The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-26
\, WILLIAM r. MARTIN,

the top VI the Hill IL the first
line. viii the woods ends q reeion
vha~, after tho fighting Of weeks.
mo cir II filled with u strained,
weighted element. things ssem TO
upfvsr aud the soldiers move about
saNhiy and spssk In whispers.
tfere Ia suddsn,y = ssntle land Of
hills ana vslleys. Down over the slope
asrpes the broad valley TO the hill
IN enc Nher Side, . mile away, IA
nsihins Indicative VI var save for the
,cw seldisrs pioddins here ana there
ssA the sap'ns holes Of various sizes
lat dot tho sesps % far W. the eyes
distinguish
IN me p"ossn. lull v: the fighting
lie uale'ne-- Ia u%ntruhcn, except &c.
.vlpnrl'y 'y u dull crg ck. a repor,
~ a mure' csh'o.'un back there.
uver the land gwry from tho woods
an n'r ~ urd'-tgrted ncnce.
Concealed from the kccn eyes VI the
usrman r'rrier nmVny tic many clus-
Lore " trees that spring III here and
'.Here nud cstend over the crest Of the
tUl yunder Gre We enough. the Cap
,At - artillery says. 10 blow the
snsniy's t"erc'ies uu' " existence IN
4 few in'u~;=- II Il =. necessary.
lie hc- Charge ~ = lut.rry Of Tx
runs hall way up 'he SLOPE on the
other side Trey urc Ions range xuns.
We VI The b'rge-. In the sector, anil
10 10 on MS way 20 ,'cm. Within IN
hour hs has ordc's To- fire OF u town
iar 1--WE. Oil the u:l'cr side. I'VE mus,
harry" lie says. "Thc.o =. little time"
He guns have been silent now for
over n week. From the road that
rams Oy ulmos; under their noses the
w great barrels. spotted the color
i foliage. covered with evergreens
and hidden aInol.k the cluster Of
.rees. arc Invisible. The soldiers
passlng BY day and night on their way
70 and from the trenches have almost
forgotten the battery.
The deep resonance OF the pieces as
hey figured In the recent attacks or
shot thunder in the dead Of night with
4 message Of death to some town back
o: the German trenches fixed the bat
terry In the minds OF the soldiers as
distinct from the other guns Of the
asishborhood. Batteries are changed
frequently, almost daily sometimes.
Aad now. except for the few artillery
man connected with the pieces and
allowed to enter the clump OF trees.
he majority Of the soldiers have
Nased to give them thought.
Prom among the trees at the outer
edee Of the cluster two soldiers step
out and TX their bayonets az the Cap.
AIN enters. He is recognized. they
salute, and he passes. He comes upon
IN opening In the trees and gives
orders to soldiers standing around.
Instantly there Is activity.
In the subdued light OF the after
noon and in the shadows of the trees
4 - some time before the eyes become
,ncnstomed to the men and things
Nat move about in all directions.
Soldiers spring up from nowhere ap-
psrentiy as they suddenly stand on,
n the distance. They wear long
oaks daubcd in splotches like clus-
tiers Of leaves and caps Of the same ma
'erial. They are easy enos TO see
near by, hut at a distance unless a
''arp lookout is kept on their move
moris they fade away and are lost.
p There must lac az least a score Of
mon Fastening here and there IN the
small opening, They move with rcGu-
fr'F AVID system. Some open large
s'''l boxes and take out little white
"'-> He'd with something. while
n. "rS W groups lahoriously strain
~. '"" '"ng heavy things 'ha, are
,.l,
Suddenly n notices that tho side
q l. ,noi"su"s toward the road mis-
1900 -r'a' pit. In 'ncm are the
" "''> So in the ground some feet he
" 'u' >uIIuC" 50 that only their
i"''~ point "ut N the direction W
u" woods ON the hill owe the valley.
" T. difficult "a distinguish the long
%'Ir-'' mons clusters OF green's
htii'oi over them. But the massive
caterpillar wheels tower above the
.'tfS ~ IN" men working there and
''' distinctly seen against the clay Of
mo PITS As they uncove the foliage
rom IN" guns there ~ less activity
tNa finally silence.
W" are almost ready to fire" the
.ap'dn SAYS as he hurries away.
Stand on your toes and IL necessary
aver N" first shot hold your ears"
lie runs over and stands above on
'e ground between the pits. Six
men labor in the one to the right.
'he at tho left is squirting on his
Ahees through a glass hanging from
y Hdme along the piece. while at the
naaHVe wheel stands another adjust
ing an instrument attached to a place
uhder the high barrel at the word OF
'ns first man. They are the range
men.
nNhAV