Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-19
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[Continued from Page Five.1
away. This is what he proposed:
IF the Boches should use that roa

away. This IS what he proposed:
If the Boches should use that road
again, to send by the tap system the
target and range. I had previously
told him about our captain talking out
loud as II he were sending through
orders. Well, If this happened, was
to send the dope to Cassell and he
would transmit it to the battery COM
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards, dur
ing the investigation, Casseii would
swear he received it direct. They
would have to relieve him, because it
was impossible from his post in the
battery dugout to know that the road
was being used at that time by the
Germans. And also 1t was impossible
for him TO give the target, range and
degrees. You know battery chart is
not passed aro~1d among the men like
a newspaper from Blighty. From him
the Investigation would go to the OBJ
servation post, and the observing Off
Ger could ruthfully swear that I had
not sent the message by phone, and
that no orders to fire had been issued
by him. The investigators would then
be up In the air, we would be safe, the
Boches would receive q good bashing,
and we would get our own back on Old
Pepper. It was too good to be true.
I gleefhlly fell in with the scheme,
and told Cassell I was his meat.
Then I waited with beating heart
and watched the captain like hawk.
HE was beginning 70 ddget again
and was drumming on the saudbags
with his feet. At last, turning to me,
no said:
s'Wilson, this army II Q blankety
blank washout. What's the use Of hav-
ing artillery II it u not allowed to fire?
The government at home ought to be
hanged with some Of their red tape.
It's through them that we have no
shells.'
II answered. Yes, sir,' and started
sending this opinion over the wire to
Cassen. but the captain interrupted
me with:
"Keep those internal fingers still.
What's the matter. getting the nerves?
When I'm talking to you, pay atten-
tion.'
my heart sank. Supposing he had
rumbled that tapping, then all would
be up with our plan. I stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
"Beg your pardon. sir, just a habit
with me-
"And a ID silly one, too he an
swered. turning to his glasses again.
and I knew I was safe. He had not
tumbled to the meaning Of that tap
ping.
IAN at once, without turning round.
he e1cIaimeds
"Well, Of al the nerve I've ever, run
across. this takes the cake. Those
Boches are using that road
again. Blind my eyes, this time It is a
whole brigade Of them, transports and
all. What q pretty target for our
ass The beggars know that we
won't IRE. A ID shame, call It.
oh, Just for chance to turn D 23a
loose on them
Il was trembling with excitement,
From repeated stolen glances ct the
captains range chart that road With
its range was burned into my mind
"Over the wire I tapped. ID 288 bat.
terry, Target II, Range 6000, 8 degrees
80 minutes. left, salvo, fire. Cassell
o. KID my message, and with the re-
ceiver pressed against my ear, I wait.
ed and listened. In couple Of min
utes very family over the wire came
the voice of our battery commander