The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-04-09

| fleeing in all directions. The road anu
y roadside were spotted all over with
/ little field gray dots, the toll of our
! guns.
| The captain, In his excitement, had
slipped Off the sandbag, and was on
his knees In the mud, the glass still at
MS eye. He was muttering to himself
and slapping his thigh with his disen-
gagged hand. At every slap big
round juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed by:
"Good! Fine! Marvelousi Pretty
Work Direct hits ALL
"Then he turned 10 me and shouted:
Wilson, what do you think of it?
Did you ever see the like of it In your
life? D@n fine work, call it,
Pretty soon look of wonder stole
over his face and he exclaimed:
but who in HI gave them the
order to fire. Range and everything
correct. too. know I didn't. Wilson,
did l give you any order for the bat
terry to open up7 OF course I didn't,
did II
II answered very emphatically. No,
Sir, you gave no command. Nothing
went through this post. am abso-
lutely certain on that point, sir
"Of course nothing went through
he replied. Then his face fell, and he
muttered out loud:
But, by Jove, wait till Old Pep
per gets wind of this. There'n be fur
flying
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut In
on the wire:
Generals compliments to Captain
A. He directs that officer and sig
mailer report at the double to brigade
headquarters us soon as relieved. Re-
lief now on the way
"In an undertone to me. Keep
brass front, Wilson, and for Gods
sake, stick answered with. Rely on
me, mate but was trembling all over
81 gave the generals message to the
captain, and started packing up.
THE relief arrived, and as we left
the post the captain said:
"Now for the fireworks. and know
they'll be good and plenty They were.
when we arrived at the gun pits
the battery commander, the sergeant
major and CaSSeli were waiting for u.s.
We fell in line and the funeral march
to brigade headquarters started.
ARRIVING ut headquarters the bat.
terry commander was the first TO be
interviewed. This was behind closed
doors. From the roaring and explo-
sions of Old Pepper it sounded as IL
raw meat was being thrown to the
lnfn
sounding like bombing raid. In about
two minutes the officer reappeared.
The sweat was pouring from his fore
head, and his face was the color of a
beet. He was speechlcss. As he
passed the captain he jerked his thumb
IN the direction Of the lions den and
went out. Then the captain went in.
and the hons were once again fed.
The captain stayed about twenty min
utes and came out. / couldn't see his
face, but the droop In his shoulders
was enough. He looked like n wet hen.
'The door of the generals room
opened and Old Pepper stood in the
doorway. With a roar he shouted:
(which one of you is Casseli?
D-n me, get your heels together
when ! speak. Come in herer
"CaSSell started to say, Yes sir
''But Old Pepper roared, Shut upv
"Cassell came out In five minutes
He said nothing, but as lac passed me
he put his tongue into his cheek and
winked, then, turning 10 the closed
door, he stuck his thumb to his nose
and left.
hn sg,.s
came. He didn't come cut our way.
Judging by the roaring, Old Pepper
must have eaten him.
when the door opened and the gen.
eral beckoned TO me, my knees started
to play Home, Sweet Home against
each other.
MY interview was very short.
"Old Pepper glared at me when I
entered, and then let loose.
"'Of course you don't know anything
about it, You're just like the rest
Ought TO have nursing bottle around
your neck and nipple in your teeth
Soldiers-hy CAD, you turn my stom-
ach 70 look at you. Win this war,
when England sends out such samples
as have in my brigade Not likelyl
Now, sir, tell me what you don't know
about this affair. Speak up, out with
II. Don't be gaping at me like a fish.
Spit ii out
81 stammered, Sir, know absolute
ly nothing
That's easy to see he roared;
that stupid face tells me that. Shut
up. Get out; but / think you are
ID liar just the same Back TO
your battery
81 saluted and made my exit.
nThat night the cnntaln cont fnr Nc