Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-24
HILL DISAPPEARS
In TERRIBLE FIRE
Observer Tells of Destruction to
Germans as Mines Explode in
ALLY Woods.
BODIES HURLED INTO THE AIR

PARIS. April 23.-An official eve
witness. describing the operations by
which the French are menacing the
German position in the wedge Of ST.
Michel, says:
"All the ALLY woods, which con-
stituted a strong and we'll fortified
support for the Germans. Is now en-
tirely in French hands. conquered,
for the most part by troops from the
center Of France, after several days
Of systematic preparations, by a
heavy fire from three-inch and big
guns and by aerial torpedoes. At
certain points the Germans had con-
structed. in front OF meats twelve
yards wide, spiked barriers extending
about six feet above the level of the
earth, surrounded by barbed wire en-
tanglements, which we're so intricate
as TO make them impervious 10 any
tools.
opens Large breach.
"a concentration OF artillery fire
opened large breaches in this defense
pararets were sent crashing to the
ground and disrhembered bodies were
blown into the air above the clouds OF
smoke. The earth was strewn with over
turned trees and branches.
After five hours OF intense fire five
mines. laid under n parapet. adjacent TO
the principal fort holding tho position,
exploded, annihilating the garrison and
spreading panic in the trenehea-
IAN attack with fixed bayonets then
began in three lines. preceded by a de-
tachment with hand grenades. Engineers
followed with little bridges which had
been prepared In advance to facilitate
the passage ovet the network Of trenches
The order has beer given not to stop
IN any trench. but 10 pass over ana
take the enemy IN the rear
Three lines OF trenches were thus
cleared OF the Germans Those who
sought refuge In the underground shell
tiers pcrlshed from suffocaton. through
the collapse Of the entire earthwofks.
Atteinpts Counter Attack.
Toward o'clock on April 8 the enemy
attempted 70 counter attack. supported
by nesvy artillery fire. which was nsu-
tyaIIzed BY our batteries Our attack was
renewed the following day ana developed
into a furious, haRd-te-hand strtigait with
Etenades and cold steel in the narrow
iines OF trenches.
ssThe enemy offered eueh resistance that
the order was given. to evaoaaio part of
the ground that had been gained. This I
was then bombarded until the enemy was
obliged to retire We then held the throe
main line trenches OF the Aliiy. wocds.
The enemy's losses were heavy. We
counted hundrecs Of dead on the evening
OF the sth and on the evening OF the 9Th
We found the dead piled IN thrse rows.
During theT7th and Sun wa repuised
elght counter attacks The ensnsy sue
cseded in eutcfins one trench. but was
unable to hold H. OF the AilIyr woods
there remained nOehips but few hacked
trunks and not an inch 81 ground in n
that had not been turned up by OK
plcsions. In the strange chaos stones,
cerpsos and q debris OF limbs lay min
sled. iFi n
Many Are DeranEea.
AT $3.50 o'clock on April : an intensive
bombardment by the enemy VISA begun.
In ninety minutes upon this corner Of
the woods. over q front Of from $50 70 100
yards deep. 2o.ooo shells we're fired. They
included all caiihers from four TO eight.
inch. The entire hin disappeared IN a
loud Of smoke. All communication were
cut during this time and when the fire