El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-15


variety OF material gathered by the editor
Of The Herald 20 Europe during the war
and after Excerpts VIII Pc published 10
this column daily durlng the next several
months. Today's instalmeut. continuing
the general narrative. relates experiences
on the Metz front during preparations for
iient.
il e. suggested that readers clip these
articles each day and paste them in scrap
books; they VIII Lot be reprinted and back
numbers cannot be supplied
IT IS the Sd of September 1918 We
hear Tor the first time definitely
that a big attack is in prospect in
near future. Our division receives
10000 tubes Of anti-tetanus serum in
anticipation Of heavy casualties in bat
tie; French have advised that prepare /
tons be made to take care of at least
1000 casualties when effort is made
TO reduce the Saint Mihiel Salient.
Steady stream OF troops from the rear
and great masses form in readiness.
Enormous preparations continue for
big movement.
1t is a bright sunny day. Witness
two big air fights; we lose one sausage
balloon and one plane; the Germans
lose four balloons and two planes In
all these German attacks on our bal
looms the same tactics are followed. q
single German plane is seen coming
swiftly from the enemy lines straight
toward the balloon, but flying very
high; reaching a point 1900 OF 2000
feet Immediately above the balloon
and so being secure from observation
from the balloon or from defensive
fire, he sw0ops straight down 70 with
In a few hundred feet and fires incen- I
diary or explosive bullets into the gas
bag, then he flies back home.
The balloon instantly takes fire and
drops swiftly and straight down, red
flames bursting from every point and
a column of inky black smoke remain I
ing standing in tire air f0- some seconds
IN the trail of the wreck. Usually the
observer OF observers have time to
throw themselves out Of the basket
and they float off slantwise under
their parachutes In the breeze reaching
the ground long after the balloon wreck
has hit bottom; but sometimes the
observer with his parachute Is caught
right under the falling fiery bag and
Is carried down with IL and cremated.
These attacks are always highly .
spectacular and the whole thing hap
pens and Is over In a few seconds; /
one sees the balloon, looks away a mo- .
ment looks back, and maybe there Is .
nothing there but q Wlsp OF smoke. .
II one happens TO see the German COM /
ing and keeps his eyes on him, he Is .
sure 70 see the balloon take fire and .
fall, for the attempt seems never 10 F.
fail There Is no time for the balloon .
crew on the ground 70 haul the sausage I
down IL the attack Is direct; the .
sausages are apt TO be hauled down .
however any time that there are enemy .
planes IN the vicinity and are often .
saved this way
We rarely see allied planes in ac- I
ton; we understand that there are a +
dozen or so French planes attached 70 .
this division, partly manned by French .
aviatOrs, and we hear from time 10 F.
time OF exploits within the German
lines. and sometimes We see German .
balloons brought down, but allied .
planes almost never seem 20 Interfere T
with German air activities on our own .
side Of the line. This becomes a by .
word with the soldiers and doubtless /
gives rise TO false impressions. Tt D. +
he current belief that the Germans E
have almost uudisputed control OF the .
air aud this part of the line, and such .
a belief doesn't help the morale OF our /
men !
Heavy sheIling Of front line trenches I
and various towns. also last night OF .
Puvenelle Wood. Tonight. unusual air F.
activity. enemy planes overhead at ire .
queut intervals.
4 September I9ls-Bright fine day. I.
IN afternoon have cycle trip an over F.
the divisions support area and up 10 .
outer line OF resistance. Note new 4
railroad lines running into groves 70 I
accommodate artillery, many roads F.
built. big guns have been brought IN I
and sent well forward. Many heavy I
batteries in place along roads parallel I
70 the front lines Network OF Held Z
wiring. The P. C.'s command posts |
and artillery observation. Sensation Z
when our own guns very close fire
right over ones head. Difference in I
sound between guns and shells; one
learns 10 estimate distance and dlrec- +
tion and character Of explosions, some I
times the shell comes faster than the I
sound Of the gun. sometimes the sound I
Of the gun slightly precedes the sound /
OF the shell exploding; estimating
where our own shells are landing, by
the sound. The Characteristic scream I
Of various shells.
Several towns in our area badly
shelled; Puvenelle Wood harassed more f.
or less night and day but no serious Z
damage done vet; roads shelled. We
change and solidifv position Of the di- /
vision and find % division close be- 4
hind rs; we understand they are 20 20 I
into the line In a few days.
Fifth division viii soon 20 into line
on the left of the Goth. Its elements F.
now coming mp.
Night scenes and sounds on the
great roads, miles of machine gun carts .
and guns Of all sizes, continuous 4
rumble. suppressed roar and Qatter Of 4
muffIed wheels and hoofs, everything I
muffled, not a chain clanks, nothing /
rattles. In darkness through the night 4
the troops move up in steady streams, 1
and when the German observers view 4
our deserted roads at dawn they viii .
be none the wiser, for our people viii I
an be under cover.
Impression Of enormous task being 4
organized here, in which we are con-