The Wahpeton times., 1917-12-06
VIVID STORY OF
TRENCH STORM|NG
Writer Describes Happiness
After It Is All Over.
Tense As MEN AWAIT WORD
Anxious and Nervous Men Try to Con.
eeal Their Real Feelings While Wait.
ina for the Order to Go Forward, by
Telling Funny stories-Waiting the
Worst Part.

Henri Barbussi, well-known French
writer, has written graphic account
Of the storming of a German trench in
which he took part. In gripping Ian
guage he describes the torture Of wait
ing for the signal to advance, of run
ming out in the open against terrific
fire, and of the happiness of the men
when they find each other safe after
'going through hell"
1T Is evening in the Champagne" /"
writes Henri Barbusse. 1.-THE men are
waiting in the dugouts of the first line
trenches, wondering when the order to
charge against the enemy will be given.
They are anxious and nervous. but try
to conceal their real feelings by telling
funny stories and laughing heartily.
They know that in the next moment
they may be facing death, but there is
always hope. They have been spared
before, perhaps they may be spared
again. A voice is heard in the neigh
boring trench.
"'Listen,' said one Of the men.
Didn't you hear? The alarm was
sounded!
":Alarm? Are you crazyY
"Just then shadow appears in the
opening in the dugout and somebody
cries: To arms!'
Roar Of Guns Frishtful.
"Quiet prevails. We have all become
dumb. We get up and stretch our
weary bones and go out into the trench.
The roar of the guns is frightful. One
man looks at the other; no word is
spoken, but the eyes tell everything.
We are ready; some of the men are
sitting quietly in the mud, others are
resting their arms on their rifles. ]
study the pale, deeply lined faces of
these men. They are not soldiers,
but simply human beings. They are
not Adventures or warriors. They
are peasants and workmen in uniform,
and were not made for slaughter.
They are awaiting the order to die.
each one Of them knows what 1t
means; he knows that he is to expose
his head. his breast, his stomach and
nrms and legs to rifle balls, to shrapncl
and to the bayonet. They are quiet,
peaceful lot-not bandits or barba.
rians or savages looking for another's
blood. can see that they are tor.
tured by the suspense, that they are
in anguish, that they are wondering
whether they will live through this
terrible night. No one who has not seen
men ready for charge can appreciate
what it means.
"They still wait. It seems like an
eternity. The sun has set and weird
darkness is creeping over the sad land
scape. Then rain falls in torrents tc
add to the grewsome picture an at
mosphere of tragedy.
'"There is more time spent in wait
ing and then hand grenades are pass
ed around to the men. Each man re-
ceives two. Then the order Forward I!
is heard, and we know that it is now
our turn.
1--WE spring out Of the trench and
into the darkness. We expect to be
greeted by deadly fire. but, strange
the thunder Of the guns suddenly
ceases.
"Don't use your hand grenades un
til the last minute" shouts our cap
tain.
Bullets Whistle Past.
"Just then curtain of fire rises be
fore us and the bullets begin whistline
past our ears. We are running for
ward now. Shells are bursting all
around us. The fingers of my right
hand are singed by the fire of an ex.