Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-08-23
CHAPTER XXVl-Continued.

LIE presence OF the II. "A. M. 4. meI
did not seem to disturb the raiders, be-
cause many joke made in an under
tone, was passed along the winding
column, as to who would be first tC
take a ride on one of the stretchers
This was generally followed by a wish
that, If you were to be the one, the
wound would be a "cushy Blighty
one"
The stretcher bearers, no doubt
hoping that, if they did have to carry
anyone to the rear, he would be small
and light. Perhaps they looked at me
when wishing, because l could feel an
uncomfortable, boring sensation be-
tween my shoulder blades. They got
their wish all right.
Going up this trench, about every
sixty yards or so we would pass a lone
~ sentry, who in whisper would
wish us ''the best O. luck, mates" We
would blind at him under our breaths
that Jonah phrase to US sounded very
ominOus.
Without any casualties the minstrel
troop arrived at Suicide ditch. the
front-line trench. Previously, a wiring
party Of the Royal Engineers had cut
a lane through our barbed wire to en-
able us to get out into No Mans Land.
Crawling through this lane, our
party Of twenty took up an extended
order formation about one yard apart.
We had tap code arranged for our
movements while in No Mans Land
because for various reasons it is not
safe to carry on heated conversation
few yards in front of Fritz lines
The officer was on the right of the
line, while was on the extreme left
Two taps from the right would be
passed down the line until l received
them, then / would send back one tap.
The officer, in receiving this one tan.
would know that his order had gone
down the whole line, had been under
STOOD, and that the party was ready
10 OBEY the twO-taD signal. Two taps
meant that we We're to crawl forward
siowly-and believe me, very slowly
IOr nve yards, and then halt TO await
further instructions. Three taps meant.
"hen you arrived within striking dis
lance of the German trench, rush it
una lnfllct as many casualties as pos
slDle, secure couple of prisoners. and
then pack TO your own lines with the
speed clutch open. Four taps meant.
i have gotten you into posjtion from
"hlch 1t is impossible for me to extri-
cate you, so you are on your own"
After getting Tommy into a mess on
tne western front he is generally told
mat he is ION his own" This means
save your skin in any way possible"
tommy loves to be ION his own" behind
the lines, but not during a trench raid
Inc star shells from the German
INES were falling in front of us. there
Iore we were safe. After about twen-
~ minutes we entered the star she'll
zone. A star shell from the German
iihes Tell about five yards in the rear
ana TO the right of me; we Rugged the
ground and held our breath until if
burned out. The smoke from the star
smell Travelled along the ground and
over the middle of our line
some Tommy sneezed. The smoke had
eotten up his nose. We crouched on
the ground, cursing the offender under
our breath, and waited the yOllev that
generally ensues when the Germans
nave heard a noise in No Mans Land
Nothing happened. We received rvo
taps and crawled forward SLOWLY for
nVe yards; no doubt the officer he.
lleVed what Old Pepper had said. "Per.
:, believe that that part of the
herman trench is unoccupied." By be-
ing careful and remaining motionless
"nen the star shells fell behind us wo
reached the German barbed wire with.
)ut mishap. Then the fun began 7
was scared stiff as it is ticklish work
cutting your way through wire when
ABOUT thirty feet in front of Won there
3 line of Boches looking out into No
vans Land with their rifles living
ACROSS the parapet, straininp evorv
sense 70 see or hear what is going on
n NO Mans Land; because st night
ritZ never knows when a bomb with
ais name and number on if will coma
iurtilng through the air aimed in tho
direction of Berlin. The man on tba
lght' one man in the center and NV
'.,l On the extreme left were equipped
WIN wire cutters. These are insulated j..
WIN SOFT rubber not becaus. the Ger.
nan wires are charged with electricity
'ut 20 prevent the cutters rubbiny
against the barbed wire stakes which
are or iron, and making a noise
"hlch may warn the inmates of tho
-rench that someone is getting fresh
"a thelr front yard. There is onlv ono
way TO cut barbed wire without noise
'nd through costly experience Tommy
mas become an expert in doing this
lou must grasp the wire about two
hches from the stake in your rigb+
nand and cut between the stake and
your hand.
IL you cut wire improperly q
ouu twang will ring out on the night
ar like the swapping of banjo
string. Perhaps this noise can bo
heard only for fifty or seventv.fve
YARDS, but in Tommy's mind it makes
lOud noise In Berlin.