American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-08-13

and was getting very faint. You would
have laughed If you had seen my
ludicrous attempts at b%andaging with
one hand. The pains in my wounded
shoulder were awful and | was getting
SICK at the stomach. l gave up the
b%andaging stunt as a bad job, and then
tainted.
When l came to, hell was let loose.
An Intense bombardment was on, and
on the whole my position was decided
~ unpleasant. Then, suddenly, our
barrage ceased. The silence almost
hurt, but not for long, because Fritz
turned loose with %shrapnel, machine
guns. and rifle fire. Then all along our
line came a cheer and our boys came
over the top In a charge. The first
wave was composed of Jocks" They
were a magnificent sight, kits, Tapping
In the wind, bare knees showing, and
their bayonets glistening. In the first
wave that passed my shell hole, one of
the Jocks" an immense fellow, about
six feet two inches In height Jumped
right over me. On the right and left
of me several soldiers In colored kits
were huddled on the ground, then over
came the second wave. also Jocks"
One young Scottie, when he came
abreast Of my shell hole, leaped into
the air, his rifle shooting out Of his
hands, landing about six feet in front
Of him, bayonet first, and stuck In the
ground, the butt trembling. This i'm
pressed me greatly.
Right now 1 can see the butt Of that
gun trembling. The Scottie made q
complete turn in the air, hit the
ground, rolling over twice, each time
clawing at the earth, and then re-
NAMED still, about four feet from me,
In a sort of sitting position. I called to
him, Are you hurt badly, Jock?" but
no answer. He was dead. A dark red
smudge was coming through his tunic
right under the heart. The blood ran
down his bare knees, making a horrible
sight. On his right side he carried his
water bottle. / was crazy for a drink
and tried to reach this, but for the life
Of me could not negotiate that four
feet. Then l became unconscious,
When I woke up l was In an advanced
frst-aid post. l asked the doctor II
we had taken the trench. 1--WE took
the trench and the wood beyond, all
right" he said, "and you fellows did
your bit; but, my lad, that was thirty
six hours ago. You were lying in Nc
Mans Land in that bally hole for a day
and a half. It's a wonder you are alive
He also told me hat out Of the twenty
that were in the raiding party, seven
teen were killed. The officer died Of
wounds in crawling back to our trench
and 1 was severely wounded, but one
fellow returned without a scratch, with
out any prisoners. No doubt this chaI
was the one who had sneezed and i'm
properly cut the barbed wire.
In the official communique our trencl
raid was described as follows:
"AIl quiet on the western front, ex
cepting in the neighborhood of Con
mecourt wood, where one Of u raid
ing parties penetrated into the German
lines"
1t is needless to say that we had n,
use for our ~persuaders or come-along:
as we brought back no prisoners, an
until 1 die Old Peppers words, "Per
sonally 1 don't believe that that par
of the German trench is occupied" vii
always come to me when 1 hear som
fellow trying to get away with a fish
statement. 1 will judge it accordingly