The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-10-22
BATTLE OF SCISSORS AS SEEN
BY WRITER ON FIRING LINE

~ had we arrived in front of the
gates when German shells began
screening over our heads. We
scarcely knew where to go for safety.
a fearful crash on our right Just be-
mind the hospital showed that the Ger
man range was getting nearer. Some
OF our party naturally became
alarmed. Then We all crouched down
behind our autos as another shell
Whlstleo close to us and dropped in a
garden. Two of the spent pieces &C.
tually fell at our feet and a few sec
ond afterwards another spent piece of
smell, still hot, struck one of our
party on the leg.
IL was evident that we were in
great danger. Some one said, stand
by the cars"
IL was a good Job we did not take
this advice; but we might have done
II II at that moment woman at the
door OF the village wine shop across
tne street had not shouted; Come
inside, for Gods sake,"
Flee into a Cellar.
we did not need twice asking.
hardly had we got across the thresh.
old when tremendous noise like a
million rawhlde whips cracking at tho
same moment. followed by the noise
OF falling masonry. showed that we
were In Tor a regular bombardment.
everybody rushed for the cellar.
Az soon as the dust and smoke had
cleared away someone crept up the
steps to look out and returned say
ing one OF the turrets on each side OF
the entrance gcoes TO the castle had
been completely demolished by the
last shell. And still they came, and
tnere we huddled looking into each
o'hers eyes. as well as the dim light
would admit, In that little wine cellar
with Its solid vaulted roof that we
prayed might not give way should
tpe house be struck. shall never
forget the, time spent In that cellar.
Ihere we're twenty.three OF us, In
Guiding about seven women OF the
village and a little boy. We were
there from 1880 a m. until a little
after noon, with shells dropping all
around us. One dropped Ave yards
from the door, the shock breaking
every pane OF glass in the house and
making an enormous hole In the road.
Another shell struck the ground about
twelve feet In front OF our cars, Just
grazing and MASKING a portion OF
the village cross.
Everything has an end, and we
could hear the shells bursting farthe,
and farther away Still Il was deemed
prudent to lie low for a bit.
Eat az Shells Scream.
After a time one OF the villagers
went out at rear door and brought
back big dish OF fried clipped po.
tatoes and bread. so that with the
Wine In the cellar We made a hearty
lunch under the circumstances. We
were very hungry. as we had eaten
nothing since the previous evening.
When II was safe 10 get out We
found that the shell that dropped near
the cars had burst two tires on the
car ! rode In, had smashed all three
os tho wind shields. and filled the car
bodies and covers full OF holes. The
cars looked as II they had been pep.
pered with machine guns. Luckily
the engines were not damaged In tho
least.
The Germans. being deeply In.
trenched In old chalk quarrias. q sort
of natural fortress In the Aillaidea
overlooking scissors. continued TO
reply 10 the numerous French guns
with impuBity and occasionally to
lombard Soiss1na and Vauxbuin. up
10 the time OF my leaving this same
thing had been going on for over a
week
Scissors Ia IN a pltiable state. The
Germans have not spared It's old ca.
thedral with Its two Gothic spires.
From the rear OF the hospital at
Nauabuin we had fine view OF this
grand old landmark One OF the
Bteeplss is broken OF about hAlt way.
aud the other has big hole in tho
side. plainly seen three miles on.
passed about four days here
The artillery firing was terrific from
morning 10 night. The battle ranges
over an enormously extended front
saw some shockingly wounded
men while al Vauxbuln. The night
before left five men were brought in
with fearful injuries In different parts
OF the body German shell had
dropped among eight artlilerymen
serving one OF the French guns The
other three men were killed on the
spot. This IL Just an incident among
hundreds that are happening every day.
Al one village passed through.
where the Germans had left 100
wounded, most OF whom were brought
In under cover two days after the
battle by the French. the doctors
asked mo. implored me. 20 try and get
some milk for the wounded. Nearly
all the cattle have been driven out
Of the country TO safer places or have
been requiAitioned either by the Ger.
man or the French forces Many
lives are lost on both sides through
exposure ana lack OF attention after
being wounded Cases OF gAnErens
and fetanuH are not infrequent The
doctors and nurses are doing heroic |
work. but II often happens that they |
are very much oYererowded before |
they have a chance 90 remove thosa |
wounded who are able 60 be sent TO /
other hospitals At vaupbuiB the hos.
pitAl WAS crowded There were 600