The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-03-03
DIRECTS BATTLE BY WIRE
TELEPHONE OPERATOR HAD RE.
MARKABLE VIEW.
Picture of scissors Fighting as
Directed by Its Nerve Center, the
Telephone Dugout.

Telephone Dugout.
The Associated Press correspond
ent ct Berlin writes: A Hamburg
soldier, who acted as telephone oper-
ator in the latest fighting at scissors,
had a remarkable view Of the opera
tions from his dugout.
my den," he writes, suddenly
became the meeting place for officers,
and for several days it has borne the
name, Central Telephone Station OF
Field Artillery The name says
enough to explain itself. All orders
pass through my wires, giving drec-
tions for our artillery fire at lmpor-
tant points.
"Outside we hear the wild rage OF
the battle. Suddenly our dugout
seems to be caving in; stones cruna-
BILE from the roof; we stop breathing
and a terrible pressure in the air
seems about to flatten our chests.
What was that? The younger SOL
diers tremble and grow pale, but the
veterans give quick and meaning
glance, and the new men who have
not yet been in the battle recover
themselves and proceed calmly with
their work. It was after all only a
little ten-inch bomb. The veterans
know that it. did not fall directly
over our dugout and proceed with
their telephone work, knowing that
any delayed message might cost
much German blood. Meanwhile the
! tide Of battle is turning back and
forth.
"'Our infantry is falling back and
has lost connection with adjoining
troops. The first and third compa-
| MES ofthe regiment have disappear
ed;' or Height number - must be
stormed at once The first battalion
is under a flank fire, it's losses heavy
help wanted at once. The artillery
must lengthen it's range 800 meters
at once, as it is endangering our in.
fantry.' Capt. 3 has just fall
en-; Lieut.. s. assumes command.
Field artillery must Immediately
open fire on height number up
on - road; enemy's artillery gal
loping away Ten minutes later thai
road is screened with smoke as oul
shells fly. further and further intt
the thick masses Of men and horses
Horses dash away in mad panic
and men creep forth from under cap
sized gun carriages and caiSsons AMI
limp away in search Of cover. The!
nearly succeed, when little white
cloud is suddenly seen, and the tot
tering figures and everything arount
are moved down. That was one o
our shrapnels.
"The smokqe has cleare away, ant
our field artillery is shooting at NOR
important game-a field artillery fl
the road, which is now at rest for
ever. 'Hurrah!' is shouted through
the telephone, with the announce
ment: 'Cufhes has been taken com
pletely, also the height 1872 (namin;
a little fort.) Enthusiasm for
! moment and then the telephone ser
vice goes on with the same zeal an
energy. We have had great successes
: and not a man thinks Of getting hi
dinner. We only drink black cofe
: from morning till night, and that /
l oil l1dl hSSpS Us Ou OuI lSSL. "
, enemy's artillery gradually stops fl
|. ing, but ours fires more hotly If pos
, sible. Suddenly the urgent call:
1.-The whole artillery will prepare
: Crouy and Vauxrot to be taken b
. storm At 2:40 Crouy is taken afte
5 a hard struggle, and occupied by ou
brave Field-grays. Two hours late
: Vauxrot is ripe for attack and /
. taken by storm with only smal
losses. Another hour and the glas
n factory after having been frightfull
! shot to pieces, falls into our hand.
That was strong supporting poin
{ Of the French; and now there is n
: longer any holding out on their side
: Their rilemen run for the Aisne 1
wild masses and press to cross tn
!, bridges for the south bank. Gu
artillery tears with rapid fire throug
the disorderly masses. Hundreds c
these brave soldiers redden the so
of the native land with their blcot