The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-03-30

we were marching along, laughing, ant
singh one of Tommy's trench ditties
to go home. 1 want to go home
uo.-f want to go to the trenches M
I more
Where sausages and whizz- bangs are ga
Take me over the sea, Where the ALLIE.
mand can't get at me.
Oh. my. dom. want to die,
want to 20 home"
when overhead came "swish" through
the air. rapidly followed by three 9th.
ers. Then about two hundred yards to
our left In large field, four columns
or black earth and smoke rose into the
air, and the ground trembled from the
report-the explosion Of four German
five-nine's, or "coalboxes." A sharp
whistle blast, Immediately followed by
two short ones, rang out from the head
OF our column. This was to take up
ARTILLERY formation"/W We divided into
small squads and went into the fields
on the right and left of the road, and
crouched on the ground. No other
shells followed this salvo. 1t was our
first baptism by shell fire. From the
waist up was all enthusiasm, but from
there down, everything was missing. /
Thought I should die with fright.
After awhile, we reformed into col
umns of fours, and proceeded on our
way.
About five that night, we reached the
ruined village of H, and got my
first sight of the awful destruction
caused by German Kultur.
Marching down the main street we
came to the heart OF the village, and
took up quarters in shelproof cellars
(shellproof until hit by a SHELF. Shells
were constantly whistling over the vii
lage and bursting in our rear, search
ing for our artillery.
These cellars were cold, damp aud
smelly, and overrun with large rats
big black fellows. Most Of the Tom
mics slept with their overcoats over
their faces. l did not. In the middle
of the night l woke up in terror. The
cold, clammy feet of rat had passed
over my face. Immediately smoth-
cred myself in my overcoat, but could
not sleep for the rest Of that night.
Next evening, we took over our sec
tor of the line. In single file we wend.
ed our way through a zigzag COM
munication trench. six inches deep
with mud. This trench was called
whisky street" On our way up to
the front line an occasional flare Of
bursting shrapnel would light up the
sky and we could hear the fragments
slapping the ground above us on our
right and left. Then Fritz would
traverse back and forth with his "type-
writer" or machine gun. The bullets
made sharp cracking noise overhead.
The boy in front Of me named Prem
tice crumpled up without word. A
piece of shell had gone through his
shrapnelproof helmet. felt sick and
weak.
In about thirty minutes we reached
the front line. II was dark as pitch.
Every now and then a German star
shell would pierce the blackness out
In front with its silvery light. l was
all over, and felt very lonely
md afraid. All orders were given In
whispers. The company we relieved
iled past us and disappeared into the
)lackness of the communication trench
eading to the rear. AS they passed us,
hey whispered, "The best o. luck |
nates." -
1 sat on the fire step of the trench
With the rest Of the men. In each
two of the older men had been
tut on guard with their heads sticking
'ver the top, and with their eyes try
ng to pierce the blackness in mo
dan's Land" In this trench there
we're only two dugOuts, and these were
lsed by Lewis and Vickers machine
so it was the fire step for
urs. Pretty soon II started to rain.
We put on our 'macks," but they were
OF much protection. The rain trickled
own our backs, and II was not long
efOre we were wet and cold. How I
assed that night will never know,
ut without any unusual occurrence,
avn arrived.
The word "stand down" was passed
long the line, and the sentries got
own off the fire step. Pretty soon the
INN issue came along, and 1t was a
odsend. 1t warmed our chilled bodies
nd put new life into us. Then from
he communication trenches came
ixies or iron pots. filed with steam
lg tea, which had two wooden stakes
trough their handles, and were car
ed by two men. / filed my canteen
nd drank the hot tea without taking
from my lips. IT was not long be-
ire was asleep In the mud on the
re step.
My ambition had been attainedl I
as In front-line trench on the west
n front. and oh, how wished / were
cx I'm Jersov Civ