Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-01-24

n IHSt we cuIIle 10 TIE pace WUexO
~ the communication trench began,
and ! explained 1t to him. The
trench lay about 100 yards Off the road,
running parallel to 1t. 1t was awfully
muddy and one of the dirtiest holes to
get to TINT ever saw. He noted this
and wanted to stick to the road, 30 l
shut up and said no more for few
minutes.
Pretty soon few shells began to
come over, and could see them burst.
ing farther up the .road. l spoke again
and pointed out the danger we were
SO we slipped and slid through the
mud ard finally got into the trench.
1t was easy nfter that, and we reach.
ed the trenches just In time to have
some lunch
In the afternoon he was shown all
through the trenches there and then
came back and asked to see some
bombs thrown. They threw some bombs
for him and then started firing rifle
grenades. Everything was lovely I'm.
til about o'clock. Suddenly some
thing whizzed over and landed In q
trench not dozen feet from where we
were standing didn't wait to see
what 1t was I didn't even hesitate.
My feet Just acted automatically. and
! think broke the worlds record for
the standing broad jump right then
and there. Az 1t happened. the thing
didn't explode, and it's good thing
it didn't, for the colonel just stood and
watched it.
Soon after this he decided to go back,
10 we returned the same way we had
come, and all the way back he had me
picking up shell noses and pieces OF
shell until. when we reached the car
again. resembled n junk wagon.
To put the fnishin: touches on 1t all
they were Smelling Viamertinshe when
we returned. and we passed through
that place as fast as that car could
travel. while the houses were tumbling
down on either side of us. Taken all
in all. 1t was about as exciting day
as l wanted.
But my troubles were not over yet.
him to the Ploogsteert trenches the
next day. did not mind that 80 much.
for the Saxons were holding the trench
es opposite US on that part Of the line,
and they did not bother us very much.
Sometimes days would pass with hard
~ shot being fred. OF course the
German artillery gave It to rs just the
yhnr hsvt h. 2ov
ons themselves are pretty decent chaps.
The village Of Ploogsteert 10 q very
Interesting place. ~ there had been Z
great deal Of hand to hand lighting
there In the earlier days Of the war and
the houses and trees left standing wers
all scratched and cut by bullet marks.
We started out about 10 O'Clock the
next morning. aud BY II We were on
our way up to the trenches. In goins
to the trenches one passes through q
big wood, and this place. toe. was alive
with Shippers. We arrived without mis-
hap. however. but things were warme,
than usual. for It seems that there were
some Bavarians In against 10 at thil
time.
! picked up one Of the nsw psriscopit
Ei'es that had just como out and start
ed pott1ng at chap who was digging
sniping trench out In front Of tn
German parapet could only go th,
fash Of his intrsnching tool - hs threw
the dit eat, and saee IN awhile hdl
hsaA wsuld show IL . fT1ctioa Il
aononA mt I kanf s,ntt4n1 a~a. ~.>.
TO kin dine than anything eise.
He seon knew that was aftee him
for every once IN awhile hs woui(
wave his little shovel at ne Just ats
bad taken q shot All aftsfneoo
kept this up. ana about 40 was b
gianiag to get rather tired Of the gam
Just happened to glance into The gias
Of the periscope, and there was b
whole head and shoulders shown