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

Asciy mAppIHK the ranges OF vantage
points across the stream
Stephens regiment was cncamped
on little plateau above . bend IN
the river.
TO the east lay th;cKly 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 shapeless masonry.
the engineers having blown II up as
soon as the last soldier was over.
The crossing OF the Marne at 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
battled. a....s
At dawn the German guns opened
fire, 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 q 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 planks. branches Of
trees, or any other material at hand to
construct overhead coverings az pro-
lection from shrapnel Al group Of
STAFF officers galioped the length Of the
lines, then the English batteries went
into action, firing at regular intervals
| as they tried out the range.
The cannonading swelled 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
to 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 q
glass skylIght. For miles up and
down tho 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 II.
Cavalry battalions swan their
horses across the stream. and under
the shelter OF the high banks 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
sover In gray hordes, and with 4 rip
like the tearing OF tough cloth. tho 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 a German
column; and m the English shells
dumped down among the houses, thin
plumes OF smoke which thickened
and grew blacker- appeared at 4
dozen points. But 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
Mt the foot OF the hill, and stephen
could no longer see the ones directly
In front OF where he stood: but on
each sldc he had good view OF their
onward rush. little flashes OF light
giinting from bayonets Axed for the
charge.
Machine-guns and rifles took heavy
toll.
The ground the Germans passed
over was carpeted with writing or
motionless figures; but ever they
closed their ranks and went on. The
attack seemed irrcsistible---their mum.
hers hardly diminished.
Halfway up the hill the Germans
| faltered az an eniilading battery
plowed red burrows through their
ranks. but II was only for moment;
then they pulled themselves together
and surged upward, At the edge OF
the hin stephen saw the English clam.
bering out of the trenches and heard
the final volleys thet withered the
charging host and. above the thudding
of cannon and the splitting rattle OF
| rifles. the deep shout OF the infantry
| as they met steel with steel.
Back down the slope rolled the red
, line OF battle.
stephen caught tho imperative call
of bugles commanding the English 70
| retire to the trenches aud watched the