The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-14

battle Is detailed in a letter to the
Figaro. The letter, written by an Off
Ger OF field artillery who was in the
thick Of the lighting. tells in simple
style OF the superhuman efforts made
by the French gunners to stem the
tide OF the German advance while
they were themselves under the fire
OF heavy artillery.
On the twenty-first," he writes. the
Germans commenced their prepara-
tons for the attack. with fury that
let US know something serious was on
foot.
Our group "a group of 75's is COM
posed of three batteries of four guns
each) was III position to the south
east Of the Haumont woods. One bat
terry was split up as Ranking pieces IN
to the east OF Haumont woods, one to
the south and the third to the north OF
Samogneux, with one gun each. The
other two batteries were to the south
Of hill No. 312. We were supported by
q battery of six so nm. guns.
Naturally we responded at once to
the German attack with barrier lire
to stop, SO far as possible, the enemy
infantry from making it's way to our
lines. The two guns at the east OF the
Haumont Woods were pushed into po'
sition in the Caures ravine and opened
fire at 700 meters.
But the Germans, despite the sac
rifice Of great numbers of their men,
began to arrive in hordes. They ap-
peared through the Caures Woods
along the crests running between the
Haumont and ,Caures woods and es-
tablished Themselves there. The two
guns here reduced their range and
with sweeping fire cut down entire
ranks, but new waves appeared to
take the places of the fallen men in
front of the blazing guns. Still the
gunners kept at their work until just
aS their ammunition was failing the
enemy infantry appeared through the
Haumont Woods almost in their rear
The gunners then blew up their guns
and retreated, taking their wounded
with them.
Thirteen Men Fall.
"A battery Of 90 nm. guns estab-
lished upon the Haumont crest, al
though enveloped by An Internal fire,
kept quietly about its business. Shells
Of 3O5 MN. caliber were falling all
about it. IN less than minute thir-
teen OF the servants fell and it's fire
began to slacken> Then appeared a
first sergeant Of r IS nm. battery.
Pferrard, of the til Field artillery,
who reported to the commandart OF
our group:
Mon commandant.' he said sim.
ply, my battery no longer exists; give
me something else to do
Very good was the answer. re
port to that battery of COS
"Pierrard rallied the remaining men
Of his battery, they reported to the
eos and in moment the battery re-
opened it's fire with terrific vigor. For
forty-eight hours Pierrard stuck to the
COS, taking charge as the commits.
stoned officers were killed or wounded.
He kept in close touch with the COM
mandant and for time was able to
receive from the combat trains extra
supplies Of ammunition for his duel
for It was a real duel he was waging--
against the 'Boches' But it was at
last impossible to send more ammuni-
ton to him.
Fire every shot you have he was
told; then blow up your guns and re-
tire
"The Germans redoubled their ef-
forts to take this battery that barred
their way. Again and again they camo
surging to the crest. At last they got
90 close that Pierrard and his men
opened fire with their carbines and
drove them back. Then they returned
TO their guns and reopened fire. But
their situation was untenable. With
their last shots they destroyed the
guns by firing them after disabling the
recoil mechanism. Then the brave
fellows came back. But, alas, In their
retreat, Pierrard. the bravest of the
brave. was probably killed. When they
arrived in safety he was not with
them, and has not been seen since.
He was not the only one to die valiant.
" for his country.
Hail Of 1905" Shells.
i Here is another proof Of the tran
uuil audacity of our gunners. One bat
fery was under terrific fire of heavy
pro1ectiles. A sos she'll burst in its
midst, killing the captain, the first
sergeant, a chief of section and five
scannoneers. Did the others blench?
Not they: they only tore off their
l,louses, and, working in their shirt
sleeves. redoubled their efforts to in.
tensify their fire and avenge their
chiefs and their comrades. ..
"During the day of the 22d we re-
ceived an incalculable number of 305
shells on the Mormont farm and its
vicinity. Our situation was all the
more difficult because, Of the difficulty
we experienced in getting more am
munition. Hardly one caisson in three
~ ammunition reached its destination.
The road from Vile to Vacherauville
was swept by a hellish fire.. III
The gun established at sanogneux
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