The Irish standard., 1915-07-17
CHAPTER VII.
Blood and Iron,


Blood and Iron.
The whole Of that morning we had
been marching in the eye of the sun
without coming across a drop of wa
ter, for the country was not we'll wa.
tered, and there had been no rain for
weeks. Our tongues we're parched;
our threats were burning. When
about midday we passed through a
farmyard, where we found a last re.
naming drop of dirty liquid, 1t seemed
as If the water evaporated on the
tongue before 1t ever reached our
threats. Then we had been marched
on interminably, so that it was almost
with a sense Of relief that we heard
the first sound Of the guns rolling up
to meet US.
The firing grew hotter, and we soon
left the main road and turned down
lane. We were pushed on at
smart pace. Our faces were glowing
from thirst and heat. The column was
enveloped in thick cloud of dust.
The taste Of dust instead of water was
on our tongues. The dust was lying
thick as layer Of -four on our cheeks.
And We hurried on without a word.
A quickest hedge barred the view on
either side. Nothing but heavy foot
falls, walking packs, black, Gathering
pannikins, rifles at the slope-hustle
and dust. Then some one
blundered over stone in his way, and
looked as If he were going to fall into
the back Of the m N in front of him
(. but no shout Of laughter greets
tive are pushing on almost at the
double-at times, when a gap in the
hedge slips past, we can catch
glimpses of the line Of skirmishers
advancing over open country-now at
length comes a check, Halt!
Order arms! =. +. and I am scram.
bling through a gap in the hedge on
to the open fields open order
at five PAGES distance. The
long-drawn line Of skirmishers ad-
vances, rifles at the ready IN
front of us nothing but green fields in
sight. In the heart of them CLEANS
the crude yellow Of field of mustard.
Ahead of us, just opposite our front,
q dark wood not trace OF
the enemy in sight. On our right
they have already pushed on the ad.
vance line. On our left the Skin.
mishers are just breaking through the
hedge and opening out to extend our
line Of attack.
The heavy noise in the air is in
cessant.
I can't see where they are firing,
and can't see what they are firing at.
The air is heavy with iron thunder.
It closes like ring round my chest.
] am distinctly conscious that my
chest is reverberating like a tense
sounding-board-
What on earth Is that?
A sound like the cracking Of whips
from somewhere or other the
sound is so sharp. so distant, so inter-
mittent, as If 1t were coming from the
rihe-range.
Then-by my side man falls down,
falls on his rifle. and lies still, never
stirs again 81. shot through the
head, clean through the brain -. {.
that's what the cracking of whips
means; it's coming from over there,
out Of the wood. Somewhere over
there the enemy's sharpshooters are
lying and lining its edge and opening
fire on us.
: What's the next thing?
Lie down-mark distance-cover!
But no order comes. We push on
toward the wood undeterred. as II
these bullets did not concern us in
any way. The sharpshooters' fire IL
not hot enough as yet; we have not,
10 far, got into sufficiently close touch
with the enemy.
1t is an uncomfortable sensation to
feel that over there muzzles are point
ing straight at us. We are advancing
almost as hurriedly and clumsily a.
rockies at their first field day.
AS 1 move forward, turn my head
and look back. Behind me see new
lines Of skirmishers advancing one be-
hind the other-supports to be pushed
forward later.
What is that crawling along the
ground behind our line? There
10 one here, another over there-it
looks SO novel and 30 odd. They are
crawling back out Of the firing-line.
And see how one Of them suddenly
tries to rise, clutches his rife with
both hands, and hauls himself to his
feet BY his gun. And now he 10
spreading his arms out, tumbling over
backwards. and hinsins his hands