The Washington times., 1918-10-04

were alone, within twenty yards of
the Germans. They opened fire upon
us with machine guns from every
point of the compass.
well. we all tumbled into a shell
hole as fast as we could. But IL was
kind OF lonesome not seeing any OF
our fellows around. The machine
gun bullets from both sides were sing
ing over our heads and the bursting
shells were making so much racket
that we could not hear each other
Jalk.
Finally we noticed a little, shallow
trench not more than a foot deep
leading toward a dugout with two
doors. We wriggled out on our stom-
achs like snakes and started for the
dugout. The Germans sure did try to
pot US. While some were shooting at
US machine guns in nests on the
side of the hill put down a screen Of
bullets across both entrances to the
dugouts.
All Expected to Die.
I'VE got in somehow and were
cooped up there all day Friday. The
sounds of the battle had ceased, but
we knew that machine guns were
trained on the doors of the dugout,
and we expected a rush at any minute.
why the Germans did not rush US
is more thap I can tell. I'never ex-
pected to get out alive, and the others
felt the same way. We planned to
escape Friday night. but the Germans
tept sending up flares, which made
No Mans Land as bright as day.
I'VE did not have anything to eat
except some dirty black bread that
we found In the dugout and water
from our canteens. Finally the
water gave out. The night was cold
and we were tired, but not one OF u
dared to go to sleep.
"Day broke cold and rainy. We
tried to console each other, but felt
helpless and foolish 1t was our first
big battle and we had wanted to ac-
complish something. We wished we
hadn't been SO speedy in the rush.
"On Saturday night we all decided
0 take a chance together and try to
crawl back to our own lines. We
made the small trench, creeping like
caterpillars, and finally reached q
deeper trench.
Found Wounded Comrade.
I'VE heard a faint moaning. At
arst we were suspicious, but one OF
the fellows thought It sounded like
an American, so we all decided to
stick together and investigate. We
crept nearer cautiously, and were
amazed to ind a fellow from our own
regiment but another company.
wounded in the legs and unable to
walk. He was lying in 4 shelIhole
half covered with water. He had lain
there all day Friday, Friday night,
and Saturday.
I'VE pulled him back to the dugout.
as we \realized that we could not
leave him behind. and nobody wanted
to leave the rest OF the bunch. And
there We were back in the same old
cave again.
plain OF weakness and a dizzy feel
ing. He had been slightly gassed,
and we were all complaining OF the
same feeling pretty soon.
I'VE tried to help the wounded
soldier. but he was in bad shape and
was getting worse all the time. Sat
urday night dragged through and we
had begun to give up all hope when
suddenly a terrific cannonading OPEN
ed up. 1t was coming from our side,
and we knew that II was q barrage
that was to be followed by an at
tack
Rescued At Last.
Then the Germans opened up,
and 1t was not long until Yankee
and German shells were failing all
around us. Then there was a rush
OF troops, and we could hear the
voices of Americans. Some one poked |
a bayonet into the door OF the dug
out and yelled.
Come out Show yourselves
I'VE hollored not to shoot nor |
throw grrnades because we were
New Workers
1T was mighty dangerous for the
Americans might mistake us fer
Germans in the dark
The fellows outside recognized
good United States talk and took US
out for by this time we were so
weak we could not stand on our feet
We were revived and learned that
our fellows were busting the Hin
denburg line. We were certainly
glad to get back with the gang"
Every Hundred Dollar Bond Makes
A Hmm Dread Mare