The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1918-07-25
CHAPTER VI.

CHAPTER VI.
At IL o'clock. midnight. we were
alarmed and half an hour later were
on the march. The cool night air felt
good. and despite orr wearineSs. we
made rapid progress. Toward four
o'clock in the morning we arrived at
Cheppy. 1t had been completely plum
dered. We halted here for brief
rest ard watched preparations being
na:,le for the execution of two frac'
tireurs. They were two little farmers
who had supposedly concealed a
French machine gun with Its crew
from the Germans. The sentence was
executed in such way that the peo-
nile were shown who their real rulers
now were.
The little town of Pogny. located
midway between Marine
and Vitry-le- FrancOis. Jared no bet
ter than Cheppy. fact which we dis
covered when we entered there at nine
O'clock.
We were now considerably nearer
the spot where the guns were roar
ing, and retiring of wounded and the
munitiOn columns showed US that west
Of vitry-le-Francois. terrible battle
ragged. At four o'clock in the after
noon. we arrived at Vitry-le-FrancOls
after a forced march. The city was
flled with wounded. but the town It,
self was not damaged. The battle must
have been going badly for the Germans
because we were ordered into action
without being given any rest. We were
within three kilOmeters Of the battle
line. when we came within reach OF
hostile fire, terrific hail of shells tore
I'D every foot of ground. Thousand:
Of corpses of German soldiers indi
Gated at what enormous cost the Ger
mans had brought up all available re
serves. The French did everything
they could to prevent the Germans
from getting the reserves into actor
and increased the artillery fire to IN
heard-Of violence. II seemed impOs
sible for us to be able TO break through
this barrage. We saw hundreds Q
shells exploding every minute. w
were ordered to run the gauntlet Q
this hell in single file.
Lying prone upon the ground. "
saw how the first of our men al
tempted to pass. They raG. unlnindfl
of the shells bursting around them. lik
madmen; others were buried unde
| tl,n II i<rk,.
explosives. or torn by shrapnel or greI
ades Two men had scarcely reache
the line when Well-directed shot frOl
gun of large calfber burst directl
at their feet. When the smoke cleare'
there was no trace of the men.
You can Imagine the feelings
those who lay on the ground not IL
feet away witnessing this spectacle
and waiting their turn.
An officer cried: Next" 1t VIZ
MY turn AS if aroused from a nigh
mare sl,raHg up. my gun In my rigl
hand. sidearin In my left, and ra
a1ead. lodged two shells just {
they burst and ran close to sewers
others, bursting the same instant.
number of times sprang back, the
ahead again. running to and fro like
mailman seeking a loophole. But ever
where there was iron and fire. ] RI
like hunted animal seeking way
pass to save myself. with hell
front of me. and an officers revolv
always ready behind.
Throwing caution to the wind
u prepared to meet death and the de,
le himself. l at last ran blindly ahea'
'e ran. ran. ram until someone seized n
Is colt tail and shouted In my ear:
:. 'Here we are. Are you wounde'
: You had better look. Perhaps you a
!. wounded and don't know it."
!" was among those Of my conrad
who had gotten through. Trembli
- all over. | stopped and looked aroun
10 "Sit down and you will feel better
= sale one Of the men. 1--WE also ha
s treinbied."
- Presently some wounded we
:. brought up There were about 48 IN
90 and sergeant took command. Not
nd Ing more was seen of our officers.
ha We continued to advance and pass
~. several German batteries. Many h
n. suffered heavily In dead and wound'
70 which lay around theil guns destroy
Id oy enemy fire. Other batteries 81
no manned were useless Because no INT
ammunition could be gotten through
=, We paused to rest. Several mr.
od lerymcn approached US. and nonco
:, miss!oned officer asked them why II
~ did rot Gre.
- because we have used up NIL (
ammunition" was the answer of one
- the Lattery men.
~ ''Js 1t impossible to bring ammu
- t;on through this barrage?"
.oh NO" replied the artilleryman. y
rler. Is 40 more ammunition. Thai
H.. I, by we cannot get any. At Neufc
,,sn We started like wild men after
casbls. Man and beast died from
hat railroads and other mediums