The Alaska daily empire., 1916-12-29
LIFE INSIDE BRITISH
 TANK DESCRIBED, MANY
 EXCITING EXPERIENCES

2AA0h
 LONDON, Dec. 10. - Special cor respondence) Life inside one of the grotesQue British tanks on the west front is geographically described by the diary of a young Australian sol dier who was wounded in action while assisting to operate the new engine of war. Extracts from the diary read as follows;
 Monday-out for first time. Very strange sensation. Worse than be. ing in submarine. At first un. able to see anything, but imagined whole lot. Bullets began to rain like hailstones on galvanized roof at firs,. tneE ike a series of hammering blows. We passed on through it all unscathed.
 Suddenly we gave terrible lurch. I thought we were booked through. Looking out We were astride an enc my trench. Give it to them." was the order. Our guns raked and swept the trenches right and left
 Got peep at frightened Huns. It was grimly humorous. TAey tried to bolt like scared rabbits, but were shot down in punches before getting to their burrows. Machine guns brought forward Startled vic tins rattle at our "hide." Not the least impression was made Shells began to burst. We moved on and overlook some more frightened Huns Cut their ranks to ribbons with our fire.
 They ran like men possessed. or ficer tried to rally them. They awaited our coming for a while. AS soon as our guns began to spit at them they were off once more. Infantry rounded them up, and sur vivors surrendered. Very curious about us, Stood open.mouthed and wide-eyed watching, but weren't much the wiser.
 Tank Sickness
 Experience was not altogether pleasant at first. Tank.sickness is as bad as sea,sickness until you get used to it.
 Tuesday-off for another cruise. Peppering began at once. Thought the old thing was going to be drown ed in shower of bullets. Things Quieted down quickly. Silly blithers thought they could rush the tank like they would fort Dashed up from all sides. We fired at them point blank. Devilish plucky chaps some of them. for all of their mad ness. The survivors had another try. We spat at them venomously. Most of them went down.
 The blessed old tub gave a sudden jerk. It's good bye to earth, thought; but 1t wasn't. Only some Huns dead and wounded we skidded into. The rain of bullets resume. It was like as if hundreds of rivets were being hammered into the hide of the tank. We rushed them Soon the music had charms. and we got to like the regular rhythme of 1t.
 Suddenly a jolt, and our hearts jolted in our mouths in sympathy. Nothing doing in the mishap line Only some unwonted obstacle Heav- fer "strumming" on our keyboard outside. and more regular. Machine guns at it now. Straddle on as through we liked it. A tremendous thud. The whole outfit seemed done for. Nearly jumped out of my skin. Looked at each other. and wondered what it was. Still q roof over our heads.
 Wednesday-Early start. Toughest voyage yet. Waves of fire seemed to break over us. Tremendous crash. Then another, and several i others at intervals. Silence for a | time. Party of Huns came to meet us outside the village. Very stout old gentleman in front Thought 1t was the mayor and village big [ pots to give us civic welcome. Mistaken. They meant to give us q warm reception, but not as we the word. Let fly with guns. Then tried silly boarding tactics. We laughed. Our guns answered theirs.
 Tank reception committee dispers- ed in a cloud of smoke and flame; no trailing clouds of glory. Fat old gentleman only visible member of. leputation. Stood open-mouthed. Purple with rage. Tank bore down. Old gent started to run. Funnier han sack race. Old gent flung himself to earth with many signs )f surrender
 Thursday-got into the village and passed down between two irregular -ows of wrecked houses. Hundreds ,f Huns came rushing Up from eel ars and from behind ruins to see IS. Some had eyes starting out of i. heir heads. Looked surprised and wen frightened.
 One blighter made rush at us with a clubber rifle Made a terri ,le swine at the tank. Smashed hiSi