New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-05-10
in two minutes were blazing away. II
was q thrilling sight.
Torn NV Shella.

was a thrilling sight.
Torn by Shells.
In going forward we went around
the end Of the larger wood In front of
us. over ground that was torn to bits
by the heavy shell fire that had just
preceded, over another edge, across a
valley. and under the crest of a hill.
And here we found the tanks going
over the top of the hill to take up
their position. At this point VIC were
still about a mile from the front line.
At this place l opened up an aid post
under the crest of the hill to take care
Of what wounded came in while we
were getting into position.
Shrapnel was bursting in the air,
shells were whizzing overhead, and our
guns behind me were belching forth
the fire. The noise was deafening.
A railroad raj through the valley
and an engine pulling a couple of fiat
cars was going by. A couple of SOL
diers were sitting on the rear truck
swinging their feet. A shell burst on
the track and only missed the last car
about fifteen yards. Neither man was
hit and the train went blithely on.
BY this time 1t was getting along
toward evening, the sun was sinking
in the west. and finally went down a
great ball Of fire. At the time, I re-
member, I noticed Its color. It vas
blood red and had a sinister look. Was
1t my imagination, or might 1t have
been a premOnitiOn? At any rate,
shall never forget the color Of the u
as it set that night at the end Of the
first day of probably one of the great
est battles in history. 1t certainly
didn't look good to me.
The drumming Of the guns contin-
ued, twilight gradually deepened into
night, the ~signalers stopped their wig
wagging and took up their flash sig
nails, a fog dropped down on us and
put the lights out of business, and
when We left to 60 forward under the
cover of darkness they were busy put
ting out their telephone lines-signal-
ers and runners don't have an easy
time.
SuSIt 00UVP 0VCo w.
Behind us a shell landed In an am
munition dump and 1t went up with a
roar then the rifle ammunition started
going Off like a great bunch of fire.
crackers, and great tongues Of flame
lit up the sky.
It is reported that the Germans had
broken Though our line and we were
to counter-attack in the morning. We
got into positions without a single
casualty. 1 opened an aid post in an
old dugOut and settled down to sleep
until morning. You may think 1t fun
ny that one could sleep under such
conditions, but l had been up since
$50, had tramped about six or even
miles. had had a rather trying day
and was dog tired.
Just like some of the warm days we
get the last Of March at home. In
going forward it was necessary
for us to march seventy-five yards in
front of three batteries Of field guns.
There are six gum to a battery. They
shoot an eighteen-pOund shell and
while we were there each gun was
shooting twice to the minute. You
can imagine the racket when I tell
you that the discharge Of one gun can
be heard about four miles. In addi-
ton the Boche was trying to knock
out this battery and he was dropping
his six inch shells a little too close for
comfort. t...
Nearly In q Trap.
Then l made a lovely mistake. l
was to establish an aid post near bat
TALON headquarters and went blithely
when / net a company commander
and asked him where to go.
Back there about a quarter Of a
mile" he replied. 'Thls is the front
center company. II you keep on in
the direction you are going you are
going up over that ridge and Fritz will
be waiting for you with a machine
gum"
So my sergeant and orderly and
didn't waste any time In clear
ing. On the way back I found a gallon
can full Of water, got into a corrugated
iron shelter and had a wash and a
shave. 1t certainly felt good. I don't
I had washed for t~hlrty-six |
1t was warm and bright. l
could look out Of my shelter and see
our support lines digging themselves
In several hundred yards away. The
cannon fire ceased, the machine guns
down to an occasional ftful
burst and it was midday Of a beautiful
day.
A couple of partridge flew W. lie.
What did they know or care about all
this noise and racket and men getting
up In line and killing each other?
Along about three o'clock things be-
gan to liven up again. In the mean
time headquarters had been establish
ed In a sunken road with banks about
fifteen feet high on either side (later
this cut was half filled with dead).
My aid post was In a dugOut near by
and gradually things got hotter and
hotter.
Our men had dug themselves In
md were popping away with their
lilies. The field batteries behind us
we're putting up a barrage, a%irplanes
we're circling overhead, both ours and
he Germans. The Germans put up a
,ounter-barrage, the machine guns
we're going like mad. I was standing
With the colonel on a little rise of
above the sunken road when
he Germans broke through about a
nile to the north Of us. They could
,e plainly seen pouring over the ridge
n close formation.
Tanks Get Into Action.
Then the tanks came up. and you
Ihould have seer them rum Just like