The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-10-09
GIRLS DOUCHNlJT SHOP IS
!. BOMBARDED BY TEUT0NS
BY, MISS IRENE MCINTYRE.
salvation Army Canteen Girl at tn
Front
Written for the United Tress. I

i y
written for the United Tress.
with the American troops at the
front, Sept IL. (By Mail. "A few
nights ago we had another taste Of
war. We had been lulled into Q false
sense Of security by an unusually quiet
week. very little artillery, no bar
RACES at all, and very little air fight
ing.
In fact, the pans in our kitchen
had not been ratified for days, and
we were ready to forget we were at
the front, except for soldiers and the
necessity for keeping out OF obserya-
ton OF German lookout posts on the
hills opposite us.
All Of sudden at midnight the big
4 ms Of the boches let loose in q box
arrage about mile and a half from
Us at the nearest point. At the same
time they shelled all the villages In
a. circle about us. 55.
We hurried into our clothes and
went down to the barbed wire en-
tanglements In a neighboring field.
There we were comparatively safe,
asilong as we lay close to the ground
so that eclat could not reach us Ii
shells came nearer. We could also
get fine view Of the fireworks.
It was wonderful, and solemn, too.
when one thought OF 1t. The night
was blue black, and with each
retaliating shot from our gums great
orange flames darted and disappear
ed into the blackness. We remained
perfectly silent while we watched.
MY heart always speeds up as !
watch such sight and realize what
4 1t is meaning to our boys out there in
the trenches.
After an hour of the most brilliant
artillery display have ever seen we
went to bed and tried to sleep, but
too many whining shells passed over
head for that. didn't tell Mrs. Shep-
pard, the inspector from Boston, who
was with us. that tk e shells were In
coming, because 1t was her first ex-
didn't want to scare her to death.
But my sister and knew what they
were.
At the same time, we were watch
ing Just where those shells were land
ing. Just as dawn was breaking.
which Is early in France, the church
bell and the klaxons sounded above
the noise of bursting shells and we
knew. a gas attack was on.
Gladys and / donned our masks and
then discovered Mrs. Sheppard could
not get hers on. Investigation show
ed she did not have 1t far enough un-
der her chin, and her nose clip could
not find home. Gladys turned on the
fashlight while / tried to make the
clip and Mrs. Sheppard's nose con-
meet. MI. I; NJ,
Finally the junction was made. and
we realized she was safe and un gass-
ed Then our relief wanted to vent
itself in laughter, and we giggled I'm
I'll we were afraid we would blow off
our respirators. Ihad to dress with
my gas mask on, and it was more like
an obstacle race than anything /
have vet attempted.
Before long the all-elear signal was
given, and we knew the gas was gone
though the guns still sounded all
around us. It was now perfectly
light, and we hurried to the kitchen
to make a fire and get hot chocolate
and food for any wounded who might
come through.
In short time some boys did ar
rive slightly wounded, and well
enough to stop few moments for
hot drinks and sandwiches They
were glad we had something to give
them. for the poor boys showed the
strain they had been under, and they
were immensely appreciative of some
thing hot to eat and drink.
4 y y XXI 81 ata @ j gEs