Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-08-30

a communication trench Joined the
front line a Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on II. One Of the hands. point
Ing to the German lines. read. TO Ber-
lin the one pointing down the com.
munication trench read. TO Blighty.'
while the other said. Suicide Ditch.
Change Here for Stretchers.'
Farther down from this guide post
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge of this orchard our bat
terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
scrvatiOn post. The trees screened it
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. II wasn't cushy like ours.
no timber or concrete re-enfOrcements.
just walls of sandbags. From 1t a
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. 1t was Il hot corner.
shells plunking all around. and the
bullets cutting leaves off the trees.
Many time when relieving the sig
mailer at the phone. had to crawl on
nv belly like u worm To keep from
being hit.
ut was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use it was. Just
observe all day. but never a message
back for our battery to open up. You
see. at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not TO fire a shell.
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me. II
anyone disobeyed that command, our
general-yes, it was Old Pepper
would have concentrated the whole
exprditionary force. Nobody went out
OF their way to disobey Old Pepper In
those days, because he couldn't be
called a parsOn; he was more like a
pirate. II ut any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call.
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old firebrand.
IF company or battalion should
give way a few yards against a su-
perior force Of Boches. Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off
Ger. In about half an hour the officer
would come back with his face the
color Of a brick, and in few hours
what was left of his command would
be holding their original position.
IL have seen an officer who wouldn't
say d--n for a thousand quid spend
five minutes with the old hoy. and
when he returned the flow of language
from his lips would make a navy
blush for shame
what l am going to tell you Is how
two of us put it over on the old scamp.
and got away with it. 1t was risky
thing. too. because Old Pepper wouldn't
have been exactly mild with us if he
had got next to the game.
"Me and my mate, lad named Har-
nv Cassell, a bOmbardier in d 23S bat
terry, or lance corporal, as you call 1t
in the infantry, used to relieve the
telephonists. We would do two hours
on and four off. would be on DUTY
in the advanced observation post.
while he would be at the other end of
the wire in the battery dugOut signal
ing station. We were supposed to send
! through orders for the battery to fire
when ordered to do so by the Observa-
ton officer in the advanced post. But
very few messages were sent. 1t was
only in case of an actual attack that
we would get chance to earn our
two and six a day. You see, Old Pep
per had issued orders net to fire ex-
| cept when the orders came from him.
And with Old Pepper orders is orders,
and made to obey.
THE Germans must have known
about these orders. for even in the day
their transports and troops used TO
expose themselves as If they were on
parade. This sure got up our nose,
sitting there day after day, with fine