The courier-index., 1918-08-16

ness OF LQ6 DalkOOu ODScETeES. FOT-
tunately for those OF us who occu-
pied the machine, no dangerously
close shots were registered, and we
turned into rayine and approached
within half mile of yauy. uninjur-
ed. Here steel helmets were pu. on
and gas masks placed In the ''alert"
position, The little party scattered,
with distances of two or three rods
between, to prevent pot shooting"
by the enemy and in single file we
wedged our way to a gulley a few
hundred yards from the village. At
this point hundreds of empty car
fridge shells were found, while scat
tered over a wide area were to be
seen mute evidences of heroic strug.
giles. 1t was here that the French,
tempted to check the Hun in his
original advance, being forced to re-
tire when pressure became over
whelming, Broken bayonets, caps,
torn and tattered garments, rifles
and many other evidences of COM
bat were still unsalvaged.
AS we sneaked into thicket near
the bridge and stopped to pick up a
few relics, German gunners began
dropping ''77's" all too close to us.
while from invisible emplacements
machine guns were barking, and
snipers were conscientiously giving
an account of their assignments
Overhead. shells of various Galore
cut the air, as American and German
batteries worked with mechanical
determination in an effort each to
{ dislodge the other. f
The village, or rather what remain
ed of it, was situated between
series of small hillocks, and froa az
least two points the enemy con-
manded excellent observations, As
shells passed over us, making a
noise like freight trains with WORKOUT
brakes, we were repeatedly assured
that it was a 'quiet day" which, ir
deed. it was, judged from the stand
point of the soldier whose nerves
have been steeled to the test of war.
AS we advanced across another
exposed area, we came nearer the
heart of the village. | hal determfn-
ed to make the most of the situation
aud see as much of real activity as
possible, and with chs end In view
left my companions, and in company
with our runner" proceeded tic the
Istrenches. To describe what one sees
under such circumstances Is impos-
sible for the reason that all items
which may convey information TO
the enemy are censored, and Justly
SO. A few details however, are per
MISSILE. In RET 'lg ire yanced
lines we walked up IN incline to the
railway, which constituted. at his
point, the embankment behin1 which
our troops were entrenched. Snip
pers were celebrating In their work
and were firing just of.ea enough to
give all account of themselves while
machine guns were sputtering IKE
the exhause from lab0r'Is motor
cycle, with cut out open. Directly In
front of the embaakment couio be
seen fifteen or twenty ''ocEes, whose
DAYS OF service we're at an end. They
had probably fallen the previous
night while trying to carry out
raid. Back in wooded area. with
In view unaided by glasses. the Ger
mans awaited alertly. / am frank 10
say that any invitation to spend the
night with our own forces at this
particular point would have found
me endcavoring to. remember some
important engagement previously
made. With the wounded lying in
exposed trenches and with the con
slant din OF military activity ringing
in ones ears, and the blasted village
with its garden fringe OF shell holes
in the GEAR, the prospects were any
thing but ..inyiting-rand yet, into this
Inferno, American youths had gone
On JuIy, .. They had advanced INTO