South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-01


once IN the shelter Of the trenches we
could not be driven out by fire from
the Spanish redoubt-
Several Cuban officers. hearing Of
our proposal. volunteered TO assist in
leading the attack At one time the
general came near yielding, but final
ly came out with an abrupt no"
telling us that we were madmen.
General Rosa was in direct com
mand OF the 1orce of infantry and
disrn Ounted cavalry surrounding the
town, and had worked some OF MS
men nearer and nearer to the tavern
position by taking advantage of in
equalities Of the ground.
He reported TO Gen. Gomez that by
taking advantage OF the cover afford
ed by a ravine we could obtain a po-
sition within two hundred yards OF
the tavern, where we would be in full
view OF the trenches and could un-
dOubtedIy destroy them.
He was forced to construct the
necessary parapet that night. Before
daylight a detail dragged the much
abused Hotchkiss quietly into the ra-
vine and along ii until we were d.
reCtly opposite the new position
when II was hoisted out, the un-
avOidable noise drawing a fire that
killed one man.
We waited until IL was thoroughly
with the en- my. With the breaking
OF day the Spaniards made out the
exact location of the new parapet
and opened on us holly. but without
result. as we were I'm the ravine a few
yards to the rear Of the gun, where
also was a strong infantry support
under General Rosa
When il was thoroughly light we
Crawled out OF the ravine on allfours
and sent in a shell that landed
sQuarelv on the low line of earth
filled bags that capped the low para
pet OF the Spanish trench, exploding
with a bang that sounded almost as
loud TO us as the report OF the piece
itself.
Jones. at the two-pounder. was
awaiting the cue. and almost imme-
diately we heard its sharp crack. and
a shell whistled past us.
We had fastened a rope to the
trail OF our gun. and Immediately
dragged 10 behind shelter 10 be re-
loaded. Again II was pushed up 10
the gap and fred. The Spaniards
we're replying furiously. and the
worst OF II was that their bullets
were all coming close down to the
ground. and were aimed at the gap
ing pOrt-hOle which they could so
plainly see.
IT has fallen to me to participate
in a good many fights in cuba and
the Philippines. but never anywhere
have I seen the equal Of what was
poured into us during the hour that
we held this position. The air was
fairly alive with the sound Of bullets:
and their patter against the side OF
the parapet was so inCessant that il
would have been impossible to count
them The bark on nearby trees was
cut TO ribbons and bushes on our
front were destroyed.
After a few shots from our gun.
the head cover connecting the tops
81 the two wings Of the parapet was
blown 20 pieces. Under such Circum-
stances. aiming the gun the only part
OF its service which was required 70
he done while IL was exposed. was
enough 20 try the nerves Of any but a
wooden man. Fortunately this was
the work or hut couple Of seconds.
the target being SO plain and SO close
az hand.
was aiming the 18th shell when
bullet struck one OF the trunnions
almost at my nose. Nv nerves had
been getting pretty shakv from sew
eraI narrow escapes in sighting pre-
cedinr shots. and 7 must confess that
threw myself fat ON the ground
and rolled 20 cover.
joyce jumped over me. quickly
sighted the piece. and sprang from
the gun Tie imperturhahle Pennie
living on t5e ground and smoking a
Cigaret ferked the lanyard and fired
the last shot from this terrible death
tran.
This settled &c and Ger. Rosa or
aered rs 10 take cover in the raVine
abandoning the Gun FOR the time be.
ing Now that they had put the gur
out Of action the SnaniardS concen
trated their fire on the Cuban infan
try and inflicted several casualties.
T. was necessary 10 recover the gun