The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1917-05-15
MARVELLOUS SPECTACLE OF
NIGHT FIGHTING IN EUROPE.
MOST APPALLING ARTILLERY
DUEL OF THE WAR.

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE-(Via London. THE la
comic statement in re e n
British official communication that
"the enemy's artillery was active at
intervals throughout the night at q
number of places along the battle
front, particularly in the sector be-
tween Fresnoy and Loos," and that
"our artillery replied" dismisses in
cold official language one of the most
marvellous spectacles of night firing
the world has ever seen.
1t was a night made of terror.
Great angry clouds scudded across
the sky, successfully making all at
tempts of the full May moon to break
through the cumulous barrage. Even
tually the heavens opened and pour
ed forth a torrent of rain upon the
hot cannon 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
coruscation of the guns; its thunder
peals drowned in the reverberating
illumination which came from bel
lowing cannon and bursting shells
with almost equal violence. Nature
withstood the terrific bombardment
until nearly dawn, then the rain fail
ing to bring it to an end heavy fog
shut down and put stop to the
dangerous uproar as suddenly as if
some word of supreme command had
been shouted above the din of battle.
There were a few parting shots
through the enveloping mist from
either side and then absolute silence
reigned.
IN Spell of Speeches. Awe.
1t was mascinating spectacle to
watch through the night, holding one
in spell of speeches. awe. From
one of the high ridges recently oc-
cupied by the British, miles and
miles Of the great sweep of battle
could be seen. For the most part it
was duel with what the soldiers
cali "big stuff"--a giant test of
strength among the 'heavies." But
always above the roar of the big
guns could be heard the crack of the
bursting sharpnel and the petulent
whine of leaden bullets sent in show
ers from the shells. 1t was a beauti-
full day yesterday, but menacing
clouds had hidden the setting sun.
In the twilight, scores of British air
planes were winging their homeward
way from far over the German lines,
coming to cover from the gathering
storm and bringing with them the
wonderful stories that make up each
days history in the titanic struggle
for mastery of the air
The artillery duel was in full
swing long before the night set in,
but it was not until after the gath
ering gloom of darkness reflected
each separate flaming cannon mouth
that the full intensity of the long
range fighting could be grasped. The
cloak of night also brought into ac-
ton many great batteries lying con-
cealed during the telltale hours of
daylight and ever and anon as the
night bore on new guns would burst
into violence from altogether unsus-
pected places.
Nerve-Shattering Noises.
Some of these were the famous
old "granmother" howitzers and the
ground, ever vibrant with the drum
ming rythm of guns, shivered and
shook anew from the shock of these
mammoth weapons. The heavy over
hanging clouds had the effect of in
tensifying to an almost overwhelm-
ing degree the nerve-shattering
noises of the battle. When battery
fire" would send, four, five, six or
more massive shells simultaneously
toward the German lines, the onrush-
roar was for all the world like that
experienced in an express train as
it dashes into a tunnel.
After what seemed an intermin-
-