The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-08-22
CHAPTER Vill-Continued.

Ii
Other field kitchens were near by.
They had prepared more food than
their companies needed. Many for
whom they had cooked will never eat
again. We were invited TO come and
get whatever we wanted
We had scarcely finished eating
when we had to march on. Presently
we were Joined by more members of
our company. Our captain appeared.
One of our officers reported TO him the
number missing. He stepped in front
nj the company and said ehcerfully,
Good morning, men" although ii was
seven o'clock in the evening. growl
was the only response. We were then
ordered to go to the wagons standing
Mt the north side OF the town. where
each man was to supply himself with
cartridges and three hand erenades
We gathered at the wagons Mt 9 80
o'clock and each man took 500 car
tridges. his three greuadeS and matches
to light them. On the way to the waG-
ons we saw everywhere formations be-
ing hastily organized from stray sol
diers and we received the impression
of some great activity in preparation.
The rain had begun to fall in tor
rents. As we took our places We saw
the streets filled with troops wearing
special uniforms to protect them
against the weather. These uniforms
consisted Of a suit of weatherproof
clothing, cap. such baggage a must
he taken on march. 4 tent cloth. tent
sticks dishes and. with the pioneers.
trench tools. Thus equipped. we stood
in the rain and waited. ignorant of
what lay before Us.
We were ordered 10 take the breech
locks out of the guns and put them
I'm our bread bags The guns now
were no good for shooting. We now
began 10 understand what lnv before
MS A night attack vas planned with
hayonets and hand greRades and the
measures which had been taken were
taken 50 that We would lot shoot at
one another III the darkness.
We stood and waited until eleven
O'Clock. when the order suddenly came
to so into quarters. Ne did not know
what 10 make Of this after MI the
preparations We could tel from the
drum FIRE aud the red glare IN The SKY
shat the battle had not IeSSened m
violence. The sky glewod. iilGmincd
}y the burning villages ana sarlus.
ON The way to our quarters we heard
he officers sayn- Among themselves
that Il final triai had been intended to
defeat the French This had been the
reason Behind the preparations for the
night attack which had now been
called Off.
Headquarters apparently had de
2ided otherwise Perhaps it was known
there that nothing could be accom-
piished by attacking and the order was
given to begin the retreat which was
pat into effect the next morning at six
o'clock. we did not realize then that
this was to be our last night ia Yitry.
We were sheltered In a she'd for the
might. AS We were very tired, we soon
were fast asleep. We were aroused AT
four o'clock in the morning, everyone
was given a loaf eff hrear and ordered
TO fill his eanteen with wster, after
which the march began. Although we
were ignorant of our destination. the
inhabitants of Yttry seemed To under
stand where we were going and they
stood on the streets throwing rs sig
nitiCant glanceS.
Everywhere the feyerlsh movement
was on. We stopped in front Of the
town hall Here the captain told us
that because of difficulty in the terrain
our troops had TO yaeate their posi-
Sions and retire - nearby heights and
occupy new defenScs. With that he
turned around and pointed 10 Il ridge
on the horizon.
There We shall make a stand aud
wait Tor the enemy he said NO
reeHforcements will arrive today ard
I'm few days We may send picture
postal cards to your homes from
Parts