Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-04-11


could be used for supplies. ammunition
and re-enforcements for the troops at
the front, II will not appear strange
that from a strictly military stand
point, dead man is sometimes better
than live one (f wounded).
Not long after the first digging party,
our general decided, after a careful
tour OF inspection OF the communlca-
tion trenches. upon ian ideal spot" as
he termed II, for a machlne-gun en-
placement; took his map, made dot
on II, and as he was wont. wrote "dlg
here" and the next night we dug.
There were twenty In the party, my
self included. Armed with picks.
shovels and empty Standings we ar
rived at the ideal spot" and started
digging. The moon was very bright,
but we did not care as we were well
out Of sight of the German lines.
We had gotten about three feet
down. when the fellow next TO me, aft
er mighty stroke with his pick, let go
of the handle, and plnched his nose
4 with his thumb and forefnger at the
same time letting out the explosion,
"Gott strafe me pink, I'm bloody well
gasscd, not 'alf | amt" | quickly
turned In his direction with an inqulr-
Ing look at the same instant reaching
for my gas bag. / soon found out what
was alllng him. One Whit was enough
and ! lost no time I'm also pinching my
nose. The stencil was awful. The rest
OF the digging party dropped their
picks and shovels and beat II for the
weather side Of that solitary pick. The
officer came over and inquired why the
work had suddenly ceased, holding our
noses we simply pointed in the direc-
tion of the smell. He went over to the
pick, Immediately clapped his hand
over his nose, made an about turn"
and came back. Just then our cap
tain came along and investigated, but
after about Il minute said we had bet
ter carry on with the digging, that he
did not see why we should have
stopped as the odor was very faint, |
but If necessary ne would allow us our /
gas helmets while digging. He would |
stay and see the thing through, but he |
had TO report back TO brigade head |
we were captains and also had a date
at brigade headquarters. With our gas
helmets on we again attacked that hole
and uncovered the decOmposed body of
a German; the pick was sticking in his
chest. One Of the men tainted. | was
NJ
halted proceedings and sent word back
to headquarters and word came back
that after we filled In the hole we could
knock off for the night. This was wei
come tidings to us, because
Next day the general changed the
dot on his map and another emplace-
ment was completed the following
night.
The odor from the dug-up, decom-
posed human body has an effect which
Is hard to describe. 1t first produces
a nauseating feeling, which, especially
after eating, causes vomiting. This re- &
lieves you temporarily, but soon a ,
weakening sensation follows, which
leaves you limp as dshrag Your :
spirits are at their lowest ebb and you
feel sort of hOpelessness and a mad
iesire to escape 1t all, to get to the
open fields and the perfume of the flow
ars In eighty. There is sharp,
sensation in the nostrils,
which reminds one of breathing coal 7
gas through a radiator In the floor, and +
you want to sneeze, but cannot. This
vas the effect on me, surmounted by !,
1ague horror of the awfulness of the =
hing and an overcoming reflection
hat, perhaps l, sooner or later, would p
)e In such q state and be brought to v
light by the blow of pick in the hands a
# some Tommy on a digging party. n
Several times have experienced this 9
dor, but never could get used to It;
he enervatlng sensation was always
present. It made me hate war and
Wonder why such things were counte
anced by civilization. and all the spice
nd glory of the conflict would disap-
ear, leaving the grim reality. But Il
fter leaving the spot and filling your q
lngs with deep breaths OF pure, fresh :,
If, you forget and once again want to =
e 'up and at them" !"
al
(To ho continual