Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-03

above them. 1t is thus for only Il brief period.
As suddenly grows n new confusion in front. Az
first it sounds like n mnrmur, Il babble OF hf"hs
voices. They turn ont TO be shrieks. The order
has been given to jump out and advance. 1hes
come from men delirious in n frantic haste to rush
on after the strain Of il.
As the men in front jump out and rush ATOMS
in advance, rifles held almost at arms length WIN
the bayonets in the dim smoke clouds sucking OUT
in front, the other crowds back in the trenches rusn
out to till their places and in turn jump out aha
rush on. 1t is all done as quickly as possible; there
is no times lost and hardly a motion.
And while the mass of frenzied men rush on 10
ward the trenches of the Germans, falling by
scores, whole groups of them turn This way ana
that MS the Germans concentrate their fire among
them, others keep filling in from the rear. There IS
no end to their number, apparently. Inc ehure
rear Is now packed with men and more men, While
behind them are still more men--men without num-
Der.
''There will be Il signal when you get out there
we are told. ut Is an order to fall on Your faces.
Fall on them! No time to lose
The men who first lcaped out and started to rush
along fell In another way long ago-lt was put
several seconds or so--and the ranks behind them
In turn dissolved. Still others came on and now
the first of the advancing mass are at the nrst
trenches of the Germans.
SplIC az htStt'' $500
cease to leap from the trenches, while the ndvanc-
ing ranks rushing blindly on fall fiat. Almost MT
the same instant, possibly d couple OF seconds iater'
to the men lying there comes Il noise that Is even
greater than the crash Of a few minutes before.
But 1t is hardly perceptible, for the senses, work
ing at capacity. cannot grasp it all.
II is the Frenc, guns opening up again. They
are tearing out IL way for the infantry, tearing
away what humanity is left in the second and third
line trenches. Even during the previous hours OF
bombardment the Germans tried to keep these in
some semhlunce of holes. There cannot be many
beings left in them, but re-enforcements probably
are coming up.
A few seconds later the gnnfire OF the French
again ceases as though by magic. Immediately the
soldiers lump to their feet and again rush on
They pass over the first line Of German trenches
reach the second line and on to the third line
Another signal, "A loud shouting Nnd they agar
fall down. The guns open up again.
This time the guns pound away on German
works farther in the rear. they stop again anf
the troops dash on. Every man knows his place II
the drive ana every body Of men. When one maj
falls another Is there TO do what he was doing
The soldiers feel the success Of 1t by this time
They are lnstilled with enthusiasm, the Wild Joy o
victory. Shells fall among the advancing hordes
but In the Wild din just passed those who escap
hardly know 1t.
Now there IRE fewer guns firing on the Germal
side. Others Of the French artillery, when not nj
ing at places ahead of the advancing soldiers
quickly change their range to the batteries.
The French have now passed the first four line
Of regular trenches and are running over the ne,
work Of connecting trenches. Masses of German
are In these. Terrified by what they have bee
through, few show resistance. 1t Is useless. TIL
French soldiers continue to advance, chargln
when resistance Is offered. delirious with the win
OK a successful drive. They do the feats OF .supe
beings and IRE unaware Of It.
Hours later, after It has ceased and the lines al
again deadlocked, soldiers In the towns Of the Of
sector gather In groups around the bulletin board
where Is posted the brief oficial conimuniQu
The soldiers standing around reading are ne
troops. They are on their way to the trenches.
Ambulances still rush up from the rear and bat
4 ngain, catching up with the work.
The misses Of prisoners IRE already on their WI
|, southwark. Included In the number taken was
detachment, a crowd Of 20 men who were all tn
!. remained Of several hundred German soldier
They were caught IN u trench and unable to q
|, cape during tn, terrible bombardment, explain Il
few able to think cdherently. Retreat had been c
T on by shells falling behind them.
. or the number yet alive IRE tnanlacs-men WI
are rnying violently. They nre initiating the nois
. Of shells and the motions Of men struck by them.
: william 7. Martin, in Now York Sun.