Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1918-05-03

FenCn " WIS uu even kutOuiV tIut ne
would como out on stretcher. At one
time n Scotch battalion held Il. and
when they heard the betting was ever
money that they'd como out or
strctchcrs. they grabbed oil the bets
In sight. Like a lot Of bally idiots, sew
eral OF the battery men fell for their
game. and put up real money. The
Jocks suffered o lot OF casualties. and
the prospects looked bright for the
battery men 10 collect some easy
money. so when the battalion was rc-
lieved the gamblers lined up. Several
Jocks got their money for emerging
safely. but the ones who clicked Il
weren't there to pay. The artillery.
men had never thought II out that
way. Those Scotties were bound TO
be sure winners. no matter how the
wind blew. SO take a tip from me.
never bet witha scottle. cause you'l
lose money.
at one part Of our trench where
communication trench Joined the
front line Tommy had stuck up
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on II. One OF the hands, point.
ing TO the German lines. read. TO Der
lin; the one pointing down the com
municatlon trench read. TO Bllghty.'
while the other said, Suicide Ditch,
Change Here for Stretchers.'
"Farther down from this guide post
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge OF this orchard our bat.
terry had constructed an advanced oh.
serratlon post. The trees screened Il
from the enemy alrmen and the roof
was turfed. II wasn't cushy like ours
no timber or concrete re-enforcements.
just walls OF sandbags. From Il a
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. II was hot corner,
shells plunklng all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves OF the trees
Many time when relieving the sig.
naler at the phone. had to crawl on
my belly like a worm to keep from
being hit.
ut wns an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use II was. Just
observe all day, but never message
back for our battery TO open up. You
see. at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not to fire she'll
unless specially ordered TO do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me. n
anyone dlsobeyed that command. our
general--yes, II was Old Pepper
would have court.martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
OF their way to dlsobey Old Pepper In
those days, because he couldn't be
called a parson: he was more like a
pirate. II at any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old tirebrand.
"If a company or battalion should
give way a few yards against a su.
perior force OF Boches. Old Pepper
would send for the commanding off,
Ger. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face the
color Of brick. and In a few hours
what was left Of his command would
be holding their original position.
II have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d--n for a thousand ould spend
Eve minutes with tho old hoy, and
when be returned the flow OF language
from his lips would. make navy
blush for shame.
"What am going to tell you ls how
two of us put II over on the old scamp.
and got away with It. II was risky
thing, too, because Old Pepper wouldn't
have been exactly mild with US II he
had got next 10 the game.
"Me and my mate, lad named Har-
ry Cassell, a bombardler In d 23S bat
tery, or lance corporal, as you call Il
In the infantry, used to relieve the
telephonists. We would do two hours
on and four of. would be on duty
In the advanced observation post.
while he would be at the other end of
the wire In the battery dugout signal
ing station. We were supposed to send
through orders for the battery to fire
when ordered to do so by the observa-
ton officer In the advanced post. But
very few messages were sent. II was
only in case Of an actual attack that
we would get a chance TO earn our
two and six day. You see. Old Pep
per had issued orders not to FIRE ex-
cept when the orders came from him.
And with Old Pepper orders Is orders,
and made TO obey.
"The Germans must have known
about these orders, for even In the day
their transports and troops used to
expose themselves as II they were on
parade. This sure got up our nose,
sitting there day after day, with hne
targets in front Of us but unable to
send over a shell. We heartily cussed
Old Pepper. his orders. the govern
ment. the people at home, and every.
thing in general. But the Boches
didn't mind cussing, and got very care
less. Bllme me, they were bally In
sulting. Used to, when using certain