Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-12
BRITISH TANK LIFE
HAS MANY THRILLS
Experience Not Pleasant at First,
Soldier Writes in His
Diary.
MANY JOLTS AND BUMPS
Exciting Voyages" Into Terri
tory of Enemy Graphi-
cally Described.
MANY J0LTS AND BUMPS

LONDON. November il.-Life inside
ono of the Erotesque British tanks on
the west front is graphically described
in the diary OF a young Australian
soldier who was wounded in action
while assisting to operate the new
engine of war. Extracts from the
diary read as follows:
Monday--Dut for first time. Strange
sensation. Worse than being in a sub
marine. at FIRST unable TO see any
thing. but imagined "A lot. Bullets be-
gan To rain like hailstones on a gal
vanizcd roof at first. then like a series
Of hammer blows. We passed through
il all unscathcd.
Suddenly we gave terrible lurch.
thought were booked through.
Lookout said We were astride an enemy
trench. Give them hell" was the or
der. We gave them il. Our guns
raked and swept trenches right and
left
60, a peep at frightened Huns. 1t
was grimly humorous They tried to
bolt like scared rabbits. but were shot
down In punches before getting to
their burrows Machine guns brought
forward. Started vicious rattle on our
hide" Not the least impression was
made Shells began to burst. We
moved on and overlook some more
frightened Huns. Gu, their ranks TO
ribbons with our IRE.
They ran like men possessed. Off
GERS tried 10 rally them. They awaited
our coming for while AS soon as
our guns began 10 spit at them they
were off once more. Infantry rounded
H..tn u
Very curious about US Stood open
ulouth"d and wide-eyed watching, but
weren't much the wiser
Experience was altogether pleasant
at first. Tank sickness is as bad as
So, sickness until you get used to 1t.
SHARP pE:PI'ERING
BEGINS At ONCE
Tucsduy-OT for another cruise
lcppcr!ns begun at once. Thought
old thing WAS going TO he drowned
In shower OF bullets. Things quiet
down quickly. silly blightcrs thought
they could rush the tank like they
would fort. Dashed up from all
sides. We fired at them point blank
Deviiish plucky chaps. some OF them,
for all their madness The survivors
had another try. We spat a, them
venomomsly. More OF them went down.
The blessed old tub gave n sudden
Jerk. God in heaven. thought 1, it's
GooG-by to earth. but 1t wasn't. only
some Hun dead and wounded we had
skidied into The rain OF bullets re.
suwcd. II was like as IL hundreds OF
r!vets were being hammered into the
hid. OF the tank. We rushed through.
Soon the music had charms. and We
got to like the regular rhythm OF IL.
suddenly a jolt. and our hearts jolted
in our mouths in sympathy. Nothing
doing in the mishap line. Only some
uawonted obstacle. Heavier "strum-
ming" on our keyboard outside. and
more regular. Machine guns at It
now. Straddle on as though we liked
II. y tremendous thud. The whole
OUTFIT seemed done for. Nearly jumped
out OF my skin. Looked at each other
and wondered what 1t was. still
roof over our heads. thank God
Wednesday-Ea Early start. Toughest
voyage yet Waves of fire seemed TO
break over us Tremendous crash
Then another. and several 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 n civic well
come. Mistaken. They meant to give
warm reception. but not as we under
stood the word. Let ny with machine
guns. Then tried silly boarding tao
ties. We laughed. Our guns answered
theirs.
Tank reception committee dispersed
in cloud IF smoke and flame: no
trailing clouds of glory. Fat old gem
tleman only visible member of deputa-
ton. Stood open-mouthed. Purple
with rage. Tank bore down. Old gent
started to run. Funnier than n sack
race. Old gent flung himself to earth
with many signs of surrender.
PASS BETWEEN
WRECKED HOUSES
Thursday-Got into the village. and
passed down between two irregular
rows of wrecked houses. Hundreds OF
Huns came rushing up from cellars
and from behind ruins to sec MS Some
had eyes starting out of heads.
Looked surprised and even frightened.
One Brighter made a rush at us with
clubbed' rife. Made n terrible swipe
at the tank. Smashed his rife. and
made nasty noise on our roof. Hurt
himself more than he hurt us. Off
for joy-ride after some nice Huns.
who took TO flight as we came UP.
Friday-Early afloat. Usual show
ers Of bullets and a few shells on the
way. Got right across trench
Made the sparks fly. Went along para
pet routing out Huns everywhere.
Enemy terrified. Tried to run, but
couldn't keep it up under our fire.
Threw up the sponge, and surrendered
In patches.
Took about 200 prisoners. Killed
and wounded rs many more. Tired out
when through