The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-14
FIRST CALL
By
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
-
Author Of
over THE TOP"
over THE TOP"
CHAPTER NXlIL
From My Trench Note Book.

From My Trench Note Book.
YOU remember the old adage:
| For want Of nail the shoe was lost,
| For want OF shoe the horse was lost,
| For want of rOrsu the rider was lost
| For want Of a rider the battle was lost
| For want OF battle, tho nation wal
! lost:
And all for the want o, a horscsho,
| nall"
The moral Of this ancient adage Is a.
sound in this great war as in any oi
old. So before discussing any more oi
the phases OF life on the western front
am going to give a few suggestion,
about little things that | learned
through hard experience.
When a soldier enters the fire, OF
fro1t-llne trench, he generally is very
curious and wants 10 poke his nose into
everything. He has great desire tc
look over the top OF the parapet and
get a glimpse OF the German lines. Re.
strain this curiosity, because il is liable
TO result IN serious injury TO yourself
You must remember the Germans have
a wonderfully efficient system OF snip.
iPg and are always waiting for some.
one TO expose himself.
Keep Your Head Down.
In the daytime never look "oyer the
top unless you are ordered 10 do so
II your curiosity is so strong that il
gets the better Of your good Judgment
take peep through a periscope, but
never bother or distract the sentry on
duty at a periscope by asking him
! questions
After looking through a periscope YOU
will be disappOinted-all YOU will be
able TO see is barbed wre. an expanSt
OF dirt, then the German barbed wire
and their trenches. These simply ap.
. pear as thin white or yellow lines OF
the ground.
To make a periScope Of your own
take small mirror, tightly tie a piecr
OF string or wirC around H. Insert IN
point OF your i yonet between I'm
string or wire and the back OF TN
mirror Sitting on the fire step. clos
up against the parapet raise the mir
ror, fitting II slightly backward. unit
you get a view OF No Mans Land. d,
not keep the mirror up very long. espe
clally II the sun is shining. because III,
rays will attract German snipers am
draw their fire, and perhaps bulle
will hit your bayonet and ricoehet int,
the trench, wounding or killing some
one
! " for any reason YOU have 10 fire o
look 'ovcr the top" in the daytime. d.
It very quickly and duck as soon a
possible Never put your bead IN O
fire twice at the same place. becauS
YOU may have been spotted by an enem
Snlpcr and he doubtless has his riil
aimed AZ that particular spot. waitin
Tor your head to reappear. The iirs
rule IN trench warfare IS, Keep you
head down"
| II while leaning agains, the parapc
you place YOUR rifle on the fire stel
always be sure that the bayonet doe
not prottudc "oycr the ton" lBayu
nets are always kent fixed in IN
trenchcO Il will reflect the suns ray
and will draw enemy fire and perhap
deilect a bullet into the trench wit
evil results
Watch Your Bayouct.
Observe the same caution NJ nigh
when on guard, with your head stckin
over the top" | always found It he,
10 lay my rifle flat on the top, wit
The mu-zle pointing toward the enrn,
the right hand resting on the small o
the stock II YOU adop, this position
your rifle is handy and is aimed 10 m
right direction, II you have to fir
quickly
Never throw rubbish, the remains O
your ratlons, Or tin cans. ont in iron
ct your trench This is liable TO caus
rlcochets; the rationS will not only fee,
the rats but, after dccaing. will oite
cause disease. Remember Il is court
martial oiiense 10 do this.
II Tor any reason YOU have 10 pas
low and exposed part oi the parapet
smashed by German she'll, bend a
You pass, do not think il is a sign o
bravery 10 pass an )pcning standing
up; i is only ioolhardiness. Remem
bet that German Snipets nearly alway
have set" rifles aimed at these loy
spots waiting for a victim TO pass. |
YOU are carrying a board, or anythin,
that is long and clumsy through tn
trench, do not carry It so the en-,
sticks over the top" be especiall
careful II during your trip you mu,
pass a low or dangerous spot in IN
trench The German snipers can Sc
the end OF the obiec, YOU arc carryinI
and OF course realize that YOU mus
pass the dangerous place. They d
no fire a, the object you are carryin
but aim their rifles or a machine gu
1 az this point By following the eours
OF the moving object they know ius
when you will expose Yourself Crack
bullet gets YOU and then il
'stfetchet-bearerS on the double: yo
arc either killed wounded or scare
TO death
Remember il your mess outfit is dir,
and greasy that cold water will ne
J clean \, Take earth and gra. an
seour the utensils-then wipe thei
with a clean rag. This will save Id
OF time and Is a very efficient metho
Tor removing grease.
A good way TO keen papers. tobace,
matches. or handkerchief dry in rain