The Nevada County picayune., 1918-09-19

Driven by hunger we approached the village. The first thing we did was to hasten to the wells and drink. We drank as If we wanted to fill our selves up with enough water to last us the rest of our lives. Only here and there were we able to find anything to eat. A few beets were left in the gar dens and we ate them eagerly, without waiting to wash or clean them.
 Where is our company? Nobody knows. We are the company, we % men. And our officers. Somewhere surely" said q soldier, Somewhere in bomb-proof corner"
 But what were we to do? No one , could decide. Presently n noncommis- stoned officer of the field gendarmes approached on horseback. It is the duty of this particular class of defend CTS of the fatherland to round up slackers behind the front.
 "You are pioneers" he called to us roughly. "What are you doing here" Then he asked us innumerable ques- tions. which we answered as well as we could.
 "Where are the others?" he asked.
 cover there" said q young Berlin soldier. and pointed to the battlefield.
 '"The others are dead or perhaps prisoners. Several others have man. aged to save themselves and are some where, perhaps"
 "Never mind" the noncommisSioned officer said roughly. The conversation had become disagreeable to him. "Wait here, until I come back. Where are the officerS?"
 Again no one could answer. "What are their names? I shall find them Perhaps they are in Vitry."
 We told him the names of our off, cers. He gave us identification papers so that We might be able to prove to others inquiring why We were waiting where we were.
 'I hope his horse falls and he breaks his neck said one of our men.
 We entered one of the houses which had been robbed, as were all the others, threw ourselves down upon the mat tresses to sleep. sleep, sleep. How i long we slept no one knew We only knew that 1t was night and that some of our company had aroused us. These were newcomers who had been hunting for us for long time.
 "Come along. The captain is out side and he is very angry He has gathered r of his men together and is cursing like the very devil because he could not locate you" 1 Sleepy, and entirely indifferent to the future, we left the building. We knew that we would be sent into action again but no longer cared. I had never before seen among d body of soldiers such an atmosphere of absolute indif- 1 ference.
 1 We came upon the captain. He saw us approach minus our headgear. our uniforms torn into shreds and without guns and knapsacks.
 "Why are you running around here" he roared. That was our reception.
 Nobody answered. Nobody cared. Nothing could be worse than what we had been through, but although every | ptit oAhphb bS ACIk hCEIA1 kbAG of the captains attitude we all re- malned silent.
 Where Is your Quipment7-Lost- Lost. This has been a nice business. The state equips you, you rebel. If all were like you"
 He raved on for while after this i fashion, thiS brave fellow, who, without any action on his own part permitted the rebels to retreat while he defend ed his fatherland in vitry. 426 kilo- meters behind the battle line.
 We selected guns from those lying around us In heaps and soon were ready to fight again.
 We stood around half asleep, lean- ing on our guns, and waited to be led once more to the slaughter. A shot fell in our midst. It struck a color sergeant and smashed his right hand He cried out from the pain. His hand was quickly bandaged. He was the first.
 An eyewitness told us how this had happened. He had rested his hand on the gun barrel in the same manner as did all the others except that his hand partly covered the muzzle. The orders provide that the gun be locked If loaded. Turning to the color ser geant, who was writhing with pain. the captain roared at him: 'T shall report you for punishment for your gross carelessness and for mutilating yourself in the field"