The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-23

among US, and after waiting there for
three hours, expecting to be blown to
bits any second, we finally moved for
ward. Just as we left the copse, from
behind US, up over a ridge, came a
stream of galloping horses.
'It's the cavalry" someone shouted,
but soon made out limbers and field
guns.
They galloped past US, going ike
mad, took up position to our right.
swung into position, numbered. and
in two minutes were blazing away. It
was thrilling sight.
Torn by Shells
In going forward we went around
the end of the larger wood in front of
US, over ground that was torn to bits
by the heavy shell fire that had just
preceded, over another edge, across a
valley, and under the crest of a hill.
And here we found the tanks going
over the top Of the hill to take up
their position. At this point we were
still about mile from the front line.
at this place opened up an aid post
under the crest of the hill to take care
Of what wounded came in while we
were getting into position. I looked
back across the valley we had just
traversed.
Shrapnel was bursting in the air,
shells were whizzing overhead, and our
guns behind me were belching forth
the fire. The noise was deafening.
A railroad ran through the valley
and an engine pulling couple of fat
cars was going by. a couple Of sol
diers were sitting on the rear truck
swinging their feet. A shell burst on
the track and only missed the last car
about fifteen yards. Neither man was
hit and the train went blithely on.
By this time it was getting along
toward evening, the sun was sinking
in the west, and finally went down a
great ball of fire. At the time, re-
member. I noticed its color. 1t was
blood red and had sinister look. Was
it my imagination, or might it have
been a premonition? At any rate,
shall never forget the color of the sun
as it set that night at the end of the
first day of probably one of the great
est battles in history. 1t certainly
didn't look good to me.
The drumming of the guns contin-
night, the signalers stopped their wig
wagging and took up their flash sig
nails, a fog dropped down on Us and
put the lights out of business, and
when we left to go forward under the
| cover of darkness they were busy put
ting out their telephone lines-signal
| ers and runners don't have an easy
| time.
Shell Dump Goes Up.
Behind us shell landed in an am
munitiOn dump and it went up with
roar; then the rife ammunition started
| going off like a great bunch Of fire
crackers, and great tongues of flame
lit up the sky.
It is reported that the Germans had
broken through our line and we were
| to cOunter-attack in the morning. We
| got into positions without a single
| casualty. I opened an aid post in an
old dugout and settled down to sleep
until morning. You may think it fun
ny that one could sleep under such
conditions, but 1 had been up since
5 80, had tramped about six or seven
miles, had had q rather trying day
| and was dog tired.
| floor and was soon asleep. 1 must
have been asleep a couple of hours
when a runner came from headQuar-
tiers and told US we were to move off
Immediately. I looked at my watch and
it was 1 80 a. N. on the second day.
We went back to the railroad, fol-
| lowed it around TO a position some six
miles to the north Of US. landing there
about 4 in the morning and Topped
down on the floor of some abandoned
huts to wait further orders. Our or
| ders came along about 9 o'clock. We
marched up across the open prairie,
the sun shining, and it was really hot.
Just like some of the warm days we
get the last of March at home. In
| going forward it was necessary
| for US to march seventy-five yards in
front of three batteries of field guns.
| There are six guns to battery. They
shoot an eighteen-pOund shell and
while we were there each gun was
shooting twice to the minute. You
| can imagine the racket when I tell
you that the discharge of one gun can
| be heard about four miles. In addi-
ton the Boche was trying to knock
out this battery and he was dropping
his six inch shells little too close for
comfort.
Nearly In Trap.
Then / made a lovely mistake.
| was to establish an aid post near bat
talon headquarters and went blithely
on when met a company commander
| and asked him where TO go.
Back there about quarter Of a
mile" he replied. 'aThis is the front
center company. If you keep on In
the direction you are going you are
| going up over that ridge and Fritz will
be waiting for you with a machine
| gun"
So my sergeant and orderly and
myself didn't waste any time In clear
| ing. On the way back found gallon
can full Of water, got into a corrugated
| iron shelter and had a wash and
shave. 1t certainly felt good. 1 don't
| believe I had washed for thirty-six
I Ix-r!tor in fbo form IF hobs tt moons