Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-08-16

they had a good many casualties en-
route. They found us as comfortable
as bugs in q rug except for the infer.
nal and continuous bombing at our
flank barricade. The Germans had
concluded that it was useless to try to
drive us out. About one-fourth of the
600 of us who We're still on their feet
were holding the sentry posts, and the
remainder Of the 600 were having
banquets in the German dugouts, which
We're stocked up like delicatessen shops
with sausages, fine canned foods cham.
payne and beer. If we had only had
few ladies with us we could have
had real party.
1 got so happily Interested in the
spread IN our particular dugout that
forgot about my wound until some one
reminded me that orders required me
to hunt up dressing station and get
an anti-tetanus injection. The Tom
mics like to take German trench, be.
cause If the Fritzes have to move
quickly, as they usually do, we always
find sausage, beer and champagne, q
welcome change from bully beef. /
could never learn to like their bread
however.
After this fight l was sent, with
other slightly wounded men, for 9
weeks rest at the casualty station at
Contay. NJoined my battalion at
the end OF the week. From Oct. 21 to
Nov. IL we were in and out of the
fgont trenches several times for duty
tours OF forty-eight hours each, but
were in no important action. At 6:1O
ON the morning Of Nov. 1s, bit.
ter cold day, we event over" to take
the Desire and also the Desire support
trenches. These were the names given
these trenqees. We started from the
left OF our old position, and our ad.
vance was between Thiepval and
Pozieres, opposite Grandecourt.
There was the usual artillery prep.
aration and careful organization for
the attack. was again In charge OF
the "mopping up" wave, numbering
200 men and consisting mostly OF
bombers. It may seem strange to you
That noncommissioned officer should
have so important an assignment, but
sometimes in this war privates have
been In charge of companies number
Ing $50 men, and know Of case
where lance corporal was Temperate
~ In command of an entire battalion.
1t happened on this day that, while /
was In charge of the second wave, I
did not go over with them. At the last
moment was given special duty by
Major John Lewis, formerly manag-
Ing editor Of the Montreal Star and
one Of the bravest soldiers I ever
knew, as well as the best beloved man
In our battalion.
The Troublesome Machine Gun.
"McClintock," said he, 81 don't wish
to send you to any special hazard, and,
so far as that goes, we're all going to
get more or less of u busting, but I
want to put that machine gun which
has been giving us so much trouble
out of action"
l knew very well the machine gun
he meant. 1t was In concrete en-
placement, walled and rooted, and the
devils in charge of it seemed to be de-
scendants of William Tell and the
prophet Isaiah. They always knew
what was coming and had their gun
accurately trained on it before it came
"If you are willing" said Major
Lewis, Il wish you to select twenty
five from. the company and go after
that gun the minute the order comes
to advance. Use your own Judgment
about the men and the plan for taking
the gun position. Will you go?'
II sure WILL" answered. "I'll go
and pick out the men right away I
think we can make those fellows shut
up shop over there"
"Good boyv' he said "You'l try, all
right"
/ started away. He called me back.
''This is going to be bit hot, Nc
Chntock," he said, taking my hand.
II wish you luck, old fellow-you and
the rest Of them" In the trenches
they always wish you the best of luck
when they hand you particularly
tough job.
I thanked him and wished him the
same. l never saw him again. He
was killed in action within two hours