The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-07-13
CHAPTER v.

Not far from Sommery, the French
rear guard stopped again -Four bat.
terles az our artillery were brought
into position and our company, along
with machine guns. were ordered 10
protect the artillery. The artillery OF.
fcers did not think this sufficient pro-
lection because the airplanes had dis
covered the presence Of strong French
cavalry detachments and cavalry at
tack was suspected However,
stronger guard could not be provided
and there was nothing to be done but
take our position and make the best
OF the situation We dug ourselves In
TO the right and left Of the batteries.
IN field OF small pine trees. The ma
chine guns were set up and supplied
with ammunition. We were then given
instructions as 10 what TO do IN the
event Of 9 cavalry attack. An old
major OF Infantry. with white hair.
took command. Our unit WAS placed
with the Infantry. but our brave o..
tioers disappeared suddenly. To them
tie defense OF the fatherlani was the
business OF a private. Since We had
been assigned TO assist infantry. our
officers considered themselves super
nuous and took Frcr~h leave.
THIS state Of affairs affects only
pioneer" officers who. when their
units are attached TO infantry or chas-
seur divisions. scarcely ever take part
IN a battle. This was the case with
our officers during my whole war ca.
reer. They remained far away from
the gunfire I'm comfortable security.
This Is also the case with many in-
fantry captains and almost all higher
officers Majors. colonies. etc. never
take part in a stosming attack. was
told, and several times / observed this
myself.
Our Instructions were as follows: In /
the event OF cavalry attack. every |
thing must be quiet. The gun must I
be pointed cut hidden The machine f
gun must not be fred until the major 4
IN command gives the order. Then 4
there must be lively. quick fire. our
batteries fired violently at a biplane
flying high over them which gave sig.
nails with star shells which were read
only by the observer.
But the expected attack did not
come. the enemy's infantry was not 10
be seen. We prepared 10 resume our
march and were all ready 20 move
when the order came TO blvou4c. The
SPOT where we were 70 rest was as
usual fixed by the staff 50 that they
knew where TO hnd Us az any time.
Hardly had we reached tie place when
our field kitchen. which We supposed
had been lost. appeared as II Il had
come out Of the ground. Those In
charge OF the field kitchen had re-
ceiyed no knowledge Of our losses OF
the last few days and had cooked fer
the old number. They were greatly
surprised on seeing instead of a brave
company OF strong pioneers" a lot
of ragged. exhausted. crushed human
shadows We were given soup. bread.
neat, APPLES and every ore received
cigarette. which was more welcome 70
most Of Us than food and drink.
The next morning we slept Until six
''ciocs and even though we were lying
IN the bare ground It was very hard
o wake Us Breakfast was excellent.
( consisted os mutton which had been
equisiticaed. vegetables. bread. coffee.
goblet Of wine. and ham. Our CAP
ain told US 10 eat all we could as we
iad hard days march before Us
We resumed our march ct seven
fclock Everybody wss In high spirits
nd in the course q our conversations
became apparent that we had lost
rack Of the tine entirely. Nobody
new whether II was Monday or
Wednesday or whether Il was the afth
Z tenth Of the month This condition
ecane more and more general Sol
iers never know the day OF the week:
ne Is Just Ike another, SATURDAY.
unday or Thursday.
We stopped 70 rest AZ noon oa a
lrre farm but were obliged TO wait !.
the rain for the 1eid kitchens. Mean !
hIle we helped ourselves We sho:
ne of the cows grazing IN the meadow.
u c1en the hide without bothe-inr 20
ratn the blood from the czrcass. Then :
Ferybody cut On piece Of neat. SIN
arm which was fried In a Dot cover ?
eaten raw with a little salt ~ q
-eat many Of the soldiers This KIN
g Of cattle vas repeated almost daily
: tie soldiers acting without orders :
On their superiors. As q Consequence q
- an zot stomach tro1ble from eat Q