Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-03-29

NHuTIn H#INIlIH NJ fUN IfUuN WIN - W.
man Fokksr circles over the congregation.
CHAPTER Iy-Empey's command goes
into the front.lins trenches and II under
fife for the nrst time.
I looked for my cnnteen. II had
fallen on the fire step. and was half
buried In the mud. The man on my
left noticed this, and told the corporal.
dishIng out the rntions. 10 put my
share In his mess tin. Then he whIs-
pered 10 me, "Alwnys take care OF your
mess tin. mate"
I had learned another maxim Of the
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. was as
hungry ar a bear. We had seconds" /"
or another helping. because three Of
the men had 'gone West" killed by
the explosion Of the German trench
mortar. and we ate their share. but
still was hungry. 20 ! filled In with
bully beef and biscuits. Then drained
my wnter bottle. Later on ! learned
another maxim Of the front line. Go
rparlngIy with your water" The bully
beef made me thirsty. and BY tea time
| was dying for drink. but my pride
would not allow me to ask my mates
for water. I was fast learning the
ethics Of the trenches.
That night was put on guard with
an older man. We stood on the fire
step with our hands over the top, peer
Ing out into No Mans Land. II was
nervous work for me. but the other fel-
low seemed to take II a. part Of the
nights routine.
Then something shot past my face
Ny hcart stepped beating. and I ducked
my head below the parnpet. A soft
chuckle from my mate brought me "a
my senses. and I feebly asked, "For
heavens sake. what was that7"
He answered. "0nly rat taking q
promenade along the sandbags."
felt very sheepish.
About every twenty minutes the sen
try In the next traverse would fire {
star shell from his fare pistol. The
''plop" would give me start Of fright
! never got used to this noise during
my service In the trenches.
would watch the arc described BY
the star shell, and then stare Into NJ
Mans Land waiting for II to burst. In
Its lurld light the barbed wire and
stakes would be sllhouettcd against III
light like a latticed window. Ther
darkness.
Once. out In front Of our wire.
heard a noise and saw dark forms
moving. Ny rife was lying across thu
sandbagged parapet. reached for II
and was taking aim to fire. when my
mate grasped my arm. and whispered
Don't IRE" He challenged In Low
voice. The reply came back Instant,
from the dark forms:
a"Shut your blinkin' mouth, yot
bloomin' idiot; do you want us to clIcl
It from the Bochesf'
Later we learned that the word, "Nt
challenging or hiring, wiring party ou
In 'front.'" had been given to the sentry
on our right, but he had failed to poss
Il down the trench. An officer hnd over
heard our challenge and the reply, and
Immediately put the offending senrr,
under arrest. The sentry click
twenty-one days on the wheel, that is.
he received twenty-one days field pun
Ishment No. l, or "crucIhxlon," az
Tommy terms It.
This consists Of being spread-eagled
on the wheel Of timber two hours a
day for twenty-one days, regardless Of
the weather. During this period, your
rations consist Of bully beef. biscuits
and water.
A few months later met this sentry
and he confided to me that since being
"crucihed." he had never failed to pass
the word down the trench when so or
tlered. In view Of the offense. the
above punishment was very light, In
that falling to pass the word down a
trench may mean the loss Of many
lives, and the spelling Of some impor-
tant enterprise In No Mans Land.