The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-08-25


bombs were dropped, signaling in code
to the gunners of that hidden battery.
Dressing in the maddest haste, Pa
tria ran from her room, and without
pausing to fiEd and question anyone
who might be about the house, left the |
patio by the passageway.
In front of the house her motor |
car was waiting-by prearranged or
der-in charge of an orderly. From
him. as she drove toward the aviation
field. she learned little or nothing. He
had arrived at the house with the car
at about the time when the firing De-
gan. He could tell her no more than
that the end of a sleepless night had
found every man upon the ranch at MS
post and prepared to sell his life To
the highest bidder.
On the way they passed squad OF
men operating an anti-airplane gun
which they had just brought INTO ac-
ton. They worked steadily, method
| icalIy. intelligently, as if they were
| well-accustomed TO their business IN
stead of the nOvices they were IN all
| save drilling.
And the accuracy Of their firing was
| astonishing. By the time Patrla ar
rived at the aviation field, n lucky
shot had brought down one of the nos
tile aircraft. another was WlhGihs
southwark as fast rs its engine would
move il, and the third was engaged IN
= duel with two planes sent up Dy
Patrias corps.
Fascinated, she stood watching TINS
snectacle long after her own biplane
had been wheeled out of its hangar
and made ready for her ascent.
The three in the air were so hlgh
that they seemed little larger thah
swallows, and like swallows theE
wheeled and swoOped, splitting fire al
one another. cleir planes flashing ID
the young sunlight like swords.
In the end the invader took refuge
in flight. the two defenders swapping
: at his heels; and SO they drifted from
, sight. far south Of the border.
The distant firing had now become
> more fast and furious.
y Clambering into the seat of her III
, plane. Patria grasped the controls aht
gave the word TO start the engine.
Five minutes later she was at al
I elevation whence she comrnahdeu
q view of the country north and souti
q of the boundary line.
e That report had not erred in sayini
: that the japanese and Mexicans mean
IN invade in force was dismayingly dis
y closed. The roads TO the south OF III
n arroyo which marked the internauona
# line were choked with regiments q
horse and foot. Patria's widest fear
s had not prepared her for the sight o
o so vast an army. Her heart sank; til
q handful Of men with which she ma
/ Thought TO oppose this army SCENE
n more than ever pitifully inadequate
d She had expected them to be outnun
~ bered ten to one; the truth was tina
n they were Outnumbered a hundred
ID one.
20 Yet they were fighting CALAMITY
n. as calamity as if they imagined IN;
n the odds against them were less bruta
lie " disproportionate. Which none oil
TO Under cover of the sand-bag parap'
a of the first trenches-immediately
Id the north of the bridge spanning II
IT. arruyO-several companies were doll
or good service under CALLING condition
re sweeping the approaches to the birds
with machine-gun fire while sufferiI
lie rain of shrapnel.
TO This last came from that bate
Ike which had awakened Patria with !
Mt first shots. 1t was sheltered behind
ot hill at some distance south or {
bridge, and its gunners, having got
d. range Of the trenches, were subJecu
them to a bitter fire, constant a
h: deadly. Already (Patria SAW the
ny was a constant procession OF wound
he moving by communicating trenches
nd the rear. either in stretchers or ma
wo ing laborious journey afoot-assist'
of perchance, by some comrades sho
in der. And already the ground beyo
the parapet was Uttered with bod
are of their dead.
cd And this was only the beginning. &.
,rn To the man in the observers seat
of her side Patria communicated cert'
ere instructions which he swiftly ira
al lated into wireless to be picked up
ms the operator at the headquarters
i'll trials people had established well bi
d. of the main line trenches. Within
90 minutes the effect of her orders
the apparent. The first line trenches W
being rapidly vacated, their occupa
hat fastening back to the greater secur
a Of the main line. While one of Pa
the masked batteries, going on inforl
? a ton communicated by Patria, got
llv range of the japanese guns beyond
,IIv hill and began to pound them me
u.s. lessly.
The evacuation of the first
ont trenches was accomplished barely
an time, even as Patria had fores
Ike,