Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1918-07-12

= K +
pany, led by their captain, the one who
had sent Lloyd to division headquar.
tiers for trial. charged with desertion,
had pushed steadily forward until they
found themselves far in advance of
the rest Of the attacking force. Bomb
ing OUT trench after trench, and using
their bayonets, they came to a German
communication trench, which ended in
blindsap, and then the captain, and
what was left of his men, knew they
were in a trap. They would not re-
tire. D company never retired, and
they were D company. Right in front
of 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 1t. 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 it would be all their own way.
Turning to his company, the captain
said: 3.
"NIen, it's case Of going West for
US. 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
every thrust home, and die like the
men Of D company should. When I
give the word. follow me. and I'D and
ut them. Give them b! Lord, If
we only had a machine gun, we could
wipe them out! Here they come, get
ready, men,"
=. Just as he finished speaking, the well
come ''pup-pup' of a 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 fled in wild rush back to
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
it battalion Of Scotch to reinforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
in the nick Of time.
With the re-enforcements 1t was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three of his noncOmmissioned
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 D
company for his magnificent deed.
They arrived at the gun, and an awful
sight met their eyes.
!. Lloyd ahade reached the front line
trench, after his company had left It. 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 and
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across mo 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 to the German front line,
but it was deserted, except for heaps
Of dead and wounded-a grim tribute
to the work Of his company, good old
D company. Leaping trenches, and
gasping for breath, Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company in a
dead-ended sap Of a communication
trench, and across the open, away in
front Of them, a mass Of Germans pre-
pairing for a charge. Why didn't D
company fire on them? Why were they
80 strangely silent? What were they
waiting for? Then he knew-their am
munition was exhausted.
But what was that on his right2 A
machine gun. Why didn't 1t open fire
and save them? He would make that
guns crew do 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
had decreed they would never fire
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp
ing the traversing handles, trained 1t
on the Germans. He pressed the thumb
piece, but only sharp click was the
result. The gun was unloaded. Then
he realized his helplessness. he did
not know how to load the gum. Oh,
why hadn't he-attended the machine
gun course in Englandf He'd been
offered the chance. but with blush Of