Oxford eagle., 1918-07-11

morning ! went to q first-aid post ano
haa the g-azal -Icked OIL of mx 1acS
The INSTRUCTIONS we received from
division headquarters rend that We
were out 10 catch spies. patrol trenches,
sea-ch German dead, reconnoiter in No
Mans Land. and take part In trench
raids aad prevent the robbing OF the
dead
had psss which would allow me
20 20 anywhere st any time In the sec
tor Of the line held by our division. II
raye me authority TO stop and search
ambulances. motor lorries. wagons and
even officers and soldiers, whenever
INV snsnIcIons deemed IL necessary.
Atwen and / were allowed 70 work TO
rether or singly-it was left 10 our
judgment. We decided TO team up.
Atveu was q good companion anc
very entertaining. he had an utter
contempt for danger, but was not fool
hardy. At swearing he was q wonder.
A cavalry regiment would have been
proud Of him. Though born In Eng
land, he had spent several years in
New York. he was about six feet one,
and as strong as an OK
We took up our quarters IN large
dugout Of the royal engineers, and
mapped out our future actions. This
dugout was on the edge OF q large
cemetery. and several times If night
In returning TO IL We got many 0 fan
stumbling over the graves Of English,
French and Germans. Atwell on these
occasions never INDUCED in swearing.
though al any other tine. AZ the least
stumble he would turn the air blue
A certain section Of our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish rifles. For
several days q very strong rumor went
the rounds that German spy was In
our midst This spy was supposed 10
be dressed IN the uniform OF q British
stat officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing red
band around his cap. who patrolleo the
fronf-line and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions as 10 loca-
ton q batteries. mAchine-gun emplace-
merits. and trench mortars. II 9 shell
dropped II battery. on machine gun
or even near q dugout, this spy was
blamed
The rumor gained such strength that
an order was issued for all troops TO
Immediately place under arrest anyone
answering 70 NE description Of the
spy.
Atwen and ] were on the qui vive
We constantly patrolleo the trenches
af night and even In the day, but the
spy always eluded us.
One DAY while In q Communication
trench. we were horrifed TO see our
brigadier general. Old Pepper. being
brought down II by big private OF the
Royal Irish rifles. The general was
walking In front. and the private with
fixed bayonet was following in the
rear.
We saluted as the general passed US
The lrishman had broad grin on his
face and We could scarcely believe our
eyes-the general was under arrest
After passing few feet beyond us. the
general turned, and said in q wrathful
voice TO Atwell:
Tel this d-n fool who am. Hes
arrested me as d spy"
Atwen was speeehless. The sentr,
bufted In with:
None o that gassin' out o. Won
Back TO headquarters You goes. Mr.
Fritz. Open that face o. yours again
an III dent in your napper with tn,
butt O. me rife"
The generals face was q sight TO be
hold He was fairly boiling over with
] rage. but he shut up.
Atwell tried 10 get In front of IN,
sentry 10 explain 10 him that II reall-
was the general he had under arrest
but the sentry threatened TO run hi
bayonet through him. and would hsy,
! done II, too. So Arwen stepped aside
and remained silent. was nearl-
: bursting with suppressed laughter. On,
; word. and ] would have exploded. /
is not exactly diplomatic 10 laugh a
your general In snch q predicsment.
The sentry and his prisoner arrive,
al brigade headquarters with disas
: trous results 10 the sentry.
: The joke WAS thar the general hs,
} personally issued the order for IN
E spy's arrest II was habit Of the gen
+ eral TO walk through the trenches Of
! rounds Of inspection, unattended b.
2 any OF his staff. The Irishman. beln
: new In the regiment. had never see,
] the general before. so when he cam
across him alone in "a coInmunicsfio
T trench, he promptly put him under a,
b rest. Brigadier generals wear a re
e band around their caps.
: Next day We passed the Ir4shms
r tied TO the wheel Of timber. the b,
ginning of his sentence Of twentv-on
: days. field punishment No. /. Neve
s before have ] seen such a woeberon
e expression on q mans face.
For several days. Atwen and / mad
J. ourselves scarce around brigade hear
quarters We did not want 10 mes
] the general
y The spy was never caught.
4 To be continued.