Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-08-23

As we halted and left our artos. tho
farmers came out and offered us cot.
fee, bread. meat. etc. We were still
without n field kitchen, so that We en-
joyed the enemy's offerings more so
since those Of the better class OF vii
ln.ers refused any pny. They told us
the Belgian soldiers had departed TO
some unknown destination.
After n short rest we marched on.
TIE AUTOS returned. Hardly had We
marched nm hour when we were over
taken by cavalry. dragons and hus.
sars, who reported that the Germans
were marching all over the nelghbor-
hood on all roads. Right behind came
the bicycle corps.
This was comforting. We no longer
felt alone, Isolated In a strange
try. Another bicycle division over
took us and passed on. Angry words
were now uttered by members Of our
company. The others could ride but
we had TO walk. what we had always
taken for granted suddenly became
great injustice. II II did no good our
grumbling nt least was n diversion
from the weight OF our packs.
The heat was oppressive. The sweat
came from all pores. The new and
stir leather trapplngs rubbed us sore,
especially upon u hips. II wns a re-
lief at 2 p. m. to halt at an abandoned
farm and rest on the grass. We
might have lain down about ten min
utes when suddenly we heard firing.
We jumped up like lightning end hur-
ried to our guns. The firing which
was about three kilometers AWAY grew
more lively. ~ once we were on the
march again.
From the expressions on the faces
Of the soldiers VIC could read the minds
OF the men. Something took posses
sion Of them which they had never ex-
perienced before. As for myself I
became very restless. Fright and curl
osity dashed my brain. Everything
whirled around In my head and my
heart was beating wildly. But I strove
to conceal my fright from my COM
rndes. ! I'm sure that I tried energeti-
cally. l don't know that / succeeded
better than my companions.
Although I knew we would be In
the fight In an hour. I tried to per-
suade myself that our interference
would not be necessary. ! chung tight
ly to everything which might strength
en- this hope.
The bicycles lying in the road indi-
Gated that the bicycle division was In
the fight at this point. How strong
the enemy was we did not know MS we
raced toward the firing line. Every
body crouched down us low as posi-.
bile while jumping to the right and
left. Before and behind us the bullets
were flying continuously. yet we
reached the firing line without losses.
We were greeted joyously by our hard.
pressed comrades. The bicycle regi-
ment had not suffered any losses ex-
cept for n few slightly wounded men
who were still able to take part in the
fight.
We were lying fiat on the ground
and firing In the direction ordered for
all we were worth, even though we
had not seen our enemies. That was
apparently not interesting enough TO
some OF our soldiers. They wanted
to know how the people were looking
whom they had to shoot nj. They got
up to a kneeling position. Two men OF
my company had TO pay for their curl
osity with their lives almost instantly.
Tho FIRST victim of our party went
down without n sound. The second
threw his arms l,igh In the air and fell
on his back. Both were dead in
stantly.
II Ia impossible for me to describe
tho feeling that overcame me In the
first real volley ms we advanced and
came directly within the range OF the
fire. I no longer felt amy fright, only
an impulse TO get into action as quick
ly as possible. Yet at the sight OF the
FIRST corpse a terrible fear seized me.
For minutes l was completely stunned,
lost all self-control and was absolute
ly unable 10 think or do anything.
l pressed my face and hands close
to the ground. l wanted to clutch my
gun and shoot blindly. Presently I
Gained down. ! suddenly became con
tented with myself and conditions
about me and when soon afterward
the command was sounded along the
whole line. "spring out I" forward
march" l charged MS did everyone
else like one possessed. The order to
halt followed. Like wet bags we
pumped TO the ground. Firing had be-
gun anew.
Our firing now became more lively
m~omentarily and Increased to a fear
tul loudness. II we had occasion 10