Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1918-04-12
CHAPTER w.


The next morning the draft was In
spected by our general. and we were
assigned to different companies. The
boys in the brigade had nicknamed
this general Old Pepper. and he cer-
tainly earned the sObriquet. ] was as
signed 10 Il company with another |
American named Stewart.
For the next ten days we rested"
repairing roads for the Frenehies. drill
ing, and digging bombing trenches.
One morning we were Informed that
we were going up the line, and our
march began.
II took Us three days TO reach re-
serve billets--each days march bring
Ing the sound Of the guns nearer and
nearer. At night, way on In the dis
tanee we could see their flashes. which
lighted up the sky with red glare.
Against the horizon we scould see
numerous observation balloons or "sau-
sages" as they are called.
On the afternoon OF the third days
march I witnessed my first airplane
UNtuk 5utltGus N run u1N
and ! gazed in awe. The airplane was
making wide circles In the air, while
little puffs Of white smoke were burst
ing all around II. These puffs appeared
like tiny balls Of cotton while after
each burst could be heard a dull
''plop." The sergeant of my platoon
Informed us that II was q German air.
plane and wondered how he could tell
from such a distance because the plane
seemed like a little black speck In the
sky. expressed my doubt as to
whether II was English, French or Ger
man. With look of contempt he fur
ther informed us that the allied anti
aircraft shells when exploding emitted
white smoke whiie tine German shells
gave forth black smoke, and, as he ex-
pressed 1t, ut must be an Allemand be-
cause our pom-poms are shelling, and
| know our batteries are not of their
bally nappers and are certainly not
strafeing our own planes, and another
piece Of advice-don't chuck your
weight about until you've been up the
line and learnt something"
Immediately quit "chucklng my
weight about" from that time on.
Just before reaching reserve blllets
we were marching along, laughing, and
singing one of Tommy's trench dltties :
I want to go home. want to go home,
don't want to go to the trenches no
more
Where sausages and whizz.bangs are ga
lore.
Take me over the sea, Where the Alls.
mand can't get at me,
oh. my, I don't want to die,
want to so home"
when overhead came "swish" through
the air, rapidly followed by three 9th
ers. Then about two hundred yards te
our left In a large Geld. four columns
OF black earth and smoke rose into the
air, and the ground trembled from the
lFeport--the explosion Of four German
five:nine's, or "coalboxes." A sharI
whistle blast, Immediately followed by
two short ones, rang out from the heat
Of our column. This was to take VI
ARTILLERY formation" We divided int
small squads and went into the field
on the right and left Of the road. ans
crouched on the ground. No othe
shells followed this salvo. 1t was on
:, first baptism by shell fire. From tn
waist up was all enthusiasm, but from
! there down. everything was missing.
thought should die with fright.
, After awhile. we reformed into col
umns Of fours, and proceeded on ou
, way.
/ About five that night, We reached th
ruined village Of H, and I got m
first sight Of the awful destructio
caused by German Kultur.
Marching down the main street W
came to the heart Of the village, an
. took up quarters in shellproof cellai
(shellproof until hit by shelly. Shell