Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-16
CORRESPONDENT WITH GERMAN ARMY
DESCRIBES CONFLICT ON THE A|SNE
By RAYMOND e. SWING.

Correspondent Of Chicago Daily News.
With Right Wing of the German
Army In France.-Fve miles ahead
are the trenches, 200 yards apart,
where the British and German troops
are taking their heroic parts In this
bloodiest and hardest fought battle OF
modern times. Occasional explosions
from big guns can be plainly heard.
l have just returned from an auto
mobile ride which brought me near
enough to the firing line to see shells
exploding on the horizon. First there
would be a great flash lighting up the
evening sky, followed by a thunderous
discharge. l was not allowed to drive
nearer.
British Behind Rock Defenses.
The positions on both sides are ex-
cellent. The British troops at this
point are mainly behind rock d~efenses,
but the Germans have worke their
way SO close up that accurate fire on
both sides means death to the soldier
who carelessly protrudes his head.
One of the diversions OF the Germans
Is to put a cap on a rifle, hoist 1t above
the trenches and draw the immediate
and unerring fire Of the opponents.
The soldiers in the trenches for
days and nights lave had a terrible
experience. Recently they were lying
in water under the exploding shrapnel
and receiving food only at night, when
black bread, wine and sometimes soup
were passed to them under cover OF
the darkness. On the German side for
many days the wounded lay In the
trenches until night before they could
be removed.
Now the weather has improved and
conditions are better. About three
miles behind the trenches artillery is
stationed, dropping shells and shrap-
mel upon the trenches and the gun po-
sitions OF the opponents.
Flashlights Reveal Foe.
My impression is that such fighting
can continue unremittingly and that
here at least the Germans will per
haps only attempt to hold he lines
while some other portion of the Ger
man army breaks through, either on
the far right wing or at Verdun. The
British troops made several attempts
at night charges two nights ago. They
left their trenches and advanced on
the German positions, but the move
ment was suddenly revealed by a
German fashlight, machine guns were
quickly brought into position and an
entire regiment Of Englishmen was
moved down by the deadly fire.
LNor fr,1 lor, 7 lorn honn q U,1oSf Of
the general commanding this corps,
who has his quarters in a beautiful
French chateau. 1t is ideally situated
in large grounds, richly provided with
game, which the staff officers have
hunted these last few days during a
slight pause in the fighting at the
front. Before the castle are artificial
lakes, the grounds giving the impress
sion of a small Versailles.
interested in u. S. Attitude.
l was welcomed warmly by the Off
GERS, all of whom were interested in
learning the attitude of the United
States. The impression prevailed
among them that the American gov
eminent had assumed a pr~otectorate
over German interests in China.
We dined together in the great sa-
lon, the walls Of which were hung
profusely with valuable oil paintings.
The menu vas none too diverse, but
it was plentiful, with wines In abun-
dance. l sat beside the city comman-
dant, who told me of the situation in
the city.
The castle itself Is filled with costly
treasures. There Is an especially
beautiful coin collection and there are
also old e~ngravings of priceless value.
The chateau was crowded with off,
GERS. I had lodgings in the library,
sleeping on a mattress on the floor be-
fore a cheerful fireplace in a room the
antique furniture of which would make
any c~onnoisseur envious.
In the front hall of the chateau is
a telephone switchboard, where two
soldiers sit with receivers at their
ears, making notes Of reports from
the firing line.
Outside is a scene Of ceaseless ac-
tivity. Every moment automobiles
drive up the wide roadways, officers
dismount. answer the salutes of the
orderlies, go inside, emerge again,
hastily take their places in the auto
mobiles and drive away quickly.
Horsemen In small detachments
come and go and soldiers on bicycles
or on loot are in constant circulation
from early in the morning till late at
night. One forgets that this is
one Of the brain centers Of the battle
going on five miles ahead.
Tobacco Delights Fighters
There was especial delight over the
arrival a short time ago Of a dozen
automobiles heavily laden with gifts
for the soldiers, such ss tobacco.
newspapers, warm clothing. chocolate
and little Injuries Of all sorfo. What
delighted the soldiers mostwS the
arrival of the tobacco, for the supply
was long & exhausted and cigars