BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1634, 7 November 1916, Page 2

BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES.

A DESCRIPTION of the havoc wrought by battle was given by Karl von Weigand, correspondent of the New York World at German Corps Headquarters, in an article dated August 17th. The writer says: “A wide path of havoc, devastation, and desolation extends along behind the Soimne-Ancrc battle line, and many miles beyond. None of the tornado and cyclone wrecked towns I have seen in the Middle Western Slates presented such scenes of destruction. Rove is partially in ruins, though about 1,000 French still cling to their homes. Peronne is burning, being shelled daily. Bapaume is a picture of destruction. Some 400 of the population refused to leave, living like cavedwellers in cellars on the edge of the town. 1 walked through miles of trenches to-day around Helmut erne and Gommecourt. Nearing Gommeconrt, with Ucbuterne on our left, we came across soldiers ploughing the fields, and others gathering a

splendid crop of oats under cover of the fog, almost within rifle range of the British trendies. It; struck me as almost ludicrous, this ploughing and harvesting within sight of the British at Hebulerne, which they hold, were it not for the fog, within easy range of their guns. Only during the foggy hours of the mono ing and the nights are the horses which draw the cannon turned into peaceful plough animals. The moment the mist lifts the fields are lonely and deserted; the British make (hem too uncomfortable.”