Courier Democrat., 1918-09-26

The first night in the trenches was
uneventful, and the next day dawned.
This was undoubtedly the finest day
that l have seen so far. There was
wide place in the trench, where the
Gun shone down bright and warm and
the sides of the trench sloped and
were covered with grass. There was
a big rock in the trench and we all
took turns having our hair cut by
one of the boys who was equipped
with tin comb and dull pair of
shears. That evening the captain
called me into his dugout and told me
that I was to be the runner and
would have to accompany him where
ever he went while we were in the
combat zone. That pleased me be-
cause 1 knew that would see every
thing that was going on and get in
on all the excitement. That very
next night the Captain stopped me in
the trench and told me to be ready to
go with him in one hour. put on
my cartridge belt and bayonet,
strapped on my Colt 45 automatic
and we went through the trenches for
a long way and met French Major
who was to accompany the Captain
that night. We went to an o. P.
and there that Captain told me what
was up, Our boys and the French
Blue Devils were to make a night at
tack on the, Germans and the Captain
was there to see just how the French
did it Zero time was l :03 and the
barrage sure started right on time.
Honestly, you would think all hell
was let loose, shells whistling and
screeching and machine guns rattl.
ing, etc. The barrage was what is
called box barrage. In other words
it is curtain of fire put down round
the section of trench which is being
attacked 30 that the Germans cannot
get any help. Well, they cleaned
opt that trench and captured some
prisoners. l am wearing a German
belt which is made of heavy leather
AID which has big brass buckle with
a crown and the words ''Gott nit
uns'' on it.
used to go out on night patrol with
the Captain and rnat is what l liked
best. You know / always was a night
hawk and 50 prowling around no
man 8 land at night appeals to me.
One night was within twenty feet
Of the German trenches. Believe me
this is no place for nervous woman.
will pick one day that I remem.
ber and tell you just what I did to
earn my ST. 90 per. l got up at
600 A. M., and drank cup of black
coffee which was all we had until
10E:30. Then the Captain sent for
me and gave, me- message to take
to a lieutenant, who was four miles
away. The going was pretty hard
and 1 got back just i'm time for dim
ner. L had no sooner finished dinner
when the Captain said that he was
going to visit the rest of the Com
pany, and, of course. I had to go
with him. We covered about ten
miles and returA I'm time for a cold
supper. Now, had covered about
twenty miles and I was tired out,
but nevertheless l had to 60 on a
patrol that night and covered about
six miles more. I think l covered
about rs mikes, that day and you
must remember that it was not like
walking down a street in ST. Paul.
had to walk donble through some, OF
the trenches and climb over rough
ground and keep on the lookout fo,
the Boche and everything that goes
with them.
One. day the captain gave me &
message to take to the supply com
pany which was located back of the
line about five mile. went afte
another runner-we go in pairs AM
incidentally was in charge of the. ru
ners-and we started out. Our route
lay through small village whicl
| the Germans shelled very frequentl
and we were on our way back, w
2 figured we would be late for suppe
t and decided that we should stop in
| little store in this town and try 4
e get something to eat. While we wei
8 stopping in the store, we heard an ol
d screeching which once you hear 20
Y never forget. ] said to- Red, "hel
n are taose damn Germans again. al
sure enough high explosive she
'e landed in the back yard of the stor'
le 1t sure shook things up and tho ,e
" was ten feet from the door, l na
k it in one jump and did not stop ium
1t ing until l was one-half mile away
'yl The night we were relieved,
,e was dark and raining and I was pic
ed ed to guide the relieving Compa
as into the line. The Company that