“Suddenly the air was filled with shrill whistling, as shells of the seventy-fives were hurled against the attackers.  Thanks to the devoted sentinels dying at their posts in the sea of fire, the range was exact, and the exploding melinite shattered the charging columns.

“An appalling scene followed.  The shells had burst or overthrown the fire containers and the Germans were seen, running wildly amid the flames which overwhelmed hundreds of wounded and disabled.

FRENCH TROOPS CHARGE.

“In this scene of confusion the French charged with bayonet, despite the furnace heat and fumes produced by the red-hot containers flying in all directions.  The enemy offered little resistance.  It was like a slaughter of frenzied animals.

“The French mitrailleuse corps pressed close on their comrades’ heels, placing weapons at vantage points that had escaped the fire and showering a leaden hail upon the main body of Germans retreating up Corbeaux Hill.

“Hundreds fought in a terror-stricken mob to hide in a hole that might have sheltered a score.  Those beneath were stifled.  Those above threw themselves screaming into the air as the bullets pierced them or fell dead in a wild dash toward a safer refuge.  Flushed with success, the French charged again right to the entrance of the wood, and the slaughter recommenced.

“Five of the heroic sentinels, wonderful to say, returned with the French wave that ebbed when victory was won for that day.”

CONDITIONS AT VERDUN ON APRIL 20.

Several determined attacks were delivered by the Germans on the French lines at Verdun between April 15 and 20, enormous masses of men, sometimes as many as 100,000, being hurled against points in the northeast sector of the battle front.  But the French defense held firm, although some trenches were lost and a considerable number of French prisoners were taken.  Up to this time the total number of prisoners taken by the Germans at Verdun, from the beginning of the offensive, February 21, was claimed to be 711 officers and 38,155 men.

Such were the conditions before Verdun on April 20, when, with spring well under way on the Western battle fronts, there was daily expectation of a vigorous drive by the Allies against the German lines between Verdun and the sea.  While both sides expressed confidence in the outcome of the war, no man could foretell with any degree of certainty what the final result of the great struggle would be.

ZEPPELIN RAIDS ON ENGLAND.

During the month of March and early in April a number of Zeppelin raids upon various parts of England did more or less damage, though none of an important military character.  The east coast of Scotland also suffered from a Zeppelin visit in April.