South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-05-30


It was plain. even 70 a layman in
the art Of war, that We had a big
job cut out for us. Ii would not be
difficult quickly 10 render the church
and the tavern untenable, but this
would result only in driving their de-
tenders 10 the trenches, where they
would be In but little danger from
shell FIRE.
Artillery positions were hard to
find. There was a low ridge 1900
yards to the eastward OF the redoubt,
and / favored this position, knowing
that from IL we could destroy the
churcd and tavern. Ii was believed
that with these buildings battered
down the infantry could rush the
trenches surrounding them. and then
might be able 10 work up closely
enough under cover Of the houses of
the town to stand some chance of
getting into the redOubt.
In the opinion OF General Vega. the
position preferred by me was entirely
too far from the two most vulnerable
defenses. which il was desired to at
tack first. We had crawled through
the grass to within 400 yards Of the
tavern, and at this point the general
selected the first position for the ar
tillery.
That night detail of men under
the engineer officer attached to head
trtnchera, a sort Of paTapet, at the
position selected for the artillery. As
we were 10 make use of this type of
defense on many occasions, this one
merits a brief description. Two rows
of stakes about six feet high and
three feet apart were driven into the
ground and the space between them
filled in with tightly tamped earth
which was held I'm place by poles and
fence rails laid one on top of the
other inside the two rows of stakes
as the earth was filed in A gap
about the size Of an ordinary door was
left for the gun 10 be fired through
There was thus protection for a few
OF the infantry support and for the
ammunition and the men handling il.
but those actually loading and aiming
the piece would be completely ex-
posed. We Americans watched the
work Cor a while and then walked
over 10 camp in no particularly
hilarious frame OF mind While a
detail OF Cubans had deem provided
20 attend the transportation of the
guns and their ammunition and do
other heavy work we were expected
10 do the actual loading. aiming. and
firing, and realized that we were up
against II good and hard
We lay down in our nammocks
but ! for one could not sleep a wink.
The two hours remaining until day
light dragged heavily. IL had been
resolved not 10 use the smaller gun
a 2-pounder Gomez had) at this
time. but the HOtchkiss 12-pounder
that had begun it's warlike career
over the Third av. saloon. was placed
IN position.
At last the suspense was over. the
darkness began 10 give way. I gave
the word. The veterans, Jones. joyce
and Pennie. rolled and lighted fresh
cigaretS WelsfOrd sought solace in
an unusually large bite from the
remnant or his last plug. Joyce
handed an ugly looking shell 10 Hunt
ington. who slipped il into the
breech as Potter opened the block.
Pennie took the lanyard. and I squat
ted behind the gun with one hand
on the elevatin sscrew and aimed at
that part OF the tavern Visi BILE. while
Jones. behind me, moved the trail 10
the left or right as 7 indicated.
In a few seconds I was satisfied
gave the screw a turn 10 lower the
muzzle and stepping from the piece.
climbed on top Of the parapet 10 the
windward Of the gun IL order 20 OBJ
served the shot yelled Fire" 20 Pen
ME. and the bali had begun
A fraction OF a second later 7 saw
a. burst OF flame and smoke from the
uper part OF the building and saw
the bricks come tumbling down. My
shot lad been bit higher than was
interded, but had done it's work.
As the gun had roared out and the
smoke was seen pouring from the
building. the Cuhans all about the
town raised great yell OF Cuba
librei" We rushed 90 the gun and
soon sent In another a center shot
that blew lot OF earth-dlled bags
20 smithereens and made a fine hole
We bad begun 10 wonder whether
there was 10 be a fight or not. as not
a shot had been fired in reply. but
now the storm broke. and q fine bliz-
yard 10 was. The air was suddenly
full Of those peculiar popping noises
that we were soon 20 know so we'll
leaves dropped from the trees. there
were odd movements in the grass. "a