Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-05
THREE v1nc,NrANs DIE
HOW D. C. M. IS WON
BY BRITISH TONNES
IN THE CAUSE OF ALLIES

yards from tho Germans. This sure
was hot section of the line. We
were against the Prussians. and it was
ease, at night, OF keeping your ears
and eyes open. NO mans land was
full of their patrols and ours. and many
fights took place between them.
One night we would send over a
trench-raidinS party. and the next
night over would come Fritz.
There was certain part OF our
trench nicknamed Death Alley, and the
company which held it were sure to
click il hard in casualties. In five
nights in clicked for three recon-
motoring patrols.
John Trendh--he was a lance cor
pcral then-was in charge OF our Sec
tion. This was before went to ma
chino Eunncrs'. school and transferred
10 this outfit. This French certainly
wae an artist when it came to scout
ing in no mans land He knew every
men OF the ground out in front. and
was like cat-he could see in the
dark.
ON tho night that he won his D..
g. NJ. he had been out in front with a
patrol for two hours. and had just
returned to tho fire. trench A sentry
down on the right Of Death Alley re-
ported suspicious noise out in front.
and our captain gavo orders for an
other patrol to go out and investigate.
Corporal Hawkins was next on tho
list for tho job, but, blime me. he sure
had the wind UP, and was shaking and
trembling like a dish of jelly.
All Get "Shnkes" Some Time.
~ new lcftcnant. Ncwall by name
had just come out from Blighty. and
a pretty fno officer. too Now. don't
you chaps think because this chan was
killed that say he was a good officer.
because dead or alive. you would have
TO x" bloomin' long way to get an
"thcr man like Ncwail. But this young
iest"nant was all cagerncss to get out
IN front. You sec. il was his first
Time over the top. lie noticed that
Hawkins was shaky. and so did French.
French went up to the officer and said !:
Sir, Corporal Hawkins has been
feeling queer for the last couple OF
days. and ] certainly would deem 1t a
favor II | could go in his place
Now, don't think that Hawkins was
coward, because he was not. for the
best Of us are liable to set the shakes
at times. You know. Hawkins wac
Killed At La Basse couple OF months
aso-kilied while going over the top.
There were seven in this patrol
Leftenant Ncwal. Corporal French,
myself and four more from Il Company.
About sixty yards from Fritz's
trench an old ditch-must have been
the bed OF creek. but at that time
was .dry-ran parallel with the Ger
man barbed wire. Lining the edge OF
this ditch was scrubby sort OF hedge.
which made fine hiding place for a
patrol. Why Fritz had not sent out
working party and done away with
'h'S screen WAS mystery TO US.
French leading. followed by Lcften
ant Ncwall. myself third. and the rest
trailing behind. crawled through san
under our barbed wire leading out 70
listening post in no mans land.
We each had three bombs. Ncwall
carried revolver one of those Yanl,e.
Foits--and his cane. Blime me, | he
lleVe that officer slept with that cane.
lie never went without IL. The rest
"i US were armed with bombs and
rifles. bayoncts fixed. We had mr..
Nionsiy biackened our bayonets so they
would not shine in the glare of q
star shell.
Reaching the listening post. French
told us 10 wait about five minutes ,,n-
III n. returned from p little scouting
TRIP on his own. When no left. we.
WIN every nerve tense. listened for
III" coming pack. We could almost hear
cach others hearts pumping. but not
= sound around the listening most.
suddenly voice. about six fee, on nv
right. whispered: AN right. tho vay
IS clear: follow mo and carry on
MY blood frozs In my veins l,
was uncanny the way French ap-
preached us without being heard.
Then. with backs bending low. OUT
az ~" listening post We went. in tho
direction or the ditch in front az ,he
German barbcd wire we reached rho
scruhhN hedge and lay down. about six
'c't apart, 10 listen. French and the
officer wer" on the right OF orr line.
About twenty minutes had ella
when suddenly, directly IN front Of THE
herman wire We could see dark.
shad""y forms rise from tho ground
ana move along tho wire. Silhouc,ted
against tho skyline these forms looked
: like huge giants and took on horrih,s
shapes. My heart almost stopped heat
I ing counted si1ty-two in ALI AZ
me last form faded into the blachness
on my left %
| whisper came to my cars: Don't
I move or make - sound. q strong car
man raidinE party Is going across
I ~ Vas frenchs Voice. / did MOI hear
+ MIN approach me. nor lravc. Yank
nc must have GOT his training with the
indian rs on Your great piains OF
/ America.
could hear q slight sorapins noise
OF my right and left. Pretty soon the
whole remembering patrol was living
~ circle heads in. French had IN
ms n"iscless way. given orders for
them 10 close in on me. and await IN.
struc; ions. "
/ L"fenant Ncwalls voice. in very
! 10" Whisper, came 10 ue:
| BOYS. the men in our trenches have
received orderh not to fire on srcoun,
OF our reeonnoi'crins patrol being our
| III front a strong German raidiur
party has just c,rcied our left. and 1,