Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER ".

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The scene OF the slaughter could
nov be- surveyed ~ leisure Dead and
wounded were sfrcwn All around and
ever them clouds Of smoke aud flames
made The air thick 3nt We were al
resty too hardened TO feel much pity.
Hnsnanity VAS thrown TO the winds
and TIE cries and begging Of the
wounded left everybody cold.
Some Catholic sisters lay dead IN
front " their convent The only build
ing that eax spared Ia penrhery WAS
the armofy o. the Twenty third French
Dragons
There was DOT much time Ia which
70 60 anything. for ~ seven O'Clock
ths French began 20 hua shells into
she village. We fortified ourselves be
hind thick garden wall directly Ia
front 81 the Mouse. The river bank
~ this point was Fat. but on the oppo.
site side Il was steep. Here the French
Infantry had dug itself Ia and es,ab-
hshed three lines, one above the other.
The artillery frinr was too far We
did not come within is range NO that
We were ahie 10 observe the effect OF
the Smelling 81 our own artillery on the
enemy infantry positions before us
The 2i-eentlmser shells raced by
shove our heads and burst With a fear
fui noise IN the eneuy's trenches.
The French could not resist this hnll
Of shot very long. They soon aban-
6oned all the heights on the river
bank. They abandoned Soudan with. |
out night and Il was left Intact. which |
had not been the case with ponchery. |
Hardly a house had suffered.
When the begles sounded Ia Don.
cherry. Il was discovered that our com
pauy had lost - men IN battle. A po-
sltlon WAS taken behind tho drng0on
srDory and our company. which now
was reduced 10 % men. was ordered
% attempt the building of pontoon
bridge over the Meuse. After We had
been REINFORCED BY ~ men. we
marched 10 small detechments ia or
der not % draw the encmy's attention
20 US After an hours march We
stopped Ia small forest about 200
meters FROM the Meuse 10 rest until
darkness set IN AT twilight a division
bridge train was driven up close 10
eur hiding place This was soon fol-
io~ed by corps bridge train AS a re-
serve. After ail preparations were
made and the mails advance work.
such a. setting ~ the bridge stays and
landing platforms were rcedy. The
single pontoon wagons drove ap. They
were speedily but sllenty unloaded.
We completed four pontoons. that Is,
20 meters II bridge. without the enemy
discovering anything.
Then suddenly the searchiieht OF
the enemy was set Ia action and
SCANNED the river We dropped 70 the
ground 81 onee. The enemy must have
seen a.. Tor the seaFchllghts played
here and there and KEEP, our bridge
position under continuous glare We
~err discovered hardly before We !
knew what had happened, aud rain
n ere fefi Ia the water in frout 81
Is We continued 10 he flat on the 9
rrouna a. -four more shots struck the 4
aafer. this filne a little nearer 20 the
bridge and one shot hlt the bank AZ T
1nre = third rain ~ shot followed aud r
lHo struck The bridge. Two men fell 8
Ia the water and two lay dead on the u
bridge Those 81 she wster swan q
shore and escaped none the worse Tor o
heir erperienee except for a bath
10 spite u ne continued volume u n
artillery Are. NE brought She two dead q
nen 10 land The bridge was nsw y
yrestiy damaged and there NRs no
.hairs except 70 replace the damaged y
,ontoons By new ones. We began this a
'irseult task as soon IS the artillery O
Ire LET W. hardly had Ne begun u q
gain when salyo struck Snd greatly q
'snsrea the bridge. Fortunately we b
lad no losses. We were E0w ordered q
o retire. and after q half hour begin y
NEW. The enerny's searehiights we're 4
lo~ dark We brought about Ten pom. r.
ocns Up without interference and taen q
Ne were suddenly bonibarded again. q
We bec sttracte1 the attention 81 the o
snsfny's patrol.
Several batteries nov opened IRE on b
ss at one Dine and after ten minutes y,
the entire work Was only q pile or q
srsekaxe. Two more Eoep were kl1sd 0
The order now esIne TO retire. Eight q