Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-21


These three men were properly
trapped. and were driven TO take shell
ter in gun pit. which had been used
by German machine gun post There
tho Germans cut them off entirely and
they had no hope OF getting away.
However. they had plenty Of ammuni-
ton. and made up their minds TO sell
their lives dearly.
! The Germans tried rushing tactics
until they found that rushing Man
chester men wasn't healthy business
for Germans. SO they cased OF bit,
and next tried to get at the three chaps
with liquid fire. They succeeded in
projecting the liquid until they had
the fire close enough to make tho men
feel uncomfortabiy hot
Tho three men did their best 10 check
the spread Of tho liquid. but il vas
no good. and soon the position vas so
not that there was nothing to be done
bnt to mako tracks for home. When
the liquid fire was close on them. the
three brave chaps started TO run. The
enemy were waiting for that, and a
couple of machine guns, backed I'M nv
snipers opened on the mon. The one
who was behind was hit. His two
comrades turned back and caught, him
as he fell. They picked him uD and
started OF with him. The enemy came
after them cXultins'y, shooting all the
timc. The enemy were getting closer
and all seemed to be up with the trio
One OF them dropped behind. and with
rihc and bomb wardcd off the attacks
OF the enemy while tho other kept on
with the wounded man. Then the chap
VINO was covering the retirement fol-
lowed the other two. stopping now and
tn Il 80,
became too aggressive. In this way
they came almost in sight of safety.
but fate never intended they should
get through Tho Germans made a
final rush. All three were shot down.
Next morning VIC brought their bodies
IN. They worc brave chaps. all three
Yorkshire Relish Which Didn't Go Well.
The Germans fancy themselves as
Wis. After that scrap I found myself
mixed with the Yorkshrcs. The night
fell. and was not particularly anxious
TO lind my own platoon. And l was
not sure 70 certainty that they were
all living after what we all had gone
through. So settled down 70 bust
ness with the Yorkshircs.
Next day when the Fr!tzies onnosi,c
us discovered who we were. they
shouted all kinds Of things tia, arc
supposed to be funny When VIC got
into the line they keep. calling for
Yorkshire pudding. They got it sure
enough. and plenty of Yorkshire relish
with il. am afraid they didn't like
the relish part Of it,
Three nights afterwards we set out
to raid their trenches. Curiously
enough. Fritz had taken on a similar
job. and when We were well on the way
We heard suspicious movements. VIC
pulled up at bend in the road and
waited By and by the sounds be-
came more distinct, and then VIC saw
the Fritzics jogging along as mcrrily
as you please. We moved into posi-
ton and got ready TO cnflade them.
They came on, little suspectins what
was in store for them. We had our
Eihes and machine guns sighted for a
certain distance, and when the Ger
mans had got level with that point the
signal was given.
We fired. ana the head OF the at
lacking column seemed to jump into
the air.
They were taken completely by sur
prise, and the survivors fed in terror.
They were not quite out of their
troubles. While we were lying in
wait a machine-gun party had moved
along. and was ready TO catch the
OF the road. They got them fairly and
squarely. The Germans were panic
stricken. and could do nothing but turn
back. That didn't help them much.
for we were ready, and gave them an
other dose.
There wa. Battle.
! After that VIC pressed on and reached
the section OF trenches We were raid
ing. The Germans in them thought
we were their own successful raiders
returning. and they were ready to give
US an ovation. VIC soon let them see
that there was mistake somewhere.
We cleared the trenches of the
enemy, and had a rare old time blow
ing up dugouts Most of the dugouts
were deserted. but when we had gone
deeper we found Germans in hiding.
In one duSout we found big pot Of
the German STAFF. He was fast asleep.
and he knew how TO make himself
comfortable.
when he woke up he started to
swear. because he thought it was some
or his own men who had disturbed
his beauty sleep. When he rubbed
his eyes enough to realize the truth,
he wanted to rub them more in his
establishment at finding Yorkshire lads
in possession.
Meanwhile, was watching for a
chance TO return to my own company,
when We got orders to prepare for a
little scrap TO take possession of an
objective OF which Fritz was 10 be
deprived.
We made all necessary preparations.
and the warrant" for Fritzie's eject
ment was prepared according to the
accepted law OF the trenches
confess Goun,or
had the devils own job given us.
The position to be taken was de-
tended by forest OF machine guns,
ana ochind the machinc-gun positions
the enemy had massed their best
troops.
We attacked three times, but could
not prevail against the heavy fire which
assailed US.
Three companies of the battalion
were told to hold on in front, while
another company. supported by other
troops, tried to work round Fritz's