The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-30
By OSCAR cox

40 "a w 0nO" N00L y
favorite hour for surprise in war is
2 o'clock in the morning, when the
party to be attacked is wrapped In
slumber. Anticipating that the works
intrusted to his care might be stormed
ut that hour, he had arranged a method
by which such a terrific onslaught Of
shot and shell should be poured upon
an attacking force as to cause it to
recoil. thereby giving time for the gath
ering of its defenders, who would be
reused by the simultaneous firing of so
many guns.
Liege had been captured by the Ger
mans and they were sweeping through
Belgium. Colonel Du Pierris was very
nervous. He had his pickets out some
distance from the fort, but an enemy
stealthily advancing may seize a picket
before he can give. an alarm, and the
colonel was relying principally on his
firing device.
One night the colonel turned in so
ap%prehensive of attack that he did not
get to sleep till after midnight. Just
before dawn he was awakened by a
din that could have been caused only
by the firing Of many mo Start
ing up he hurried on his outer clothing.
and buckling on his sword ran out on
to the open space behind the guns.
ready to command in the defense. He
was met by hundreds Of his men, some
of whom were taking position at the
pieces. some were hurrying for am
munition. while others forming in
line behind the works.
The breeches of the outer tier of guns
that had been fired were opened and
shells put in some. solid shot in others.
AS to the inner guns. they were al
ready loaded. In a few minutes the
activity ceased. and all stood ready
for the coming fray. The colonel. sur
rounded by his staff. stood on one of
the parapets. peering down into the
darkness, endeavoring to catch sight
of the enemy.
The strain on the men waiting for an
attack is hard to bear. Once in the
fray action takes the place of sus-
pense. md the latent bulldog in a
mans nature enables him not only to
bear up, but often perform deeds that
are accounted heroism by others. = In
the present case this strain was pro-
longed. Ample time elapsed for the
garrison to take position. reload the
empty pieces and collect ammunition
where It was needed. And yet no enc
my appeared.
captain LIE Fevre." said the colonel.
''go down there and see what trickery
the enemy are up to or whether they
have been so discouraged at the re-
ception they have received that they
have withdrawn
The captain saluted, jumped down
from the parapet and disappeared in
the darkness. The minutes. which
seemed hours to the colonel. licked
slowly by. yet there was no sound
from beyond the works. Too impatient
to stand still. he walked back and
forth within q dozen PAGES. stopping
often to listen and expecting every
minute to be greeted by u shower of
missiles. "Lieutcnant Morant," he said
presently. .'go after Captain LIE Fevre
! and see what has become of him. He
may have been taken in by q lurking
enemy.
Down dropped Lieutenant Morant,
and he. too. disappeared in the dark
ness.
He had scarcely gone when Captain
LIE Fevre returned ont Of breath and
reported that he had SEM q skirmish
line out some distance and had not
| heard a shot. 1t was not possible that
an enemy could he near the fort.
A suspicion that there had been some
! mistake about tie firing Of the guns
entered the colonel's brain.
"How far has the skirmish line ad-
vapced?" he asked.
"Quite far enough to demonstrate
that no enemy could have been seen
| from our works." was the response.
where is Major M~olynouxY" asked
the colonel. Then. without waiting for
\ reply, he turned and stalked OF to.
ward the majors quarters.
He found that officer engaged In a
work that, considering the OCCASION
was trying to the colonel's temper.
The keeper Of the firing key was en-
Gagged in chasing q rat around the
apartment, striking at him with his
sword.
.hajorp Numbered the colonel.
.Colonel," responded the mattN paus.
Ing from the chase.
.vAVho Nred the gunsf'
sfAAt rat He jumped VI the electric
kny." .,.y5
fhe men were returaed to their slum-
nCrs. and in another ten minutes the
tort was again silent.
What passed further between the
colonel and the Anajor IL not known.
But certain Il ;hsthat Major Moiynoux
VS. relieved from the charge Of the
firing room. ana a rat trap was paaced
there near '!tes,t <ey: s