The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-08-15
CHAPTER ~.
On the Firing Line.


When I reported on the Cassard
after my fourteen days leave, I was
detailed with a detachment OF the
legion 20 20 TO the Flanders front.
changed into the regular uniform OF
the legion, which Is about like that of
the infantry. with the regimental
badge-a seven-flamed grenade.
We Travelled from Brest by rail. In
third-class cars, passing through Ia
Havre and St. Pol. and finally arriving
at Bergues. From Bergues we made
the trip 10 Dixmude by truck-a dis
lance OF about twenty miles. We car
ried no rations with us. but at certain
places along the line the train stopped.
and we got out 10 eat our meals. At
every railroad station they have booths
or counters. and French girls work day
and night feeding the Poilus. II was
wonderful sight TO see these girls. and
II made you feel good TO think you
were going TO fight for them.
II was not only what they did. but
the way they did II. and It Is at things
like this that the French beat the
world. They could tell Just what kind
OF treatment each Pollu needed, and
they saw 10 II that he got II. They
took special pains with the men OF the
legion. because. as they say, we are
strangers" and that means, ''the best
we have Is yours" TO the French. These
French women. young and old. could
be a mother and n sweetheart and a
sister all at the same time TO any hairy
old ex-convict In the legion. and do II
In a way that made him feel like lit
member afterwards. The only thing
we did not like about this trip was
that there were not enough stations
along that line. There II a tip that
the French engineers will not take.
am afraid.
There is another thing about the
that Is this: There are pretty girls In
every country under the sun. but the
plain girls In France are prettier than
the plain ones In other countries. They
might not show II In photographs. but
In action there Is something about
them that you cannot explain. I have
never seen an ugly French girl who
was not easy 10 look at.
We finally got TO Dixmude. after
having spent about eighteen hours on
the way. on our arrival one company
was sent 90 the reserve trenches and
my company went 10 the front line
trench. We were not placed In train
ing camps. because most Of us had
been under fire before. never had.
but that was not supposed TO make
any difference. They say II you can
stand the legion you can stand any
thing.
Before we entered the communion
ton trench. we were drawn up along.
side Of a crossroad for a rest. and to
receive certain accoutrements. Pretty
soon we saw bunch OF Boches COM
ing along the road. without their guns.
a few Of them being slightly wounded.
Some OF them looked scared and 9TH
ers happy. but they all seemed tired.
Then we heard some singing. and pref
ty soon we could see an Irish corporal
stepping along behind the Huns. with
his rifle slung over his back. and
every once In a while he would shuf-
fie bit and then sing some more. He
had a grin on him that pushed his
ears back.
The British noncom who was de-
tailed as our guide sang out: what
kind Of time are you having. Patr
The Irishman saluted with one
hand. dug the other into his pocket
and pulled out enough watches TO
make you think you were In pawn
shop. "Oh. a foin toim I'm havin'."
he says. II got wan from each of thin
fellas." We counted fourteen prison
ers In the bunch. Pat sure thought he
was rolling In wealth.
After we were rested up we were
issued rifles. shrapnel helmets and
belts. and then started down the com
munication trench. These trenches
are entrances 20 the fighting trenches
and run at varying angles and vary
ing distances apart They are sell
dom wide enough 20 hold more than
one man. so you have 10 march single
file In them. They wind In and out.
according to the lay OF the land. some
parts Of them being more dangerous
than others. When you come TO a
dangerous spot you have TO crawl
sometimes.
There are so many cross trenches
and blind alleys that you have to have