A LUCKY SHOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3169, 21 August 1917, Page 5

A LUCKY SHOT

INCIDENT ON THE FRENCH FRONT IN IN CHAMPAGNE HOW A BIG GUN "OPENED THE DOOR" Tho most remarkable feat of marksmanship—either scientific or luoky—of tho ontiro war occurrod on May 20 during the artillery preparation that preceded tho Irench final conquest of Mount Cornilleto and Mounts Tetoii andSesquo (writes Mr. Henry Wood, tho British correspondent with tho French armies in Champagne). A French gan crow, manning one of tho now 400-millimetre i'Toncli guns, and firing at a distance of not less, than ten miles, placed one of their giaut projectiles, much larger than a human being and weighing over half a . ton . square in tho ventilating shaft of the German tunnel under Mount Cormllete. This ono shot can actually bo said to have made possible the French victory of tho same day in which tho final conquest was niado of the .northern elopes of tho Moronvillors crest from Cornilloto to Mount Teton. The supremo importanco of this conemest is indicated by tho fact that in the following ten days the Germans launched no fewer than sixteen counter-attacks in their efforts to regain the position, sacrificing uselessly, thousands ot thoir best troops Tho tunnel under Mount Cornilloto was ono of tho veritablo masterpieces of defensive organisation which tho Germans havo perfected in the hopes of Maintaining an unbreakable hold on French soil. Mount Cornillete itself, on which the Germans had no fewer than a dozeu observatories, dominates the Champagne plains between the Moronvillers crest and the forts at Berru. Tho system of tunnels underneath, in which reserves cculd bo kept safe frejn all bombardment, was calculated to render tho mount absolutely tintakeablo and to ensure permanently the Germans' strangle-hold on Champagne. The tunnel consisted oi three galleries, irhich were united in the centre by a cross corridor. Several ventilating ehafts extended uipward to the lop of the mountain, and ventilation was assured by handworked ventilators. Each of the three galleries was uipablo of holding a battalion of troops with six days' 'provisions and large depots of reserve munitions. This constituted the regular garrison. It was this tunnel tliat on April 17, in the original I'icnch attack along fhe Moronvillers front checked the French on the extremo left.

A Sudden Dash. As the victorious "pqilus" swept up the Cornillete Crest, driving everything before tkein, these three battalions of reserves, fresh and fully protected in the tunnel from the French artillery- preparation, suddenly dashed, out and i'elivcred a counter-attack that quite naturally cheeked tho French foot soldiers, already exhausted from a long victorious attack aud advance. 'Hie latter dug in, however, before the mouth of tho tunnel, and were able to hold out till May i. The Germans in tho meantime having brought up fresh troops from the rearward through tho tunnel and repaired their positions n't the exit of tho tunnel, wore able finally to force the Trench to fall Lack. It was not till over two weeks later that the French again undertook tho capture of tho mount. Everything depended upon either tho capUuo or tho destruction of the tunnel, and for this some of the heaviest French artillery wa3 brought into play. During the artillery preparation of May 13 gas shells were rained into tho mouth of the tunnel until it was practically certain that the garrison had been driven out or killed.

Vigilant 'Planes. Tbo aeroplanes, however, were u liable ti report any indication of serious damage, with tho exception of the entrance,' which, however, in view of tho experience of the first attack, could hardly be counted on as insuring the destruction of the tunnel. Tho ■bombardment continued with all its intensity, and with an ever-increasing accuracy, as every shot was controlled by aerial observation until suddenly, during tho forenoon of tho 20tli, just a few hours before the infantry scheduled to dash to the assault, tho big dOO-niillimetro shell struck squarely in ho principal ventilator shaft. No doubt remained in, the minds of tho French commanders of the efficacy of this shot, and they ordered their troops to the assau't with a light and confident heart. But it was only after the mountain, with its tunnel, wns taken, tho full effects of the shot could he established. Tho shell, penetrating tho airshaft, demolished tho transverse corridor, which connected up the three galleries. Half of the garrison was dead, and tho entrance so filled up that tho rest could not escape. Several hundred prisoners wero taken from the interior. A Gorman officer who had boon on the outside of the tunnel and who was taken prisoner, stated that when the French launched their attack ho was astonished not to see the German reserves dash out of tho tunnel to counterattack. He accordingly started to run to the rear to give tho alarm. As ho passed each airshaft he shouted down to (lie troops below, -without receiving a response. Hurrying on tho entrances, ho found ono completely stopped up and the otlier two filled Tvith dead bodies. There was no sign of life on tho part of tho garrison. Before ho could move another step tho French (lashed by and ho was caught.