The Washington times., 1918-05-03
CONGRESSMEN WHO
WERE IN BARRAGE
TELL EXPERIENCE

How It feels to be under barrage
fire and what sensations are expert
enced by our men over there as they
advance to attack under protection OF
their artillery was told The Times
today by fifteen members OF the House
Committee on Naval Affairs. who are
the first American civilians. aside
from a few Congressman who visited
France, to have been actually under
fire and to witness the effect OF
deadly barrage put down by an Amer
ican artillery unit. These men have
just returned from the big marine
corps training camp at QuantlcO. Va,
which was Jne scene OF their expert
ence.
How in the world a human being
could come through such a hail Of
shell FIRE and machine gun bullets Is
more than I can understand" said
Congressman J. r. Connolly OF Kan
sas. The whole sector. about l2j
yards In width, was one sheet OF
bursting shells, a perfect inferno, in
which IL would seem that 10 man
could enter and conc out alive
Aside from my own feelings OF awe
and admiration at the deadly ac-
curacy of the aim OF our men, had
no sensations OF fear. for I knew
that the bRrrage was going high over
our heads.
Il can well understand the con :
fideEce with which our infsntrymen ,
advance when under the protection Of
one Of these barraEss, for no matter /
how strong the enemy force before Q
the barrage starts II must be totally /
disorganized when this tornado 0E
shell and storm OF bullets from ma ,
chine guns hits IT,"
should BE At Front.
Congressman Thomas s. Butler o!
Pennsylvania, also a member o: the
party. said: MY feelings were that
these men who have been trained foE
months under Brig. Gen. Lejeune
Colonel Hill, and associate officers
should be dropping shells on the
Huns in France, instead Of SCATTERING
Iifeless objects here.
To me the accuracy OF the mems
aim was marvellous. but to the two
Canadian artillery captains, who ac
companied the party for the purpose I
Of observation. the work OF the ma ?
rine artillerymen won tho highest !
praise They asserted that II was The
DeEL IldEhHUldHEllp lAGg llhu ~ Nl " IL
messed. and they are old. experienced
veterans who have been severely /
wounded in the line Of their duties
in France and are here r"cupersting. :
Congressman Butler expressed the (
view that every man IA the party !
was impressed with the marve elous /
efficiency OF our marine gunners. The /
three lines Of trenches and the tar /
gets set up TO represent the enemy
were totally shattered by the deadly
accuracy Of the fire. That these men
should be in France now raining a (
storm OF shells on the Huns instead .
or still being here In practice. was the 4
opinion expressed by those OF the /,
members Of the committee who wit |
messed the operation. |
Guests OF General Barnett.
The Congressman were the guests :
Of Mai Gen. George Barnett, and /
Brig. Gen. Charles l. McCaWiey, quar- .
termaster. OF Ins marine corps. The ,
"Trip was made from Washington on .
the Yacht Sylph and the sulons en-
loved = day as guests OF ihe camp
and in inspecting the entire r"scrva-
tiOn.
The barrage, which was lifted at
Intervals cf one. tyy" and three min
lltES. res pc CIV. wa sent over from
4 battery OF Twelve three-inrh guns
and sixteen machine guns. I'll" prob
lem involved in the operation was
worked out by III" officers Of the
Third Battalion. Tenth Regiment. un-
der command OF Major T. L. Shepard
The Ninth Company Of the First Bat
TALON. which took part IN the
barrage. Is comma nded by Capt H. :
Barry. Jr., sOn. OF u. :. Earry, Wash
ington correspondent ~ the Provi-
dencc Journal and residing at JefIer-
son place. this city. l
The range was 5000 yards. and the
sector under fire WAS approximately 4
l25 yards in width. The problem in
voIved In the barrage was to de-
moIish the first line trench by two
sheets OF tire and shell each lombard
ment lasting two minutes. The cur
tain of hre MAS tHen lifted and ad-
Yanced 10 the second line trenches.
which were bOmbarded twice for pc
RODS Of one minute each. Upon the
report by observers OF complete de-
moIiuon. the baTrage wGs again lifted
and advanced beyond the second line,
where It played with deadly accuracy
FOR d period OF three minutes. 10 rep