Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-10-11
CHAPTER VI.

g.
At ~ o'clock. midnight, we we're
alarmed and half nm hour later were
on the march. The cool night air felt
good, and despite our wenriness, we
mnde rapid progress. Toward four
o'clock In the morning we arrived Mt
Cheppy. II had been completely plum
dered. We halted here for n brief
rest and watched preparations being
made for the execution OF two frac'
tlreurs. They we're two little farmers
who had supposedly concealed a
French machine gun with its crew
from the Germans. The sentence vas
executed I'm such n way TINT the peo-
pie we're shown who their real rulers
now were.
The little town Of Pogny. located
midway between Chalons-sur-Marne
and Vltry-le-FrancOls, Jared no bet
ter thnn Cheppy, a fact which we dis
covered when we entered there at nine
O'Clock.
We were now considerably nearer
the spot where the guns were ronr-
ing. and retiring OF wounded and the
munltlon columns showed us that west
OF vltry-le- FRANCOIS. n terrible bnttle
ragged. At four o'clock In the after
noon. we arrived at Vitry-le-Francols
after n forced march. The city was
filled with wounded. but the town IT.
self was not damaged. The battle must
have been going badly for the Germans
because we we're ordered into action
without being given any rest. We were
within three kilometers OF the battle
line. when we came within reach OF
hostile fire. n terrific hail OF shells tore
up every foot OF ground. Thousands
of corpses Of German soldiers indi-
Gated at v iat enormous cost the Ger
mans had brought up all available re-
serves. The Freuch did everything
they could 10 prevent the Germans
from getting the reserves into action
and increased the artillery fire TO un-
henrd-of violence. II seemed lmpos-
sible for us to be able to break through
this barrnge. We saw hundreds Of
shells exploding every minute. We
were ordered to run the gauntlet OF
this hell In single file.
Lying prone upon the ground. we
saw how the FIRST OF our men at.
tempted to pass. They ran unmlndful
of che shells bursting around them, like
mndmen others were buried under
ground thrown up by the hlgh.powcr
explosives, or torn by shrapnel or gren-
ndes. Two men had scarcely reached
the line when n weli-dlrected shot from
a gun Of n large callber hurst directly
at their feet. When the smoke cleared.
there was no trace Of the men.
You can imagine the feelings Of
those who lay on the ground not 100
feet AWAY witnessing this spectacle
and waiting their turn.
An officer cried; "NeNtr" II was
my turn As II aroused from n night
mnre. | sprang up. my gun In my right
hand. sidearm IN my lett. and ran
ahead. I lodged two shells Just ns
they burst nnd ran close 70 several
others. bursting the same Instant. A
number of times | sprung hack. then
ahead again. running 20 aud fro like a
mndmnn. seeking q loophcle, But every
where there was Iron and fire. | ran
like a huntc1 animal seeking n way 10
pass 20 save myself with n he'll IA
front Of me. and nm officers revolver
always ready behind.
Throwing caution IA the winds,
prepared to meet death and the devil
himself. I NJ last ran hllndly ahead
ran. ran. RIM. untll someone seized my
cont tail ana shouted IN my ear:
"Here we ARE. Are YOU woundedi
You lind hotter look. Perhaps you are
wounded ana don't know H."
was among those of my comrndes
who hnd gotten through. Trembling
all over. ! stopped and looked around.
'Sit down and you viii feel hetter,'
said one of the men. eve MISC have
uremhled'