The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-08-23
Where Death Is Present
At Every Point.
EACH MAN IS HIS OWN LEADER
No Such Terrific Artillery Fire
Has Ever Been Develop.
ed Previously.
WHOLE TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT

German Trenches Opposite the
British Position at Gommecourt, on
the Somme Front, Monday Aug. IA
(via Berlin and Sayville, wireless,
Aug. 16, from a staff correspondent
of the Associated Press Half
million British have been engaged
in the effort to break the German
lines on the Somme front. Often, as
in the fighting between Gommecourt
and Hebtuorne, the British outnum-
bered the Germans six 70 ,ne. They
have gained ground to depth of
three to five miles over a front of
about eighteen miles, but nowhere
have been able to break through.
More than ever death has become
commonplace in this most MUIR
derous battle of all times. The Ger
mans in the tirst line know that
they probably will be killed if their
positions are attacked. Trenches
are virtually useless, for the heavy
British shells widen them into broad
channels affording no cover of any
sort. The first line usually per-
ishes.
I The advancing British foot troops
are no better off, because the Ger
mans reverse the process when part
of their positions have been captur-
cd. After the British artillery have
leveled the German trenches, the in
fantry rushes in, often to be thrown
out again as soon as the British ar
tillery ceases fire, which it has to do
owing to the proximity of the oppos-
ing lines. Thus the battle has been
going on for weeks, the opposing
forces now gaining at terrific cost
and then losing at even greater cost
few yards of trenches.
At present all the fighting by the
British is carried on from their
POzieres salient, where their gun
fire is unceasing day or night. Ger
man officers who were in the Cham
payne offensive said no such artil-
/ lery fire ever had been developed
previously.
The German fire, too, is terrific
An idea of its intensity may be gain
ed from the fact that on certain
British troops German guns threw
1900 shells in one minute and for
ty-five seconds, resulting in great
slaughter.
Often the British assault dies
away before the German second line,
from which machine guns pour out
streams of bullets which literally
cut the men into fragments. At one
point the Associated Press cores
pendent stood within 500 yards of
the British trenches near Delville
wood. Nearby the Germans had
just buried 1896 British, as lulls in
the firing permitted.
Some 500 British prisoners whom
the correspondent saw behind the
firing line plainly We're still dazed
from the shock. They were a sorry
spectacle. glad they had escaped
from hell as they termed it.
The correspondent visited the en-
tire front of the present offensive,
and everywhere found from talks
with Germans that they were more
determined than ever to stand their
ground. The men are in capital
shape physically. and of easy mind,
although they are looking upon |
death at each instant. An officer |
pointed out that nowadays each man
is his own leader, as ii is often i'm
possible under present battle condi-
tions to transmit commands. While
the Generals might still plan the &C
tons. the officer said, it was plain
that the infantryman, acting upon
his own initiative in the presence of
death. must save the day.
Back of the German lines within
the British artillery range hardly a
single house was standing. Embers
were still burning in the ruins of
two villages as the correspondent
passed through. Officers said there
were no troops in such places and
that the victims were mostly French
civilians. or these the correspond (:
ent saw scores of wounded. When
ever possible the Germans removed
these civilians. as at Buoquoy. The
population of this town was sent out
1t 2 o'clock in the morning and the
began at o'clock. By
noon the entire village was razed
rhe village of Rancourt met SIM
lar fate. The correspondent saw
part of the population rushing for
afety and few hours later looked
IN the burning debris of the town.
British aviators have made sew