The Benson signal., 1917-06-16


assaulting troops trudged confidently
to their allotted goals. Farther back
the deep-throated heavies began to
pour out torrents of high explosive
shells on the German trenches and
communications, while still other guns
enough to win any ordinary battle
confined themselves solely to the task
of deluging German guns and gunners
in baths of gas fired in shells of ev-
cry conceivable caliber.
The effect of this counter battery
work was not appreciated until later
in the day, when the infantry sent
back word that their progress had
not been hampered by the enemy ar
tillery and that their casualties
amounted to virtually nothing.
Enemy Signals for Help.
Great black observation balloons
had stolen skyward during the din of
the newly begun battle. In the wood
back of the windmill spring birds,
awakened by the deafening clamor,
had begun to sing jOyously. Like so
many children who have come into the
consciousness of being in the midst of
the war, these birds regarded the ap-
palling noise of the battle as a normal
condition of life.
The smoke of the giant mines ex-
ploded along the battle front mean
time rose in great, curling plumes to-
ward the sky and was punctuated by
red signals for help from the stricken
Germans in the front and support
lines. Never was the air filled with
more frantic notices of danger. The
entire horizon glowed with red balA
of fire sent up by the nervous Ger
mans.
More and more British airplanes be-
gan to make their appearance. One
flew over the lines, the flashes of the
guns being reflected brilliantly on its
highly glazed wings.
Under this appalling fire trudged for
ward on the ten-mile front General
Plumer's army. At many places the
men found German troops utterly
dazed by the mine explosion and the
ordeal OF the artillery fire.
Get Idea of Real Warfare.
Many of these troops had but recent
ly come from Russia, where they had
spent Is months and knew nothing OF
what actual warfare was like on the
western front. They had bolted at the
first mine explosion and had only beer
gathered together in groups by theil
noncOmmissiOned officers when the
British appeared out of the smoke anC
shells and made them prisoner.
They said they had been given tc
understand by their officers that the
British always killed their prisoners
It was really pitiful in some instances
to see the manner in which these pris
oners cringed to their captors.
AS matter of fact, the British sol
dier, when the fighting is done, is in
clined almost too strongly to treat the
German prisoners as pals. Some OF
the prisoners taken today had only
gone into the German lines last nigh
and had made their way forward un
der CALLING fire and had lost heavily
But the troops already in the line were
calling for relief in such manner tha'
their appeals could not be denied.
German Commanders at Fault.
In view of the fact that the attacl
had been expected the German com
manders were endeavoring to get theil
best units actually into the fighting
front, but had underestimated wher
the British would strike. The troops
in a strange line were utterly bewil
dered when the attack began and fel
easy prey to the advancing British.
The battle was far more visible dur
ing the first uncertain moments thar
later when the sun gradually burned
it's Way through the eastern banks O.
clouds. By that time the smoke of ex
ploding shells and the vapors from thu
binding barrage, which had been par
of the artillery duty, Obscured the more
distant landscape to such an exten
that the roaring guns could not be seer
at all, although the firing was almOs
at ones feet. The brilliantly leapin.
shrapnel shells, breaking far abOv'
ground. appeared through thick mis-
only as brief and brilliant electric
sparks.
German Airships Outclassed.
For month past, but especially
since June 1, the airplanes on thi!
front have been indefatigably at worl
during every possible flying hour
They had brought down nearly so ma
chimes in six days as a means of blind
ing the enemy. Lately the Germans
have endeavored valiantly to obtai1
airplane observations for their artil
lery, but their observing machine:
have seldom been able to direct more
than one or two shots before the Brit
ish fighting scouts had pOunced upor
them and either sent them crashing t.
the earth or had driven them to cover
at breakneck speed.
Today the British planes flew fal
and long over the enemy's petreatins
lines and were only challenged b!
some very bad-shooting anti-aircraf
batteries. All through the day British
n1anpS ruled the air ThpV rO-Onerato(