Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-28
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neir bayonets, they came to 4 Gerhfsn
communication treuch, which ended III 4
a blindsap, and then the captain, and
what was left OF his men, knew they
were in a trap. They would not re-
ire. ID company never retired. and
hey were ID company. Right in front
II them they could see hundreds Of
Germans preparing to rush them With
bomb and bayonet. They would hafB
some chance II ammunition and bornbs
could reach them from the rear. Their
supply was exhausted, and the men
realized 1t would be a case OF dying
as bravely as possible. or making q ruA
for 1t. But u company would nAts
run. Il was against their traditions
and principles. r
The Germans would have to advance ,
across an open space OF three 60 fOHR }
hundred yards before they could sst
within bombing distance OF the tsenth,
and then 1t would be ell their own was.
Turning to his company, the cartsia
said: lAN
'Men, it's case OF going West for =
Us. We are out of ammunition ara !.
bombs, and the Boches have as knis
rap. They will bomb us out. Our
bayonets are useless here. We wgil
have to 60 over and meet them. ana
It's case OF thirty to one, so sena
every thrust home, and die like t&k
men OF ID company should. WheA "
Give the word. follow me- aud up ~
az mem. Give them h--A- Lard, MI,
we only had machine gun, Wv cpEf
wipe Them outl HerA they come. gth
ready, men,"
just as he finished speaking thSwk nv
come ''pup-pup" Of machine ktsH ny
their rear rang out, and the front Him
Of the onrushins Germans seemed "
melt away. They wavered. bat d1e4
again came rushing onward. p1n'n'
went their second line. The mAchipA
gun was taking an awful toll OF 1--we.
Then again they tried to advance het
the machine gun moved them dow0-
Dropping their rifles and bombs. they
broke and fed in wild rush bacA h.
their trench. amid the cheers cS ~IS,
company. They were forming acslss
for another attempt, when In the rear.
OF u company came mighty cheer
The ammunition had arrived and with
II Il battalion of Scotch to re-enfofco
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
In the nick OF time. f@
With the rc-enforcements it was sn
easy task TO take the third Germsu
line. - ,ts ~
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three OF bis noncommis sioned
officers. wendell their way back to Stbe
position where the machine gun had
done its deadly work. He wanted TO
thank the gunner In the name offD
company for his magnificent deed.
They arrived at the gun, and an awfdf
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the ffcnt hpe
trench, after his company had left It. A
strange company was niupbiy crawling.
up the trench ladders. They were rc-
endorsements going over. They were
Scotties, and they made a magnincOht
sight In their brightly coiored kllss ahd.
bare knees. ~
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd rHcsd
across "N0 Mans Land" unlloedlng the
rain of bullets. Ieaping over darn fDSMss
on the ground, some OF which lay still
while others called out ~ him IN W
speeded past.
He came to the German front HAe,
but 1T was deserted. except for hee8is
of dead and wounded--a grim trthufA,
to the work Of his company. gocd aih
ID company. Leaping trenches. am
gasping for breath, Lloyd could ssA
right ahead OF him his company int =
dead-ended sap Of q communications
trench, and across the open, away -
front of them. q mass Of Germans ptsb
pairing for q charge. Why d1dny y
company FIRE on themf Why were tke0
so strangely siientf What were ths3
waiting for? Then he knew--ttefr sfAs
naunition was exhausted. ri
But what was that on his f493k? N
machine gun. Why didn't II open Att
and save thcm7 He would make tnAt
guns crew do their duty. KnshfA&
over to the sun he saw why II had f4t
opened fire. Scattered around fss bs3S
lay six still forms. They had bsoH1at
their gun to consolidate the oAptsi4A
position, bat q German machine ~
had deereed they yonid nsssr M
again. .sNf
Lloyd rushed to tho gun and, trasE
ing the trayersinK handles. trAiasd ~
on the Germans. BE pressed tho thttnA
piece. but only a sharp click vas ~
result. The gun was unloaded. Yht(e
he realized his helplessness. He -
not know how to load the Gun. 0Mi
why hadn't he attended the mRch3@~t
gun course in Englandf Hsd sAeueI
offered the chance, but with q heuAA s&I
shame he remembered that he had bg1Iaf
afraid. The nickname Of the raacl1xsI
gunners had frightened him. n ThASI
were called the "Suicide club.a &p~sy
because OF this fear, his company
would be destroyed, the men OF y csfhs
pany would have TO die, becausss Ne. /
Albert Lloyd, had been afraid sof hl
name. In his shame he cried likA al
baby. Anyway he could die with tiioxsl
and, rising to hia feet, he stumbled