Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-31
CHATTER NNNI

All Quiet CD on the Western Front.
At brigade headquarters ] happened
10 orcrhcar u conversation between our
q. o. G. general officer commaniing)
and the divisional commander. From,
this conversation l learned that we
were TO lombard tho German lines for
eiSh; days. and OH the LIST OF July the
big push" was 10 commence.
In few days orders were issued
10 that effect. and il was common prop
rrty all along the line.
ON the afternoon OF the eighth day
OF our strafcinG. .Atwcu and | were
sitting in tie frcnt-linc trench smok-
Ing Tags and making out our reports
Of the previous nights tour OF the
trenches, which we had 20 turn in to
headquarters the following day. when
an order was passed down the trench
that old Pepper requested twenty VOL
untcers to 70 over on trench raid
that nigh; TO try and get n few Cor
man prisoners Tor information pur-
poses. | immediately volunteered for
this job. and shook hands with Atwcll
and Went TO the rear to give my name
TO the officers in charge of the ra!ding
party.
was accepted. worse luck.
At $40 that night we reported to
the brigade Headquarters duGout to
receive instructions from Old Pepper.
After reaching his dugout we lined
np in a semicircle around him, and he
addressed Us as follows:
All / want YOU boys to do is to go
over TO the German lines tonight sur
prise them secure 4 couple of prison
ers. and return immediately. Our ar.
il!cry has bomhardcd that section of
tile line for two days. and personally
believe ;hat that part cf the German
trench is unoccupicd, SO just get "a
couple OF prisoners and return as
quickly aS possible
The sergeant; on my right in an un-
dertonc. whispered 10 me:
Say. Iank. h,w are we going to
set couple OF prisoners If the old fool
thinks personally tina, tina; part of the
trench is unocCupicd'-sounds kind o:
tishy. doesn't 1t mate
had funny sinking sensation in
my stomach. and my hat felt us IL il
weighed about a ton. and my enihu-
siasni WA" melting away. Old pepper
must have heard the scra cant speak.
because lie turned In his direction. ana
III laundering voice asked:
what did you sny?"
The sergeant, with a scared look ON
his face and his knees trembling.
sinariiy salutcd and answered.:
Nothing. sir
Old Pepper said
Well don't say it so loudly the next
time"
Then Old Pepper continues:
thiS section OF the German
trenches there arc two or thrco MA
chine guns which our artillery. In the
last two or tire" days. has been un-
@hi" 10 take. These gums command ,i,.
sector whore two OF our communication
trenches join tho front line and a. ihc
brigade Is 10 go over the top TO-.
moro" morning | want to capture
TWO or three men from these guns
/ crews. and from them ] NAV n, .hra
TO obtain valuable information as ~
inc exact location of the guns, and our
artillery VIII. therefore. be able &c de-
I ino!lsh them before the nt,aclI aud
mus prcven; our losing a lot OF me,
while using these communicative
trenches 10 bring UP e-cnforcements :.
/ gave us:
Take off your Identification d,s,,,
Strip your uniforms of all numerals
insignia. etc, leave your papers Win
your captains. because don't w,,.
inc Bochcs to know what Regiments
are against them. as this would ba
valuable information to them in our
attack tomorrow. and | don't wan,
an" CT you to be taken alive. What 7
Maht ~ Two prisoners, and II get
them l have way which will NH q
them d!vulEe all necessary ;nform,.N
',oh rs 20 their guns. You have your
choice OF two weapons--you may carry
!"ur 'Dersuadcrs' or your knuc,,I Il,
hhlNcs. and each man viii arm hin
SER with four Mills bombs, these 70 be
! "s,u ohIE ~ case OF emergency"
y persuadcr is TOmmy's nickname
for club carried by tho ho,nhor -,
! is about two feet long. thin at onc er,,
ana very thick at the other. The thick
I