American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-12-17
The Sure Road to Success:

There came the night at Fismes
when the scout officer and a patrol
found themselves lost in a dark wood.
They dared not go n way or anoth-
err without first obtaining proper in
formation as to their location for fear
OF walking into the German lines.
They were discussing their problem
when a dark form crawled out from
under a dark shelter and approached
the lieutenant.
II was Chief Ross. He walked over
TO the officer, pulled at his coat sleeve
and babe him follow, uttering n Of
his grunts. Fifteen minutes later the
party walked back into its own lines.
Chief Ross developed a certain pa
ternal affection for a German luger
pistol that he captured one night in
the enemy trneches. He carries it
with him wherever he goes for fear
that one of his white brothers will
annex it in his absence if he leaves it
living around. He has been known to
sleep with it strapped to his belt.
1t is with this automatic pistol that
be accomplishes his various tasks as a
battalion scout. He seldom carries
anything else except hand grenades.
His supply of ammunition is always
low, but he manages to visit the Ger
man trenches often enough to keep
supplied, and this German-made weap-
on has killed many Boches.
Job for the Chief.
The scout commander expressed his
desire to acquire a pair of German
field glasses. He made the remark to
another officer in the presence of
Chief Ross. That night a scouting
party went out, and Chief Ross was of
il. Next morning the Indian approach
ed the scout commander and present
ed him with a pair of field glasses. 81
get him dugout." he explained, point
ing towards the German lines.
1t was last week, during the Ameri-
can advance beyond Fismes across the
Vesle, that the greatest test of all
came. A machine gun was holding
ub the advance with a harassing fire,
1t was broad daylight-three o'clock
in the afternoon. The task of silenc-
ing the machine gun was left to the
scout commander. A picked patrol
was to go outeand accomplish the job
The work fell on Chief Ross and three
companions, the three being picked
because they are almost as clever as
Ross himself.
The patrol disappeared into the I'M
derbrush with the Indian leading, his
luger pistol ready and two grenades
bullying in his hip pocket.
The machine gun emplacement. il
was discovered, was in the high win
kaex-af~a building net- 2o0-yards from
the American Zine. Two men were
left out front to draw its fire. ant
Chief Ross and the fourth man ad
vanced on the position from Two sides
1t was Ross who got within range
first He crawled up to within a few
yards of the building and could SCI
the muzzle of the machine gun pro
truding through the window.
An instant later. a well aimed gren
ade hurled from the Chiefs right han'
burst inside the compartment, killini
one of the two Germkns and demol
ishing the gun. The surviving Ger
man retreated through a back windoV
aud slid to the ground directly behinl
the building. where he would be pro
tected by German machine gun fir
from the rear.
1t was certain death to attempt t
: reach the ~retreating Hun from eithe
!, side of the building, as machine gun
2 were then pouring forth a hailstor1
: Of bullets.
The German was cunning. but nc
nearly so cunning as the Ute. Chic
Ross swung himself up to the roo
= and, catlike, approached its ridg
where he had a commanding view
. his fleeing enemy.
a Three shots did the job.
q 1t was then that Chief Ross releai
ed his tribes ancient wal whoop.
was his moment of triumph. And
the other members of the patrol coul
have seen the Indians face at thi
: moment. they might have seen hi
: smile for the second time since l
has been in the Army.