The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-12-07
Tells OF WORK
IN new TANK"
Young Australian Who Served in
Machine Describes Expe-
rience in Diary.
BOLT LIKE SCARED RABBITS
mo Trailing Clouds OF Glory" When
Enemy Is Dispersed - Machine
Gun Fire Has No Effect on
Hide Of Monster.

London.-The daily work of n tank
on the western front has been graphi-
cally described by n young Australian
soldier who was wounded while serV-
Ing In one Of these new engines OF
war. The description, in diary form,
appeared in the Manchester Guardian:
Monday-Out for first time. Strange
sensation. Worse than being In II sub
marine. At first unable to see any
thing. but imagined n lot. Bullets be
gan to rain like hnilstOnes on n gal
vanizcd roof ut first, then like n series
of hammer blows. We passed through
It all %unScathed.
Suddenly we gave n terrible lurch.
thought we were booked through.
Lookout said we were astridc an enc
my trench. Give them h" was III"
order. We gave them il. our guns
rakcd and swept trenches right and
left.
Got Il peep at frightened Germans.
II was grimly humorous. They tried
to bolt like scared rabbits, but were
shot down in lunches before getting
To their burrows. Machine guns
brought forward. Started vicious rat.
tie on our hide" Not the least i'm
preston was made. Shells began to
burst. We moved on and overlook
some more frightened Germans, Cut
their ranks to ribbons with our fire.
T~ucsday-On for another cruise,
Poppering begun ut once. Thought
old thing was going 10 he drow'.ed in
shower Of bullets. Things quiet down
quickly. silly blightcrS thought they
could rush the tank like they would II
fort. Dashed up from all sides. We
fred AT them point blank. Devilish
plucky chaps some of them, for all
their madness. The survivors had an.
other try. We spat NJ them venom
ously. More of them went down.
Not a Reception Committee.
Suddenly IA jolt, and our hearts .iJi;-
ed in our mouths in sympathy. Moth
Ing doing ii the mishnp line. only
some unwonted obstacle. Heavier
"strumming' on our keyboard outside,
and more regular. Machine guns AT
II now. Straddled on Ms though i0e
liked II. 4 tremendous thud. Tn"
whole outfit seemed done for. Nearly
jumped out of my skin. Looked nj
each other and wondered what It was,
Still II roof yer our heads, thank
God.
Wedncsday-Early start. Toughest
voyage yet. Waves Of fire seemed "a
break over us. Tremendous crash
Then another, and several others nj
intervals. Silence for II time. Party
of Germans came to meet us outsid,
the village. Very stout old gentleman
In front. Thought II was the mayo
and village bigpots to give us n civil
welcome. Mistaken. They meant {,
give warm reception, but not as W,
understood the word. Let fly witt
machine guns. Then tried silly board
Ing tactics. We laughed. Our gun
answered theirs.
Tank reception committee dispense,
in Il cloud of smoke and flame; n
trailing clou's Of glory.
Thursday-GOt into the village, an.
passed down between two irregula
rows oi NTeck'u HOUSES Hunureu
Of Germans came rushing up from &c
lars and from behind ruins to see u,
Some had eyes staring out of hcn,
Looked surprised and eve 'rightcne,
Friday-Early Hflont. Usual show
ers Of bullets and II few shells On IN
way. Got right across n trench. Mad
the sparks fly. Went along purup,
routing out Germans everywhere. Enc
my terrified. Tried To run, but couldr
tcep II mp under our fire. Threw u
he sponge and surrendered In batche
S~aturduy-On the move befol