A Deluge of Shells

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 June 1915, Page 3

A Deluge of Shells

20..000 FIUED IN NINETY MINUTES

• A French official report, describing | operations ■by iwhich the wood ot Ailly j near St Mihiol, was captured and hekt, states that the attack Ibegan on April 3 j with concentrated lire from the French j artillery, culminating in the explosion of a chain of mines. This was the signal for attack and the trenches were cleared by a bayonet charge in three successive waves following on a rush by bomb throwers. The attack did not stop, but went on past the fort, and Hie engineers, who Hollowed consolidated the captured ground. < The real couuter-afrtaclis .began on April '8. There were eight of them, dhring frantic efforts to recover the position. The report says of one it them: "hi an hour and a-half some '20,000 .shells were hurled on the spur ot the Bois d'Ailly and our trenches along a front of 400 meters. Shells of every calibre, but above all, of heavy artillery, .105. .130, .150, .210. It was one continuous crash of thunder; the whole hill disappeared behind a cliuul ot smoke, and communications were cut off until 7 p.m. ißeneath this rain of shell the .French troops remained unshaken, and, since ] April 13, the Germans have ceased j attacking, apparently convinced that j there is uo hope of recovering the position.