Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-23
BATTLE NINETEEN
DAYS WITHOUT REST
FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN
TITANIC STRUGGLE FOR POS.
SESSION or "LAsYRlNTH."
ALLIES TAKE STRONGHOLD
At GREAT SACRIFICE
Official Observer at Front Describes in
Detail Struggle in Which Losses
Were Enormous-Blood Lust Strong
and Morale Of vietors Unabated -
Resistance az Fierce as Attack.


Resistance az Fierce as Attack.
| Paris, June 23.-The fighting from
May 80 to June 10, resulting in the
conquest by the French of the system
of works and trenches which the SOL
diers call "Labyrinth," is described to-
day in a dispatch from an official OBJ
server at the front.
The Labyrinth" lying between Neu-
vile st. Vast and Ecurie, formed a
! salient of the German line, and it's po-
sition, a strong one, was greatly re-
enforced from time to time.
During nineteen days of the fight.
ing, from May 80 to June II, there was
not a rest Of one hour day or night.
French attacks on May 9 and days
thereafter failed to modify the situa-
tion," the observer writes. "At the
end of May the French decided to
finish things and the order was given
to take the Labyrinth" inch by inch.
Step by Step Battle.
This meant an operation Of two
principal phases Of different nature. It
was necessary first, by well prepared
and vigorous assaults, TO get a footing
in the enemy organization, and then
to progress to the interior Of the COM
municating trenches, in repulsing the
enemy step by step. These two opera
tons lasted more than three weeks and
resulted in complete success.
1.-The debouch was difficult, as num-
erous German batteries, composed Of
77-millimeter guns, the $50, 210, 2S0
and even 305 millimeter guns, con-
centrated their fire on us. They were
stationed at Givenchy, at La Folie, at
Thelus, Farbus and Beaurains, south
of Arras. Nevertheless our men UNDER
stood and prepared to do their duty.
1t was May 30 that the assaults be-
gan, our regiments marching from diff
ferent points. Their ardor was adj
mirab le."
inside the Labyrinth.
Everywhere, except on the right,
we captured the first line. Behind this
were number Of barbados and fort
lets. We took some Of these. while
others stopped us. One hundred and
fifty prisoners, surprised in their holes
by the furious charge of the French
infantry, fell into our hands.
From this moment the war Of the
communicating trenches began. There
were the trenches of Won Kluck. Of
Eulenburg and of the Sale des F'etes,
without counting innumerable num-
bered works, giving a feeling of I'M
heard-of difficulties which our troops
had ito overcome.
Without a stop from May 30 to June
II they fought on this ground, full Of
big holes and filled with dead The
combat never ceased, either day or
night. The attacking elements, con-
stantly renewed, crushed the Germans
with hand grenades and demolished
their earth barbados. There was not
an hour Of truce nor an instant OF re-
pose. The men were under a sun so
hot in the trenches that they fought
bareheaded and in their shirt sleeves.
ION each Of these bloody days there
were acts of incompatible heroism.
From three sides at a time we attained
way where the Germans had dug, ten
meters under ground, formidable shell
tiers. The enemy's artillery continued
firing on our line without interruption.
Our reserves suffered, for in this up-
turned earth, where every blow from
the pickax would disinter a body, one
can prepare but slowly the deep shell
tiers which the situation demands.
Blood Lust Was Strong.
1--WE lost many men, but the morale
of the others was mistaken. The men
asked only one thing-to go forward
and fight with grenades, instead Of
waiting, gun in hand, the unceasing
fall of shells.
(" They were hard days, and it was
necessary constantly to carry to the
fighting men munitions and food and
especially water. Everybody did his
best, and we continued our success.
Little by little our progress indicated
by a cloud of dust resulting from the
combat of the grenades, brought us
to an extremity north Of the laby-
rinth.' The fighting continued in the
Eulenburg and other trenches daily
and ultimately the Labyrinth belonged
to us.
French Are Victorious.
"The Germans lost an entire regi-
ment. We took q thousand prisoners
The rest were killed. A Bavarian regi-
ment also was decimated.
''Our losses were 1000 men, among
whom many were slightly wounded.
"The resistance was as fierce as the
attack. Despite the nature of the
ground and the organized defenses,
which had been In preparation for
seven months, and despite the artil-
lery. the bomb-throwers and the quick.
n = A. -