Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-14
With ALLIED ARMIES UNDER FIRE

lCorrespondence of Associated Press ]
FURNtS. WEST FLANDERS, Tues
day, December 22.--Ycsterday was n
day of furious activity along the entire
rrahco, Belgian front from Nieuport to
DiSmude. and through the courtesy of
the King of the Belgians the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent with the
Belgian army saw one OF tho sharpcst
battles between the rival armies along
tho User since the country between the
two forces was inundated. The CORE
spohdcnt was given the opportunity Of
accompanying a STAFF officer on his
daily round OF the battle line.
The party was under constant artil-
lery fire. and before tho morning ended
they were shelled out Of Nicuport and
Raniscnpclle. When the bridge on the
edge of Newport was reached II lively
artillery duel had begun between the
French batteries situated just south Of
tho town and the German artillery To-
Gated beyond LombacrtZydc. Leaving
the car at the bridge, the party went
into the town for II quarter of a mile
until within sight of the ancient obser-
walton tower which has been the main
object Of the German guns for several
days.
Dodging from wall to wall, on either
side Of the street lined with houses
completely wrecked by German shells.
the party took refuge for n moment In
the entryway of the Newport Church,
"A cathedral-like structure which has
only three walls standing. From a
gigantic crucihX the efhgy of Christ
had slipped and lay uninjured in a re
cumbent position at the foot OF the
cross.
Behind every wall Offering tho slight
| est cover squads of French African
| troops took shelter. Many of them had
been wounded. but the fire SO
| heavy that they could not venture 10
| the rear for treatment. In the dircc-
| ton OF the coast shells from the bonn
| harding wnrships could be seen break
| ing in the air, while the big shells from
| the German batteries shrieked over
| head with n sound that could only he
| described as Il wicked whine. When II
| momentnry lull was noticed in the Ger
| man fire no time was lost in getting
| back to the car. hut before 1T could he
| regained a siX-inch shell from Il Ger
| man howitZcr burst within 100 yards
| OF the party and within IL few feet of
! the big gas tank which supplies the
| town. The engine OF the motor car
| had been stopped. and the slowness of
| the chauffeur in starting it again was
extremely exasperating. once under
| way. every one felt safer. but shells
| continued to fly overhead, and some
| fell just short of the road travelled by
the car. One of these. striking In a
nearby field, threw up a gcyser of
mud and black smoke to height Of
several hundred feet.
battery Clcverly Concealed.
Turning towards Ramscapcllu where
are the advanced line OF Belgian
trenches, the party passed French
battery so cleverly concealed in "A wood
that the dugouts of the men looked like
rows of freshly made graves. The
horses and guns were concealed be-
meath evergreen trees. Part of this
grove had been levelcd by German ar
tillery fire, the trees looking as If they
had been moved down by an enormous
scythe. One OF the most striking fea-
lures of the battlefield and one eotirely
homogeneous with the work In hand
was tho sight OF peasants plowinE
their fields as II war were hundreds OF
miles away. These farmers are APP
parcntly fearless for their own per-
sonal safety. but keenly concerned for
their homes. many of which nave been
destroyed by shell fire.
Just on the edge Of Ramscapelle the
party climbed to the top of huge
wooden windmill used for grinding
wheat, which had been struck by hun
dreds of shells From this vantage
point the party saw Rhmscapeile
town which has been totally destroyed
by the German artillery. Not a single
structure In the place has escaped and
many OF the walls still left standing
have hundreds of shrapncl shell holes
in them. The church is even more
of wreck than the big church at Sicu-
port. everything I'm 1t being ruined
beyond restoration except a beautiful
group of statuary representing the
Lords last supper. which remains in
tact, n fact which the Belgian soldiers
regard as miracle.
Out in the churchyard the graves
have been torn open. and the collins
exposed by exploding shells. Like the
crucinx in the church building at Nicu
port. the figure from the cross in the
graveyard here has slipped from the
cross and lies at Its foot Proceeding
the advanced trenches, which are To-
Gated along the railway, which Is the
boundary of the flooded districts. Six
hundred yards away, on high ground
abutting into the water. is the adj
vanced German post at the farm of St
| Georges, which the allies were prepar-
| ing TO attack while the party was in
| Ramscapellc In this district the
water level is only two feet below the
level of the ground, and trench making
| here has been problem taxing the
| resources of the Flemish engineers
with the Belgian army, who are accus-
toned to working in these lowlands
| The railroad serves the base for the
trenches. and the mud walls are built
up against 1t with embrasures for rife
| fire made OF squares of steel with n
| hole in the centre for the muzzle OF
| the guns.
While the party was in the trenches
! tho Germans became aware OF the
/ preparations for attack. and their great
| sausage-shnp observation balloon
| was sent up. A long line OF gravel cars
occupied the siding In front OF tho sta
tion. and tho steel Sides OF these trucks
had been pierced so often that they
looked like sleeves. Tho party was eau