The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-10

cliance IL Tue berlndQS only knew Dull
the shells continued to drop in front of
us and on either side, but none landed
among us, aud after waiting there for
three hours, expecting to be blown TO
bits any second, we finally moved for
ward. Just as we left the copse. from
behind us, up over ridge, came a
stream of galloping horses.
ITS the cavalry" someone shouted,
but soon l made out limbers and field
guns.
They galloped past us, going like
mad. took up a position to our right,
swung into position, unlimbered, and
in two minutes were blazing away. 1t
was thrilling sight
Torn by Shells.
In going forward we went around
the end of the larger wood in front of
us, over ground that was torn to bits
by the heavy shell fire that had just
preceded, over another edge, across a
| valley, and under the crest of hill.
And here we found the tanks going
over the top of the hill to take up
their position. At this point we were
still about a mile from the front line.
At this place l opened up an aid post
under the crest of the hill to take care
of what wounded came in while we
were getting into position. looked
back across the valley we had just
| traversed.
Shrapnel was bursting in the air,
! shells were whizZing overhead, and our
/ hnh nd HoIn
the fire. The noise was deafening.
A railroad ran through the valley
and an engine pulling couple of fiat
cars was going by. A couple of sol
diers were sitting on the rear truck
swinging their feet. A shell burst on
the track and only missed the last car
about fifteen yards. Neither man was
hit and the train went blithely on.
BY this time it was getting along
toward evening. the sun was sinking
in the west, and finally went down a
great bah of fire. At the time, re-
member, I noticed its color. 1t was
blood red and had sinister look. Was
it my imagination, or might it have
been premonition? At any rate, /
Slldli ICNtl Ett lIt tOtOi VI Tic gun
as it set that night at the end of the
first day of probably one of the great
est battles in history. 1t certainly
didn't look good TO me.
The drumming of the guns contin-
ued, twilight gradually deepened into
night, the signalers stopped their wig
wagging and took up their flash sig
fao nd
put the lights out of business, and
when we left to go forward under the
cover of darkness they were busy put
ting out their telephone lines-signal-
ers and runners don't have an easy
time.
Shell Dump Goes Up.
Behind us she'll landed in an am
munition dump and it went up with
roar; then the rifle ammunition started |
going off like great bunch of fire
crackers, and great tongues of flame |
lit up the sky.
1t is reported that the Germans had |
broken through our line and we were |
to counter-attack in the morning. We
got into positions without q single
4 OpChCb dh dib pcot III ob
old dugout and settled down to sleep
until morning. You may think it fun
ny that one could sleep under such
condi tons, but I had been up since
5 80, had tramped about six or seven
miles, had had rather trying day
and was dog tired.
So settled down on the rough plank
floor and was soon asleep. / must
have been asleep q couple of hours
when a runner came from headquar-
tiers and told us we were to move off
looked at my watch and
it was L 80 a. m. on the second day.
We went back to the railroad fol-
lowed it around to position some six
miles to the north of u.s. landing there
about 4 in the morning and Topped
down on the floor of some abandoned
huts to wait further orders. Our or
1ers came along about 9 o'clock. We
marched up across the open prairie,
he sun shining, and it was really hot.
Just like some of the warm days we
get the last of March at home. In
going forward it was necessary
,or us to march seventy-five yards in
'front.' of three batteries of field guns.
There are six guns to a battery. They
hoot an eighteen-pound shell and
While we were there each gun was /,
shooting twice to the minute. You /.
AN imagine the racket when I tell ..
-ou that the discharge of one gun can
,e heard about four miles, In addi- !
ion the Boche was trying to knock
nut this battery and he was dropping
is six inch shells little TOD close for
omfort.
Nearly in Trap.
Then l made a lovely mistake. ! :
ras to establish an aid post near bat
alion headquarters and went blithely
n when | met a company commander :,
nd asked him where to go. :
Back there about quarter of q =
lile," he replied. This is the front
enter company. If you keep on in "
he direction you are going you are
ping up over that ridge and Fritz will
e waiting for you with machine. Q
ln." 81
SO my sergeant and orderly and
yself didn't waste any time in clear n
&l.o I is