El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-19

we were and about fed up with the
We we're cantonned at that time In
an old chateau. three stories IN
height. The ground floor was the
staff headquarters OF the general
commanding the army sector. and We
were installed on the third floor-a
large attic, with much straw streWn
about the floor. Through q large
hole in the roof. made by shell frag-
ment, the stars looked down at US
The guns still rumbled in the dis
lance, and the trench lights rose with
more than usual frequency, showing
the nervousness Of the trench SEN
tries as they settled down for the
Awakened by Scream OF shell.
The Pickering light flashes on the
walls and ceiling grew DINNER ana
the roll Of the guns grew fainter
dozed. Suddenly. and wide eyed, !
awakened with the sickening scream
of an incoming shell filling all the
air: then the great crash Screams
Of men. sounds of falling walls and
houses, hurrying footsteps, shouted
orders and frightened cries. Then
came in a call from the village Ior
two American cars, for several SOL
diers had been caught by the shell
fragments, and another was hurt in
falling house
Down in the village were many new
shell holes in the road and several
houses tumbled and fallen By the
feeble flicker OF an oil lantern we
carried out the horribly mangled bod
les and placed them gently In the
ambulance.
One, only a boy, with pretty brown
hair and brown. wide staring eyes.
had both legs blown off and the blood
torn, soiled blue trousers Inc poor
chap was dead when they took him
out at the hospital
Almost CoIIfdes with Ambulance.
Ny thoughts on the return trip
were so much Of him that very near near
" colIided with several OF the aInDu-
isncas carving back their human
freight from the front lines bacA
At our base-the old chateau
again rolled myself in the blankets
to nap a bit in preparation TOT tne
morrow's work. when ! should De on
"a hour duty It was l O'CLOCK IN ~
trip - x, snd NY watch told me
had been asleep but half an nonS
when I was again violently aWsK-
eued BY the loud ringing OF the chd-
teau bell, blowing OF horns ana snoul-
ing in the village
THE gasi Get your masks! Ine
Germans have sent out a gas wave
and it's blowing this way!" somebody
cried
Then great confusion and rushing
bout after gas masks; and We lay
there on the floor for more than an
hour with the sitting, evil smellins
masks on, now and then coming oul
for a breath Of air and a sniff 70 see
il there were any gas about
Dre-ms OF Leading Trench Charge.
But the gas didn't come our way
So both cursing the false report and
thanking our lucky stars tnat tnt
gas hadn't arrived. we once more
dropped off to sleep And ! dreameQ
OF leading a charge over the trench
parapet through gas and ourstine
shells.
Flash OF Guns Lights Sky and Trench
The guns still rolled on at the 1ronL
the flashes lit up the sky and the
trench lights serenely 0oated on the
night air. A motor droned out anc
A questioning red rocket shot W
from the battery across the road TWO
lights. a red and a green. shone COW
from a plane as II continued u
course undisturbed-a bombing plant
probably lust returning from a raid
I dozed off into fitful sleep
Somebody was shaking ne Flo-
Ientlv. and sleepily looking out inte
the light OF the cold gray dawn
Nv II was Dick back from the from