For instance, given kilometres of trench networks which ran close to each other, sometimes only hundreds of meters apart, why did soldiers from each side not just begin digging new trenches towards the enemy from places across the length of their existing trench, so that they could eventually break through without sacrificing thousands of lives running across open killing fields?
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They did!
There were extensive competing tunnel and trench systems, including teams trying (and sometimes succeeding) in tunneling under the enemy lines so they could set up an enormous quantity of explosives and blow the enemy up from below. As you can imagine this was a significant effort, and was highly dangerous for the tunnel diggers, particularly as if the other side knew you were tunneling because they’d be listening out for the work and would try dig a tunnel to install explosives to blow up your tunnel team.
They did also do things like you describe, but a hazard it is that a trench that can get your side to the enemy trench also functioned very effectively as a means for your enemy to get into your trench…
Another hazard was being way out like that made the trench digging team highly vulnerable to attacks – either a direct assault (in which case if successful the enemy have a direct line into your trenches) or via grenades/mortars/etc.
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