The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-07-26


and painless death 1t woaId have beea
more 10 the point.
When we had read our instructions
We knew we were In for 1t good and
plenty.
What Atweii said Is rot at for pub
licatIcn, but strongly seconded his
opinion Of the war, army and divisional
headquarters In general.
After bit our spirits rose. We were
fuli-nedged spy-catchers. because our
instructions and orders, said 80.
We immediately reported to the
nearest French estamInet and had sew.
eral glasses Of muddy water, which
they called beer. After drinking our
beer we left the estaminet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got In. The driver was going to the
part Of the line where we had to re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived a
ride Ia that ambulance was Inexplica-
Bile to me. 1t was worse than riding on
q gun carriage over rock road.
The driver OF the ambulance was a
corporal Of the X. A. NJ g., and he
had the wind up" that is. he had an
aversion 10 being under Are.
was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting In the ambu.
lance. with his legs hanging out OF the
back.
AS we passed through shell-de.
stroyed village mounted military po-
lceman stopped us and informed the
driver to be very careful when we got
out on the open road. as 1t was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit OF Smelling 1t.
The corporal asked the trooper IL there
was any other way around, and was
Informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back, but we insisted that he pro.
coed and explained to him that he
would get Into serious trouble with his
commanding officer IL he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
not walk.
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land With a draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger, and he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we ut last turned into the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been d line OF
trees, but now. all that was left Of
them were torn and battered stumps.
The fields on each side OF the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several In the road It.
self. We had gone about half mile
when q shell came whistling through
the air and burst In field about three
hundred yards 10 our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge OF the road about four hun
dred yards In front OF us.
| told the driver to throw In his
speed clutch, as we must be Ia sight
OF the Germans. | knew the signs;
that battery was ranging for us, and
the quicker we got out OF Its zone OF
fire the better The driver was trem-
bling like u leaf, and every minute |
expected him TO pile us up In the ditch.
preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life. and was sing
Ing at the top OF his voice:
We beat you At the Marne.
We beat you at tho Aisne.
We gave you hell at Neaye Chapelle,
And here We are again.
Just then we hit small shell hole
and nearly eapslzed. Upon a loud
yell from the rear looked behind, and
there was Atwell sitting in the middle
Of the road, shaking his fist at us, His
equipment which he had taken of
upon getting into the ambulance. was
strung out ON the ground, and his ride
WAS IN the ditch.