Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-04-03

"When a fellow went into that
trench it was an even gamble that he
would come out on stretcher. At one
time a Scotch battalion held it, and
when they heard the betting was even
money that they'd come out on
stretchers, they grabbed all the bets
in sight. Like lot Of bally idiots, sew
eral of the battery men fell for their
game, and put up real money. The
Jocks suffered a lot of casualties, and
the prospects looked bright for the
battery men to collect some easy
money. So when the battalion was re-
lieved the gamblers lined up. Several
Jocks got their money for emerging
safely, but the ones who clicked it
weren't there to pay. The artillery
men had never thought it out that
way. Those Scotties were bound to
be sure winners, no matter how the
wind blew. SO take tip from me,
never bet with a Scottie, cause you'll
lose money.
"At one part of our trench where
a communication trench Joined the
front line a Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on it. One Of the hands, point
ing to the German lines, read, TO Ber-
lin the one pointing down the com,
munication trench read, TO Blighty,'
while the other said, Suicide Ditch,
Change Here for Stretchers.'
'Farther down from this guide post
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge Of this orchard our bat
terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
servatiOn post. The trees screened it
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. It wasn't cushy like ours,
no timber or concrete re-enfOrcements.
just walls of sandbags. From it
splendid view Of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. 1t was a hot corner,
shells plunking all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves off the trees.
Many a time when relieving the sig
mailer at the phone, had to crawl on
my belly like worm to keep from
being hit.
"It was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use it was. Just
observe all day, but never message
back for our battery to open up. You
see, at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not to fire a shell,
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me, If
anyone disobeyed that command, our
general-yes, it was Old Pepper
would have court-martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
of their way to disobey Old Pepper in
those days, because he couldn't be
called a parson; he was more like a
pirate. If at any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call.
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old firebrand.
eff a company or battalion should
give way a few yards against a SUI
perior force of Boches, Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off
Ger. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face the
color of a brick, and in a few hours
what was left of his command would
be holding their original position.
II have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d-n for a thousand Quid spend
five minutes with the old boy and
when he returned the flow of language
from his lips would make a navy
blush for shame.
"What l am going to tell you Is how
two of us put it over on the old scamp,
and got away with it. 1t was a risky
thing, too, because Old Pepper wouldn't
have been exactly mild with us if he
had got next to the game.
''Me and my mate, lad named Har-
ry Cassell, bOmbardier in D 23S bat
terry, or lance corporal, as you call it
in the infantry, used to relieve the
telephonists. We would do two hours
on and four off. I would be on duty
in the advanced observation post,
while he would be at the other end of
the wire in the battery dugout signal
ing station. We were supposed to send
through orders for the battery to fire
when ordered to do so by the observa-
ton officer in the advanced post. But
very few messages were sent: It was
only in case of an actual attack that
we would get a chance to earn our
two and six day. You see, Old Pep
per had issued orders not to fire ex-
cept when the orders came from him.
And with Old Pepper orders is orders,
and made to obey.