Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-05-02

The driver Of the ambulance was a:
corporal Of the r. A. NJ. c., and he
= the "wind up" that is, he had an
aversion to being under fire.
: was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting in the ambu.
6ack. = '''
n AS we passed through q shell.de.
stFoyed village mounted military no.
1eeman stopped us and informed tia
o!aver to be very careful when we got
ONT on the open road, as 1t was very
dangerous. because the Germans lately
sleu acquired the habit of Smelling it.
1ne corporal asked the trooper IL there
was any other way around, and was
informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted to
|Mturn back. but we insisted that he pro-
ceed and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer IL he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
not walk.
! From his conversation we learned
That he had recently come from Eng
land 9Th q draft and had never been
under fire. hence his nervousness
n 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
y each side there had been q 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,
Aand we passed several In the road it,
eli. We had gone about half q mile
Wnen shell came whistling through
n the air and burst in field about three
hundred yards to our right. Another
\ soon followed this one and burst on
the edge of the road about four hun
h dred yards in front Of us.
4 I told the driver to throw In his
speed clutch. as we must be in sight
kof the Germans. knew the signs
fhat battery was ranging for us, and
the quicker we got out Of its zone Of
2iere the better. The driver was trem-
bling like a leaf. and every minute
expected him to pile us up in the ditch.
1|al preferred the German fire.
\ In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life. and was sing.
u Ing at the top of his voice:
We beat you at the Marine,
4 We beat you at the Aisne,
we. rave you hell at Neuve Chapelle,
And here we are again.
~ Just then we hit q small shell hole
and nearly capsized. Upon a loud
yell from the rear looked behind, and
there was Atwell sitting in the middle
Feof the road, shaking his fist at us. His
Equipment. which he had taken off
upon getting into the ambulance, was
!, strung out on the ground, and his rife
4 was In the ditch.
shouted to the driver to stop, and
In his nervousness he put on the
brakes. We nearly pitched out head
.nrst. But the applying Of those brakes
Aved our lives. The next instant
\ Where WAS binding fash and a deaf
ening report. All that remember is
mat was flying through the air, and
Epndering II l would land in soft
|. spot. Then the lights went out.
When came to, Atwell was pouring
1 water on my head out Of his bottle.
L On the other side Of the road the cor
p0ral was sitting, rubbing lump on
ibis forehead with his left hand, while
bis right arm was bound up in a blood.
soaked bandage. He was moaning
very loudly. had an awful headache
J and the skin on the left side of my
h 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
EEAof the front wheels was slowly revolv.
Ing, 20 could not have been tout" for
long period.
The shells were still screaming over.
! head, but the battery had raised its
shfe and they were bursting in little
wood about half mile from US.
Atwell spoke up. II wish that off.
Ger hadn't wished us the best o. luck"
j! Then he commenced swearing. Ii
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 br0ten bones. But outside Of few
y 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 drst-aid pouches. put tourniquet
! on his arm to stop the bleeding and
then gathered up our equipment.
We realized that we were in dan.
9erous spot. At any minute shell
might drop on the road and finish US
lO6. The village we had left was not |
very far, so we told the corporal he
had better 60 back to it and get his
arm dressed, and then report the fact
Of the destruction of the ambulance to
the military police. He was well able
80 walk, 80 he set of in the direction
Of the village, while Atwell and con-
timed our way on foot.
Without further mishap we arrived
at our destination, and reported to bri-
gade headquarters for rations. and bill
That night we slept In the battalion
sergeant majors dugout. The next
mesntng went to q flrst-aid post and
h9d the gravel picked out Of my face.
= L.