The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-10-30

ringing cheer broke out all along the
front line, and his heart sank. He
knew he was too late. His company
had gone over. But still he ran madly.
He would catch them. He would die
with them.
Meanwhile his company had gone
"over." They, with the other com
panies had taken the first and second
German trenches, and had pushed
steadily on to the third line. ID com.
pany, led by their captain, the one who
had sent Lloyd to division headquar.
tiers for trial. charged with desertion,
had pushed steadily forward until they
found themselves far In advance of
the rest Of the attacking force. "Bomb.
ing out" trench after trench, and using
their bayonets, they came to German
communication trench, which ended In
blindsap, and then the captain, and
what was left of his men, knew they
were in a trap. They would not re-
tire. ID company never retired, and
they were ID company. Right In front
Of them they could see hundreds of
Germans preparing to rush them with
bomb and bayonet. They would have
some chance II ammunition and bombs
could reach them from the rear. Their
supply was exhausted, and the men
realized II would be a case Of dying
as bravely as possible, or making run
for 1t. But ID company would not
run. 1t was against their traditions
and principles.
The Germans would have to advance
across an open space of three to four
hundred yards before they could get
within bombing distance of the trench.
and then II would be all their own way.
Turning to his company. the captain
said:
Men, it's a case of going West for
rus. We are out Of ammunition and
bombs, and the Boches have us In
trap. They will bomb US out. Our
,bayonets are useless here. We will
have to 60 over and meet them, and
it's a case of thirty to one. so send
every thrust home. and die like the
men Of d company should. When
give the word, follow me. and up and
at them. Give them HI Lord, IL
we only had d machine gun, we could
wipe them out Here they come, get
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking, the well
come 'pup-pup" of a machine gun in
their rear rang out, and the front line
of the onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, but once
again came rushing onward. Down
went their second line The machine
gun was taking an awful toll of lives.
Then again they tried to advance, but
the machine gun moved them down.
Dropping their rifles and bombs, they
broke and fled In a wild rush back to
their trench, amid the cheers of I'D"
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when In the rear
of ID company came a mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
1t a battalion of Scotch to reinforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
In the nick of time.
With the re-enforcements IL was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three of his noncommissioned
officers, wendell their way back to the
position where the machine gun had
done Its deadly work. He wanted to
thank the gunner In the name of ID
company for his magnificent deed.
Thav arrival M tho run opd nm axyf,,v
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front line
trench, after his company had left 1t. A
strange company was nimbly crawling
up the trench ladders. They were re-
endorsements going over. They were
Scotties, and they made a magnificent
sight In their brightly colored kits and
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across mo Mans Land" unheeding the
rain of bullets, leaping over dark forms
on the ground. some Of which lay still.
while others called out to him as he
speeded past.
He came to the German front line,
but 1t was deserted, except for heaps
OF dead and wounded-a grim tribute
to the work of his company, good old
ID company. Leaping trenches, and
gasping for breath. Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company in a
dead-ended sap Of a communication
trench, and across the open, away In
front Of them, a mass Of Germans pre-
pairing for charge. Why didn't D.
company fire on them7 Why were they
so strangely silent7 What were they
waiting for? Then he knew-their am
munition was exhausted.
But what was that on his right7 A
machine gun. Why didn't II open IRE
and save themf He would make that
guns crew do their duty. Rushing
over to the gun be saw why II had not