Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1915-08-27
German Writer Describes VIsiE
to Battle Front.
Every instrument Of Murder and o.
structIon In Aotion--Fearful Con
cert Splits The Ears and
Rakes the Nerves.

cert spilts the Ears and
Rakes the Nerves.
Berlin.--The Berliner Morgenpoet
publishes the following vivid descrip-
tion OF the awful battles north OF
Arras by DR.. Max Osborne. q special
war correspondent who had bsen at
the western front since the beginning
of the war:
with four or flve other correspond
ents ! had decided to visit our ad-
vanced trenches near Arras. Two on
GERS. captain and q very young liea-
tenant, offered to lead US to the outer
German positions. They Jumped into
our car and silently We sncd on
through the night.
AFTER while the lights Of our autel
were extinguished. Not sign Of lifs
was discernible around us ~ We ran
along the road cautiously but swiftly.
Then we noticed gray shadows moving
through the darkness singly and In
groups.
Suddenly our car stopped and We
had to advance afoot over the dusty.
rocky road. Great rockets swept mp
through the darkness, In beautiful
curves, bursting high In the air ana
sending sheaves of FIRE In all direo-
tons. Great white lamps. resembling
large moons. lighted up the country
for miles around. II seemed 40 II light
houses had suddenly been built into
the air. These mysterious lamps were
light-bombs attached to parachuteS
which keep them floating between
heaven and earth for some time
"A moment later there was fire all
around us- The artillery on both sides
had commenced its awful work. Ear
splitting, internal noise now accompa-
MED the fantastic fireworks. The dul1
roar dissolved itself Into innumerabis
sounds and noises. With faint shrieks,
like scared little birds. the French In
fantry bullets whiszed over our heads.
the machine guns ratified. shrapnels
exploded with deafening roar ana
the great howitzers spit out their
charges with gurgling sound. Every
instrument Of murder and destruction
was In action.
Covered by earthworks and sand
hills we slowly moved along. We were
told that about this time OF the night
the battle was generally becoming
less violent, but after We had passed
the last houses Of a village q veritahle
hell broke loose. On hill about atty
yards from US French shell exploded.
and then another one. We tried to
reach the nearest shelter. but shells
struck on all sides Of US. moving down
the trees, tearing great cratars into
the field and meadow and sending .
hail Of sand and stones over rs a.
they exploded.
"All the devils Of hell seemed to
have escaped. A fearful concert split
our ears and racked our nerves. In in
organic, distorted rhythms and hun
dreds of discordant sounds the satanic
symphony roared over the country.
shrieking, bowling, grinding, rafting
and at times almost laughing. The
earth trembled beneath our feet. more
terrors to the hellish concert above
and around US.
At last we reached the shelter and
here, safe as In box Of q theater. We
watched the indescribable spectacle.
We were as II In trance, completely
carried away by the wild dance OF
death before our eyes. Near the bomb
proof shelter the soldiers moved
around with serious, calm faces. The
rain OF shells and fire seemed TO have
no terrors for them, as they did not
even hasten their steps when they
passed particularly dangerous spot.
And q year ago most Of them were
peaceful citizens and civilians LIKE
myself. and my colleaguea What men
war has made Of themi
"The night Of horrors seemed end
less. but at last . weak ray Of light
which fell into our shelter, and tho
varbling Of Q lark told us that morn
ing was near. Still the guns were
laundering and roaring but - the
sun slowly began to rise the firing
ceased. For q few minutes not shot
was heard and In the pale twilight my
overheated brain drew . fancifui pic-
ture Of . God walking over the land
and commanding peace.
'aThs dream was short however.
French shells came again tearing
through the air. our cannon answered
and the small guns chimed In. With
IN ten minutes the battle ragged - vio-
lsntly again. all during the long night,
Hell had only taken . breath" I