The Benson signal., 1918-07-27

and painless death" 1t would have been
more to the point.
When we had read our instructions
we knew we were in for it good and
plenty.
What Atwell said is not At for pub
lication. but 1 strongly seconded his
opinion Of the war, army and divisional
headquarters in general.
After bit our spirits rose. We were
full-fledged spy-catchers. because our
instructions and orders, said so.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest French estaminet and had sew
eral glasses of muddy water, which
they called beer. After drinking our
beer we left the estaminet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got in. The driver was going to the
part of the line where we had to re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived a
ride in that ambulance was inexplica-
Bile to me. 1t was worse than riding on
q gun carriage over rock road.
corporal of the r. A. N. c.. and he
had the wind up," that is, he had an
aversion to being under fire.
was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting in the ambu-
lance, with his legs hanging out Of the
back.
AS we passed through a shell-de-
stroyed village a mounted military po-
liceman stopped us and informed the
driver to be very careful when we got
out on the open road, as 1t was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit of Smelling 1t.
The corporal asked the trooper If there
was any other way around, and was
Informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back. but we insisted that he pro-
ceed and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer If he returned
not walk.
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger, and he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we at last turned into the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been a line Of
hVp< %hn% 1oR% -
them were torn and battered stumps.
The fields on each side of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several in the road it.
self. We had gone about half a mile
when q shell came whistling through
the air and burst in field about three
hundred yards to our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge Of the road about four hun
dred yards in front Of us.
l told the driver to throw in his
speed clutch, as we must be in sight
of the Germans. 1 knew the signs;
that battery was ranging for US, and
the quicker we got out of It's zone Of
fire the better. The driver was trem-
bling like leaf, and every minute I
expected him to pile us up in the ditch.
preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life, and was sing
ing at the top of his voice:
We beat you at the Marne.
We beat you at the Aisne,
We gave you hell at Neuve Chapelle,
And here we are again.
Just then we hit small shell hole
and nearly capsized. Upon a loud
yell from the rear looked behind, and
there was Atwell sitting in the middle
of the road, shaking his fist at US. His
equipment. which he had taken off
upon getting into the ambulance, was
strung out on the ground, and his rife
was in the ditch.