Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-05-03
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AT these points the soHiers following turn on
frem the road. take to the fields or other roads
until they are past. by this means the Germans,
knowing what is coming, are making desperate
efforts TO stop the onrusi Of troops by Smelling the
roads. The gigantic shotgun charges of their
shrapncl break over the heads of the soldiers,
white many are torn In bits by the concession
shells crashing into the road among them. The
soldiers then take roundabout courses. Most OF
them are getting through.
Past the last town. where the road terminates
berauS, II has been blown into nothing, IL soon be-
comes impossible for the soldiers to march along In
masses. They scatter over the ground on their way
onward. The terrific Reimbursement of their own
side continues without Ietup. Also German shells
fail over all the land here and it Is a question OF
which Of the soldiers will get through. From be-
hind come such numbers of troops that there seems
to be no end to them.
With a legion ahead and an endless number be-
hind, we enter the ditch and continue our way,
now in single hle, for there is not enough room for
two to walk abreast. As We proceed the trenches
get deeper and deeper and soon our heads are below
the surface of the ground.
Casualties are lessened now. Shells continue to
burst about, even in greater numbers than IN the
land we have left. But the most of the shells tear
up columns of earth about. but above US.
Because the bitches we are travelling In are so mar
row few shells explode there and now for the most
part the men are caught only by the debris, that in
some places partly buries them.
There seems to be no end to the trenches that
branch off, continue to separate until they enter d
region of trench network. The detachment / am
with receives orders which of the boyaux (the COM
muuication trenches) to take rs We proceed. Now
we move forward slowly, frequently crouch under
the fall Of the dirt, stones and things and crlnge
against the all penetrating tear. the mighty eSplo-
sions of the shells near us and the shrieks Of Others
passing overhead
As we approach the first line the confusion of
noise of the batteries pounding away behind lessons
in sharpness. takes on more Of n roar, Il regular
working as though Of some gigantic machine. grows
less harsh and a new confusion In front begins to
grip the senses.
One sees nothing except occasionally when he
opens his eyes for Il brief period to see the direc'
ton, the seysers of spouting ground about them
and out above In front. Eyes closed and head low
cred. he feels his way, the same as the man before
him aud the one behind him.
Suddenly one bumps into the man in front and
comes to a stop. AS soon as one Is able he opens
his eyes and sees everyone In front has come to a
hult. They are near the first line, the man in front
shouts. Soldiers thlckly crowd the trench in front
as far as he can see.
Other soldiers, still coming up, also come to a
halt, soon filling up the trench In behind. One feels
himself to be part Of a tightly damned mass Of
men covering there In the trenches under the
spouting Of the land about them, debris falling ovel
all. They IRE standing by their rifles. fixing Of
them their bayonets. all carrying their full equip
ment-ready. /,
There Ia q strange grimness among those stand
ing there. No one in the crowded mass OF mel
tries to speak. The din seems more than q humnr
being Is able to stand. One feels like jumping ovel
the trenches and, regardless of anything. rushini
blindly on. Anything but the strain OF this. NJ
thinks, action and more action. He never bef0r'
thought he could be capable Of SO much action
What IL coming, let 1t happen quickly. he thinks
Head lowered md eyes closed. ones thought
pierce the masses Of flying things that look lk'
clouds out there In front, ~picturlng a scene as o.
Inst knew this home. his town and the pe0pl
he had grown up with. away of on the other sd
OF that. He wondered what has become OF ther
md he wonders whether he will ever know.
Still they wait, minute inter minute, while !
ones bewildered senses It seems ~ though man
hours are passing. No wounded are being passe
alonr on their why back. The younger men ar
wondering why. They IRE probably being take
bnck IN another trench reserved for them aud 10
messengers also. I,
Then suddenly. possibly within the space OF onl
n few seconds, there seems to be sudden quiet.
IN the first cessation IN n bombnrdment OF the
guns TINT has listed alm0st 20 hours. 1t Is n con
curative quiet, a tranquil period to tho confuse
senses Of the beings there; Mt other times son
might cnll II a terrific racket. For just now the