The chronicle=news., 1914-10-07

ter of taking one foot OF ground
after another. We just advance 200
meters and then down for cover.
Bullets begin to chirp through the
air. But of the enemy nothing Is
seen.
when the trees are big enough
fairly good cover is offered by them.
Directly the fire opens the battle
limo halts and falls flat to the
ground. every man waiting and look
ing for a target. There Is no shoot
ing done here with the German RI
files except one has somebody on the
sight. But often there is nothing to
be done but to advance again and
Ito frighten the fellows with our
hurrahs.' Along the lines travel
tstentorian Fix Bayonets.' then
comes the command March march,
and the line springs to its feet.
|plungcs forward and a nerve-racking
hurrnh' smashcs through the woods
1.-THE encmys fire begins veritablc
lhail of lead Some fall. but onward
crashes the German line.
"As soon as we reach the position
OF the enemy his fire ceases. and all
take to flight Our bullets follow
them and then many red pant lies
ion the floor Of the forest. But our
bullets do not find mark long
the enemy has disappeared: we are
after him. only to meet another
terrific hail of lead Again we fall
to the ground for cover. and this
time | felt blow-the bullet had
struck by cooking utensil. owe my
life to the quick fall to the ground
for another second and would
never risen again. Another bullet
hits the ground Just beside me. but
inever mind that. Up and at them
at the very hide of the fellows.
I'VE soon reach our goal. trench
of slight elevation to the left from
where heavy fire has done much
damage In our line. Many of us are
down. and other crawl to the rear to
get their wounds attended to. Now.
fire! The crest of the trench be-
comes our target. The rattle of mus
kerry from both sides becomes deaf
ening. One of us will have to give
in. Fire! fire, We have learned to
trench weakens: the trench itself
is veiled now by a cloud Of dust
raised by our bullets.
Advance, comes the command
again. We all are impelled forward
by the mad desire to get at them.
One hundred meters separate us from
the enemy. Many sacrifices are de-
manded In the final charge. Again
the enemy's fire weakens-then 1t
almost ceases.
Advance; shouts somebody. We
trenchers Some of them already are
leaving, but our bullets lay them low
as they run. Another halt-anoth-
er advance. Only so meters to the
trench-barbed wire entanElements
block our progress.
"But the fellows in the trenches
have lost faith in themselves. They
desert their position in masses
running. scrambling, stumbling. fall
ing-some in a manner that shows
they will never rise again. We for
get to take cover Standing. We
-Four our fire into the groups of flee
for le1p-bid you farewell with the
last breath Farewell good friends.
we must advance.
Soon we have disposed of this
enemy who has laid low SO many OF
lis. The barbed wire is hacked
through with our bayonets. We
reach the trench. 1t is filled with
writhing, struggling bodies. We aim
cd we'll In the ditch lies kaleido-
scopic mixture of bodies swathed in
blue and red--and pale ones from
which CLASSY eyes look into the azure
sky.
But OH with the pursuit. Some
of us remain behind to disarm the
ounded so that they cannot fire in
our backs Many another sprawls,
falling on the soft forest floor
THE height is taken but the day
is not yet done. Everywhere the
French have taken prisoners to
stem the tide of retreat. There is
yet many bloody encounter. but we
get the enemy out Of the forest. and
once they reach the open our wait
ling artillery does the rest. Our
share Of the work is done. the grue-
some forest and its experience are
ours.
Most of us had lost our comrades
in the mad rush through the trees
and brushwood. Indescribable were
1.-THE scenes which followed when we
found one another still alive.
80 we take rest, and while do
ling this listen to the humminE and
|wlistling of our shells as they 20
over us on their way to village In
which the French have sought ref
|uge Soon the buildings are aflame
and the French again on their way.
You have done WELL. said our
corps commander. With you fel-
lows I'd fetch the devil out of hell. y