Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-22
ARMIES CAMP On
BEAUTIFUL SITE
Correspondent Describes Wonderful
View From Position Near Verdun
Occupied by French.

Headquarters. Fifth Army Corps. at
the Front. France Correspo ndence
Of the Associated Press General
Hellouin, commander Of the Fifth
army corps lying on the left flank of
the army before Verdun. led the way
to high elevation which commanded
a sweep Of the vast war panorama
the German trenches plainly visible
only 500 yards away; to the right the
historic town Of Eerdun torn to pieces
and the famous house in which Louis
XVI and Mare Antoinette sought ref
uge from the Terror, a mass Of ruins,
further on another town wiped off the
map so that not even ruins appeared
above the level sand; and through the
vista Of trees. the outlying defenses
Of old Verdun-Avacourt, Harcourt
Mort Homme Chattancourt-mi midway
between Verdun and the point where
the party stood, outlined dimlv
through the mist and curtain Of
smoke
A terrific b0mhardment was in pro-
gress, and the crash of shells and whiz
Of bullets echoed all along the front,
and on to the Verdun hills where the
battle was at its height. But for this
terrific din, there was no sign Of move
ment or activity, no hurrying troops.
no clash of battle lines-only q vast
battlefield Of green hills and devastat-
ed towns, with now and then a puff
OF smoke from some hidden battery
and the everlasting din Of giant weap-
ons racking the ears,
That's a melanite she'll" said Gen
eral Hellouin, as crash more terrible
than the rest fairly rent the air.
The commanding general turned to
NJ. Painleve, a member Of the BRAND
ministry. and to the Associated Press
representative who was privileged to
accompany this notable party.
Come up here" said the general.
"and get a good survey of the scene"
And climbing to this point Of vantage,
the party looked out on one point after
another designated by General Hell
louin as those on which the Tavages
of war had fallen heaviest.
See that sandy hill" said the gen
eral, pointing TO a barren crest of vel
low sand Who would ever think
that was the site Of d gOod-sized town
only a short time ago? It had solid
stone houses, and a stone church with
double towers Of stone. and seven hun
dred people living peaceful Ej pros
perous village life. And loo a. it
not thing remains, not even ruins.
No, it is blotted out Of existence. First
the houses and church were lombard
ed into ruins; then the ruins were
bombarded into bits. and then the bits
were bombarded into dust. until-well,
look at it. as fat as the desert of Sa-
hara, and not a mound to indicate that
hundreds Of people lived there only
recently"
The party were grouped around the
general, speaking in whispers, for just
over there were the German gunners
a few hundred feet away. on the alert
for any voice or movement giving
them opportunity for a shot Careful
ly the general and NJ PainlOve looked
through the foliage screening the high
parapet, their heads protected by steel
helmets.
Apparently the Germans had OWNED
the presence of a party, or had heard
the low voices. For suddenly the line
of clay trenches Immediately opposite,
which had been silent until now, burst