, regardless of weather and the enemy.  They hollowed out the trench at one point (describes the officer), and roofed it over with planks and earth, forming a bomb-proof.  A seat was cut at the sides and a table got from a village near.  A roll of sheet-iron found in the village was made a chimney for a fire with a cosy chimney-corner beside it.  With some wire, also, a sort of candelabra was constructed.  The flowers on the table are in a German shell for vase, and the gramophone was another village “find.”  It is evident that the war may develop a race of military troglodytes.