Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1918-06-13

When we had read our instruction
we knew we were In for 1t good an,
plenty.
What Atwell said Is not ft for pub
licatlon. but strongly seconded hi
opinion Of the war, army and dlyisiona
headquarters In general.
After a bit our spirits rose. We wer'
full-hedged spy-catchers. because oul
instructions and orders. said so.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest French estaminet and had sew
eral glasses Of muddy water. which
they called beer. After drinking oul
beer we left the estaminet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got In. The driver was going to the
part of the line where we had to re-
port.
How the wounded ever survived a
ride In that ambulance was inexplica-
bic to me. II was worse than riding on
gun carriage over a rock road.
The driver Of the ambulance was a
corporal Of the r. A. NJ. c.. and he
had the wind up that is. he had an
aversion to being under fire.
! was riding on the seat with him
while Atwel was sitting In the ambu-
lance, with his legs hanging out of the
back.
AS we passed through shcll-de
stroyed village mounted military po-
lceman stopped us and informed the
driver to be very careful when we got
out on the open road. as 1t was very
dangerous. because the Germans lately
had acquired the habit Of Smelling IL.
The corporal asked the trooper If there
was any other way around, and was
Informed that there was not. Upon
this he got very nervous and wanted to
turn back, but we insisted that he pro-
coed and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer If he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
not walk.
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng
land with a draft and had never been
under fire, hence his nervousness.
We convinced him that there was not
much danger. and he appeared greatly
relieved.
When we at last turned into the open
road we were not so confident. On
each side there had been a line Of
trees, but now, all that was left Of
them were torn and battered stumps.
The fields on each side of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several in the road it.
self. We had gone about half a mile
when shell came whistling through
the air and burst In a field about three
yards to our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge of the road about four hun
dred yards in front Of us.
| told the driver to throw in his |
speed clutch, as we must be In sight
Of the Germans. | knew the signs ; |
that battery was ranging for US, and
the quicker we got out of its zone of
fire the better. The driver was trem-
bling like leaf, and every minute
expected him to pile us up in the ditch.
preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
The straps for dear life, and was sing.
ing at the top of his voice:
We beat you at the Marine,
We beat you at the Aisne.
We gave you hell at Neuve Chapelle,
And here we are again.
Just then we hit small shell hole
md nearly capsized. Upon loud
yell from the rear looked behind, and
here was Atwell sitting in the middle
If the road, shaking his fist at us. His
equipment, which he had taken off
Ipon getting into the ambulance, was
strung out on the ground, and his rifle
vas in the ditch.
l shouted to the driver to stop, and
n his nervousness he put on the
,rakes. We nearly pitched out head
lrst. But the applying of those brakes
'aved our lives. The next instant
here was binding flash and deaf
ming report. All that l remember is
hat was flying through the air, and
If would land in soft
pot. Then the lights went out.
When came to, Atwell was pouring
water on my head out of his bottle.
IN the other side of the road the cor
,oral was sitting, rubbing lump on
lis forehead with his left hand, while
lis right arm was bound up In a blood
oaked bandage. He was moaning
cry loudly. had an awful headache
nd the skin on the left side Of my
ace was full of gravel and the blood
vas trlckling from my nose.
But that ambulance was turned over
n the ditch and was perforated with
Ioles from fragments of the shell. One {
f the front wheels was slowly revolv- |
ng, so could not have been "out" for /
long period.
The shells were still screaming over [
lead, but the battery had raised its
Ire and they were bursting In a little
Vood about half mile from us.
Atwell spoke up. Il wish that off. |
er hadn't wished us the best o. luck"
'hen he commenced swearing. {
ouldn't help laughing, though my |
ead was nigh to bursting.
Slowly rising to my feet felt myself /
IL over to make sure that there were
10 broken bones. But outside of few !
ruises and scratches l was all right 6
The corporal was still moaning, but {
nore from shock than pain. A shell
plinter had gone through the flesh of t
us right forearm. Atwell and /. from |
ur first-aid pouches, put tourniquet
N his arm to stop the bleeding and
hen gathered up our equipment. '
We realized that we were In a dan t
erous spot. At any minute a shell I
night drop on the road and finish us
II. The village we had left was not 2
'nry far al xua fold AL, oorv.NraI - 2