Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02

sellla1Se The men realized the feAr-
| full work ahead.
But it is in the contract" said a
young Englishman. TT is what we
expected. 1t is our turn to make
good"
Air of Expectancy Everywhere.
As the days of the bombardment
passed the air of expectancy was
noticeable everywhere through the
army. Last night the word was pass
ed that the infantry was to make the
assault this morning. At dawn the
correspondent ascended a hill in tho
region of Albert. The sun rose bril-
This was even more welcome than
yesterday to artillery observers. who
must move the guns and carry forward
, the fire to protect the infantry ad-
vance. On the average clear day.
from a point of view in front of the
valley of the Ancre river, both the Ger
man and the French trenches are visi-
BILE. Ridges and hills, rich farming
lands and numerous villages roll away
to the eastward.
Somme where the French are coop.
Grating with the British. is the theater
of the most extensive action or any
yet begun on the western front, and
which the entente allies hope may
prove the first stage in the turning OF
the tide against the Germans. Every
one of the villages within the range
of vision will be fought over. as were
those in front of Verdun.
Guns in Chorus of Blasts.
But this morning something moro
than a mist was rising from the dew
laden fields and hid the landscape.
From o'clock to 7:30 all the guns
along the front were for the first time
firing their fastest in a chorus of final
blasts, cutting wires and demolishing
trenches. The rapid fire of small
caliber weapons resulted in a continue
GUS roll while only the guns of big
caliber. with their heavier reports
above the monotone. had perceptible
intervals between the blasts
The trenches were hidden by a cur
tain Of smoke Dunctured with vicious
flashes. Toward that cloud which
within the power of man. the reserves
were moving forward. Far above the
observation balloons. motionless in the
still air. a squadron of aeroplanes was
seen flying to its work. spotting tar
gets for the artillery.
Men Leap the Parapets.
At 1920 o'clock the rapid fire trench
mortars added their shells to the
deluge pouring upon the first-line Ger
man trenches. After ten minutes of
this. at 1880 o'clock, the guns lifted
their fire to the second line of German
trenches. as If they were answering to
the pressure of a single button, and
the men of the new British army
leaped over their parapets and rushed
toward the wreckage the guns and
mortars had wrought. Even close at
hand they were visible only a moment
before being hidden by the smoke OF
the German shell curtain over which
all remained of the trenches. Germans
had to yield to two years Of our pre-.
paredness against forty for the Ger
MANS" said staff officer. and we have
satisfactorily started in on our first
trial of our new divisions in the team
work of a big attack"
Nothing was now to be seen from the
hill except smoke flashes through
which the famous figure of the virgin,
atop the tower at Albert struck by .
shell early in the war. but still In
place. although tipped at an angle
showed dimly.
Maroonsd Five Days, Hungry.
It was not long. however. Nsrs fasl.;