A GERMAN TRICK

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2447, 28 April 1915, Page 5

A GERMAN TRICK

FRENCH SHELLS ON FRENCH TOWNS HOW THE WOMEN ARE TREATED _ Some interesting glimpses of conditions at the front are given in a dispatch sent by a special correspondent of the London "Morning Post" from the Oise Department on Maroh 1. North-east of Lilious, writes the correspondent, there is a hill called 101, which constitutes one of the strongest advanced points of the Allied line in, tho West. Hill 101 commands Chaulnes and the road to Peronne. It was taken some three months ago in the course of the ferocious fighting in which the Germans lost very heavily, and at that time the names of Lihons and Lb Quesnoy were prominent in the com-' muniques. Both were successes of the highest strategic importance, and Lihons,. or, rather, the heights beyond the village, as.well as Le Quesnoy, wero for a long period the object of repeated attacks by strong forces of the enemy. All of . these. were beaten off, and for some time past there has been no effort in this neighbourhood by either side, except the unending artillery duel which has been steadily growing in intensity on the part of the French as the number of batteries has kept increasing

From Hill 101 tho whole of the town of Chaulnes _is _ clearly visible in the valley, and it is thus possible to observe that each time the French batteries show signs of beginning a bombardment the_ Germans drive out the civilian inhabitants, men, women, and children, into the streets and open spaces, where they must inevitably suffer under shell fire. They themselves lurk in cover, and their Tuse has been more or less successful. Chaulnes has not had the pounding it might'have received, seeing how completely it is commanded by the French batteries. The Germans in the trenches round the town are -very deeply dug in and not a vestige of them can be seen when shelling is m progress. An Escape from Chaulnes. I met a young woman and some children who escaped a day or two ago owing to this circumstance. While the Germans wore all out of sight they determined to make a bolt for it and risk the French shells. They escaped safely, although the woman was in such a state of mind after the treatment she has experienced for weeks that she said she really did not care much if she had been killed, and it .was well worth risking. She states that the Germans compel the women of the town to undertake, the dangerous work of carrying out supplies to the trenches. Many, she says, have been killed in this way. She also brought cheering news as to the effect of the French gun-fire upon German convoys. In a recent instance the attention of the batteries above Lihons had been turned to a regiment advancing along the road from Peronne, and some excellent pradtice was made upon it before notice was taken of three trains hastily steaming away from the station. It is now known that these were filled with troops, and took to (light immediately the guns started" shelling the regiment in the road. When the railway station was fired on a heavy train of provisions ajid stores was entirely demolished.

In the neighbourhood of Roys the villages of Laucourt and Beuvraignes have been captured by the French after sharp bombardment, the ground being thoroughly swept clear by tlw artillery before the infantry advanced. iii these districts the Germans seem to have little stomaoh for a fight at present. There has not been a bayonet charce for a considerable' time past, and our _ infantry has met with very little resistance in occupying places previously prepared by shell-fire. Indeed, in some cases we have been surprised in dashing forward to occupy trenches to find them empty. The village of Laucourt had to be demolished, and in the ruins of the church were found two machine-gnus, which had apparently been mounted on the tower. Beuvraignes has been severely attacked by the Germans because it also occupies a commanding position.

The German Main Line. _ Wo aro well up to'the'Gorman main line, and from time to time they send a shell into places well to our rear, but only an occasional shell, sent as if by way of a reminder. In this way Eosieres has received two shells during the last three weeks, and these from a .77 German field-gun. No doubt here, as other points, the Germans are capable of trying "luring on" tactics, and and unduly rapid advance at one point might be crushed by sudden pressure applied upon both flanks, as was the case at Soissons. So long as the whole line is steadily creeping forward simultaneously we hare everj; reason for satisfaction and none for impatience.