New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-17


bringing up supplies, were busy bath
ing the plateau with shells from across
the Somme. Puffs of white clouds
dotted the sky in front of us from
shrapnel bursting in air. Suifocating
black and yellow clouds rose from hlgn
explosive shells, tearing up the plateau
and destroying the neat saucer pattern.
Shells Burst Perilously Near.
Shrapnel and high explosives came
always nearer with exceeding regular
ity. | saw two French soldiers sitting
on the parapet of trench of toward
Estrees and another French soldier on
horseback crossing a bridge over a
stream near them. A German shell
fell not far away and the French SOL
diers turned to watch, while the one on
horseback stopped in the middle OF the
bridge. When the smoke cloud died
down the two on the parapet resumed
their conversation and the horseman
went on his way.
Two shells fell in a few trees left
near Herbecourt. The next passed over
the trees. A shell fell on the border of
what had been Dompierre. They were
closing in on us and it was time for US
TO 20 back. In another ten minutes
our road would be cut off. A soldier
sent by the commander of the sector
hurried I'D with the message that the
hour had come for the regular after
noon bombardment of the plateau by
the Germans, and with the polite sug-
gestion that we had better "be little
careful"
We then turned back and passed
Dompierre on the homeward road. Two
more shells scattered again its dust
and ashes as We rode by.
Vaux Merely Shell.
From Dompierre and Becquincourt
we went to the north bank OF the
Somme. on the heights of Vaux, where
we had another panoramic view. But
this time, instead of being in the CEN
ire, we were at one side, looking across
the river to the plateau from which
we had just come.
The little village of Vaux at our feet
had passed through the first stages OF
the battle uninjured, but after the Ger
mans had been driven out OF Curlu and
Hem they deliberately shelled Vaux for
no apparent reason, and now only the
she'll of the village is left. Shells still
fall on it occasionally, but | saw
French soldier unconcernedly fishing
while two others were duck hunting II
a marsh near by.
All this part of the Somme is wlde
marsh, with a narrow stream meander-
ing through it and low hills rising
abruptly from its borders. From here
| saw one of the few movements OF
troops which observed in all my long
trip TO all sections of the front.
French Troops Concealed.
The French have their troops so won
derfuly concealed that it is hard to
believe there is an immense army, as
well as the most powerful concentra-
tion of artillery ever known, operating
in the region. In visits to other parts
of the front | invariably have seen
troops in far greater numbers than on
the Somme. The difference is that on
the Somme the art of concealment OF
large bodies of men has been studied tc
the last detail.
But here saw regiment going for
ward to take positions in the trenches.
They first appeared from apparently
nowhere. watched them through
glasses, marching uHutl tue CONci VI n
hill. They soon turned at a right angle
10 cross the hill and then went in
single file at intervals of thirty feet
and disappeared in great haste over the
crest. Not far beyond the crest lay
black wall Of battle line, and out of the
cloud came the roar of bursting shells
and the sharp rapping Of mitrailleuses.
Monacu a Small White Spot.
From here | saw also the Monacn
farm. for which such desperate strug-
Gle had been waged. The French lines
are now we'll beyond it and the farm
remains only a small white spot on the
reverse slope Of the last piece Of high
ground before the marsh is reached
Its walls are reduced to powder and !,
is now only a name and touch Of
white in a vacant fleld.
Clery lies close TO the river, too low
70 be seen, but Mount ST. Quentin, with
IFS white church on the highest ground
Of the region, is a shining target. -
the northward are Hardecourt and hi
l39-the limit of the French part Of the
offensive.
A second article from NJ.
Pitneu. describing the great bat
lie of the Somme, will appear n
to-morrow's Tribune.