Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-06-28

4eA Al anu ltol Oh AiiC 81 ass. " Z
might have lain down about ten min
utes when suddenly we heard firing
We jumped up like lightning and hur-
ried to our guns. The firing which
was about three kilometers away grew
more lively. At once We were ON the
march again.
From the expressions on the faces
of the soldiers we could read the minds
of the men. Something took posses
sion of them which they had never ex-
perienced before. AS for myself I
became very restless. Fright and curl
osity dashed my brain. Everything
whirled around in my head and my
heart was beating wildly. But 1 strove
to conceal my fright from my com
rades. | am sure that l tried energeti-
cally. l don't know that l succeeded
better than my companions.
Although | knew we would be in
the fight in an hour, 1 tried to per
suade myself that our interference
would not be necessary. I chung tight
ly to everything which might strength
en- this hope.
The bicycles lying in the road indi-
Gated that the bicycle division was in
the fight at this point. How strong
the enemy was we did not know as we
raced toward the firing line. Every
body crouched down as low as posi-
Bile while jumping to the right and
left. Before and behind us the bullets
were flying continuously, yet we
reached the firing line without losses.
We were greeted joyously by our hard
pressed comrades. The bicycle regi-
ment had not suffered any losses ex-
cept for a few slightly wounded men
who were still able to take part in the
fight.
We were lying fiat on the ground
and firing in the direction ordered for
all we were worth, even though we
had not seen our enemies. That was
apparently not interesting enough to
some of our soldiers. They wanted
to know how the people were looking
whom they had to shoot at They got
up to kneeling position. Two men of
my company had to pay for their curl
Osity with their lives almost instantly. |
The first victim of our party went |
down without q sound. The second |
threw his arms high in the air and fell |
on his back Both were dead in
stantly.
1t is impossible for me to describe
the feeling that overcame me in the
first real voliey as we advanced and
came directly within the range of the
fire. 1 no longer felt any fright, only
an impulse TO get into action as quick
~ as possible. Yet at the sight of the
first corpse a terrible fear seized me.
For minutes was completely stunned,
ost all self-control and was absolute
y unable to think or do anything.
I pressed my face and hands close
% the ground. l wanted to clutch my
gun and shoot blindly. Presently 1
aimed down. / suddenly became con-
ented with myself and conditions
.bout me and when soon afterward
he command was sounded along the
Whole line, Spring out :" Forward
narch!" 1 charged as did everyone
lse like one possessed. The order to
alt followed. Like wet bags we
Jumped to the ground Firing had be-
I'm anew.
Our firing now became more lively
and increased to a fear
I'll loudness. If we had occasion to
ay anything to our comrades we had
D shout so loudly in their ears that it
urt our Threats. |
Under the effect of our fire the enc
~ grew restless, the fire weakened
nd his line wavered AS only 500 =,
leters separated us from them we
1uld observe exactly what happened s
lere. We saw about half the enemy
stire in the following manner: Every Q
her man quit the line, leaving his al
'rnate in his place. Those remaining {
ED on until the retiring party halted :
'e used this moment to inflict the q
Ost severe losses on the retreating
lemy. AS far as we could scan the
)rizon to the right and left we saw
e Germans advancing in several sec d
RS. Also for our attachments the h
der came TO advance as the enemy o
treated. Il
The task Of clinging to the heels u
the retiring enemy so tenaciously s
at no time would be allowed to make n
new stand fell to US. We followed +,
e Belgians, scarcely stopping to g,
eathe on the way, in order to pre-
mt their terrifying themselves in a
lage situated just ahead. We knew n.
at bloody hOuse-to-house fight lay q,
fore US, yet the Belgians never at "
mpted to establish themselves, but W
lnaged to escape with astonishing h,
sverness.
In the meantime we received re-en- TT
rcements. Our company was now
city well scattered and fought with
latever unit was nearby. The body
oined had to remain in the village G.
search Systematically for scattered 70
diefs. From this village we saw
1t the Germans had gained on all 81
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