The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-10-22

VIC oesah another advance and
a'tack on the enemy's positions. We
are still in the forest and so far az
Gan Judge from the map there are sew |
eiai kiiometers Of it yet, part brush.
part high growth.
I This is dangerous territory for no
because the alternating strips of high
trees and new wood make IL easv for
our opponents to get the best of MS.
me greatest caution is necessary and
our ADVANCE is matter of taking one
loot OF ground after another. We lust
advance 200 meters and then down
lot cover. Bullets begin to chirp
through the afr. But of the enemy
nothing is seen.
"hen the trees are big enough
fairly good cover is offered by them.
Directly the fire opens the battle line
halts and falls fiat to the ground, every
man waiting and looking for target
mere Is no shooting done here with
the German rifles except one has some
body on the sight. But often there is
nothing to be done but to advance
again, and to brighten the fellows with
our 'hurrahs.' Along the lines travel
stentorian Fix Bayonets, then comes
the command, 'March-March and the
line springs to it's feet, punges for
ward and nerve-raking 'hurrah'
smashes thrugh the woods. The
enemy's fire begins veritable hail of
lead. Some fall, but onward crashes
the German line.
AS soon as we reach the position
OF the enemy his fire ceases and all
take to flight. Our bullets follow them
and then many 'Red-pant' lies on the
floor of the forest. But our bullets do
not find mark long-the enemy has
disappeared; we after him, only to
meet another terrific hail of lead.
Again we fall to the ground for cover.
and this time | felt blow-a' bullet
had struck my cooking utensil. | owe
my life to the quick fall to the ground
for another second and would have
never hisen again. Another bullet hits
the ground just beside me-but never
mind that. Up and at them-at the
very hide of the fellows.
I'VE soon reach our goal-a trench
of slight elevation to the left from
where the 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 deafening.
One of us will have to give in. Fire,
fire. We have learned how to shoot
straight-the fire in the trench weak.
ems; the trench itself is yelled now
by cloud of dust raised by our bullets.
Advance, comes the command
again, We all are impelled forward by
the mad desire to get at them. One
hundred meters separate us from the
enemy. Many sacrifices are demand
ed in the final charge. Again the
enemy's fire weakens-then it almost
ceases.
Advance shouts somebody. The
, fellows must be driven out of the
trenches. Some or them already are
leaving, but our bullets lay them low
as they run. Another halt-another
advance. Only fifty meters to the
trench-barbed wire entanglements
block our progress.
But the fellows in the trenches have
lost their faith in themselves. They
desert their position in masses-run
ming, scrambling, stumbling, falling
some in 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 com
rades fall-cry for help-bid you fare
well with the last breath. Farewell
good friends, we must advance.
Soon we have disposed of this
enemy, who has laid low so many o
us. The barbed wire is hacked through
with our bayonets. We reach thu
trench. 1t is filled with wreathine
struggling bodies. We aimed well. Il
the ditch lies a Kaleidoscope mixtur
of bodies swathed in blue and red
and pale ones from which CLASSY eye
look into the azure sky.
"But on with the pursuit. Some o
us remain behind to disarm the wound
ed so that they cannot fire in on
backs. Many another sprawls fallin
on the soft forest floor.
1.-THE height is taken, but the day !
not yet done. Everywhere the Frenc
have taken prisoners to stem the It'd
of retreat. There is yet many blood
Iancouuter. hut we get the enemy GU