Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-28
"0ver the Top"
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Msekine Gunner Ssrping IN Frsaes

Msshins Gunner Ss'Sins IN F'sses

Slowly rising 20 my feet felt myseII
all over 10 make sure that there were
no broken bones. But outside Of few
bruises and scratches I was all right.
The corporal was still moaning, but
more from shock than pain. A shelf
splinter had gone through the flesh OF
his right forearm. Atwell and I. from
our frst-ald pouches, pv a tourniQuet
On his arm TO stop the bleeding and
then gathered up our equipment.
We realized that we were In a dan
gerous spot. Al any minute she'll
might drop on the road and finish us
OF. The village we had left was not
very far. 80 we told the corporal he
had better go back 20 II and get his
arm dressed. and then report the fact
OF the destruction OF the ambulance 20
the military police. He was well able
TO walk. so he set of In the direction
Of the village. while Atweil and con-
tinued our way on foot.
Without further mishap We arrived
at our destination. and reported 20 bril-
gade headquarters for rntions and bill
lets.
That night we slept In the battalion
sergeant majors dugOut. The next
morning I went 10 "a first-aid post and
had the gravel picked out Of nay face.
The instructions we received from
division headquarters read that we
were out 10 cntch spies. patrol trenches
search German dead. rcconnolter IA No
Mans Land. and take part In trench
rnlds and prevent the robblng OF the
dead.
| had pass which would allow me
10 go anywhere at any time In the sec
tor Of the line held by our division. II
gave me authority 20 stop and search
motor lorries, wagons and
even officers and soldiers, whenever
my suspicious deemed Il necessary.
Atwell and were allowed 20 work TO-
gether or slngly-it was left 20 our
judgment We decided to team up. II
Atwell was o good companion and
very entertaining. He had an utter
contempt for danger. but was not fool
hardy. Al swearing he wns wonder.
A cavalry regiment would have been
proud Of him. Though born IN Eng
land. he had spent several years In
New York. lie was about six feet one
and as strong as an OK.
We took W our quarters In a large
dugout Of the royal engineers, and
mapped out our future actions. This
dugout WIS on the edge of "a large
cemetery. aud several times at night
In returning 10 II. We got many a fall
stumbling over the graves Of English.
French and Germans. Atwell on these
occasions never INDUCED In swearing.
though az any other time, az the least
stumble. he would turn the air blue.
A certain section OF our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish rifles. For
several days q very strong rumOr went
the rounds that German spy was In
our midst. This spy was supposed 20
be dressed In the uniform Of a British
stn1 officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing u red
band around his cup, who patrolled the
front-line and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions as 10 loca-
ton Of batteries. machine-gun emplace-
ments, and trench mortars. II n shell
dropped In a battery. on a machine gun
or even near a dugout this spy was
blamed.
The rum0r gained such strength that
nm order was issued for all troops 90
immediately place under arrest anyone
answering 10 the description OF the
SPY.
Atwell and | were on the qui vive.
We constantly patrolled the trenches
AZ night and even IN the day. but the
Spy always eluded Us.
One day while In a communication
trench. We were horrifed 10 see our
brigadier general. Old Pepper. being
brought down Il by big private Of the
Royal Irish rlfieA The general was
In front. and the private with
liked hnyOnot Wna follos.lar fn fha