The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-07-25

dor from Sommepy, the French
.,ard stopped again. Four bat
4. of our artillery were brought
4 position and our company along
v.,.cbine guns. were ordered to
-, the artillery. The artillery Of
q did not think this sufficient pro,
- because the airplanes had dis
'.rpd the presence of strong French
,ry attachments and a cavalry at
wos suspected. However,
or ruard could not be provided
.hora was nothing to be done but
aur position and make the best
- situation. We dug ourselves in
.he right ard left of the batteries.
seId Of small pine trees. The ma
~. ouns were set up and supplied |
=. ammunition. We were then given |
..,ctions as to what to do in the
s.rt of cavalry attack. An oil
If infantry, with white hair.
1 .,,,,,,,ana Our unit was placed |
II, The infantry. hut our brave Of |
..r disappeared suddenly. TO them
I. dafepsp of the fatherland was the
.-uess of private. Since we had
- assigned to assist infantry, our
xeprs considered themselves super
....s and took French leave.
his state of affairs affects only
...raerr officers who. when their
Ia are attached to infantry or chas-
s. divisions, scarcely ever take part
battle. This was the case with
= officers during my whole war ca
@ They remained far away from
4 gunfre in comfortable security
~. Is also the case with many In
,.,try captains and almost all higher
.arers. Majors, colonies, ETC., never
NE part in a stormns attack, | was
IA and several times | observed this
ssself.
Our Instructions were as follows: In
- event of Il cavalry attack, every
nase must be quiet. The gun must
: pointed but hidden. The machine
m must not be fired until the major
4 conmand gives the order. Then
Aere must be lively, quick fire. Our
nfferjes fired violently at a biplane
wing high over them which gave sig
M With star shells which were read
~ by the observer.
But the expected attack did not
ouae, the enemy's infantry was not to
h seen. We prepared to resume our
march and were all ready to move
rhen the order came to bivOuac. The
mt where we were to rest was rs
ralal fixed by the staff SO that they
NEW where to find us at any time
hardly had we reached the place when
ur field kitchen, which we supposed
I'D been lost, appeared as If 1t had
wale out of the ground. Those In
barge Of the field kitchen had re
eeived no knowledge of our losses OF
tie last few days and had cooked fol
IL old number. They were great,
surprised on seeing instead of a brave
company of strong pioneers" 10
4 ragged exhausted, crushed human
| shadows. We were given soup. bread
| neat, apples and every one received
dgarette, which was more welcome t
nost of us than food and drink.
The next morning we slept until 81,
6tlOck and even though we were lynn
| IN the bare ground it was very liar
. b wake us. Breakfast was excellent
| Il consisted of mutton which had bee
. 5eQnistioned, vegetables. bread. coffee
goblet of wine. and ham. Our car
lain told us to eat all we could as W
Ind Il hard days march before us.
We resumed our march ut seve
6dOck. Everybody WAS in high splri,
and in the course of our conversation
Il became apparent that we had 10:
track of the time entirely. Nobod
knew whether il was Monday {
Wednesday or whether it was the fiji
4 tenth of the month. This cOnditiG
became more and more general. Sc
&ers never know the day of the weei
one is just like another. Saturda
Sunday or Thursday.
We stopped to rest ut noon on
large farm but were obliged to wa
b the rain for the field Kitchens. Mea
| while we helped ourselves. We sh
. me of the cows grazing in the meauo'
eut open the hide without bothering
drain the blood from the carcass. The
Everybody cut off Il piece of meat, st
warm, which was fried in pot COW
= eaten raw with a little salt by
| great many of the soldiers. This III
Ing of cattle was repeated almost dal
hy the soldiers acting without ortie
nom their Superiors. AS cOnSequen
they all got stomach trouble from e;
laE meat which was too fresh witho
bread or vegetables In spite of tn
the practice was continued. Ii Il $.
dief became hungry during a pause
he marchin. and found Il pig. COW
hnlh. he shot it, cut out n piece for
owh use, and let the rest spoil.
Under /; burning midday sun
uaNrchetl on amid clouds OF dust, aio
aroad used by munitions columns Il
other units, which never gave the dt
- opportunity to settle. In all
nelds which we passed. fugitives II
~ up tliei; camps, where they IN
we poor homeless gypsies. Many Cal
to us and begged for scraps
Aeead.
We marched without resting till IL
the evening and ut about III
1d0ck We approached the city II
S0mmepy. In and around SO
ny a battle had started. I'VE VIZ
aerei to take Il part of the nor
kest section of the city. 1t was
ady dark and once more we halt
~ helds all around us were cover
~ dead In the middle of the sire
III,