The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-06-14

eaftn SHOOK us IL lofI ny Il biNot go
mic disturbanc II was not single
shock. The force of the explosion
actually set the earth rocking to ana
fro. and under the influence of the
giant guns, which Immediately began
TO roar from far and near, the trem-
bling continued indefinitely. 1t was
$40 o'clock when this final terflhc
bombardment began.
II has seemed that the battle OF the
Somme attained the ultimate iii the
close assembly of war weapons, Dut
fhis sudden outpouriug on Messines
ridge was beyond all calculation. Inc
lighter field guns far forward SET UP
perfect curtain fire, under which the
assaulting troops trudged confidently
10 their allotted goals. Farther BACK
the deep-throated heavies began TO
nour out torrents of high explosive
shells on the German trenches ana
communications while still other guns
enough TO win any ordinary battle
confined themselves solely to the task
of deluging German guns and gunners
in baths of gas fired in shells of ey-
cry conceivable caliber.
The effect of this counter battery
work was not appreciated until later
in the day, when the infantry sent
back word that their progress had
not been hampered by the enemy ar
tIllery and that their casualties
amounted To virtually nothing.
Enemy Signals for Help.
Great black observation balloons
had stolen skyward during the din OF
the newly begun battle. In the wood
back of the windmill spring BIRDS
awakened by the deafening elamor,
had begun to sing ioyously. Like so
many children who have come into the
consciousness of being In the midst OF
the war, these birds regarded the APP
palling noise of the battle as a normal
condition of life.
The smoke of the giant mines eX-
ploded along the battle front mean
time rose in great, curling plumes to-
ward the sky and was punctuated by
red signals for help from the stricken
lines. Never was the air filled with
more frantic notices of danger. The
entire horizon glowed with red balls
of fire sent up by the nervous Ger
mans.
More and more British airplanes be-
gan to make their appearance. one
flew over the lines, the flashes of the
guns being reflected brilliantly on its
highly glazed wings.
Under this appalling fire trudged for
ward on the ten-mile front General
Plumer's army. At many places the
men found German troops utterly
t,azed by the mine explosion and the
ordeal of the artillery fire.
First Taste of New Warfare.
Many of these troops had but recent
iy come from Russia, where they had
spent Is months and knew nothing of
what actual warfare WAS like on the
western front. They had bolted ct the
first mine explosion and had only been
gathered together in groups by their
| noneommissioned officers when the
bftllSH NElitHIetl oul vi illt Sliioht dhN
shells and made them prisoner.
They said they had been given to
understand by their officers that the
British always killed their prisoners
1t was really pitiful in some instances
to see the manner in which these pris
oners cringed to their captors.
As matter of fact. the British sol
| der. when the fighting is done, is in
! cined almost too strongly to treat the
German prisoners as pulls. Some 81
the prisoners taken today had onl!
gone into the German lines last nigh
and had made their way forward un
der CALLING fire and had lost heavily
But the troops already in the line wer,
calling for relief in such manner tina
their appeals could not he denied.
Failed to Time Attack.
In view of the fact that the attacl
| had been expected the German com
handlers were endeavoring to get thei
| hest units actually into the fighting
front. but had underestimate whel
the British would strike. The troop
i'm strange line were utterly Devil
dered when the attack began and fel
easy prey to the advancing British.
The Irish. New Zealanders and Aus
tralianS, who had been rehArsed Il
every detail of the show" knew jus
what TO do from the moment the wor
to advance WAS given.
The battle was far more visible dun
ing the first uncertain moments tina
later when the sun gradually hnrne
its way thr.ugh the eastern banks {
clouds. by that time the smoke of e.
plodng shells and the vanors from th
binding barrage, which had been pan
of the artillery duty. ehscured The MOI
distant landscape to such an exteI
that the roaring guns could not be see
ut all although the firing was almo
Mt ones feet. The brilliantly leapir
shrapnel shells, breaking far aboN
ground. appeared through a sliels nut
only as brief and brilliant electr
sparks.
British Planes Rule Air.
Fer month past. hut especial
since June l. the airplanes on tn
front have been indefatigably Mt wol
: during every possible flying hou
i They had brought down nearly 81 m
chimes in six days as Il means Of bin
b ing the enemy. Lately the Germa
f have endeavered valiantly Ia obta
: airplane observations for their art
T. iery, but their observing maehln
have seldom been able To direct mo
than one or two shots before the Br
\ iSh fighting scouts had nouneed up
. them and either sent them crashing
o the earth or had driven them to COY