The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-05-18
fereat from what I had expected. No

ferent from what I had expected. No
Loise or confusion of any sort, no
ambulances rushing to the rear with
WOUNDED, not even a shot to be heard
As dawn broke, all that was to be
seen was the wet, sloppy, road WIND
ing through thick forest. On each
size were many temporary sheds and
storenC,Ises, and along the road an
occasional proken-doWn wagon or
gaa-carriage. In the gutter by the
side we passed d mound bearing the
inscription: I'm Soldat Allemln. 1t
All seemed like the remains OF war
fought and forgotten twenty years
ago. About Z O'Clock we arrived at
one CT cur kitchen wagons, situated
several hundred yards behind the
front line trenches. There we got an
enormous breakfast of bread, coffee,
and Il mixture of rice and beans. I'M
mediately after we started on the
long anu hard job of moving up the
guns and shells, which are very
luIky ald neavy, to their positions.
our dugout, where we lived, was
in the front line trenches. 1t was
entered by two very steep and mar
a.. s,air,Jays and was about thirty
rect underground. 1t was about the
size and shape of Pullman car,with
Il row OF double berths on each side.
Having two entrances, it was we'll
ventilated, but it was crawling with
I-.>: .tud we slept two in berth,
which was not more than three-quar-
tiers The size of sleeping car berth.
On the sector where We were, the
German lines are about 700 yards
away and the whole section is heavily
wooded. So you can Imagine how
strange it seemed when we were re-
lieved after four days, to go back,
not having fired a shot or seen a SIN
gle German, or even their trenches,
in fact. We heard from them much
more often than we wanted, tho.
For the Germans soon found out
there were Americans in that sector,
and gave US a warm welcome. Their
artillery fire was very heavy at times
and exceedingly well directed. The
trip back to the kitchen for mess was
often quite exciting. When l first
got I'D there l had not the slightest
fear of the fire, but after one expert
ence, when l was nearly buried alive
by the side of the trench cavlng In
on me, and I had to crawl on my
stomach for several hundred yards, L
learned better. After that it was al
ways more or less of an effort of will
to go out to exposed places.
Our second trip to the front was
much more interesting, for we re-
turned after about one weeks rest.
The French and Americans pulled Off
a raid on the Germans lines. 1t
took place at night and was a won
derful experience. The artillery fire,
both ours and theirs, was terrific
and continuous. We moved our
guns up to a more advanced position
and in conjunction with the artillery
to the rear covered our advancing
troops with barrage fire. We came
through very successfully with only
one man disabled through gas. l
think he will recover all right. The
French colonel and our own officers
expressed themselves as being very
pleased with our work.
The German trenches were abso-
lutely f1attened out and their barbed
| wire was destroyed. Unfortunately,
they had been able to withdraw their
troops in time, so no prisoners were
taken.
The rest of the regiment was not
so fortunate as we were in regard to
casualties. B got a bad dose of
gas and is now in the hospital. l
have been unable to get in touch with
him since. 1t was most fortunate in
his case, for he was twice cited for
bravery under fire, but this will put
a stop to his chances of going to
Officers School.
PAUL WISNER.
u