Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-03-15

/ we were marching along, laughing, and
singing one Of Tommy's trench ditties
1 want to 60 home. I want to go home,
don't want to go to the trenches no
more
Where sausases and whIzz-bangs are &C.
lore.
Take me over the sea, Where the AilF
man can't get at me,
Oh, my. / don't want to die,
l want to 60 home"
when overhead came a "swish" through
the air, rapidly followed by three 9th
ers. Then about two hundred yards to
our left In a large field, four columns
Of black earth and smoke rose into the
air, and the ground trembled from the
report-the explosion Of four German
flve-nine's, or "c~Oalboxes." A sharp
whistle blast, Immediately followed by
two short ones, rang out from the head
Of our column. This was to take up
ARTILLERY formation" We divided into
small squads and went into the fields
on the right and left of the road, and
crouched on the ground. No other
shells followed this salvo. It was u
first baptism by shell fire. From the
waist up 1 was all enthusiasm, but from
there down, everything was missing. /
thought l should die with fright.
After awhile, we reformed into cob
umns Of tours, and proceeded on our
way.
About Eve that night, we reached the
ruined village Of H. and 1 got my
first sight Of the awful destruction
caused by German Kultur.
Marching down the main street we
came to the heart OF the village, and
took up quarters in shellproof cellars
(shellprOOf until hit by a SHIELD. Shells
were constantly whistling over the vii
lage and bursting in our rear, search
ing for u artillery.
These cellars were cold, damp and
smelly, and Overrun with large rats
big black fellows. Most Of the Tom
mics slept with their overcOats Over
their faces. 1 did not. In the middle
Of the night l woke up in terror. The
cold, clammy feet Of a rat had passed
over my face. I Immediately smoth-
cred myself In my Overcoat, but could
not sleep for the rest of that night.
Next evening, we took over our sec
tor Of the line. In single file we wend-
ed our way through a zlgzag COM
%munlcation trench, six inches deep
with mud. This trench was called
whisky street." On our way up to
the front line an occasional flare of
bursting shrapnel would light up the
sky and we could hear the fragments
slapplng the ground above us OF our
right and left. Then q Fritz would
traverse back and forth with his type
writer" or machine gun. The bullets
made a sharp cracking noise overhead.
The boy in front Of me named Prem
tice crumpled up without a word. A
piece Of shell had gone through his
shrapnel-proOf helmet. 1 felt sick and
weak.
In about thirty minutes we reached
the front line. It was dark al pitch.
Every now and then a German star
shell would pierce the blackness out
in front with its sllvery light. l was
trembling all over, and felt very lonely
and afraid. All orders were given in
whispers. The company we relieved
filed past us and disappeared into the
blackness of the communication trench
leading to the rear. AS they passed us
they whispered, 1.-THE best o. luch
mates"
I sat on the fire step Of the trench
with the rest Of the men. In each
, traverse two Of the older men had beer
put on guard with their heads sticking
over the top, and with their eyes try
ing to pierce the blackness in an,
Mans Land" In this trench there
! were only two dugOuts, aid these were
, used by Lewis and Vickers machine
gunners, so 1t was the fire step fol
ours. Pretty soon 1t started to rain
, We put on our ''macks," but they wert
: not much protection. The rain Y SckleC
[ down our backs, and 1t was not lonI
, before we were wet and cold. How
r passed that night I win never know
} but without any unusual occurrence
dawn arrived.
, The word "stand down" was passe,
along the line, and the sentrIes go
. down on the fire step. Pretty sOOn tn
rum issue came along, and 1t was
GOdsend. II warmed our chilled bOdle
and put new life into us. Then from
Z the communication trenches cam
dixies or iron pots, filled with steam
ing tea, which had two wooden stake
I through their handles, and were car
! rIed by two men. I filled my canteel
and drank the hot tea without takinI
It from my lips. II was not long be
fore 1 was asleep In the mud on tn
fire step.
NY ambition had been attained
was In a front-line trench on the west
ern front, and oh, how I wished I wer
back in Jersey City.
Empey takes his first turn on