Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-02-15

~>-~-s> .N~-~-~~~~~
their tour OF duty is ended. The splut-
ter of a match. aye, or even the mo-
mentary glow of finder lighter or a
cigarette end, would be discerned at
once by dozens of keenly watching
eyes; few yards away are men with
their rifles and their finger on the
trigger-men who can split a playing
card with a rifle bullet at that close
range, and such a mark as even the
minutest glow would appeal very
strongly to them.
The little heroic party picks its GIN
gerly way through its own cntangle-
ments, crouching low, nattening itself
to the ground. awaiting itself Of every
depression, as the star shells flare
aloft and the pitiless blue-white light
streams down. 1t may be that it is
detected at once. and given twenty
seconds OF a machine guns closest at
tention, and in consequence ceases to
exist as living thing; but il may also
be that it escapes detection. and con-
unues to wend its cunning way to.
wards the chosen shelter.
Once there, 1t has practically moth
ing to do but to listen. Any sound
might mean anything; the faint noise
of buzzer might indicate an order to
attack; the scraping of a knife on tin
might mean the preparing Of a hand
grenade or merely that hungry sol.
der is snatching mouthful of food.
A night on listening post is one of
the most eerie experiences a man can
have. The most amazing things hap
pen; things that read like fables, but
which are true as gospel Il has been
known more than once for a German
sniper to stumble into the post, with
the intention of taking up cover there,
and waiting throughout the following
day to take unerring pot-shots at any
thing which shows above the parapet.
Now the members OF the post are
not allowed 10 fire a shot under any
circumstances, unless, of course, they
get mixed up with any sort of a real
attack, in which they would do the
best they could for themselves. And
so, since 1t is their lives or the snip.
er's, they deal with the intruder In q
summary fashion; if their humane in.
stincts are uppermost they simply
stun him with a blow; but If they have
something against enemy Shippers, they
settle the matter by the thrust of a
bayonet.
Bits of earth crumble down from the
entertainments near at hand, the sound
bringing mems hearts to their mouths,
for 1t might mean the approach Of an
enemy. There is a sizzling sound, to
indicate that some soldier not far
away is disobeying regulations and
cooking something tasty over a spirit
stove that will not throw any light up.
ward. Then every minor sound is
drowned by the smashing roar of a
big gun; a shell screams overhead and
bursts many miles in rear; another.
Then bullets whistle and whine round
about, as the enemy INDUCES in his
usual outburst of firing, just on the
off.chance Of securing bag.
There is no prolonged peace in the
dead ground; and. knowing that listen
ing-posts are out, both sides make a
point of quartering the ground with
spasmodic fire. that the posts might
be made as nervous as possible, and
so driven back to their trenches or
else rendered incapable of further sat.
isfactory work that night.
Your only satisfaction lies In know.
ing that you arc being watched by
your own scouts. who are lying under
cover not far away, with instructions
to cover you with their fire in case OF
need. You see, you must not fire
yourself, no matter what the provoca.
ton might be, because 10 do so would
be to give the show altogether and
point out your position-with tragic
results to yourselves and to those who