The Robesonian., 1918-09-23
"Over the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Cooyright, 1917. BY Arthur Guy hmpeJI
Gunner Seroing In france

-Nooyrignt, 1911. By Arthur Guy HmDeJ,
we're In trap. Iney wUG.C n"- -
ire. d company never retired, and
-hey were D company. Right in front
If them they could see hundreds Of
Germans preparing to rush them with
bomb and bayOnet. They would have
some chance If ammunition and bombs
could reach them from the rear. Their
supply was exhausted, and the men
realized it would be case of dying
as bravely as possible, or making run
for it. But d company would not
run. It was against their traditions
and principles.
The Germans would have to advance
across an open space Of three to four
hundred yards before they could get
within bombing distance of the trench,
and then ii would be all their own way
Turning to his company, the captain
said:
"Men, it's a case Of going West for |
MS. We are out of ammunition and !
bombs, and the Boches have us in a |
trap. They will bomb us out. Our
bayonets are useless here. We will
have to go over and meet them, and
It's case Of thirty to one, so send
every thrust home, and die like the
men Of D company should. When l
give the word, follow me, and up and
at tnem. Give them b! Lord, II
we only had machine gun, we could
wipe them out! Here they come, get
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking, tho well
come 'pup-pup' of machine gun In
their rear rang out, and the front line
of the onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, 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 fed In wild rush back to
their trench, amid the cheers Of ID"
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when In the rear
of ID company came mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
1t battalion Of Scotch to re-enforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
In the nick of time.
With the re-enfOrcements it was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three of his noncommissioneC
officers, wended their way back to thu
position where the machine gun ha(
done Its deadly work. He wanted tt
thank the gunner in the name of Z
company for his magnificent deed
They arrived at the gun, and an awfu
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front lin,
trench. after his company had left 1t. 4
strange company was nimbly crawlin
up the trench ladders. They were re
endorsements going over. They wer
Scotties, and they made a magnifcen
sight in their brightly colored kits an
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd race
across mo Mans Land" unheeding tn
rain OF bullets, leaping over dark form
on the ground, some Of which lay still
while others called out to him as h
speeded past.
He came to the German front lin,
but it was deserted, except for heap
of dead and wounded-a grim tribut
to the work of his company, good oil
d company. Leaping trenches, an
gasping for breath, Lloyd could Sc
right ahead of him his company in
dead-ended sap of communicable
trench, and across the open, away i
front of them, mass of Germans pr
pairing for charge. Why didn't
company fire on them? Why were the
SO strangely silent? What were the
waiting for? Then he knew-their an
munition was exhausted.
But what was that on his right?
machine gun. Why didn't it open q,
and save them? He would make tn,
guns crew do their duty. Rushlr
over to the gun he saw why it had n,
opened fire. Scattered around It's ba!
lay six still forms. They had broug]
their gun to consolidate the capture
position, but German machine g,
had decreed they would never fy
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and. gras
Ing the traversing handles, trained
on the Germans. He pressed the thun
piece, but only sharp click was Il
result. The gun was unloaded. TIL,
ne realized his helplessness. He d
not l.low how to load the gun. o
.Thy hadn't he attended the machin
l;gaI e"arse in England? He'd be,
Offered the chance, but with blush
s;la'nG Sss tssaasssahege,l that he had be-
,'ah'afd, The nictaaiie of the machi
Hun.ers had frightened him. TIL
were called the "Suicide club" No
because Of this fear, his compal
would be destroyed, the men Of D co
pany would have to die, because
AIbart lovd bod haop ofroi6 re