New-York tribune., 1917-12-16
By Frances-Fisher Byers
Drawings by Chamberlain


We bad been all the afternoon be-
s,d the @frinc line" somewhere on
lne Island-milcs from camp. The
.srsl had said 90 ne the day before:
Z ysu want TO Get q real thrill go out
nd watch the artillery practise; it IS
rr,h while enduring the cold to see
= travelling almost at express speed.
.ryen BIZ the demon dispatch rider
4sl. Of the So6th, in his motorcycle
a, We arrived at the range in time TO
,.,h the assembling Of the gun
gsass from the different batteries, the
asnsy but picturesque caissons and
70, carriages rattle and clank their
ysy INTO the field and the signal corps
za take their places at the under
gBzrs telephone stations, the out
posts and other signal points.
Behind all stood a small group Of
zen from the medical corps. silent and
urhful. The intense, still cold was
azlyzing again and again the order
rss gwen for the men 10 break ranks
I'd exercise. Many of them smoked,
-ardsg in little groups or walking
bout on the frozen, stubbly fields.
fhrs played games or chased each
'hu up and down the road like school
'ys at recess
1t can't be any colder than this in
Fnnce, that's sure said a boyish-
osking Lieutenant, slapping his arms
nd putting Nothing like getting used
% il, though" he added cheerfully,
sokng about at his men and mindful
v bis responsibilltics.
Getting Ready for
The Real Thing
Niles and miles 20 the north and
Hsi stretched the reddish brown un-
tsrbrush 10 meet the lead gray hori-
i'a, vast level wastes dotted only here
nd there with the flags Of the signal
'rps. A mile and a half away the
iish white targets were silhouetted
'sainst the murky sky Fascinated by
ne nearer view Of guns, men and
''Fses, / kept my eyes glued on the
9an squad behind one Of the smaller
81 cannon, on the gunner and his
even men. Ready, FIRE" A quick
Hport Without straining we could
te PUT Of smoke ohscuring the tar
''i A faint ripping sound came across
1' stiffness. Then al eyes turned TO-
'''d the little group Of signal men
a'aehed upon the ground close to their
'''Tuments 20 learn what damage had
zen wrought. Only earth and broken
boards.
Another time, in another land than
'sfs' human beings! was the appalling
3'ughi that flashed through my mind
" We tore along the great middle
'''A''y highway in the dusk, past the
l'f'a.ng troops and the jsngling ar
.1isry, the sound Of which was almost
u0Wnea By the husky voices singing
'0ec'by, Ny Girl7 and Long, Long
''1il which they knew tonight would
.Da N the comfortable barracks. whose
'.asi'ng window lights. like houses Of
~0ssand candles, could be seen well
"alAg Us an across the shadowy
}ains.
That French officer. Captain Thi-
:. >.a' must have thought that what We
~ y. was play out on the range this
-'sfhoon." said Private Artie, later,
y y We sat before the open FIRE in the
:. y. G. a. building after the even
'fo"d had gone and we were re-
NNiAg the events Of the afternoon.
They Jest Shook
and Shet Their Eyes"
AT' well, what can yeh 'xpeet q"
~ n Witzer at wuz only an A
class in field artillery. We all
4. Nf begin az tn beginnin'. I guess
:, :, aao his FIRST time, TOO, onct. Some
'''in rockies and tn casuals never
-. siose ter a gun b'fore an they
-, -, 'oeok and shut their eyes"
s,.,. n0v bout you, ostmeal?" jibed
- aN' me- Why, me father wuz
i ~ sh' I'm used ter 'em. Wait till
'sr'a ~it' big guns: watch your