Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-15
sIeh Of relief We prayed for the morn
Ing and the rum issue.
CHAPTER x.


was fast learning that there n n
regular routine about the work OF the
trenches. although II r. badly upset at
times by the Germans.
The real work in the Gre trench
commences nj shutdown. Tommy r.
like a burglar. he works nj night.
Just as n begins 20 get dark the
word "stAnd to- Is passed from trav-
erse TO traverse. and the men get busy.
The first relief. consisting OF two men
20 traverse. mount the fire step. one
man looking over the top. while the
other sits az his feet. ready 10 carry
messages or to inform the platoon OH
Ger Of any report made by the sentry
ms 60 his observations In No Mans
Land. The sentry IL not allowed TO
relax his watch for n second. n he 10
questioned from the trench or asked
his orders. he replies without turning
around or taking his eyes from the en-
panse Of dirt IN front OF him. The re- |
malnder OF the occupants OF his trav-
ersc either sit on the ere step. with |
bayonets fixed. ready for any emer-
gency. or II lucky and q dugout hap
pens TO be IN the near vicinity OF the |
traverse, and II the night Is quiet, they
are permitted 10 20 10 same and try |
and snatch few winks OF sleep. Little
sleeping Is done. generally the men SIT
around, smoking flags and seeing who
can tell the biggest ne. Some OF them,
perhaps with their feet In water, would
write home sympathlzlng with the
governor" because he was laid up
with a cold. contracted by getting his
feet wet on HIS way TO work In Wool
wich arsenal. II man should manage
to dozc OF. likely az not he would wake
with a start as the dammy. cold feet
VI rnt passed over Ms face, or the
next relief stepped on his stomach
while stumbling ON their way to relieve
the sentrles In the trench. ,
Just try TO sleep with belt full Of
around you, your rifle bolt
biting into your ribs, intrenching tool
landle sticking into the small Of your
'ack. with a tin hat for u pillow and ,
ceiling very damp and cold, with =
coolies" boring for oil In your arm !
ITS, the air foul from the stencil Of :
'rimy human bodies and smoke from
ulcy pipe being whlffed into your nos .
ribs, then you will not wonder why a
Tommy occasionally takes a turn IN n
he trench for a rest.
While IN o front-llne trench orders n
orbld Tommy from removing hi. Il
'oots, puttees, clothing or equipment. b
The Coolies" take advantage Of this v
rider and mobilize their forces. and
Tommy swears vengeance on them and Q
nutters 10 himself. "Just walt until l q
No rest blllets and AM able TO get my Z
,wu back" ,
Just before daylight the men "turn
10" and tumble out OF the dugouts. man {
he fire step until II gets light. or the ]
Welcome order "stnnd down" Is given.
before "stnnd down" Is or
Tered. the command "flye rounds rap $
a. Is passed along the trench. This :
means that each man must rest his c
life on the top and fire as rapidly as Z
osslble five shots aimed toward the Z
ierman trenches, and then duck with a
he emphasis ON the "duck"). There Is
great rivalry between the opposing G
lrccs TO get their rapid fire all OF
rst. because the early bird. In this In a
unce, catches the worm-sort Of gets 4
he jump ON the other fellow. catching n
Ina unawares. Is
We Ind u sergeant In our battalion b!
imcd Warren. He was on duty with q
Is platoon In the fire trench one after
m