The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-10-09


our bullets do not find mark long
the enemy has Disappeared. we
after him, only TO meet another ter
rife hail OF lead. Again we fall to
the ground for cover, and this time
] felt a blow-a bullet had struck
nv cooking utensil. | owe my lie
TO the quick fall to the ground-for
another second and ] would have
never risen again. Another bullet
hits 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
OF a slight elevation to the left from
where a heavy Are has done much
damage In our line. Many OF US are
down. and others crawl to the rear
10 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
Row to shoot straight-the fire in
the trench weakens; the trench It.
self 10 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
demanded in the final charge. Again
the enemys fire weakens-then II
almost ceases.
Advance shouts somebody. The
fellows must be driven out OF. the
trenches. Some OF 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 faith in themselves. They
desert their position In masses
running. scrambling. stumbling. fall
ing-some In a manner that shows
they will never rise again. We for
get TO take cover. Standing. we
pour our fire into the groups of fee
ing men. Good comrades fall-cry for
help-bd you farewell with the last
breath. Farewell good friends. we
must advance
rave OtSpOseO OF Enemy.
Soon we have disposed OF this
enemy, who has laid so low many
Of us The barbed wire is hacked
through with our bayonets. We
reach the trench. II is filed with
writhing. struggling bodies. We
aimed we'll In the ditch lies a
kaleidoscope 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 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 prisoners to stem
the tide Of retreat. There Is yet
many a bloody encounter. but we
get the enemy out of the forest, and
once they reach the open our wait
ing artillery does the rest Our
share Of the work is done, the grue-
some forest and its experience are
ours.
Mos Of us htad lost our CON-
rades in the mad rush through the
AID brushwood. Indescribable
20 I've scenes which followed
p en- we found one another still
we
% we take rest, and while do
this listen TO the humming and
's'''rg of our shells as they go
=. on their way to a village in
witch the French have sought ref.
u-e Soon the buildings are afame
VI the french again on their way.
vow have done WELL said our
I'VE commander. With you fell
lows Id fetch the devil out OF hell"