The Robesonian., 1918-08-12
lover the Top"
Bv An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Machine Gunner Se,oins In France
(Copyright, 1917, by Arthur Guy Hmpey)
Machine Gunner Sesoins In France

Ihe bursting shells were making
such din that I packed up talking
and took to watching the captain. He
was fidgeting around on an old sand
bag with the glass to his eye. Occa-
sionally he would let out grunt, and
make some remark I couldn't hear on
account of the noise, but I guessed
what it was all right. Fritz was get
ting fresh again on that road.
t"Cassell had been sending in the tap
code to me, but I was fed up and
didn't bother with 1t. Then he sent
O. S., and I was all attention, for this
was a call used between us which
meant that something important was
on. was all ears in an instant. Then
Cassell turned loose
"'Yod blankety blank dud, I have
been trying to raise you for fifteen
minutes. What's the matter, are you
asleep? (Just as If anyone could
have slept in that Internal racket y
Never mind framing a nasty answer.
Just listen
"'Are you game for putting some
thing over on the Boches and Old Pep
per all in one?'
Il answered that ] was game enough
when it came to putting 1t over the
Boches, but confessed that I had q
weakening of the spine, even at the
mention Of Old Peppers name.
''He came back with, It's so absurd.
ly easy and simple that there is no
chance of the old heather rumbling it.
Anyway, if we're caught, I'll take the
blame.'
Under these condition told him to
spit out his scheme. It was so daring
and simple that it took my breath
away. This Is what he proposed:
IF the Boches should use that road
again, to send by the tap system the
target and range. I had previously
told him about our captain talking out
loud as If he were sending through
orders. Well, if this happened, was
to send the dope to Cassell and he
would transmit 1t to the battery COM
mander as officially coming through
the observation post. Then the bat
terry would open up. Afterwards, dur
ing the investigation, Cassell would
swear he received it direct. They
would have to relieve him, because It
was impossible from his post in the
battery dugout to know that the road
was being used at that time by the
Germans. And also 1t was impossible
for him 20 give the target, range an6
degrees. You know battery chart Is
not passed around among the men like
a newspaper from Blighty. From hin
the investigation would 60 to the ob
servation post, and the observing Off
) Ger could truthfully swear that ha,
not sent the message by phone, an,
that no orders to fire had been issue,
oy him. The Investigators would thel
&c Up In the air, we would be safe, tn
| Boches would receive a good bashins
and we would get our own back on Oh
Pepper. It was too good to be true
I gleeful1y fell in With the scheme
and told Cassell I was his meat.
'1Then I waited with beating heal
and watched the captain like hawl
"He was beginning to fdget agai
and was drumming on the sandbas
with his feet. At last, turning to M
he said:
Wilson. this army is a blanke
blank washout. What's the use Of ha
ing artillery if it is not allowed to fir
The government at home ought to
hanged with some of their red tar
It's through them that we have
Shells
Il answered, Yes, SIR and start
sending this opinion over the wire
Cassell, but the captain interrupt
me with:
"Keep those internal fingers st
What's the matter, getting the nerve
i When I'm talking to you, pay att!