The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-21
Vivid Description of His Expert
ence Penned by a French
.-&a Lieutenant.
MEMS nerves SHATTERED.
Quiet Of Day 10 Broken by Terrific
6ombardment That Makes the
Earth Rock Like Ship In
ny n Storn


Paris.--The Paris Journal prints Z
most graphic account written by q
French lieutenant, in simple but vivid
language. Of his experience during q
heavy bombardment Of the French
lines recently by the Germans:
The day was quiet" writes this Of
6cer.
Towards evening we received q
broadside of rifle fire, which dislodged
a few sandbags. Then everything was
quiet again.
AT nine o'clock went below to my
dugout for something to eat. Our lit
+ tie table was already set, and the
steaming coffee was just placed before
me when suddenly there was an ex'
plosion that shook the earth beneath
our feet and scattered pieces Of rock
and clay in our midst.
Its no use.' said one of the men.
I see we are not going to be permit
ted to eat
Il climbed back into the trench, and
not sound was heard.
.Where was the explosion"
ITO the right answered voice in
the dark. BE careful; they are send
ing US those 150-millimeter shells.
There's one coming now
Il crouched down against the wall
and in a twinkling fifty meters Of the
trench we're ground to dust. Sparks
few and dark, gaseous fumes eclipsed
the blackness Of the night. Then
came another shell on its murderous
mission, tearing up the earth and &C.
companied by deafening thunder.
Things began to look serious. Some
one shouted:
Lieutenant, there is no sense in
your standing there and risking your
life!'
"The man was right. returned to
the dugout. The bombardment con-
tinued like one continuous roll Of
thunder. A heavy rock, loosened by
the detonations, fell at my feet.
And yet we hear says one Of my
men, that they are short Of ammuni-
ton
Il was getting tired of this. We had
to answer those fellows. asked the
telephone operator to connect me with
the commander.
"There is no answer said the op-
orator. The wire has probably been
shot away
Il scrubbed something on q piece of
paper and handed it to one of my
young men.
1.-THE telephone is disconnected, my
friend. See that you get this to the
commander. Have little brandy?
Ell you please
HE smiled, saluted and was of.
Fifty meters off he fell with shot in
his neck.
"The bombardment grew more in
tense. Oh, what a night! Our
trenches seemed to sway to and fro,
like the deck of ship in a storm. The
air was full of sulphur fumes and
breathing became difficult. Death sur.
rounded us. l wondered how many
of my men were still alive! And
would We be able to withstand the foe
II he made charge on our trenches?
l nerved myself to remain calm. How
I would have liked to lay down and
sleep! Strange, that the roaring OF
shells through the air always produces
drowsiness. l fought against this
weakness Courage returned when the
bombardment seemed to slacken for a
moment However, We only deluded
ourselves, for the shells were coming
faster and faster and thicker and
thicker. tried to figure out the cali.
Der of the shells, but was unable to
think. Every man was hugging the
wall of the trench. II we could only
sleep and not wake up again, so as to
be out of this hell!
BE careful, my friends. Now that