The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-05-30

seven feet high. After stopping
through the mud here for about a
quarter of a mile we came out at the
other side of the hill and what we
saw was, though quite indistinct in
dug out entrances in the sheltered
side of another little hill. At the top
of the hill are the ruins of small
village, reduced to mass of rocks
with occasional sections of walls. But
the destruction wrought by more than
three years of continual pounding by
guns ranging from rifles to fourteen
inch mortars, has been almost COM
plete. This mode of living is quite an
innovation to US, this return to the
cave man style of existence, with a
scurrying for holes when a shell
burst near.
Our "Home" is designated by
wooden sign at the entrance, "Abri-
(cave) No. 8" To enter, one de-
scends along a narrow board walk
about twenty. feet, where is the open
ing through an old stone door, and
only about four feet high, too. There
are two sets of curtains just inside
to be drawn in case of gass attack,
also a wooden door to keep out the
cold at night. Inside is long pass
ageway, and at one side runs the line
of hunks, two deep. They are not
bad, with the exception of being, from
the narrowness of the cave, about
eight inches too short for stretching
out at ease, but Paul and l bunk to-
gether and obviate most of the dis
comfort by curling around in cres-
cent shape. The cave is quite dry,
for it is lined on the floor, walls and
ceiling with boards At the inner end |
is space large enough for stove and
several benches, so we can use the
stove when necessary. But this is sell
dom the case, for the days are becom-
ing comfortable with the sunlight.
We are about half mile behind
the French First line trenches, hence
beyond most of the small arm fire.
The big shells whizz over US almost
in their search for hostile
batteries, for artillery duelling COM
prises most of the activity. Planes,
both French and German, come over
often, and whenever hostile avion
everything around opens
fire, from rifles, automatics, machine
guns and anti-aircraft batteries to
light artillery. They all take shot.
If the plane is close, the American en-
yineers stationed here run and get
heir rifles, then try to hit the swift
moving target with these. This shows
he spirit of the Americans as whole.
Our curiosity and impetuosity are
source of wonder to the French, who
lave learned better from experience.
They are fine fellows and watch out
or us continually. In this station we
at Just two meals a day-10:30 and
:3O-we sort of miss our early morn
ng meal They eat well, though.
AS we had long desired to get a
Glimpse of mo Mans Land" Paul
nd | started out last night after sup
,er to see if we would be allowed to
% as far as the first line, where we G
ould look cover the top" We did t
ot 90 far from here before we came l
o the communication trenches leading I
here. These are winding, about z t
eet deep, protected from caving in at P
he sides by branches entwined, and t
ED in place by posts at short inter c
ais. All around here these trenches c
re boarded under foot to keep one I
ut of the mud and water that is ever .
resent. After going short distance n
trough these we met two French ser II
eants to whom | made known our II
esires, and with the usual French q
they offered to show US the Il
'ay. So we followed them for several G
undred yards through those tortu- S