Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-08-20

cursing under our breath, trembling all
over, our knees lacerated from the
strands Of the cut barbed wire on the
ground, waiting for challenge and
the inevitable volley Of rifle fire. Moth
ing happened. I suppose the fellow
who cut the barbed wire improperly
was the one who had sneezed about
half an hour previously. What we
wished him would never make his new
year happy one.
The officer, in my opinion, at the
noise Of the wire should have given the
four-tap signal, which meant, ION your
own, get back to your trenches as
quickly as possible" but again he must
have relied on the spiel that Old Pep
per had given US in the dugout, "Per-
sonally I believe that thar part Of the
German trench is unoccupied." Any.
way, we got careless, but not 80 care
less that We sang patriotic songs or
made any unnecessary noise.
During the intervals Of falling star
shells we carried on with our wire cut.
ting until at last we succeeded In get
ting through the German barbed wire.
At this point we were only ten feet
from the German trenches. II we were
discovered, we were like rats In trap.
Our way was cut off unless we ran
along the wire to the narrow lane we
had cut through. With our hearts In
our mouths we waited for the three
tap signal to rush the German trench.
Three taps had gotten about halfway
down the line when suddenly about ten
to twenty German star shells were
fred all along the trench and landed
In the barbed wire In rear OF US, turn
Ing night into day and silhouetting US
against the wall Of light made by the
flares. In the glaring light we were
confronted by the following unpleasant
scene.
All along the German trench, at
about three.foot intervals, stood big
Prussian guardsman with his rifle at
the aim, and then we found out why
we had not been challenged when the
man sneezed and the barbed wire had
been improperly cut. About three feet
In front Of the trench they had con-
structed a single fence Of barbed wire
and we knew our chances were one
thousand to one Of returning alive.
We could not rush their trench on ac-
count of this second defense. Then
In front Of me the challenge. "Hait,"
given in English rang out. and one OF
the finest things I have ever heard on
the western, front took place.
From the middle Of our line some
Tommy answered the challenge with,
aAw. 20 to HI" It must have been
the man who had sneezed or who had
improperly cut the barbed wire; he
wanted to show Fritz that he could
die game. Then came the volley. Ma
chine guns were turned loose and sew
eral bombs were thrown In our rear.
The Boche In front Of me was looking
down his sight. This fellow might
have, under ordinary circumstances,
been handsome, but when I viewed him
from the front Of his rifle he had the
goblins OF childhood imagination rele-
gated to the shade. ,t.f
Then came q fash In front Of me, the
dare Of his ride and my head seemed
Ito burst. A bullet had hit me on the
left side Of my face about half IN
inch from my eye, smashing the cheek
bones. ] put my hand to my face and
fell forward, biting the ground ana
licking my feet. / thought ! waA! dy.
Ing, but, do you know. my past ufs dio
mot unfold before me the way Il dosa
In novels. ssSsa q ~,
me blood was streaming down my
Ftuuic, and ths'pain was awful. When