Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-12-13
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The English Lion was roaring, and
his growls could be heard all along the
western front. No doubt many a Ger
man general was stirring uneasily In
his large concrete shell-proof dugout.
kilos behind the German front line, a.
the ever-Increaslng laundering roar
reached his ears.
We had a closeup view Of his ma
jesty, the king of beasts, and to Us No
was a sorry-lOoking specimen. Patches
of hide were worn away, while In his
tail were two big knots. II these knots
had have been labeled II would have
been easy to read "Neupe Chapelle"
and "Gallipoli." The memory and
pain of these two disasters no doubt
increased the intensity Of his thunder.
The British bombardment Of the
German lines was on, q bombardment
which lasted over eight days and
nights. II was the forerunner OF the
Big Push, or Battle Of the SOmme."
Atwell and I were sitting In a dug
out of the support trench. Atwell was
a great, big. lovable fellow. and was
my mate. We both had been detailed
10 the divisional intelligence depart
ment. and were engaged upon spy
work."
Atwell, although Of q naturally
CHEEKY disposition. occasionally re-
lapsed into fits of dependency.
In the light from a stump OF q can
die was making out my previous
dny's report to turn into brigade
headquarters. Occasionally the en-
trance to the dugout would light up
with a red fare as a shell burst In the
near vicinity. Atwell was sitting on
his pack, with his back leaning against
the wet and muddy wall Of the dugout
The rays from the candle lighted up
his face.
Finishing my report. got out Q
''fag," lighted II. and with an uneasy
feeling listened to the roar Of the hell
outside. A long-drawn sigh caused
me to look In Atwell'B direction
Never in my life have I seen such q
detected and woe.begone countenance
This, in a way, angered me. because
I. myself, right then, had a feeling Of
impending disaster. sort Of unknown
dread, perhaps intermingled with q
far-away. longing for the. fields and
flowers at home. I wanted to DC
cheered, and Atwell's face looked like
q mOrgue.
Forcing a smile slapped Atwell %
the knee and said:
"Come out o. your trance. We've
both got a good chance TOR blignty
with this bombardment on
Atwell looked in my direction. and
in a tone Of voice which from him
had never heard before, answered:
"Yank, I've been out since ~. I've
buried many a mate and I've seer
many a lucky bloke on q stretche'
bound for Bllghty, ahd never gave Y
n thought, but right now ! feel % u
my stay in the trenches will be short
I'VE had something on my mind slnct
September. 1914. and It's been worry
Ing me pink. I'm g0ln' to tell you tn
story, and I'll give you my oath thai
you're the first one that's ever heart
it from my lips: but I've got to have
your promise that yOu'll not judge mi
too harshly. I've just GOT to get u
out O. my system"
Just then a signing mOAA could b
heard overhead. It was enc Of oul
"nIne.poInt-twO" shells aimed In TN
direction Of Berlin. We both instine
lively turned our eyes toward the en-
trance Of the dugOut and waited to-
the burst. Nothing happened.
Another bloOmIn' dud."! CALCULATED
Atwell. "A few more hundred pOgndi
gone to seed" and then again tn
gloomy look spread over his counte
nance. was getting nervous and I'M
easy. Trying to hide my fear, ! said
"For tn love o. Mike, Atwell. crack
a smile. Give u that story Of yours