Omaha daily bee., 1918-05-11
CHAPTER XIII.
(Continued.)

CHAPIEk ALL.
(Continued.)
On the whole we held them better
than we had any right to expect dur
ing those FIVE days; for they did sure
hammer us with big shells night and
day. When we were not standing to,
waiting for an attack, We were re-
pairing based-in paraphets and clean
ing out the traverses. There was no
rest. The rations couldn't be got up
with any regularity. Casualties were
heavy every day. They were wearing
is out.
But we held on until the artillery
went back on us. On the last night,
about 8 o'clock, they came over again.
Ii was very misty and nearly dark,
any way. We could just see them as
they surged up and out OF the murk
Of fog. We sent up our rockets for
the artillery FIRE. but none came; and
the Huns came plunging across, un-
hindercd except by our machine gun
and rife FIRE.
They didn't seem to mind that and
fl,ey came with a cheer, hoarse, gut
tural. all together "Hochl or what
ever the word was, that sounded like
the lions in the Zoo at feeding time.
II must have been plain to our officers
that we were not able to hold that
trench against that charge. In any
event we did something that the Brit
iah seldom do. :,
While the Germans were still hall
way across No Mans land the order
5 S. came to fall back into the supper,
trenches. A few picked men who hat
had their emergency orders before
stayed to cover the retreat, and show
cred the Germans with hand grenades
Al they came up. In five minutes Il
was al over.
Back in the supports we got the
machine guns set up in the comniu-
niration trenches and rested snug. We
had fallen back hundred yards. The
Huns had what they had been trying
for for nearly week. And they we're
satisfied anI happy. All that night
we could hear them cheering and
singing; but they weren't ready to
make the attempt to come any farther.
When we fell back l had found a
a0od-sized shelter, and as ! was off
sentry-go crawled into it and slept
Along about ! crawlcd out and Il
was raining hard-a cold, wet rain
that soaked right through. An off.
& Ger came up few minutes later with
+ : corporal and the rum ration.
"Boys," he said, I'VE are going tc
Be relieved tonight"
A glad growl went around.
sBut,' he said, before we go tc
the rear we are going over and TAXI
that trench back. We start at S. TIL,
artillery will open at zero minus FIVE
Pass the order"
Well, there was another growl no
50 glad; but il sort of trailed off int
"a interested cheer, not very loud, bu
sincere. We hated the first though
81 going back to the attack; but w,
hated worse to have the relief com,
up and find that we had been unabl
to hold.
We had triple rum issue al
around and at 5 sharp we went owe
and up the communication trenches
The Huns stayed and fought well 70
s 1 few moments; but our shelling ha,
been well directed and effective
When we attacked. our guns threw
barrage across behind the German
about 40 years out in No Mans land
They had to stop and fight, whethe
they wanted to or not.
For few minutes after we pile,
into the trench 1t was regular Don
isybrook fair. There was no room t
,se ! bayonet. At one point German
1 aid British were packed in so clos
mat they were biting each other.
happened TO be behind tall fellow
named Blake. My head came abou
yIp 10 his middle and he made mic
defense for me. ! remember stickin,
& ny rife between his legs and prod
Il ding At pair of boots that locke
Gernan. Then fell down and some
one tfod on me and pushed my fa-
m the mud. though | was in 70
rlow death by smothering, but &c
ffee after = bit, and when / cam
" for cir it was all over.
The German resistance had bee
keen 70. . little while, but il ha
stepped very suddenly. We took
III 81 prisoners; but our own casua
~ were heavy. The bait lost, a
6Qafay as / can remember, about ;
p<r cent Of its effectiveness in thos
6fx days. The Germans must hav
lost four times as many as we di,
ma when II was all done we wer
ri6ht back where we had starte
from Neither side had gained a
~ We went out that night after tn
xelief had come up couldn't hel
hiking how foolish and useless an
pehsiye it all was.
Going out / heard fellow name
erlbner grousing to his pal. H
Sgid 4 whole lot.
ot 5 til bloody use?' says Scril
Il comes up an, we gifts killed an
llt blsl sad We comes W -
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