El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-16

the plain between them. we see the
enemy engaged in a fight with a
division OF the allied troops 7 can
distinctly see the German artillerymen
moving aDout the guns on the hilltOps
and the slopes; / see a mighty flash
from one OF the guns, the heavy report
IS reechoed BY the surrounding hills.
Watches to See Shells Strike.
1T Is strange, but in the face of
death and destruction. 1 catch myself
trying TO make out where the shell has
tatOr at q rifle connection And 1 was
not the only one. / saw many curious
faces around me. bearing expressions
1ull or interest, just as II the owners
OF the respective faces formed the
AUDITORIUM OF highly fascinating
theatrical performance, without having
10 DO with the play itself The impress
sion crossed my mind in one thOusandth
part OF a second, and was followed by
numerous others, altogether alien from
the utmost serious things which were
happening and going 10 happen.
Inc human mind is a curious and
complicated thing Now that we were
shooting at the enemy, and often af-
forwards IN the midst Of a fierce
battle, / heard some remark made or
some funny expression used which
proved that the speakers thoughts
were Tar from realizing the terrible
--~--' S---AA AAALLA II ms -AUAAAAAAE ~
90 with heartlessness or anything like
mat don't know yet what II Is Per
maps L shall have an opportunity to
phuosophize on it later.
Germans Poor Marzsmen-
"Volley after vOlley We sent in the
direction Of the enemy We aimed
quickly and well, while all the German
shells and bullets passed over our
heads For the Germans maybe, and
are, our superiOrs in executing parade
steps, but they are Internally bad
shots, and parade steps are Of very
little use in war times, and make no
impression upon the assailants. In the
meantime our heavy guns were prepar-
ing Tor action and our quick tlrers be
gan 10 share in the general converse
ton. As more troops were ascending
the hills to reinforce US, we made for Z
the plain A rain Of hostile bullets !
passed close over our heads, and in ;
stincuvely we stopped, although when |
one hears the bullet il has passed al I
ready.
1t is a queer sensation which comes 4
over US the first time We are met with Z
hail of bullets. We suddenly feel
as if attacked by fever, but this feel Z
ing very soon leaves US. Alternately I
dropping ourselves 10 fire and jumping
to our feet 10 rush across the open. we I
more and more approached the enemy, 4
who were assembling in strong forces. !
But so were our troops The earth was I
1A4ahEA De inc AlAIG1otA-AA
and the air torn by continuous rafting
Of rifle fire. We rushed forward. in Z
order to reach piece OF ground sur
rounded by low dykes A cOmrade on
my right stumbled, dropped forward
without utterlnE a sound, killed by a I
shot in the breast A man in front Of
me threw his arms up, fell. struggled
TO his feet fell again, and 'C'est ca /
were his last words.
We had reached the aforesaid piece
of ground 10 of ] Looked rnmrH for ]
a moment. A terrible battle was rag
ing and SO utterly horrible were the
scenes around me that up to this mo-
ment cannot believe that have really
lived to see that The widest phan-
tasy cannot imagine such a horror. in
which absolutely nothing human is left
and which could not be equaled By the
most bloodsttrring fancies Of horde
OF devils.
Ends Mans Anguish. Dies.
"a shell exploded near US, followed
by a terrible cry Five OF our squad
were lying dead on the little square.
One man had both his legs blown off.
and was still alive and conscious, i'm
1lOring US TO kill him our officer ran
past. stopped. and, after a short look
at the man, shot him through the heart
"a vaut mieuL,' he said, 'pauvre
liable He opened his mouth TO utter
a command al his men, and at the
same moment got a bullet in his mouth
He turned round twice and fell heavily
On the dyke close by me
AT a good distance behind US Red
Cross soldiers and two Red Cross
frisrs, carrying the Red Cross flag. !
we're STOPPING over the wounded and |
removing them to the ambulance vans
A shell exploded over their heads, and
Dnly a couple Of the Red Cross men |
were left.
Forced to Retreat.
More hostile troops have been ad- (
7ancing. They have suffered heavy
losses, but on our side also the number
Jf casualties IS very large, and our
position seems TO become critical We
have to retreat, are. in fact, reUTeati1g.
Fresh French batteries are put into
action. 1 am just looking at a German
battery which is being turned IN our
direction when il is hit by two shells
iimultan eOusly- The German artillery
men at the guns are swept away, two
guns destroyed
"One moment it seems as II the
enemy hesitates and We avail ourselves
# the opportunity to dash forward. !
nflicting great damage
They are undoubtedly persevering,
,ur men are, and they display a re-
larkable self control notwithstanding /
he appalling scenes around me, /, too, :
eel perfectly calm now, and. terrible
hOugh it may seem, confess that /
Without a moments tremble l aim at
ny living targets, shoot and watch the [
fleet Of my bullet So 90 all of us. /
they do not waste their cartridges. |
The enemy Outnumbers US, however, l
10 much that We could not offer a
ouurar raefera r0a without arnoefr.c- ru-- I I