The Robesonian., 1918-09-02

sounded very omln01s In our ears; II
he had said II wish you both swift
and painless death" 1t would have been
more to the point.
When we had read our instructions
we knew we were IN for 1t good and
plenty.
What Atwell said is not fit for pub !
lication, but strongly seconded his !!
opinion Of the war; army and divisional |
headquarters in general.
After a bit our spirits rose. We were F,
full-fedged spy-catchers, because our
instructions and orders, said so.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest French estaninet and had sew
eral glasses Of muddy water, which
they called beer. After drinking our
beer we left the estaminet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got in. The driver was going to the
part of the line where we had to re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived q
ride In tkat ambulance was inexplica-
BILE to me. 1t was worse than riding on
a gun carriage over q rock road.
The driver Of the ambulance was a
corporal Of the r. A. M. c., and no
had the "wind up" that is, he had an
aversion to being under fire.
l was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting in the ambu-
lance, with his legs hanging out Of the
back.
AS we passed through shell-de-
strOyed village a mounted military pO-
liceman stopped us and Informed the
driver to be very careful when we got!
out on the open road, as it was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately!
had acquired the habit of shelling it..
The corporal asked the troopersif there.
was any other way around, and was,
Informed that there was not. Upon,
this he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back, but we insisted that he pro-
ceed and explained to him that he
| would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer If he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
not walk.
| From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with a draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger. and he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we at last turned into, the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been q line Of
trees, but now, all that was left Of
them were torn and battered stumps.
The fields on each side Of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several in the road it.
self. We had gone about half mile
when shell came whistling through
the air and burst in field about three
hundred yards to our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge of the road about four hun
dred yards in front Of us.
/ told the driver to throw in his
speed clutch, as we must be in sight
of the Germans. I knew the signs
that battery was ranging for us, and
the quicker we got out Of its zone OF
fire the better. The driver was trem
bling like leaf, and every minute
expected him to pile us up in the ditch
preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life, and was sing
ing at the top of his voice:
We beat you at the Marne,
We beat you at the Aisne,
We gave you hell at Neuve Chapelle,
And here we are again.
Just then we hit q small shell hOl(
and nearly capsized. Upon q lou(
yell from the rear looked behind, ant
there was Atwell sitting in the middle
of the road, shaking his fist at us. Hi
equipment, which he had taken of
upon getting into the ambulance, wa
strung out on the ground, and his riff
was in the ditch.
shouted to the driver to stop, an,
in his nervousness he put on tn,
| brakes. We nearly pitched out head
first. But the applying of those brake
saved our lives. The next instan
there was a binding flash and deaf
ening report. All that remember
that was flying through the air, an
4
spot. Then the lights went out.
When l came to, Atwen was pourin
water on my head out Of his bottl.
On the other side Of the road the co,
poral was sitting, rubbing q lump O
, his forehead with his left hand, Will
o his right arm was bound up in q blOOt
e soaked bandage. He was moanin
q very loudly. I had an awful headach
g and the skin on the left side of m
d face was full Of gravel and the bloc
was trickltng from my nose.
Z But that ambulance was turned owe
\ IN the ditch and was perforated wit
holes from fragments of the she'll On
OF the front wheels was slowly revol,
Ing. so could not have been "out" fc
/. long period.
+ The shells were still screaming owe