Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-20
PICTURE or HUN CHARGE
ON POSITIONS OF ALLIES
Tense Moments Before Gray-Clad
Hordcs Throng FlcrccIy Over
the Top.
BRITISH LOVE THEIR GUNS
Regard Them as TcLdcrly as They
DO Their Children, and Sorrow
When They Arc Lost to tho
Enemy.
ny REGINALD wYNNE. u. C.

III REGINALD wYNNE, II. y.
France . "stand-to! Stand-to!"
These words really wear whiskcrs.
The prcdawn awakening Of the army
IN the trenches Is. always heraldcd by
this self-same phrase. Uttered with a
certain sadness. by sentries who have
many times themselves been reused by
1t TO their great unrest.
But now the words ring out in
clear command. There Is no mistak
ing the meaning. hot as at other
times do the men in the trenches slow
~ uncoil themselves; knucklc their
eyes sleepily. and lounge lazily up to
the frcstep.
This is il! This is the real thing!
\ moment before, Struggled up in
their coats. II appeared. as though the
men in the front line were hibcrnat
ing for al unlimited period in DOR
inousclikc slumbcr. Now. electrified
out OF their dream world into real
ity. every man clutches for his rife
and springs on to the firestep. There
arc snaplikc sounds they test the
breechcs of their weapons. then they
stare-thc battle light in their eyes
would permit the word glare being
uscd-into the darkness.
Officers \. C. O.'s and runners hurry
through the trench. each repeating. in
measured tones. the same warning SEN
fences: They're coming! Look out for
our listening posts"
4 few moments later there is a jan
Cling in the wire ahead. and a voice
comes apologc,ically out Of the daks-
ness:
Don't FIRE. you blokes. We're No. l
listening post"
All right. Old Cock" replies
humorist, but hurry up and don't blot
out the landscape. we're-"thinks hard
for an appropriate ord. then mutters
sulk!ly hungry"
The mcA OF the r .urn-d listening
post .si;hcr down into the trench
Their information is automatically
similar.
They're coming 'orl right. Not 'arf
each c1claims chcerily. as he proceeds
TO take his place in the waiting line.
BRITISH GUNS HAVE NOW
PUT DOWN DARRAGE
The British guns have now put down
a barragc; the shrapnell shells tear
ing bright chunks out OF the darkness.
The roar of artillery has long since be-
come soothing souIG 10 the waiting
veterans. and they can listen as easily
as though otherwise silence prevailed.
Then 10 them, through the rumbling
make-believe silence. CONES the thud-
like tremo. OF 10000 feet.
There is real silence in the Brit
ish line-a silence similar to that in
dulgcd In by pan her crouching.
ready TO put forth all its strength in
a crushing blow.
Then branching thud of moving feet
volume.
Suddenly the British line wrinkles
with bursts OF fame as are-fy-like
flashes dot the darkness.
The thudding sound of moving feet
breaks into heavy 'mblc Machine
guns cluck! cluck! ghoulishly. as
though calling lost souls u the slauGh-
ter The rife and ma. hinc-gun fire
ripplcs on untiringly; the earth
,renors caused by advancing footsteps
have ceased. but out Of the nscruta BILE
darkness comes the horrid sound
means.
The sky lishtens 10 greet the coming
day. Ghostly groups of grey figures
loom largely through the ha!f-light. as
they press towards the BIRTHS: trench
Behind them again is table-mountain
mass of other grey forms.
ningly concealed machine guns in she'll
holes. and these now play the devirs
TATTOO along the SUNNI: of the British
trench. simultaneously. IT, masses OF
the enemy move towards their objec-
i've Tho machine guns and rifles Of
the defenders are as insist, Mt as ever.
but the gaping wounds they tear out
of the oncoming human avalanche
close up automatically.
Suddenly the word is pa: ied along to
the defenders to retire. i':ic order has
been expected. for they have been
warned that that is the game they have
10 play. ClambcrinG out Ct tho trench.
they are at once exposed to the hostile
machine guns. but tina. does not pre-
vent them from forming an alignment.
MACHINE GUNNERs REMAIN
TO HOLD WAN CT HUNS
The trench. however, is not totally
deserted by the Britisncrs, for the ma
chine gunners remain to .:old up the
attacking waves as long as they can.
Heroically and unsclfshly they per-
form their duty: then at a given signal
bombs are placed under their guns, and
they follow in the footsteps of those
whose retirement they have rendered
possible.
Twice have the British taken up
fresh positions and twice have they
been ordered TO retire before tho over
whelming, but rapidly thinning masses
which endeavor to clos with them.
The game is being played according to
the rules laid down.
The men who originally occupied the
front trenches are now OF ridge i'm
mediatey in front of IN batteries
which have been supporting them
These batteries have already had tho
order to withdraw. but SO intense is
the German shell h:'o t.. several
teams have been wiped out in their
3orts 10 remove tha guns. But at