Evening journal., 1916-07-07
SAW Great Battle
ON SOAkE RIVER
Correspondent Describes the
Drive on the West
Front
SOLDIERS SMILED
WHEN WOUNDED

LONDON. July T. - The Daily
Chronicles correspondent with the
British forces on the Somme front
describes Saturdays fighting, as fol-
lows
"A great bombardment was raging
from both sides. The Germans were
shelling the places the British had
taken from them and the British guns
were putting a heavy barrage on
these positions La Boisello was be-
ing shelled by shrapnell with great
severity. and there was one spot at
the northern end Of the tree stumps
where the British and German shells
seemed to met and mingle their eA-
plosions in what was once a village.
There were dense clouds of smoke
which rose in columns and then
spread out into thick pals
THE British batteries were nring
single rounds and salvOs in the direc-
tion OF ContalmaisOn from many
places behind the lines. A circle OF
guns concentrated upon the German
lines behind Fricourt and Mametz
wood and La Boiselle.
''The shells from the British heav-
les came screaming overhead with a
big. rising note. which ends with sud
den roar as a missile bursts, ana the
field batteries were firing rapidly ana
continuously. so that the sharp crack
of each shot seemed to rip the air as
If il were made of calico.
COstly to British Troops.
The Germans were replying
chiefly on the ground about La
Boiselle. so that one hated to think OF
the Britishers up there. for though
IL was nothing like the British bonn
hardment. Il was heavy enough to in
crease the cost they had TO pay for
progress.
II was curious to watch the British
soldiers walking about the battlefield
They seemed to be very aimless In
their little groups, wandering about
as if picking wildflowers. Shells were
whining and rending the air above
their heads. but they did not glance
inward to where the shells burst anC
vomited black smoke
They seemed as careless OF war as
holiday makers on Hampstead Heath
Yet when one went among them ne
found that each man had his specla
mission and was part Of general pur
noses. guided by higher powers
Some of them were laying new wirei
for new telephones over the grounC
lust captured. Others were runners
coming down with messages througi
g-F.r
and engineers were getting on VIII
their lob quietly and without fuss.
From over on the ridge where th'
Crucihx trench runs could be seer
their heads first above trenches. Thu
they seemed TO rest awhile after the!
come into full view below the ridge
Had thew been seen by the German
aunners9 Why we're they runninl
like that down the slope? Som'
shrapnel clouds came white an'
curly above the skyline, others fluite'
lower and nearer to the men, Ihey
were in such a bunch that one shel
would do great damage there. Ine!
scattered a little and made cover IL
the hummOcky ridges.
These men had been fighting heav
ily down near the two trees known a
the Poodles. and they had cap
tured a number Of German prisoners
who came toward them with uplifte'
hands. The prisoners were bein'
brought down in small bunches.
Surrender At La BOisselle.
I'm at La Boisselle the shelling wa
still intense but the British troop
already surrounded part Of the posi-
tions and after a concentration of IN
guns advanced and captured II.
A number of Germans were there Il
their dugouts, the remnants Of a bat
talon which had suffered frightfu
things under the British gunhre
Some Of the officers, it seems fror
what the prisoners said, went ava
TO Contalmaisan, saying that the
were going to bring up reserves, bu
they did not come back.
The other men, about $50 OF then
were staying in the dugouts withou
food and water while the BIRTHS
shells made fury above them an
smashed up the ground. They had
doctor there, a giant of man wit
n great heart, who had put his firs
dressing station in the second-lin
trench and attended the wounds {
the men until the bombardment b'
came intensified so that no man coul
live there. He took the wounde
down to the dugout-those who ha
not been carried back-and stage
there. expecting death.
But then the shells ceased
scream and roar above ground, an
after the silence they heard the noii
of British troops. He went up to II
entrance Of his dugout and said
some English soldiers who came
with fixed bayonets; my friends,
surrender"
Aided British Wounded.
Afterward he helped TO tend u
British wounded and did good wor
under the fire OF the German gun
which were now turned upon this p
sition.
Many machine guns we're capture
and round one OF them all the tea
we're laid out dead by one of the Bri
'sh shells.
AT about 11.30 in the morning.
walked down into Fricourt, whi'
VAS captured yesterday afternoon
was a strange walk. not pleasant, bi
Cull Of terrible interest.
Fighting still going on on the his
ground above. a few hundred yar'
away. and while I had been watchiI
the scene of war from a field nearh
had seen heavy shells. certain
five point mines. falling near the v