Gunnison news-champion., 1918-04-26


out on the open road, as IL was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit Of shellIng fl.
The corporal asked the trooper II there
was any other way around. and was
Informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back. but We Insisted that he pro
coed and explained 10 him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer II he returned
without orders: We wanted to ride.
no; walk
From his conversation We learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with q draft and had never been
under IRE, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
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 line Of
trees, but now. all that was left OF
them were torn and battered stumps
The fields on each side of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and We passed several in the road IT.
self. We had gone about half a mile
when shell came whistllng through
the air and burst In a field about three
hundred yards 10 our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge OF the road about four hun
dred yards In front OF Us.
told the driver TO throw In his
}.a 10, afs
of the Germans. / knew the signs:
that battery vas ranging for us. and
the quicker We got out OF its zone Of
fire the better The driver was tren-
bling ike a leaf. and every minute |
expected him to pile Us up In the ditch.
preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwrli was holding onto
the straps for dear life. aad was sing
Ing At the top OF his voice:
We beat you at the Marue.
We beat you at the Aisne.
We gave you hell at Seuve Chapelie.
And here we are again.
Just then We hit a small shell hole
and nearly capsized. Upon a loud
veil from the rear looked behind. and
there was Atwell sitting IN the middle
Of the road shaking his fist at US. His
equipment. which he had taken of
upon getting into the ambulance. was
strung out on the ground. and his rife
was in the ditch.
| shouted to the driver to stop, and
In his nervousness he put on the
brakes. We nearly pitched out head
first. But the applying OF those brakes
saved our lives. The next instant
there was Il binding flash and deaf
cninE report. All that I remember is
that was flying through the air. and
wondering II ] would land in a soft
spot. Then the lights went out.
When | came to. Atwell was pouring
water on my head out of his bottle.
On the other side of the road the cor
poral was sitting, rubbing lump on
his forehead with his left hand. while
his right arm was bound up In blood
soaked bandage. He was moaning
very loudly. | had an awful headache
and the skin on the left side OF my
face was full Of gravel and the blood
was trickling from my nose.
But that ambulance was turned over
In the ditch and was perforated with
holes from fragments Of the shell. One
of the front wheels was slowly revolv-
! Ing, so ! could not have been "out" for
a long period.
The shells were still screaming over
head, but the battery had raised its
fire and they were bursting in n little
wood about half n mile from us.
Atwell spoke up. Il wish that off,
| Ger hadn't wished us the best O. luck"
| Then he commenced swearing. 1
| couldn't help laughing, though my
/ head was nigh TO bursting.
Slowly rising to my feet felt myself
all over to make sure that there were
no broken bones. But outside of few
/ bruises and scratches was all right.
( The corporal was still moaning, but
more from shock than pain. A shell
splinter had gone through the flesh of
his right forearm. Atwell and l. from
| our first-aid pouches. put a tourniquet
| on his arm to stop the bleeding and
then gathered up our equipment.
We realized that we were in dam
gerous spot At any minute shell
might drop on the road and finish US
OF. The village We had left was not
very far. SO We told the corporal he
had better go back to II and get his
arm dressed, and then report the fact
| of the destruction of the ambulance to
the military police. He was well able
to walk. so he set Off in the direction
Of the village. while Atwell and l con-
tinued our way on foot.
Without further mishap we arrived
at our destination, and reported to bril-
gade headquarters for rations and bill
lets.
That night we slept in the battalion
sergeant majors dugout. The next
morning went to a first-aid post and
had the gravel picked out of my face.
The instructions We received from