Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-12-21

| tlRHt, anu we got out OF IL WITHOUT DC
ing touched, but II was more by pure
luck than anything else what got
my goat was that during the whole
! thing the officer sat there with a cigar
In his mouth and a monocle In his eye
and didn't even look as though he was
nervous.
When we got back to our own head
quarters he said THANK you" and re-
marked TO another officer that zone
id fool' had escaped wearing a
wooden uniform that day "by the
breadth OF n gnats eyelash." pre-
sumo he was referring to me. and
agree with him heartily. Believe me,
that ride did me out of years growth.
l certainly pitled our transport men
during this time as never pltled them
before. They could not help being
the city, which they had to do. as there
was no other way for them to go. The
ambuances, too. suffered heavily.
All night the bombardment continued
with undated fury, yet our supplies
went through the city to the men just
the same.
The next morning was ordered to
report In my car to young officer Of
the intelligence department. The ON.
Ger told me that he had orders to go
through Ypres to little place called
PotlJze and to report himself to the
divisional commander there.
There was absolutely no other way
to get to PotijZe except through Ypres,
and you may be sure we were feeling
none too pleasant about the prospects.
We had to 60 slowly. even at the start,
as the road was filed with all kinds Of
transports. After we got through the
village of vlamertinghe we found the
going a little better, and we got along
faster. The road from Ylamertinghe to
Ypres is almost straight, and one can
see right into the city before one comes
within two kllometers of It.
As we swung into this straight
stretch l noticed several German aero
planes over the city. and It was plain
to be seen that they were dropping
bombs. This time they were dropping
petrol bombs. and the instant they ex-
ploded they would spray petrol all
over the place and fame would shoot
up into the air. In this way they were
setting Gre to the city.
1t was sight that ! shall never for
get. The shells were falling Just the
same, and, what with the ground fairly
trembling from the terrific explosions,
the smoke from the bursting shells and
burning houses, the flames and dust
a a. Ia L. hat
would need Dante to describe and do
It justice.
The thought that we were to attempt
the passage through all this was terri
flying. An awful fear. almost panic.
seemed to grip me. and ! longed to
Jump from that car and hide my face
from the 1amlng hell which seemed to
be stretching out Its tentacles Of fire to
draw us into Its gaping nav.
l felt weak all over and was wet
with cold perspiration. looked at the
officer, almost praying that he would
give the order to stop, but even as
looked l knew there was no chance of
that He was as white as death. but
there was look Of determination on
his face, and the clenched teeth and
set Jaws gave no promise OF his back
ing down.
! think the bulldog grit that he was
showing helped me. for resolved that.
while might get so weak as to be un.
able TO drive that car, would stick by
him as long as | could hold out. And
he certainly showed that he was
white" clear through. for he told me
TO stop a moment. did. and he got
out of the car.
Robinson" he said. 1--WE just been
thinking that there won't be any need
for you to come any further 1t Is a
rotten business, and as there are am
balances going up all the time, can
get lift In one and will stand Just as
much chance OF getting through as
though you were to take me don't
believe In any one taking unnecessary
risks, and In this case II would be risk
ing an extra man and car too, and
don't mind going on In an ambulace
the least bit"
thought 1t was Just about one OF the
finest things had ever heard OF a man
doing, and | want to say right here
that such things as this are typical OF
the true British officer, There are men
holding commissions who couldn't do
such thing as this to save their necks.
but they are the 'pikers" found In ev-
cry country, Temporary gentlemen"
as they are called by the real men who
are obliged 10 associate with them
My officers generosity did not help
me any, but appreciated ii more than
! can tell ! had orders to take him to
PotiJze and TO bring him back, and II
I stayed behind and anything happened
to him | would be worse OH than II
were lying beneath the ruins OF Ypres
explained this to him aud said that
| would rather take him. God Knows
whether II was true or not. but ! said
II, anyway While we were talking an.
other car passed us and as my officer
jumped In resolved to follow the man
who was now ahead OF me
noticed as the car passed us that
there were two officers In II. One a
major was sitting beside the driver
and the other. colonel was In the
bnck The car was about 200 yards