Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-18

they thought it rather smart. but
had different opinion. and l was only
sorry there was no officer beside me
at the moment to witness the affair.
We had tho satisfaction of carrying
that place afterwards. but instead o'
the score or so or prisoners we ought
to have had. we could only have got
Il handful-if we got any, for | don't
know what the exact fate Of that par
ticular pilIbox was.
Probably it was blown to bits.
shall never forget the last trip
made. The going up 10 the front line
was all right. bar the mud. What mud
and what task getting through il
and out Of il.
And yet. despite it all, our boys went
up rs IL OH review, with rifles and
hayoncts slung high. and just on their
lips. You couldn't call 1t Il road. tho
way we had to go over. Almost at
every part it was knec-decp in stick
miro. but through it we plowed. lit
orally plowcd. our way. helping each
other as best we could until we reached
the front-lne trenches Into these We
scrambled and then settled down 10
wait the first act in the drama which
was to unfold itself.
The first act, OF course, was tho
artillery, and. needless to say, 1t was
great success
Our special difficulties began when
the boys went over. and we had TO
follow them up.
For a bit it was quite safe. or COM
parativciy safe. behind the creeping.
all-protccting barraGc. but the further
we penetrated into mo mans land" be-
fore us. and the nearer we got TO the
pillbox zone, the less we could count
MT, 70 Ut In
at our work. ! don't mean molcsta-
ton from Hun infantrymcn--thcsc we
only saw in the shape of prisoners
but from Hun bullets and shells. These
were flying pretty thick at times, but
we had jus. 10 risk it and so on with
our duties.
It's curious. though how familiar
lied you become with the worst pos
siblc conditions.
When YOU think about ii. going out
and tending the wounded under hail
of bullets seems i hopeless. If not an
impossible task, but once you get over
and get started. all thought of risk and
danger vaniShcS.
BATTLE FIELD HEROISM
EXPLAINED by INTEREST
work that YOU pay no moro attention
TO bullets than il they were flies.
After all. what can you do
You're probably just as safe al the
spot you arc in II YOU shifted to
another. for you never know where
the missiles arc going to land. So
you just go ahead and chance it. as
the saying is.
And besides, you've so much TO do
that you even forget all about your
chances"
We'll. We forged ahead all right.
US. when. all Of "a sudden, disaster
came.
Only one of my chums got knocked
out. and went to his assistance.
We were we'll into the danger zone
by this time, bullets dying around
everywhere and all the roar of battle
around.
1t was no good. figured. getting
him into a shell-ho!e. for these places
were filled with water. You might set
in-only to drown.
SO l bandagcd him un best I
could. and sooner had ] finished
my task and saw him being carried
had got inc on the leg. and | dropped.
\ nice predicament!
Once again thought OF a she'll
hole, but it would have been job
crawling to one. and. AS say it
might be filled with water and
NtESs IIdt" inc CNcH ltldH the Ont1
SO sat there and performed first aid
on myself.
Then. what next. think YOU?
No sooner had | tied up my leg
wound ,han--whizz once again! An
other bullet had come and caught mo
right in the arm
A second sooner and would no,
have been able TO finish tho bandaEinS
of my leg. You'd have thought some
German snpcr had been Watching and
had been good enough TO wait until
] got ono Job done before he gave
me another to attend to.
Eut I don't think so! II was just
tho luck. or misfortune. Of war. which
ever way you care 20 look at Ill
That was the end Of M duties for
the day-and for some time TO come.
INDIVIDUAL GERMANS
REPORTED TO BE IIISD
never came across an: OF the
German strctchcr bearers 1T work bu,
they often helped our wounded. In
tact, We hadn't TO ask them.
They are always very willing TO give
hand at tn" job, and on many coca.
aiona came forward voluntarily and
offered their services.
That's all to Fritz's credit. but what
stands TO his personal credit a 9 a sol.
dicr docs not minimize in the least
the guilt Of his supporters in playing
-I'n 'r!fkS az ndNC OeStTlbtJ III Inc
Red Cross episode. That one thing
about the lIuns NC cant get away
with--the mean. dishonorable manner
in which they take advantage Of every
thing to help them out Of difficulty.
Their officers are out to win tho war
by fair means or foul, and tho foul
seems moro TO their nature than the
fair.
We got our objective during the
stunt VII \ brought me my wounds
and Oh the way back ! had an uppor-
tunity Of witnessing how cur men
manage to set through their terrible
task.
When 7 was creeping back. seeking
what shelter could from tho bullets
and ahcli& which were stnl flying |
hailed hv Ill