Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-30

Stailment OF story OF fighting IN france ny
dians at Vimy Ridge In the first chepter
the author described preparations to blow
up a mine under the German lnes1
CHAPTER II.
TT the enemy found out that we
were planning to explode mine
u under his trenches, 1t would go
hard with us. for he would lay all his
artillery on the spot, bring up large
numbers of machine guns and ar
range a strong attacking party, be-
sides evacuatng the dangerous part
of the line. In this case, our party
would he annihilated before 1t fairly
got started. So we were careful to
conceal our preparations.
I checked up the supply dump as
signed 10 my party and then brought
the men up to show them its posi-
tion, as II was our assembly point
for that night, and to issue them
their bombs, ammunition, emergency
rations, shovels, sandbags, etc.
Right at this point, we got into
little trouble The dump was on the
reverse side Of A slope out # sight
so we We're In the open when an
enemy airplane 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 just
got to work again when suddenly a
large "Minnenwerfer" arrived about
a hundred yards up the slope This
is n huge trench mortar bomb of
approximately two hundred pounds
and gives about the most unpleasant
explosion of any missile in use.
When Il went off we all looked up
and wondered what they were shoot
q ing at We soon found out. In
few minutes. another arrived a good
bit closer. but foollshly, 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 an apparently right in
the middle of my men. / had just
time to throw myself down when 1t
went off. In reality, II landed few
yards to one side and only laid out
about six men instead OF the whole
party. After this hint, we moved
from that place for awhile. After
n salvo of shells, things quieted down
again.
Doesn't Feel like Eating.
When everything was finished at
the dump 1t was about supper time.
They say a man going to be hanged
can eat Dig meal. All L can say IS
envy him-for / couldn't Per-
haps. II Is because he is certain of
what is coming to him while wasn't,
gone!' Maybe II was Imagination,
for ! didn't notice IL so much later on
before other parties, and, maybe, 1t
was because my nerves were all
tense end on edge before this first
affair. / have never seen a case Of
real cowardice in France on our side
Of the line. / have seen men fright
ened and have been frightened my
self, but never so badly as not to be
tho felt could make a good guess.
Then everyone was so thotful about
shaking hands and wishing mo good
luck, with sorrowfuf expression that
seemed to say: "Too bad. there Is an
other one able to go forward when
tho time came"
After supper received my last
instructions from my colonel and the
major, who was In direct command
Of the minor operations. I then lined
up my men. II was now 7:30. Every
thing swas quiet on the front. We all
spoke Ia whispers. At $3.50 everything
was ready. Now started the Commute
wait for the signal. There was hardly
a sound along the entire front. ~Occa-
sionally rifle would spit or flash
would curve thru the air
II Is not possible for me to picture