Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-04-11


the early days II was different. Then
you had to take everything without
reply. In fact. we would get twenty
shells in return for every one we sent
over. Fritz seemed TO enjoy II, but
we British didn't; we were the suf-
ferers. Just one casualty after an
other Sometimes whole platoons
would disappear. especially VIII 4
Jack Johnson plunked into their
middle. II got so bad that fellow,
when writing home. wouldn't ask for
any cigarettes TO be sent out, because
he was afraid he wouldn't be there to
receive them.
"After the drive TO Paris was turned
back, trench warfare started. Our
general grabbed a map drew a pencil
across 1t, and said, Dig here Then
he went back to his tea, and Tommy
armed himself with a pick and shovel
and started digging. He's been dig
ging ever since.
"Of course we dug those trenches at
night, but 1t was hot work, what with
the rifle and machine-gun fire. The
stretcher bearers worked harder than
the diggers.
""rhose trenches, bloomin' bitches, /
call Them, were Nightmares. They were
only about five feet deep. and you used
sz~z~~s-ase~rt
to get the backache from bending
down. 1t wasn't exactly safe to stand
upright, either because as soon as
your napper showed over the top
bullet would bounce off II, or else come
so close it would make your hair stand.
1--WE used to fill sandbags and stick
them on top of the parapet to make 1t
higher, but no use; they would be
there about an hour and then Fritz
would turn loose and blow them to
bits. My neck used to be sore from
duckIng shells and bullets.
"Where my battery was stationed
hasty trench had been dug, which
the boys niclxnamed Suicide ditch
and, believe me, Yank, this was the
original Suicide ditch All the others
are limitations.
"When a fellow went into that
trench it was an even gamble that ne
would come out on a stretcher At one
time a Scotch battalion held it. and
when they heard the betting was even
money that they'd come out on
stretchers, they grabbed all the bets
In sight. Like lot of bally idiots. sew
eral of the battery men fell for their
game, and put up real money. The
Jocks suffered a lot of casualties, and
the prospects looked bright for the
battery men to collect some easy
money. So when the battalion was re-
lieved the gamblers lined up. Several
Jocks got their money for emerging
safely, but the ones who clicked 1t
weren't there to pay. The artillery
men had never thought 1t out that
way. Those ScOtties were bound to
be sure winners, no matter how the
wind blew. SO take a tip from me,
never bet with a Scottie, cause you'll
lose money.
"At one part of our trench where
a communication trench Joined the
front line a Tommy had stuck up a
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on 1t. One of the hands, point
ing to the German lines, read, TO Ber-
lin the one pointing down the com.
municatiOn trench read, TO Blighty,
while the other said, Suicide Ditch,
Change Here for Stretchers.'
Farther down from this guide POSE
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge of this orchard our bat
servation post. The trees screened 1t
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. 1t wasn't cushy like ours,
no timber or concrete re-enforcements.
just walls of sandbags. From 1t a
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. 1t was a hot corner,
shells plunhing all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves off the trees.
Many time when relieving the sig
mailer at the phone, had to crawl on
my belly like a worm to keep from
being hit.
at was an observation post sure
enough. That's all the use 1t was. Just
observe all day. but never message
back for our battery to open up. You
see, at this point of the line there
were strict orders not to fire shell,
unless specially ordered to do so from
brigade headquarters. Blime me, II
anyone disobeyed that command, our
general-yes, 1t was Old Pepper
would have court-martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
of their way to disobey Old Pepper in
those DAVIS hecause he couldn't he