Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-08-07
A GLIMPSE OF ACTUAL
BATTLE EXPERIENCE
DURING SOMME Alta OK


Roy L. Stevens, who has seen service
with the Canadian forces in France
since the beginning of the war. We
publish few extracts which describe
very wildly the experiences in front
line trenches:
Early Morning Preparations.
The morning broke fine and clear.
Everybody was awake and cleaning up
before breakfast for we knew that we
were to go ever and would soon at
tack. Orders were given at 500 a. NJ.
for us to move over to our respective
positions in the front line, seven miles
away.
"As we arrived among the guns we
could see the artillerymen cleaning up
their pieces for tomorrow's drive
Everything was quiet just then as they
were giving us chance to get through
ARRIVING at the chalk pits, where
we were to stay until it was time to
move into the front line, we rested in
an abandoned trench. Old Fritz was
putting over shell about every five
minutes but it always fell short and
no one took any notice Of it. At 30
we moved for the front line about a
mile away. We arrived at our OBJ
jective at noon and settled down for
the remainder Of the day and the night
following. Our guns had already start
ed their work on the German trenches
400 yards away.
Dug Himself In. -..-~
Fritz was also trying to- do what
damage he could. His shells were
bursting quite regularly. while every
few minutes the signal s. B. would be
passed along the line, which meant rest
and blighty for some lucky chaps. -
II found a good shell hole, dug
shelter and prepared myself for little
sleep First, however. I went around
and bid all my friends goodbye. On
returning to my shelter I found my
partner with his lunch kit out He
said that if he was going to die he
might as we'll do so on full stomach.
I thought so too and followed suit
When we had finished it was about
$50 o'clock and feeling sleepy, we
wrapped our coats about us and took
a nap. I woke up hearing the order
coming along the line, Get ready, as
we so over at 800 I looked at my
watch and saw that is was then 6 1T.
Germans Indicate Distress.
Nov our artillery opened with the
heaviest barrage fire we had witnessed
up to this time. We could see the Ger
mans sending up distress signals and
knew they were in bad way Orders
were given to advance 100 yards every
three minutes. This would keep us
under our barrage and furnish cover
about half way oyer.
AT 20 we went over. The first
hundred yards we covered quickly and
the enemy did not see us. and no won
der, as their trenches were >slnothered
in the smoke Of our bursting Shells I
stopped to look around, and what a
sight! l could see for mile on each
side of me and to the right and left
long lines Of men We're advancing as
steady as if they were on dress parade.
Seen by the Enemy. 49,
eve advanced in this manner for
about so yards. But now the Huns had
caught sight of us and their artillery
started work All along the line you
could see men stop, throw up their
hands and go down. Our barrage fire
lifted and the Huns swarmed out of
their dugouts with a rush. 1t was GER
tainly hell. We had POO yards to go
and the men were falling thick. 1t
seemed to me impossible to go without
being hit
II jumped into big shell hole about
20 yards from the German strong point
that seemed full Of men who were put
ting up a desperate fight Looking
around 1 found myself with an officer
and three men Of the .31st battalion.
Our three lines of men had evidently
been wiped out and we had reached
thus far through sheer luck. ]gNow my
long training as shipper: came in
handy. l started to pick off the Huns
at close range, firing for all I was
worth, but taking good aim. ioIt seemed
to be having good when one of my COM
panions was shot through the head and
another through the heart, which left
the officer and one man beside myself.
asked the private, who had been
wounded and could only move his arms,
to load the rifles as fast as 1 emptied
them. At this point the Germans To-
Gated me and the next thing I knew 1
was lying in the bottom of the shell
hole with a big cash in my helmet
Then hearing the officer asking how I
was fixed for cartridges and finding
that had plenty I passed the surplus
to him and proceeded to get busy again.
After firing about 20 rounds they hit
me again, this time in the shoulder.
Now I could no longer beat Fritz to the
first shot, which had saved me so long
and after firing a few more rounds I
felt myself going again, my steel he'll
met at the same time flying through
the air. A bullet had passed through
it wounding me in the head.
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