The short-range howitzers are of three types, and those used by the Germans have come to be termed the “Jack Johnson” of close attack.  The smaller bombs and grenades thrown by hand, although local in action, are very unpleasant, particularly between the inclosed space of a trench.  These grenades are thrown continuously by both sides, and every trench assault is first preceded and then accompanied by showers of these murderous missiles.  This kind of fighting is very deadly, and owing to the difficulty of observation it is at times somewhat blind.  This difficulty has in a measure been decreased, however, by the use of the hyperscope, an instrument which works very much like the periscope on a submarine.  It permits an observer to look out over the top of a parapet without raising his head above the protection of the trench.

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY.

By EDWARD NEVILLE VOSE.

THE old year dies ’mid gloom and woe—­
  The saddest year since Christ was born—­
And those who battle in the snow
  All anxious-eyed look for the morn—­
The morn when wars shall be no more,
  The morn when Might shall cease to reign,
When hushed shall be the cannons’ roar
  And Peace shall rule the earth again.

As we from far survey the fray
  And strive to succor those who fall,
Let each give thanks that not today
  To us the clarion bugles call—­
That not today to us ’tis said: 
  “Bow down the knee, or pay the cost
Till all ye loved are maimed or dead,
  Till all ye had is wrecked and lost.”

Should that grim summons to us come
  God grant we’d all play heroes’ parts,
And bravely fight for land and home
  While red blood flows in loyal hearts. 
But now a duty nobler far
  Has come to us in this great day—­
We are the nations’ guiding star,
  They look to us to lead the way.

They look to us to lead the way
  To liberty for all the world,
The dawning of that better day
  When war’s torn banners shall be furled—­
The day when men of every race
  Their right divine shall clearly see
To rule themselves by their own grace,
  Forever and forever free.

"Human Documents” of Battle

By Men Who Saw or Took Part./

Written in the hurry and confusion of battle, and without the opportunity at hand to check up the impressions given, it is of course likely that these dispatches from special correspondents may contain many things which history will correct.  But as human documents they have no equal, and history will not be able, however she may correct matters of detail and partisan feeling, to offer anything which will give a more vivid impression of the glare and roar of battle than do these letters, penned by men actually in or near the firing line at the moment of great events.  As such THE TIMES offers them, not as frozen history, but as history in the making, and has no apologies to make for an error of fact here and there, for those very errors are in a way testimony that adds value to the story—­the story of honest and hard-driven human beings writing what was passing before their eyes.

The German Entry Into Brussels