Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-20

to take over tho trenches which had been
newly dug.
HUNS WE'RE NERVOUS
They all seemed in mortal terror OF
a sho'l, and whenever one caino scream
ing overhead they would either Hop"
ia the trench or rush for cover. Wo had
become moro or less accustomed TO ar
tiilcry fire. We had had plenty of 1t all
that day and the few shells they wero
dropping there did not appear 20 US as
serious. We could not help smiling at
those Huns and hoped that all the rest
OF them had just as bad nerves.
After what seemed an eternity we
entered Il dressing station which was an
enormous concrete dugout with II 'ong
passage down tho center and about four
some time we were taken 70 n room
whcro two German doctors IN white
coats wcrc working on German wounded.
ono of them slit up my sleeve, dressed
my wound and applied wiro splint.
He gayo mo ~ white cotton sling and
asked me if ] would Hike drink OF
coffee. our conversation was IN Ger
man. IF | could have said 1t in his
language / would lavo asked, Docs Il
duck swln?" I was never SO thirsty in
my life I had had nothing TO eat or
drink since the day before and when he
out sugar or milk J finished 1t Oft in
about three gups and he q out the mug
.,r more. IL was the finest thing l had
ever tasted.
After ono more drink ] was sent from
thla room to another where ] awaited
Wells, 1 discovered that tho doctor
had taken my silk handkerchief, which
had saved me AN endless amount OF
torture in walking down the commute
cation trench. l tried to get 1T back,
but was unable 10 do 30.
Before long We continued our dreary
march. We had not gono far when VIC
camo 10 n huge fence about twenty feet
high, constructed of logs, upon tho top
of which VIC could SEQ numerous ma
chino gun cmpaccments. This fence
was ia front of n large engineers dump
and WAS evidently used us screen, SO
that tho men could work behind 1t by
electric light without being observed
from our line. Wo at length emerged
from the trenches and tho wood. The
first thing noticed was u white cross
bearing the word Highlander" il was
! probably somo poor dovil who lad fal-
len IN tho second baltic of Nprcs.
A CANADIAN CAPTAIN
We wero taken into ~ second dress
| ing station which was even more clab-
! Urato than the first 1t was built of
concrete covered with ten or twelve
feet OF earth on which grass was grow
ing Tho dressing station was not un-
dergrouud. but the floor WAS about siN
feet below tho ground level. in front
were steps leading Gown TO :. small
paved courtyard on which stretcher
cases were laid while waiting tho at
/ tentioiI of tho doctor inside.
| Here | saw a Canadian captain lying
OH a stretchor with his head wrapped
up i'll bloody bandagcs. / could not sea
| his face for bandages. and unfortunate
| ly hc was unconscious. 80 | could not
lind out who he was At this dressing
| station Wo were given an injection
against tetanus and IL tag was tied OF
| to US indicating tins fact, tho nature
| and dato of our wounds, and tho treat
ment given. \ second and more sub
| stantial splint was put Oh my arm.
| When the doctor had finished with US
We went outside and sat down to await
tho departure of the small engineer
| train which was TO take us further on
| our journey. The Hun who had brought
US down received a certificate to the
| effect that he had turned over his prls-
oners He said good-by 10 us, and re-
| GREETED the fact that lie had 10 go back
| to tho front line again, from which lie
! seemed TO have doubts about returning.
Wo breathcd q heartfelt prayer that
| he would not, nor any of the others with
| him.
/ Continued tomorrow