New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-21
German Trenches Pounded
to Pulp by Guns Before
Advance at Dawn
Mustard" Gas Faced
All Detectives Taken and
Many of Crown Princes
Divisions Shattered
IBy Tie Associated PressI

lBy Tie Associated PressI
GRAND HEADQUARTERS OF THE
FRENCH ARMIES IN FRANCE, Aug.
2O.-When prisoners came back IN
hundreds shortly after dawn this
morning the observers knew that the
sharp blow decided on by the French
higher command to give more breath
ing space at Verdun had been success
full.
After the artillery had pounded the
German positions stretching along a
front of fourteen miles from south Of
Bethincourt to BezonvauX until they
must have been like pulp, the infantry
advanced as the first streak OF dawn
lighted the sky and occupied all the
positions they had set out to con-
quer, at the same time sweeping INTO
their net many prisoners of several
divisions of the German Crown
Princes army.
The French soldiers showed once
more that they were not yet bled white.
When the order was given for them
to 20 over the top in the face OF nun
dreds of batteries of heavy and light
artillery and thousands of machine
guns, they advanced singing, and moth
ing could stay their dash. They were
handled in such way by their omcerS
that they escaped through the most
dangerous part of the ground they mad
to negotiate with almost negligible
losses. reaching the German positions
before the German barrage fire.
Artillery Fire Intense
The correspondent passed the night
on the battle field in the vicinity OF the
thickest artillery fire, and can testify
to its intensity. During two famous
French victories, on October "a and
December 10, 1916, before Verdun, the
correspondent was present on both &C.
casions, and this time reached the con-
clusion from the ferceness OF the nre
that the French employed at least an
equal number of guns.
The night preceding this battle was
feirylike in beauty. There was no
moon, but the stars were brilliant and
the natural effects enhanced by the
constant succession of flashes from
bursting shells, while all along both
French and German positions flares
almost necessarily arose, making the
surrounding area brighter than day.
The only disturbing sounds were the
, terrifying screeches and the whistlinS
of smaller shells and the trainlike roar
| of larger projectiles, as they tor.
through the air, while the dull thud5
/ of trench torpedoes reverberated along
| the ground.
( The French troops awaiting the order
! to advance were not in the slightest
I dismayed by the difficulties Of the task
confronting them. They knew that
this was unsuitable terrain for attack
/ ing forces, but the fullest confidence
I reigned among them.
Facing them were German divisions
which had been massed for resistance
/ to anv effort the French might make
/ TO extend their circle Of territory
/ around Verdun, which the Germans
, call the door 10 the heart OF France.
The confidence of the French proved
/ justified, for they not only pushed the
: German intruders back as far as they
/ intended, but took many prisoners
from chosen German regiments.
Germans Fire l5-Inch Shells
All through the night the German
artillery had poured thousands of
shells of every calibre into the roads
and communicating trenches leading to
the front. They introduced novelty
in the shape of 15-inch shells contain
ing enormous shrapnel bullets which
burst overhead. scattering pieces far
and wide, but the disposition Of the
French troops was so cleverly con-
trived that they suffered little.
Verdun itself received hundreds OF
Shells, which simply added TO the de
struction in the city. All the grounc
within eight miles Of the front lines
was strewn repeatedly with shells con-
tanning a horrible new German ga:
known as mustard gas" affecting the
mucous membranes and any portion OF
the body which WAS exposed, causing
terrible blisters, as it's base was sui
phuric acid, and bringing SOW snC
painful death if il entered the ungs.
The aviators we're busy as soon as
the light permitted, and the CORE
spondent saw two Germans shot down
by gunfre, while Germans who make
a specially of attacking observation
balloons twice attempted to destroy
these. but were driven off on each oc
caeion.
Information comes from various part
Of the line that the French have il
several places gone further than wa!
originally intended, and that the pris
d oror. taLap mum her info the Thousand 9