The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-04-16
II Is7 ~
{RIhR GUY G%l

correct, too. I know I didn't. Wilson,
did I give you my order for the bat
terry to open up? Of course I didn't,
did II
IT answered very emphatically, NO,
sir, you gave 10 command. Nothing
went through this post. I am abso-
lutely certain on that point, SIR
"tOf course nothing went through
he replied. Then his face fell, and he
muttered out loud:
"But, by Jove; wait till Old Pep
per gets wind Of this. Theren be fur
flying
Just then BombardierI Cassell. cut IN
on the wire:. ..
"'GeneraTs compliments to Captain
A.. BE directs that officer and sig
mailer report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon al relieved. Re-
lief now on the way .
"In an undertone to- me, Keep a
brass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick I answered with, Rely on
me, mate but I was trembling all over.
II gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived, andt as we: LETT
the post the captain said: al.
"rNow for the fireworks, land I know
be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commanders the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for us.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING at headquarters the bat
terry commander was the first to- be
interviewed. This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
'sions Of Old Pepper it, sounded as: If
raw meat was being thrown: to- the
lions. Cassell, later, described it as
sounding like q bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was theN color Of a
beet. He was. speechlesSy .lAsI he:
passed the captain he jerked' his thumb
in the direction of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went IN,
and the lions were once again fed.
The captain stayed. about twenty min
utes and came out. I couldn't see hts
face but: the droop III his shoulders
was enough. he looked like aswet hen.
"The door Of the generals room
opened ..and&$lo or. REPRESENTATIVES.,
doorway. With a roar. he shouted:
(which one of you j is Casself?
D-n me, get your" heels together
when I speak! Come In here?
"Cassell started to say, Yes SIR;
"But Old Pepper roared, 'Shut.upr
"Cassell came out in FIVE minutes.
he said nothing, but as he PASSED me
he put his tongue into his cheek'and
winked, then, turning to the. closed
door, he stuck his thumb to his nose
and left.
"Then the sergeant majors turn
came. He didn't come out our way
Judging by the roaring, 01dt Pepper
must have eaten him. <sfE
"When the door openedan the gen.
eral beckoned to me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
my interview was very shortA ."
"Old Pepper glared at me when /
entered, and then let loose. ~
"'Of course you don't know anything
about 1t. You're just like the rest
to have a nursing bottle around
your neck and a nipple in your teeth.
Soldiers by CAD, you turn my stom-
ach to look at You. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as I have in my brigade! Not likely !
Now, sir, tell mi what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
It. Don't be gaping at me like a fish,
Spit it out i
II stammered, Sir, know absolute
ly nothing !
""That's easy to see,' he roared;
that stupid face tells me, that. Shut !
up. Get out; but I think you r a
ID liar just the SAME. Back to-
your battery
II saluted and made MY exit. !
"That night the capital sent for us.
With fear and trembliu 6 we went to
his dugout. He was alone. After ga
we stood at ate .ntion in front
Of him and waited. His say was short.
Don't you two ever get it into your
heads that Morse Is a dead language.
I've known it for yean ). The two Of
you had better get rid Of that nervous
habit Of tapping transm itters it's dan
That's ALL j
I'VE saluted, and WEI e just going out
door Of the dugou ; when the cap
tain called up back ar d said: =
"'Smoke Goldfakes ? Yes? WE'LL
there are two tins of Il lem on my table.
Go back to the batteT7 !, and keep your
ongues between you r teeth. Under
I'VE understood. :
ssFor fuo u,oolyo. IN orrpordc oup h9tL