The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-19
AMERICAN BOY
JOURNEYS into
LAND OF DEATH
Australian Veteran Coaches
Impetuous Yankee Soldier
in First Battle; Finds Apt
Pupil in Grim Work.


| FRANCE.-"Hey, Yankee, take it a
bit easy and wait for me. You ain
running no bloddy 10O-yard dash,
you know"
The speaker was giant Austral-
ian, loose of limb and with face
bronzed by years of constant expos
ure to the sun. His companion was
equally sturdy, his Drawn acquired
on his fathers farm in far western
state. 1t was dawn of July 4, and
these two, with many others from
Australia and America, were just
pushing out across the still mist
shrouded field that stretched away
along the Somme valley toward the
strongholds of the Germans, whom
they were that day to vanquish in
the first Anglo-American attack of
history.
Just ahead of them was a curtain
of breaking shells from hundreds of
British guns in the rear, and the
Yankees were having their initial ex-
perience with a barrage fire.
THAT barrige," continued the
Australian as he cleared a shell hole
with flying leap, landing beside his
companion, that barrage amt no
blinging bar to be leaned against,
youngster." 0 If on their right other
men from the United States were
eagerly pressing forward with rifles
grasped tensley and faces expectant.
Out ahead there somewhere they
were to have their initiation into real
warfare. They did not know exactly
what it would be like, but they were
running to it with an impetuous dis
regard for the death that might be
waiting for them.
His Pal is Wounded
Suddenly, one boy who had pushed
ahead of the others, staggered back
helpless by his side. 81 was just
telling you SOL" muttered the Aus
tralion to his companion.
"Why-wey, it's Toni" STAN
mered the other with catch in his
voice. 1t was the first time he had
ever seen man hit in battle and
this was one of his own pals. TOO
bad, but those things happen" re-
marked the veteran, tersely, "he can
be glad he amt dead. You fellows
have got to learn not to charge into
a barrage. 1t don't help to lick the
boche. / know how you feel-you
want to get-at 'em, but there's time,
old son, there's time for it."
The Amrican fell in beside the
and pushed ahead
He had had his first |
vital lesson in warfare as it is waged |
today. He must not let his eager
ness carry him ahead too fast so that |
he would get caught in that crashing |
line of steel. Tom had just learned |
by burning his fingers that fire was
hot and other American boys were
getting the same hard fact driven
nome to them strange as it might |
seem, that there was such a thing as
90 much speed in rushing the
enemy.
Into Storm of Bullets
The Australian and the American
pushed forward thru the lightning
gloom. From somewhere far ahead
he erman machine guns began their
and bullets came singing.
The western boy ducked sharply as
screaming pellet swished past his
ar. you lodged that one all
light, good work, Yank, good work."
he veteran said with grin: "You
elbows are mighty quick"
The American blushed under his
an and smiled ruefully, ooh, we
re good, all right, Shorty" he re- ;
lied thru clenched teeth.
The bullets kept coming in waves,
ut the American did not dodge {
gain. ell
On they went down the shell-torn {
ope that led to the Hamel wood.
hey had encountered no enemy as {
ct, but they were in the zone of e
arbed wire and that tore their legs
'uelly at times as they pushed s
lru the network of sharp spikes. t
hen came the first erman trench r
efence and in a runway were sew r
al gray coats firing with rifles at Il
e advancing troops. u
"Hit them, Yank! at T." yelled il
q Australian, and he hurled him n
If over the parapet. a
There was no necessity to urge the II
ankee. He was down among the
mans like a whilwind, and then a
ere began furious lunging and s.
FRYING with the bayonets. There n
ore four Germans in that pit, great
rapping fellows with plenty of
hit in them. The American was
a battle rage and he fought fur G
lsly, but with the same headwork G
at characterized his veteran COM A
de's methods. 1t was all over in A
and the enemy lay crum-
ed in the ditch. The American had Fl
counted for two of them; he had Fl
Id his own. A
Good fellow, Yank, you certainly A
n fight" the Australian said, "but
IL, man, don't never stab another {"
che thru the chest. You'll bust A
ur steel and there'll be the devil W
pay. Get 'em in the throat" W
Out of the Hamel wood the Ger
ms were maintaining wicked fire Fl
I'm their machine guns, but there A,
s no slackening of the advance of ri
} Australian or the American. W
ey surged forward with heads W
wn and teeth set.
Silencing Machine Gun Fl,
Just little distance ahead was a TT,
chine gun nest and bullet from Hi
It direction grazed the Americans A
EEK. 1t angered him. He had had
baptism of fire; he had killed, "y
now there was no stopping him.
deliberately charged the nest w
hur1nd hnroh -, o,,nr %Lo .~.>- | ~,