The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-02-27
BY Sergeant Arthur Guy Empey

The driver Of the ambulance was 2
corporal Of the r. A. NJ. c., and he
had the "wind up that is, he had aI
aversion to being under fire.
was riding on the seat with hin
while Atwell was sitting In the ambu
lance, with his legs hanging out of tn,
back.
As we passed through shell-de
Stroyed village mounted military DO
liceman stopped us and informed the
driver to be very careful when We got
Slt on the open road, as it was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit of Shplling It.
The corpora asked the trooper if there
was any other way around, and was
Informed that there was not. Upon
THIS he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back, but we insisted that he pro.
cced and explained TO- him that he
would get into serious trouble with hi,
commanding officer if he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
not walk.
From his conversation we learned
That he had recently come from Eng
land with q draft and had never been
under fire, hence his Nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger ana he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we at last turned into the open
road We were not so confident. On
each side there had been line Of
trees but now all that was left OF
them were torn ana battered stumps.
The fields on each side of the road
We're dotted with recent shell holes,
ana we passed several in the road ill.,
self. We had gone about half a mile
when a shell came whistling through
the air and burst in Il field about three
hundred yards TO our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge of the road about four hun.
dred yards in front Of us.
| told the driver to throw In his
speed clutch, as we must be in sight
of the Germans l knew the signs;
that battery was ranging for US. and
the quicker we got out Of its zone Of
fire the better. The driver was trcm.
bling like Il leaf, and every minute |
expected him to pile us up in the ditch
| preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life, and was sing
ing at the top of his voice:
We beat you at the Marne.
We beat you at the Aisne,
We gave you he'll at Neuye Chapelle
And here we are again.
just then we hit small Shell hole
and nearly capslzcd. Upon a loud
Ncll from the rear looked behind, and
there was Atwel sitting in the middle
of the road, shaking his fist at us. His
equipment, which he had taken off
upon getting into the ambulance, was
strung out on the ground, and his rifle
was in the ditch.
| shouted to the driver to stop, and
IN his nervousness he put on the
brakes We nearly pitched out head
first But the applying of those brakes
saved our lives. The next instant
there was a binding flash and a deaf
ening report. All that | remember is
that was flying through the air, and
wondering if | would land in soft
spot. Then the lights went out.
When | came to, Atwell was pouring
water on my head out of his bottle
On the other side of the road the coR,
poral was sitting, rubbing a lump on
his forehead with his left hand, while
his right arm was bound up in a blood
soaked bandage. He was moaning
very loudly. ] had an awful headache
and the skin on the left side of my
face was full of gravel and the blood
was tricbIing from my nose.
But that ambulance was turned over
in the ditch and was perforated Will
holes from fragments of the shell. One
of the front wheels was slowly revOlv
ing SO | could not have been "out' for
Il long period,
The shells were still screaming over
head, but the battery had raised its
fire and they were bursting In little
wood about half a mile from us.
AtWeIl spoke up. 81 wish that Off
Ger hadn't wished us the best O luck.
Thcn he commenced swearing. II
couldn't help laughing though my
head was nigh to bursting.
Slowly rising TO my feet | felt myself
all over to make sure that there were
no broken bones But outside of few
bruises and scratches | was all right
The corporal was still moaning, but
more from shock than pain. A shell
splinter had gone through the flesh Of
his right forearm. Atwcll and |, from
our lirSt-aid pouches, put a touniquet
IN bis arm to stop the bleeding and |
then gathered up our equipment.
We realized that we were in dan
gcrous spot. At any minute a shell
might drop on the road and finish us
'tf The village we had left was not
very far so we told the corporal he |
lad better 60 back to it and get his
lrm dressed, and then report the fact
If the destruction of the ambulance tc
he military police. He WaS we'll ahIe
% walk, so he set off in the direction
If the village while Atwell and | con.
inucd our way on foot.
Without further miShap we arrived
It our destination, and reported to bri.
ado headquarters for rations and bill,
cts.
That night We Slept in the battalion
crgeant majors dugout. The next