The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-15
Maj. Donald McRae.

Maj, Donald McRae.
CHAPTER H.
| + the enemy found out that we were I
| planning to explode mine mder
his trenches, it would go hard with
us, for he would lay all his artillery on
the spot, bring up large number Of ma
chHte guns and arrange a strong attack
ing party besides evacuating the dan
gerous part OF the line In this case
our party would be annihiated before |
It fairly got started So we were care
ful to conceal our preparations.
| checked up the supply dump as
signed to my party and then brought
the men up to show them its position,
as It was our assembly point for that
night, and TO issue them their bombs,
ammunition, emergency rations, shovcls.
Sandbags etc.
Trouble at Start.
Right at this point, We got into
little trouble. The dump was ON the
reverse side OF slope out of sight.
so VIC were in the open whsn an enemy
alrplane suddenly showed up.
We got down out of sight as soon
as possible, but must have been seen.
for the plane flew away and things
soon began to happen We had lust
got TO work again when suddenly
large "Minnenwerier" arrived about
hundred yards up the slope. This is
large-trench mortar bomb of ap
proximately two hundred pounds and
gives about the most unpleasant ex-
plosion of any missile in use.
A Narrow Escape.
When it went off VIC all looked up
and wondered what they were shoot
ing at We soon found out. In a few
minutes, another arrived good bit
closer, but, ioolishly, We took no notice
| was standing at the dump when
suddenly heard ,the nasty noise Of the
third coming, and then suddenly saw
II about four feet from the ground and
apparently right in the middle of my
men. ! had Just time to throw myself
down when II went off In reality, it
landed few yards to ono side and only
laid out about six men instead of the
whole party After this hint we moved
from that place for a while. After a
salyo Of shells, things quoted down
again.
WHEN everything was finished at
w the dump. it was about supper
time. They say a man going TO be
hanged can eat big meal. Al can
say is envy hiA,-for | couldn't. Per
haps, it is because he is certain OF what
is coming TO hi mwhilc ! wasn't Maybe
it was Imagination, for ! didn't notice
1t so muchalater on before other parties,
and. maybe, it was because my nerves
were all tense and on edge before this
fight affair. | have never seen a case
OF real cowardice in France on our side.
OF the line have seen men frightened
and have been frightened myself, but
never so badly as now. Thcl
everyone was so thoughtful about shak'
ing hands and wishing me good luck,
with a sorrowful expression that seemed
to say; TOO bad, there is another one
able to 60 forward when the time came
The Deadly Wait.
After supper | received my ,last in
structons from my colonel and the
major. who was in direct command OF
the minor operations | then lined up
my men. II was now sevcn-thrty
Everything was quiet on the front We
all spoke in whispers, AT eight-thlrty
everything was ready Nov started the
twenty wait for the signal There
was hardly a sound along the entire
front. Occasionally a rifle would spit
or a flare would curve through the air
II is not possible for me to picture the
scene that night, with the stars shining
overhead and only a nelvous hush OF
expectation to preSage the fury that
was to come. ! firmly believe that !
came nearer getting religion in those
last few minutes than ever before or
since. II is during sueh moments that
a soldier is made II is at this time
the iron gets into your system. il is
this experience that makes IT worth
every mans while to go TO France just
for his own sake You live longcf then
than during all the rest of your life,
At $40 looked at my watch,
threw away my cigaret and stood
up My men needed no other sign
that the time was al hand. They
all rose, shifted their packs into
place, gripped their rifles. At exact
ly $50 the captain of engineers,
who had dug the mine, pushed an
electric button, and we were off
We felt the earth shake, and, In
moment, heard the explosion.
There vas a dull red glow and then
black vearth hurting skyward
There was practically no noise, only
a distant rumble. Then our guns
began an intense barrage. That
opened together with crack. |
left the ground and was going fast
when ! hit IL again. ] was glad |
had started in the right Direction,
didn't care much where ! was
headed for, but knew | wasn't 60
ing to stand still with the noises .
around.
was too new to the game to realize