GLIMPSES OF BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1918, Page 8

GLIMPSES OF BATTLE.

VIEW PROM A HILL-TOP. DEATH AND DESOLATION. . London, April IS. The battle now in progress is the most spectacular of the war. From a seat on a hill-top near Bailleul it is observable like a pantomime seen from a gallery. Miles upon miles from around tlie Passehendaelo salient, from which the British have voluntarily withdrawn, to far south-westward of Bailleul, the fighting is visible to the naked eyo, while with field-glasses infantry can he seen on the move. The view is unique. Tih'e former battles of Verdun, Champagne, Arras, Mes--1 sines, and. Camibrai were fought in hill country, and practically were not seen even by the generals. One can see today men going into action across the fertile Flemish farms. The unbroken panorama is like an unreul impression, suggesting a monster open-air spectacle commemorating an important centennial Mr. Hamilton Fvfe, correspondent of the Daily Mai], writes:—The weather is still most miserable. The men are fighting and sleeping in the open amid chilling fogs. Continuous raid has clogged the Ibattlefield with water. Bailleul is a Hazing mass, which is visible for milc-s, revealing the unfortunate inhabitants in flifflit, driving their ea/ttle and carrying their goods. The whole of the Britisfh front is being incessantly shelled, and the villages i n the rear are being pitilessly strafed. columns of flames and smoke spout up every minute. The fighting is taking place, over a wide stretch of prosperous farmlands, woll tilled, and covered with comfortable farmhouses set in blossoming orchards. Now silence, loneliness, dentlh, and desolation hold sway over .all The countryside ii given up to moving troops, and sometimes one passes a srroup of German prisoners. Tlicv look arrogant, and hurl contemptuous remarks, ns though convinced tiliat victory will go to Germany.