Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-18
GERMAN LINE HOLDS
AGAINST WORST FIRE
BRITISH CAN MUSTER
UncenSored Dispatch From
German Front on the Somme
Tells of Fearful Gathering
WithStoOd by TeutonS

GERMAN TRENCHES. OPPOSITE
THE BRITISH POSITION AT COM
MECOURT. ON THE SOMME FRONT,
Monday, Aug. 14.-jVia Berlin and Say
vile, Aug. 16.)-From a staff corre-
spondent of the Associated Press.)-
Half a million British have been en-
gagged in the effort to break the Ger
man lines on the Somme front. often.
as in the lighting between Gommecourt
and Hebutorne, the British outnumber-
ed the Germans six TO one. They have
gained ground to a depth OF three to
five miles over a front Of about eigh-
teen miles, but nowhere have been able
to break through.
More than ever death has become a
commonplace in this most murderous
battle of all times. The Germans in the
first 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.
The advancing British troops are no
better OFF, because the Germans re-
verse the process when part of their
positions have been captured. After
the British artillery has levelled the
German trenches the infantry rushes
in, often to be thrown out again as
soon as the British artillery ceases fire,
which it has to do owing to the prox-
unity of the opposing 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 a few yards of trenches. At pres
ent all the fighting by the British is
carried on from their Pozieres salient
where their drum fire is unceasing day
or night. German officers who were in
the Champagne offensive said that no
such artillery fire ever had been de-
veloped previously.
GERMAN FIRE TERRIFIC.
The German fire, too, is terrific. An
idea of its intensity may be gained
from the fact that on certain British
troops German guns threw 1000 shells
in one minute and forty-five seconds, re-
sulting 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
correspondent stood within 500 yards
wood. Nearby the Germans had just
buried 1896 British as luils in the
firing permitted.
Some 500 British prisoners whom the
correspondent saw behind the firing line
plainly were still dazed from the shock
They were a sorry spectacle, glad they
had escaped from hell" as they termed
it.
The correspondent visited the entire
front of the present offensive and every
where found from talks with Germans
that they were more determined than
ever to stand their ground. The men arc
in capital shape physically and of easy
mind although they are looking upoI
death at each instant. An officer pointed
out that nowadays each man is his own
leader as it is often impossible under
present battle conditions to transmit
commands. While the generals might
still plan the actions, the officer said, it
was plain that the infantryman. acting
upon his own initiative in the presence of
death must save the day.
FEW HOUSES STANDING.
Back of the German lines within Brit
ish artillery range hardly single house
was standing. Embers were still burn
ing in the ruins of two villages as the
passed through. OfficersI
said there were no German troops in such
places and that the victims were mostly
French civilians. OF these the CORES
pondent saw scores of wounded.
Whenever possible the Germans remov-
ed these civilians as at Buoquoy. Thel
of this town was sent cut at
2 O'clock in the morning, and the Dom
ha rdment began at o'clock. BY noon the
entire village was RACED. The village
of Rancourt met with a similar fate.
The correspondent saw part of the popu-
lation rushing for safety. and a few
hours later looked on the burning de-
bris of the town.
British aviators have made several at
tempts to burn the grain crop, apparent
ly unmindful of the fact that it belongs
to French peasants. One aviator, de-
scending to 500 yards from the ground,
threw bombs among a harvesting party,
killing two French girls and woundins
others.
There is no safety anywhere in the
zone behind the front. What the artillery
does not reach is exposed constantly to
the bombs of aviators. While the cor
respondent was at Bugny eight civilians
were killed. Eighteen others were
wounded, of whom four died in the
German hospital the same day. At Cam,
brai four persons were killed and two
were wounded on the same night. A
French civilian pointed out that, while
the German soldiers have bombproofs
in which to seek refuge, the civilians
lave only cellars. He begged that this
be brought to the attention of the Brit
ish military authorities.
Bride Dies of PARALYSIS