Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-04-01

OuEAucCA0 WIN 1AHoAs6 WcF1 8LLuT'
ately mapping the ranges Of vantage
points across the stream.
Stephens regiment YVES encamped
on little plateau above q bend In
| the river.
To the east lay th;okly wooded
| neck OF land-~to the west the stream,
cut through hill. Across stretch
OF bottom land In front spread little
village near which had been the bridge
the troops had crossed. The bridge
was now mass of shapcless masonry
the engineers having blown II up al
soon as the last soldier was over.
The crossing Of the Marine nj that
| point would be no easy task. Even
Stephen could see that, and he han
kered more than ever to take part In
the fighting. But he knew his desire
was futile. Duty would send other
men to the firing line; duty would
force him to mix dough while they
battied.
At dawn the German guns opened
Are. grumbling like tired sleeper
awakened too early: then for the first
time In weeks OF active campaigning,
Stephen saw real battle begin. The
commissary wagons were back OF a
ridge hardly half mile behind the
line OF rifle pits. and from the top OF
the hill he could see the whole battle
field In the bend OF the river.
The infantry swarmed into the
trenches, each man working diligently
with his bayonst to "dig himself In
deeper, using pianks. branches OF
trees, or any other material at hand to
construct overhead coverings az pro
lection from shrapneI. A group OF
staff officers gailoped tho length of the
lines. then the English batteries went
into action. firing at regular intervals
/ as they tried out the range.
The cannonading swelIed TO q
steady pulsing roar That answered the
throb Of German howitzers masked In
the hills beyond the river and soon
the black squirt Of smoke from high
explosive shells mingled with the
white cotton balls OF bursting shrap-
mel
All morning Stephen watched the
Germans attempting to force their
way across the river.
He paused in his work to see an
English battery knock a pontoon
bridge to pieces, and marveled when
the Germans went doggedly to work
10 rebuild II. while their guns concen-
trated deadly fire on the pieces
which had caused the damage.
From both sides he heard the throb.
bling OF cannon and the smashing rife
volleys--like the sound OF hail on a
glass skyiight. For miles up and
down the river the battle was In prog.
ress. and at every point the German
onslaught was equally determined,
The pontoon bridge was completed
again. and ghost-gray thousands
poured over Il.
Cavalry battnlions swan their
horses across the stream. and under
the shelter Of the high hanks tho
kaiser's legions massed themselves
for an attack.
They waited while their artillery
drenched the English position with
shrapnel, then surged out from under
,over In gray hordes, and with 4 rip
like the tearing of tough cloth. the In
fantry cut loose. the racket swelled by
the wicked snarl Of nachine-gurs
which were spraying the advancing
lines with steel-jacketed bullets.
Into the little village, now deserted
by its Inhabitants. poured q German
column; and an the English shells
bumped down among the houses. thin
piumes OF smoke -Hhioh thickcneti
and grew blacker appeared at q
dozen points. hut the Germans did
not hesitate.
Through the burning town they
| swept. while other columns advanced
on each side. and across the river the
living stream still flowed.
In tho fields the solid masses spread
out fanwise and charged up the slope
toward the trenches. Now they were
at the foot OF the hill. and stephen
could no longer see the ones directly
In front Of where he stood: but on
each side he had good view OF their
onward rush. little flashes Of ligh,
glinting from bayonets fixcd for the
charge.
Machine-guns and rifles took heavy
toll.
The ground the Germans passed
over was carpeted with writing OF
motionless figures: but ever they
closed their ranks and went on, The
attack seemed irresistible mum
bers hardly diminished.
Halfway up the hill the Germans
/ faltered ms an enfilading battery
| plowed red burrows through their
| ranks, but II Was only for moment
then they pulled themselves togethe,
and surged upward At the edge oil
the hin Stephen saw the English clam
bering out OF the trenches aud heard
The final voileys thet withered tbs
charging host and. above the thudding
OF cannon and the splitting rattle Of
rifles, the deep shout OF the infantry
1 rs they met steel with steel.
| Back down the slope rolled the REQ
i line of battle!
stephen caught the imperative cal
OF husles commanding the English e