New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-30
"UNKNOWN SOLDIER"

The following was written by suSaterr
in the Odd Division. Royal Engineers, on Active
Service, and published in the magazine called
"The Dump" which is written and printed by
the division on the firing line in France
A.S.C.
We had tramped few miles that dresr Dc.
tober day, our feet had been over many mile
of those rough stone sets; they were beginning
to tire. Whose wouldn't? Has any poor in.
fantryman ever expressed a liking for the
pave main roads of Flanders? And besides,
our pack straps were cutting our shoulders
like knives.
We had lief, the town of y on our left a
town that once was, but now Is not, ghos
of town. and we were once again in the open
country, that fiat, dreary open country with It's
long popar-lined roads. its endless acres Of
sugar beet, its willow lined bitches, all SO "a
miliar to Tommy
Our destination? Where else but the
trenches; the land Of mystery; the land Of
dug-outs and sludge. and the rendezvous
seek the bubble reputation?
Night has fallen and darkness comes on
apace. The stars steal OUT IN the May DOW
of night and on. on we 90. each step brlnsihs
US nearer the theatre of war The hrst sS'
shell mounts upward, burns It's meteorlc eouf~
and sinks slowly back to make the night seer
darker. Ahead and around they rise az lh'e''
walls. these lurd consultations, which lgn' ~
the scenes of war with an eerie, cada'erOO'
light. Now machine gun rattles ITS inqln!
beating its feverish message "rat-tat-'a" VI
deaths drum, while stray shots sing os
head and the sniper salies forth 70 his nlg''P
happy hunting ground. One Of our oa'f'e
is noisy. Tongues of flame leap from "
mouths of the guns, while they belch forth 10"
messages of death and destruction.
And now we halt in silence on the roadS~
our destination nearly reached. except os' '.
shall leave the main road sharply and traVes
the long. tortuous communication trench sS''
ing to the first line.
star shell rises like rocket, ours's ~,
fame, and lights up the scene revealing u' .",
port wagons loaded with rations ana nla'e''N"
Fatigue parties are busy unloading ana 'S'';
ing these away to their destinations. he's =,
a much damaged farmhouse, It's roof oa'.N =.
its tiles, with the stars twlnkhng thlo's" =.
rafters. Men march past Us accoutreu
harness Of war-the outgoing TONNES y"
their rest quarters. To our eft is ,"
cemetery with its wooden crosses. Close "
a small building labelled "Mor'uary' p's ,Is
us is another cemetery, newly started an" 49,. -
the roadside. almost in the ditch Is ~.
secluded inclosure which ATTRACTS my a,''" -
step out of the ranks to examine 'n's'
iird that it is the last resting place u
der. Four small stakes, one at eacn LIE 80,
with plain wire connecting each, ana -
pine cross at the head complete the 1P"nA
embellishments of this particular toh0' -.
viously so very hurried an ntermen' e. :,
my interest, and by the aid of the go" '" =,
cigarette, STOPPING read the inscrip''O"
little wooden cross
UNKNOWN SOLDIER. 49,,
No more, no less Here, alnios' ..,s
speaking distance of his erstwhlle enemy q.
the ominous panoply of war tricNed 0u' S.,,.d
right hand by night; the land he hau ''s n,
to drive the invader from on the lei'' WI lad.
shells screaming over him Still, mere =.
he had found his resting place w'spf in.
once in the clamn,y soil of France ana Wv
mense mystery Of death. ,,h,
Who can say what joys and sorrows .,s
hopes and fears are buried IN that n'" ri,
grave? Who mourns him? Who waits }"
for news? ,.a
Sleep on. unknown comrade IN arms Wv
YOU were forced to relinqulsh is earr''' In
other eager hands Destiny plays many 90,
Not for you the solemn grandeur, IT. r,s,
and circumstance Of an abbey burIsh M
reserved for those who SIT in the sea'S