The Robesonian., 1918-08-26

OF the HlSn, SCOlS4 pAW
english soldiers. The Irish and Scotch
ire very impetuous. especially when II
comes to bayonet fighting, while the
though trifie slower,
does his bit; he is more
nethodical and has the grip OF a bull
dog on a captured position. He Is
slower to think; that is the reason why
be never knows when he is licked.
Twenty minutes before going over
the top the English Tommy will SIT on
the fire step and thoroughly examine
the mechanism of his rifle to see that IL
is in working order and will fire prop
erly, After this examination he is sat
fsfied and ready to meet the BOches.
But the Irishman or Scotchman sits
on the fire step, his rifle with bayonet
fixed between his knees, the butt OF
which perhaps is sinking into the mud
the bolt couldn't be opened with
team Of horses it is so rusty-but he
spits on his sleeve and slowly polishes
his bayonet; when this is done he also
is ready to argue with Fritz.
1t is not necessary to mention the |
colonials (the Canadians, Australians
and New Zealanders), the whole world
knows what they have done for Eng
land.
The Australian and New Zealander
is termed the "Anzac,' taking the
name from the first letters of their Of
fetal designation, Australian and New
Zealand army corps.
Tommy divides the German army
into three classes according to their
fighting abilities. They rank as fol-
lows: Prussians, Bavarians and Sax
ons.
When up against q Prussian regi-
ment it is case Of keep your napper
below the parapet and duck. A bang
bang all the time and war Is on. The
Bavarians are little better, but the
Saxons are fairly good sports and are
willing occasionally to behave as gen.
tlemen and take it easy, but you cam
not trust any Of them overlong.
At one point of the line the trenches
were about thirty-twO yards apart.
This sounds horrible, but in fact it was
easy, because neither side could shell
the enemy's front-line trench for fear
shells would drop into their own. This
eliminated artillery fire.
In these trenches when up against
the Prussians and Bavarians, Tommy
had hot time Of 1t, but when the Sax
ons took over it was a picnic; they
would yell across that they were Sax
ons and would not fire. Both sides
would sit on the >parapet and carry on
conversation. This generally consist
ed of Tommy telling them how much
he loved the kaiser, while the Saxons
Informed Tommy that King George
| was a particular friend of theirs and
hoped that he was doing nicely.
When the Saxons were to be relieved
yell this information across No Mans
Land and Tommy would Immediately
tumble into his trench and keep his
head down.
If an English regiment was to be re-
Heved by the wild Irish, Tommy would
| tell the Saxons, and Immediately a vol
ley Of "Donner und Bltzens" could
be heard and it was Fritz's turn to get
crick in his back from STOPPING, and
the people in Berlin would close their
windows.
Usually when an Irishman takes over
a trench, just before "stand down. In
the morning, he sticks his rifle over
the top, aimed in the direction Of Ber.
lin, and engages in what is known as
the mad minute" This consists OF
firing fifteen shots in a minute. He
is not aiming at anything in particular
just sends over each shot with 6
think If that train haa been OF time
those seventeen would still be alive.
hate to tell you how was kidded
by the boys when got back, but it wa:
good and plenty.
J Our machine gun company took Ovel
their part of the line at seven o'clock
} the night after I returned from m!
near leave.
J At $3.50 the following morning thre'
waves went over and captured the frs
and second German trenches. Th
, machine gunners went over with tn
fourth wave to consolidate the cap
: tured line or "dig in," as Tommy call
t it.
Crossing No Mans Land withou
{ clicking any casualties, we came
the German trench and mounted on
: guns on the parados Of same.
s never saw such mess in my lif
lunches Of twisted barbed wire lyin
Z about, shell holes everywhere. trenc
: all Dashed in, parapets gone, and dea
|. bodies, why, that ditch was full {
e them, theirs and ours. It was q reg,
lar morgue. Some were mangled ho
a ribly from our shell fire, while Other
o were wholly or partly buried In tt
e mud, the result of shell explosions ca