The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-05-04

nWuy; IlnlntUHttTy moro rtFOrts htHrtr 1T
hand, and Instantly it is followed by crash and
tear of sound The first impression is that the
town is being blown up in bombardment. Few
have heard anything like it. The soldiers look
at each other.
at Is the attack beginning" they say Later
they get their orders.
In smaller town nearer the trenches, where
there is artillery, the noise is still great
er. BY the sound there seems to be gun to
every few square feet, thinks when thinking IS
possible. The scream Of the shells passing over
from batteries in the rear is drowned In this din.
1t is an inferno of ear-splittng noise.
In the trenches the few soldiers in the
dugouts Heaps of debris fall about them To
them the noise of the guns In the rear is drowned
In the crash of hundreds of shells bursting in the
Germans trenches before them and the shreks of
the shells they above them in the air faster
than sound in such numbers that the noise is In
describable Where the enemys trenches are is now
a continuous mass of spouting dirt that shuts out
everything, The whole German line here is be-
ing beaten to pieces.
Few of the soldiers have ever experienced any
thing like this. The trenches of the Germans are
but 400 feet away. Now and then shell falling
short of Its range comes near the French trenches
tears into them but with the innumerable shells
tearing about 1t cannot be helped
The Germans, taken by surprise, do not reply
until time later. They open up their own
artillery little by little. Their guns, is seems, are
aimed mt the batteries of the French they know
for few of the shells fall about the trenches. But
1t is nothing to the madness of the fire they are
fighting against
Some of the French guns aimed at the Ger
man batteries and an artillery duel is on. The Ger
man guns are outnumbered. Other French guns
are firing the roads Of the enemy to prevent
troops and supplies from being fastened up.
And in the rear of the French lnes-no-
body seems to know where they coming FROM
where they have been concealed all this time-still
other guns of all sizes being rushed up. They
tear through the amazed villages drawn by wild
steeds maddened by the drivers. Efforts Of spies
In vain.
The line bearing assorted equipment has ceased
in a measure. Instead are the guns and the heavy,
skiddng caissons bearing ammunition. Darkness
falls and the whole countryside is covered with
flashes. 1t is impossible to distinguish sound from
sound but the flashes dart out from everywhere
like summer lightning. More guns are being
rushed up an increased number Of ammunition
wagons and troops-countess numbers.
The terrific cannonading continues oil night.
Soldiers, who able, sleep in dozes. Morning
breaks The soldiers nearer the front begin TO
march up. AS soldiers enter the rear towns those
who were there equipment ready and waiting, go
forward
AS the men march they frequently turn of into
the fields along the road to avoid the guns and
wagons laundering by AS far as one can see the
whole road ahead and behind, is a compact mass
Of troops-marching up.
The Germans are Smelling the roads at
MANY places At first the shells fall among them
There are the usual scenes Of the dead torn up In
every manner, while the chaplain priests, facing
the almost certain death Of their lot are seen
through little clearings in the thick clouds OF chok
Ing smoke rushing about, some themselves wound
ed helping those asking for aid.