The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-09-06

- - BOcheS are using that road
again. Blind my eyes, this time it is
whole brigade of them, transports and
all. What a pretty target for our
4.5's.' The beggars know that we
won't fire. A ID shame, call 1t.
Oh, just for n chance to turn d 23S
loose on them
81 was trembling with excitement.
From repeated stolen glances Mt the
captains range chart, that road with
its range was burned into my mind.
"Over the wire tapped, ID 23S bat
terry, Target II, Range COCO. 8 degrees
30 minutes, left salvo, fire. Cassell
o. KID my message, and with the re-
celver pressed against my ear, wait
ed and listened. In a couple Of min
utes very family over the wire came
the voice of our battery commander
issuing the order: ID 23S battery.
SalvO! Fire.
"Then a roar through the receiver
as the four guns belched forth, n
screaming and whistling overhead, and
the shells were on their way.
"The captain jumped as If he were
shot, and let out n great big expressive
d--n, and eagerly turned his glasses
in the direction of the German road.
| also strained my eyes watching that
target. Four black clouds of dust rose
up right in the middle Of the German
column. Four direct hits-another
record for D 238.
"The shells kept on whistling over
head, and had counted twenty-fOur
OF them when the firing suddenly
ceased. When the smoke and dust
clouds lifted the destruction on that
road was awful Overturned limbers
ana guns, wagons smashed up, troops
fleeing in all directions. The road and
roadside were spotted all over with
little field gray dots, the toll Of our
guns.
The captain, in his excitement, had
slipped off the sandbag, and was on
his knees in the mud, the glass still at
MS eye. He was mutterlng to himself
and slapping his thigh with his dsen-
gagged hand. At every slap a big
round juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed by:
"'GoOd! Fine! Marvellous! Pretty
Work Direct hits ALL
Then he turned to me and shouted:
Wilson, what do you think Of It?
Did you ever see the like of it in your
life? D-n fine work, l call it,
Pretty soon look of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed:
but who in HI gave them the
order to fire. Range and everything
correct, too. know 1 didn't. Wilson,
did | give you any order for the bat
terry to open up? OF course l didn't,
did ~
II answered very emphaticalIy, No,
sir, you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post. | am abso-
Iutely certain on that point, sir
"'Of course nothing went through
he replied, Then his face fell, and he
out loud:
But, by Jove, wait till Old Pen
per gets wind of this. There'H be fur
lying
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut in
Dn the wire:
Generals compliments to Captain |
A. He directs that officer and sig |
1aler report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved. Re- |
ief now on the way
I'm an undertone to me, Keep a
)rass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick answered with, Rely on
ne, mate but was trembling all over.
II gave the generals message to the
'aptain, and started packing up.
'The relief arrived, and as we left
he post the captain said:
Now for the fireworks, and know
heyll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
he battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for us.
We fell in line and the funeral march
o brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING at headquarters the bat
cry commander was the first to be
Interviewed. This was behind closed
oOrs. From the roaring and explo-
ions of Old Pepper 1t sounded as if
aw meat was being thrown to the
ons. Cassell, later, described 1t as
Oundlng like bombing raid. In about
wo minutes the officer reappeared.
he sweat was pouring from his fore
cad, and his face was the color of a
eet. He was speechless. AS he
assed the captain he jerked his thumb
! the direction of the lions den and
'ent out. Then the captain went in, l
nd the lions were once again fed. {
he captain stayed about twenty min
tes and came out. l couldn't see his
ice. but the droop In his shoulders
as enough. He looked like a wet hen.
1.-THE door of the generals room {
Dened and Old Pepper stood In the ,
0orway. With a roar he shouted: