New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-06-15

bling continued indefinitely. It was
$40 O'Clock when this final terrific
bOmbardment began.
1t has seemed that the battle Of the
Somme attained the ultimate in the
close assembly of war weapons, but
this sudden %OutpOuring on Messines
ridge was beyond all calculation. The
lighter field guns far forward set up a
perfect curtain fire, under which the
assaulting troops trudged confidently
to their allotted goals. Farther back
the deep-throated heavies began to
pour out torrents Of high explosive
shells on the German trenches and
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 fred In shells Of ev-
cry conceivable callber.
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 clamor,
had begun to sing joyOusly. Like so
many children who have come into the
consciousness Of being In the midst of
the war, these birds regarded the ap-
palling noise of the battle as q normal
condition Of life.
The smoke of the giant mines ex-
ploded along the battle front lean
time rose in great, curling plumes to-
ward the sky and was pu~nctuated by
red signals for help from the stricken
Germans In the front and support
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 airplanss 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
dazed by the mine explosion and the
ordeal of the artillery fire.
First Taste Of New Warfare.
Many Of these troops had but recent.
~ come from Russia, where they had
spent 10 months and knew nothing of
what actual warfare was like on the
western front. They had bolted ut the
first mine explosion and had only been
gathered together In groups by their
noncOmmissiOned officers when the
British appeared out Of the smoke and
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 a matter Of fact, the British sol.
der, when the fighting Is done, is in
clined almost too strongly to treat the
prisoners as pals. Some Of
the prisoners taken today had only
gone into the German lines last night
and had made their way forward I'M
dor n ~UoIIiuU Aro opd hod Lost hoovlIv
But the troops already In the line were
for relief In such a manne that
their appeals could not be denied.
Failed to Time Attack.
In view of the fact that the attack
had been expected the German com.
manders were endeavoring to get their
best units actually into the fighting
front, but had underestimate when
the British would strike. The troops
in q strange line were utterly bewil-
when the attack began and fell
prey to the advancing British.
The Irish. New Zealanders and Aus
who had been rehearsed In
every detail of 'the show" knew Just
what to do from the moment the word
% advance was given.
The battle vas far more visible dur
ng the first uncertain moments than
alter when the sun gradually burned
is way through the eastern banks of
clouds. BY that time the smoke Of ex-
shells and the vapors from the
barrage, which had been part
% tho ortilorv d,tv ohcc,rod <ho mona
landscape to such an extent
hat the roaring guns could not be seen
It all. although the firing was almost
It ones feet. The brilliantly leaplng
hrapnel shells. breaking far above
appeared through q thick mist
My as brief and brilliant electric
British Planes Rule Air.
For a month past, but especially {
lnce June 1, the airplanes on this ,
ront have been indefatigably at work |
uring every possible flying hour.
hey had brought down nearly so ma
hines in six days as a means of blind .
~ the enemy. Lately the Germans
ave endeavored valiantly to obtain !
observations for their artil-
,ry, but their observing machines ;
ave seldom been able to direct more
one or two shots before the Brit
n fighting scouts had pounced upon
and either sent them crashing to ,
he earth or had driven them to cover
t b~reakneck speed. !
Today the British planes few far
nd long over the enemy's ~retreating a
mes and we're only challenged by