The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-10-21

making these people understand my base though-s and low sentiments. l They would merely repeat their talk ] of ''modesty.''
 H., April 8. 1915
 l am back with my old company "a piece of good luck. And what is more I have been promoted corporal.
 No small thing eh?
 Just the same, it made me happy.
 I was touched by the friendly spir- it of the fellows. Gaston shook my hand at least six times, muttering: "Ah, mon vieux, mon vieux, how | have missed, you"
 This does one good.
 And I better not get lost in the question as to how much of all this attachment I deserve.
 Back to the Firing Line
 H. April 12, 1915
 A few days after my return to the troops we went back to the firing line.
 Yeesterday I was in the second line of trenches. The Germans be- gan an attack that was made in earnest. There was an incessant laundering of cannon. We had to withdraw to our hiding places and wait-for hours and hour. A few times I clambered up to look through a periscope which a sergeant loaned me. Nothing to be discover ed-nothing but smoke. Apparently our officers did not think that our turn would come very soon. I am glad of it, I thought. I could not see anything attractive in a hand-to- hand fight. I am not afraid of a gun wound, but when I think of get ting bayonet thrust I shudder. | It cannot be helped. We have to take whatever comes along. April 18th, 1915 Nothing in particular happened on the day on which the above was writ | ten.
 l But the next day! Not even now, five days later, have I regained my 1 equilibrium. Shall I be proud of my conduct later on? Or shall I be ashamed of it? When I am with others I can be cheerful. When I am alone or when I lie awake at night I feel very uncertain. But I could have acted differently in the circumstances?
 Preparing for Attack l In the early morning of the 18th the cannonading was resumed, and again we had hours of exhausting ex- pectation. Towards noon we noticed that an unusual event was coming, The captain shouted something, could not understand a word. Cas- ton understood-the wire entangle- ments in front of the first line of trenches had been shot to pieces. We had to hold ourselves ready. There was incessant telephoning.
 ''They are coming" someone yell ed. I could not restran myself any longer, and looked over the edge o1 the trench.
 They were coming, indeed; I saw them. In broad, irregular rows, they were running towards us. Straight towards me, it seemed. And behind them there came others, and still oth, CTS, ever more. The German gun: were silent now. And then sudden '. ly ours began to roar with redoublet i vigor.
 Holes, narrow cIefts, and Assures were torn in the massive grey pillow: that came rolling towards us.
 Mot a single one will get through l heard someone shout. But behind the first wave came
 second one, and third one behini that. I saw them approach, losins :. in vigor. yet remaining strong. When Fear Disappears. : We are ready In that moment felt no fear! Like the others, I wa burning to fly out of the trenches Suddenly a strange silence came, ans then the call: "Allaquez! Ale quez!"
 We clambered up, jumped over tn edge of the trench, and ran forward : In front, to the left, to the right everywhere there were French SOL
 diers storming forward.
 I saw the Germans coming nearer in their dirty grey uniforms, in row
 in heaps and in smaller groups, som even singly. I saw the glistenin and fickering oe their bayonets. heard them yell and shout. NJ heart thumped 50 hard -Zaat had diff
 ficulty in breathIng. Around me OH . men were shouting loudly. I wa
 shouting, too ,and falt relieved wheI I heard my own vCico, however indis tinctly Now and then a rife sho
 could be heard. We were runnin
 fast m avant! En ayant," Suddenly I became aware of de sire to hold back a little. and there
 by to postpone, if only for singI ! second, the terrible moment of th v clash. I happened to be pushed by t comrade behind me, and I flew fo- , ward again.
 |. At last we had reached t.se Ger s mans. Six steps in front Of me t saw Gaston bayoneting an officer. NC
 8 second later the poor chap fell him I self-hit by a rife shot, as I learne a later.
 Suddenly a big German stood be t fore me, a deathly rallor on hi n mouth drown his eyes crazed wit 7 fear. His terror gave me courae l and feeling of superiority. I jump : ed on him. He tried to defend hin, : self, but with all my strength s plunged my bayonet into his body. Bravo, Caporal!' I heard someon Il call While with the greatest diff = culty I pulled my gun out-it was be u :. ing sucked into the wound, oh, hol ror!-scores of my comrades ran pas
 tried to catch up with them, stun
 bled over a body, and fell, with m
 head to the ground.
 if But immediately I got up again an n ran forward, more slowly, however
 my legs felt weak and powerless.
 saw one of our men struggling wit if an enemy. I stopped for mone1 ,t and drove my bayonet into his bod r, Forward again! I had no further CT