Between these suburbs and the
concrete citadel were the coal pits, with their fathomless depths of
ages and the mysteries of kultural strategy. The struggle became a
succession of avalanches of gas, burning oil, rifle and machine-gun
fire. Both sides lost terrifically, but the Germans had held the town.
Now it was given up without a blow and its great coal fields were once
more in possession of the French. Before retreating the Germans showed
their usual destructive energy and the mines were found flooded as a
result of consistent and scientific use of dynamite.
The recapture of Lens was cheering news in Paris. Not the least of the
many sufferings of the French during the last two years of the war was
that which came from the scarcity of coal. Indeed, more than once during
those two winters coal could not be obtained at any price. These periods
unfortunately came in the latter part of the winter, and it happened
they were unusual periods of intense cold. Thousands of people stayed in
bed all day in order to keep warm. The capture of Lens, therefore, had
been anxiously desired. Nearly the whole of the French coal supply had
come from Lens and the adjacent Bethune coal fields. The Bethune field,
although steadily working, had never produced enough coal for even the
pressing necessities of the French munition works.
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