When, after the first Battle of the Marne, the front advanced
northwards, the Germans tried on several occasions to break through the
French lines before Albert.
[Illustration: Passing through Albert]
[Illustration: PANORAMIC VIEW OF ALBERT, AS SEE ON ENTERING THE TOWN.
_(See sketch, p. 32.)_]
Fierce fighting took place in the immediate vicinity of the town at
the end of September, 1914, especially on the 29th, and in October and
November. The Germans were repulsed with heavy losses, but succeeded in
entrenching themselves strongly quite close to the city, and barred the
Albert-Bapaume road (N. 29) to the north-east, in front of La Boisselle
and the Albert-Péronne road, in front of Fricourt.
The shelling of the town began on September 29, 1914, and continued
unceasingly until it had been annihilated. The numerous iron and steel
works, mechanical workshops, sugar factories and brick-kilns, which had
contributed to the prosperity of the town, were specially singled out
by the enemy artillery. No public building, not excepting the civilian
hospital, was spared. In spite of the Red Cross flag which floated over
the hospital, the Germans, with the help of an aeroplane, directed a
violent artillery fire upon it on March 21, 1915, killing five aged
inmates and wounding several others, as well as the Superior.
In October, 1916, Albert was at last out of range of the German guns.
But in 1918 the British were unable to withstand the overwhelming
German thrust, except on the west of the town, and the latter fell into
the hands of the enemy on March 26, after desperate fighting. Albert
remained in the first enemy lines until August 22, when the British
counter-offensive, which was destined to clear the whole district--this
time definitely--was launched. The British entered the town in the
early morning of August 22.
[Illustration: ALBERT CHURCH IN APRIL, 1917.]