Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10

dead sliding over mere trenches as thougn
they did not exist
rectly over U.S. We scuttled out of the
way and the men let go a cheer. For we
knew that here was something that couio
and would win battles
The tanks were an absolutely new thing
to US They had. a matter of fact, been
used before further UP the line earlier IN
the big push. But their secret had been
guarded so carefully even in our own
army that our bait had heard nothing or
them
But we didn't need to be told that they
would be effective. One look was enough
to convince us. Later it convinced Fritzie.
The tanks passed beyond and half
way up to the first line and stopped. Trap
doors in the decks opened and the crews
poured out and began to pile sandbags in
front of the machines so that when day
broke fully and the mists lifted the enemy
could not see what had been brought up
in the night
Day dawned and a frisky little breeze
from the west scattered the fog and swept
the sky clean. There wasn't a cloud by
s O'Clock The sun shone bright and we
cursed it for if it had been rainy the at
tack would not have been made.
We made the usual last preparations
that morning such as writing letters and
latest rocks made their wills in the little
blanks provided for the purpose in the
back of the pay books. We judged from
the number of dead and the evident pun
ishrnent other divisions had taken there
that the chances of coming back would
be slim. Around o'clock Capt. Green
gave us little talk that confirmed our
suspicious that the day was to be hard
one.
He said. as nearly as I can remember:
Lads, l want to tell you that there is
to be a most important battle-one OF tne
most important in the whole war High
wood out there commands a view of the
whole of this part of the Sornme and is
most valuable There are estimated to
be about 10000 Germans in that wood and
in the surrounding supports The positions
are mostly of concrete. with hundreds OF
machine guns and field artillery Our
heavie5 have for some reason made no
impression them. and regiment AFTER
regiment have attempted to take the woods
and failed with heavy losses. Now it is up
to the 47th Division to do the seemingly
impossible Zero is at II. We go over
then The best of'luck and God bless you"
We were all feeling pretty sour on
the world when the sky pilot came
along and cheered US up.
He was a good little man, that chap
lain, brave as they make EN-. He al
ways went over the top with US and
was in the thick of the fighting; and he
had the military cross for bravery. He
passed down the line, giving US a slap
on the back or hand grip and started
US singing. No gospel hymns either.
but any old rollicking, good-natured
song that he happened to think of that
would loosen things up and relieve the
tension.
Somehow he made you feel that you
wouldn't mind going to hell if he was
along; and you knew that he'd be will
ing to come if he could do any good.
a good little man, Peace to his ashes.
At 10 o'clock things busted loose and
the most intense bonn ba rdment ever
known in warfare up to that time be-
gan. Thousands of guns. both French
and English-in fact, every available
gun within d radius of fifteen miles.
poured it in. In the Bedlamitish din
and roar it was impossible to hear the
next man unless he put his mouth up
close to your ear and yelled
My eardrums ached and I thought 1
should go insane if the racket didn't
stop. l was frightfully nervous and
scared, but tried not to show it An