The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-23
WIN the George Matthew Adams Service


GERS legs, which might have made 1t
worse, only he was good-natured about
1t. Then he said that ne had been
asleep In battalion headquarters dug
out, about hundred yards away, and
only walked up when part of the roof
caved In on him. Yet he did not know
he had been shelled!
went on down the road a stretch,
but soon found 1t was easier walking
beside 1t, because the Huns had shelled
1t neatly right up and down the middle.
Also, there were so many wrecked
horses and wagons to climb over on
the road-besldes dead men.
After I had passed the area Of the
bombardment and got back on the
road sat down to rest and smoke. A
couple Of shells had burst so near the
crater that they had thrown the dirt
right into the dugout. and l was little
dizzy from the shock. While was sit
ting there a squad Of Tommies came
up with about twice their number of
German prisoners. The TommieS had
been making Fritz do the goose step
and they started them at 1t again when
they saw me sitting there. 1t sure
Is good for laugh any time, this
goose step. I guess they call 1t that
after the fellow who invented it.
One thing had noticed about Fritz
was the way his coat flared out at the
bottom, SO I took this chance to find
out about 1t, while they halted for
rest just q little farther down the
road. found that they carried their
emergency kits in their coats. These
kits contained canned meat, tobacco,
needles, thread and plaster-all this
In addition to their regular pack.
Then I drilled down the road some
more, but had to stop pretty soon to
let q column of French infantry swing
on to the road from a field. They
were on their way to the trenches as
re-enforcements. After every two
companies there would be wagon.
Pretty soon I saw the uniform Of the
Legion. Then company Of my regi-
ment came up and wheeled In with
them. We were In the rear of the col
umn that had passed. Our boys were
going up for their regular stunt in the
front lines, while the others had just
arrived at that part of the front.
Then for the first time my feet be.
gan hurting me. Our boots were made
Of rough cowhide and fitted very well
but It was days labor to carry them
on your feet. I began tagging behind
would lag twenty or thirty yards
behind and then try to catch up. But
the thousands Of men ahead of me
kept up the steady pace and very few
limped, though they had been on the
march since 3 a. m. 1t was then about
II q. m. Those who did limp were
carried In the wagons. But had seen
: very few men besides the drivers rid.
; ing In the wagons, and l wanted to
be as tough as the next guy, so kept
on. But, believe me, was sure glad
when we halted for a rest along the
road.
That Is, the re-enforcements did
Our company Of the Legion had moi
come from so far. and when the front
Of the column had drawn out Of the
way along the road we kept on filing
as the saying Is. / did not care about
being tough then, and was ready fol
the wagon.
Only now there were no wagons
They belonged with the other troops
. So had to ease along as best could
!: for what seemed like hours--t0 my
feet-until we turned off onto another
road and halted for rest. / found
out later that our officers had gone
: astray and were lost ut this time
though, Of course. they did not tel
us so.
We arrived at our section Of the
trench about three o'clock that after
noon and rejoined my company.
was all tired out after this trek and
found myself longing for the Cassard
: and the rolling wave. where no Mara
!. thons and five-mile hikes were neces
! sary. But this was not In store fol
me-yet.