“Apparently this fierce bombardment took the enemy entirely by surprise because our fire was so deadly and the extent so great that they could only make uncertain reply.  They seemed to be stupefied.

“For six hours this terrific bombardment continued.  It is estimated that each of the guns fired an average of three shots a minute and that 1,000,000 projectiles and charges of ammunition were used.

OVER THE TOP AT 5:30 A.M.

“As 5:30 approached the bombardment increased.  The machine guns joined in the chorus and a curtain of steel and fire was placed in front of our troops and rained upon the guns and cannon of the enemy.

“After a brief period of this fire our men started over the top, and as they did so they swept the enemy before them in their irresistible rush.  They advanced kilometer after kilometer.  They could not be resisted or stayed at any stage of the attack.

“Soon the prisoners commenced to come in, and they told of the terrific effect that the great bombardment had upon the Germans.  They said the bombardment was so terrible that it disrupted their plans so that they could not be carried out and that they could not resist the attack.

“Several times during the night I went out to witness the scene and as long as life lasts it will be remembered.

ON DEAD MAN’S HILL

“Once when two of our regiments came over a hill and saw the valley that lay before them being terrifically shelled by the cannon and assailed by hail from the machine guns, the whole column was seen to pause and a look of worry came over the faces of these men that for just an instant was pitiful.  They knew that ahead of them lay death for many and it is not strange that for several seconds the lines were held up, but then a look of fierce determination and of courage took the place of the former expression and with a great resolve and courage, dash, and daring, the lines shot forward at a redoubled step and the determination to do or die was manifested in every action.

“These machine guns were speedily put out of business, and then the attack would go on.  That portion of the lines that the division of which I am a member was given for the purpose of the attack, it was thought would take the entire day, but our division was on its objective by early afternoon and had commenced to dig in, from which position they could defy the Germans with impunity.

  “While the attack was going on I went up to Dead Man’s Hill. 
  This hill is the last word in the destructiveness of war.

“It is literally rent to atoms.  Dugouts have been blown to pieces.  Hundreds of thousands of men had been killed in the earlier battles before Verdun, and many of the bodies could not be reached for burial, the place was so torn up.”

OTHER PERSONAL GLIMPSES