DEVILISH PRECISION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 7

DEVILISH PRECISION.

BRITISH ARTILLERY FIRE. DELUGE OF SHELLS. Auttr ilian and S.Z. Cablt Association. LONDON, October 4. The "D;iily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent slates that a German noncommissioned oflicer, who was taken prisoner at Combles, relates that his battalion's losses were very heavy before reaching Combles, as the only road to it was swept by shells. Once they were inside the fortress they were reassured. It seemed to be absolutely impregnable. The subterranean defences included circular chambers, capable of holding 200 men. The subterranean passages, however, had only two exits, and the, British artillery, with devilish precision, shelled the exits. "We were practically buried alive. For two days the deluge of projectiles continued. Nothing can describe it. The earth trembled. Our men fell into a fearful state of nervous excitement. Half of them were unable to do anything but weep. A few tried to escape and were never seen again. Our officers affected to be calm, but were more terrified at heart than we were. Soon provisions ceased to arrive. For two days more the awful bombardment continued above us. Everything was ablaze. Our hut was suffocating. Ten of my comrades were already dead from nervous shock. "Then the assault came. We defended ourselves to the vml, but we could not withstand the British fury. We were crushed in bloody hand-to-hand fighting and surrendered.''