The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-09-11

open. but were connected up IN some
mysterious way with the foliage about
them The roadway was transformed
into a pergola. Funny little railway
tracks, not more than four feet wide,
ran under boughs and led back
through narrow avenues of trees, their
tops interming[ing, to the dynamic
forces of war
Gas Warning Weird.
A weird note of alarm, such as
the scaly monster of the sea emitted
as he emerged from behind the cur
tain, and the forms along the roadside
quickly assumed the appearance of
gnomes. and hob goblins, as the men
put on gas masks.
1t proved false alarm, however,
and presently we went on to a village
into which our boys go to rest imme.
diately they come out of the trenches.
This village is mile from the front
line trench. A ravine that is just a
dry cash across the field connects the
village and trench. Down this we
went with haversacks filled with choc-
Olate bars and tobacco strapped to
our backs--seventy-t pounds in
each haversack.
Boys Glad to See Them.
On our arrival there was commo-
tion quickly stopped by sign from
the lieutenant. These boys had been
there seven days. They were out of
smokes and crazy for something
sweet. We passed along the trench,
the mouth of our bag open, and not
once did boy take more than his al
lotment. Not word was spoken
audibly, but volumes came from
grateful eyes. An occasional tap, tap,
on the shoulder by private was more
satisfying than would have been the
placement of the double bars or the
gold leaf in the same spot by the
commanding general.
The trench was dry and as COM
Portable as a trench may be. The
bombardment had stopped, and with
the exception of an occasional zip
of a bullet just over our heads, or
the thud of one that struck, there was
no enemy fire. We went into an eX-
cavation in the side of the trench with
a sergeant where we dumped what
was left in our two haversacks. The
sergeant told us there was tense
feeling among the boys of that COM
pany.. A few hours before Lieut.. A.
w. J. with squad of men had gone
on the daily round into trench that
led into No Mans Land.
He was in advance of his men and
had just reached the farthest end of
the trench when he was shot through
the body by a half dozen boches who
had stolen into the place. Immedi
ately the Germans threw a barrage
between the body of the lieutenant
and his men.
Then they threw a bomb on the
prostrate body Of the lieutenant, then
turned him over and shot him through
the forehead. After cutting off his
insignia that his regiment might be
they ran.
Boys Rescue Body.
Meanwhile the barrage had been
by our guns, and as the Ger
mans were endeavoring to make their
getaway, four of them were killed
by the lieutenant's men. They took
his body back and carried it to the
village. 1t was taken to a dugout and
later in the evening with a number
of his company, I visited the place.
The dugout was lined with wild flow
ers and they were piled high on the
bier A skillful undertaken had dress
ed the body, and the features of the
young lieutenant were beautiful in
the composure of the last sleep.
And here on this historical ground
over which Caesar fought his wars
with the Gauls, ravished by Attila,
redeemed with the blood of soldiers
under Napoleon and Blucher, this
young American hero was laid to
rest.
OF all the wars that have ravished
this fair land, the present was in
which our American boys are engaged
is the only one ever fought for free
dom. When the records of men who
have fallen on this field in this CEN
tury, and in the bloody centuries of
the past, are made up, the recording
angel may note this distinction.
Boys Have a Meeting.
When we returned to the village,
although the hour was late, the boys
we're waiting and insisted on a meet
ing. Some three hundred crowded
into trench foyer-and such a
An intimate, friendly, round
table discussion of the war, of home
affairs and home folk, Of the strange
environments surrounding us. Dur
ing the meeting sergeant came in
and announced that the men of Co.
B were to report at headquarters at
once.
About forty left we learned later
that suspicious circumstances had
arisen on the line and they were
sent to reinforce the men already
here. The men were as responsive
to a bit of humor as to the pathos sur
roars of laughter, to the latter by op-
the death of their loved lieu
to the first by
pressive stiffness. And how they
stood and cheered at the news receiv-
ed that day that there were practi-
cally one million Americans on French
soil and another million would land
in the next ten weeks.
Boys Seek Revenge.
A captain told me the boys were
opportunity for reprisal
,or the lieutenant's death. He stated
hey were enraged over the treatment
)f the body after death was certain,
md that it had been necessary to
give strict commands that no adven-
.ures be undertaken against the huns