Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-06-25
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llC Cl10It 10 "a 6CS Ass w Aos AAS
said about those Boches would never
have passed the reichstag, though I
believe 1t would have gone through
our censor easily enough.
"The bursting shells were making
such din that I packed up talking
and took to watching the captain. He
was fidgeting around on an old sand
bag with the glass to his eye. Occa-
sionally he would let out grunt, and
make some remark I couldn't hear on
account Of the noise, but guessed
what it was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
"Cassell had been sending in the tap
code to me, but I was fed up and
didn't bother with 1t. Then he sent
o. s., and was all attention, for this
was a call used between US which
meant that something important was
on. I was all ears in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loose.
"'You blankety blank dud, I have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the matter, are you
asleepT (Just as II anyone could
have slept in that internal racket y
Never mind framing nasty answer.
Just listen.'
".Are you game for putting some
thing over on the Boches and Old Pep
per all In oneT
II answered that I was game enough
when 1t came to putting 1t over the
Boches, but confessed that I had q
weakening of the spine, even at the
mention Of Old Peppers name.
HE came back with, It's so absurd
~ easy and simple that there is no
chance of the old heather rumbling 1t.
Anyway, If we're caught, I'll take the
blame.'
"Under these condition I told him to
spit out his scheme. It was so daring
and simple that 1t took my breath
away. This is what he proposed:
"If the Boches should use that road
again, to send by the tap system the
target and range. had previously
told him about our captain talking out
loud as If he were sending through
orders. Well, If this happened, I was
to send the dope to Cassell and he
would transmit it to the battery COM
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards, dur
Ing the investigation, Cassell would
swear he received 1t direct. They
would have to relieve him, because 1t
was impossible from his post In the
battery dugout to know that the road
was being used at that time by the
Germans. And also 1t was impossible
for him TO give the target, range and
degrees. You know a battery chart Is
not passed around among the men like
newspaper from Blighty. From him
the investigation would 60 to the OBJ
servation post, and the observing off.
Ger could truthfully swear that I had
not sent the message by phone, and
that no orders to fire had been issued
by him. The investigators would then
be up In. the air, we would be safe, the
Boches would receive good bashing,
and we would get our own back on Old
Pepper. It was too good to be true.
I gleefully fell in with the scheme,
and told Cassell was his meat.
"Then waited with beating heart
and watched the captain like q hawk.
"He was beginning to fidget again
and was drumming on the sandbags
with his feet. At last, turning to me-
be said:
"'Wilson, this army Is blankety
blank washout. What's the use Of hav-
Ing artillery If 1t Is not allowed to fre7
The government at home ought to be
hanged with some Of their red tape.
It's through them that we have no
shells
81 answered, Yes, SIR and started
sending this opinion over the wire to
Cassell, but the captain interrupted
me with:
"Keep those internal fingers still.
What's the matter, getting the nerves!
When I'm talking to you, pay atsen-
tion.'
my heart sank. Supposing he had
rumbled that tapping, then all would
be up with our plan. stopped drum
ming with my fingers and said:
"Beg your pardon, sir, just a habit
with me-
"'And a ID silly one, too,' he an
swered, turning to his glasses again,
and knew was safe. He had not
tumbled to the meaning Of that tap
ping.
"All at once, without turning round,
he exclaimed:
"sWell, Of all the nerve I've ever run
| across, this takes the cake. Those
B0ches are using that road
| again. Blind my eyes, this time 1t Is q
whole brigade Of them, transports and
all. What q pretty target for our
4.5's.' The beggars know that we
won't fire. A Id shame, ! call 1t.
Oh, Just for a chance to turn d 2SS
loose on them