The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1918-05-09
in two minutes were blazing away. Il
was q thrilling sight.
Torn by Shells

Torn by Shells
In going forward we went around
the end OF the larger wood I'm front Of
us, over ground that was torn TO bits
by the heavy shell fire that had just
preceded. over another edge, across
valley, and under the crest OF a hill.
And here we found the tanks going
over the top of the hill to take up
their position. At this point we were
still about a mile from the front line.
At this place opened up an aid post
under the crest Of the hill to take care
Of what wounded came in while we
were getting into position.
Shrapnel was bursting In the air,
shells were whizzlng overhead, and our
guns behind me were belching forth
the fire. The noise was deafenlng.
A railroad ran through the valley
and an engine pulling a couple Of fiat
cars was going by. A couple Of SOL
diers were sitting on the rear truck
swinging their feet. A shell burst on
the track and only missed the last car
about fifteen yards. Neither man was
hit and the train went blithely on.
By this time It was getting along
toward evening. the sun was sinking
in the west, and finally went down a
great ball of fire. At the time, I re-
member, l noticed its color. 1t was
blood red and had sinister look. Was
1t my Imagination, or might 1t have
been a premonition? At any rate,
shall never forget the color of the sun
as 1t set that night at the end of the
first day of probably one Of the great.
est battles In history. 1t certainly
didn't look good to me.
The drumming of the guns cOntin,
ued, twilight gradually deepened into
night, the signalers stopped their wig
wagging and took up their flash sig
nails, a fog dropped down on us and
put the lights out Of business, and
when we left to go forward under tine
cover of darkness they were busy put
ting out their telephone lines-signal
ers and runners don't have an easy
time.
Shell Dump Goes Up.
Behind US a shell landed in an am
munition dump and it went up with
roar; then the rifle ammunition started
going off like a great bunch of fire
crackers, and great tongues of flame
lit up the sky.
1t is reported that the Germans haC
broken through our line and we were
to counter-attack in the morning. W.
got into positions without a single
casualty. l opened an aid post in al
old dugout and settled down to sleeI
until morning. You may think it fun
ny that one could sleep under sucl
conditions, but l had been up since
5 80, had tramped about six or sever
miles, had had a rather trying da!
and was dog tired.
Just like some of the warm days W.
get the last of March at home. II
going forward it was necessar!
| for us to march seventy-f1ve yards II
front of three batteries of field guns
There are six guns to battery. The,
shoot an eighteen-pound shell AM
while we were there each gun wa
shooting twice to the minute. YOl
can imagine the racket when l tel
you that the discharge of one gun cal
be heard about four miles. In add
ton the Boche was trying to knOc
out this battery and he was drOppin
his six inch shells little too close 70
comfort.
Nearly in a Trap.
Then l made a lovely mistake.
was to establish an aid post near bat
TALON headquarters and went blithel
on when l met company commando
and asked him where to go.
Back there about quarter Of
mile" he replied. "This is the from
center company. If you keep on 4
the direction you are going you ar
going up over that ridge and Fritz Wi
be waiting for you with a machin
gun"
So my sergeant and orderly an
myself didn't waste any time In cleal
ing. On the way back found gallo
can full of water, got into a cOrrugate
iron shelter and had a wash and
shave. It certainly felt good. I don
believe I had washed for thirty-si
hours. It was warm and bright.
could look out Of my shelter and sc
our support lines digging themselve
in several hundred yards away. Th
| nnnCnH thu ahfnn
settled down to an occasional fitfU
burst and it was midday Of a beautifU
spring day.
A couple Of partridge few over MI
What did they know or care about a
this noise and racket and men gettin
up in line and killing each other?
Along about three o'clock things b.
gan to liven up again. In the meal
time headquarters had been establish
ed in a sunken road with banks abou
fifteen feet high on either side Gate
this cut was half filed with dead
MY aid post was in a dugout near b
and gradually things got hotter an
hotter.
Our men had dug themselves
and were popping away with the
Z rifles. The field batteries behind Z
were putting up a barrage, airplane
were circling overhead, both ours an
the Germans. The Germans put up
counter-barrage, the machine CUR
were going like mad. I was standin
with the colonel on little rise {
ground above the sunken road whe
the Germans broke through about
mile to the north Of US. They coul
be plainly seen pouring over the ride
in close formation.
Tanks Get Into Action.
Then the tanks came up, and 20
should have seen them runl Just liH
rabbits! The tanks retired; tt
Boches reformed and came at
again. They tell me that at certai
places our men withstoOd fifteen su
| coSeivo attacks and that the German