Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-05
Stories of the War
During a Battle at Verdun.

General IIeIIouin, Commander of the Fifth French Army Corps lying on the left flank of the army before Verdun, led the way to a high elevation which commanded a sweep of the vast war panorama, the German trenches plain ly visible only six hundred yards away; to the right the historic town of Verenne torn to pieces and the fa- nous house in which Louis XVI and Marie AntOinette sought refuge from the Terror a, mass Of ruins; further on another town wiped off the may so that not even ruins above the level sand; and through the vista of trees, the outlying defenses of old Verdun- Avacourt HarcOurt, Mort-IIomme, ttancOurt-midway between Yer dun and the point where the party StOd, outlined dimly through the mist and curtain of smoke.
 A terrific bombardment was in pro gTeSS, and the crash of shells and whiz of bullets echoed all along the front, and on to the Nerdun hills where the battle was at it's height But for this terrific din, there was no sign of move ment or activity, no hurrying troops, no clash of battle Iines-only a vast battlefield of green hills and deva stated towns, with now and then a, puff of smoke from some hidden battery and the everlasting din of giant weapons racking the ear
 That's a meIanite sheu', said Gen eral HeliOujn, as crash more ter TIbIe than the rest fairly rent the air.
 The Commanding General turned to M. Painleve, a member of the Briand ministry, and to The Associated Press representative who was privileged to accompany this notable party.
 Come up here" said the General and get a good survey of the scene And climbing to this point of vantage, the party looked out on one point after another designated by General Hello uin as those on which the ravages of war had fallen heaviest.
 Sec that sandy hill'', said the Cen eraA pointing to a barren crest of vel low sand. Who would ever think that was the site Of 8 goOd-sized town on ly short time ago. It had solid stone houses, and a stone church with double towers of stone, and seven hun cred people living a peaceful and pros porous village life. And look at it not thing remains, not even ruins. No, it Is plotted out of existence. First the houses and church were lombard - ed into ruins; then the ruins were bOmbarded into bits, and then the bits were bombarded into dust untill-well lock at it, as flat as the desert of Sahara, and not 6, mound to indicate that hundreds of people lived there only recently.
 The party were grouped around the General, speaking in whispers, for just over there were the German gunners a few hundred feet away, on the alert for any voice or movement giving them opportunity for a shot. Care fully the General and M. PainIeve look ed through the foliage screening the high parapet, their heads protected by steel helmets.
 Apparently the Germans had divined the presence of a, party, or had heard the low voices. For suddenly the line of clay trenches immediately opposite, which had been silent until now, burst into a sheet of white smoke as the guns were trained on the point where the party stood. General HeIIouin was undisturbed amid the whiz of shells, until two staff officers, urging the risk of his exposed position, induced him and M. Patnleve to seek the security of the trench
 The start to the trenches had been made at daylight. The route lay through a number of small villages, one of them torn to pieces by a bonn hardment, with only jagged stone walls and chimneys standing gauntly along the road. Long lines of trucks look ing like prairie -schooners'' stretched for miles along the route and thous- ands of horses and mules and carts were parked at close intervals, all taking some part in this huge task of keeping up the steady supply of food, equipment and ammunition for several million men.
 The Argonne forest was entered about g o'clock, with General FTelIouin leading the way with M. Painleve. splintered by shell fire, and one giant