Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-10-23
CHAPTER u.
First Time Under Fire.

First Time Under firo.
THAT afternoon about O'Clock
shells began to drop into the
town, and we made quick exit.
It was my first time under fire. and 1t
was far from being agreeable. | had
very often wondered whether would
be scared or not Well, found out
then, and ! certainly was scared. Since
then have often wondered about that
family and what they would think OF
me for advising them that they were
in no danger.
1t didn't take Us long to move, and
It is q good thing 1t didn't, for as
we were leaving the town we could
see the Germans coming over the hill
about four miles away. We won.
dered why we didn't 60 to meet them.
but apparently our time was not yet.
My duties were very light. Attached
to Captain Colvin, had the care Of
his horse and saddlery and had to ride
behind him wherever he went when
mounted. That is about all had to
do. OF course when the regiment went
into action my duty would be to fol-
low the captain.
Eventually we arrived at q little
place called Zillebeke, and 1t was here
that we Joined up with the Seventh
infantry division. There was very lit
tie doing, and nobody seemed to know
Just what we were going to do. Our
chaps went out on patrols every day,
and occasionally they would run into
a German patrol, and there would be
a scrap.
During our stay at Zillebeke 1t was
decided that all unframed men were
to be returned to England to finish
their training, and It looked very much
as If I was going to land back in that
riding school after all. While the mat
ter was still undecided the driver Of
General Byng's car was killed, so I
went to the captain and told him I
could drive a car. and I offered my
services. He put In word for me.
and l was given the car, but only until
q regular driver could be secured.
It was while was driving this car
that / saw the city Of Ypres for the
first time. There had not been shell
In the place yet, and 1t certainly was
q fine old town.
One afternoon I was waiting In the
car for some staff officer In the Grand
place when I heard q lot Of shooting
and shouting. ! looked over In the
direction Of the noise and saw that
some Of our troops were all firing into
the air. And there, above, was the frst
German taube / had ever seen. The
pilot was flying very low and within
easy rife range, so got excited and
dragged out my rife and began firing
at him too. His machine, heard aft
erward, was absolutely 1ddled with
bullets and he was wounded In three
places. That was my first shot at
German. It was In Ypres. too, that I
saw 700 Of the Prussian guard brought
In. and I must say that they were some
Of the finest looking soldiers / have
ever seen. They were all great big
fellows, and our infantry chaps looked
mighty small beside them.
II was soon after this that the Ger.
mans got their forces together aud
made their first attack on our positions
outside Of Ypres. I was In the town
when the first shells landed. aud the
panic they created was something ter.
rible to witness.
Men, women and children seemed to
have but one idea, and that was to get
out as quickly as possible. Old women
would go staggering along with their
belongings tied In each end Of a bed
sheet and the whole thing slung around
their neck. The streets were crowded
with them. Men were driving pigs and
chickens before them and the women
leading and carrying children. The
roads were Uttered with dead and dy.
Ing, wounded horses screaming their
horrible scream and kicking. The. din
was terrible. Shells would burst in the
roads choked with people, but the mo-
mentary gap would Immediately oil
and the panic stricken people would
sweep over their own dead.
At the time couldn't seem to real.
ize what was happening. felt numb
all over. but with an awful terror grip
ping me, and lon9ed to turn and ny.