Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-21
AFTERMATH OF The BATTLE
Evidences of Swsth Of Slaughter Cut
Through and About Chaml agne
and Ypres Are Described
EFFECT OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES


CHALON, France, Nov. 15.--There
wes still wreckage enough remaining on
the battlefield Of Champagne three weeks
after the battle was fought to give some
idea OF the havoc OF destruction when II
was fresh after the advance. Within
space fifteen miles in length by from
one to three in breadth at least a 1000
900 men we're engaged on both sides;
5000 prisoners were taken; and at least
two or three shells for every man en-
gagged was fired.
That sheet Of preparatory shell fire
which had decended upon fifteen miles
Of German front trenches had meant
swath Of slaughter 20 start with. For
three days, this b0mbardHlent continEss.
According TO tho accounts of German
prisoners they could only hug the shelter
OF their subterannean chambers under
their crumbling parapets. A wall OF artil-
lery fire back OF the trenches kept the
supplies from reaching them. In front OF
the trenches the continued crash OF
shrapnel blasts was cutting the barbed
wire. For months the French had
been accumulating ammunition which
they poured out from every calibre OF
gun.
swept ON Like Tide.
This she'll fire not only killed and
wounded Germans; not only made the
most elaborate trenches into dust heaps
but Uttered the field with smashed Ger
man caissons. transport wagons. clothing.
equipment and all the impediments Of an
army.
There was peace in the German
trenches for the first time in three days
as the wave OF French infantry rushed
for the German trenches Then the
French guns stopped firing lest they
kill their own men. The wave had not
more than 900 yards 10 go. Estimate the
time that It takes the average man TO
run that distance and you have the time
It took the French soldiers to reach the
wreckage which had been the German
trenches and grapple with any survivors
In the dugouts In some places tho wave
swept on beyond the trench like the tide
running up an inlet. The Germans be-
tween such forces were caught in pair
Of plncers. This accounted for the pris-
oners who were taken In patches. They
we're surrounded by infantry with no way
OF retreat open to them.
OnIy Little Things Remain.
"Only the little things now remain"
said a French soldier who was salvastng
in the ruins OF the German redoubt Of
La Poohe. the pocket In the famous Trou
Bricot sector. at tho start. OF course.
we buried the dead ana gathered UP the
broken machine guns which had been
destroyed by our gunflre"
Tho town Of Ypres In the British lines
probably remains the most colossal ex-
ample OF shell-fire But Ypres was a
town. IL was not built to Withstand she'll
fire. but as home for men in time OF
peace. In Trou Bricot tho Germans with
the science and amazing industry, which
their operations, had set
out 10 build thmselvos a bastion which
would Withstand the kind of fire they had
visited upon Yprcs. They had been at
work for many months perfecting II
from time to time. enlarginE and strenth-
ening It. busy as ants In a hill 1t was o
vast warten Of sandbags brlstling with
machine guns-a knuckle-like salient in
the German front line. Small forests Of
barbed wire guarded II right and left.
It was as proof against shrapnel as a
slate roof against hail.
The explosion OF any high explosive
she'll was localized in one OF multitude
of chambers built with a view to receiv-
ing such visitors. Shafts in the earth
the whole offered further
protection. In the center was sort OF
well IN tho midst OF tho walls Of sand
bass were che occupants might enjoy
from anything except bombs
from the air
Form of shells.
But the French guns showered tons
upon tons OF shells upon La Poche for
hose three days When a chamber was
destroyed they gave the Germans no time
10 repair H. For seventy-two hours the
blasts OF explosions were tearing at that |
hurricane .of all the big cali |
Dres from six to fifteen-inch with soms |
smaller ones thrown In for good measure. |
la Poche at the end OF a |
French mine rested a huge charge of |
explosive. That was fired just before tho |
Infantry charged. II carried Germans and |
landbags heavenward In a cloud two or
hree- hundred feet high and left q crater
II at least 100 feet In depth and $50 feet |
n width. Any Germans who survived |
we're In the pail OF dust from Il as the
French infantry charged over the bare
pace where the barbed wire had been
destroyed by guns which were given this
'art OF the work TO do. In ten minutes
rom the time that the French infantry
eft their trenches they were In full pos
essions OF La Poche.
1T was easy. monsieur" said q soldier.
easier than seme such simpler fortifioa~
ions which We found later on where the
Ihells had not fallen so thickly. We
-ushed In and we looked around-for
somebody 20 fight with. But there was
10 one For most part there was nothing. |
but the fragments OF men; and there
we're men lying about trying to apply |
'irst aid bandages and a few stunded. |
inhurt. What could they do. but yield. |
Those who sought refuge down that |
Shaft there. we're all buried alive; and |
we dug out few who still had the |
breath OF life In them from that shaft |
gonder"
From the highest point OF the ruins one /
ooked right and left along tho front line
n German trenches which had been 20 /
slaboTately dug and were brokei.. halt |,
iilled bitches as the result OF that ter
rifle concentration OF Eun-fire: and the
'ame thing was TO be seen In the region |
of Loos where the British guns had |
the same kind OF havoc.
Medal Given Flint