Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-04-25
lover the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Msehins Gunns' Serving IN France
fCopyrishL 1917, BY Arthur Guy Hupeyl
SYNOPSIS.

BopmArtnc, Arthur Guy EHlpoy' an amor
ban, leaves his office in Jersey City and
koes 70 England where he enlists In tho
CHAasTER r-After a period Of train
kng, HEnpey volunteers for immediate serv'
zee and soon finds himself In rest billeti
Abomewhere In France" whore he firsl
snakes the acquaintance OF the ever-pres'
vnkPTER III-Empey attends his FIRST
phuBsh services at the front while Ger
man Foltker circles over the congregation
CHAPTER Iv-Empey's command goes
kRfo the fropt-line trenches and Is under
CHAPTER V-Empey learns TO adopt
the motto OF the British Tommy, IL you
are going to get It, you'n get II. so never
VSiAPTER VI-Back in rest billets Bm-
essS.rsSss.t his hr'' experience as mess
CHAPTER vII-Empey learns how the
British soldiers are fed; T., ~. .-.,, ,a
trnnch, Empey sees his first friend Of the
treAcbes go West"
CHAPTER IX-Empey makes his first
visit 20 q dugout in Suicide Ditch."
CHAPTER X-Empey learns what con-
0titutes . days work" In the front-Hne
usshhr~rrH xI-Empey goes lover the
top" for the first time in a charge on the
German trenches and is wounded ~
CHAPTER XII-Empey joins the sui
Eade club" Rs, the bombing squad ID cailea
NrHAfrnk AIn-Eacn Tommy gees an
Lf1nr rhh xv-un listening post" in
No Mans Land.
CHAPTER xVI-Two artillerymen put
one over" on Old Pepper, their regimentai
"Xr one part Of our trench where
communication trench joined the
front line Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on 1t. One Of the hands. point
ing to the German lines, read, TO Ber-
An;' the one pointing down the com.
munication trench read. TO Bughty.'
while the other said, Suicide Ditch,
Change Here for Stretchers.'
Farther down from this guide pose
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge of this orchard our bat
terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
servation post. The trees screened II
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. 1t wasn't cushy like ours.
no timber or concrete re-enforcements.
Just walls Of sandbags. From 1t a
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. It was a hot corner.
shells plunking all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves Off the trees.
Many a time when relieving the sig
mailer at the phone, had to crawl on
my belly like a worm to keep from
being hit.
1T was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use 1t was. Just
observe all day, but never message
back for our battery t. open up. You
see, at this point of the line there
were strict orders not to fire shell.
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. BlIme me. If
anyone disobeyed that command. our
general-yes, II was Old Pepper
would have court-martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
of their way to disobey Old Pepper in
those days, because he couldn't be
called parson; he was more like q
pirate. If at any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call.
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old firebrand.
'If a company or battalion should
give way a few yards against a SUI
perior force of Boches, Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off
GER. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face the |
color of brick, and in few hours
what was left of his command would |
be holding their original position.
II have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d--n for a thousand quid spend
i've minutes with the old boy. and
when he returned the flow of language
rom his lips would make a navy
lush for shame.
What l am going to tell you is how
wo of US put it over on the old scamp,
nd got away with it. 1t was a risky
hing, too, because Old Pepper wouldn't
ave been exactly mild with us If he
ad got next to the game.
me and my mate, a lad named Har-
Y Cassell, a bombardier in d 238 bat
cry, or lance corporal, as you call 1t
] the infantry, used to relieve the
We would do two hours
n and four off. l would be on duty
4 the advanced observation post,
lille he would be at the other end of
he wire in the battery dugout signal
lg station. We were supposed to send
trough orders for the battery to fire
1hen ordered to do so by the Observa-
ION officer in the advanced post. But
cry few messages were sent. 1t was
My in case of an actual attack that
re would get a chance to earn our
wo and six day. You see, Old Pep
err had issued orders not to fire ex-
ept when the orders came from him.
nd with Old Pepper orders is orders, /.
nd made to obey. ,
"The Germans must have known :
bout these orders, for even in the day :
heir transports and troops used to '
xpose themselves as If they were on {
arade. This sure got up our nose, I
Itting there day after day. with fine I