Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-11-05

story Of two regiments. and particu-
larry Of two companies, and that is
story enough. If you would grasp the
whole. multiply the conflict on the
knoll by ten thousand
There had been the engrossment
Of transcendent emotion in repelling
the charge. What followed was like
some grim and passionless trance with
triggers ticking of the slow-passing
minutes Dellarme aimed to keep
down the fusillade from Fracasse's
trench and yet not to neglect the fair
targets Of the reserves advancing by
rushes to the support of the 12Sth.
Reinforced, the gray streak at the bot
tom of the slope poured in a heavier
fire. Above the steady crackle Of bull
lets sent and the whistle Of bullets re-
ceiyed rose the cry of Doctor Doc
tor! which meant each time that an
other Brown rife had been silenced.
The litter bearers, hard pressed to re-
AAAOfI Lie WO0AdCAg 4C1b IlAC 0Odd- Al
ready death was familiar sight-an
article of exchange in which Del
larme's men dealt freely. The man
at Stransky's side had been killed out,
right. He lay face down on his rife
stock. His cap had fallen of. Stran-
sky put it back on the mans head,
and the example was followed in other
cases. 1t was a good idea to keep up
| a show Of full line of caps to the
/ enemy.
Suddenly, as by command, the fire
from the base Of the knoll ceased alto
gether. Dellarme understood at once
what this meant-the next step in the
| course of a systematic, irresistible ap-
proach by superior numbers. 1t was
| to allow the ground scouts to advance.
| Individual gray spots detaching them
| selves from the gray streak began to
| crawl upward in search of dead spaces
| where the contour of the ground would
| furnish some protection from the
blaze of bullets from the crest.
over their heads! Don't try to hit
then!" Dellarme passed the word.
That's it! Spare one to get a
dozen!" said Stransky, grinning in
| ready comprehension. He seemed to
be grinning every time that DelIarme
| looked in that direction. He was
/ plainly enjoying himself. His restless
nature had found sport to it's taste
The creeping scouts must have sig
nailed back good news, for groups be
gan crawling slowly after them.
"Over their heads! Encourage them!'
DeIlarme commanded.
After they had advanced two OF
three hundred yards they stopped
shoulders and hands exposed in silhou
cite, and began to work feverishIy
with their spades.
"Oh, beautiful" cried Stransky
THAT baby captain of ours has some
brains, after all! Well get them now
and We'll get them when they run!"
But they did not run. Unfalteringly
| they took their punishment while they
turned over the protecting sod in the
midst of their own dead and wounded
In few minutes they had dropped
spades for rifles, and other sections
either crawled or ran forward pre-
cipitately and fell to the task of join
ing the isolated beginnings into &
single trench.
Again Dellarme looked toward regi
mental headquarters, his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appea
in his eyes. The Grays had only two
or three hundred yards to go wher
they should make their next charge in
order to reach the crest. But his men
had fifteen hundred to go in the val
| ley before they were out of range
After their brave resistance facing the
enemy they would receive a hail Of
| bullets in their backs. This was the
time to withdraw if there were to be
assurance of a safe retreat. But the
was no signal. Until there was. he
must remain.
The trench grew; the day wore on
Two rifles to one were now playing
against his devoted company, which
had had neither food nor drink since
early morning. AS he scanned his
thinning line he saw a look of blood
Iessness and hopelessness gathering
on the set faces of which he had grown
so fond during this ordeal Some OF
the men were crouching too much fol
effective aim.
See that you fire low! Keep youl
heads up!" he called. For your
homes, your country and your God!
Pass the word along!"
Parched throat after parched throat
repeated the message hoarsely anC
Ieaden shoulders raised a trifle anC
dust-matted eyelashes narrowed sharp
tly on the sights.
For the man in us!" growled Stran
sky. For the favor of nature at brit
that gave us the right to wear trou
sers instead of skirts! For the Joy
of hell, give them hell"
For our homes! For the man il
u.s." they repeated, swallowing the
words as if they had the taste of {
stimulant.
But Dellarme knew that it would
not take much to precipitate a break
He himself felt that he had been OF