American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-05-15

ilp# 44Lllt one can gain LEDm the
Official accounts Of engagements on
the battlefront in France is shown by
the report Of an associated press rep
resentative behind the British lines
who witnessed the great artillery duel
Of the past week. The engagement
as dismissed with a few laconic state
ments by the British commander, con
veying nothing Of interest, and Civ
ing not the fai1test idea Of the intense
fighting that had 0een in progress
The account ot the associated press
CORES pondent. however, is graphic in
description. and gives one some idea
81 the fearful carnage that is taking
place.
The -acollc statement in the Brit
ish official Communication that the
enemy's artillery vas active at inter
walls throughout the night al q num-
Der Of places along the battlefront.
particularly in the sector between
Fresnoy and Loos." and that Our ar
tillery replied" dismissed in coldly Of
ficial language one OF the most mar
Yelous spectacles Of night firing the
world has even seen.
1t was night made Of terror
Great angry clouds scudded across
the sky, successfully masking all at
tempts OF the full May moon 10 break
through the cumulus barrage Even
tually the heavens opened and poured
forth torrent Of rain upon the hot
canon and the flames raging along
the blood-red line Of battle.
A thunderstorm in its greatest fury
could have broken above this appall-
ing artillery duel, however. and been
completely swallowed up-its electric
flashes lost in the binding corrusca-
ton OF the guns; its thunder peals
drowned in the reverberating waves OF
the crashing illumination which came
from believing cannon and bursting
shells with almost equal violence.
Nature withslood the terrific lombard
ment until nearly dawn then the
rain falling 70 bring it 10 an end a
heavy fog shut down and put a stop
tie the dangerous uproar as sudden s
IS II some word OF supreme command
hai been shouted above rh= din of
battle
There We're a few par-ins shots
through the snveloping mist from
either side and then absolute silence
reigned.
Fascinating Spectacle
Ii was fascinating spectacle tc
watch through the night. holding one
in a spell Of speechless awe. From
one OF the high ridges recently occu-
pied by the British. miles and miles OF
the great sweep Of the battle could be
seen. For the most part II as a due
with what the soldiers call big STUFF
"a giant test Of strength among the
"heavies,' but always above the roal
OF the big guns could be heard thC
crack Of the bursting shrapnel anC
the petulant whine OF leaden bullet:
sent in showers from the shells.
II was a beautiful day. but menac
ing clouds had hidden the setting sun
In the twilight scores OF British air
plains were winging their homewarC
way from far over the German lines
coming to cover from the gatherin.
storm and bringing with them the woI
derful stories that make up each day
history in the titanic struggle fo
mastery Of the air.
In the valleys about Loos. Livein
Lens. Acheville and Fresnoy, III,
freshening wind was stirring up grea
clouds Of dust Each high explosiv,
she'll breaking on the dry ground ais,
sent up towering columns OF chalk
white powder until a haze gathered
over all the lower levels Of the imme
diate battle zone In Lens and severa
other villages behind the German line.
smouldering fires could be marked b,
smoke vapors that hung above them
The artillery duel was in full swins
long before night set in. but il va.
not until after the gathering gloom OF
darkness reflected each separate
flaming cannon mouth that the full
intensity OF the long range fightins
could be grasped. The cloak OF night
also brought into action many great
batteries lying concealed during the
tell-tale hours of daylight and ever
and anon as the night wore on. new
guns would burst into violence from
altogether unsuspected places.
Some OF these were the famous Ole
grandmother" howitzers and III,
ground. ever vibrant with the drum
ming rythm Of guns. shiyered anC
shook anew from the shock OF thes,
mammoth weapons. The heavy over
hanging clouds had the effect Of in
tensifying TO an almost overwhelmin.
degree the nerve shattering noises O.
the battle. When battery fire" woulC
send four, five. six or more massiv,
shells simultaneously toward the Ger
man lines, the onrushing roar was foi
all the world like that experienced il
an express train as it dashes into
tunnel
After what seemed an interminabl,
length Of time, the swish OF those far
reaching shells ended with a grea
dull red flare on the horizon On,
OF these flares was 8 hit hnn,a in ar