The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-06-27
n. and eagerly turned his glasses

d-n, and eagerly turned his giassci
In the direction Of the German road
! also strained my eyes watching thai
target Four black clouds Of dust ros,
M right In the middle Of the Germar
column. -Four direct hits--anothei
record for II 23S.
THE shells kept on whistllng over
head, and | had counted twcnty-four
| VI them when the firing suddenly
ceased. When the smoke aud dust
clouds lifted the destruction ON that
. rncd was awful. Overturned timber,
aud guns, wagons smashed up. troops
ll"eing In all directions The rond and
roadside were spotted all over with
l!ttle f"ld gray dots, the toll ~ our
guns.
THE captain In his excitement. had
slipped on the sandbag and was on
his knees In the mud. the glass Still nj
his eve. lie was muttering to himself
and slarping his thigh with his olsen
gagged hand. At every slap big
round Juicy cuSS word would escape
from his lips followed by:
"Good' Fine! Marvellous! Pretty
Work Direct hits all
"Thcn he turned to me and shouted !:
Wilson. what do you think Of IT,
Did You ever see the like of 1t IN your
lie? Oh fine work. | call IT.
"Pretty soon look Of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed:
But who in HI gave them the
order To fire. Range and everything
correct, too. I know didn't Wilson.
did ] give You any order for the bat.
terry To open up? OF course didn't.
did II
81 answered very emphatically. NO,
sir. You gave no command. Nothing
went through this post I am ab~o-
lutely certain on that point. sir
"'Of course nothing went through
ne replied. Then his face fell. and he
out loud:
"But. by Joyc. wait till Old Pep
per get, wind ~ this. There'll be fur
flying.
Just then Bomhardlcr Cassell cut in
on the wire:
"'GCnornlS compliments to Captain
A. Tie directs that officer and sig
lGier report at the double To brigade
headquarters AS soon us relieved. Re
lief now on the way
"In an undcrione to me. Keep a
BRASS front, Wilson, and for Gods
AXE. stick answered with. Rely on
ne, mate but was trembling all over.
II gave the generals message To the |
'aptain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived, and us we left |
he post the captain said:
"'Now for the fireworks. and know
hey n be good and plenty They were.
"When We arrived ut the gun pits |
he battery commander the sergeant |
major and CasSell were waiting for US. |
We fell in line and the funeral march |
q brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING AZ headquarters the bat /
cry commander was the first To be |
This was behind closed 4
Ioors. From the roaring and explo-
ions Of Old Pepper II sounded as II 1
NV meat was being thrown 10 the 1
ions. Cassell, later, described II rs
ounding like a bombing raid. In about
wo minutes the officer reappeared
he sweat was pouring from his fore
cad, and his face was the color of
eet. He was speeches.. As he
aSsed the captain he ierked his thumb
a the direction OF the Hons den and
ient out. Then the captain went In.
nd the lions were once again fed.
he captain stayed about twenty min
ties and came out. | couldn't see his
ace, but the droop IN his shoulders
'as enough. He looked like wet hen.
'The door OF the generals room
pened and Old Pepper stood In the
Doorway. With a roar he shouted;
(which one of you is Casselli
III me. get your heels together
hen | speak Come in here"
"Casseli started TO say. Yes sir
But Old Pepper roarcd, shut up"
"Cassell came OIt In five minutes.
Ie said nothing. bur rs he passed me
p put his tongue into his cheek and
linked. then, turning 10 the closed
nor. he stuck his thumb to his nose
nj left.
''Then the sergeant majors turn
ime. He diGn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
lust have eaten him.
"WhCn the door opened and the gen
al ipctyaupd tn mo nv knspx started