The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-30
HOW THE GERMANS
FIGHT A BATTLE
Berlin Correspondent is Al
lowed to Watch Process
TEL E P HONE USED
Writer Visits Headquarters of Gen.
eral Won Morgen and is Shown
How the Operations Are
Conducted

Of the Associated Press -Newspape cor
respondents as is well known, have seen
almost nothing of the actual fighting in
this war but on the German side there
is now one account of battle written by
one of the men who watched it from the
headquarters of the commanding general
himself. This was a recent engagement
fought on the East Prussian frontier in
Russia, and 1t was described by Captain
Schickert, the war correspondent of the
Berlin Lokal Anziger What he saw from
the observation post of General Won Nor
gen is thus reported:
1.-The battle field was spread out before
us like a panorama. slightly rolling
plain stretched away toward forests on
the horizon. We could clearly see the
movements of the infantry in a depression
to our right. Making good use of the
covering at hand, battalion was moving
forward to reinforce its rifiemen, whose
thin battle line was only just visible
through our field glasses 1t advanced in
close formation at double quick across the
back of the ridge. How important this
movement was just at this moment was
mel over that ridge. but some time after
our men had crossed it. Just Ike on
GRILL said his excellency with a smile.
Should Watch Artillery
But the Russian artillery needs to be
closely watched. "A call from the Y
regiment was announced from the tele-
phone. The commander asks for artil-
larxr
ments have proved too strong to be taken
by infantry From a booth In another
shelter pit, where the commander of the
division to which the regiment belonged
had taken his position, we heard Captain
Festereich give the telephone order to
change the aim. Then he rushed to the
nearest field telescope to watch the burst
ing point of the first shot fired at the new
point. After that he sprang back into
the pit and shouted: Twenty shorter
With rapt attention we watched with our
glasses the further developments and saw
how the shrapnel explosions moved closer
and closer to the southern edge of the
village, almost obscuring it with their
smoke. His excelency looked at his
watch: Just H. he remarked; almost
lunch time. We SEN the ring of German
rif1emen drawing up closer and closer
around the Village.
"A gooY quarter of an hour later
voice shouted from the telephone pit:
The cohmander of the regiment asks
to havf the artillery fire on W.
stopped as he wants to take it by
storni.' Captain Oestereich gave the
corresponding order. We had already
Seen sheafs of flame rising from W.
Another quarter of an hour and the tel
erhone rang again. The regiment has
taken W. Brave regiment murmured
his excelIency to himself. Now, gen.
eral. strike in further to the right he
said. turning to the next protected pit
Battery open fire, ordered the general.
permitted we have fixed ourselves in
through the telephone.
Fixed "Homelike"
Whe nthe fire of the battery upon
the new target was well under way its
commander turned to one of the news
paper men and remarked: We have
been in this position for nearly two
weeks and, so far as the circumstances
permitted. we have fixe yourselves in
a home-like way
Yes answered my collea que with
a smile. and you have even shaved
yourself in celebration of the day The
captain, stroling his bronze cheek, re-
Joined: And by fragment of a mirror
my only toilet object was cribbed by
somebody while I was doing it,
another telephone call The reg-
nent that took w. is under fire from
a heavy Russian battery and asks for
support This time the remedy was
ret so easy. Where Is our nearest
heavy battery? asked his excelleney
The captain pointed it out on the map
and his excellency continued: Then
telephone at once that it must shell
thr Russians This time it was like a
prize guessing contest for us to find
the position of the Russian battery
Only after we had been repeatedly
helped by the experts were We able to
discern the well concealed point, a cap
tain of hussars stepped up to his ex-
crliency and asked Does your excel
l.rcy order luncheon?' The general
locke at his watch and asked: Can
we have it soon? he inquired 1t can
he brought up in a quarter of an hour
vas the answer.
At the appointed time orderiies APP
reared with steaming dishes. But the
TIE advance of our troops further to
the right was much hindered by that
Russian fire, and our battery repeat
e6ly had to take a hand. 1t was not till
the shades of evening We're drawing
o,er plain and forest that the cannon
nee seemed TO die down. His excellency
turned to take leave and wished the
commander of the battery success. We
followed in his suite. Now, captain. we
shall at last have quiet remarked an
Austrian colleague "A great mistake.
NY friend answered The captain. To
ward midnight the Russian batteries
squander an enormous amount of am
rlrnition.' And with a smile he waved
us a farewell salute"
CEDMANC REAnV To