Weekly journal-miner., 1917-11-28


 ment, we observed the finale. All over the battlefield lay black humps students who had been designated dead and wounded. To add to the reality of the situation, about hun dred of them replaced the rife fire, now stillcd to few scattering shots, with piteous moans and groans. It sounded more like flock of bull calves saying, I'm hungry" than a company of wounded.
 Presently we saw the stretchers go out under cover of a heavy fire opened on the left flank. The living were bundled up and toted back to the trenches by members of the hospital corps attached to the camp. These men were recruits as far as trench war is concerned, and were getting their first lessons in carrying. injured men around the twisting curves of the ditches. The wounded were lucky stiffs, for they were carried clear back to the dressing station. which was located near the mess tents, and they all got hot coffee, bread and butter and apples, which they munch- ed in our faces on their final return to station.
 The battle was over. Scntries alone remained active. Those who rested, unrolled their blankets and slept fit. fully on the hard ground in the mar row trenches, cussing every time a messenger walked up and down their frames Outside, hundreds of auto mobiles roared and mancuvcred to get away on the return trip to the big village whence they came. Then, peace settled over the entrenched zone, like the peace that is in DOW der magazine, as long as ono doesn't drop a lighted match.
 This particular rear rank private had had hard day, what with chow detail, mopping up drill and the like, and tho tunnel to the listening post, with its partial protection against the bitter cold was haven of blessed rest. The snorcs of the sentry's re- licfs did not echo too loudly in that uncarthly place for sleep, and the good old luminous dial said 40 a. m. when the corporal wakened me by a gentle and hob-nailed kick in the base of the brain.
 You're on raiding party. We go out at 4:45," sczec.
 You never tell superior officer that you arc too darn sleepy to do it. You do it. So, at 4:45-with scant time to adjust equipment, grab a rife and make sure of ammunition, we hoppcd over the top and did lizard glide northward. Trained to know our wire from the cncmy's we soon took position under the German () entanglcment There were 30 of us, and we were all good hombrcs except ono long lank Tcxican, who never could initiate bush. He got seen. 4 sentry parked challenge and re- cciving no reply, deemed us hostile. He opened up and handed lis "l5 rounds rapid Soon, the entire line was awake. The vollcys of blank cartridges were scarcely louder thar the vollcys of good American swear words that came hurtling out of the dark. Our mission was to capture a hostile patrol, and VIC knew that we couldn't do t if no. hostile patrols were out. Quietly. we laid, and quiet ly, our captain watched the progress of the action. From the enemy trench came conversation like this:
 'I sec man"
 "A man? My God--an army"
 Pass the word I ain't got no more ammunition. Ain't even got no clodS to throw at 'cmI'
 We laughed way down in our tum- mics for our army consisted of less than four squads. A green sentry, the captain explained to us, would estimate just that accurately.
 As the excitement waned, and the firing died down, we waited for that NHIhiN pdliOi. ,'OOh iiO NdiiiN. -h score of stcalthy figures crouchcd and crcpt right into our elatcd midst, and joyously, we gathered them in.
 Here, You cant take me, I'm the company commander said ono of the figures.
 Tell ii to the major" replied the student leader of our patrol. And WIG got leather medal for bringing in an enemy with insignia on his collar.
 Speaking of the training, First company song illustrates one or two phases of t in crude but vivid verse. As follows:
 Come all you gallant fellows and a
 story you shall hear
 Of the trials and tribulations of an
 army engineer; They hung pack upon his back, it
 weighed hundred pounds. And they marched him to the target
 range, to shoot hundred rounds.
 (Chorus).
 Hes a hclluva-hclluva-h hclluva-hcll
 ,,,-a army ,nuiuccr.