The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1915-02-26
CHAPTE xt.
At the Galiand House.

captain of engineers forgot Marta ) eN
istence as an error OF his subordnates
caught his eye, and he went to caution
the aXmen TO cut closer TO the ground
as stumps gave cover for rifemen Fol
the time being he had no more Interest
In the knoll than in the wreckage OF
the dirlgibles which were down and
out of the fight
After all. the knoll was only single
point on the vast STAFF map-only one
or many points OF a struggle whose
progress was bulletined through the
siftings OF regimental, brigade. divi
sion aud corps headquarters in net re-
suits to the staff Partow and Ian
strOn overlooked all Their knowledge
made the vast map live under their
| eyes. But our concern Is with the
story OF two regiments. and part icu
larly Of tive companies, and that il
story enough II YOU would grasp the
whole, multiply the conflict on the
knoll by ten thousand
There had been the engrossment
OF transcendent emotion in repellins
the charge. What followed was like
some grim and passionless trance with
triggers ticking off the slOw-pas
minutes. Dellarme aimed TO keep
down the fusillade from Fracasse S
trench and yet not TO neglect the fair
targets Of the reserves advancing by
rushes TO the support of the l2Sth
Reinforced, the gray streak at the bot
tom OF the slope poured in a heayie,
fire. Above the steady crackle Of bul-
lets sent and the whistle of bullets re-
ceived rose the cry OF Doctor. Doc
tor which meant each time that an
other Brown rife had been silenced
The litter bearers. hard pressed TO re
move the wounded, left the dead. Al
| ready death was a familiar sight-an
article OF exchange in which Del
/ larme's men dealt freely. The man
at Stranskys side had been killed out
| right. lie lay face down on his rife
stock. His cap had fallen Off Slran-
sky put 1t back on the mans head.
and the example was followed in other
|
a show Of full line OF caps to the
enemy.
Suddenly. AZ by command, the fire
from the base OF the knoll ceased alto
| gether Del!arme understood at once
what this meant-the next step in the
course Of systematic, irresistible ap-
proach by superior numbers. 1t was
| to allow the ground scouts TO advance.
Individual gray spots detaching them
selves from the gray streak began to
crawl upward in search OF dead spaces
where the contour Of the ground would
furnish some protection from the
| blaze OF bullets from the crest
Over their heads. Don't try TO hit
them" Dellarme passed the word.
That's it, Spare one to get a
| dozen.' said Stransky. grinning in
ready comprehension He seemed to
| be grnning every time that Delarme
| looked in that direction. He was
| plainly enjoying himself His restless
nature had found sport to its taste
The creeping scouts must have sig
nailed back good news, for groups be-
gan crawling slowly after them
over their heads, Encourage them."
| Dellarme commanded.
After they had advanced two or
three hundred yards they stopped,
| shoulders and hands exposed in silhou-
cite, and began to work reverishly
| with their spades
| oh beautiful" cried Stransky.
| THAT baby captain OF ours has some
brains, after all! Well get them now
and we'll get them when they run"
| But they did not run. Unfalteringly
| they took their punishment while they
turned over the protecting sod in the
midst Of their own dead and wounde
In a few minutes they had dropped
spades for rifles, and other sections
either crawled or ran forward pre-
| cipitately and fell TO the task OF j. in
| ing the isolated beginnings into a
single trench.
| Again Dellarme looked toward rsgi-
mental headquarters. his fixed, CHEEKY
smile not wholly masking the appeal
in his eyes. The Grays had only two
or three hundred yards TO 20 Wien
| they should make their next charge In
order to reach the crest. But his men
had fifteen hundred to go in the val.
| ley before they were out OF range.
After their brave resistance facing he
enemy they would receive a hail OF
bullets in their backs This was the
time to withdraw if there were 10 be
assurance Of a safe retreat But there
was no signal Until there was, he
must remain.
The trench grew; the day wore on.
Two rifles to one were now playing
against his devoted company, which
had had neither food nor drink since
early morning. AS he scanned his
thinning line lie saw a look OF blood
lessness and hopelessness gathering
on the set faces OF which he had grown
so fond during this ordeal. Some OF
the men were crouchins too much for
effective aim.
See that you fire low! Keep your
heads up" he called. For YOUR
homes, your country and your God.
Pass the word along.'