The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-26
No.,2-THE BOMB RAID

three lines. perhaps nothing al all IN
the official dispatches. And. besides
that. II may help some OF the young
men who read this, 10 know some
thing. Il little later, about bombing.
The si1ly OF us chosen 10 execute
the raid were taken twenty miles 10
the rear for weeks instruction prac.
ttce. Having only slight iuea OF
what We were going 10 try 10 do, we
felt very jolly about the whole enter
prise. tsarting of. We were camped
in an old barn. with several special
instruction officers In charge. we
had oral instruction. the first day,
while sappers dug and built an exact
duplicate OF the section Of the German
trenches which we were 10 raid. That
Is. IL was exact except for few de-
tails. Certain skeleton trenches In
the practice section, were dug simply
TO fool the German avlators. IL
photograph. taken back TO German
headquarters. had shown An exact
duplicate OF q German trench section.
suspicion might have been aroused
and our plans revealed. We wede
constantly warned about the skereton
trenches and told 10 remember that
they did not exist in the German sec
tion where we were 10 operate. Mean
while. our practice section was
changed little. several times. be-
cause aerial photographs showed that
the Germans had been renOratlng and
making some additions 10 the trench.
es in which We were 10 have our frollc
with them.
We had oral instruction mostly dur
ing the day, because We didn't dare
let the German aviators see us prac-
tirng bomb raid. All night long.
sometimes until or 3 o'clock in the
morning. we rehearsal that raid, just
as earthly as company Of star &C
IorS would rehearSr a play. Al first
there was a disposition TO have sport
OUT Of it.
Well" some chap would say. roll
ms into the hay. all Tired out, IL got
killed six times tonight. S'pose it'll
be eight times tomorrow night
One man insisted that he had dis
covered. in one Of. our aerial photo
graphs. a German hurying money. and
lure so that he cnul dbe sure OF, find
ing the dough and digging it up. The
grave and serious manner Of our Of
fCrrS. however. the exhaustive care
with which We were drilled. and more
than ALL the approach Of the time
when We were 10 go over the top.
drove all sport out of our minds, and
! can say for myself that The very
thought of. the undertaking. as the IA.
tai night drew near, sent shivcrs up
and down my spine.
A bOmb.raiding something origin.
atcd in warfare by The Canadians-is
MOI intended for Tho purpose OF hold.
ing ground. but 10 gain information. To
do as much. damage rs possible. and
10 keep the enemy in state Of nerv-
BUSINESS. In This particular raid the
chief object WAS n gain information.
Our high command wanted 10 know
what troops were opposite us, and
what troops had hrcn there. We we're
expected 10 get this information from
prisoners and from buttons and pa
pers off Of the Germans VIC might Kill.
1t was believed that troops were be-
ing relieved from Ihr big tent show,
IN at The Somme. and sent 10 our side
show in Belgium for rest. Also, 1t was
suspected that artillery was being
withdrawn for the Sommc. Especial
~, we were anxious 10 bring hack pris-
oncrS.
In civilized war 4 prisoner can be-
compelled 70 Tell only his name. rank
and religion. But This is not a civil
d
ing prisoners talk One OF the most
effective ways-Quitc humanc--is 10
lie a prisoner fast, head and foot. and
then tickle his bare feet with feath-
er. More severe measures have ire
Qucntly been used It'll" water cure.
for instanCr--but I'm bound 10 say
that nearly all the German prisoners
saw were quite luquaciouS and will
ing 10 talk. and the accuracy OF their
information. when later confirmed BY
raids, was surprising. The iron dlscl'
pine which turns them into mere
children in the presence OF their ON
GERS seemed 10 make them suoservi-
ent and obedient TO the officers who
The privates. In this way the system
worked against the Fatherland. Cap
tured German officers. especially the
Prussians. wore a nasty lot. We ncr
or tried TO gel Information from them
for We knew they would lie happily
and very Gcnily--well instructed
in the art.
\; last came tho Night when we wer"
10 20 "o:2r the toy. across No Mans
land. and have Il Frolic with Fritz IN
his own happy home. ! ann rndcAToruE
to b. HS mrrura1" and truthful As possl-
BILE IN fhcs" stories OF my SOLDERING
and | am. thrr"t re. Cpmpcllrd to ssE
that Their" wasn't man IN Inc SHY
who didn't show the strain IN his, pal
lar and nervousness. Under orders. we
DISCHARGED our french helmets and sub
situated knitted skull caps or emplJ
mess tins. Then "" hackenrd our
hands and far,T with ashes from
camp fire 50 rs Ia avoid being seen rs
luug rs possible. After this they load
I'd us iH;n motor tricks ana took US ur
10 "Shrapnrl corner" from which point
wr went in on io":. Just before W.:
left staff captain came along and
gave us 4 little talk.
This is the FIRST time YOU men have
been tested" h said you're. Cana
diallS. | needn't Say anything more 10
y.ni. Thcy'r" going 10 Ia popping th"m
Off al Il great ra:" Will" HoU'rc on Your
way HrrnSs. F:"m"mhrr that you'd bel
icr not stand up straight because our