Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-11-21
Ex-Cunner and Chief Petty Ofacet.U
Member Of the FOREIGN Lesion OF
Nh N George Matthew Adams eervies


volunteers for trench duty. ! was not
very keen about going. because l hao J
been In trenches at Dixmude. and l
knew how pleasant they were-no1
but I volunteered. and so did Murray. !
We went ashore In U boats under a
heavy fire. There were II men killed
in the lifeboat in which ! was. ! es-
capped without a scratch. II
We were mustered up on shore ana
volunteers were called for, for sentry
duty. Murray volunteered. II he had
| only gone on with the rest OF Us ne
might have come through. After
short wait we were given the order to
advance. The firing became heavier
about this time, SO we went at the
double. We had not got very FAR De-
fore we had q fine little surprise party
handed us. !
The front line was running over
what appeared to be good, solid
ground, when they broke through and
fell into trenches 80 to 40 feet deep.
These trenches had been dug, covered
over with A-inch boards and then
with dirt, and were regular man-traps.
Sharp stakes were sticking out Of the
parapet and parados, and at the bot
tom were more stakes and rocks and
barbed wire.
We were advancing with bayonets
fixed and arms at the carry, so when
the first line fell, and some Of the
second, the boys Of the third line came
running up, and In the scramble that
) followed many Of the chaps In the
. first few lines we're bayoneted by their
t comrades. I was In the third line, but
!, I was lucky enough to pull up in time
and did not fall in. You could not look
|, down into that trench after you a
seen it once, 1t was too sickening.
Our casualties were sent back to the
ship. One boat was sunk by a shell
d and all the men lost.
i. We remained where We were,
scratching out shallow trenches for
n ourselves, finding what natural cover
there was and otherwise getting ready
n for the night, which was near. 1t
began to rain and we could hardly
h keep any fires going, because we had
It to shelter them from tie shore side. SO
h the enemy could not spot us. and the
X wind was from the sea. 1t was certain
lily miserable that night.
ar Every once in a while we woult
ar stand by to repel an attack, whether l
II. was a real one or not, and we wer'
under fire all the time. It seemed a
r. II morning would never come. TIL
If sand was full Of ~leas-great big boy
ng and they were as bad as an,
re coolies I had ever had at Dixmude
OK The morning came ut last, and
lie was detailed with a fatigue part
to the beach where we had lande
ne stores. When we got down to tn
ne. docks I missed Murray and aske
len where he was. They eaid he had bee
he missing from his post not more tina
,as an hour from the time we left.
q I left my fatigue party, withor
we orders, and Joined In the hunt Il
i'm. Murray. There were men searchin
all along the docks and on the shol
eek to each side. Finally I say a bunt
md Of men collect around a storehoui
Iur- OF the farther end Of the docks on Il
shore side. I ran up to them.
tide There was poor old Murray. Tn
hey were just taking him down. He hi
ind been crucifed against the wall Of Il
tier s%torehouse. There was q bayon
ame through each arm, n through ca
and foot and one through his stomat
but One Of the garbies tainted when
IAN. had to pull one Of the bayonets o
They had hacked of his right ha
at the wrist and taken his identi6'
ton disc. I lay this to the Germ
officers more than the Turks.
IN do not know Just what I did at
this, But It changed me all arou
and I was not like my usual self d
ing the rest Of the time.
It was still nining when we star
ON our way to the front line. ALI
the road were numbers Of to'
scofing and among them Indian tro
IN sentry Uutys Auey AoVnSo SAM
bunch Of frozen turnips, cool and
comfortable. We were close enough
make the roar Of the c~annonad
seem intolerably loud and could
the bursting shells, particularly th
fro~1 the British ships.
-. Then we came across some Turl
'N| prisoners who were sheltering In
old barn, I guess It was, and
stopped for shelter and rest. 7
told us that their troops were \
tired from long fighting. but that I
- had plenty Of men. They said a co,
a. Of shells had dropped about q
eked. dred yards from the barn just be
~ we came, 10 we knew the bate
~ were trying to get U range and
hat I did not stay any longer, but ,
edded away from there and on q road.
) like About 500 yards farther on we Z
them, to ruins. and when We went n
while we found 30 or 60 Of our boys COO
and sleeping and not giving q tho