Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-28
OVID TIL TOD
81
AN AflERI(AN SOLDIER
VITO WENT q 3
AQI1lUl GUY Enp[Y
MACHINE 6lNNEn SrnMNe m % ANce----
MACHINE GUNNER ,JfRYINdN FRANCE

In his fight he came to an old
French dugout, half caved in and par.
TALLY filed with Shiny and filthy wa.
ter.
Like fox being chased by the
hounds. he ducked into this hole, and
threw himself on pile OF old empty
Sandbags, wet and widowed. Then
Inconsistencies.
On the next day, he came to: far
distant voices sounded in his ears.
Opening his eyes, in the entrance Of
The dugout he saw corporal and two
men with fixed bsyonets.
The corporal was addressing him:
Get up, you white-livered Brighter I
Curse you and the day you ever joined
D company, spelling their fine rec
ord It'll be you mp against the wall,
and good job too. Get hold of him,
men, and if he makes Il break. give him
the bayonet, and send II home, the cow
ardly sneak. Come on, you, move,
we've been looking for you long
enough"
Lloyd, trembling and weakened by
mis- long fast. touered out assisted by
A soldier on each side OF him.
They took him before the captain,
but could get nothing out of him but:
"For Gods sake, sir, don't have me
shot, don't have me shot! "
The captain, utterly disguised with
him, sent him under escort to division
headquarters for trial by court-mar-
tial, charged with desertion under FIRE.
They shoot descrters in France
During his trial, lloyd sat as one
dazed. and could put nothing forward
in his defense, only an occasional
Don't have me shotw
His sentence was passed: ITO be
shot at 8 .3S o'clock in the morning Of
May IS. 1916" This meant that he
bad only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness of
his sentence; his brain seemed para
lyZed. He knew nothing Of his trip
under guard, in n motor lorry TO the
sandbagged guardroom in the village,
where he was dumped on the floor and
left. while sentry with fixed bayo-
net paced up and down in front of the
entrances
Bully beef, water and biscuits were
I left beside him for his supper.
The sentry, seeing that he ate moth
ing, came inside and shook him by the
shoulder. SAYING i'm q kind voice:
"Cheero, laddie, better eat some
thing. Youth feel better. Don't give
up hope. Youll be pardoned before
morning. I know the way they run
these things. They're only trying to
scare you, that's all. Come now, that's
good lad, eat something. tn make
the world look different to you"
The good-hearted sentry knew he
was lying about the pardon. He knew
nothing short OF a miracle could save
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry's
words, and believed them. A look OF
hope came into his eyes, and he raven
ously ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time, the chap
lain came to see him. but Lloyd would
have none OF him. He wanted no par
son he was to be pardoned.
The artillery behind the lines sud
denly opehed up with everything they
had. An intense bombsrdment OF the
enemy's lines had commenced. The
roar Of the guns was deafenlng
Lloyd's fears came back with rash.
and he covered on the earthen floor
with his hands over his face.
The sentry, seeing his position, came
in and tried TO cheer him by talking to
him:
"Never mind them guns, boy, they
won't hurt you. They are ours. We
are giving the Boehes dose OF their