The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-05-17

marks are called targets. and are mum
bered. On our battery's chart, tina
road was called Target IL. Rang,
5000. 3 degrees 80 minutes left ID %,
battery consisted Of four AS howit
GERS, and fired 35-pound II. y. shell
As you know, II. e. means high ex
plosive.' don't like cumming up m,
own battery. but we had record IL
the division for direct hits, and oul
boys were just pIning away for 4
chance to exhibit their skill in tn,
eyes Of Fritz.
ION the afternoon of the fourth day
OF Fritz contemptuous use of the road
mentioned the captain and / were al
our posts as usual Fritz was strafe-
ing us pretty rough, just like he's doing
now. The shells were playing leap
frog all through that orchard
81 was carrying on conversation
In our tap code with Cassell at the
other end. II ran something like this
Say. Cassell. how would you like
TO be in the saloon bar of the Kings
Arms down Rye lane with bottle OF
Bass in front of you, and that blonde
barmaid waiting TO III 'em up agdinf
"Cassell had fancy for chat par.
ticular blonde. The answer came back
in the shape of yolley Of cusses. l
changed the subject.
After a while our talk yeered
round 10 the way the Boehes had been
exposing themselves on the road down
on the chart as Target II. What he
said about those Boches would never
have passed the reIchstag. though I
believe It would have gone through
our censor easily enough
''The bursting shells. were making
such din that 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, ana
make some remark / couldn't hear on
account Of the noise, but l guessed
what II was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
-Cassell had been sending In the tap
code to me. but was fed up and
didn't bother with II. Then he sent
o. s.. and ! was all attention. for this
was a call used between us which
meant that something important was
on. was all ears in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loosen
"You blankety blank dud. I have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the matter, are you
asleepr Gust as II anyone could
have slept in that Internal racket,)
Never mind framing nasty answer.
Just listen N
"'Are you game for putting some
thing over on the Boches and Old Pep
per all IN cne?'
II answered that was game enough
when II came to putting II over the
Boches. but confessed that l had n
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 rumbllng IL.
anyway. II we're caught. I'll take the
blame
~Under these condition told him to
spit out his scheme. II was so daring
and simple that II 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
old him about our captain talking out
oud as II he were sending through |
,rders. Well. II this happened. was
% send the dope to Cassell and he |
would transmit II to the battery com
handler as officially coming through
he observation post. Then ,the bat
cry would open m Afterwards. dur
ng the investigation. Cassell would /
wear he received II direct. They |
would have to relieve him, because Il
vas impossible from his post in the
ARTERY dugout to know that the road
vas being used at that time by the
Germans. And also II was impossible
or him 70 give the target. range and
egrees. You know battery chart is
Iot passed around among the men like
newspaper from Blighty. From him
he Investigation would go to the OBJ
ervation post, and the observing OH
er could truthfully swear that had
ot sent the message by phone. and
hat no orders 10 FIRE had been issued
y him. The Investigators would then
e up In the air. we would be safe. the
Ioches would receive Q good bashing.
nd we would get our own back on Old
'epper. II was too good to be true.
gleefully fell In with the scheme.
nd told Casseli / was his meat. i
'Then I waited with beating heart
nd watched the captain like hawk.
HE was beginning to fidget again
nd was drumming on the sandbags
18th his feet. At last. turning to me.
e said:
"'Wilson. this army 10 q blankety |
Iank washout What's the use Of hav-
e artillery n II IL not allowed to fret
he government at home ought to be
anged with some Of their red tape.
3 through them that we have no
lells.' aii |
II answered. Yes, SIR and started ,
,nding this opinion over the wire to I
asset. but the captain interrupted q
e with:
q srr.ov, tho,o s,t.-nar Arra-. ,ttu