Ripley County democrat., 1916-05-19

stations In the immediate rear OF the
fighting lines at verdun, is told in
graphic fashion by q noted French
writer. A Voillis, as a result OF trip
which he was permitted to make In
the fifth week Of the great battle.
ION the previous day." he writes,
"the great guns had been roaring un-
ceasingly, with q hoarse, thunderous
noise and with formidable explosions
Of fury which made the windows rattle
and caused the last Of the snow To fall
from the roofs. On this morning the
silence is almost complete.
at is a sign that the infantry is
attacking. says tho sergeant IN charge
of supplies. who 10 something OF
strategist. We are soon going to be
busy.
VERY soon the dull roll Of the am
balances is heard. II can be recog.
nized among the bounding and tearing
noises OF the ordinary wagons.
THE bell rings three times, which
means that there are three wounded
men. and the litters are hurriedly
brought out into tho yard
"The stretcher is always the cause
OF q special touch OF emotion. VIII
they be able TO cave the wounded
manf Is It life or Ii 1t deathf
Glad to Be Alive. ~
"In the case Of the two first comers
there is nothing serious to fear, They
are two sublieutenants, two boys, and
they have become acquainted on the
way. Although their looks are still full
of astonished stupefaction. they try to
laugh. happy at having fought we'll
and at being alive, even merely alive,
although thigh has been broken and
q lung pierced. One Of them has his
helmet tightly pressed on his breast.
"'No, don't take 1t away; don't take
It away he pleads. I shall take It to
bed with me; 1t is my friend, my
savior and he points to an enormous
slash In tho blue steel. TO think that
came Off 80 easyl With only dam
aged Leg
"Tbe other smiles gently as he
breathes heavily. He IL blond. with Q
light down on his checks and his eyes
are blue, and his whole appearance
boyish. me-
Lieutenant says the attendant
who is emptying his pockets, 'yos have
military card and letters which are
not In your name - ~
THE young man raises his eye
brows.
"oh, yes. remember he says sud.
denly. I had Just been hit, and they
placed me against the bank was
nearly frozen and my testh were chat.
tering. In the neighborhood com.
pany was about to start to the attack.
Then one Of the soldiers, an old fellow
with big mustache and kindly eyes,
leaned over me and said. "You are
cold, poor boy" He took eff his. coat
and threw II over me, and then saw
him running IN his shirtsleeves to
catch up with the others
Here is q photograph Of his wife
and children said the attendant, and
also his purse t
1T was a worn leather purse, with
q gold piece, few cents, and three
cigarettes In 1t, the entire fortune Of
the poilu.
What good fellow, sighs the
little lieutenant. 7 don't know him
and 1t would not be easy to find him
now; Il will be case for the special
bureau a
"a major and q captain announces
an ambulance driver. &
The Dying Major.
"The majors gray head shakes with |
the movement Of the carriers. His
eyelids are like dark cavities in face
discolored. HIS purple lips |
continuously murmur words in q spas |
modic and touching way: 'Quick-4Tel. |
ephone-They are holding-More .mu-
nitions--Ah. the fine boysl-They have
got there--Fine!'
Someone raises the covering. and |
from the neck to the feet the great
body Of the major is revealed wound
up in Redeemed bandagos., like a num-
my In rusted strips. At the first re-
Lief post they had not spared their
pains In dressing his wounds.
"'Are you suffering. majorr he is
asked. 7tf
His eyelids slowly uncover the al
ready dimmed pupils. His distant look
turns to the fresh face OF the attend
ant and to the white cap of the nurse.
and then. with peculiar accent OF
sentlenese and exhaustion. he says:
No, my boy; no. my little girl
His eyelids drop suddenly. closed
'oreyer.
Madame nm attendant says to the
,hief nurse. please tell the captain
hat he is not reasonable He wants
o get into bed by himself. and he has
! fragment Of she'll In his side.' y |
THE captain Is a young officer or /
'hasseurs, slender, vigorous. with his
:ap on his ear. Seated on the stretch
=, he is making efforts to rise, and a
title grimaoe twists his mouth.
Madame. he says, I present my
cmplimentA l don't want to be car
fed. am not a little girl. What
fould my chasseurs say? An. madame.
he fine boys, the fine boysl II you
ad seen them climb out Of the