American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-16

Atwell was a good companion and
very entertaining. he had an utter
contempt for danger, but was not fool
hardy. At swearing he was a wonder.
A cavalry regiment would have been
proud Of him. Though born In Eng
land, he had spent several years in
New York. BE was about six feet one,
and as strong as an o
We took up u quarters in a large
dugout Of the royal engineers. and
mapped out our future actions. This
dugout was on the edge Of g large
cemetery, and several times at night
In returning to 1t, we got many a fall
stumbling over the graves Of English,
French and Germans. Atwell on these
occasions never INDUCED In swearing.
though at any other time, at the least
stumble, he would turn the air blue.
A certain section Of our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish rifles. For
several days a very strong rumor went
the rounds that a German spy was in
our midst. This spy was supposed to
be dressed In the uniform Of a British
staf officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing a red
band around his cap. who patrolled the
front-line and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions as to loca-
ton Of batteries, machine-gun emplace-
ments, and trench mortars. II a shell
dropped In a battery, on a machine gun
or even near a dugout, this spy was
blamed.
The rumor gained such strength that
an order was issued for all troops to
Immediately place under arrest anyone
answering to the description Of the
spy.
Atwell and l were on the qui vive.
We constantly patrolled the trenches
at night, and even In the day, but the
spy always eluded US.
One day while in a communication
trench, we were Mortified to see our
b%rigadier general, Old Pepper, being
brought down 1t by a big private of the
Royal Irish rifles. The general was
walking in front, and the private with
fixed bayonet was following in the
rear.
We saluted as the general passed US.
The Irishman had a broad grin on his
face and we could scarcely believe our
eyes-the general was under arrest.
After passing a few feet beyond US, the
general turned, and said in a wrathful
voice to Atwell
"Tell this d-n fool who 1 am. He's
arrested me as a spy."
Atwell was speeches.. The sentry
butted in with:
"None o. that gassin' out o you.
Back to headquarters you goes, Mr..
Fritz. Open that face O. yours again,
an I'll dent in your napper with the
butt O. me rifle"
The generals face was a sight to be
hold. He was fairly boiling over with
rage, but he shut up.
Atwell tried to get in front of the
sentry to explain TO him that it really
was the general he had under arrest
but the sentry threatened to run his
bayenet through him. and would hav,
done it. too. SO Atwell stepped aside
and remained silent. I was nearl!
bursting with suppressed laughter. On'
word, and I would have exploded. L
is not exactly diplomatic to laugh a
your general in such a predicament.
The sentry and his prisoner arrived
at brigade headquarters with disas
trous results to the sentry.
The joke was hat the general haC
personally issued the order for tn,
spy's arrest 1t was a habit Of the gen
eral to walk through the trenches OF
rounds of inspection, unattended By
any of his staff. The Irishman, bein.
new in the regiment, had never seeI
the general before. so when he cans
across him alone in a communication
trench, he promptly put him under ar
rest. Brigadier generals e a rec
band around their caps.
Next day we passed the Irishmal
tied to the wheel of a timber. the be
ginning of his sentence of tw~enty-on
days. field punishment No. l. Neve
before have l seen such a woebegon
expression on a mans face.
For several days, Atwell and 1 mad
ourselves scarce around brigade head
quarters. We did not want to NEE
the general.
The spy was never caught