Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
CANADIAN DESCRIBES
FIGHTING IN A TANK
Sergt. Divall Tells How Three Ger.
man Trenches Are Taken and Way
Cleared for Infantry.
Correspondence of the Associa,cu Press.

Correspondence of the Associatcd Press.
LONDON June 4-The first account
of fighting as viewed from the INSIDE
of British tank" is contained in
letter from Sergt. +. Il. Dival. cana
dian, who has been attached to one OF
the tank companies since the his
cars were first sent TO the french
front. He says:
The order to advance is given.
Steadily the long, powerful shapes
move forward in the gray mists OF
dawn. As the weird-lookfng forms
travel over the front trench the troops
therein rub their eyes in wonder AT
the strange cube-tnpressionist coat Oh
many colors which the tanks are
wearing Inside the tanks are the
kecn-eyed fighting men. strangely
CARRIED, as becomes their strange craft,
while around them is a complicated
mass of machinery.
Now we are passing over shell holes,
tree stumps and many other trlheS,
which fill the ground of No Mans Land.
The deck of the tank rolls and pitches
like a torpedo boat in storm Inc
crew hold on to anything within reach
to steady ourselves while we rush
down large shell hole. But we come
safely through without seasickness
suddenly the gunnery officer gives
the order: To action his voice is only
Just heard above the noise of the
whirling machinery. A few sighting
We succeed in putting out two machine
gun emplacements, the guns of which
have been worrying our infantry Tor
some time. And now the action begins
in earnest. Hun bullets are rebounding
from our tough sides like hail from a
glass roof. while inside the tanks the
whole crew are at various guns, which
break forth in a devastating fire, I'M
der which nothing can live.
Reach First Hun Trench.
And now we are on the parapet of
skirts of the wood which is our obJec-
tive. and as we go humping on to the
other side we land with terrific
bump. a can Of petrol has slipped
from its pigeonhole and come clatter-
ing down on to the armored deck, with
Its stopper shaken out, and the dan
gerous spirit running over the floor
However. We enfiladed that trench, fol-
lowed up the retreating Huns for
minute or two, cleared out. the near
est dugout. and went on our way to the
next trench
by this time the fumes from the hun
Greds of rounds which we had fired, with
the heat from the engines and the waste
petrol and oil, have made the air quite
oppressive and uncomfortable to breathe.
Now. we are nearing the next enemy
trench. and we hear the deep report of
bursting bombs, above the pattering OF
the storm of bullets. striking our armor.
soon we find ourselves on the edge of
the Hun trench This proves to be COM
posed of shell holes of all sizes. just linked
together, showing how severe our previ-
Gus commandments had been. The Huns
show fight here. and we have warm
ten minutes before they give signs OF
retreating. We leave them for minute
or two in order to ram machine gun
emplacement, which is still threatening
our rapidly advancing infantry. We just
crawl over the embankment guns and ALL
It is not necessary to fire single shot
When Machinery Breaks Down.
Now. it is time for us to advance to
the next and last position We have the
good fortune to strike road which has
escaped serious damage, and, making all
speed along this. we make up to the Huns
who have escaped from the last trench.
But they have had enough OF the all-de-
vouring monster, and are ready to throw
down their arms and make their way TO
our infantry, glad to be prisoners
TIE last trench proves to be the worst.
for just we are crossing a large hole
our bus stops. Two or three Huns, see
ing our difficulty, crawl out Of hole
creep on the back Of the tank from be-
hind. But we hear them on the armor
and they were doomed not to get the
icon cross, for we open small trapdoor
and shoot them with a revolver. OF
course, We had seen them before they
reached the tank but as our mechanism
was giving US a little change of occu-
PATTON just then, We did not trouble
about them.
And now the old bus is going strong
again. Only just in time, for large lyd-
dfte bomb bursts against the armored
jacket of my gun. The flare comes in
through the portfolio. binding me for
minute or So while small splinters strike
my face. But my gun is still untouched
thanks TO the arnor plate, and. somehow,
seems to work much better And now I
catch some Huns retreating along
trench. almost in line with a burst OF fire
The Germans are now scattered in small
parties. 1t is almost like playing at hide
and-seek as We now travel backward and
forward along that trench. After few