Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-25
OVER THE TOP
BY
ARTHUR GUY ESIPEY,
An American Boy Who Went.
tcopyrish. 1917. by Arthur Guy En- peyJ

a cavalry regiment would have been
proud OF him. Though born in Eng
land. he had spent several years in
New York. He was about six feet one,
and as strong as OK. | am five
feet five in height. so We looked like
Bud" Fishers Mutt and JEFF" when
together.
We took up our quarters In large
dugou, OF the Royal Engineers and
mapped out our future actions This
dugout was on the edge of large
cemetery. and several times at night
IN returning TO II We got many q fall
stumbling over the graves OF English,
French and Germans Atweli on these
occasions never INDUCED In swearing.
though at any other time. at the least
stumble ne would turn the air blue
certain section of our trenches
was held by the Royal Irish Rifles. For
several DAYS very strong rumor went
the rounds that a German spy was IN
our midst. This spy was supposed to
be dressed in the uniform OF Il British
stan officer. Several stories had been
told about officer wearing a red
band around his cap. who patrolIed
the front line and communicat ton
trenches asking suspicious questions AS
20 location OF batteries. mach;nc-g gun
empiacements and trench mortars. If
smell dropped in a battery. on a ma
chine gun. or even near Il dusout, this
spy was blamed
The rumor gained such strength that
an order Was issued for all troops to
immediately place under arrest any one
answering TO the description OF the spy
Atwell and / were on the aui viye.
We constantly patrolled the trenches
at night, and even in the day, but the
spy always eluded us.
One day. while in communication
trench, we were horrihed to see our
brisa general. Old Pepper. being
brought down it by a big private OF
the Royal Irish Rifles. The general
was walking in front, and the private
with fixed bayonct was following him
in the rear.
We saluted as the general passed u.s.
The Irishman had broad grin on his
face. and we could scarcely believe our
eyes-the general was under arrest
After passing few feet beyond us
the general turned and said in a wrath
ful voice TO Atwell:
Tell this d-n foo! who am. He's
arrested me a spy"
Atwell was spcechless The sentry
butted in with:
None o that Eassin' out o. YOU.
Back TO headquarters you goes, Mr.
Fritz. Open tina, face o. yours again
an Ill dent in your napper with the
pult q me Tl1c.
The generals face was sight to
behold. lie was fairly boiling over
with rage. bat he shut up
Atwell tried TO get in front OF tho
sentry 10 explain 10 him that it really
vas tho general he had under arrest
bur the sentry threatened TO run his
bayonet through him. and would have
done il. too. So Atwell stepped aside.
and remained silent was nearly
bursting with suppressed laughter
IL is not exactly diplomatic TO laugh
at Your general in such a predicament.
Tn" sentry and his prisoner arrived
at brigade headquarters. with dis
astrous results 10 the sentry.
The joke was that the general had
personally issued the order for the
spy's arrest l. vas habit OF the
genera! to walk through the trenches
on rounds OF Inspection. unattended by
any c, his stan. The IriShman being
new IL the regiment. had never seen
the general before. SO when ne came
across him alone in a communication
trench. re promptly put him under ar
rest f-;gadier-Eenerals wear a red
ban around their caps.
Next day we passed the lrishman
tied 10 the wheel OF timber, the be-
ginning Of his sentence or twenty-one
DAYS. Field punishment, No l. Never
before have | seen such woebeCone
expression. on a mans face
For several days Atwell and I made
ourselves scarce around brigade head
quarter We did not want TO meet
the general
The spy was never caught;