The Washington herald., 1918-03-06
CHAPTER XIV
The Firing Squad.

The Firing squad.
A few days later had orders to re-
pert back to divisional headquarters,
about thirty xilos behind the line. 1
reported to the A. P. NJ. assistant pro-
vost marshaD. He told me to report
to billet No. Is for quarters and ra-
tons.
1t was about s o'clock at night and
was tired and soon fell asleep in
the straw Of the billet. 1t was q mis-
Ely rain was falling.
About in the morning was awak-
ened by someone shaking me by the
shoulder. Opening my eyes I saw a
remigental sergeant-major bending
in his right hand. I started to ask
put his finger to his lips for silence
and whispered:
Get on your equipment, and, with
out any noise, come with me-"
This greatly mystified me, but
Obeyed his order.
Outside of the billet, 1 asked him
what was up, but he shut me up with:
Don't ask any questions, it's against
orders 1 don't know myself"
II was raining like the mischief.
We splashed along a muddy road
for about fifteen minutes, finally stop
ping at the entrance of what must
have been an old barn. In the dark
ness, 1 could hear pigs grunting, as
If they had just been disturbed. In
front Of the door stood an officer in a
mock (mackintosh). The R. S. NJ.
went up to him, whispered something
and then left. This officer called TO
me, asked my name, unmber and regi-
ment, at the same time, in the light
Of a lantern he was holding, making
a notation in a little book.
When he had finished writing, he
whispered:
60 into the billet and wait orders,
and no talking. Understand"
l stumbled into the barn and sat on
the floor in the darkness. 1 could
see no one, but could hear men breath
ing and moving; they seemed nervous
and restless. / know I was.
During my wait. three other men
entered. Then the officer poked his
head in the door and ordered:
Fall in, outside the billet, in single
rank"
We fell in, standing at ease. Then
he commanded.
"Squad-'shunI Number
There were twelve Of US.
''Right-Turn! Left-Wheel! Quick
March," And away We went. The
rain was trickling down my back and
was shivering from the cold.
With the officer leading, We must
have marched over an hour, plowing
through the mud and occasionally
stumbling into a shell hole In the road.
when suddenly the oficsr made a left
wheel, and We found ourselves in a
sort Of enclosed courtyard.
The dawn was breaking and the rain
had ceased.
In front Of US were four stacks of
rifles, three to stack.
The offieer brought US to attention
and gave the order to unpiIe arms.
We each took a rife. Giving US
stand at ease" In a nervous and
shaky voice, he informed:
Men. you are here on a very solemn
duty. You have been selected as a
firing squad for the execution of a
soldier, who. having been found guilty
OF grieyous crime against King and
country, has been regularly and duly
tried and sentenced to be shot at s:2S
q. m this date. This sentence has
been approved by the reviewing au-
thoritiy and ordered carried out. 1t
is our duty to carry on with the SEN
tence Of the court.
There are twelve rifles, one of
which contains blank cartridge, the
other eleven containing ball cartridges,
Every man d expected to do his duty
and IRE to kill. Take your orders
from me squad-'Shuni"
We came TO attention Then he left.
Ny heart was Of lead and my knees
shook, After standing at sAttention"
for what seemed 4 week, though In
reality II could not have been over five
minutes, we heard a low Whispering In
our rear and footsteps on the stone
tagging Of the courtyard.
Our ofiieer reappeared and In a low,
but arm voice. ordered:
"About-Turni''
We turned about. In the gray light