Heatwave in Macedonia, 30th June 1916

“MACEDONIAN FRONT.

“HEAT AND FLIES HINDER OPERATIONS.

“The Press Association's special correspondent with the Allied forces, telegraphing from Salonika yesterday [29th June 1916], says: To-day's reports from the front seem to show that the enemy has completed his system of defensive works in the section extending from Doiran to Nemir Hissar, near Fort Erly. Hundreds of men could be seen digging and shovelling in the task of constructing trenches and earthworks. During the last few days no enemy have been seen except for the bombardment of certain positions. The enemy is showing unaggressive spirit of late. He has repeatedly allowed patrols to approach quite close to his lines without firing at them. Maybe the Bulgarians desire to prolong the lull while the harvest is being gathered. At all events the almost tropical heat of the past few weeks makes the present quiescence rather welcome than otherwise.

“The heat in the middle hours of the day imposes inactivity on both man and beast. Every effort in the scorching rays of the midday sun is painful and even dangerous. In the plains large shelters made of boughs or matting erected in the middle of fields afford indispensable shade. Sheep, cattle, and other animals remain practically motionless under these shelters from morning until late in the afternoon.

“In addition the tremendous refraction of heat radiating from the ground increases the difficulty of aerial observation, and the state of the lower atmosphere renders aerial flights dangerous undertakings. The roads are now inches deep in dust and a plague of flies swarms in the neighbourhood of all camps.

“The troops are really in exceptionally fine physical condition, and are trained to a degree of efficiency which testifies that they have been well employed by their commanders.”

'Nottingham Evening Post', 30th June 1916.

Image: IWM Q 32231.