Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-05-09
CHAPTER XXI.

Punisnments and Machine-G Gun Stunts
Soon after my arrival in France; in
fact, from my enlistment, l had found
that in the British army discipline is
very strict. One has to be very care
full in order to stay on the narrow path
of government virtue.
There are about seven million ways
of breaking the kings regulations; to
keep one you have to break another.
The worst punishment is death by a
firing squad, or 'up against the wall,
as Tommy calls it.
This is for desertion, cowardice, mu-
tiny, giving information to the enemy,
footing, rape, robbing the dead. forcing
a safeguard, striking superior, etc.
Then comes the punishment of sixty
four days in the front-line trench with
out relief. During this time you have
to engage in all raids. working parties
In No Mans Land, and every hazardous
undertaking that comes along. If you
live through the sixty-four days you
are indeed lucky.
This punishment Is awarded where
there is doubt as to the willful guilt
of a man who has committed an Of
fence punishable by death.
Then comes the famous field pun
ishment No. l. Tommy has nicknamed
1t "crucifixion." 1t means that a man
is spread-eagled on a Timber wheel,
two hours day for twenty-0ne days.
During this time he only gets water,
bully beef and biscuits for his chow.
You get "crucified" for repeated minor
offenses.
Next in order is field punishment
No. 2.
This is confinement in the "clink."
without blankets, getting water, bully
beef and biscuits for ratiOns and doing
all the dirty work that can be found.
This may be for twenty-four hours or
twenty days, according to the gravity
of the offense.
Then comes "pack drill" or default
ers' parade. This consists of drilling,
mostly at the double, for two hours
with full equipment. Tommy hates
this. because it is hard work. Some
times he fills his pack with straw to
tighten it, and sometimes he gets
caught. If he gets caught, he grouses
at everything in general for twenty
one days, from the vantage point OF a
timber wheel.
Next comes &c. B." meaning "con-
fined to barracks" This consists of
staying in bilIets or barracks for TWEEN
ty-four hours to seven days. You also
get an occasional defaulters' parade
and dirty jobs around the quarters
The sergeant major keeps what is
known as the crime sheet. When a
man commits an offense, he is
"crimed." that is. his name, number
and offense is entered on the crime
sheet. Next day at 9 a. m. he goes to
the "orderly room" before the captain,
who either Furnishes him with &c. b.
or sends him before the 0. c. (ofllcer
battaliOn). The captain
of the company can only award &c. b.
Tommy many a time has thanked
the king for making that provision I'D
his regulations.
To gain the title of "smart soldier
Tommy has TO keep clear of the crime
sheet, and you have to be darned smart
to do 1t.
have been on it few times, most
ly for "Yankee impudence."
During our stay of two weeks I'D
rest billets our captain put us through
a course of machine-gun drills, trying
out new stunts and theories.
After parades were over, our guns
crews got together and also tried Out
some theories of their own in reference
to handling guns. These courses mao
nothing to do with the advancement Vi
the war. consisted mostly of causing
tricky jams in the gun, ana theh the
rest of the crew would endeavor to TO-
cate as quickly as possible the cause
of the stoppage. This amused them
for few days and then things came 10
a standstill.
One of the boys on my gun claimeu
that he could play a tune while the
gun was actually firing, ana uenoh-
strated this fact one day on the target
range. We were very enthusiastic ana
decided to become musicians
After constant practice l became
mite expert in the tune entitled "Aii
Have Big Feet"
When 1 had mastered this tune our
two weeks rest came to an end ana
once again we went up the line ana
took over the sector In front Of C.
wood.
At this point the German trenches