The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-02
lcnnIinned from IasL Week. }

ffWhpFe my Ddltefy WIS SlhtOneu q basty trench had been dug, which tbe boys nicknamed Suicide ditch. and. believe me, Tank. this was the original Suicide ditch All the others are mutations.
 aWhen a fellow went into that trench 1t was an even gamble that he would come out on a stretcher. At one lime a Scotch battalion held 1t, and when they heard the betting was even money that they'd come out on stretchers. they grabbed all the bets fin sight. Like lot of bally idiots, sev- eral of the battery men fell for their game, and put up real money. The locks suffered 6 lot of casualties. and the prospects looked bright for the battery men to collect some easy money So when the battalion was re-
 eved the gamblers lined up. Several
 locks got their money for emerging safely but the ones who clicked it weren't there to pay. The artillery men had never thought 1t out that
 way Those Scotties were bound to
 he sure winners no matter how the
 wind blew So take a tip from me
 never bet with Scottie, cause you'll lose money.
 At one part of our trench where communication trench joined the front line Tommy had stuck up wooden slgnpost with three hands or arms on it. One of the hands, point ing to the German lines, read, TO Ser lln; the one pointing down the com, munication trench read. 'To Blighty,' while the other said, Suicide Ditch, Change Here for Stretchers.'
 Farther down from this guide post the trench ran through an old orchard. On the edge of this orchard our bat tery had constructed an advanced ob- servation post. The trees screened it from the enemy airmen and the roof was turfed. It wasn't cushy like ours, no timber or concrete re-enforcements. just walls of sandbags. From 1t a splendid view of the German lines could be obtained. This post wasn't exactly safe. It was a hot corner, shells plunking all around, and the bullets cutting leaves off the trees. Many a time when relieving the sig naler at the phone, I had to crawl on my belly like a worm to keep from being hit.
 Tt was an observation post sure enough. That's all the use it was. Just observe all day, but never a message back for our battery to open up. You see, at this point of the line there were strict orders not to fire a shell, unless specially ordered to do 80 from brigade headquarters. Blime me, if anyone disobeyed that command. our generai-yes, 1t was Old Pepper would have court-martialed the whole expeditlonary force. Nobody went out of their way to disobey Old Pepper in those days, because he couldn't be called a parson; he was more like pirate. If at any time the devil should feel lonely and sigh for proper mate, Old Pepper would get the first call. Facing the Germans wasn't half bad compared with an interview with that old firebrand.
 If a company or battalion should give way few yards against a su- perior force of Boches, Old Pepper would send for the commanding off eer. In about half an hour the officer would come back with his face the color of brick, and in a few hours what was left of his command would be holding their original position.
 T have seen an officer who wouldn't say d---n for thousand quid spend nve minutes with the old hoy md s. "ne' ne returned the flow of language rom his lips would make nayvy blush for shame.
 What am going to tell you is how .Wo CT us put 1t over on the old scamp. anu got away with 1t. It was risky snihg' 100, because Old Pepper wouldn't nave been exactly mild with us if he Hau got next to the game.
 Me and my mate, lad named Har- " Cassell, a bombardler in D 23S bat tery, or lance corporal. as you call fl .n the Infantry. used to relieve the 'eiephonists. We would do two hours Vn and four off. I would be on duty m the advanced observation post, whiie he would be at the other end of ,he Wire in the battery dugout signal. ing station. We were supposed to send through orders for the battery to fire when ordered to do so by the observa. uon officer in the advanced post. But very Few messages were sent. It was only In case of m actual attack that we would get chance to earn our TWO and six day. You see, Old Pep per had issued orders not to fire ex- sept when the orders came from him. And with Old Pepper orders is orders, and made to obey.
 The Germans must have known apout these orders, for even in the day lnelr transports and troops used to expose themselves as if they were on parade. This sure got up our nose, sitting there day after day, with fino targets in front of us but unable to send over she'll We heartily cussed oid Pepper, his orders, the govern iueht' the people at home, and every .nlng in general. But the Boches uiuhf mind cussing. and got very care less. Blime me. they were bally in- suiung. Used to. when using certain road, throw their caps Into the air as u taunt at our heiplessness.
 'Cassell had been telegrapher in |