Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0133Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a field with trenches dug in, there are a number of soldiers in the trenches, a large white cloud is seen in the distance. Above the image "W108 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V18879 "On all sides round a great runace flamed" - German Attack, NOrth Compiegne, France." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V18879
FRENCH TRENCHES, NORTH COMPIEGNE, FRANCE
The men in the trenches before us are waiting the signal to go "over the top" in attack. The barrage which precedes the attack has already reduced the trees in the distanc to mere splintd trunks. It moves onward yard by yard very much as a fire sweeps the plain, covering every foot of the ground with rain of death. Bursting shells drive the enemy from his trenches in to the dugouts, huge shells sometiems demolishing the latter and smothering the men who sought refuge in them.
The signal for these men to attack will be given when the barrage has passed over the enemy trench and before its defenders can swarm out from their dugouts to defend them. It is of the utmost importance to get proper co-ordiantion between the infantry attack and the barrage; if the men attack too soon they will be killed by the bursting shells of their own barrage if they wait too long, the enemy will have had time to come out from their dugouts, line the trenches, and mow down the attackers with bomb and bullet.
Hundreds and hundreds of miles of trenches like these were dug across Northern France. Parallel lines of them extended from Switzerland to the North Sea. And back of them in many places lay other parallel lines of supporting trenches. From the fall of 1914 to the fall of 1918 millions of men occupied these trenches, relieving each other in relays, repulsing raiding parties, goining "over the top" at zero hour in the morning, or ceaselessly alert, guarding the lines from capture.
The trenches were zigzagged in order to minimize the loss when under bombardment: if dug in a straight line a bursting shell would fly a long distnace, killing or wounding many men, whereas in these its range of action was restrited.
COpyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection