The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-05-02
MACHINE GUNNER SERVING N FRANCE
I @Is7 81 I
IARJHuR Uf EnNl

order to ire. Range and everything
correct, too. I know didn't. Wilson,,
did l give you any order for the bat
terry to open up? Of course I didn't,
did ~
/ 'T answered very emphatically, NO,
sir, you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post. I am abso-
lutely certain on that point, SIR
"'Of course nothing went through
he replied. Then his face fell, and he
muttered out loud:
".But, by Jove, wait till Old Pep
per gets wind Of this. There'n be fur
flying
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut in
on the wire:
"'General's compliments to Captain
A.. he directs that officer and sig
naler report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved Re-
lief now on the way
'In an undertone to me, Keep
brass front, Wilson, and. for Gods
sake, stick I answered with, Rely on
me, mate but was trembling all over.
'T gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
'The relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
".Now for the fireworks and I know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for US.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
"Arriving at headquarters the bat
terry commander was the first to be
interviewed. This was behind closed
| doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions Of Old Pepper it sounded as If
raw meat was being thrown to the
lions. Cassell, later, described 1t as
sounding like q bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color Of
beet. he was speechless. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
in the direction of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went in,
and the lions were once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes and came out. I couldn't see his
face, but the droop In his shoulders
was enough. He looked like wet hen.
"The door of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With roar he shouted:
"eWhich one of you is Cassell?
D-n me, get your heels together
| when I speak! Come in here!
"Cassen started to say, Yes SIR
'But Old Pepper roared, Shut upp
"Cassell came out in five minutes.
BE said nothing, but as he passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
winked, then, turning to the closed
door, he stuck his thumb to his nose
and left.
saThen the sergeant majors turn
came. He didn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must have eaten him.
"When the door opened and the gen.
eral beckoned to me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
sMy interview was very short.
"Old Pepper glared at me when l
entered, and then let loose.
| "sOf course you don't know anything
about it. You're just like the rest
! Ought to have a nursing bottle around
your neck and a nipple in your teeth.
Soldiers-by CAD, you turn my stom-
ach to look at you. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as I have in my brigade! Not likely !!
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
it. Don't be gaping at me like fish.
Spit it out
81 stammered, Sir, know absolute
ly nothing
"That's easy to see,' he roared !;
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but I think you are a
id liar just the same. Back to
your battery
81 saluted and made my exit.
'aThat night the captain sent for US.
With fear and trembling we went to
his dugout. he was alone. After sa-
luting we stood at attention In front
of him and waited. His say was short.
!; "Don't you two ever get it into your
heads that Morse is dead language.
I've known it for years. The two OF
you had better get rid of that nervous
habit of tapping transmitters; it's dan
! gerous. That's ALL
eve saluted, and were just going out
the door of the dugout when the cap
, tain called up back and said:
"'Smcke Goldfakes? Yes? Well,
there are two tins Of them on my table.
Go back to the battery. and keep your
tongues between your teeth. Under
stand?'
ave understood.
"For five weeks afterwards our bat
terry did nothing but extra fatigues.
q