Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-06-13
SURGEON TELLS OF HORRORS
BEHIND GERMAN LINES WHILE
GUNS ROAR ON SONINiE FRONT

o. warfare III northern Francc is
kiren by Dr. l.. Schmidt, sur,eon
aid chaplain witt. one Of the pr,ls-
sian regiments. He is frank In his
disclosures Of the tremendous losses
suffered by the Prussians due to the
incessant hammering of the British.
'"rhe dead and dying are every
where," he writes. "ln this terrible
war blood is flowing freely all the
time. No matter in what part Of our
extensive front you may be. you will
see the horror Of the conflict. Yet
there are certain spots where the suf-
fering is more acute, the scenes more
pathetic, and the tragedy more heart
rending for the time being. Such is
the case at the Somme, where am
on duty just now.
Though we were distant several
days march from this particular part
Of the front, we already had some
idea OF the ferocity Of the lighting
that had been raging for months. 1t
was communicated to us in the con-
slant rafting Of windows wherever
we stopped, in the incessant thunder
Of the artillery and the numerous
aeroplanes which flew overhead.
1--WE did the greater part Of our
marching at night. 1t was all like
a dreanl-this marching in long,
silent, gray columns in the silvery
moonlight through towns and villages
that soon appeared like spectres in
the distance. 1t was all so weird.
When the white, fleecy clouds appear
ed and hid the face of the moon and
the cold, sleety rain cut and beat in
our faces, we thought of those at
home, comfortably tucked in their
beds.
However, that is part of war
only small part of what happens
at the front.
Troops a Sorry Sight.
I'VE became aware of this when
we marched into village directly
behind the firing line. Here we met
troops who had been relieved after
several days hard fighting, and who
were now to take much deserved rest
and recuperation. What a sight
they were! They were covered from
head to foot with mud, and their
faces were marked with deep, heavy
lines that showed the strain and suf-
fering they had undergone. Many
had their heads bandaged; others
exhausted that they Jagged behind
and were barely able to crawl along
What picture! Infantry and cav
airy, munition and supply wagons,
light and heavy guns-all came in
endless columns.
1--WE marched slowly to the field
hospital, where we were to relieve
those who had been so long on duty.
This hospital was widely scattered.
The wounded were housed in the
church, in the village inn, in the bar
racks and in all kinds Of buildings
Our guides led us through the whole
village in order to familiarize us with
the surroundings. They left us with
the cheerful information that an at
tack by the British was imminent,
and that we could expect to see a
bombardment momentarily.
Horrors of Drum Fire.
THE first day passed quietly
enough. However, about 10 O'Clock
at night Of the third day that we
were in the village the British made
furious attack on our lines. How
can l describe it? The term drum
fire. means nothing to him who has
never heard it. For twenty hours this
bombardment continued with not
even the intermission Of a moment.
Thousands Of guns poured forth fire
and destruction. 1t was very much
like thousand giants welding huge
hammers, still all striking at once
with might and main on the anvil,
and working in frenzied haste. It
was as If hell were working feverish-
~ to kill every living thing and not
to rest until every creature and every
hlade OF grass had been destroyed.
silently we stand and look out
into the night. The houses and the
trees, the whole landscape are illu-
minated by the belching artillerv-like
flashes of lightning in thunder
storm. Our thoughts are with the
men In the first line trenches, Not q
(AInNTET, JNVNh