Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-04-25


"Then waited with beating heart
and watched the captain like a hawk,
ale was beginning 10 fidget again
and was drumming on the sandbags
with his feet. At last, turning to me-
he said.
Wilson. this army is a blankety
blank washout. What's the use OF hav-
Ing artillery II II is not allowed to fire
The government at home ought TO be
hanged with some OF their red tape.
It's through them that we have no
Shells
IL answered. Yes. SIR and started
sending this opinion over the wire TO
Cassell, but the captain interrupted
me with:
"'Keep those Internal fingers still.
What's the matter. getting the nervesf
When I'm talking TO you, pay atten-
tlon.'
my heart sank. Surprising he had
rumbled that tapping, then all would
be up with our plan. | stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
"'Beg your pardon, sir, just habit
with me-.
"And a ID silly one, too he an
swered. turning to his glasses again.
and | knew l was safe. He had not
tumbled to the meaning of that tap
ping.
"All at once, without turning round,
he exclaimed:
"'Well. Of all the nerve I've ever run
across, this takes the cake. Those
- - Boches are using that road
again. Blind my eyes, this time 1t Is
whole brigade of them, transports and
all. What a pretty target for our
'4.5's.' The beggars know that we
won't FIRE. A ID shame. l call It.
Oh, Just for a chance to turn ID 23S
loose on them
II was trembling with excitement.
From repeated stolen glances at the
captains range chart, that road with
its range was burned into my mind.
"Over the wire l tapped, ID 23S bat
terry, Target IT, Range 5000, degrees
80 minutes, left, salvo. fire. Cassell
o. KID my message, and with the re-
ceiver pressed against my ear. ( walt
ed and listened. In a couple OF min
utes very family over the wire came
the voice Of our battery commander
issuing the order: ID 238 battery.
Ealvo Firep
"Then a roar through the receiver
haIohOd forth
screaming and whistling overhead, and
the shells were on their way.
1.-The captain jumped as II he we're
shot, and let out great big expressive
h--n, and eagerly turned his glasses
in the direction of the German road.
] also strained my eyes watching that
target. Four black clouds of dust rose
up right in the middle of the German
column. Four direct hits-another
record for d 238.
"The shells kept on whistling over
head, and l had counted twenty-four
of them when the firing suddenly
ceased. When the smoke and dust
clouds lifted the destruction on that
road was awful. Overturned llmbers
and guns, wagons smashed up troops
fleeing In all directions. The road and
were spotted all over with
little field gray dots, the toll Of our
guns.
1.-THE captain, In his excitement had
slipped off the sandbag, and was on
his knees in the mud, the glass still at
his eyeeHf1e was muttering to himself
and slapping his thigh with his olsen
gagged hand. At every slap big
round juicy cuss word would escape
from his lips followed by:
"'Goodl Finel Marvellous! Pretty
Work Direct hits ALL
"Then he turned to me and shouted
Wilson, what do you think of it? |
Did you ever see the like of 1t in your
life? Oh fine work, 1 call it,
"Pretty soon a look of wonder stole
,ver his face and he exclaimed:
"'But who in hi gave them the
rider to fire. Range and everything
correct, too. know / didn't. Wilson,
lid give you any order for the bat
cry to open up? OF course l didn't,
lid L?
81 answered very emphaticalIy, No,
ir, you gave no command. Nothing
vent through this post. / am abso-
ltely certain on that point sir
"'Of course nothing went through
e replied. Then his face fell, and he
luttered out loud:
"'But, by Jove, wait till Old Pep
er gets wind of this. There1l be fur
ylng'
Just then Bombardier Cassell cut in
n the wire:
Generals compliments to Captain
.. He directs that officer and sig
aler report at the double to brigade
as soon as relieved. Re-
eff now on the way
ain an undertone to me- Keep a
rass front, Wilson, and for Gods
axe, stick l answered with, Rely on
lie, mate but was trembling all over.
81 gave the generals message to the
aptain, and started packing up.
"The relief arrived. and as we left