The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-11-10
CREWilElls WHAT FIGnTING
FROM TANK" IS LIKE

<tu5Nid Splul'Is WohnufN MNilt
serving as one of the crew in a
tank" has given the world the first
real story Of what happens whom this
newest engine of war goes into ac-
tion. H. 6iary of a weeks work
in an armared iuggeraaut follows,
Monday for the first time
Strange sensation. Bullets raiacd
like hail on 4 galvanized roof Sud
denly gave terrible lurch. Look
out said We were astride an enemy
trench. Give 'em hell was the or
der. We did The frightened Ger
mans ran like rabbits but were shot
down in huncEcs. Machine-Euns
starvicious rattle on our hide" Not
the least impression. Moved on and
caught another German detachment.
| Cut their ranks TO ribbons Prison
ers very curious. stared at US wide
eyed First days experience not
pleasant. Tank" Sickness Is as bad
as sea-sickness.
Tuesday-Off for another cruise
Peppering began at once. Thought
\ the old tank was going to drown In
q shower of bullets. Sill Blighters
| thought they could rush the tank
fort. We fired at them point blank.
We spat at them venomously. The
blessed old tub gave lurch.
thought it was goodbye to earth. 1t
was only some German dead and
wounded we had skiddod into. Rain
of bullets sounded like hundreds OF
! rivets being driven into the tanks
hide. We got to like the regular
| rythm of it. Heavier stunning on
our keyboard. Machine gun at it,
There was tremendous thud along
We were done for. Only some un-
wonted obstacles along an enemy
parapet Some Huns tried the rush
ing dodge. Their rushing dayc are
over.
Wednesday--Early start. Rough
est voyage yet Waves of fire seemed
to break over us. Party of Germans
! came to meet us outside the trench
es. Thought it was the mayor and
village notablos coming to give us
a warm welcome. Mistaken. They
let fly with machine guns. Then they
tried boarding tactics. We laughed.
Tank reception party dispersed in
cloud of smoke. Only remaining
member fat old gentleman threw
himself down before us with many
signs Of submission.
Thursday-Passed down village
street or wrecked houses. Huns
rushed out of cellars and dugouts.
One Brighter rushed at us with club
bed rifle. Made terrible swipe at
tonk. Hurt himself more than us.
Had nice JOY ride after bevy of
fleeing Germans. All fat men.
Friday--Early afloat. Usual chow
er of bullets. Got right across a
trench. Enemy tried to run but
couldn't Threw up sponge. One
cheeky chap said he didn't think it
was fair to use such fighting ma
chimes. We asked him il he thought
we ought to get the kaiser's permits
sion to use the tanks. Didn't Gee
the joke. Took about 200 prison
ers. Killed and wounded as many
more. Tired out.
Saturday-Out before breakfast
Terrible crash first thing. Thought
we had encountered wandering
world Weathered storm. Rare
sport. Enemy preparing for curprise
attack. Our surprise came first. We
waddled into their ambush. Never
saw men so frightened. Only few
chaps stayed behind. Went snort
ing after them wherever We could
find them. Later strong detachment
tried to make their way back. We
lined up across road gave them hot
time. Every time they tried to rush
we ripped their ranks to bits. They
finally gave up.
Sunday - Frightening Germans
continued. Ladled out death as you
might vamp music from a hurdy-
gurdy. Fritz got fits. No fight left
in him. Prisoners scared to death.
Some of them acted as though they
believed we used our tanks for maxi
ing sausages out OF prisoners.