Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-26

A Gas Helmet.
clicked cushy job behind the lines,
and how sorry I felt that they had TO
stay in the front line and argue out the
war with Fritz. They We're envious
hut still good-natured, and as l left the
trench to go to the rear they shouted
after me:
Good luck, Yank, old boy; don't
forget 10 send up few Tags to your
old mates"
/ promised to do this and left.
/ reported at headquarters with SIX
teen others and passed the required ex-
animation. Out of the sixteen appll-
eants four were selected.
Twas highly elated because was,
thought, in for cushy job back at the
base.
The next morning the four reported
TO division headquarters for instruc-
tons. Two of the men were sent to
large towns in the rear of the lines
with an easy job. When it came our
turn the officer told us we were good
men and had passed a very creditable
examination.
My tin, hat began to get too small
for me, and noted that the other man,
Atwell by name, was sticking his chest
out more than usual.
The officer continued: "Ithink I can
use you two men to great advantage
in the front line. Here are your orders
and instructions, also the pass which
gives you full authority as special NJ.
p. detailed on intelligence work. Re-
port at the front line according to your
instructions. 1t is risky work and
wish you both the best of luck"
My heart dropped to zero and At
wells face was a study. We saluted
and left.
That wishing us the "best Of luck"
sounded very ominous in our ears; Ii
he had said Il wish you both a swift
and painless death" it would have been
more to the point.
When we had read our instructions
we knew we were in for it good and
plenty.
What Atwell said is not fit for pub
LEGATION, but ! strongly seconded his
opinion of the war. army and divisional
headquarters in general.
After a bit our spirits rose. We were
full-fedged spy-catchers, because our
instructions and orders, said so.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest French estaminet and had sew
eral glasses of muddy water. which
they called beer. After drinking our
beer we left the estalninet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got in. The driver was going to the
part of the line where we had to, re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived q
ride in that ambulance was ineyplica-
Bile to me. 1t was worse than riding on
gun carriage oyer rock road.
The driver of the ambulance was a
corporal o. The II. A. ". G., and ne
had the wind up" that is, lie had an
aversion to being under ire.
l was riding on the seat with him
while Atwen was sitting in the alnbu-
lance, with mis- legs hanging out 81 the
back.
AS we passed through shell-de-
stroyed village n mounted military POI
iceman stopped us and informed the
driver to be very careful whcn we got
ont an tho ...an rnoJ au ~ su..e ,4..,,-
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit of Smelling Il.
The corporal asked the trooper If there
was any other way around, and was
informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted "a
turn back. but we insisted that he pro.
coed and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble ~ith his
commanding officer II he returned
without orders; we wanted TO ride,
not walk
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with Il draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was moi
much danger, and he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we at last turned into the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been d line u
trses, but now all thut was left 81
them wore torn and battered stumps
The fields eaea az a..
49,.