New-York tribune., 1916-02-29
shells. slowly dissipated. Before our

shells. slowly dissipated. Before our
eyes was a frightful spectacle.
"A little distance in front of us
there had been some supporting
trenches. Nothing remained OF
them. They had been absolutely
levelled. Here there rose vestigcs OF
a parapet, while as TO barbed wire
entanglements, it was impossible to
discover n trace of them.
Black Mass Charges Across Snow.
"All had been cut down or had d.
appeared under the earth the cxplod-
ING shells had thrown on them. Ihe
earth was as flat as though there never
had been such a thing as cannonadt.
One could believe himself on grouno
freshly ploughed and narrowed reafy
for planting crops.
"DCwn i'm the ravnc some an
masses began to move over &c wni'i
mantle Of snow which ;hcr was un-
disturbed. They we're German 'Aian-
try advancing In close ranks 20 Geoouch
from the ends OF the trough, while otA
crs sought TO gain the cresis by direct
assault.
"It is our moment TO ac:. a word
through The telephone TO oar batteries
and the dance commences. The vision
becomes Internal. Down thtre. between
tho two crests and on their slopes,
several regiments spread out. but the
gaps between them are constantly hlied
bv the arrival of fresh elements
"We hear a long whistle over our
heads. IL is our pilot shell. - fal,s
fairly in the midst OF the German sol
diers. We telephone that tne rahge
is good Then there ~ a deiuge Oh
shells, which burst in the enemy ranks.
"The position Of the Germans Is
critical. With our glasses We can sec
some OF them flying. while othefs'
covered with earth and blood, seek to
shelter themselves behind the wall OF
dead. The first wave is wiped out.
There are piles of bodies on all sides.
"But already a new wave appears
which tries 20 make head against the
rain of steel. II cannot advance. ~
gives ground. Our fire is rsctihed ana
our projectiles begin again to cat wIde
lanes through the German ranks INC
region is enveioped in the thunder OF
bursting shells, with which is mixed
the sharp note Of a mitra!lleuse, hring
from the crest the Germans seek to
capture.
"Another German wave forms, more
| formidable and more furious. Inc
| Germans. swarming like rats come on
despite our shells. Our hearts stand
still. Will they succeed? No.
AT this moment our heavy artilery'
! which has not yet been in action, begins
| to fire in manner tru Y terrifying.
The huge shells in exploding throw
great Jets Of fame on all sides.
The rayine has become ve-ltaoie
volcano. One cannot tell whether 1t
is stones or men that are thrown INTO
the air. Pieces Of the todies now
obstruct the gully and form barricade
before the Germans. who give way and
seek safety in flight.
Their attack, extraordinary as II
was in violence and numbers, has failed
after terrible losses. and our guns
little by little lift their fire 20 the Ger
man batteries in the rear, which have
been powerless 20 silence ours
seventy-fves Take Heavy Toll.
A soldier who had been invalided
home in the early days OF the war de-
scribed the passage OF the Germans
through his village Of Malancourt. As
he spoke his voice carried the ring Of
absolute confidence.
They will never take Vcrdun,' he
said
well sheltered. watched the ar
rival Of the boches at my village. They
came in solid ranks, without word,
loading and rcloadng their rifles with
out cessation. Our seventy-fiyes fel,
among them and then the mtrailleuses
entered into action. II was no longer