The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-10-25

the enemy we knew nothing. WIN tnS
utmost silence and speed we dug our
selves in deeply, stopping frequently
to listen as hostile raiding parties ap-
preached, only to disappear quickly.
Here we received our first re-
endorsements. They arrived in long
columns in the darkness. All were
fresh troops-mOst of them reserves.
| The majority wore blue uniforms. This
as we'll as the nature of their equip
ment, indicated to us that they had
been hastily fitted out and transported.
None of them had ever heard the
whistle of a bullet and many asked
anxiously whether it was dangerous
here. They brought numerous ma
chine guns, and in an instant we had
everything prepared for defense.
At daylight the French began the at
tack. They made several onslaughts
throughout the day but without sue
cess. for our achievements were
large.
No one realized at this stage of the
battle that 1t was the beginning of
murderous exhausting struggle for po-
sitions.
We were to fight here from the same
trench, month after month, without
gaining territory. The wounded. who
lay in No Mans Land between the
trenches, were left to perish.
The French tried to rescue them I'M
der the protection of the Geneva flag,
the emblem of the Red Cross, but we
only sneered at them and shot 1t to
| bits. The impulse to shoot down the
enemy surpassed every human feeling.
The Red Cross flag had lost all its
value for us when 1t was raised by the
French. Nistrust was nurtured among
rus. We were told that the enemy mis-
used the flag and that we must shoot
down the men that bore it. 'ttsa!
We repuIsed all attacks until they
gradually ceased. We were now able
| to fOrtify our position, which we did
with the greatest care, making it as,
strong as possible. Half the men re-
NAMED on guard while the other half
deepened and widened the trenches. A
| lively fire was maintained continuous
ly by both sides. The losses were very
large. Most Of the men killed were
shot through the head, the trench pro-
tecting the remainder of their bodies.
Firing increased in intensity as
night fell. Although nothing could be
seen we continued firing all the time
because we thought this would prevent
the enemy from making any attacks.
Through the nights munitions and ma
terial were brought up and new men
arrived. Great quantities of sandbags
were sent us, which were filled and
used as protection against bullets.
The pioneers were relieved toward
morning and gathered in farmyard
behind the firing line. The farm had
been spared by the cannon, and even
all the stock remained. This booty
was soon to be consumed. Several
hundred soldiers came and a wild hunt
ensued for ducks, chickens, geese, pig
cons, ETC. About five hundred of these
were caught, after which everybody
began cooking. Not far away so cows
and heifers were seized and turned
over to the field kitchens. Hay and
grain were carried away, even the
strawstacks and barns were torn down
and the lumber used for firewood. In
a few hours q beautiful farm had be-
come ruin and the proprietor beg
gar. / had seen the owner in the
morning, but he had suddenly disap-
peared with his wife and children, and
nobody knew where he was.
The next night we were sent into
the trenches again. There was little
to do, so we talked with the men who
had REINFORCED us from the interior
of Germany. They knew absolutely
nothing of our retreat from the Marine
and were astOnished when we pictured
to them the events of the last few
days.
The following morning we left the
trench before daybreak and went into
quarters at Cernay-en-DOrmois. We
were bilIeted in the middle of the viii
lage in an abandoned house. Our field
kitchens failed to arrive. so we pre-
pared ourselves a meal Of fowl and
whatever else we discovered. When
ever anyone espied a chicken there
were twenty men racing for IT. Toward
evening long provision trains arrived,
as well as fresh troops. They went
to the front in long columns and re-
lieved the exhausted men.
Soon the whole village was crowded
with soldiers. After a rest Of two days
the regular nightly pioneer service was
resumed. Every night we were sent