Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-21
| SEES BATTLE CLOSE AT HAND
German Telephone Operator Gives
Intimate Description Of
Modern Battle.
WIRES HAVE CENTER IN DUGoUT

Correspondence Of the Associated Pressy
BERLIN, Jan. ia Hamburg soldier.
who acted as telephone operator in the
latest fighting at Scissors, had a remark
able view Of the operations from his dug
out
my den." he writes. suddenly became
the meeting place for officers. and for
several days II has borne the name: Cen
trail Telephone Station of Field Artillery
The name says enough TO explain itself.
All orders pass through my wires, giving
directions for our artillery fire at impor-
tant points.
"Outside we hear the wild rage Of the
battle. Suddenly our dug-out seems 70 be
caving in; stones crumble from the roof;
we stop breathing and a terrible pressure
: in the air seems about to flatten our
chests. What was that? The younger
soldiers tremble and grow pale, but the
veterans give quick and meaning glance.
and the new men who have not yet been
I'm battle recover themselves and proceed
calmly with their work. 1t was after all
only a little ten-inch bomb. The veterans
know that IL did not fall directly over
our dug-out and proceed with their tele-
phone work, knowing that any delayed
message might cost much German blood.
Meanwhile the tide of battle IL turning
back and forth.
"'Our infantry is falling back and has
! lost connection with adjoining troops. The
first and third companies Of the regiment
have disappeared or Height No. -
must be stormed at once The First bat
talon is under flank fire. its losses are
heavy. help wanted at once The ar.
| tillery must lengthen its range 800 meters
at once, as tits endangerlng our infantry
| Captain * has just fallen; Lieu
| tenant s. assumes command Field
artillery must Immediately open fire on
| height No. -; upon - road and
enemy's artillery galloping away Two
minutes later that road is screened with
smoke as our shells fly further and
further into the thick masses of men and
horses. Horses dash away In a mad
panic, and men creep forth from under
capsized gun carriages and caissons and
limp away in search Of cover. They
nearly succeed, when q little white cloud
is suddenly seen. and the lettering figures
and everything around is moved down.
That was one of our shrapnels.
Black Coffee I'm Lieu of Food.
The smoke had cleared away and our
field artillery is shooting at more i'm
portant game-a field battery in the road.
which Is now at rest forever 'Hurrah"
is shouted through the telephone, with
the announcement: 'Cuffies has been
taken completely. also the height 1S
(naming a little forD. Enthusiasm for
q moment and then the telephone service
goes on with the same zeal and energy,
We have had great successes, and not
man thinks OF getting his dinner. We
only drink black coffee from morning
till night, and that IL ali that keeps us
ON our feet The enemy's artillery grad
ually stops firing, but ours fires still
more hotly. IL possible. Suddenly the
urgent call:
1.-The whole artillery will prepare
Crouy and Vauxrot to be taken by
storm At $50 Crouy is taken after q
hard struggle and occupied by our brave
field grays. Two hours later Vauxrot
lis ripe for attack and Is taken by storm.
with only small losses. Another hour
and the glass factory. after having been
lfrightfully shot to pieces. falls into our
hands. That was a strong supporting
point of the French. and now there 10 no
longer any holding out on their eide.
Their riflemen run for the Aisne in wild
masses and press to cross the bridges
for the south bank. Our artillery tears
with rapid fire through the disorderly
lmasses. Hundreds Of these brave sol
oilers redden the soil OF tho native land
with their blood
Another 'Hurrah.' Announcement from
division headquarters that the kaiser,
our beloved kaiser. has just arrived In
an automobile behind our front. Hun
dreds Of telephones carry the news into
the front battle lines. and our men are
no longer to be held back-ln a short
time all the country on this side OF the
Aisne u cleared OF the enemy"