American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-30
CHAPTER XIV.
Preparing for the Big Push.

preparing Tor tne Big FuSn.
Rejoining Atwell after the execution
1 had a hard time trying to keep my
secret from him. 1 think l must have
lost at least ten pounds worrying owe
the affair.
Beginning at seven in the evening it
was our duty to patrol all communion
ton and frOnt-line trenches, making
note of unusual occurrences, and ar
resting anyone who should. to us, APP
pear to be acting in a suspicious man.
ner. We slept during the day.
Behind the lines there was great &C
tivity, supplies and ammunition pour
ing in, and long columns of troops con-
stantly passing. We were preparing
for the big offensive, the forerunner
of the battle of the Somme or big
Push"
The never-ending stream Of men,
supplies, ammunition and guns pour
ing into the front lines made a mighty
spectacle, one that cannot be de
scribed. 1t has to be witnessed with
your own eyes to appreciate its vast
ness.
At our part of the line the influx Of
supplies never ended. 1t looked Ike
a huge snake slowly crawling forward,
never a hitch or break, a wonderful
tribute to the system and efficiency of
Great Britain's contemplate little
army of five millions of men.
Huge f~fteen-inch guns snaked along,
foot by foot, by powerful steam tract
tors. Then a long line of -four point
five" batteries, each gun drawn by six
horses, then a couple Of mine point
two" howitzers pulled by immense
caterpillar engines.
When one of these caterpillars would
pass me with its mighty monster il
tow, a flush Of pride would mount to
my face, because l could plainly read
on the name plate, MADE in U. S. A.
and l would remember that If 1 wore
name plate it would also read, From
the U. 5. A." Then l would stop tC
think how thin and straggly tina.
mighty stream would be if all th'
, made in q. S. A." parts of it were
1 withdrawn.
Then would come hundreds of lin
l bers and &c. S." wagons drawn b!
? sleek, well-fed mules, ridden by sleek
] well-fed men. ever smiling. although
] grimy with sweat and covered with tn
: fine, white dust of the m~arvelOusl,
e well-made French roads.
What u .discouraging report the Ger
man airmen must have taken back L
their division commanders, and thi
= stream is slowly but surely getting bis
2 ger and bigger every day, and the pac
e is always the same. No slower, n
faster, but ever onward, ever forward
f Three weeks before the big push O
T July las the battle of the Somme ha
n been called-started. exact duplicate
IS of the German trenches were du
about thirty kilOs behind our line
d The layout of the trenches was take
from airplane photographs submitte
t by the Royal flying corps. The trench
es were correct to the foot; the
showed dugouts. saps. barbed wire d.
u lenses and danger spots.
d BattaliOns that were to go over |
the first waves were sent back f.
e three days TO study these trenches, Ell
gage in practice attacks and have nigf
d maneuver Each mar was required
II make a map of the trenches and II
l. miliarize himself with the names an
Is location Of the parts his battalion VI
&c to attack.
2. In the American army nOncommi
r stoned officers are put through a cour'
of map making or road sketching, an
h during my six years service in II
It United States cavalry / had plenty
v practice in this work. therefore ma
lie ping these trenches was a cOmpar
lie lively easy task for me. Each mi
IF had to submit his map TO the cOmpaI
IN commander to be passed upon. and
was lucky enough to have mine sele'
T. ed as being sufficiently authentic to u
lt in the attack.
No photographs or maps are allow
tn to leave France. but In this case it a
W pealed to me as a valuable souvenir
er the great war and l managed to smu
Id gle it through. At this time ii CARR
is no military Importance as the Britt
lines. l am happy to say, have sin
b. been advanced beyond this point.