Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-12-27

WeSIeEu lTOut. NO. uOuUL Luduy GGT-
man general was stirring uneasily in
his large concrete shell-proof dugout,
kilOs behind the German front line, as
the ever-increasing laundering roar
reached his ears.
We had closeup view of his ma
1esty, the king of beasts, and to US he
was a sorry-loOking specimen. Patches
of hide were worn away, while in his
tail were two big knots. If these knots
had have been labeled it would have
been easy to read "Neuve Chapelle"
and "Gallipoli." The memory and
pain of these two disasters no doubt
Increased the intensity of his thunder.
The British bombardment of the
German lines was on, bOmbardment
which lasted over eight days and
nights It was the fOrerunner of the
Big Push, or Battle of the Somme."
Atwell and 1 were sitting in a dug
out of the support trench. Atwell was
a great, big, lovable fellow, and was
my mate. We both had been detailed
20 the divisional intelligence depart
ment, and were engaged upon "spy
work"
Atwell, although of a naturally
CHEEKY disposition, occasionally re-
tapsed into fits of dependency.
In the light from a stump of can
die / was making out my previous
days report to turn into brigade
headquarters. Occasionally the en-
trance to the dugout would light up
with a red flare as shefl burst in the
near vicinity. Atwell was sitting on
his pack, with his back leaning against
the wet and muddy wall of the dugout.
The rays from the candle lighted up
his face.
Finishing my report, got out
stag" lighted it. and with an uneasy
feeling listened to the roar OF the hell
outside. A long-drawn sigh caused
me to look in AtwelPS direction.
Never in my life have 1 seen such a
detected and woe-begone countenance.
This, in a way, angered me, because
/, myself, right then, had feeling of
impending disaster, sort of unknown
dread, perhaps intermingled with a
PARKWAY longing for the fields and
flowers at home. I wanted to be
cheered, and AtWell's face looked like
q morgue.
Forcing a smile I slapped Atwell on
the knee and said:
Come out o. your TRANCE. We've
both got a good chance for Blighty
with this bOmbardment on"
Atwell looked in my direction, and
IN a tone of voice which from him l
had never heard before, answered:
"Yank, I've been out since IA. I've
buried many a mate and I've seen
many a lucky bloke on a stretcher
bound for Blighty, and never gave it
q thought, but right now I feel as If
my stay in the trenches win be short.
I've had something on my mind since
September, 1914, and it's been worry
ing me pink. I'm goin' to tell you the
story, and I'll give you my oath that
you're the first one that's ever heard
IT from my lips; but I've got % have
your promise that you'll not judge me
too harshly. I've just got to get 1t
out o. my system"
Just then q signing moan could be
heard overhead. 1t was one of our
"nine-point- two" shells aimed in the
direction of Berlin. We both instinc'
lively turned our eyes toward the en-
trance of the dugout and waited fol
the burst. Nothing happened.
"Another bloomin' dud." calculated
Atwell. "a few more hundred pounds
gone to Seed" and then again the
gloomy look spread over his counte
nance. I was getting nervous and un
easy. Trying to hide my fear. said
"For TIL love o. Mike, Atwell, crack
a smile. Give us that story of yours
or else I'll go bughOuse. You had bet
ter get it off or your chest, because
I'm thinking that Fritz will soon bt
eeplying to our straflng, and If ar
eight-inch shell ever hits this dugou
they'll need no wooden crosses fol
us. because our names will appear un
der the caption Missing
With another sigh escaping from
his Inns. which sent a cold shiver vi
and down my SplnaI coiuinn, nc hsh'e'
a fag and started in. This is what ID
told me:
at was back in September. 1914
You know / came out with the frs
hundred thousand, the time when al
the fighting was done in the open
The Germans were smashing every
thing before them in their drive OF
Paris. Our regiment was one OF TIT
few opposed to Won Kluck. 1t was
case of hold them for a few hours ant
then retreat-always retreat. W.
didn't even have time TO bury on
dead. The grub was rotten, and w
we're lust about tagged out, dead tired
with no prospect of relief or rest IL
front of us.
.Et was crstomary for small patrol: