The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-05-12

above them. 1t is thus for only a brief period.
AS suddenly grows new confusion in front AT
first it sounds like 4 murmur, babble OF many
voices. They turn out to be shrieks. The order
has been given to jump out and advance They
come from men delirious in frantic haste to rush
after the strain of it.
AS the in front jump out and rush along
in advance, rifles held almost at arms length, WIZ
the bayonets in the dim smoke clouds sticking out
'front.' the other crowds back in the trenches rush
out to fill their places and in turn jump out and
rush 1t is all done quickly possible; there
is no times lost and hardly a motion.
And while the mass of frenzied men Fush on to
ward the trenches of the Germans, falling by
scores whole groups of them turn this way and
that as the Germans concentrate their fire among
them others keep filling in from the rear. There is
end to their number, apparently. The entire
rear is packed with men and more men, while
behind them still more men-men without num-
Der.
There Will be a signal when you get out there"
we are told cit is order to fall your faces.
Fall on them No time to lose.'
The men who first Ieaped out and started to rush
along fell in another way long ago-it was but
several seconds or sO-and the ranks behind them
in turn dissolved. Still others and now
the first of the advancing mass at the first
trenches of the Germans.
Comes the signal. Suddenly in the frenzy men
cease to leap from the trenches while the advanc-
ing ranks rushing bIndly on fall fiat. Almost at
the instant, possibly couple OF seconds later,
to the men lying there comes noise that is even
greater than the crash of few minutes before.
But it is hardly percepdble for the senses, work
ing at capacity, cannot grasp 1t all
It is the French guns opening up again. They
are tearing out d way for the infantry, tearing
away what humanity is left in the second and third
line trenches. Even during the previous hours of
bombardment the Germans tried to keep these in
some semblance Of holes There cannot be many
beings left in them. but re-enforcements probably
coming up.
A few seconds later the gunfire of the French
again ceases though by magic. Immediately the
soldiers jump to their feet and again rush on.
They pass over the first line of German trenches,
reach the second line and on to the third line.
Another signal, loud shouting and they again
fall down The guns open up again.
This time the guns pound away German
works farther in the rear. They stop again and
the troops dash Every knows his place in
the drive and every body of men. When one man
falls another is there to do what he doing.
The soldiers feel the success of it by this time.
They instiIled with enthusiasm, the wild JOY Of
victory. Shells fall among the advancing hordes.
but in the wild din just passed those who escape
hardly know it.
Now there are fewer guns firing on the German
side Others Of the French artillery. when not fir
ing at places ahead of the advancing soldiers,
quickly change their range TO the batteries.
The French have now passed the first four lines
of regular trenches and are running over the net
work of connecting trenches Masses of Germans
are in these. Terrified by what they have been
through, few show resistance 1t is useless. The
French soldiers continue to advance, charging
when resistance is offered, deiriOus with the wine
of a successful drive. They do the feats OF super
beings and unaware of it
Hours later after it has ceased and the lines are
again deadlocked, soldiers in the Of the old
sector gather in groups around the bulletin boards
where posted the brief official comnunIque.
The soldiers standing around reading new
troops. They their way to the trenches
Ambulances still rush up from the rear and back
again. catching up with the work
The masses OF prisoners are already their way
southwark Included in the number taken was a
detachment, a crowd of 20 men who were all that
remained OF several hundred German soldiers.
They were caught in trench and unable 10 es-
cape during the terrible bombardment, explain the
few able TO think eOherenty. Retreat had been cur
of by shells falling behind them
OF the number yet alive are maniacs-men who
are raving violently They Initiating the noises
of shells and the motions OF struck By them
William 7. Martin, in New York Sun