Rockingham post-dispatch., 1918-05-30

TT was Oh observation post sure
enough. That's all the use 1t was. Just
observe all day, but never message
back for our battery to open up. You
see, at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not to fire shell.
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me, If
anyone dlsobeyed that command, our
general-yes, it was Old Pepper
would have court-martlaled the whole
expeditionary 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.
'Tf a company OF battalion should
give way few yards against a su.
perior force Of Boches, Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off
Ger. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face the
color of brick, and in 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
i've minutes with the old boy. and
when he returned the flow OF language
from his lips would make navy
blush for shame.
"What / am going to tell you Is how
two Of US put it over ON the old scamp,
and got away with It It was risky
thing, too, because Old Pepper wouldn't
have been exactly mild with rs II he
had got next to the game.
"Me and my mate, a lad named Har-
ry Cassell, bombardier In D 2S9 bat
terry, or lance corporal, as you call It
in the infantry, used to relieve the
| telephonists. We would do two hours
on and four off. would be on duty
in the advanced observation post.
while he would be at the other end Of
the wire In the battery dugout signal
ing station. We were supposed to send
through orders for the battery to fire
| when ordered to do 50 bv the obSsrva'
ton officer In the advanced post Ba'
/ very few messages were sent Il was
only In case Of an actual attack that
I we would get a chance to earn our
two and six a day. You sea Old Pep
per had issued orders not to fire ex'
i cept when the orders came from him.
And with Old Pepper orders 10 ocdefs
and made to obey.
"The Germans must fRve known
i about these orders, for even In the day
their transports and troops used tt
4 expose themselves as II they were or
i parade. This sure got up our nose
sitting there day after day, with fine
targets in front of US but unable II
send over a shell. We heartily cusset
Old Pepper, his orders, the govern
ment, the people at home. and every
thing in general But the Boche'
didn't mind cussing, and got very care
less. Blime me, they were bally In
sulting. Used to. when using certaiI
road, throw their caps into the air ai
taunt at our helplessness
"Cassell had been telegrapher II
civil life and Joined up when war wa
declared. As for me, knew Morse
learned 1t at the signalers' school bacl
in 1910. With an officer In the Obsel
walton post, we could not carry on tn
J kind of conversation that's usual be
tween two mates, so we used tn
Morse code. To send, one Of us woul
tap the transmitter with his finge
nails, and the one on the other en-
would get 1t through the receiver
4 Many an hour was whiled away In thi
manner passing compliments hAck an
\ forth.
"In the observation post the Office
used to sit for hours with powerf.
7 pair Of field glasses to his eye
Through a cleVerly concealed loophOl
\ he would scan the ground behind th
4 German trenches, looking for target
\ and finding many. This officer, Cal
y tain A. by name, had a habit
2 talking out loud to himself. Som
\ times he would vent his opinion, san
= as q common private does when he
{ wrought up. Once upon time Il
J captain had been On Ola Peppers stai
? 30 he could cuss and blind In the mo
\ approved style. Got to be sort of
Y habit with him.
"A "Abopt SIX thousand yards ftOm q
\ behind the German lt4ea was 9 rol
y in plain view 0f cur post For the IN
s three dAys Frttz had bEQpght comp
D MES q troops dswn tais road ID beot
? daylight, Theg veaR nsVerS shalle
y whenevA Shis fnppened tfe cApta
y would fIoth al the {1GNtA end let 9
Sia volume cr Oad Peppers AelifA
a which nsnd tsmakes6ne h~s him.
y NEvery battery has . r6nge chart
8 wfAch distinctive iauimArss are ndbs
% win DC rznge sor each Theee iar
> marks Pre 0lled AarssEss end ass rp'
y bered. On .Sds .baterys chart q,
" road Rras calie6 ssEaRge& a, Ran
z 000O. 8~1egrees 30 minutes MT "AD z
a baStery pEAasted of pssr 4.T bow