The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-04-11

to get the backache from bending
down. 1t wasn't exactly safe TO stand
upright, either, because as soon as
your napper showed over the top a
bullet would bounce off 1t, or else come
so close 1t would make your hair stand.
eve used to fill sandbags and stick
them on top of the parapet to make it
higher, but no use; they would be
there about an hour and then Fritz
would turn loose and blow them to
bits. My neck used to be sore from
ducking shells and bullets.
"Where my battery was stationed
hasty trench had been dug, which
/ the boys nicknamed Suicide ditch,
and, believe me, Yank, this was the
original Suicide ditch All the others
are limitations.
"When a fellow went into that
! trench it was an even gamble that he
would come out on a stretcher. At one
time a Scotch battalion held it, and
when they heard the betting was even
money that they'd come out on
Stretchers, they grabbed all the bets
In sight. Like lot of bally idiots, sew
eral of the battery men fell for their
game, and put up real money. The
Jocks suffered a lot of casualties, and
the prospects looked bright for the
battery men to collect some easy
money. SO when the battalion was re-
lieved the gamblers lined up. Several
Jocks got their money for emerging
safely, but the ones who clicked it
weren't there to pay. The artillery
men had never thought it 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 with Scottie, cause you'll
lose money.
'At one part of our trench where
communication trench Joined the
front line a Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost With three hands or
arms on it. One of the hands. point
! ing to the German lines, read, ITO Ber-
/ lin the one pointing down the com,
munication trench read, TO Blighty,'
while the other said. Suicide Ditch,
! NhdhSC AICIC 1O1
"Farther down from this guide posi-
| the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge of this orchard our bat
| terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
! servation post. The trees screened It
| from the enemy alrmen and the roof
was turfed. 1t wasn't cushy like ours,
no timber or concrete endorsements.
| just walls of sandbags. From 1t a
! splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
! exactly safe. 1t was a hot corner,
shells plunking all around, and the
| bullets cutting leaves off the trees.
Many time when relieving the sig
mailer at the phone, had to crawl on
my belly like worm to keep from
| being hit.
ut was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use it was. Just
observe all day, but never q message
| back for our battery to open up. You
| see, at this point of the line there
were strict orders not to fire a shell,
| unless specially ordered to do so from
| brigade headquarters. Blime me, If
anyone disobeyed that command, our
! general-yes, 1t was Old Pepper
would have court-martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
of their way to disobey 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 firebrand.
"If company or battalion should
| give way few yards against a SUI
perlor 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 a brick, and in few hours
what was left of his command would
be holding their original position.
81 have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d--n for a thousand 0uid spend