The Washington herald., 1918-03-12

ror and rushed along the wire until
came to our lane. had Just turned
down this lane when something inside
OF me seemed to say, Look around. :"
/ did so; a buttet caught me on the
left shoulder. 1t did not hurt much,
just felt as IL someone had punched
me in the back. and then my left side
went numb. Ny arm was dangling
like a rag. I fell forward In a sitting
position. But all fear had left me and
was consumed with rage and cursed
the German trenches With my right
hand l felt in my tunie for my first
aid or shell dressing. In feeling over
my tunic my hand came In contact
with one OF the bombs which / car
Tied. Gripping 1t, I pulled the pin out
with my teeth and blindly threw it
toward the German trench. I must
have been out Of my head because
was only ten feet from the trench and
took a chance OF being mangled. II
the bomb had failed TO 60 into the
trench l would have been blown to
bits by the explosion of my own bomb.
BY the flare OF the explosion Of the
bomb, which luckily landed in their
trench, I saw one big Boche throw up
his arms and fall backward, while his
rifle flew into the air. Another one
wilted and fell forward across the
sandbags-then blackness.
Realizing what a foolhardy and
risky thing 1 had done, was again
sieZed with a horrible fear, I drag
ged myself to my feet and ran madly
down the lane through the barbed
wire, stumbling over cut wires, tear
ing my uniform, and lacerating my
hands and legs. Just as I was about
to reach No Mans Land again, that
same voice seemed to say, Turn
around" did so, when, "crack, !"
another bullet caught me, this time
in the left shoulder about one-half
inch away from the other wound.
Then 1t was taps for me. The lights
went out.
When I came to was crouchin1 in
a hole in No Mans Land, This shell
hole was about three feet deep, SO
that 1t brought my head a few inches
below the level of the ground. How
reached this hole will never know,
German "typewritters" We're travers-
ing back and forth in No Mans Land.
the bullets biting the edge of my shell
hole and throwing dirt all over me
could hear the fragments Sian the
ground. Then / went out once more,
When 1 came to. everything was si-
lence and darkness in No Mans Land.
l was soaked with blood and a big nan
from the wound in my cheek was
hanging over my mouth. The blood
running from tE's flap choked me. Out
OF the corner OIL my mouth I would
try ana blow 1t back but It would
not move. reached for my shell
dressing and tried. with one hand. to
Dandase my face to prevent the flow.
l mad an awful horror Of bleeding to
death and was getting very faint. You
would nave laughed IL you had seen
my ludlcrous attempts at bandaging
with one hand, The pains in my
wounded shoulder were awful and /
was getting sick at the stomach. I
gave up the handaging stunt as a
bad Job, and then tainted. ,-T--
When 1 came to, hell was let loose
An intense bombardment was on. and
on the whole my position was. decided
ly unpleasant. Then, suddenly. our
barrage ceased. The silence almost
hurt, but not for long, because Frifz
turned loose with shrapnel. machine
guns, and rifle fire. Then an along
our line came a cheer and our bows
came over the top In a charge. The
first wave was composed of "Jocks -
They were a magnificent sight. kits
Tapping In the wind, bare knees show
ing, and their bayonets glistening. In
the first wave that passed INV shell
hole, one OF the Jocks" an Immense
fellow, about six feet two inches IN
height. Jumped right over me. On the
right and left Of me several soldiers IN
colored kits were huddled ON the
ground, then over came the second
wave, also "Jocks" One young Scot
tie, when he came abreast of INV shell
hole, leaped into the air, his rifle shoot
ing out Of his hands, landing about
six feet in front OF him, bayonet first.
and stuck in the ground, the butt
trembling. This impressed me greatly.
Right now 1 can see the butt of
that gun trembling. The Scottie made
a complete turn In the air, hit the
ground, rolling over twice. each time
elawing at the earth. and then re-
nniped stiil. about four feet from me.
in sort of sitting position. I called
to him. Arr Won hurt badly Jof.t p,