16 JANUARY 1915, Page 1

Friday's papers contained an "Eyewitness" narrative issued by the Press

Bureau. Like all other contributions from this source, the article, dated January 12th, contains a striking series of war vignettes. For example, there is a picturesque account of the vast inundations in the plain of Southern Flanders as seen from an aeroplane. In some places the floods are two miles in width. In spite of the very trying conditions, our men are stated to keep wonderfully cheerful and well. " Eyewitness " also notices that the desertions from the enemy's ranks, caused by the miserable condition of the trenches, continue. No one would be so foolish as to represent the Germans as on the whole unwilling fighters or in the least lacking in military courage, but these field desertions remain a very curious fact. Every now and then a few men rush from the German trenches into our trenches and give themselves up.