Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-31
TELLS HOW
It FEELS To FIGHT
INSIDE Of A TANK
Says Report of Guns Is Deaf
ening as the Crawling Ma
chine MoWS Down Human
Beings

LONDON, Oct. 2s.-Tere is the story
of a tank" fight as seen from the in
side looking out" told by a member
of the crew of one Of these farm tract
ors that have been turned into gigantic
engines of death and have spread ter
ror and destruction over the battle
fronts of Europe.
Private Y bright name withheld) took
part in a tank fight during the struggle
for Flers, and was sent to a London
hospital where he told his story 10
a correspondent:
The first time / saw a tank, it was
coming down the road to the first line
trenches at Flers. Later. other tanks
came along, some looking like big boil
ers, others like armored automobiles.
and all creeping along on caterpillar
belts.
ct was detailed to one of them that
looked like a submarine from the inside.
We christened it the II. NJ. S. Land
ship and referred to its parts in nautical
terms.
THE TANKS OPENING.
although we knew the Landship
was going TO be taken into battle, we
had no idea of its real use until the
time came.
THE only opening in the tank was
forward, through which our lieutenant,
at the wheel, was peering. The guns
were in and their port holes shut The
only light in the machine came through
that little hole in front. 1t was dismal
and gloomy inside.
"Only the lieutenant knew where we
weer going.
"The tank lurched forward, then
stopped! We heard a crunching, CRUSH
ing sound as we felt the Landship push
forward slowly and clumsily. Suddenly
we were terrified by a crash above US.
The din of heavy missiles showering
upon the steel armor of our tank was so
deadening we stuffed up our ears.
I'VE were at our guns, eager to an
swer what We thought was the cannon
fire of the Germans. But our COM
mander laughed at us.
HE knew what was happening, but
we didn't. 1t was not so horrible to
him. If that lieutenant had known
how our nerves nearly broke under the
strain, he would have explained the
meaning of that din and our inaction.
at was only after that encounter
when L regained consciousness before
being transferred to a hospital car, that
learned we had been crushing down the
trees and shrubs of the woods to our
left, in an attempt to detour and sur
prise the enemy from the flank
1--WE came out of that woods with a
jump that almost knocked us off our
feet We kept on at that pace. when
the lieutenant opened his window and
suddenly ordered US to get ready.
owe wondered what the plan was,
when suddenly we felt the big machine
dip forward and upward. The comman-
der ordered power shut off, and we stop
ped 1 looked out. We were astride
a trench full of Germans!
A SIGHT OF HORROR.
I'VE opened fire. You ought to have
seen those poor devils scatter! They
were frightened out of their wits as our
big engine enfiladed their trench.
cit was a horrible sight We moved
those humans like so many insects.
Behind us we expected our infantry
to come up. We kept on the fire while
waiting for their advance. We noticed
coming up for the Ger
mans.
1.-THE tank was being slowly pierced
by the heavy fire of the Germans! The
lieutenant was desperate, but he kept his
head.
1.-THE f1rt came from our right Below