Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-08-23


Just as he finished speaking, the wei.
some 'pup.pup' OF a machine gun In
their reur rang out and the front line
OF the oAruShing Germans seemed 10
melt away. They wayered, but once
again came rushing onward Down
went their second line. The machine
gun was taking an awful toll OF lives.
Then again they tried to advance, but
the machine gun moved them down.
Dropping their rifles and bombs. they
broke and fled In n wild rush back 10
their trench, amid the cheers Of 3D.
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when In the rear
OF d company came a mighty cheer,
The ammunition had arrived and with
II battalion OF Scotch to re-enforce
them They We're saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come TO the rescue
In the nick OF time.
With the re-enforcemcnts II was an
easy task TO take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap.
tain and three Of his nOncOmmlsSloned
officers, wendell their way back TO the
position where the machine gun had
done Its deadly work. He wanted to
thank the gunner In the name Of y
company for his magnificent deed
They arrived at the gun aud an awful
sight met their eyes
Lloyd had reached the front line
trench. after his company had left II. A
strange company was nimbly crawling
up the trench ladders. They were re-
endorsements going over They were
scotties and they made magnificent
sight In their brightly colored kits aud
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across NO Mans Land" unheeding the
rain Of bullets, leaping over dark forms
on the ground, some OF which lay still,
while others called out to him as he
speeded past.
He came 10 the German front line
but II was deserted, except for henps
OF dead and wounded-a grim tribute
TO the work OF his company, good old
d company Leapng trenches. and
gasping for breath, Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company in a
dead-ended sap o. communication
trench and across the open, away In
front Of them, a mass OF Germans pre-.
pairing for charge Why didn't u
company fire on them? Why were they
so strangely silentl What were they
waiting for? Then Ne knew--their am.
munltion was exhausted.
But what was that on his right? A
machine gun. Why didn't 1t open fire
and save them? He would make that
guns crew 10 their duty. Rushing
over TO the gun he saw why It had not
opened fire Scattered around its base
lay six still forms. They had brought
their gun TO consolidate the captured
position, but German machine gun
bad decreed they would never fire
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and grasp.
Ing the trayerSing handles, trained II
on the Germans. He pressed the thumb
piece, but only sharp click was the
result. The gun was un.oaded Then
he realized his helplesSneSs. He did
not know how TO load the gun. oh
why hadn't he attended the machine
gun course In England? He'd been
offered the chance. but with blush OF
shame he remembered that he had been
afraid. The nickname of the machine
gunners had frightened him They
were called the suicide club Now
because of this fear, his company
would be destroyed, the men Of u com
pAny wo'ld have to die because he
Albert Lloyd had been afraid of 4
name. N his shame he cried like 1
baby. Al yway he could die with then
and, rising to his feet, he stumbled
over the body of one Of the gunners
who emitted faint moan. A CLEAN
OF hope flushed through him. Perhaps
this man could tell him how to loaC
he gun. STOPPING over the body h,
gently shcok 1t and the soldier opene,
his eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he closet
them again and, in faint voice. said