Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-26
ASSOCIATED Press correspondence.)

eSterOay was Gay OF FURIOUS aetV-
ity along the entire Franco Belgian
front from Newport to Dixmude. and
through the courtesy OF the King of the
Beigians the Associated Press corre-
spondent with the Belgian army saw
one Of the sharpest battles between the
rival armies along the User since the
country between the two forces was
inundated. The correspondent was
given the opportunity of accompanying
staff officer on his daily round Of
the battle line.
The party was under constant artil-
lery fire, and before the morning ended
they were shelled out Of Nieuport and
Ramscapelle. When the bridge on the
edge OF Nieuport was reached. a lively
artillery duel had begun between the
French batteries situated just south Of
the town and the German artillery To-
Gated beyond Lombaertzyde. Leaving
the car at the bridge, the party went
into the town for a quarter Of q mile
until within sight of the ancient OBJ
servation tower which has been the
main object Of the German guns for
several days.
er side of the street lined with houses
completely wrecked by German shells.
the party took refuge for moment in
the entry way of the Newport church
a cathedral-like structure which has
only three walls standing. From a gil
gantic crucifix the efiigy Of Christ had
slipped and lay uninjured in a recum-
bent position at the foot of the cross.
Behind every wall offering the slight
est cover squads of French African
troops took shelter. Many Of them had
been wounded, but the fire was so
heavy that they could not venture TO
the rear for treatment. In the direction
Of the coast shells from the lombard
ing warships could be seen breaking in
the air while the big shells from the
German batteries shrieked overhead
with a sound that could only be de-
scribed as a wicked whine. When a
momentary lull was noticed in the Ger
man fire no time was lost in getting
back to the car, but before it could be
regained a six-inch shell from a Ger
man hOwitzer burst within one hun
dred yards of the party and within a
few feet Of the big gas tank which sup
plies the town. The engine of the mo-
tor car had been stopped and the slow
ness Of the chauffeur in starting it
again was extremely exasperating.
Once underway everyone felt safer, but
shells continued to fly overhead and
some fell just short of, the road travel
ed by the car. One Of these striking in
nearby field threw up geyser of
mud and black smoke to q height Of
several hundred feet.
Turning towards Ramscapelle where
are the advanced line OF Belgian
trenches. the party passed a French
battery SO cleverly concealed in a wood
that the dugouts Of the men looked
like rows Of freshly made graves. The
horses. and guns were concealed beneath
evergreen trees. Part of this grove had
been ieveled by German artillery fire
the trees looking as if they had been
moved down by an enormous sycthe.
One Of the most striking features of
the battlefield and one entirely incon-
gruous with the work in hand was the
sight Of peasants blowing their fields
as if war were hundreds of miles away
These farmers are apparently fearless
for their own personal safety. but
keenly concerned for their homes
many of which have been destroyed
by shell fire.
Just on the edge of Ramscapelle the
party climbed to the top Of huge
wooden windmill used for grinding
wheat which had been struck by hun
dreds of shells. From this vantage point
the party saw Ramscapelle. a town
which has been totally destroyed by
the German artillery. Not a single
structure in the place has escaped and
many of the walls still left standing
have hundreds Of shrapnel shell holes
in them. The church is even more Of a
wreck than the big church at Nieuport
everything in 1t being ruined beyond
restoration except a beautiful group Of
statutary representing the Lords Last
Supper which remains intact. a fact
which the Belgian soldiers regard as
miracle.
Out in the churchyard the graves
have been torn open and the collins ex-
posed by exploding shells. Like the
crucif1x in the church building at
Newport the figure from the cross in
the graveyard here has slipped from
the cross and lies at its foot. Proceed
ing through the town the party came
to the advanced trenches which are To-
Gated along the railway which is the
boundary of the flooded districts. Six
hundred yards away. on high ground
abutting into the water, is the advance
ed German post at the farm Of St.
Georges which the allies were pre-
pairing to attack while the party was
In Ramscapelle In this district the
water level is only two feet below the
level Of the ground and trench making
here has been problem taxing the
resources of the Flemish engineers with
the Belgian army who are accustomed
to working in these lowlands. The rail-
road serves as the base for the
trenches and the mud walls are built
up against it with embrasures for
rifle fire made of squares Of steel with
a hole in the center for the muzzle of
the guns.
While the party was in the trenches
the Germans became aware of the pre-
parations for attack and their great
sausage-shaped observation balloon was
sent up. A long line Of gravel cars oc-
cupied the siding in front Of the sta
ton. and the steel sides Of these trucks
had been pierced SO often that they
looked like sleeves. The party was eau
toned not to stay together in q group
as the Germans were quick to detect
any unusual movement. The warning