The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-04-14

PariS.-H0w the French neld artll-
Iery, and in particular the batteries OF
the famous "75's," were handled DUR
ing the opening phases of the Verdun
battle is detailed in a letter to the
Figaro. The letter. written by an ON
Ger of field artillery who was In the
thick of the fighting. tells in simple
style of the superhuman efforts made
by the French gunners to stem the
tide of the German advance while
they were themselves under the nre
OF heavy artillery.
ION the twenty first" he writes, the
Germans commenced their prepare
lions for the attack, with fury that
let US know something serious was on
foot.
Our group "a group of ISIS is COM
posed of three batteries of four guns
each) was in position to the south
east of the Haumont woods. One bat
terry was split up as fanking pieces in
three positions-one with two guns
TO the east of Haumont woods, one to
the south and the third to the north of
!Samogneux, with one gun each. The
other two batteries were to the south
of hill No. 312. We were supported by
"a battery of six 80 nm. guns.
Naturally we responded at once to
the German attack with barrier flre
ITO stop. so far as possible, the enemy
Infantry from making it's way to our
Hines. The two guns at the east of the
lHaumont Woods were pushed into po-
sition in the Caures ravine and opened
fire at 700 meters.
! But the Germans. despite the sac
Tifice of great numbers of their men,
began to arrive in hordes. They ap-
peared through the Caures Woods
along the crests running between the
Haumont and Caures woods and es-
tablished themselves there. The two
gums here reduced their range and
with sweeping fire cut down entire
ranks, but new waves appeared to
take the places of the fallen men in
front of the blazing guns. Still the
gunners kept at their work until just
as their ammunition was failing the
enemy infantry appeared through the
Haumont Woods almost in their rear.
The gunners then blew up their guns
and retreated. taking their wounded
with them.
Thirteen Men Fall.
"A battery of 80 nm. guns estab-
lished upon the Haumont crest, al
though enveloped by an Internal fire.
kept quietly about it's business. Shells
of 305 nm. caliber were falling all
about it. In less than a minute thir-
teen of the servants fell and it's fire
began to slacken. Then appeared a
first sergeant of a So nm. battery,
Pierrard, of the -th Field artillery,
who reported to the commandant of
our group:
mon commandment he said, SIM
ply, my battery no longer exists; give
me something else to do
Very good was the answer. re
port to that battery of COS
"Pierrard rallied the remaining men
of his battery, they reported to the
eos and in moment the battery re-
opened it's fire with terrific vigor. For
forty-eight hours Pierrard stuck to the
90's. taking charge as the commits
stoned officers were killed or wounded
He kept in close touch with the COM
mandant and for time was able to
receive from the combat trains extra
supplies of ammunition for his duel
for it was a real duel he was waging-
against the 'Boches.' But 1t was at
last impossible to send more ammuni-
ton to him.
Fire every shot you have he was
told; then blow up your guns and re-
tire
1.-The Germans redoubled their eff.
forts to take this battery that barred
their way. Again and again they came
surging to the crest At last they got
so close that Pierrard and his men
opened fire with their carbines and
drove them back. Then they returned
to their guns and reopened fire. But
their situation was. untenable. With
their last shots they destroyed the
guns by firing them after disabling the
recoil mechanism. Then the brave
fellows came back But, alas, in their
retreat. Pierrard, the bravest of the
brave, was probably killed When they
arrived in safety he was not with
them. and has not been seen since.
He was not the only one to die valiant
ly for his country.
Hail of 1905" Shells.
Here is another proof of the tran
quill audacity of our gunners. One bat
terry was under a terrific fire of heavy
projectiles. A 305 shell burst in it's
midst, killing the captain, the first
sergeant, a chief of section and five
Cannoneers. Did the others blench?
Not they; they only tore off their
blouses, and. working in their shirt
sleeves, redoubled their efforts to in
tensify their fire and avenge their
chiefs and their comrades.
During the day of the 22d we re-
ceived an incalculable number of 3O5
shells on the Mormont farm and it's
vicinity. Our situation was all the
more difficult because of the difficulty
we experienced in getting more am
munition. Hardly one caisson in three
of ammunition reached its destination.
The road from Vile to Vacherauville
was swept by hellish fire.
1.-The gun established at Samogneux