St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-07-06

major Of infantry. with white hair,
took command. Our unit was placed
with the infantry. but our brave" Of
ficers disappeared suddenly. To them
the defense of the fatherland was the
business of a private. Since we had
BEEN assigned to assist infantry. our
officers considered themselves super
1uous and took French leave.
This state of affairs affects only
pioneer officers who. when their
units are attached to infantry or chas-
seur divisions, scarcely ever take part
In a battle. This was the case with
our officers during my whole war ca
reer. They remained far away from
the gunfire in comfortable security.
This is also the case with many In
fantry captains and almost all higher
officers. Majors, colonies, etc, never
take part in a storming attack, was
told, and several times ! observed this
myself.
Our instructions were as follows: In
the event of a cavalry attack, every
thing must be quiet. The gun must
be pointed but hidden. The machine
gun must not be fired until the major
In command gives the order. Then
there must be a lively, quick fire. Our
batteries fred violently at a biplane
flying high over them which gave sig
nails with star shells which were read
only by the observer.
But the expected attack did not
come, the enemy's infantry was not to
be seen. We prepared to esume our
march and were all ready to move
when the order came to bivouac. The
spot where we were to rest was as
usual fixed by the staff so that they
knew where to find us at any time.
Hardly had we reached the place when
our field kitchen. which we supposed
had been lost. appeared as If it had
come out of the ground. Those in
charge of the field kitchen had re-
ceived no knowledge of our losses of
the last few days and had cooked for
the old number. They were greatly
+ surprised on seeing instead of a brave
! company of strong pioneers" a lot
of ragged, exhausted, crushed human
shadows. We were given soup, bread,
meat, apples and every n received a
cigarette, which was more welcome to
most of us than food and drink.
The next morning we slept until six
O'Clock and even though we were lying
on the bare ground it was very hard
! to wake US. Breakfast was excellent.
It consisted of mutton which had been
requfsitioned. vegetables, bread, coffee,
q goblet of wine, and ham. Our cap
tain told US to eat all we could as we
had a hard days march before US.
We resumed our march at seven
o'clock. Everybody was in high spirits
and in the course of our conversations
it became apparent that We had lost
track of the time entirely. Nobody
knew whether it was Monday or
Wednesday or whether it was the fifth
or tenth of the month. This condition
became more and general. Sol
diers never know the day of the week;
enc is just like another, Saturday,
Sunday or Thursday.
@@ we Sl9DDGd III est DIT AOUA Oh q
large farm but were obliged to wait
In the rain for the field kitchens. Mean
while we helped ourselves. We shot
one of the cows grazing in the meadow.
cut open the hide without bothering to
drain the blood from the carcass. Then
everybody cut off a piece of meat, still
warm, which was fried in a pot cOver
or eaten raw with a little salt by n
great many of the soldiers. This kill
ing of cattle was repeated almost daily
by the soldiers acting without orders
/ from their superiors. AS a consequence
they all got stomach trouble from eat
ing meat which was too fresh without
bread or vegetables. In spite of this
the practice was continued. If a sol
der became hungry curing a pause in
the marching and found a pig, cow or
lamb. he shot 1t, cut out a piece for his
own use, and let the rest spoil.
Under a burning midday u we
marched on amid clouds of dust, along
a road used by munitions columns and
other units, which gave the dust
an opportunity to settle. In all the
fields which we passed, fugitiyes had
set up their camps, where they lived
like poor homeless gypsies. Many came
up TO US and begged for scraps of
bread.
We marched without resting till late
in the evening aud at about nine
o'clock we approached the city hall
of Sommepy. In and around Som
nepy a battle had started. We were
ordered to take a part of the north
west section of the city. 1t vas al
ready dark and once more we halted.
The fields all around US we're covered
with dead. In the middle of the streets
were French batteries and munition
columns. Horses and drivers had been
killed.
After a ten-minute rest we started
again end in double-quick step APP
proached a little forest, in which dis
mounted cavalry and infantry were
engaged with the enemy in a desperate
hand-to-hand fight.
AS a subterfuge we threw ourselves
into the place with blood-curdling yelis.
We succeeded in the darkness in reach
ing the enemies rear. The surprise
attack was q success and the French,
startled by our yells and by the at
tack, threw up their hands and sur
rendered. Mercy was not shown them
by the infuriated c~avaIrymen.
Whenever there appeared to be any
e - -~z