The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-04-25
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to 90 out in front, it just naturally
rained. Old Jupiter Pluvius must have
had it in for me.
At six we reported for instructions
They were simple and easy. All we
had to do was to crawl out into No
Mans Land, lie on our bellies with our
ears to the ground and listen for the
tap, tap of the German engineers or
sappers who might be tunneling under
No Mans Lard to establish a mine
head beneath our trench.
Of course, in our orders we were told
not to be captured by German patrols
or recornoitering parties. Lots OF
breath is wasted on the western front
giving silly cautions.
As soon as it was dark, Wheeler and
I crawled to our post which was about
halfway between the lines. 1t was
raining bucketfuls, the ground was q
sea of sticky mud and clung to US like
glue.
We took turns in listening with our
ears to the ground. I would listen for
twenty minutes while Wheeler would
be on the qui vive for German patrols.
We each wore a wristwatch, and be-
lieve me, neither one of us did over
twenty minutes. The rain soaked us
to the skin and our ears were full Of
mud.
Every few minutes a bullet would
crack overhead or machine gun would
traverse back and forth.
Then all firing suddenly ceased. 1
whispered to Wheeler, keep your eye
skinned, mate; most likely Fritz has
q patrol out-that's why the Boches
have stopped firing"
We were each armed with a rifle and
bayonet and three Mills bombs to be
used for defense only.
had my ear to the ground. All of
q sudden I heard faint, dull thuds.
In a low but excited voice whispered
to Wheeler, 81 think they are mining,
listen"
He put his ear to the ground and
in an unsteady voice spoke into my
ear:
'Yank, that's a patrol and it's head
ing our way. For Gods sake keep
still.'
/ was as still as a mouse and was
scared stiff.
Hardly breathing and with eyes try
ing to pierce the inky blackness, we
waited. I would have given thou
sand pounds to have been safely in
my dugout.
Then we plainly heard footsteps and
our hearts stood still.
A dark form suddenly loomed up in
front Of me; it looked as big as the
Woolworth building. I could hear
the blood rushing through my veins
and it sounded as loud as Niagara
falls.
Forms seemed to emerge from the
darkness. There were seven Of them
in all. tried to wish them away. I
never wished harder in my life. They
muttered a few words in German and
melted into the blackness. didn't
stop wishing either.
All of. sudden we heard a stumble,
a muddy splash, and muttered "Don-
ner und Bitten" One Of the Boches
had tumbled into a shell hole. Neither
of us laughed. At that time-it didn't
strike US as funny.
About twenty minutes after the Ger
mans had disappeared something from
the rear grabbed me by the foot. I
nearly tainted with fright. Then
welcome whisper In cockney accent.
81 s'y, myte, we've come to relieve
you"
Wheeler and I crawled back to our
trench; we looked like wet hens and
felt worse. After a swig Of rum we
were soon fast asleep on the fire step
in our wet clothes.
The next morning was as stiff as
poker and every joint ached like
bad tooth, but I was still alive, so it
did not matter.