Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-08


other direction. and we stopped our
automobile between 1t and the can
non A few yards beyond a lieu
tenant was sitting on his horse aSi o..
my sergeant has just reported that
they are Smelling the crossroads
ahead of US. but I guess 1t is only
gas" he replied.
German Aero Turned Back.
High in the heavens beyond the
shrapnel from anti-air guns burst
into black puffs. turning back Ger
man airplane which was trying. to
come over and report to the artillery
how accurately it was registering on
the areas which the Germans had va
Alongside the road other anti-air
guns opened into action. The plane
suddenly dropped as If it had been hit,
ward the German lines. giving up
the attempt for the time being. We
continued into Ffsmette. II there
had been Smelling the German IRE
traces of any damage done. Lieut.:
G. o. Shirley of Texas. corps provost
marshal was busily supervising the
crossroads and mailing up signs indi-
iage, unmindful Of the shells. =,
"All that Is worrying me-" he SAID
rs that l am hungry. I started put
ting up signs at 10 o'clock last night.
The Germans removed all oetore tney
retreated."
After mounting an elevation we
could see the heights Of the Aisne and
the smoke from the villages which the
Germans were burning north OF the
river. The sight of bursts of black
smoke and the sound Of explosions
showed that shells were dropping on
the villages which we held in this
side Other bursts farther back and
the shrill whistle of shells passing
guns were in action bombarding our
back areas Through 1t all our SOL
diefs were moving steadily forward.
coming up the hills In little clusters.
crossing the fields. disappearing In
little valleys and reappearing again
on hills farther on.
Fismes, which we held despite the
German attempts to Dust us since the
enemy was driven beyond the Ve ss1s
telnatic artillery fire. Along the streets
lay the bodies Of German horses and
dogs left there when the enemy re-
treated weeks ago. In former days
the kings of France stopped overnight
at Fismes when they went in their
coaches to Rheims to be crowned. To-
day even an American soldier would
be unable to find q whole roof to keep
the rain of his head. let alone hotel
sumptuous enough for a king.
Play Poker as Shells Fall.
Shells were again falling on Fismette
~ we crossed the new bridge which our
enginesrs have built over the Vesle to
connect the two towns. In the shade Of
one Of the houses nve soldiers, unmind-
ful Of the explosions and forgetful OF
tho fact that the chow wagons were
unable to keep up with the rapid ad-
vance Of the troops, leaving them with q
saioo Of bread and a canteen OF water
a. the only rations for day, were un-
concernedly playing poker. In front Of
a dressing station sat q soldier with .
bloody bandage around his head.
Huh, we've got those boches on the
run now. but the sawbones here will
not let me go back to fight" he com
planned One surgeon, Lieut.. William
Harris Of st. Louis. who Joined the out
1T only few days ago. became hero
in his frst baptism of fire last night;
when one shell killed sixteen men and
wounded twenty-five. wiping out his
hospital corps. Unaided. he worked
through the night, though other shells
800 faI1in1 until fha last wounded