The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-05-28
HUN DROPS DEAD WITH bAYONET
POISED; HOW A CHUM SAVED HIS
LIFE IS TOLD BY PVT. WILLIAMS

bulator and instead of finding the
child that should have been there,
they looked into the face of an old
man, who looked $50 years old"
After a veritable rain of shells into
the village of Ypres had been weather
ed by the Canadians, they were trans.
ferred to the front lines of the allies
and were located in a sector with
some Turkos, British negro troops. Il
was at this time that Private Will
liams was gassed. practically the first
time gas was used by the Germans on
the Canadians.
CASSED
The Turkos, being superstitious. af.
tor they saw the results of the sweep
ing forward of the great clouds of blue
smoke, deserted, leaving the Canadi.
ans to fill their places, which the Can,
adams promptly did With less than
1000 men on u great frontage, the
Canadians were attacked by the Ger
mans who were thrown back by a
heavy rife fire. The Germans, had ap-
parently thought the Canadians would
be annihilated by the poisonous gas
and were SO taken back to find any
men In the trenches that they were
unable to continue their fight
Right here" declared Williams,
the Huns could have broken through
our lines with little trouble and ended
the war by taking Calais
STATIONED AT ALBERT
After being gassed at the front lines
with other Canadians Williams was
sent back to the interior of France for
a rest of a week, after which he was
assigned to a new position where he
stayed during the last part of 1915 and
until September, 1916. when he was
sent to the Somme battle front where
he received his bayonet wound.
During the time between the first
and last of 1916. Williams was station.
ed in the village of Albert, which the
Huns captured in their recent often
Sivc. ' NJ 'it t'
Soon after being assigned to the
Somme front. Williams battalion was
ordered to the front line where the
Canadians were TO connect the British
and French lines after 'an allied often,
sive the first battle of the Somme.
With picks and shovels, the Canad-
ians advancedlto !within15 yards of
the German front atlines. entrenching
there under great difficulties.
LINEN, LoSTcIN MUD
The order came then for the Canad-
ians to rush the Hun, trenches, Dur
ing the advance across No Mans Land
many of tho Canadians were lost in
the mud, sinking in and being com
pletely swallowed up. IL was during
this advance, in which he had been
assigned to the third line trenches.
that Williams was wounded by Ger
man bayonet
Feeling that there was someone be-.
hind him, Williams looked about and
saw u big German with bayonet
poised at him, ready to strike. With
the shining steel point still poised, the
big Hun suddenly collapsed, the bayo.
net striking Williams in the abdomen.
II was his companion who had shot
the German when the latter had the
advantage of Williams he having
fallen in the mud, was completely at
the mercy of the Teuton.
The Canadians had had nothing to
eat for three days and were in poor
shape to attack and when he fell into
a shell hole, Williams soon lapsed in
to unconsciousness, remaining I'm the
crater for two days and two nights. at
the end of which he was picked up by
a relief party. .".. -.'
NEGRO REVERTG TO RAZOR '
A case where the "od reliable"
came into use was told OF by Williams
in connection with the attack in which
he was Wounded A negro had been
practicing bayonet drill and was the
expert bayonet fighter of the battal
ion. AS Il result. everyone was look
lug for great lighting from the negro
in the attack. The colored man went
over the top with the rest and just
before entering a German trench, en-
countercd huge German officer. The
colored man stood moment, then
threw down his gun, reached in his
hlppoCket. drew forth a large "soci-
ETY. razor and proceeded to finish his
man In his own way
Private Williams. In telling of the
attack, gave description of how the
troops 80 over the top. First, a heavy
harrage Is laid down by the artillery
which lasts for three minutes. The
minutes are told off by the lieutenants
in command of the men and then the
signal to go over the top Is given,
Once in No Mans Land. one Ia far
safer than when he Is just going over