The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-08-22
A Gas Helmet.


stay IN the front'line and argue out the
war with FRITZ. They were envious
but still good-natured, and as left the
trench to go to the rear they shouted
after me-:
Good luck. Yank. old boy; don't
forget to send up few flags to your
old mates"
promised to do this and left.
l reported at headquarters with six.
teen others and passed the required ex-
animation Out of the sixteen applk
cants four were selected.
was highly eiated because was,
thought, in for cushy Job back at the
base.
The next morning the four reported
to division headquarters for instruc-
tons. Two of the men were sent to
large towns In the rear of the lines
with an easy job. When 1t came our
turn the officer told US we were good
men and had passed very creditable
examination.
My tin hat began to get too small
for me. and noted that the other man,
Atwell by name, was sticking his chest
out more than usual.
The officer continued: ~ think can
use you two men to great advantage
in the front line. Here are your orders
and instructions. also. the pass which
gives you full authority as special NJ.
P. detailed on intelligence work. Re
port at the front line according to your
instructions. 1t is risky work and I
wish you both the best of luck"
My heart dropped to zero and At
wells face was study. We saluted
and left.
That wishing us the "best of luck"
sounded very ominous In our ears If
he had said II wish you both a swift
and painless death" 1t would have been
more to the point.
we knew we were in for 1t good and
plenty.
What Atwell said is not fit for pub
LEGATION, but I strongly seconded his
opinion Of the war, army and divisional
headquarters In general.
After bit our spirits rose. We were
full-fiedged spy-catchers, because our
instructions and orders, said SO.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest French estaminet and had sew
eral glasses of muddy water, which
they called beer. After drinking our
beer we left the estamlnet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got in. The driver was going to the
part of the line where we had to re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived a
ride in that ambulance was inexplica-
BILE to me. 1t was worse than riding on
a gun carriage over rock road.
The driver of the ambulance was !
corporal Of the r. A. NJ. c., and he
had the wind up" that Is, he had an
aversion to being under fire.
/ was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting in the ambu-
lance, with his legs hanging out of the
back.
AS we passed through a shell-de-
stroyed village mounted military po-
liceman stopped US and informed the
driver to be very careful when we got
out on the open road, as 1t was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit of Smelling it.
The corporal asked the trooper If there
was any other way around, and was
informed that there was not. Upon
10 ho a t~I
turn back. but we insisted that he pro-
coed and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer If he returned
without osderSs we wanted to ride,
not walk.
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger, and he appeared greatly
relieved. !
When we at last turned into the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been q line of
trees, but now, all that was left of
them were torn and battered stumps.
The fields on each side of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several In the road IT
self. We had gone about half mile
when shell came whistling through
the air and burst in field about three
hundred yards to our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge of the road about four hun
dred yards In front of us.
l told the driver to throw In hrs
speed clutch, as we must be in sight
of the Germans. l knew the signs
that battery was ranging for us, and
the quicker we got out of its zone of
fire the better. The driver was trem-
bling like leaf, and every minute
expected him to pile US up in the ditch.
I.preferred the German fire.
ITO he confipuad(