The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-09-12
BIRDS SING IN
FIELDS AS
GUNS BOOM

but most OF them directed into the
distant forest to the south.
We conclude that the German bat
terfes are holding the other hilltop
and are firing on the French lines con-
cealed In the woods. But we are not
sure for smoke and binding flashes
make Of the landscape just one great
blur.
Monsieur Trictorin at the wheel
starts the motor. We are going to
leave what we have seen Of the great
battle, the car swings northeast and
the road starts descent But sud
denly at the turn up goes the road
again and we find ourselves with an
other and better vitw OF the great
battle. 80
Binoculars are suddenly produced
by Trictorin. for we have discerned
soldiers-th time. They are running
down the distant slope. There y
nothing military" In their method.
They seBm from i've to 10 feet apart
and they lope down, ducking and tnrn-
Ing, and for the most part running In
q crouched position. 7 see some OF
them fall but nearly all reach a
trench into which they drop.
This all means that little com
pany OF French soldiers, have advanc-
ed 500 yards through hell and are now
firing from nearer position upon
German infantry, also concealed In
trenches.
cannot find the German trench, but
| II seems TO be behind field OF wheat,
for English artillery, high on another
near ridge, drops smoking bombs con-
stantly and fiercely into this particu-
lar place. The bombs leave q trail
OF inky smoke which make firing tar
gets for infantry.
Suddenly, far beyond this to the
cast, we see an aeroplane swinging
above the battlefield.
think Il Ia German.
Trictorin declares II Is French.
The aeroplane seems to be only
gathering information.
Then notice Q little streak OF
whirling flame shooting downward. I
lose sight Of II and before my vision
can pick II up again II has burst. The
aeroplane has thrown O bomb.
Fragments ny UP In all directions.
The lens seems to tell me that II II
only flying earth, but | know at my
heart these fragments are soldiers
human beings!
We have stood still only three min
|utes, but Trictorin moves. ON. He
| must get his brother Into Paris be-
fore o.x~,k, and II ia now 8. We
leave burning fields, bursting shells
and pillows OF thick yellow smoke all
punctuated with silhouettes OF SOL
diers, and start the descent directly
49,. L. ~ L..
= Hallway down the hill we hear q
nav. sound. It. u not the heavy ar
tillery FIRE. which IL now more muf-
fed, but the crack! crack! Of rife IRE.
We stand upon the seats of the car
and strain our eyes through the
glasses. Then we suddenly realize
that the great battle "a not some con-
centrated military maneuver such as
a schoolboy might play out on q
kitchen table, but horrifying stretch
of individual fights For here In a
little copse not more than half mile
away, there Is still another though
smaller battle going on.
| Some German infantrymen have at
tackled sentries posted in this forest,
Just outside Gaux. Through the
glasses you can see the Germans. per.
haps 200 Of them, run from trench
into the woods.
Occasionally the red legs Of the
French soldiers appear between trees.
II seems TO be the edge OF q fight be-
tween outposts with no supporting ar.
| tillery Are from either side. Only a
few thin trails Of smoke curl above
the treetops.
i A group OF French soldiers--about
l10-emerge from the wood, They
seem TO be consulting when, to their
right, out come dozen Germans on
the run.
They stop alternately to crouch and
fire from the hips. Their shots seen
TO 60 Wild, but presently Frenchman
falls. The red legs charge with fixed
bayonets and the Germans run 10 gair
cover OF the trees.
! But they turn out again, cannot
tell why. Perhaps they see other
French sentries In their path. Then
two groups meet. You can almost feel
the shock. /t
follow with the glasses one hand
to-hand combat. A single German
who nearly reached the wood at an,