The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-07-18

meat, apples and every one received
cigarette. which was more welcome to
most of us e an food and drink.
The next morning we slept until six
o'clock and even though we were lying
to wake us. Breakfast was excellent
II consisted of mutton which had been
reauistioned, vegetables. bread, coffee,
a goblet of wine. and ham. Our cap
tain told us to eat all we could as we
had hard days march before Us.
We resumed our march at seven
o'clock. Everybody was in high spirits
and In the course of our conversations
IL became apparent that we had lost
track of the time entirely. Nobody
knew whether II was Monday or
Wednesday or whether II was the fifth
or tenth of the month. This condition
became more and more general. Sol
dlers never know the day of the week
one is just like another, Saturday
Sunday or Thursday.
We stopped 10 rest at noon on
large farm but were obliged TO wit
in the rain for the field kitchens, Mean
while we helped ourselves. We shot
one of the cows grazing In the meadow,
cut open the hide without bothering to
drain the blood from the carcass. Then
everybody cut off n piece of meat, still
warm. which was fried in n pot cover
or eaten raw with n little salt by
great many of the soldiers. This kill
ing of cattle was repeated almost daily
by the soldiers acting without orders
from their superiors. AS consequence
they all got stomach trouble from eat
Ing meat which was too fresh without
bread or vegetables. In spite Of this
the practice was continued. II sol
der became hungry curing n pause in
the marching and found IA pig. COW or
lamb, he shot It. cut out piece for his
own use, and let the rest spoil.
Under burning midday sun we
marched on amid clouds of dust, along
road used by munitions columns and
other units. which never gave the dust
an opportunity to settle. In all the
fields which we passed. fugitives had
set up their camps. where they lived
like poor homeless gypsies. Many came
up TO us and begged for scraps of
bread.
We marched without resting till late
In the evening and at about nine
O'Clock we approached the city hall
of Sommepy. In and around Som
mepy a battle had started. We were
ordered to take n part of the north
west section of the city. Ii was al
ready dark and once more we halted.
The fields all around us were covered
with dead. In the middle of the streets
were French batteries and munition
columns. Horses and drivers had been
killed.
After ten-minute rest we started
again and in double-quick step ap-
preached a little forest. in which dis
mounted cavalry and infantry were
engaged with the enemy In desperate
hand-to-hand fight.
As subterfuge we threw ourselves
into the place with blood-curdling yells.
We succeeded In the darkness in reach
ing the enemies rear. The surprise
attack was a success and the French,
startled by our yells and by the at
tack. threw up their hands and sur
rendered. Mercy was not shown them
by the Infatuated cavalrymen.
Whenever thee appeared to be any
ietup OF the slaughter of the disarmed
soldiers by our men new horrors Were
enacted under the commands of the
ofiiceSs. who kept shouting, mo quar-
| ter. slaughter everybody" Such were
| the orders OF our distinguished Off
GERS. We pioneers also had to take
| part In this cold-blooded murder OF I'M
armed men. who had thrown down
their arms when they realized the flu
| tility of further resistance. Our off
GERS took care this time, as In many
earlier and later instances, that there
should not he many prisoners taken.
The pioneer has sidearm which,
according to the law of nations, must
not he used because the back OF this
| sidearm consists Of three millimeter
sharp steel saw. IN peace times the
pioneers are not drilled with the bayo-
net because this sidearm should be
used only for the special duties which
the pioneers perform-bnt the law OF
nations Is not the law OF Prussian mill
! tarism.
We were obliged to use the saw from
| the beginning of the war. II was In
| opposition to all the laws OF humanity.
When an enemy had this saw In his
| breast and the victim had long since
| topped every effort of resistance and
| an effort was made 10 try and remove