The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-02-20
By Sergeant Arthur Guy Empey

il, ana eagerly turned MS glasses
IN the direction Of the German road
[ also strained my eyes watching that
target -Four black clouds of dust rose
1p right in The middle of the German
column -Four direct hits-another
record for d 23S.
"rhe shells Kept on whlstling over
head, and | had counted twenty-four
Of them when the firing suddenly
ceased. When the smoke and dust
clouds lifted the destruction on tkat
road was awful, Overturned limbers
and guns, wagons smashed up, troops
fleeing in all directions, The road and
roadside We're spotted all over wiz
little field gray dots the toll of our
guns.
"Tho captain, in his excitement. had
slipped OF the sandbog. and was on
his knees in the mud, the glass still at
his eye, He was muttering to himself
and sapping his thigh with his olsen
gagged hand. At every slap big
round juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed by
"Good! Fine! Marvellous Pretty
Work Direct hits all
"Then he turned to me ana shouted:
" Wilson, what do You think Of it?
Did You ever see The like of it in your
ite? Dbl fine work, l call IT,.
pretty soon look of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed:
"But who in hi gave them the
order to fire. Range and everything
correct, too. l know didn't. Wilson.
did I give you any order for the bat
ferry to open up? OF course l didn't,
did ~
~ answered very emphatically, NO,
sir you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post l am abso-
utely certain on that point, sir
"'Of course nothing went through
ne replied. Then his face fell, and he
muttered out loud:
But by Jove, wait till Old Pep
per gets wind of this. There1l be fur
flying
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut in
on the wire:
Generals compliments to Captain
A. He directs that officer and sig
mailer report at the double to brigade
headquarters as soon as relieved. Re-
lief now on the way
"In an undertone to me, Keep
brass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick I answered with, Rely on
me, mate but was trembling all over.
Il gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
Now for the fireworks and know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
"When we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander the sergeant
major and Cassell were waiting for US.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING at headquarter: the bat
terry commander was the 6rst to be
This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions Of Old Pepper it sounded az If
raw meat was being thrown to the
ions. Cassell, later, described It as
sounding like bombing raid. In about
.wo minutes the officer reappearcd.
The sweat WAS pouring from his fore
lead, and his face wss the color Of =
)eet He was speechless. AS he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb |
n The direction Of the lions den and |
vent out. Then the captain went in. |
md the lions were once again fed. |
rhe captain stayed about twenty min |
ties and came out. / couldn't see his |
ace, but the droop in his shoulders |
vas enough He looked like Il wet hen. |
The door of the generals room |
'poned ana Old Pepper stood in the |
With a roar he shouted:
Which one of you is Cassell? |
)-~-n me get your heels together
When speak Come in herer
"Cassell started to say, Yes sir
"But Old Pepper roared, Shut upr |
"Cassell came out in five minutes. |!
Ie said nothing, but as he passed me
e put his tongue into his cheek and
yiukcd then. turning to the closed
.oor, he stuck his thumb to his nose
nd left
Then the sergeant majors turA
anne. He didn't come out our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must hay eaten him.
CONTINUED TOMORROW