Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-19
Five PoiIuS, One After An
other Volunteer for Work
on Exposed Position and
All Die.
C0L0NEL'S SANG-FROlD
SAVES DAY FOR FRENCH
During Heart-breaking Crisis
Officer CoolIy Lights Pipe
and Orders Men 10 Make
Last Charge,
associated Press Correspondence


Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, at
the Front. France, May General
Hellouin, commander of the Fifth
army corps lying on the left flank Of
the army before yerdun 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 Varenne torn to
pieces and the famous house In which
Louis XVI and Marie Antoninetto
sought refuge from the Terror, n mass
of ruins further on another town
wiped off the map so that not even
ruins appeared above the level sand F;
and through the vista of trees, the
outlying defenses of old Nerdun--Ava-
court, Harcourt, Hort -Homme, Chat
overwhelmingly between yerdun
and the point where the party stood,
outlined dimly through the mist and
curtain Of smoke.
A terrible bombardment was in
progress, and the crash of shells and
whiz Of bullets echoed all along the
front and on to the Nerdun hills
where the battle was at its height.
But for this terrific din, there was no
sign of movement or activity no hur-
rying troops, no clash Of battle lines
only vast battlefield of green hills
and devastated towns, with now and
then puff OF smoke from some hid
den battery and the everlasting din Of
giant weapons racking the ears.
Crash of Melanic.
That's a melanite she'll said Gen
eral lIellouin, as a crash more terrible
than the rest fairly rent the ears.
The commanding general turned to
M. Painleve, a member of the BRAND
ministry, ana to the Associated Press
representative who was privileged to
accompany this notable party
Come up here" said the general.
I and get 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 Cen
eral lIellouin as those which the raw
ages Of war had fallen heaviest.
Ruins of Town.
4 See that sandy Hill, said the gem
eraL pointing TO a barren crest of yell
low sand. who would ever think
that was the site of a good sized town
only n short time ago? II had solid
stone houses, and stone church with
double towers of stone, and seven hun
drod paou1o li-turr "a naaopfu1 ooI
prosperous village life. And look at
I it--not n thing remains, not even
ruins. No. it Is blotted ont Of exist
/ ence. First the houses and church
were homharded into bits, and then
! the bits were homharded into dust,
until--well, look at 1t. as flat as the
desert of Sahara, and not 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 Il shot. Care
fully the general and NJ Panleve
looked through the foliage screening
the high parapet, their heads protect
ed by steel helmets.
Guns Trained ON General.
Apparently the Germans had di-
lvincd the presence OF party or had
heard the low voice. For suddenly
the line of clay trenches Immediately