El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1921-01-11

the general narrative. relates experiences
on the Mcuse-Argonue battle front
il Is suggested that readers clip these
articles each day and paste them in scrap
books they viii not be reprinted and back
numbers cannot be supplied
OCTOBER %, at $3.50 p. m, air bat
" tie right overhead; several bombs
are dropped by the Germans and
l6 Of our planes take after them.
Three bombs are dropped near one Of
our field hospitals and clods and rocks
strike my tent One Of these bombs
makes hole IS feet in diameter and
more than Q feet deep. Two Of our
planes are shot down by enemy and
our aviators killed.
Shelliug and air activity resumed at
P. N. We have an alighting field
near US now and all night long we hear
these great birds every ten or Is min
utes rise and soar.
% October l9lS-Our planes GER
tainly do sound cheerful overhead.
Clear nights always invite trouble.
Bright and clear today, comparatively
quiet. News arrives Of Austria's sub
mission and request for separate peace,
and Hindenberg's resignation not vet
accepted.
Heavy frost last night. Men are al
ready beginning 70 imagine what it is
going to be like in winter stormy
nights with no lights, no fires. no
smoking, in trenches OF outside Of per
feet cover; and the allied armies have
already been through four winters
no wonder they are war-Weary.
The truck drivers and ambulance
drivers and their splendid work under
fearful conditions. The defensive
works around Verdun and correspond
ing strong points elsewhere. Enor-
nous expenditure Of human effort in
the aggregate, this war, and what It
would mean if applied to constructive
work.
so October l9Is-Cold clear starry
night; doors and windows rattle and
old house shakes with heavy guns fir
ing frequently and regularly. Usual
air visits. On trip forward again i'm
pressed with sustained intensity of
struggle. All our. troops generally ex-
posed TO degree hitherto unheard of in
this war. No time to ImprOvise shell
tiers. No security anywhere. Phvsi-
caly impossible 10 keep I'd the fight
ing and dig In as the books call for.
Our artillery superiority and the law
OF chances serve US well.
81 October l9lS-Perfectly clear
bright beautiful day and night; heavy
frost. some firing an dav. but we
await the opening Of the great at
tack early tomorrow morning. Heavy
guns all along orr front 80 meters
g
10 heaviest naval guns.
This movement now imminent is said
TO be most formidable attack 81 entire
war, and hurled against deeply massed
enemy in sectors that have been most
desperately contested. Everything in
readiness here. Our division is thanked
in orders for splendid performance.
There IS a remarkable uniformity
among all men and officers in actually
facing danger Great need was and Is
trained leaders, disciplined and
strongly imbued with the spirit of the
task. Lack Of knowledge of tech
nc and failure to establish train
Of authority common.
wonder what the infantry in the
parallel Of departure is thinking Of
right now; 40 TO 60 percent Of the first
D
] casualties a few hours from now. Con
slider the attitude Of different officers
and men going under fire; one learns
TO suspect and discount every one who
{ Jokes about 10 or kids others. I
would not trust these men-it is easy
to tell the real from the false. There
[ Is one type that appears TO be absO-
, lutely obivious TO the explosions and
the flying metal; another that grimly
Z faces i with a little interior smile Of
/ cynieism, an acceptance Of fates either
] type is safe as officer or soldier, but
{ the one that -ioshes' others with
forced gaycty is TO be suspected
/ kind OF mysteries. The soldiers have
an infallibie instinct and they curl the
! lip 10 hear some officers and men
talk.
Last night enemy b0mbers came
/ again; machine guns in planes and
anti-air craft guns active. Many bombs
| dropped but not very near our tents;
/ shook the earth.
There is some direction and limit to
I shell fire, but none 10 air bombs. if
| you knew the enemy airman's target
| You could infallibly avoid being hit,
simply by going over and sitting on
/ the target, for chances are against his
I hitting his target, but he VIII hit some
thing.
No use running when the airmen are
over you; nowhere TO 60; cratic flight
Of bombs, zigzag, etc. Particles thrown
two or three city blocks, terrific blast
/ cutting fragments of Jagged steel
/ gases, etc. Only thing to do is lie
in bed or remain at task and trust the
law Of chances. Little real danger out
here in the open, but in cities the de-
/ struction is awful.
Typical night scenes. An air raid
First, far-off flashes Of anti-aircraft
. shells, not heard, too lar away. Nearer
I guns fire. Approaching hum of motors
! unseen; the German bombing planes
I all nave Characteristic rhythmic burr
hum, or buzz unmistakable and differ
ent from any Of our planes; insistent
[ and annoying Ike the one mosquito in
{ side the mosquito bar on a hot sticky
summer night; YOU hear the hummina
I Of the planes a long way off, a little
I louder, a little fainter changing air
/ currents seem 70 muffle them, then
you hear them Unexpectedly near. The
I searchlights open up and sweep the
sky. The planes discharge their
machine guns, sometimes as signals ia
each other and 20 their own lines,
sometimes TO harass something OF
| somebody on the ground that attracts
their attention. Shrapnel and high
explosive shells burst all around them.
from auti-air craft guns on the ground
and shell fragments fly and drop pro-
miseuouslv to earth. The enemy planes