Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-01

formed to make the passage of the
woods thorough in its search. When
the far edge Of the trees was gained
gentle slope rose before the vision.
And as the line emerged a crackle of
musketry rolled along the crest a few
hundred yards away and the skirmish
line wheeled back into the woods like
rabbits popping into 4 warren.
Messengers fed back through tho
forest. Within the woods the line halt
ed. dismounting to await orders. A
storm of bullets fickcd through the
branches overhead. and clipped leaves
huttered to the ground. The hiss of
bullets scorched the quiet woods. and
the hollow thump Of impact now and
then resulted in the collapse OF a troop
er. or frenzied horse. wounded.
screaming In his understanding.
pitched and plunged with the pain OF
soaring.
Before the messengers could reach
the stream the supporting squadrons
came boiling over the hill crest. Squad
ron after squadron darted down the
way. and, with whips cracking and
drivers guiding the stirred horses, the
flying horse artillery dashed to the top
of the rise and unlimbered in "A cloud Of
dust.
AS the guns began to speak, hurting
their shrapnel overhead, the cavalry
columns drew rein. dismounted. linked
horses leaving each set OF four in
charge of one man, and the troopers,
formed as infantry. pushed forward to
the firing. The machine gun troops
drew up alongside the led horses OK
the cavalry. and in a trice the gunners
whipped the slender automattcs from
their carriers. and, laden with boxes OF
ammunition belts. moved ahead with
the dismounted line.
In rear OF the edge of the WOOD the
line lay down. The whirl of shrapnet
overhead, from their own guns in tho
rear, told them that every effort was
being made to cover the pushing home
of their reconnaissance, and that IN a
few moments they must advance INTO
the open, free targets for the trenches
ahead.
AS though anticipating where the line
should be. the trenches began search
ing the line of the woodland with a
sting and song of projectiies. The ma
chine guns were pushed ahead. and
from the tanks of the deployed squad
rons opened their fire. Pop-pop-pop-
pop, like steam riveters playing high
upon some steel framework. they sang
their song. and in reply inimical auto
MATES took up the refrain.
The rifles blazed and the fire flick
cred rallied, rose and sank in obedi-
ence to orders: then the line sprang up
and surged forward, straight across the
open field. Shrapnel broke before 1t a; q
storm of lead swept into its face. and
the line halted behind the protecting edge
of a fence line and flung itself prone
while the rifles opened again.
From the edge of the woods another
single trumpet note streained out and
its command was taken up by scores OF
whistles. Recall had sounded and by
tyyos and threes the troopers retired in
. wha; order they could, alternate detach-
ments sustaining the fire while others
crept rearward Within the shelter Of
the woods, the troops were again formed.
Dead and wounded were abandoned on
the field, for there was no time to care
for them
The squadrous mounted UP and re-
traced their way to the crest of the hill
above the stream, leaving patrols to
cover the wood. which was too vast for
the enemy to have destroyed. The tele-
graph and telephone lines told their
stories to a distant headquarters and the
cavalry screen was checked at an APP
palling cost
But 1t was the price to the hundreds
OF thousands in rear OF them, for the
line of resistance Of the outposts of the
enemy's main body had been definitely
located and there was nothing for the
screen to do now except to maintain con-
tact and await the coming of the in
fantry.
Copyright 1914 by the Wheeler Syndicate. Incl