Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-07-17

tne uly got IOSL IN DOyaut OF
communicating trench, and came
near not being here. l had been sent
back to the third line to bring food.
and The first thing knew l found my
self in the open country Immediate
ly shells began to burst about me.
Now, when l was first drilled. l was
instructed that the important thing
about screening oneself was to be
able to take advantage of any acct
dental shelter afforded By a rock. 1t
seems incredible. but a stone six times
as big as ones fist will absolutely hide
your body II you lie behind 1t, and at
300 meters an observer cannot detect
you. / threw myself fiat and began to
cast about for u stone that large. 1t
was remarkable how few rocks were
on the surface at that point Finally
discovered one and dragged myself
behind it.
Safe Behind a Stone.
Il cannot tell you how long / lay
there, but when l discovered l was
still alive began to drag myself away
by the elbows. and finally found my
self In a trench again. My comrades
did not recognize me. Exhaustion and
rheumatism. the latter acquired
through lying there wallowing my way
back In the mud. invaded me back to
the depot for a fortnight's rest.
Then they gave me a Job as dis
tributor of munitions, food. clothing
and other things meant for the men in
the front line. These things were UNI
loaded at a certain distance back. In
that capacity l went to the Argonne.
and was at the battle OF Vauquois. at
the end of February. | had come to
know Collignon very well. know
that Collignon was repeatedly offered
commission, but he wanted to carry
the colors Of the regiment He was
a splendid figure, with his white beard.
and the rosette of the Legion of Hon
or on his breast He could not wear
the military shoes and most of the
time he went barefooted Later he
wore sandals 1t was at Vauquois that
he was killed. Our men had sought
shelter in the cellars of ruined houses
In the village. In a heavy rain of bull
let's from machine guns, Collignon
rushed out from such a shelter to res
cue comrade who had fallen wound
ed. A shell burst near him and killed
him.
He was buried at the front. and It
was not until after my reformation.
or honorable discharge. that the me-
mortal service took place at Fontaine-
bleau. had composed my March
Funebre' between trips from the depot
to the front trenches.
1T was at Vauquois that happened
an incident that l suppose stands
alone In this war. the charge of a regi-
mental band at the head of troops
| Nowadays the bands are usually kept
at the rear. But a critical moment
came Our men had three times at
tackled the Germans, and thrice had
been repulsed The colonel felt that
a time for supreme effort had arrived
| He summoned the leader of the band.
Pat your men at the head of the
] 2
and lead them to victory he com.
manded
The bandmaster saluted. He called
his musicians and told them what was
expected Then the forty of them took
their positions. Our line was reformed.
The bandmaster waved his baton.
'Anons. eufants de Ia Patrie"
rang out. and the men took up the
song. France was calling upon them
to do or die. The band started out on
the double-quick, as If on rapid parade
The Germans must have rubbed their
eyes. No musician carried weapon.
But they were carrying the 'Marseil-
laise against the foe, Then came the
continuous rattle OF the machine guns.
The band marched on. their ranks
thinning at every step. The leader
went down The cornetists followed
him. The drummers and their instru-
ments collapsed in the same volley
In less than five minutes every man of
the forty was lying upon the ground.
killed or wounded. that is. with one
exception. That was a trombone
playo r
instrument Shot Away.
His whole instrument was shot
away except the mouthpiece and the
slide, to which his fingers were
fastened He did not know it He
still blew. and worked the slide. 1t
was only ghostly 'Marseillaise' he
was playing, but the spirits Of his
deed cemrades played with him. and
wiln that fragment OF a trombone be
/ ieC the way to victory. The trench