Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-05-30
OVID TIT TOP
81
AN AMERICAN S0IDITR
WHO WENT q 4
AQlf1Ul GUY EfIpEY
fACHINF. GUNNER ,JERYINGN FRANCE
| @I97 BY I
lARIhuR elY EnpfYl

/
knew he was too late. His company
had gone over. But still he ran madly
He would catch them. He would di,
with them.
Meanwhile his company had gone
"over." They, with the other com
panies had taken the first and second
German trenches, and had pushed
steadily on to the third line. D com
pany, led by their captain, the one who
had sent Lloyd to division headouar
tiers for trial, charged with desertion
had pushed steadily forward until they
found themselves far in advance of
the rest of the attacking force Bomb.
ing out" trench after trench, and USING
their bayonets, they came to q German
communication trench, which ended in
q blindsap, and then the captain, and
what was left of his men, knew they
were in n trap. They would not re.
tire. ID company never retired. and
they were D company. Right in front
of them they could see hundreds Of
Germans preparing to rush them with
bomb and bayonet. They would have
some chance If ammunition and bombs
could reach them from the rear Their
supply was exhausted, and the men
realized it would be a case of dying
as bravely as possible, or making a run
for it. But d company would not
run. 1t was against their traditions
and principles.
The Germans would have to advance
across an open space of three to four
hundred yards before they could get
within bombing distance of the trench,
and then it would be all their own way.
Turning to his company, the captain
said:
"Men, it's a case of going West for
us. We are out of ammunition and
bombs, and the BOches have US in
trap. They will bomb us out. Our
bayonets are useless here. We will
have to go over and meet them, and
it's case of thirty to one, so send
every thrust home, and die like the
men Of D company should. When I
give the word, follow me, and up and
at them. Give them HI Lord, If
we only had a machine gun. we could
wipe them out Here they come, get
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking the well
come "pup-pup' of a machine gun in
their rear rang out and the front line
Of the onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, but once
again came rushing onward. Down
went their second line. The machine
gun was taking an awful toll Of lives.
Then again they tried to advance, but
the machine gun moved them down.
Dropping their rifles and bombs, they
broke and fled in a wild rush back to |
their trench, amid the cheers Of ID" /
company. They were forming again |
'or another attempt, when in the rear
If d company came a mighty cheer. |
The ammunition had arrived and with
t a battalion of Scotch to REINFORCE |
hem. They were saved. The unknown |
machine gunner had come to the rescue
n the nick of time.
With the re-enfOrcements it was an
Easy task to take the third German
inc.
After the attack was over, the cap
ain and three of his noncOmmissioned +
ulcers, wendell their way back to the
position where the machine gun had
lone its deadly work. He wanted to
hank the gunner in the name OF u
company for his magnificent deed.
They arrived at the gun, and an awful
light met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front line J
rench. after his company had left it. a
TRANCE company was nimbly crawling
10 the trench ladders. They were re-
going over. They were
,cotties, and they made a magnificent
light in their brightly cOlored kits ana
are knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
cross mo Mans Land" unheeding the
ain of bullets, leaping over dark forms
n the ground, some of which lay stiii'
yhile others called out to him as ne
peeded past.
He came to the German front line'
ut It was deserted, except for heaps
f dead and wounded-a grim trlputc
, the work of his company, good oio
company. Leaping trenches, ana
asning for breath, Lloyd could see
ght ahead of him his company In q
ead-ended sap Of a communication
.ench. and across the open, away IN
ont of them, a mass of Germans pre-
airing for a charge. Why didn't u
,mpany fire on them? Why were they
, strangely silent? What were they
aiting for? Then he knew-thelr am
lunition was exhausted.
Rut what was that on his right4 a
,acbine gun. Why didn't 1t open nrer
nd save them? He would make thai
ms crew do their duty. Rushing
YER TO the gun he saw why it had moi
nened fire. Scattered around its base
~ six still forms. They had broughl
,eir gun to consolidate the captured
,sition. but a German machine gun
ad decreed they would never nre
rrofn