The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-06-20

4 iefy, or lance corporal rs yuu call II
| in the infantry. used to relieve IA,
tclephnuists We would tln two hour
an and four off. would he On duty
N the advanced observation post
while he would be ~ the other end oi
he wire in the battery dugout signal.
ing station. We were supposed to send
through orders for the battery To fire
when ordered "a do So by the ohservs
ton officer In the advanced post. But
very few messages were sent. II was
only in case Of an actual attack that
We would get chance to earn our
two and six n day. You see. Old PEP
per had issued orders not to fire ex-
ccpt when the orders came from him.
And with Old Pepper orders is orders.
and made Ia obey.
"The Germans must have known
about .hese orders. for even In the day
their transports and TROOPS used to
expose themselves as II they were on
parade. This sure got up our nose
sitting there day after day. with fine
targets In front 81 us bur unable to
send over shell. We heartily cussed
old Pepper. his orders. the govern
ment. the people at home. and every
Thing In general. But the Boches
didn't mind cussing and got very care
less. Bilme me. they were bally In
shifting. Used to. when using a certain
road. throw their caps into the air as
n taunt ut our helplessness.
"Cassell had been a telegrapher In
civil life and Joined up when war was
declared. As for me. ! knew Morse.
learned II ut the signalers' school back
In 1910. With an officer In the obser-
walton post we could not carry on the
kind OF conversation that's usual be-
tween two mates. so we used the
Morse code. To send. one Of us would
tap the transmitter with his finger
nails. and the one on the other end
would get II through the receiver.
Many an hour was whiled away In this
manner passing compliments back aud
forth.
In the observation post the officer
used to sit for hours with a powerful
pair OF field glasses to his eyes.
Through cleverly concealed loophole
he would scan the ground behind the
German trenches. looking for targets
and finding many. This officer. Cap
tain A by name, had habit ~
talking out loud 10 himself. Some.
times he would vent his opinion. same
us common private does when he's
al.
captain had been on Old Peppers staff.
so he could cuss and blind In the most
approved style. Got 10 he sort of
habit with him.
About six thousand yards from us.
behind the German lines, was road
in plain view of our post. For the last
three days Fritz had brought compn-
mics Of troops down this road In broad
daylight They were never shelled.
Whenever This happened the captain
would froih at the mouth and let out
u volume Of Old Peppers religion
which used 10 make me love him.
Every battery has range chart ON
which distinctive landmarks are noted. |
With the range for each. These land |
marks are called targets, and are mum |
bered. On our battery's chart, that |
rond was called Target II. Range |
dO0O 3 degrees 30 minutes left. ID 23s |
battery consisted Of four as howlt- |
zers, and fred = 35-pound ii. T.. she'll |
As you know, II. l.. means high eX-
plosive.' ! don't like cumming up my
own battery, but we had record in |
the division for direct hits, and our
boys were just plnlng away for a
chance to exhibit their skill In the
eyes Of Fritz.
"On the afternoon OF the fourth day |
Of Fritz contemptuous use Of the road !
mentioned the captain and I were at
our posts as usual. Fritz was strafe-
Ing US pretty rough, Just like he's doing
now. The shells were playing leap
frog oil through that orchard.
II was carrying on a conversation
In our tap code with Cassell at the
Dther end. II ran something like this:
"'Say. Cassell. how would you like
10 be In the saloon bar OF the Kings ]