South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-20

il so happened that an uncanny
whirr fell on our ears from out the
distance. That was death flying to-
ward us on propellers. The spectres
Of the night whirred above US We
shot blindly into the air-for every
moment the storm was bound 10
break over US Torpedo tubes
above us they'll squirt I'm a min
ute they're going to fling down
dynamite and then the magne-
SUM bombs blazed ont cries and
crashes rose wherever we looked
then they are gone again .
but we had to retire from our
trenches . senselessly. like auto
mata. we marched for the whole of
that day. felt the goose-fesh
creeping over my skin my nerves
ached, and if the bayonet were not at
the small of my back I should chuck
my rifle away. and roll sprawling in
the damp sand.
And yet four days afterward they
have contrived To get us to make a
stand again. For in our rear, on the
ments have crossed, and are cropping
for new positions. But we have to
cover their passage at any cost.
reserve We were still standing with
our spades in our hands, and throw
ing. with aching backs and arms,
more soil on the works, when in front
of us we saw figures passing up and
down on the grey, twilight field. They
were grubbing the soil up busily. and
ere putting something we could not
see into holes, and covering it in
again.
The. newt obo,,+ +tof, ,,-or1- ,,oica
lessly-no incautiOus step and no un-
guarded mOvement-and when they
came back again and passed us, and
marched on. their faces were livid
and their lips dumb. They proved
themselves to be first class mOles.
They had done good bit of work.
They had undermined the earth.
They had stuffed the ground with eX-
plosives. and if the enemy comes to-
night we shall repay the gifts they
lavished upon US from the sky the
other day with interest. They have
arranged it all like a rat-trap.
over there, beyond the mined field
even, two companies are lying in .eX
tended order. And midway between
them without a vestige of cover,
stands our battery on the open field.
1t is planted there as if it were DOOM
ed TO be delivered into the enemy's
hands.
And now we are lying in our long
trenches and are peering out into the
field. with our eyes glued to the
sharply outlined silhouettes of the
guns The sun has set some time ago.
From the far distance the thin rat
tie of musketry reaches us clearly.
Wonder if it'll last much longer?
Our orders are to remain under
arms
We have put on our overcoatS. The
night is chilly, and lowering. ' gaze
out over the field of death-nOthing
makes any difference to me now-if
only it were over quickly
A scout has come in, and delivers
his report in a whisper.
Our instructions are not to fire be
fore the order to fire is given, and
then to fire into the air.
In the background, far on the hOri-
zon, the ground rises and the gray
skyline stands out against the cloudy
sky The musketry fire has become
hotter from minute to minute, and
has increased to a thre2 tening rattle.
To the right and left of us fighting is
in full swing. In front of us the
mined field lies silent and the two
companies, too, are lying silent in
their rifle-pits.
Copyright, 1913. by the Frederic A.
Stokes Coz
(TO BE CONTINUED.)