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? ? ? The mud and shelling were not the only danger to the men in the trenches. As can be imagined these insanitary places were a breeding ground for all sorts of infestations and vermin. Lice, frogs, beetles, slugs, and worst of all the rats.? ? ?The soldiers hated the rats which infested the battlefield in their tens of millions. The brown rat was considered more loathsome than the black rat. Their favourite food was human flesh, particularly the eyes and liver. Some grew as big as cats and sometimes were known to attack sleeping men. They contaminated food and spread disease, including a most infectious jaundice.? ? ?The soldiers shot, bayoneted, clubbed and poisoned them, but the rats kept coming back to their loathsome activities. One thing the soldiers did know however, was that when the rats disappeared then they could expect an imminent bombardment. Somehow the rats always sensed shell-fire a full 30 minutes before it commenced.
? ? ? The mud and shelling were not the only danger to the men in the trenches. As can be imagined these insanitary places were a breeding ground for all sorts of infestations and vermin. Lice, frogs, beetles, slugs, and worst of all the rats.? ? ?
Rats, fleas, lice and all other such critters- the bane of soldiers for untold centuries. Interesting fact about the rats disappearing before the shelling.
Animals are supposed to be able to sense when danger is approaching. This was the case when the tsunami hit Thailand in 2004, and I think when a tropical storm hit somewhere in the Carribean. What is interesting is that shelling is a man-made danger, and 30 minutes notice suggests it didn't have to do with hearing vibrations from firing. Perhaps the smell of loading artillery gave it away.
