Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-03-20

country, had died without firing shot
but their services were appreciated,
nevertheless.
Later on, found out their names.
They belonged to our draft.
was daZed and motiOnless. Sud-
denly shovel was pushed into my
hands, and rough but kindly voice
said:
"Here, my lad, lend hand clearing
the trench, but keep your head down,
and look out for snipers. One of the
Fritz's is daisy, and he'll get you if
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom Of
the trench, filled sandbags with the
sticky mud, they were dragged to my
rear by the other men, and the work of
rebuilding the parapet was on. The
harder I worked, the better felt. Al
though the weather was cold, I was
soaked with sweat.
Occasionally bullet would crack
overhead, and a machine gun would
kick up the mud on the bashed-in para
pet. At each crack 1 would duck and
shield my face with my arm. One OF
the older men noticed this action Of
mine, and whispered:
Don't duck at the crack Of a bull
let, Yank; the danger has passed-you
never hear the one that wings you.
Always remember that if you are going
to get it, you'll get it, so never worry"
| This made great impression on me
at the time, and from then on, adopt
ed his motto, IF you're going to get it,
you'll get it."
| 1t helped me wonderfully. used 1t
so often afterwards that some of my
mates dubbed me, IF you're going to
get 1t, you'll get it."
After an hours hard work, all my
nervousness left me, and was laugh,
ing and joking with the rest.
At one O'Clock, dinner came up in
the form Of dixie of hot stew.
I looked for my canteen. It had
fallen off the fire step, and was half
buried in the mud. The man on my
left noticed this, and told the corporal
dishing out the rations, to put my
share in his mess tin. Then he whis-
pered to me, always take care Of your
mess tin, mate"
had learned another maxim Of the
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. I was as
hungry as 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 I was hungry, so I filled in with
bully beef and biscuits. Then I drained
my water bottle. Later on / learned
another maxim Of the front line, go
sparingly with your water" The bully
beef made me thirsty, and by tea time
I 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. It was
nervous work for me, but the other fell
low seemed to take 1t as part Of the
nights routine.
Then something shot past my face,
My heart stopped beating, and I ducked
my head below the parapet. A soft
chuckle from my mate brought me to
my senses, and I feebly asked, "For
heavens sake, what was that7"
He answered. "Only rat taking q
promenade along the sandbags." ]
felt very sheepish.
About every twenty minutes the sen.
try in the next traverse would fire. q
star shell from his flare 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 Nc
Mans Land waiting for It to burst. In
its lurid light the barbed wire and
stakes would be silhOuetted against its
light like latticed window. Then
darkness.
Once, out in front Of our wire,
heard noise and saw dark forms
moving. Ny rife was lying across the
sandbagged parapet. reached for it.
and was taking aim to fire, when my
mate grasped my arm, and whispered,
Don't fire." He challenged in low
voice. The reply came back instantly
from the dark forms:
"Shut your blinkin' mouth, you
bloomin idiot; do you want us to click
it from the Boches?"
Later we learned that the word, mo
challenging or firing, wiring party out
in front" had been given to the sentry
on our right, but he had failed to pass
it down the trench. An officer had over
heard our challenge and the reply, and
Immediately put the offending sentry
under arrest. The sentry clicked
twenty-one days on the wheel, that Is,
he received twenty-one days field pun
ishment No. l, or "crucifixion," as
Tommy terms it.
This consists of being spread-eagled
on the wheel of a 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
'crucified," he had never failed to pass
the word down the trench when so Or
dered. In view of the otfense, the
above punishment was very light, in
that failing to pass the word down a