Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-10-18

oeNehty W tiBnty H.tN were killed TOT
nothing.
After an hours fight. all the guns
were once more In u possession. We
were now able TO approximate the ter
rible casualties, In the bnttle for this
battery. Dead and wounded by hun
dreds, infantry, cavalry, artillery and
pioneers, covered the narrow strip Of
ground.
Once more we received reinforce
ments. This time four regular compa-
MES OF infantry had been taken
away from another detachment. Even
II a soldier takes part in everything, he
can get only n very restricted view OF
what is going on and has absolutely no
way OF determining how the brittle IL
going.
These re-enforcements had been
taken from all different arms and late
arrivals had been taken from a division
which had been threatened exactly like
ours was. This led us to conclude that
we could only resist further attacks
provided fresh troops reached us. II
only we could get something TO eat.
But there seemed nc way to relieve the
hunger and thirst which tortured us.
Now. horses galloped up to remove
the guns we had left, and at the same
instant the French artillery opened n
tremendous fire from guns OF all cali
bers. The shells fell among the 30
teams comprising the column. Confu-
sion reigned. Groups Of six horses
comprising each team sprang into the
air, then ran In all directions. pulling
their carriages with the wheels up be-
hind them. Some OF the terrified ami
mails ran directly into the heaviest fire,
only 10 be torn 10 shreds with their
drivers.
The enemy now transferred his Are
20 the battery position which we occu.
pied. For us II was only n question OF
advance or retreat. Retreat7 MOI The
order came TO retake the positions
which we had lost mt the opening OF
the battle and which the Frenchmen
presumably had made ready 10 with.
stand n new attack. BY this time we
had been REINFORCED with more can.
o fodder and the insane fight could
begin anew.
We advanced over n wild field. GOV.
cred by thousands upon thousands of
torn human bodies. No shot fell, the
only firing was the hostile artillery
continuing TO shell our battery posi-.
lions. Neither the enemy's artillery
o infantry vas turned upon us. This
made MS suspicious and our apprehen-
sion regarding what was 10 come In.
creased as we were permitted 10 ad
vance unmolested.
Suddenly there was turned loose
upon us the fire from n multitude OF
machine guns. We threw ourselves on
the ground and hunted cover. An I'm.
slant later we again sprang M aud
continued our march. Once more we
encountered destruction. BY this time
we had lost almost a third OF our men
and, exhausted. we halted.
Scarcely had we taken a position be.
fore we were attacked from the front
and flank. We no longer had an ade.
quate force 20 successfully resist this
double blow, as the enemy, ia greatly
superior numbers. had practlcally
crushed our force. The left wing was
completely cut on and we saw our men
throw up their hands aud surrender.
We who were In the center were I'm.
able TO come to their assistance; our
ranks were being decimated from min
ute to minute.
Revenge for sommepy." sounded in
my ears.
The right wing broke and carried NJ
with II In a wild flight. Direct retreat
had been cut OF for us. so we ran
backward across an open field. each
man for himself, with a heart bursting
with horror and fear as the result Of
the enemy's murderous fire.
After running a long time we reached
a hamlet northwest OF vitry-le-Fran-