The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-29
Germans Take
Continued from Page ~

south of Arras. The German batter.
les everywhere replied heavily to this
French fire.
While the Germans were thus en-
gagged along the entire line of this part
of their defense work, the French fire
opposite Lens suddenly ceased. In.
stantly French infantymen leaped
from their trenches and charged the
German positions, which were from
100, to 200 yards distant. A brief anil
furious bayonet encounter brought VIC
tory to the French. The Germans
were routed. The French took them
prisoners and occupied the German de-
lenses. 1t was all over in 90 minutes.
The artillery fire On both sides died
down and a Sabbath like silence fell
on the field Of battle, but vigilance
was In no sense relaxed. At intervals
Of two rods in the trenches keen eyes
peering into periscopes of attached
edges OF German trenches, the OBJ.
servers themselves being well protect
ed below the level of the earth.
A gun sounded far down the French
line. Instantly u~ncountable numbers
CT detonations great and small, near
and remote shattered the quiet of the
empty ruined city. The heavy French
artillery, the four and five inch guns
were opening fire from works for
miles in both directions outside the
town upon the German line.
The machine guns kept up a steady
spray OF bullets passing a few inches
above German bitches so as to catch
any attempt at assault. A moment
later the projectiles Of German guns
began to hiss overhead and burst with
a crashing noise. Fifty shells fell
within half an hour on this city half
of which already was in ruins.
Only a few OF the citizens who had
remained with a fixed determination
to brave the dangers of a constant
bombardment, stood at the entrances
to cellars and dug outs to watch the
effect of the bursting missiles. Not
more than a dozen men walked the
streets keeping close as possible to
the wall.
As the crashing projectiles burst
all around, progress had to be made
by clinging to the house fronts where.
ever this was feasible then dashing
across the street and open places
which generally we're barricadel or
strewn with barbed wire %entangle'
ments and through which narrow
gangway, permitted passage.
The difference in the sound of vari.
Gus protectiles is easily distinguish
able. The French three-inch shells
leave the muzzle with a slight pop,
whistle, like a rocket, and then bursts
with a terrific crash spreading shrap.
mel all Ground a hundred or more
yards.
The German missiles gives a duller
sound during its aerial passage and
bursts with a booming noise.
The German trenches may be plain
1y dIscerned at the end of a boule-
ward Leading into suburbs at a dis
lance OF 800 yards and wherever a
group Of men appear at the French
end, the German machin guns opened
fire. The thorofares therefore, al
ways are traversed, at a run while
pedestrians always are ready to
throw themselves fiat on the ground
when shells fall near at hand SO as
to avoid splinters.
Strangely enough a number of boys
whose families are among those re.
naming in the town play unconcern.
eddy In side streets and often hesitate
to obey the orders OF officers who
bid them not to expose themselves.
Some OF the suburbs, particularly
Blagny and St Catherine, are con
SANITY under fire, while railway sta:
tions and hospitals have virtually been
demolished. In every house, even
where untouched by p%rojectiles, all
the windows have been broken by the
vibrations.
The advanced French and German
trenches are within is or 20 yards OF
each other I'm the suburbs. The cor