New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-06
Witness of LOOS Battle
In Arch of Artillery Fire
Philip Gibbs Watches Fight in Trench-Whole Pano-
rama Of Thunderbolt Filled Sky Lowers on Ugly
Naked Plain-Shes the Only Moving lhings

new line between Hill 20 and chalk
pit and the whole length of our line
from north TO south. only two men
moved about above trenches. They were
two khaki boys, carrying German gas
cylinder. and they went on their way
whistling as though it were nice,
healthy spot. They shouted out
cheering answer TO our question:
These are German trenches They
were German trenches, but now ours.
Across the open ground there was the
famous Loos redoubt through which
"Kitchener's men" had stormed their
way in the dawn of that Saturday
morning which began our advance. The
dead were still heaped about 1t, mass
OF horror.
Out of the bewildering impressions
Of thee days as have moved about the
battle zone it is difficult to give one
vivid picture which could help those
far away to visualize these scenes OF
war-the scenes on the roadsldes IN
country behind the firing lines, where
the Headquarters are established.
Out OF the confusion OF all these
scenes some things are unforgettable,
as when ! saw some of the wounded
after Loos, singing and shouting hilar-
not weeping for their fallen comrades,
hut iovous because Of having smashed
the German line.
Another seen will live in my mird.
II was at a village near the front:
Through its streets streamed tide OF
war transport, Of divisions OF gun
teams. with their timber ambulance
convoys, ammunition wagons, infantry
moving up to the front, dispatch car
riers, staff officers, signallers and
great host of men and mules and auto
mobiles. The rain dashed down upon
the crowds Waterproofs and the tar
paulin covers of forage carts streamed
with water, and the bronzed faces OF
the soldiers were dripping wet and mud
splashed them TO the thighs from the
wheels of the gun carriages.
The chill of winter made the High
landers as we'll as the Indians SILVER IN
the wind, but everywhere and among
all these men there was spirit OF
cheerfulness and eXultation. Al last
there was break in the months OF
stationary warfare. The first proofs OF
victory stood visible there, where IN a
long line stood the German guns capt
ured at Loos, guarded on each side by
British soldiers with fixed bayonets A
group of French citizens gathered
around them. excited at he sight OF
} them. 80
Some artillery officers examined their
broken breech blocks and their inscrlp-
tions. "Pro gloria ct patrla ultima
ratio regio." The irony OF the WORDS
made some of the onlookers laugh.
Outside the headquarters OF BRUSH
army CORPS stood another line OF capt
vraj cold Guns and several machine
guns. of which one had strange his
tory of adventure. IL was a Russian
machine gun, taken by the Germans on
the eastern front and retaken by US on
the western front.
Officers Not Plentiful.
One fact is significant. There are a
great number of sub-lieutenants com
handing companies. and most OF them
have Joined since the war. This re
yeals the dearth of more experience
officers. The men complain that they
never see their high officers IN the
trenches. Colonies and commandant'
remain well in the rear
Nevertheless, in spite or their SUI
feriugs at the front many OF the men
COMPLAIN of the desperately hard time
/ thew ha.. in the regimentsl depots al
/ home. with bullying from morning un-
/ Ill night, so that they prefer 70 go &c
the front whatever the risk OF death
NAV be. They deplore their heavy
| losses in Russia and one man says;
"How nice il would be II we could
make separate peace with Russia
Then we could give those damned hne
lish a hammering. They deserve IT,
I the swine"