Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-05-02

side of another little hill. At the tor
of the hill are the ruins of a small
village, reduced TO a mass of rocks
with occasional sections of walls. But
the destruction wrought by more than
three years of continual pounding BY
guns ranging from rifles TO fourteen
inch mortars, has been almost com
plete. This mode of living is quite an
innovation to US, this return to the
cave man style Of existence, with a
scurrying for holes when a shell
bursts near.
Our Home" is designated by a
wooden sign at the entrance, "Abri
! (cave) No. g." To enter, one de-
scends along a narrow broad walk
about twenty feet, where is the open
ing through an old stone door, and
only about four feet high too. There.
are two sets Of curtains just inside
to be drawn in case of gas attack,
also a wooden door to keep out the
cold at night. Inside is long pass
ageway, and at one side runs the line
of hunks, two deep. They are not
bad with the exception of being, from |
the narrowness of the cave, about |
eight eiches too short for stretching
out at ease, but Paul and l bunk to-
gether and obviate most Of the dis
comfort by curling around in a cres-
cent shape. The cave is quite dry,
for it is lined On the floor, walls and
ceiling with boards. At the inner end
is a space large enough for a stove
and several benches, so we can use
the stove when necessary. But this is
seldom the case, for the days are be-
coming comfortable with the sun
light.
We are about half a mile behind
the French First Line Trenches, /
hence beyond most of the small arm
fire. The big shells whizz over US
almost continually in their scarce for
hostile batteries, for artillery duelling
comprises most of the activity
Planes, both French and German,
come over often, and whenever
hostile avion approaches everything {
around opens fire, from rifles, auto /:
MATES, machine guns and anti-air- s
craft batteries to light artillery. They {
all take shot If the plane is close,
the American engineers stationed here !
run and get their rifles, then try to
hit the swift target with these. This
shows the spirit of the Americans as
a whole.
Our curiosity and impetuosity are q
source of wonder to the French, who =.
have learned better from experience
They are all fine fellows and watch +.
put for US continually. In this sta !
ion we eat with them, and as they c
eat just two meals day-10:3O and I
i:30-we sort of miss our early morn "
ng meal. They eat well, though, we b
have soup every meal and either two a
,r three of the following in addition /
'ice, carrots, potatoes, meat, cheese,
am, etc. Wine is the liquid part of
he meal; but it is light. They re-
,eive an issue of wine the same as of
neat and bread-Oh. yes. We have
Ill the bread we want every meal, in ,
'act all we can eat of every article, ,
or they were brought in in big cans q
With long wooden handles, being used
or every dish, whether it be dipping I
'ut soup, meat or rice.
We work with the French, but as u
hingS are quiet here, have so far had o
'nly to carry two French dead to the S
title cars and push them through the
unnel where they are loaded into the
dead wagon
As we had long desired to get a
glimpse of mo Mans Land" Paul
md / started out last night after .
upper to see II we would be allowed r
o go as far as the first line, where n
We could look "over the top" We did n
lot go far from here before we came [,
o the communication trenches lead
ng there. These are winding, about
even feet deep, protected from cav
ng in at the sides by branches en- o
wined, and held in place by posts at 0
hort intervals. All around here /
hese trenches are boarded under foot '
o keep one out of the mud and water :
hat is ever present. After going n
hort distance through these we met
wo French sergeants to whom made
,nown our desires, and with the usual
french kindness, they offered to show h
is the way. So we followed them o
-. eo,-o,,1 hunJ,-oJ wards tbrOu oh ',