The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-30
OVER THE TOP;
GIVE EN- HE'LL!

The English Tommy's battle cry
as he breaks from his trench. The
bomb raid and what happened. OF
sixty that started, forty-sx failed
to return because the Germans
had prepared and mined the
trench. Graphic description of
Sergeant McClintock S terrible ex.
perience.
SERGEANT A1ExANDER McCL1N-
TOCE. D. c. N.
tDisttnEuished Conduct Medal, s7th
Overseas Battalion, Canadian Grenadief
Guaras).
EDITORIAL NOTE: - Sergeant
McClintock is an American boy or
Lexington. Kentucky. who has seen
service in France, was decorated Tor
bravery, wounded. invaded home, and
is now endeavoring TO get d commls-
ion in our army. 4 commission IN
the Canadian army awaits him II he
returns TO join his old command.
However, he is endearoring now to
ioin the> American forces at the front,
and has been promised his honorable
discharge from the Canadian army.
This IS the third article in the Sc
rieS. In his last one. he described the
exhaustive preparations for bomb
raid on the enemy trenches and closed
it just as they were ordered over
the top
As w. climbed out of the shelter OF
our trenches for my first-and. per
haps my last. | Observation-Disclosures IN
No Mans Land. the word was passed:
Over tha top and give 'em hell!
: That is the british Tommies' battle
cy as they charge the enemy anc II
has often sounded up and down those
long lines in western France as the
British, Canadian and Australian sol
diers 90 out 10 the fight and the
death
We were divided into six parties OF
ten men. each party having separate
duties 10 perform. We crourhed for
ward. moving slowly in single file.
stumbling into nell holes and over
dead men-some very long dead and
managing TO keep in touch with each
other though the machine gun bullets
began to drop men almost Immediate
y. Once we we're started, we were
neither fearful or ratified. We had
been drilled go long and so carefully
that each man knew just what he was
TO do and he kept right on doing it
unless he got hit. To me, II seemed
the ground was moving back under
me. The first ten yards were the
toughest. The thing was perfectly
organized. Our first party Of ten
was composed OF signallers. They
were paying out wires and carrying
telephones to be used during the fif-
teen minutes Of our stay in the Ger
man trenches in communicating with
our battalion headquarters. A tele-
phone code had been arranged. using
the names Of our commanding officer
as symbols. "Re1ford l" meant.
"Firsf prisoners being sent back
"Re1ford 2" meant. Our first wound.
ed being sent over; "ReNford 3
meant. we have entered German
trench" The code was very. com
plete and the signallers had been
drilled in it for week. In case the
telephone wires were cut. the signal
lers were to send messages back by
the use OF rifle grenades. These are
rifle projectiles which carry little
metal cylinders to contain written
written messages. and which burst
into flames when they strike the
earth. so that they can be easily found
at night. The officers in charge or
the ignallers was to remain at the
point Of entrance. with his eyes on his
watch. II was his duty to sound q
warning sigual five minutes before the