The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-02-19
TIME
DESCRIBED At
SCISSORS FIGHT
SOLDIER WHO ACTED AS TELE.
GRAPH OPERATOR, TELLS HOW
SWIFTLY. THINGS HAPPENED
IN TRENCHES WHERE THE
OFFICERS ASSEMBLED.
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Berlin, Feb IA Hamburg soldier
who acted as telegraph operator in
the latest lighting at SCISSORS, had a
! remarkable view OF the operations
from his dug-out.
my den," he writes suddenly be-
came 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 directions
for our artillery fire at important
points.
"Outside we hear the wild roar of
the battle. Suddenly our dug-out
seems to be caving In; stones crumble
from the roof; we stop breathing and
terrible pressure In the air seems
about to fatten our chests. What was
that? The younger soldiers tremble
and grow pale, but the veterans give a
quick and meaning glance and the new
men who have not yet been in battle
recover themselves and proceed calm
~ with their work. It was after ali
only a little 10-inch bomb. The veter-
ans know that 1t did not fell directly
over our dug-out and proceed with
their telephone work, knowing thar
any delayed message might cost muci,
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 thru companies
of the regiment have disappeared: or
Height number-must be stormed al
once The first battalion is under
flank fire. its losses heavy. help wan
ted at once The artillery mus
lengthen Its range 800 metres at once,
as II is endangering our infantry
Captain x--has Just fallen; Lieutenant
assumes command Field artillery
must Immediately open fire on heigh.
number: upon-road and enemy's
artillery gailoping away Two min
utes later the road Is screened will
smoke as our shells fly further nn6
further into the thick masses OF me1
and horses. Horses dash away in b
mad panic, and men creep forth from
under capsized gun carriages and
caissons and limp away In search OF
cover. They nearly succeed, when,
little white cloud is suddenly seen, ant
the lettering figures and everything
around are moved down. That was
one OF the shrapnels.
The smoke has cleared away. anc
our field artillery Is shooting at more
important game-a field battery
the road, which is now at rest forever
'Hurrah!' is shouted through the tele
phone. with the announcement: sCuf
fees has been taken completely, also tn,
height 1872 (naming little fort). En-
thusiasm for q moment and then tht
Al
same zeal and energy. We have ha
great successes. and not a man thinks
OF getting his dinner. We only drinl
black coffee from morning till nigh
and that is all that keeps US on GU
feet. The enemy's artillery gradual,
stops firing, but ours fires still more
holly II possible. Suddenly the urgen
call:
The whole artillery win prepare
Crouty and Vauxrot to be taken 3s
storm At 2:4o Crouy is taken after |
a hard struggle and occupied by our
brave fleld-greys. Two hours late
Vauxrot is ripe for attack and Is takeI |
by storm with only small losses. An
other hour and the glass factory, after |
having been frightfully shot to pieces
falls into our hands. That was a |
strong supporting point point on the |
French: and now there is no longer |
any holding out on their side. TheiI |
rifiemen run for the Aisne in wild |
and press to cross the bridges |
for the south bank. Our artillery tears |
with rapid fire through the disorderly |
masses. Hundreds of these brave SOL |
diers redden the soil Of the native land |
with their blood.
Another 'Hurrah'I Announcement |
from division headquarters that the |
Kaiser, our beloved Kaiser, has just |
arrived in an automobile behind on, |
front. Hundreds OF telephones carry /
the news into the front battle lines: |
and our men are no longer to he held |
back-in short time all the country |
on this side of the Aisne is cleared Of |
the enemy"