Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-06-28

fire and they were bursting In a little
wood about half mile from us.
Atwell spoke up. II wish that Off.
Ger hadn't wished us the best o. luck"
Then he commenced swearing.
couldn't help laughing, though my
head was nigh to bursting.
Slowly rising to my feet felt myself
all over to make sure that there were
no broken bones. But outside OF few
bruises and scratches was all right.
The corporal was still moaning, but
more from shock than pain. A shell
splinter had gone through the flesh of
his right forearm. Atwell and l, from
our first-ald pouches. put tourniquet
on his arm To stop the bleeding and
then gathered up our equipment.
We realized that we were In dan.
gerous spot. At any minute a shell
might drop on the road and finish us
off. The village we had left was not
very far, so we told the corporal he
had better go back to 1t and get his
arm dressed. and then report the fact
Of the destruction of the ambulance to
the military police. He was well able
to walk, so he set off in the direction
of the village, while Atwell and / con.
tinued our way on foot.
Without further mishap we arrived
at our destination, and reported to bri,
gade headquarters for ratlons and bill
lets.
That night we slept in the battalion
sergeant majors dugout. The next
had the gravel picked out OF my face.
The instructions we received from
division headquarters read that we
were out to catch spies, patrol trenches,
search German dead. reconnoiter In No
Mans Land, and take part in trench
raids and prevent the robblng of the
dead.
had pass which would allow me
to go anywhere at any time In the sec
tor of the line held by our division. II
gave me authority to stop and search
ambulances, motor lorries, wagons and
even officers and soldiers, whenever
my suspicious deemed It necessary.
Atwell and l were allowed to work to-
gether or slngly--it was left 10 our
judgment. We decided to team up.
Atwell vas II good companion and
very entertaining. He had an utter
contempt for danger, but was not fool
hardy. At swearing he was II wonder.
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 an OK.
We took up our quarters In a large
dugout 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 1t, we got many a fall
stumbling over the graves of English,
French and Germans. Atwell on these
occasions never INDUCED In swearing
though at any other time, ut the least
stumble, he would turn the air blue
A 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 n British
staff officer. Several stories had been
told about an officer wearing red
band around his cap, who patrolled the
frOnt-line and communication trenches
asking suspicious questions as to loca-
ton of batteries, machinegun emplace-
m on1 trannh To ghnIl
dropped in battery, on n machine gun
or even near a dugout this spy was
blamed.
The rumor gained such strength that
an order was issued for all troops to
Immediately place under arrest anyone
answering to the description of the
spy.
Atwell and l were on the qui vive.
We constantly patrOlled the trenches
at night, and even I'm the day, but the
spy always eluded us.
One day while in a communication
trench, we were Mortified to see our
brigadier general, Old Pepper, being
brought down it by IA big private of the
Royal Irish rifles. The general was
walking in front, and the private with
fixed bayonet was following in the
rear.
We saluted ms the general passed us.
The lrlshman had broad grin on his
face and we could scarcely believe our
eyes-the general was under arrest.
After passing few feet beyond u.s. the
general turned, and said in Il wrathful
voice to Atwell:
Tell this d-n fool who | am. He's
arrested me as II spy"
Atwell was speechless. The sentry
butted in with:
None o that gassln' out a. you
lack to headquarters you goes, Mr.
Fritz. Open that face o. yours again
an I'll dent in your napper with the
butt q me rifle"
The generals face was sight to be,
hold. He was fairly boiling over with
rage, but he shut up.
ArWell tried 10 get in front of the
sentry 20 explain 10 him that it really
"as The general he had under arrest
Drt the sentry threatened 10 run his
Dayonet through him, and would have