El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-04

] EAtA U- q POKE IN the rluS from
J Scarfe- Time TO shift, mate"
7 rose to my feet and. following the
I instructions OF the officer. led the
way along the trench. The Germans
had ALREADY, with their usual indus
try got the trench into some sort
Of shape again. with the parapet
shifted over 20 the other side and
facting Below aarde wood.
Everywhere along the parapet
noticed the bodies OF our dead
who were put there to replace
sand bags. Others lay on the
pnrHdOs ut the rear. The faces OF
the men we knew and had called
comrades looked at Us now in
Ehastly disurray for odd sections
OF both walls. Already they were
taking "A brick like shape from
the weight OF the filled hays on
top OF them. In places the legs
and arms protruded. brushing Us
ns we passed. However, this was
war.
As prisoners, we had. Of course. to
crowd by the other German occU-
pants Of the trench. And each took a
poke al us rs we went by. some with
their bayonets, saying, ~EnElander
schwein-' There were in these men a
blind. q vicious rage which took no
account OF our helpless condition.
Cursed BY Germans
They cuffed us; they buffeted US,
they pricked us cruelty with their
saw haTonets, and laughed and
sneered as we flinched and lodged
awlwardly aside. They cursed u.s.
Shortly, we were led into the pres
ence Of man whom I can never for
get He wore glasses. and on his up
per lip there hloomcd such a dainty
moustache as is affected by Little
Willie" as we called the German
crown prince He had the eve Of a
ones blood seemed TO stop circulat-
ing
He seized me by the shoulder and
placed his revolver against my temple
Then and there 7 ferveutly prayed
that he would pull the trigger and
end it all I was FED up"
The all day bombardmeut. the last
terrible slaughter OF helpless men.
the rain and cold. combining with the
pain Of the row wound in my side. had
got on my nerves. With the revolver
still az my head 7 turned to Scarfe I
us in, Charlie. ] only hope they's do &c J
properly None OF that bayOnet stuff
Bullets for me-
Already the PruSsians were
c-oyydinE around Us threnteuinEIy
again, with their saw edged bay
onets. some or which were
fixed in the rifle. others cIaspcd /
n butchery ~ had occurred earlier
In the afternoon, when I was 80
nearly nEed.
Might as well Kill US outright as
scare US TO DEATH" complained Scarfe /
Nevertheless. our hearts leaped 4
when a moment later our mysterious
black officer friend hove in sight
Life is sweet We had TO listen 20 our
fate discussed in language and ges-
.ure so eloquent. and so frauCht with 1
terrible importance 20 US that our
sensitized minds could miss no small.
est point Of each fine shade Of mean
ms
Little Willie thought fl, scarcely +.
worth their while 10 bother with so
worth the trouble TO send "a miser-
able ten OF 'verdamnt Englander' back
10 the fatherland. Better 10 kill them
like the swine they were"
Black officer Saves Them.
Our blood frOZe 20 hear the man and
Ing from his very pore in every ges-
ture and I'm each fresh infection OF
his voice And all his men shouted T
their fierce approval and shook in {
our faces their hlOOdstained butchers
bayOnets- We pictured ourselves held +
down as hogs are held and the fiends
Ia clinE at our threats.
The black officer thought other
wise. and minced no words in saying
so. Our hearts leapt out to him
warmly. He SHARPLY ordered them to ]
desist, at which they skunk sullenly
away. as hungry dogs do from bone.
I felt an uncomfortable physical sen
sation, and ran my hand beneath ny
shirt I was covered with a fine
sweat.
Afterwards we were entrained fori
Giessen. Our wounded were getting
into a teErply bad way by this time
II was ssible 10 avoid trampling
one one bther.
OutsidUsbne station the guard made
us line up 20 watch them eat OF a
hearty repast which their Red Cross f
women had just brought them When
we, too asked for food these females
replied. NIX. nix"
Such Red Cross members met US
Mt every station. including women