The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1918-10-10
CHAPTER XIII.
Llmeys, Anzacs and PoiIus.

One night while we were expecting
an attack, the word was passed down
the line to have the wire cutters ready
and to use bayonets only for the first
part of the attack, for we were to try
and take the first enemy trench BY
surprise. The first trench was only
about eighty yards away. Our big guns
opened up and at zero we climbed out
and followed the curtain Of fire too
closely, 1t seemed to me.
But the barrage stopped too soon.
as it does sometimes, and there were
plenty of Turks left. We were half
way across when they saw us, and
they began banging away at us very
hard. They pounded at US as we came
on until we were given the order to
retire, almost as we were on them
what was left of us.
AS we turned and started back the
Turks rushed out to counter-attack us,
the first of them busy with bombs.
Then | tripped over something and
rolled around while and then saw
it was Philippe Pierre. His left leg
shot away and the leg hanging to the
rest of him by q shred. Two or three
of our men who were on their way
back to our trenches tripped over me
us tried to get up, and then shell
exploded near by and thought l had
got 1t sure, but it was only the rocks
thrown up by the explosion.
Finally l was able to stand up. SO
l slung my rifle over one shoulder
and got Philippe Pierre up on tht
other, with his body from the waist
up hanging over my back, so that
could hold his wounded leg on, and
started back. There was only one or
two of our men left between the
trenches. Our machine guns were at
it hard and the Turks were firing and
bombing at full speed.
| had not gone more than two or
three PAGES when l came across
another of our men, wounded In sew
eral places and grooming away at n
great rate. Philippe Pierre was not
saying word, but the other chap
did enough for the two of them. One
wounded man was all l could manage,
with my rifle and pack, over the rough
ground and the barbed wire | had tc
90 through. So / told this fellow,
whose name ! cannot remember
never did know him very well-that
would come back for him. and went
on. I almost fell several times, but
managed to get through safely and
rolled over our parapet with Philippe
Pierre. They started the lad back in
n stretcher right away. When / saw
him again he gave me n little box as
Il souvenir, but I have lost 1t.
The Turks had not got very far with
their counter-attack, because we were
able to get our barrage going In time
to check them. But they We're still Out
In front of their trenches when
started back after the other garby
| was not exactly afraid as | crawlec
along searching for the other man
but l was very thirsty and nervous
for fear our barrage would beeir
again or the machine guns cut loose
After what seemed long time came
upon a wounded man, but he was moi
the one / was after. / thought abou
"a bird In the hand" ETC., and was JUS
starting to pick this chap up wher
shell burst almost on US anC
knocked me two or three feet away
1t is wonder 1t did not kill botl
of us, but neither of us was hurt.
thought the fire would get heavier
then, so l dragged the other chap Int
one of two holes made by the shell
Some pieces of the shell had .stuel
into the dirt in the hole and they wer,