Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-02
OVER THE TOP
BY
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY,
An American Boy Who Went.
(CopyriEht 1917. by Arthur Guy Empey.)
tcopyrieh,. 1917. by Arthur Guy Empey.)
CHAPTER ".
"IntO tho Trench"

For the next ten days we rested"
| repairing roads for the Trenches,
| drilling, and digging bombing trenches.
! one morning we were informed that
we were going up the line. and our
march began.
! II took us three days to reach re-
serve billcts--.cach days march bring
nearer. At night, way OFF in the dis
ance VIC could see their flashes. which
lighted up the sky with Il red glare
Against the horizon we could SEQ
numerous observation balloons or
''sausages." as they are called.
ON the afternoon OF the third days
march l witnessed my first airplane
being shclled a thrill, ran through ME
and ] razcd in awe. Tho airplane WAS
making wide circles in the air, while
little pufrs of white smoke were burst
ing all around ii. These puffs appeared
like tiny balls Of cotton, while after
each burst could be heard n dull "piop."
The sergeant of my platoon informed
us that it was u German airplane. and
] wondered how he could tell from such
Il distance. because tho plane seemed
like a little black spccii in the Sky.
] expressed my doubt as To whether it
was English. French or German. With
Il look of contempt he further informed
us that the allied antiaircraft shells
when exploding emitted white smoke,
while the German shells gave forth
black smoke, and. as he expressed 1t:
1T must be an Nlcmand. because our
porn-poms are Smelling, and know
our batteries are not of their bally
nappers and are certainly not stratinG
our own planes. and another piece OF
advice--don't chuck your weight about
until you've been up the line and
learnt something.
immediately quit "chucking my
weight about from that time on.
Just before reaching reserve billcts
w" were marching along, laughing, and
singing ono of Tommys trench dittics---
don't want 10 go 10 the trenches no
more
Where sausagcs and whizz- bangs are
galore.
Take me over the sea. where tho lie
mand cunt get at inc.
oh. my, ! don't want TO die,
want TO 20 home"
when overhead came z swish"
through the air. rapidly followed by
three others. Then about 200 yards TO
our left in n large field, four columns
of black earth and smoke rose into
the air. and tho ground trcmbicd from
the rcport--thc explosion OF four Ger
man hvc-nines. or "coal-boXes." \
sharp whistle blast. Immediately fol-
the head OF our column. This was to
take IN artillery formation" We
divided into small squads and went into
tho fields on the right and left Of the
road. and crouched on the ground. No
other shells followed this salvo. II was
our first baptism by shell fire. From
tho waist up was all cnthusia SIN, but
from there down, everything was miss
ing. | thought should die with
fright
After awhile we re ..orrncd :nto
columns of tours, and proc,c led Oh our
way.
About that night we reached the
ruined village of IL. aud got my
first sight Of The awful destruction
caused by German liultur,
Marching down the main street we
came 10 the heart OF the village. and
took up quarters in shcll-proof collars
tShcll proof until hit By a SHIELD.
shells were constantly whistlinE orer
tho village and bursting in our rear
searching for our artillery.
These collars were cold. damp, and
smelly, and ONerrun with large rats
biG black fellows. Most OF the Tom
mics slept with their ovcrcoats over
their faces. | did not. in the middle
OF tho night ! woke UP In terror. The
cold. clamny feet OF u rat had passed
over my face. Immediately s!nothcred
sl,nn rnr ~ -o.t ~ an.'u ''o'
''''' "'7"''
IN, cH"n'hS we to"k over our sec
'"r Oh inc me IN single file wo
M'"'i'" our way through "iGZag com
muntcation trench. six inches deep with
mud This trench was called whisky
street On our way w 1" the front
"ic an occasional mare OF bursting
S"F"Ph.' W"ai" liIht w tic Sky. and
we '"oi" near the fragments Stamping
~. sr0nh" ah"ve us on our right and
','I mn m" Wouid traverse back
~" '"ith Win MS typewriter or
"'h'h'Hc gun Inc bullets made sharp
craching noise overhead
The boy ia front of me named Prem
ucc. 'rumr!cd up without - word A