The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1914-10-09

our outlets 90 not tlna a ISAin AOA1
the enemy has disappeared; we ar
ter him. only to meet another ter
rife hail OF lead. Again We fall to
the ground for cover. and this time
I felt a hlow-a bullet had struck my
cooking utelsH. owe ms life 10
the quick fall tp the arona'l-for
another second and would moi have
risen again. Another bullet hit the
ground just beside me-but never
mind that Up and at them-at the
very hide OF the fellows.
@we soon reach our goal-a trench
on slight elevation to the left from
where a heavy fire has done much
damage In our lines. Many OF US
are down. and Others crawl to the
rear to get their wounds attended to.
Now, fire, The crest of the trench
becomes our target The rattle OF
musketry from both sides becomes
deafensng. one OF US win have to
give in. Fire. fire. We have learn
ed how to shoot straight-the fire
in the trenches weakens; the trench
itself is yeiled now by cloud OF
dust raised by our bullets-
Advance, comes tEa command
again. We all are impelled forward
By tne mad desire to get at them
One hundred meters separates us
from the enemy. Many sacrifices are
demanded in the final charge. Again
the enemy's fire weakens-then it al
most ceases.
Advance. shouts somebody. The
fellows must be driven out q the
trenches. Some of them already are
leaving, but our bullets lay them low
as they run. Another hak--another
advance. Only fifty meters to the
trench--barbed wire entanglements
block our progress.
"But the fellows in the trenches
have lost faith in themselves. They
desert their position in masses-run-
ming. scrambling, stumbling, falling
some in a manner that shows they
will never rise again. We forget TO
take cover. Standing We pour our
fire into the groups of fleeing men.
Good comrades fall-cry for help
bid you farewell with the last breath
Farewell good friends. We must adj
vance.
"soon we have disposed of this en-
emy, who has laid so low many Of
us. The barbed wire is hacked
through with our bayonets. We
reach the trench. 1t is filled with
wreathing, struggling bodies We
aimed we'll In the ditch lies a kali
eidoscopic mixture of bodies swathed
in blue and red-and pale ones from
which CLASSY eyes look into the azure
sky.
But on with the pursuit. Some OF !
of US remain behind to disarm
the wounded so that they cannot fire
in our backs. Many another sprawls,
falling on the soft forest floor.
''The height is taken. but the day
IS not yet done. Everywhere the
French have taken positions to
stem the tide of retreat. There is
vet many bloody encounter, but We
get the enemy out Of the forest and
,nce they reach the open our wait
ng artillery does the rest. Our
hare OF the work is done, the grue-
ONE forest and its experience are
'urs.
Most of us had lost their com
ades in the mad rush through the
rees and brushwood. Indescribable
Tere the scenes which followed when \
re found one another still alive.
80 we take a rest, and while do
lg fhis listen to the humming and
'histling OF our shells as they go 4
yer us on their way to a village in
hich the French have sought refuge.
Don the buildings are aflame and
le French again on their way.
You have done WELL said our
'rps commander With you fellows /
4 fetch the devil out of hell.'' III