Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-09
| from a STAFF Correspondent OF tho as
Sociatcd Press.

SotlatCu iFtSS.J
BRITISH II I; y u q L y X I l.: +; : IN
FRANCE. May (via l.ondon.-The
lacouc statement in this mornings
british official communication that the
cnenN'S artillery was active at inter
walls througho the night at :, num-
Der OF places along the battle front
particularly in the sector between
frrSnoy and loos." and that our ar
t,iicry replied diSmiSScS in col,lv ofll-
ci:tl language one OF the most marvel
GUS Spcctacics OF night firing the world
has ever seen.
IT was 81 night made for terror.
Great angry cleud$ scuddcd across the
sky. successfully masking all attempts
OF the fun May moon to break through
the cumuluS barraGc. Eventually the
heavens opened and poured forth a
torrent Of rain upon the hot cannon
and the flames raging along the blood
red line OF battle.
THUNDERSTORM WALLOWED
tP IN BATrLE'S FURY
y thunderstorm in its greatest fury
could have broken above this appalling
artillery duel. however. and been com:
plctely swallowed up. its electric
flashes lost i'm the binding coruSCation
OF the guns: it's thunder pcals drowned
IN the rcvcrberalinG waves Of the
crushing Illumination which came from
believing cannon and bursting shells
with almost equal violence. Nature
withstood the terrific hombar,lmcnt
until nearly dawn. then the rain fall
ing to bring il to an end. a heavy fog
shut down and put a stop to the
dangerous uproar as suddenly AS il
some word OF supreme command had
been shouted above the din Of battle
ih"rc were a few parting shots
through the cnvclopinc mist from
either side. and then absolute silence
rciGncd.
1t was fascinating spectacle to
watch through the night. holding one
in Il spell Of srccchlcss awe From one
OF the high ridges recently occupied by
the British. miles and miles Of the
great sweep OF battle could be seen.
For the most part il was Il duel with
what the soldiers call big Stuff''--a
giant test OF strength among the
"hcavicS." But always above the roar
of the biz guns could he heard the
crack of tho bursting shrapncl and the
pciulant whine. OF lcadcn bullets sent
in showers from the SHELLS I; was a
beautiful day Yesterday. hut mcnacing
clouds had hidden the setting sun In
The twilight scores OF British airplanes
wcr" wincimc their homcward way
from far over the German lines. com
ing TO cover from the gathering storm
and hiring ing with them tho wonderful
stories that make up each days his
tory in the titanic struggle for mastery
OF The air.
In tho valleys about I.oos LEVIN.
l.cus. Achcviilc and Frcsnoy, the
'rcShcnnS wind was stirring up great
clouds Of Dust. Each high explosive
shell breaking on the dry ground also
sent up towering columns Of chalk
"hitc powder until Il haze gathered
over all the lower levels Ct the imme-
diatc battle zone. In Lens and several
other villages behind the German lines
SmoldcrinS fires could be marked by
the british smoke Vapo"s that hung
over them The artillery ducl was in
TUT swing long before night set in hut
II WAS not until after the gathering
gloom Of darkness reflected each sep
;.ratc flaming cannon mouth that the
fuit intensity of the long range flsht-
ing could he crasncG The cloak Of
night also brought into action many
great batteries lying concealed during
the tcll-talc hours Of daylight and
ever and anon rs The night wore on
now guns would burst into violence
from altogether umsuspcctcd places.
GROUND EVER VIBRANT
WrrlI RHiTHM OE GUNS
some OF these were the famous old
''grandmuthcr" howi,zcrS ana the
ground. eyer vibrant with the drum
ming rhythm al gums. shivcrcd and
shook anew from the shock Of these
nammoth Weapons. The heavy over
banging clouds had the effect oi in
ttnSifyinr I" AN almost overwhelming
degree the nerve ShattcriuE noises ut
the battle. When battery FIRE would
send -four. five. six OF more massive
shells simultaneously toward the Ger
man lines. tnr "nrushin- roar was
for all the world like tina; experienced
ia an express train as il dashed into a
tunnel
After villa, Sccmcd an iutcrIninab!r
length OF time. tho swish Of those far
reaching shells ended with q rreai
dull red flare on tho horizon one of
tines" flares Was hit home IA an
enemy ammunition damp ana there
was AL explosion that lighted the whole
coun'rysdc. resulting in u fire that
burned an noun on NOR. behind 4 big
ciump OF trees which stood like gaunt
black skeletons against the glow.
The comm. of darkness had brought
cut also one of tho CHASTITY Of all bat
Tie soundS-the inccSsaut rattle OF the
machine guns Their staccato ripple
cam. along the hghtiug line. the wind