The Raymer enterprise., 1917-05-03

AT these points the soldiers following turn of
from the rond, take to the fields or other roads
until they are past, By this means the Germans,
knowing what Is coming, are making desperate
efforts to stop the onrlsh Of troops by shelling the
roads. The gigantic shotgun charges Of their
ShrHpne break over the heads of the soldiers
while many are torn to bits by the conclusion
shells crashing into the road among them. The
soldiers then take roundabout courses Most of
them getting through.
rast the last town, where The road terminates
because # has been blown into nothing II soon be-
impossible for the soldiers 10 march along in
masses They scatter over the ground ON their way
onward. The terrific bombardment of their own
side continues without letup. Also German shells
fall owes all the land hese and Ii Is question OF
which If the soldiers will get through From be-
hind come such numbers Of troops that there seems
To be no end to them.
With legion ahead and an endless number be-
hind, enter the ditch and continue our way,
now In single file. for there Is not enough room for
two to walk abreast. As proceed the trenches
get deeper and deeper and soon heads are below
the snrfac" Of the ground
Casualties are essened now Shells continue TO
burst about, even In grenter numbers than in the
hand We have left. But the most Of the shells tear
up columns of earth about, but above us.
httHhhe lie HltIlfN We are tfhNnInH In are mar
row few shells explode there and now for the most
part the men are caught only by the debris that In
some places partly buries them
There seems to be no end to the trenches that
branch of, continue to separate until they enter a
region Of trench network The detachment | am
with receives orders which OF the boyaux (the com.
munlcaton trenches) TO take as We proceed Now
we move forward slowly, frequently crouch under
the fall Of The dirt, stones and things and cringe
against the allpenetrating tear The mighty nxplo-
sonS Of the shells and the shrieks of others
passing overhead.
As We approach the first lin, the confusion Of
noise nf the batteries pounding away behind lessons
i'll sharpness, takes on more OF n roar, a regular
working MS though Of some gigantic machine, grows
less harsh and new confusion in front begins to
grip the senses
One sees nothing except occasionally when he
opens bis eyes for n brief period to see the drec-
tlon The geysers of spouting ground about them
and ant nhoye in front. Eyes closed aud head low
cred, heafeels his way the same Us the man before
him and the one behind him.
Suddenly one bumps into the man In front and
comes To stop As soon as is able he opens
his eyes and sees everyone In front has come TO a
halt They are near the first line, the man in front
shouts, Soldiers thicky crowd the trench In front
as far as he can see.
Other soldiers, still coming up. also come to n
halt snon filling up the trench In behind One feels
himself To be part Of tightly jammed mass of
men covering there in the trenches under the
spoung of the land about them debris falling over
all, They are standing by their rifles fixing on
Them their bayonets all carrying their full equip
ment-ready.
There is strange grimnesS among those stand.
Ing there No one In the crowded mass of men
tn EII.I Mn
being Is able to stand One feels like jumping over
the trenches and, regardless of anything rushing
bndly Anything but the strain of this he
thinks. action and more action. He never before
thought he could be capable of so much action.
What is coming. let il happen quickly he thinks
Head lowered and eyes closed. ones thoughts
pierce the masses Of flying things that look like
clouds out there in front pcturng scene as he
last knew it-hls home, his town and the people
he had grown up with away Off on the other side
Of that. He wondered what has become of them
and he wonders whether he will ever know.
Still they wait, minute after minute while In
ones bewildered senses II seems as though many
hours are passing. No wounded are being passed
along on their way back. The younger men are
wondering why. They are probably being taken
back In another trench reserved for them and for
messengers also.
Then suddenly possibly within the space of only
few seconds. there seems to be sudden quiet. II
Is the first cessation In bomhardnent of their
guns that has lasted almost 20 hours. II is com.
parative quiet. tranquil period TO the confused
senses of the beings there: at other times some
might call IL y terrific racket For Just now they