Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-11-11
DESCRIBES FIGHTING
WITH A TANK

young Australian soldier, wounded
| while serving as one of the crew in a
tank" has given the world the first
real story OF what happens when this
newest engine OF war goes into action
His diary OF a weeks work In an
armored juggernaut follows:
Monday-out for the first time.
Strangsl serSation. Bullets rained like
hail on galvanized roof. Suddenly
gave a terrible lurch. Lookout said
we were astride an enemy trench.
Give 'em He'll" was the order. We
did. The frightened Germans ran like
rabbits but were shot down In lunches.
Machine guns started vicious rattle on
our hide" Not the least impression.
Moved on and caught another German
detachment. Cut their ranks to rib
bons. Prisoners very curious stared
at us wide-eyed. First days expert.
ence not pleasant. Tank" sickness Is
as bad as sea-sicllness."
Tuesday-Off for another cruise.
Peppering began at once. Thought the
old tank was going to drown in the
| shower of bullets. Silly blighters
thought they could rush the tank like
fort. We fired at them point blank.
We spat at them venomously. The
blessed old tub gave lurch. / thought
II was boodbye TO earth. II was only
some German dead and wounded we
had skidded into. Rain of bullets
! sounded like hundreds OF riyets being
driven into the tanks hide. We got to
like the regular rhyme of it. Heavier
strumming on our keyboard. Machine
gun at it. There was tremendous
thud along about this time. Whole
outfit thought we were done for. Only
some unwonted obstacles along an
! enemy parapet. Some Huns tried the
rushing dodge. Their rushing DAYS are
| over.
Wcdnesday-Early start. Roughest
voyage yet. Waves OF fire seemed to
break over us. Party of Germans came
TO meet us outside the trenches
Thought It was the Mayor and village
lnotables coming TO give us a warm
welcome. They let fly with machine
guns. Then they tried boarding tao.
tics. We laughed. Tank reception
party dispersed in cloud OF smoke.
Only remaining member fat old gentle.
man. threw himself down before Us
with many signs Of submission.
Thursday - Passed down village
street of wrecked houses. Huns rushed
out of cellars and dugouts. One blight.
er rushed at us with clubbed rifle.
Made terrible swipe at the tank. Hurt
himself more than us. Had nice JOY
| ride after bcvy OF fleeing Germans
All fat men.
Friday-Early afloat. Usual shower
| Of bullets. Got right across n trench.
Enemy tried TO run but couldn't
Threw up sponge. One cheeky chap
said he didn't think II was fair to use
such frightful machines. We asked
h'AAi ~ hN 'iOhbhN VIC puSIl 10 get lnt
KaiseTs permission to use the tanks.
Didn't see the joke. Took about 200
prisoners. Killed and wounded many
more. Tired out.
Saturday-Out before breakfast.
Terrible crash first thing. Thought
we had encountered wandering world
| Weathered storm. Rare sport Enemy
preparing for surprise attack. Our sur.
| prlses came first. We waddled into
| their ambush Never saw men so
frightened. Only few chaps stayed
behind. Went snorting after them
wherever we could find them. Later
strong detachments tried to make their
way back. We lined up across road
and gave them hot time. Every
time they tried to rush we ripped their
ranks to bits. They finally gave up.
Sunday-Frightening Germans con.
tinued. Labeled out death as you
might camp out music from u hurdy
gurdy. Fritz got fits. No fight left in
him. Prisoners scared to death. Some
of them acted as though they believed
we used our tanks for making sausages
out OF prisoners.