El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-16


tuted his lunch his orderly was wait.
? ing outside with his horse.
Daylight was 1lltering away while
out there" the horizon was begin
ming TO blur when the major snapped
, shut his watch.
Forward. March sang out a lieu
tenant, and the troops were on their
way 10 the line.
Wagons and teams so yards apart
Men by squads" commanded the ma
jor. as the column got under way. II
was fairly dark. but he was taking
] no chances. Two German sausage"
balloons had been lowering in the Off
ing all afternoon. one hardly more
! than black splotch, the other plainly
visible. They had been replaced by
I two specks away up in the sky,
scarcely distnguishable 10 the naked
/ eye-airplanes coming over for &
/ closer investigation
Are Attacked From Above.
For ten minutes the Americans
were treated 10 a sky chase, two
/ French planes springing up suddenly
from nowhere while puffs Of dirty
gray smoke that hung in the sky
! marked bursting shrapnel The Ger
man machines were forced higher Up
into the air as the puffs drew in
I closer to them, then finally turned
/ back toward their own lines. while
/ back to the ground.
They suspect something's coming
I Of" volunteered the major.
Hope they won't be disappointed
I sir" returned one OF his officers
] Put out that cigaretl" called the
ever Watchful major, as a detachment
marched by him NO smoking on the
roadr'
And so they began the march into
Z the night, over four miles Of road
81 Id
masks fastened across their chests, in
the alert position rifles at ease, with
all the carefree spirit Of a picnic
party, although there is not one Of
them who cherishes any fond illu-
sious as 70 what he is going into
Just across the hill a party Of
three slightly wounded Frenchmeu
were coming back. Two had their
arms bandaged- The third HmpeQ
slightly and walked with two canes
As one man they stopped The ban
daged right hand OF the first was
raised IN salute. the second used his
good left arm, while the third dropped
both his canes and stood at attention
saiuting the vanguard Of the adTanc-
ing column.
The first decent day in a week gave
the troops a fair marching road along
which they moved TO the accompani-
ment Of creakinE wagon wheels and
the subdued Guessing" OF the mule
teers- It was decided change from
the wet, dreary morning they set out
on their hike Then a heavy. pelt-
ing rain, coupled with icy roads, slip
perry as glass, made marching any
thing but a pleasure. By noon there
was not a man in the unit who was
not soaked. The rain made their
overcOats sOdden. adding pounds 10
rifle, kit and equipment
gT-fdTFno- TrmeIr Tamn Rad
Several miles outside their billet OF
departure a truck skidded clear across
the road and turned sideways, front
wheels in the ditch blocking the
whole train Mule teams coming up
behind slipped and slid, Laundering
alternately through the mud in the
valleys, skating on the ice Of the
hilltops one team fell off a 20 foot
embankment. injuring the driver and
his helper. while two OF the mules had
TO be shot
There was a Jam that looked hope
to get through the tangle, turning
off the road and humping over the
three foot, water filled ditch with a
terrific JOLT arriving at the scene OF
the mishap.
The general hoped out and stood
on the bank, the rain dripping off MS
helmet and soaking his fur coat until
the garment looked like a cat that
had been thrown into a millstream-
A detachment OF "dOughboys" was
brought uP across the fields and al
together they pushed at the truck,
fairly lifting the five ton vehicle out
on to the road. AS the wheels spun
round one OF the boys fell plump
into the Icy water
Better try and get some dry
clothes" advised the general
They'll dry of bit as march,
sir" replied the "doughboyi" shaking
himself ike a terrier
IAN right" smiled the general, and
the column was again set in motion
"Tu make some bloody Fritz pay
for this" growled a lank Iowa boy
as he picked himself up for the third
time and rescued his rifle from the
other side Of the road Damn those
Germans, anyway"
Don't let EN- get your goat. Bill"
advised his buddy with a grin
"Aw. you 90 to -" replied Iowa
only wish We had a little Of the
heat up here" shot back the ire
pressi5le.
Colonel Picks Up DOughbOy.
A colonel came along on his horse. !
Lucky guy, If his haWss don't fall
on him." commented a Tennesean-
fiHev. yOu,' called out the colonel, !
addressing a "doughboy" a little up
ahead. What's the matter with your
The man was umping badly.
"Must'a twisted my foot last time I
I tumbled, sir" answered the man.
The colonel got down.
Get up here" he commanded
The private developed as bad a I
case Of stage fright as was ever seen /
Il think I can manage. sir" he I
stammered-
Nonsense said the colonel can
you rider
yes, sir"
Then up you get"
The private would rather have gone /
over the top by himself, but an order I