Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-05-04

from the road. take to the fields or other roads
until they past. BY this means the Germans
knowing what is coming, making desperate
efforts stop the onrush of troops by Smelling the
roads. The gigantic shotgun charges of their
shrapne break the heads of the soldiers,
while many are torn to bits by the concusson
shells crashing into the road among them. The
soldiers then take roundabout courses Most of
them getting through.
Past the last town, where the road terminates
because it has been blown into nothing, 1t be-
comes impossible for the soldiers 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 over all the land here and it is question OF
which OF 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 endless number be-
hind we enter the ditch and continue way,
now in single file, for there is not enough for
two to walk abreast. AS we proceed the trenches
get deeper and deeper and soon our heads are below
the surface of the ground.
Casualties are lessened now. Shells continue to
burst about, in greater numbers than in the
land we have left But the most of the shells tear
up columns of earth about, but above us.
Because the bitches we travelling in mar
row few shells explode there and now for the most
part the are caught only by the DEBRIS that in
some places partly buries them.
There seems to be no end to the trenches that
branch off, continue to separate until they enter
region of trench network. The detachment / am
with receives orders which of the boyaux (the COM
muncation trenches) to take 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 explo-
sons of the shells and the shrekS of others
passing overhead
AS we approach the first line the confusion of
,h011i,1 n
in sharpness, takes more of roar, regular
working as though of some gigantic machine grows
less harsh and confusion in front begins to
grip the senses
One sees nothing except occasionally when he
opens his eyes for brief period to the direc-
ton, the geysers of spouting ground about them
and out above in front. Eyes closed and head low
cred he feels his way, the same as the man before
him and the one behind him.
Suddenly one bumps into the man in front and
to "a stop. AS soon one is able he opens
his eyes and sees everyone in front has. come to
halt. They are the first line, the man in front
shouts Soldiers thickly crowd the trench in front
as far as he can
Other soldiers, still coming up, also come to
halt soon filling up the trench in behind One feels
himself to be part of tightly damned mass of
men covering there in the trenches under the
spouting of the land about them debris falling
all. They 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
tries to speak The din seems more than human
being is able to stand. One feels 1922 jumping over
the trenches and, regardless of anything, rushing
blindly on 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 it 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, picturing a scene as he
last knew this home, his town and the people
he had grown up with, away off 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 it seems though many
hours are passing. No wounded being passed
along on their way back The younger men are
wondering why. They probably being taken
back in another trench reserved for them and for
messengers also.
Then suddenly, possibly within the space of only
a few seconds there to be sudden quiet 1t
is the first cessation in a bombardment of their
guns that has lasted almost 20 hours. 1t is COM
parative quiet tranquil period to the confused
senses of the beings there; at other times some
might call it a terrific racket. For just now they